What's important in life? by Carrie Fleetwood

We’ve heard it said that at the end of one’s life, you never hear someone say “I wish I had worked more”.  For parents who are struggling with work/life balance, I would encourage you to set aside an hour with your spouse every so often to discuss your ‘family vision’.  Ask each other what is important for your family life to feel secure and strongly knit together.  A good barometer to test the ‘temperature’ of your family bond is to look at how well you play together, how often you can laugh together and how well you resolve conflict resulting in each person feeling listened to and valued. A great question for parents to ask themselves is when you look back 20 years from now, what will you remember fondly and what will you regret that you had done or not done?  It may seem like an overwhelming ‘assignment’ at times, especially when you find yourselves in the thick of soccer practices and music lessons and homework, but stopping long enough and having courage enough to ask this question could mean your kids will one day love to return to visit home.  Because then and now, home will be a refuge.

Great books....worth taking the time to read them! by Carrie Fleetwood

 I hope everyone enjoyed a good rest over the holidays. Okay, maybe not before Christmas, but after!? I've taken some time to read a couple of great books and just wanted to pass on the highlights. C.S.Lewis' 'Surprised By Joy', essentially his autobiography, reminded me how ...from great pain and adversity in childhood came one of the top intellects, writers and apologists of the Christian faith of the 20th century. A brilliant man, a fascinating read. 

Then a delightful book called 'A Woman and Her Relationships' by Canadian, Rosemary Flaaten: Rosemary gives a window into her own life as she shares honestly and humbly some of her own learning experiences as well as those of other women around her. Her main point is that by allowing God to fill your soul, you will see the difference in your personal relationships.  I've found in my own life and in other women's lives that I have worked with that relationships between women can be a delicate balancing act at worst, but can bring deep joy and lasting friendship when carefully nurtured with love, acceptance and forgiveness.  If you haven't read them, I recommend both of these books as a great read!