Comments on: Cows with a View http://www.orangeparents.org/cows-with-a-view/ Connect families to a wider community of parents and leaders. Expand your ideas, skills, and influence as a parent. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:13:13 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Stephanie http://www.orangeparents.org/cows-with-a-view/comment-page-1/#comment-63 Stephanie Fri, 07 May 2010 16:27:00 +0000 http://www.orangeparents.org/?p=84#comment-63 I love to pull out pictures and revisit moments in time. Sometimes they bring laughter, a smile, maybe a tear, or just a pause from the current chaos I may be in. There are moments that were captured at frustrating times (probably with my kids), that I'm not always proud of. A look at some of those pictures helps to remind me that these moments pass all too quickly. I am reminded to savor moments more and remember all the chaotic moments that I have been brought through. Say CHEESE!!! I love to pull out pictures and revisit moments in time. Sometimes they bring laughter, a smile, maybe a tear, or just a pause from the current chaos I may be in. There are moments that were captured at frustrating times (probably with my kids), that I’m not always proud of. A look at some of those pictures helps to remind me that these moments pass all too quickly. I am reminded to savor moments more and remember all the chaotic moments that I have been brought through. Say CHEESE!!!

]]> By: Brian Vander Ark http://www.orangeparents.org/cows-with-a-view/comment-page-1/#comment-61 Brian Vander Ark Fri, 07 May 2010 14:08:09 +0000 http://www.orangeparents.org/?p=84#comment-61 I have go-to books I reread that include C.S. Lewis-for imagination, Bonhoeffer-for courage, Ben Campbell Johnson-to desire God, Marva Dawn-to understand Scripture in a refreshing way and Anne Lamott, to laugh out loud (she is really funny and insightful (or inciteful!). When I had a rough moment with my son (he is thirteen after all), I pull out my iphone photo file with pictures of my son from our dad/son trips or events or just crazy shots he poses for when silly. They remind me its so worth the struggle and that soon he will be a man and there is much to teach and instill, and that most of all, I both love and like him, he is a gift from God. I have go-to books I reread that include C.S. Lewis-for imagination, Bonhoeffer-for courage, Ben Campbell Johnson-to desire God, Marva Dawn-to understand Scripture in a refreshing way and Anne Lamott, to laugh out loud (she is really funny and insightful (or inciteful!).
When I had a rough moment with my son (he is thirteen after all), I pull out my iphone photo file with pictures of my son from our dad/son trips or events or just crazy shots he poses for when silly. They remind me its so worth the struggle and that soon he will be a man and there is much to teach and instill, and that most of all, I both love and like him, he is a gift from God.

]]> By: Cammie Alkire http://www.orangeparents.org/cows-with-a-view/comment-page-1/#comment-58 Cammie Alkire Fri, 07 May 2010 09:16:26 +0000 http://www.orangeparents.org/?p=84#comment-58 When my 3yr old little girl looks at me and says "mommy, will you play with me?" I think of my two teenage girls who are glued to their own personal lives and I say back to her "Mommy has time for you, if you promise to always have time for me." She proceeds to lay out her "picnic" and we eat like queens for 10 minutes before she is off to something else. In those 10 minutes I am at my best. I am content, happy, and of course full;) When my 3yr old little girl looks at me and says “mommy, will you play with me?” I think of my two teenage girls who are glued to their own personal lives and I say back to her “Mommy has time for you, if you promise to always have time for me.” She proceeds to lay out her “picnic” and we eat like queens for 10 minutes before she is off to something else. In those 10 minutes I am at my best. I am content, happy, and of course full;)

]]> By: Julia http://www.orangeparents.org/cows-with-a-view/comment-page-1/#comment-55 Julia Fri, 07 May 2010 03:56:58 +0000 http://www.orangeparents.org/?p=84#comment-55 We get the bikes out and ride! Even though we are still with the kids, they will ride ahead and my husband I get to visit and reconnect. We also get be outside and enjoy a little time away from the tv, WII, phones, etc. We have also taught our 3 year old that coffee dates are fun with mom and dad- he gets his chocolate milk and plays on the patio and we get our coffee and some time to talk. We get the bikes out and ride! Even though we are still with the kids, they will ride ahead and my husband I get to visit and reconnect. We also get be outside and enjoy a little time away from the tv, WII, phones, etc. We have also taught our 3 year old that coffee dates are fun with mom and dad- he gets his chocolate milk and plays on the patio and we get our coffee and some time to talk.

]]> By: Tandy http://www.orangeparents.org/cows-with-a-view/comment-page-1/#comment-54 Tandy Thu, 06 May 2010 22:46:34 +0000 http://www.orangeparents.org/?p=84#comment-54 We ride with the windows down even for just a minute or two. My son thinks this is huge fun and so do I. The key for the moment is that I can't hear a thing:) Just a moment of peace, a moment to think, and a moment to breath in the middle of a chaotic day. We ride with the windows down even for just a minute or two. My son thinks this is huge fun and so do I. The key for the moment is that I can’t hear a thing:) Just a moment of peace, a moment to think, and a moment to breath in the middle of a chaotic day.

]]> By: Meredith http://www.orangeparents.org/cows-with-a-view/comment-page-1/#comment-49 Meredith Thu, 06 May 2010 13:16:58 +0000 http://www.orangeparents.org/?p=84#comment-49 I find it hard to refuel actually, it takes a very conscious effort for me to stop and find some time to break routine.Living on the farm helps me unwind though, just sitting out on the front porch taking in the view and the beauty that surrounds is often the breath of fresh air that I need, physically and mentally. I find it hard to refuel actually, it takes a very conscious effort for me to stop and find some time to break routine.Living on the farm helps me unwind though, just sitting out on the front porch taking in the view and the beauty that surrounds is often the breath of fresh air that I need, physically and mentally.

]]> By: Angela Bartlett http://www.orangeparents.org/cows-with-a-view/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Angela Bartlett Thu, 06 May 2010 12:49:37 +0000 http://www.orangeparents.org/?p=84#comment-48 Love to run! Breathe in, breathe out. Refreshing! Even better is when my husband joins me! Love my time with God daily. Sometime praise, sometimes reading, sometimes writing. Restoring! Love my "coffee time" with friends! Re-energizing! Love to run! Breathe in, breathe out. Refreshing! Even better is when my husband joins me!

Love my time with God daily. Sometime praise, sometimes reading, sometimes writing. Restoring!

Love my “coffee time” with friends! Re-energizing!

]]> By: Misty http://www.orangeparents.org/cows-with-a-view/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Misty Wed, 05 May 2010 20:42:03 +0000 http://www.orangeparents.org/?p=84#comment-44 Change of view. Being outdoors reminds me of how Big God is and how little I am. He refuels us as we pause. He's great like that. I remember thinking as a young Mom w/ 4 kids under 10 how much better I felt after a change of venue. Change of view. Being outdoors reminds me of how Big God is and how little I am. He refuels us as we pause. He’s great like that. I remember thinking as a young Mom w/ 4 kids under 10 how much better I felt after a change of venue.

]]> By: Jason Craig http://www.orangeparents.org/cows-with-a-view/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Jason Craig Wed, 05 May 2010 19:56:48 +0000 http://www.orangeparents.org/?p=84#comment-43 My refuse is Panera coffee shops - with my laptop and my blog. When I can reflect through writing and decompress through words then my outlook becomes very different. Recently I have had less and less time to do that and I have really noticed the difference. This past week has been a true rollercoaster beginning with the Orange conference in ATL, receiving news once there that my wife's grandfather had passed away, organizing trans-atlantic flights, renewing passports, caring for two kids, being rear-ended in a car accident, finally getting to the airport last night, only to be 20ft from the plane when the Icelandic volcano ash closed my destination airport. My response today - stay in bed until 9am, veg this morning, begin to write, then go pick up my 3 yr old from pre-school because she was vomiting. New plan - plant a vegetable garden. I guess writing can wait. Well, until now. Thanks for the therapy. My refuse is Panera coffee shops – with my laptop and my blog. When I can reflect through writing and decompress through words then my outlook becomes very different. Recently I have had less and less time to do that and I have really noticed the difference. This past week has been a true rollercoaster beginning with the Orange conference in ATL, receiving news once there that my wife’s grandfather had passed away, organizing trans-atlantic flights, renewing passports, caring for two kids, being rear-ended in a car accident, finally getting to the airport last night, only to be 20ft from the plane when the Icelandic volcano ash closed my destination airport.

My response today – stay in bed until 9am, veg this morning, begin to write, then go pick up my 3 yr old from pre-school because she was vomiting. New plan – plant a vegetable garden. I guess writing can wait. Well, until now. Thanks for the therapy.

]]> By: Beth Moore http://www.orangeparents.org/cows-with-a-view/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Beth Moore Wed, 05 May 2010 19:44:10 +0000 http://www.orangeparents.org/?p=84#comment-41 I am all about kids. My life is spent with not only my own children, but other people's also. Children of all ages and abilities.....one thing I do to defrag as we like to call it at my house is rock out to my favorite jams on the way home. It's only a few minutes, but it's amazing how refreshing it can be sometimes. Another thing I do is put the kids down at night(well, try to) run myself a hot bath.....get a good book and lock the bathroom door. If someone comes to the door during my time they have to be bleeding or on fire. If they aren't they are quickly re directed to Daddy. I make sure to give my husband the same courtesy. Atleast 30 minutes to defrag after work or at the end of a long day is priceless! I am all about kids. My life is spent with not only my own children, but other people’s also. Children of all ages and abilities…..one thing I do to defrag as we like to call it at my house is rock out to my favorite jams on the way home. It’s only a few minutes, but it’s amazing how refreshing it can be sometimes. Another thing I do is put the kids down at night(well, try to) run myself a hot bath…..get a good book and lock the bathroom door. If someone comes to the door during my time they have to be bleeding or on fire. If they aren’t they are quickly re directed to Daddy. I make sure to give my husband the same courtesy. Atleast 30 minutes to defrag after work or at the end of a long day is priceless!

]]>