Jesse Tree Advent Devotional Craft for Christmas

A Jesse Tree is a popular Catholic and Protestant Christian devotion during Advent. The Bible activity tracks teh lineage of Jesus. Here's the verse 'And a shoot shall spring forth from the stump of Jesse: a branch out of his roots.' Isaiah 11:1. This Biblical passage from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah is foretelling the coming of a new branch in the family tree of King David. Jesse was the father of David. David was the king of Israel during her Golden Age. After Solomon, David's son died, the kingdom fell to quarreling and heathen practices. The two kingdoms finally split and ultimately were carried off into slavery by a succession of eastern rulers from Assyria, Babylon, Media and Persia. Read onJesse Tree Advent Devotional Craft

Birthday Depression, Respect Don't Shame the Birthday Girl

Today is my husband’s 50th birthday. They announced it at work last night. Then they displayed it on the “propaganda monitor” as he calls it. He'd asked them not to, but apparently, that was too much to ask. Co-workers mentioned it. One sang to him. Some guys teased him about his age, calling him “old man.” Some good things, some not so much--he hated it all and said so. Some people didn't understand.  I'm writing this to help raise awareness on birthday depression, where it comes from and how to respectfully celebrate someone's special day.
Birthday Depression--Respecting Personal Birthday Wishes, Preferences

Grand Rapids ArtPrize is Great But I Have Some Concerns

ArtPrize is a huge, outdoor public-juried art show and contest downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. I go every year because I love art. And it brings people to the state. And it attracts a diverse mix of interesting artisans. But I've got a few issues with the concept of Artprize.

First, artists shouldn't have to compete for prize money. It degrades and commercializes. It makes art competitive instead of collaborative. Artists who might normally be mutually supportive, end up behaving in tacky, mercenary ways. Like the conclave we overheard kvetching at the Amway Grand. They'd made it to top 25 and it was like they felt they didn't have to be nice anymore. They were very condescending, criticizing people for only checking out the top 25. These were the ones who voted them to top 25 and whom they should be thanking.  Others hawked their art like popcorn sellers. One said said he was "praying" for votes. Well, I guess you would if winning was the ultimate goal. Which it should not be with art. This kind of attitude won't get my vote, well, it wouldn't have if I could have voted which is my next beef. Read on. ArtPrize 2013 Frustrations and Fails Photo is my own taken of our favorite 2013 entry Gon Kirin.

Yoga Health Benefits

I went to yoga a few times and then quit for about ten years. I don't know why I couldn't get up the gumption to go but I think it had to do with my as-yet-undiagnosed sleep apnea. When you have that, you're tired all the time. And I was super-busy homeschooling four kids and husband working all the time. And I made a lot of excuses. I Can Feel Yoga Progress Already 

Avoid Competitive Parents to Stay Sane and Healthy

 Do you have competitive parents in your family or friend circle? You know the type--the know-it-alls who brag about how perfect they and their kids are? The kind who are quick to point out what you're doing wrong (at least in their not so humble opinion). The one-uppers who LOOVE to expose your weak areas?

I have news for you and them. They aren't perfect and you aren't necessarily failing. They just love to highlight your struggles because it makes them feel superior. In the slightly paraphrased words of Adolph Hitler--"it's not enough that they succeed, you must also fail."  Run, Do Not Walk Away from Competitive Parents (the mom in this picture--in the blue dress--is very imperfect. She shares parenting tips from trial and error, not because she's superior.)

How to Observe Labor Day the Union Way

Labor Day is more than just a another beer-drinking, flag-waving holiday. A lot of union people worked really hard so we could enjoy workplace rights. The way we celebrate a holiday reflects how we believe. If I focus only on partying I show that's all I care about. This Labor Day, thank a union worker. You enjoy that weekend, 40-hour work week, 8-hour day, thanks to collective bargaining. Kids don't work in sweatshops in the U.S., thanks to unions. Even if you work in a non-union place, you're benefiting from the efforts of organized labor. Here's how we celebrated labor as a family.  How to Observe Labor Day the Union Way

Relationship Glue Recipe: Avoid Over-controlling, Micromanaging

My husband and I have been in a relationship for 31 years and married for 26 of those. I'm writing a series of tips using the +Relationship-glue-recipe tag (click that for the rest). And you know when I give advice, it's from personal experience, usually based on some faux pas one or both of us has made. Today's advice: don't micromanage. Or nit pick, hen (or rooster) peck, nag, pester or generally overthink. Read moreRelationship Glue Recipe: Avoid Over-controlling, Micromanaging