Author: resumeofamother

What is #CHAT?

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If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram…you might have seen my posts about #CHAT.  This past weekend was the launch date for this big event in my life!  I am soooooo excited!

Let me fill you in a little about what this is all about.  For a long while I have been working in women’s ministry in my church and in general.  But I now find myself for the past 2 years with not having a place in leadership in this area at my church.  I am also allowing “Resume of a Mother” to evolve into what God would have it to be in terms of ministry.

I had been watching and praying for some of the young girls that come to our kids program and I see them getting bored as they get older with the kids programs and regular church.  Now on a side note…I also work full time at an addiction recovery mission and see what a life full of no guidance etc…can produce.  Woman will come to us with their stories of how and why they began taking drugs.  Many times…they never felt they had someone to reach out to, or that fact that no one reached out to them.  This is not to say that this is the only reason they are on drugs etc…but you can get the idea.  After seeing the young girls in our church losing interest in things of the Lord, I felt a strong tug to reach out to them.

One night a few months ago I went to an impromptu meeting where I heard someone speaking on reaching “one”.  She went on to say that we need to go to where they are and not expect them to come to us.  That night I went home and drew up the plans for #CHAT.  I designed the “win” and what it would be all about.

Here it is in a nutshell…

Reach the “one” by just chatting! So I guess you now understand the title “#CHAT”.  Girls between the ages of 12-16 can come and chat, have a light meal, and learn a skill.  They can sit quiet or chat all night…with no strings attached.  This will give me and my team and chance to get to know them and the same in the reverse.  We want to create a safe haven for them to feel like they have a place to share their heart and there will be no judgement.  There might be an opportunity for guidance, a life verse shared, a hug and a tear or two shared.

Some of the life skills already in place are several craft sessions, makeup 101, quilting, quilling, baking and cooking from the simple to also some international cuisine and more.  I have had many women come and tell me that they would love to come and share their skills with the girls.

At this point I have 28 classes lined up on paper with teachers in mind for most of them.  The club as of right now will run once a month.  We will run it for now for three months and then reevaluate it and see what we think were the positives and negatives of the entire night.

Pray with me that this new style girls club will be effective in reaching one girls heart and for us to make a difference that can mold, guide and potentially save a life from going in the wrong direction.

Lynn A. Wilson – Resume of a Mother

Play Ball… some old-fashioned fun!

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In the craziness of life… It’s fun to take a little time out and head to an old-fashioned ball game! So many people focus on the major leagues, Super Bowl etc. Our family is not big sports fans like many of you probably are. But occasionally, it is really good to go out and watch a local baseball team compete at a game. Of course popcorn and hot dogs help too… and you can’t beat going with some friends!

Last night we were able to enjoy just that. It was some old-fashioned family fun.  We could just relax after work and school and enjoy some time together.. We could have a hotdog with some popcorn and of course we had to add some delicious lemonade to the night. We were blessed that the tickets were only $1 per person.

When is the last time that you took a day or a night out to have some old-fashioned family fun? Let me know what you like to do, with some local fun in your area?

Lynn A. Wilson – Resume of a Mother

Epilepsy and Essential oils….does it really work?

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I have dealt with my husband’s seizures and Epilepsy for over 30 years now.  His seizures have changed over the years from the type of seizure that he has, to the length of it and also what triggers it.  It has been a learning process for the both of us.

If you have seizures or live with someone with them….you know the drill.  You probably have struggled at some point yourself with the changes and where it takes you in life!  Let me say before I share any more….YES YES YES we live daily with everyone’s advice as to what meds, what foods, what life style, what we should and should not do etc.….. We are thankful for good friends and people who care, but when they have not lived with this….their advice can be like nails on a chalkboard!  Advice is great when you ask for it but not every time you see someone. Also, choosing a natural remedy… seems to ignite conversation in people who normally wouldn’t even talk to you. “Natural” seems to unnerve people and make them feel uneasy. In our family we tend to choose natural over Medical whenever possible. So this might be an option for you and then again possibly not if you’re not into any type of natural alternatives.

Ok enough with that…the purpose of this blog post is to share something with you about Essential oils that works for us.  This is not a medical diagnosis or a proven clinical fact…this is only what has worked for our family.

At this point in our lives….we have tried all the conventional ways and yes my husband is still on his meds.  But overall….he needs something else.  If you know Epilepsy….seizures cannot always be completely controlled and that is the case with him.

We have tried Essential Oils and we have found success!!!  Frankincense was recommended to us along with a few other oils.  What has worked and is working for us is “Oil of Oregano”.  Yes you might smell a little like a salad but who cares.  It works so well for us that we never leave home without it anymore.

When it is an “off day” for him, a long day, a rainy day, right before and even during a seizure….he/we apply it. You can use it straight on the skin (be careful since this is a hot oil), or as we have been using it ….we make up roller bottles with the oregano and a carrier oil.

Here are a few pics of what we use….I hope this helps you with either a new concept or at least to gives you an alternative to either try or just investigate for your own health.

You will see in these pictures… that you will only need four items. You would need the oil of your choice, a roller bottle, a funnel to help pour the oil into the bottle, and you would need a carrier oil. Once made… we use the roller bottle with the essential oil’s in it on his wrist, on the back of his neck and also down his spine every 2 to 4 hours or as needed.

Feel free to ask questions….if we can help we would love to share with you! We would love to get your feedback as well if you have tried essential oil’s have they been a success or a failure? Which oils have used and how do use them? Do you have a certain brand that you prefer over another and why?

Lynn A. Wilson (and hubby Graeme) – Resume of a Mother

Dig in your own dirt….not your neighbors.

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There are so many cool things to learn in life and from people.  I recently was reminded of this by listening to one woman as she shared her life with me….and what a lesson I learned!

This woman is a homemaker, a mother of three, a crafter, an extreme couponer and a great bargain hunter.  She shares her gifts with many by teaching classes and sharing some of her finds with others.  She inspires me how to save money, and she inspires me to create new things from things I already have.  She also has such a passion for her husband and children with all that she does.  To me she is a great example of a woman who builds her home.

One day she was explaining that she has been judged for having too many things, too many crafts, her large stash from her great finds with coupons etc….  Many of us can look at our neighbors and friends and have a list of things that are wrong with them in our own eyes.  We can look at all they have, the way they act and so on and come up with our own judgement of them and their lives.  Do we ever take the time to realize that they live in a different world than us?  I love the expression, “you live in a very small world”.  I heard this growing up and never really understood it, but now I get it as I am getting older.  This woman deals with much criticism and judgment from people and most of them have no idea what she is all about.

Maybe this woman is a picture of your own life.  You might not live the life that she does but you can relate since you are a person who loves living life and yet people judge you for what you do.  People who don’t really know what you are all about and yet they look at your life and make decisions in their own heads about you.

One day she was chatting with me….she made reference to how some people live in such a small world, and this seems to give them the right to critique others.  One great point she made was that she is always working on finishing a project and then the next one is already waiting for her. Most times they probably haven’t even started their first project and yet we stand in judgement of someone who has done many.  If this is the case, then you certainly don’t have the time to look at your neighbor’s or friend’s yard and criticize and judge.

How many of us sit in judgment of each other’s lives, possessions or things?  I can relate to her because somedays when I am running around doing three or four things in a day, to have someone stop me and question me over the silliest thing.  Then they pass judgment on how or why I am doing what I am doing.  These people probably have no idea who I really am and why I do what I do. How small is their world that they need to live in my world? The verse comes to mind in Proverbs 16:27 (TLB)…..” Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece”.

I once heard that if you are always digging in your own dirt, you will never have the time to see the dirt on someone else.  Today I learned a lesson from my friend, this great quote and a good look at this verse.  I am a very busy person and yet even with all that I do, I too can sit in judgment and ask, “why” do they do that….”how can” they do that and so on.

Today I share a piece of my heart, my thoughts and my life with you.  I pray today that my hands and life are busy for the Lord and that they do not become hands of the devil’s workshop.  I pray that since I have enough dirt in my own life to dig into…that I can have grace and compassion and the right attitude for others instead of sitting in judgment or criticism of them.

Take up the challenge with me today….will you dig in your own dirt instead of others!

Lynn A. Wilson – Resume of a Mother

Why Bother….

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Last night I sat with a young girl and we chatted.  She made me realize that there is still good in this world and there is still a reason to care about the younger generation!

So many times I hear people say “why bother” bringing anymore kids into this world.  “Why bother “ doing the right thing.  In this crazy world…..is there any hope and should we even bother?

I am not normally a person who would choose to work with teens let alone preteens.  I currently work with a grade school age program at church.  We are a small church family so when there is a job needed to be done, you don’t say I can’t…you just jump in and help. Women’s ministry is more my thing…but again when there is a need, you just help out where you can.  At this point in time our women’s ministry leadership position is filled and there is not a whole lot of help that is needed.  So I have been praying for where I could fit in.  The other night I heard a devotional and as the speaker was sharing….her words were just the encouragement that I needed to hear to help clarify a few things.  I have had on my heart to see a mentoring group form for young women from the age of 12 – 16.  A program that would give them a place to learn a few skills, have a fun evening for a couple of hours, have a safe place to talk and to find a place/person they know they could talk with and without any judgment.  A place/person where they can share their heart and know that it will not go any further.

I remember being that age and you could not always talk to your parents….you needed someone older and wiser but not someone whom you lived with.  This program would be a good fit for a young girl who feels the say way that I once did.

So here we go…an answer from above and a new direction all rolled up into one message that I heard.  So last night I sat with a couple of young girls from my church and picked their brain.  I asked them what they would be interested in doing if I started this group.  I asked them for a snappy name to call it.  The response was overwhelming!  They were so excited to start….I was shocked on how excited they were!

At the end of the evening when we were all ready to leave….one of the young girls… as she was walking out with her mom, ran back and hugged me and said “thank you”. She then continued to say….let me know when we are going to start!  With a smile, a wink and a thumb’s up, I told her I would be in touch soon.

So I ask again, as so many people have…”Why bother”?  Why, because I found one young girl who if I could invest in her life even a little bit it could make a big difference. If I can spend a little bit of my time to make her feel special and allow her to talk through things, to learn new things etc….she could just be the one person who can make a huge difference in this world, and make it a better place!  “Why bother”…because it is a good thing and we don’t know how a little investment on our part could in fact change the world to be a better place.

Invest in a life today!  Make a difference in someone’s life!

Lynn A. Wilson – Resume of a Mother

Autism and Routine….

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Routine is something hard to create and stick with in our lives….but it is a necessary thing.  I watch a You-Tube channel with “Andrea Mills”.  She talks about doing things routinely if they are important enough to you. Check out her website and channel for this topic and more.

https://www.andreamills.tv

With any type of special needs and we have two types in our family, I find as a homemaker that I need to create a way of organization for them; and not necessarily for me.  With epilepsy and Autism in our home, I find that this affects everything that we do!  For example, just leaving the house to go out for the day…we need to make a list on the back door of what we need to bring with us.  This way my husband who has Epilepsy, whether it be a good day or not, does not have to think about what to bring. Especially when it is an “off” day for him, he just looks at his list on the door.

(example list for the door)

  • travel bag
  • pills
  • water bottle
  • phone
  • phone charger

For our son has Autism.…so for his needs we have created labels in the refrigerator and also a routine of where to put things.  This way there is no frustration of where things go.  We also labeled where all of our coats go.  Again, this way it keeps things simple and organized!

We have created a “white board” system to help with all those daily questions that you find Autistic kids always asking.  They want to know what the next days meals will be 24 hours ahead of time. Our board includes 3 meals, 3 chores, 3 school events (we homeschool), and whatever the special event of the day is also.

This has proven to relieve many meltdowns, and crazy evenings in our home.  When he asks the questions that he always does by 5pm sharp, we can just refer him to the white board.

Special needs can be a struggle to the caregiver as well as the person who struggles with it.  Why not make life as routine as you can to avoid any chaos and confusion.  There will always be other issues to deal with, but when things are routine it helps out a great deal.

Lynn A. Wilson – Resume of a Mother

Being of Like Mind…Autism!

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It was interesting to sit and watch the other night at a group of kids all of whom had Autism.  I learned a very valuable lesson that night!

Let me back track a little for you to get the whole picture.  Our youngest son has Autism and we belong to two different support groups.  One group especially offers a wide variety of support for parents and lots of activities for the kiddos.  This night happened to be a night for the kids, it was filled with fun, running around and freedom for them.

Freedom for them!….what I mean is that they could be who they were created to be. It was a time for them not to be judged, made fun of, no one was looking at them as if they were weird. They could speak their own language, wave their hands if they needed to, swing their legs and jump as high as they wanted. They are a unique group of people!  They have uniqueness that are their own…..and yet they don’t judge each other and they seem to relate to each other on a higher level.  They are like minded and understand each other.  Most of them have never even met before, and yet they can get along as if they were best friends forever.

What a lesson for me to learn!  Here I live in the ‘average” world without Autism.  My friends and acquaintances are “average” people.  And yet we seem to judge, talk about each other, and we are not like minded.  If we enter a room with people we haven’t met before ….we tend to look at our phones or just down right ignore each other.  Oh if we could only have the mind of someone who is Autistic….and let loose and be free!  Be free to say hello to a stranger, be free to play with someone we met for the first time, be free to jump as high as we wanted to and swing around in circles if we felt like it.

I am so glad that we have a place that allows our son to be free!  A place for us to be with other parents who we can relate to!  A place for him to be able to feel like and where he can say…..“I can just be me”.  God has given him a uniqueness called Autism…he is not strange or weird just different.

Lynn A. Wilson – Resume of a Mother

A Simple Gift….that will make you smile!

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It is a snowy, cold yucky day here where I live today!  As I sit here at work they just declared a state of emergency due to the weather.  That leaves you with a dismal feeling inside and as I look outside …it is so gray and sad-looking.img_9118

As I sat at my desk….knowing that most of my co-workers will not be in today I decided to think spring!!! Just as I was thinking spring my friend from down the hall gave me a gift.  She had gone to the flower show the other day and picked up a little gift for me. “Think Spring”…was all wrapped up in this gift.  What a beautiful pen but most of all a beautiful thought!

“RAK” would need to be this person’s middle name. “Random Act of  Kindness”….describes her to a “T”.  This friend never stops giving to others….there is not a day that goes that she isn’t thinking of someone who needs a gift, a card, a kind word or something else.  She is a real example to me of what we should all be doing.  She thinks of others all the time.

This is a simple message to all of us to stop and think of someone else today and to do a “RAK” for someone.  Who can you do something for today? Leave a note in the comments below with your experience of an RAK that was done for you or one that you did for someone else!

Lynn A. Wilson – Resume of a Mother

Frixion Pens…..The erasable pen.

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Well it is “Planner Tuesday”!  This will be a simple post….as simple as, “I love Frixion pens”.  I first saw these pens on a You-Tube channel.  I had never heard of them and I was intrigued with having an erasable pen for my planner.

I just had to find them right away…so where else would I look but Amazon Prime. Sure enough I found them, and I was able to get them in many different colors.

I am not a big color coder in my planner; I found that using too many colors can be confusing for me.  I do however use red for family, blue for work and green for anything unusual.  (KISS – Keep it simple). But there are lots of choices that you can choose from if you do like to color code.

With my crazy busy life…..my planner keeps me in check and sain.  But now that I have erasable pens to match my ever changing schedule. So when life changes as it does, I can just erase and reschedule.

What is your favorite pen for your planner?

Lynn A. Wilson – Resume of a Mother