I hear the sound of great elephants trumpeting

 each time I open the door of my dishwasher;

The sound of distant drums beating .....

coming from the pipes underneath my sink.

A Cat cries out. My chirping smoke detector answers.

Running water is somehow peaceful as long as it stays in the sink. 

I trip slightly over a sleeping animal in the underbrush.

No, this is not the Serengeti. It is simply my kitchen,

 although, sometimes it makes me wonder ..... LOL

Reading up on how to get children to eat  the food their bodies need.  Many opinions, but here's mine:

 Prepare a good healthy dinner.

 Announce that this is it,

 nothing else til breakfast.

  Don't cave in!

   When our children learn to eat and be grateful for 

the things we place before them, they also are learning respect for the one who serves them and necessary discipline.  We can not always expect to get our own way.

  If a certain food does not agree with their taste buds, they do not need to feel obligated to eat all of it, but should not expect that food to be replaced with something else; and no extra snacking privileges to make up for it!  Don't kid yourself.  They will NOT starve.  They will just be good and hungry for the next meal and, this time, less picky.

  When you see a willingness to cooperate, try new foods.  Reward their good habits by letting them help you plan the menu.  Share with them how you have learned to overcome food obstacles in your own life so that you can get the right foods into your body. This way, they can learn how good choices are made and even, one day, treat you to a good home prepared meal.  It's not all about ourselves, after all. It's about caring for and taking care of each other too.

 

Laugh often, pray without ceasing 

and set your goals wisely.

Laughter will help you get through the hard times.

 Praying will keep you focused on what is important.

 Well set goals will give you more control

 over your schedule,  thus, your life.

Ah, those sleepless moments .....

First when our children are newborns ,

Then, later on in their teen age years,

when they go out with their friends.

Trying to explain to a teenager,

why you can't sleep until they get home,

Is pretty much as useless as trying to explain

to a newborn why you need your rest!

Laugh out loud while you can!  (O:

Too often we draw lines ....

Expecting others not to cross.

Don't draw that line and expect others not to cross it.

They will and you will be disappointed every time.

Draw that line for you and decide what that line means.

We are better off drawing lines in our own lives and

making sure WE don't cross them.

Then, when others let us down, we can be prepared.

It's not that we expect them to fail, it's just that,

They are no longer calling the shots and that's good to know. 

It's time we stop giving people so much power over us;

 Power that "yanks our chains," and manipulates.

 Your reaction to them is, every bit as important,

as their reaction to you!

Learn this and enjoy your newly found freedom!