It all begins with an idea.

Outside is Calling

Two weeks ago, we were advised to socially distance ourselves. Last week the governor told us to shelter in place. What is so amazing about this is that in the last two weeks, I have seen more people outside around my community than I have seen in a couple of decades. It makes me so happy to see people outside. I see children playing in their yards. I have never seen some of these kids before and they live in my neighborhood. Amazing!

Even though this bad thing of a harmful virus is making some people sick, restricting our work, and isolating us all, most of us are together with our families. That is a very good thing unless you hate your family. As good as this together time is, we can drive each other crazy. That is why it is so good to get outside. Outside is calling. Getting outside and being in nature is a really healthy activity. In fact, going outside every day is important for adults and children. Studies show that the health benefits of being outside include: relieves our anxiety, helps fight off depression; sunlight elevates our mood, provides opportunity to exercise, increases our intake of vitamin D, protects our vision, reduces inflammation, lowers our blood pressure, boost our immune system and helps us sleep better. Being outside helps us dream, reflect, pray and give thanks for all our blessings.

For children, being outdoors should be part of their daily routine regardless of weather conditions. To develop normally, children need to go outside to explore, imagine, run and play. This is their work. They need to have space to move their bones and muscles. This is how they grow. Parents, we are the leaders of our children. It is our responsibility to model and give them opportunity to be outside. We need to provide a daily dose of the outdoors for our children so they can use their senses to explore and discover the beauty and wonder of nature. This also allows them to burn off some energy. The last time I checked, having energy was a good thing. As I age, I wish I had more energy. I feel most alive when I am outside being active. Outside is calling! Use this extra time with your family and go outside. We can even see and talk to people from a distance. Get off the screens and get moving. I encourage you to go outside and get some fresh air. Take a walk, stroll the baby, hike a trail, walk the dog, ride a bike, go to the park, work out, play in the yard. Our yard and gardens are calling. It is time to recognize our creator out in His creation.

In the past two weeks, I have also had the privilege of traveling this country and observing its beauty. I flew from Newark, New Jersey to Phoenix, Arizona to join my husband at his conference. I got to see it rain in the desert. The smell was fresh and sweet. I drove to Los Angeles, California to enjoy my daughter and son in law for a weekend. We hiked in the rain, stood on a mountain and watch the city appear as the fog lifted. I then flew to Kansas City to meet my other daughter who had to leave the air force academy due to coronavirus. We drove through the stunning Ozark region of Missouri down into Arkansas. We drove to Memphis, Tennessee and visited Graceland and walked the empty Beale street birthplace of Jazz. As we walked, we found ourselves at the Loraine Motel site of the assassination of MLK. Talk about surreal. This adventure and discovery happened because we got outside and explored. We took the time to enjoy each other and we “Stopped and Smelled the Roses” along the way. We then traveled to Nashville, Tennessee home of the Grand Ole Opry and Music, music, music. It was St. Patty’s Day but the famous Broadway Street was empty. We crossed the long and narrow state of Tennessee and hit the Blue Ridge Mountains as we headed for Lynchburg Virginia and then home to Pennsylvania. It is perfect weather all over this nation to go outside. It’s not too hot and not too cold. Spring is emerging everywhere. New growth, flowers blooming and the sweet aroma of life is all around us. Healthy Family Solution #1 – Get Outside – Move, explore, revive and reconnect with your creator.

BALLOON VOLLEYBALL

A rigorous game of volleyball is probably the last thing you want in your living room...unless the "ball" happens to be a balloon.

You can easily turn any room into a safe volleyball court. Clear away a space, then tie a string between the backs of two chairs. You now have a playing field and a net. Blow up a balloon. You're ready for action. For more formal play, decorate the net with streamers, lengths of yarn, etc. While you're at it, spiff up the balloon with markers. Every good volleyball can use a pair of eyes, a nose, and a mouth.

Encourage your kids to develop their own rules; after all, this is no high-pressure tournament. Be inventive. A group of kids might get a special charge out of trying to keep a flotilla of balloons aloft!

This game, which should always be supervised by an adult, is limited only by your imagination-and the size of your living room.

(This game is intended for older children only. Younger children should not play with balloons because of the possibility of suffocation.

REQUIRED: * Six to ten feet of string * Two chairs * Large balloon

OPTIONAL: Decorating materials. Try Paddleball - Get a paper plate and a wooden paint stirrer. Tape, staple or glue the plate onto the paint stirrer. Woolah - now you have a paddle.

When my kids were growing up, this was one of my go to books for TV free activities. If you order on Amazon it is less than five bucks. Have fun!

Time and Attention – Keys to Family Strength

On my very first business card that I made for myself over 26 years ago was engraved “Time and Attention – Keys to Family Strength. For some reason, I thought those were true words important to highlight. Now twenty six years later, after working with countless families and raising my own two children, those words still ring loud and clear to me. So for now, I’m digging into this thought.

Time and Attention – Keys to Family Strength

What is Time and Attention? Well, we all get 24 hours of time each day. What we do with that time is up to us. Time is a gift from God. Like other gifts such as money or talents, we can have a lot of it or a little of it. We can spend it all, waste it or use it carefully and use it for the good of others.

When it comes to families, which I define as parents living together with their children, time is an important resource. Giving time to our children and our spouse is a big deal. Giving focused attention where we are fully present with another human being is a big deal. To me, it is the biggest deal. It is a choice and it is emotionally hard work. It requires giving and sacrifice. Someone once said, “For children, love is spelled TIME.” There is nothing that says, “You are important, valued and loved like when someone gives you time and attention. As human beings, we grow and develop best by receiving quality time and quality attention from caring, loving people. Our children are begging for time and attention from their parents. Their behavior is speaking loud and clear. Will anyone notice?

I think we all know this time principle but unless we slow down, make a plan to prioritize our time management, put our screens down and start giving each other more time and focused attention; family and societal problems will remain.

How much time and attention is the right amount to give to our children and spouse? The answer is:

We give our time and attention to what is important to us. If we take the time to listen, learn and understand the needs of our children and spouse then we begin to know what we need to do. For some this requires small adjustments. For others, serious life change is in order.

I challenge you to read your children and spouse. What are they saying to you?