Say Your Prayers

First, Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there. Our job is always a hard and tiring one, and often feels thankless, but it's the best job out there by far.

The topic of today's post is prayer. My children are at an age where church is boring for them or, in the case

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of Little Boy, they don't even understand what's going on. So we do our best to educate our children in the principles of our faith through our day-to-day lives. We give to charity, we count our blessings, we try to do kind works.

One of things we're trying to be more consistent about is saying prayers at bedtime. I feel it brings a certain calmness and serenity to the bedtime routine and, I hope, reminds my children that we are always being cared for and that we should carry our faith with us at all times and everywhere.

Since my wee ones are a bit young to make up their own prayers, though Little Girl does on occasion, we've chosen a regular "night-night prayer" that we say together every night. Perhaps you know this one, as well.

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

Bless this bed I lie upon

Four corners to my bed

Four angels 'round my head

One to watch

One to pray

And one to keep all harm away

What is your or your family's favorite bedtime (or other) prayer? How do you work instill your faith in your children?

Miracles Do Happen

I've been witness to at least one miracle in my life; last night, I watched another unfold. The escape of Amanda Berry and the rescue of Gina DeJesus and Michele Knight is a story that shines light on the goodness of people (like Charles Ramsey) and the greatness of God in keeping these women alive and healthy. Thousands of prayers were answered last night. And hope resurged for the countless others in our world whose children have been missing.

In the days and weeks to come, I have no doubt that horrific details will emerge about the experiences these three women went through in that house.

But today, I thank God for this piece of wonderful and uplifting news. I lift these women, their families, and the little girl that Amanda Berry bore during her captivity up in prayer.

I hugged my daughter a bit longer and a bit tighter this morning. (And my son, too.) The people in our lives are the most precious gifts we'll ever be given.

Drum roll please....

My newly re-named and re-focused blog is here! After much thought, I have finally arrived at a name that embodies what I'm hoping to do and share here. My primary focus in blogging to focus my own mind on the things most important to me to live a better life.

That's why I'm now blogging under the title: Living the "More" Life

The "more" life is about sharing with you my tips, ideas and thoughts on living a life with more joy, laughter, fun, compassion, love, organization, faith, and more time for the things and people we love most. I hope to also be able to share the tips, ideas and thoughts of others as well.

As a working mom, I all-too-often feel as if I'm living the "just getting by" life. I suspect you know what I mean. And how I feel. So let's commit today to more consciously striving to live the "more" life.

For me, tonight, that means more love, as I'm off to go tuck my Little Girl into bed.

Names are hard

When my I was pregnant with my daughter, we had her name picked out before we even knew whether we were having a boy or girl.

When I was pregnant with my son, we bickered and quarreled over names until about the 7 1/2 month mark.

There's so much in a name. It's a reflection of who we are, an embodiment of our souls and our spirits.

It's for these same reasons that I'm struggling to come up with a new name for my blog. The current name, Grab the Ring, just doesn't speak to me anymore. It's not a reflection of my purpose or my spirit. Problem is, all the names I'm coming up with that I feel do reflect my new focus and purpose are already taken. Grumble.

I want this blog to be about all my different journeys - as a parent, as a spouse, as a spiritual person, as a woman, as a writer, as a creative, etc. Maybe I'm thinking about it too much.

How did you come up with the name of your blog?