E-mentoring Program at CSB

I am participating in an e-mentoring program at my alma matter, CSB (or College of Saint Benedict). The college is located up in St. Joseph, MN. I was paired with a fantastic young woman who is in her sophomore year of college. She is in the orchestra and got the opportunity to work with one of the conductors from the Minnesota Orchestra. How cool is that?

We are going up to St. Joe this weekend to stay with my mother-in-law and her husband. They are keeping David (at his request) while we attend the homecoming game at St. John's. Several people that I went to college with and haven't seen in quite some time are going to be there. I am SUPER EXCITED about connecting with people. I am also excited about meeting Laura. We are still working out the details!

While we are enjoying the football game (hopefully it will stay nice like it has been all week), David will be baking with grandma. He is really looking forward to that.

Parent - Job Description

POSITION: Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma, Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION: Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION: None. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION: Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS: While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.

Had I read this before I got pregnant, I do not think that I would be enjoying my little boy, David, right now. I am so glad that I am a mom!

A Short Course in Packaging (Your Communication That Is!)

A Short Course in Packaging

In communicating with our partners, truth should supply the content, and love should supply the package. It takes both, working together, to make a successful product. All of us need to become packaging experts, because in communication, as in manufacturing, packaging is everything. Five simple principles can help us become better packagers of the truth.

1. Choose a package your mate will like. Bringing up a complaint or a concern is sometimes a nasty business, so the goal is to look for the most diplomatic way to do it. Try to introduce a complaint with a praise, express approval before disapproval, point out what was done right before what was done wrong, find fault without assigning blame, and recognize good intentions before pointing out bad actions. The goal is to choose a package your mate will like. Tailor the package to her specific needs and wants, and you'll find that your words get a much better reception.

2. Make sure the package fits the product. We make three common errors when we're first learning the art of package design. Sometimes the package is too small—we're a little too sparing on our expression of praise or approval. Sometimes the package is too big, and then the gift inside is a bit of a disappointment. Sometimes the package is too transparent, and then our attempt to speak the truth in love looks like empty flattery or manipulation.

3. Change the package often. The first time you choose to introduce a complaint with a praise, you may be very pleased with the results. Be careful! We tend to think in formulas. A formula mind-set might reason, "Hey, that worked. I should do that again next time." And it might work the next time—but with slightly less impressive results. Once the approach begins to look like a formula, it loses its genuineness, and if it begins to feel manipulative, it's certain to make your mate angry.

4. Take the time to admire a beautiful package. A beautifully wrapped package is a work of art, and art should be admired. Speaking the truth in love requires awareness, discipline, and practice, and that kind of effort deserves recognition. The next time your mate extends a beautifully wrapped gift to you, make sure she's aware that you noticed. Try "Thank you for saying it that way," or, "That was a very thoughtful way of putting it."

5. Deliver the package! Someone once said, "To love someone and not tell them is like wrapping a beautiful gift but never giving it away." Speaking the truth in love begins with a change in attitude, but it should not end there. Don't wait for your next complaint to begin to communicate praise, approval, gratitude, and encouragement. Give away the gifts of gratitude and encouragement frequently and freely.

This is from the book The Seven Conflicts by Tim & Joy Downs. Check it out!!!

Audrey Paige

Audrey Paige with both of her brothers. The first one is Erik and the one on the bottom left hand side is her with her big brother, Nicholas. The cute little girl with Audrey is Sydney. Sydney is my cousin, Stacey's, little girl. Stacey is Audrey's auntie.

Congratulations to my cousin, Sarah, and her husband, Reed, on the new addition to their family. I got to hold Audrey this last weekend at Jenny's wedding (Jenny is another cousin, and yes, I do have A LOT of them!) However, I wouldn't change it at all. :-) Audrey was a GREAT baby throughout the ceremony and reception. Sarah, you look GREAT! Motherhood definitely agrees with you!

Please continue to pray for the Pederson family as they continue to adjust to having a new addition to their family. They are now a family of five instead of four, but by looking at them, I do not think that they would have it any other way.

Gulland Family Open House Reminder

Hello everyone!

Just a reminder that we are having an open house at our new home this Saturday, September 15th from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm. Come at any time and enjoy great food, friends, and lots of FUN!!! We will be serving YUMMY recipes that have been created using Tastefully Simple products. If you cannot make it to the open house, but would like to order some products from my wonderful friend and TS consultant, check out her website at www.tastefullysimple.com/web/abrand1.

Hope to see you all on Saturday!

Can You Forgive?

Hello everyone! I know that today is the sixth anniversary of 9/11. I cannot believe that it was six years ago that this tragedy occurred. I wish I had something profound to share, but I simply do not. Instead, I am going to post an article that was in my inbox. I hope this helps you grow in your relationships with Jesus and others.

Up-Close Forgiveness

By Dennis Rainey

If you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Matthew 6:14

I am often reminded of what C. S. Lewis said: “Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until he has something to forgive.” How true. It’s not until forgiveness becomes personal and costly that it takes on its actual size and weight.

But perhaps some of what troubles us about forgiveness is that we don’t understand what it is and what it isn’t.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean:

• Excusing what someone did to you
• Forgetting what happened
• Denying, or stuffing, your feelings
• Reconciling instantly every time
  

It does mean:

• Embracing the offender—Christ modeled forgiveness at its best when He forgave and welcomed back those who hurt Him the most.
• Being proactive—When Jesus said from the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34), He was forgiving people before they even asked for it.
• Surrendering the right to get even—The essence of forgiveness, especially in marriage, is letting go of our rights to punish and see justice done. Forgiveness is evident when one spouse ceases to demand restitution for hurt feelings and wounded pride.

The other night when Barbara and I were praying together, I turned to Barbara and said, “Sweetheart, before we pray, there’s something I need to ask forgiveness for.” Then after some dialogue, the words “I forgive you” were spoken by Barbara. That’s when you know your marriage is what it was meant to be—a relationship in which forgiveness can flow at the slightest offense. Forgiveness is one of the most important qualities you must practice if your marriage is to become great.

Discuss: Talk about the definition of forgiveness . . . surrendering the right to get even. Is there anything you need to ask forgiveness for?

Pray: Pray that God will show you both how to be aggressive in pursuing forgiveness and appropriately quick in granting forgiveness.

This week’s Marriage Memo is from Dennis and Barbara Rainey’s new book, Moments With You. A sequel to their best-selling Moments Together for Couples, this new book offers 365 new daily devotions. To order this brand-new resource, click here.

I Feel Like a Model of Beauty When I . . .

"am reflecting God’s love onto the world, being a patient mother, loving wife, healthy woman and forgiving human being. I believe beauty is something greater than appearance. It’s being real and letting your inside appearance influence your outside appearance. Model beauty on the inside and the outside will follow."

When do you feel like a model of beauty? Post your answer on my blog. I cannot wait to see what people have to say.

The above response is one of my friend's answers. She answered this question to complete her "Model of Beauty Search" entry form. This is a contest that Mary Kay is currently running. I am VERY excited about it because there will be four grand prize winners who will receive the following: airfare for two to New York City, transportation to and from their hotel, lodging for their time in New York, a professional makeover & photo shoot, and FINALLY . . . a $500 shopping spree!!! Cool, huh? If you want in on this deal, you need to schedule a makeover with me so you can get your entry form postmarked by this Saturday, September 15th.