Fun Things to Do with Little or No Money

This year has been a whirlwind.  I am so glad that today is the last day of school.  I love summer.  I love every season, but I love summer because my children are home.  I am especially excited this summer because my oldest is home from college.  It is a treat to have her around.  I missed her.  I am also excited because I am not working 5 days a week.  I love my "job" at the old folks home, but I am a stay at home mom.  Someone asked me what I do the other day and I said, "I am a stay at home mom."  Then someone else who was with us said, "You drive a bus."  Well, yes I do, and I am also a teacher by degree, but I am a stay at home mom.  It is all I ever wanted to be.  You see, my priority is my children.  If you think about priorities as balls, Family is a glass ball.  Work, Time to Myself, Friends, Activities, Demands, They are all rubber balls.  They bounce when they are dropped.  Family is a glass ball and it breaks when you drop it.

I have many fun things planned for my family this summer.  If you spend your life looking forward to the big vacation then you will spend 51 weeks of your life disappointed.  I choose to savor the little things.  Last year I wrote a blog on fun things to do with the family on little or no money.  I deserves a reread this year as summer is here.  Here is a link to it.

http://funthoughtsonlife.blogspot.com/2013/06/fun-things-to-do-with-little-or-no.html

I would like to add a few things to that list for this year.  I am going to take my children to Burgess Falls in Sparta, Tennessee.  I have heard great things about it.  Here is a link to check it out.http://tnstateparks.com/parks/about/burgess-falls

A trip to Rock City is a quick drive from Nashville and is something any age child would love.
http://seerockcity.com/

The Frist Art Museum is free on Mondays and I plan to take my children there this summer.  Even if you go on another day besides Monday, youth aged 18 and under are always free.
http://fristcenter.org/

Regardless of what you do with your family this summer, remember that the family ball is glass.  Treat is accordingly.  I wish you all the best summer ever!  I know I plan to have that with my family.

Don't forget me when you need a speaker for your next event!  Check out my website at http://www.funthoughtsonlife.com/ for more information and how to contact me!


Enjoy!
Jennifer

The Best Advice I Ever Received

I have been working on a book for close to a year now. At this point, I am not convinced that I am a book writer. Life gets in the way of long term writing. If God wants me to finish the book then it will happen. If not, then my children will have a nice memoir of their mother someday and her musings. It takes a lot of time to sit down and write a book. And the problem for me is I feel like my thoughts are all random. To put them into a book seems more like a toilet book or a coffee table book that would be something people would read while on the toilet or sitting for a moment. 

And then there is the topic of what to name the book. Fun Thoughts on Life?  Uniquely Genius?  Everyday Extraordinary?  These are things that keep me up at night. I feel that if I had a title, it would all flow. I think that God doesn't require a name right now. I think he says, "write it and don't worry about what it will be called. I will let you know when it's time. It will all make sense soon."  

My "job" is what is getting in the way of finishing the book right now. I don't have enough time to keep it flowing and the chapters coming when I am focused on driving Blue Hairs to doctor's appointments and Walmart. It's where God has me right now and I like it. So I feel like He doesn't need me to finish the book right now. He needs me to feed those who can't feed themselves. I'm ok with that. 

The best advice I ever got was from an elderly lady in a fabric store. I wish I could remember who she was but I can't. What I do remember was what she told me. She was looking for fabric for a quilt. I stated to her that someday I wanted to make a quilt. I said I would wait until my children are grown because now I can make clothing for them and want to focus on that and not worry about a quilt. She said, "Honey, if you want to make a quilt, make one now. Look at my hands. I said the same thing when I was young like you and now that I have time to make a quilt, I can't because my hands are crippled with arthritis. Whatever you want to do along the way, do it then. For tomorrow may never come, and if it does, you may not be able to do it."

I have never forgotten that advice, made a quilt at that time and now have no desire whatsoever to make a quilt. So I am glad I took her advice and did it when I wanted to. There are quite a few other things I have done when I had the chance. I'm still working on the book, but it is slower going than I ever wanted it to be. I am going to be like Nike and Just Do It when I want to because I may not be able to later when I have more time. 

Seize the day today and do something you always wanted to do. Let me know what you do!

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Also, don't forget to hire me to speak at your next event!  I can speak on your topic of mine. Visit my website at www.funthoughtsonlife.com for more information!  

Jennifer