I am still working on sorting out how to blog in a way that would educate, encourage, and entertain. In my mind, I have finally come to the conclusion that I need to separate my personal life blogs from my health and weight loss coaching. Not everybody who cares about losing weight or restoring their health is interested in a 'day in the life of' the Shaws. Not everybody who is curious about life with a dirty dozen wants to read about my passion for improving people's quality of life. So, even though I know I can't please all the people, all the time... I have the card carrying People Pleaser Personality that does everything humanly within my power to achieve the impossible. Enter - Life Beyond Laundry. I'll be reformatting this blog soon and it will be dedicated to sharing insights I have gained (mostly through mistakes) and momentary glimpses of wisdom. Being a mom of twelve, I've had lots of opportunity to make mistakes, and try again. I am still learning that there is life beyond laundry. Mountains of laundry. My goal for the new year is to post at least once a week, even if it is just a funny story. You might even be priviledged enough to get a few glimpes of my goofy little urchins while they are keeping me from being too serious about life.
I will also be launching a new blog with the URL www.sweetlanguageoflife.com which will be focused on health, wellness, and weight loss. I have them linked to one another. As we enter 2009, I'd like to help make it a year to Shine... for anyone who wants to improve their quality of life. And since my plate isn't quite full enough with my own business, I decided to take the plunge and help my 13yo daughter launch her own online biz at www.hannahmadesoaps.blogspot.com
Tell me what you are doing differently in 2009. What are your goals? Did you make a New Year's Resolution? I look forward to reading comments.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
HP Magic Giveaway Contest
While I was visiting a friend's site, I noticed she had a joined a contest http://livingintheory.blogspot.com/2008/12/heres-deal.html so I thought I would check it out. I was expecting to 'sign up' with my name and email address and have equal odds of winning. When I reviewed the criteria, I considered not entering. After I decided to go ahead and take the plunge (what's to lose) and began reading everyone else's posts, I contemplated what I might write about that could even come close to competing with the incredibe giving hearts of the other contestants. Not that I think I'll win, but I am posting about it all the same, because I think it is an ingenious way to encourage people to think of others ahead of themselves, and try to make the world a brighter place.
So, here's the deal: HP is offering a mega give-away, and allowing each sub-contest to be run at the discretion of the chosen bloggers who are awarding the prizes. I happened to find this one (click on the title to learn more), but apparently there are 50 simultaneous Blogger Magic Giveaways going on. http://http//www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/blogger-magic/
including one at http://www.techiediva.com/2008/12/06/techie-diva-presents-the-hp-magic-giveaway/ and another at
http://merlotmom.blogspot.com/2008/12/its-here-hp-magic-giveaway-begins.html
One of the fun things about entering is you get to visit some really cool blogs. You might even find a few you want to follow. Each blogger sets his or her on rules. Most of them encourage you to at least tell how you would share the magic.
In the Living in Theory contest, our challenge is to write about how we impact the lives of others. I am not quite sure where to begin. As a mom of twelve, nine still living at home, I guess I could say I impact lives everyday. My hope is that through nurturing and instilling compassionate values in my children my investment will be compounded as they can far out reach me in making a difference in the world.
If you read any of my other blog posts, you'll realize that I am passionate about health. My goal, or mission statement, if you will, is to impact the lives of thousands through helping them learn more about wellness, and how to improve the quality of their lives. Nothing is more gratifiying to me than to be able to help someone recover their health, and get their live back (outside of watching my children grow up and achieve their dreams.) I am especially concerned with helping families with special needs children. Part of that drive comes from losing a son (who had a medical condition) ten years ago. I always think... "if I had known then what I know now would things have been different?" So I make it my goal for other parents to not have to ask themselves that question.
I am a MannaRelief Champion and I raise funds to sponsor children with medical challenges. The sponsorship provides Optimal Nutrition for children and helps to improve their quality of life. I also personally sponsor an orphanage through MannaRelief. A long term goal of mine is to take my family on a MannaRelief missions trip where we would actually participate in distributing product, and meeting the children. Currently I am working with a family that has two children with special needs. Both boys have seen great results and the parents would like to keep them in the program. As the economy suffers, so does charitable giving. As their champion, I am on a mission to find the funds to keep them enrolled.
How does this relate to what I would do with the HP Majic Giveaway prizes? It doesn't really, except that one of the boys who is autistic would greatly benefit from having the touchscreen computer. I would love to be able to offer it to this family for their son.
Also in my rambling blog posts is the saga of our family, and our current separation from Daddy. My wonderful husband is on the other side of the country while we are here, waiting for our house to sell. He is incredibly lonely, and having a laptop to 'link' back home would help him trememdously. It is, in fact, on our items to purchase list... only I have yet to take the time to search out the best deal. With us having to stretch our budgets to cover his living expenses as well as ours, winning the contest would allow us to save that laptop money for other things while we stretch our dollars.
With as many children as we have, we are probably one of few families that *could* actually use all the giveaway ourselves. However, we aren't in need of another printer. I am perfectly happy with the HP we currently have, so I would donate it to the local Pregnancy Center, or the Care Cottage (which is a liason for children who are in the DFACS system.) The mini would be perfect for my younger children to do their school work on and would help me keep my sanity when we pack the caravan to drive thousands of miles across the country. I am sure it would help to eliminate the incessant "are we there yet" questions that will no doubt test my last nerve without a portable DVD player to distract them.
Even after I have written all this, there were so many contestants who are far more deserving, and had much loftier plans in place were they to be the lucky winner. I think the neatest thing about this contest is that it doesn't matter who wins. Just by participating, we have stimulated our thoughts (and hopefully our actions) about how to pay it forward and make the world a better place. So, by all means, check out Sugar's blog (follow the title link) and share what you are doing to make a difference. Entertain the idea of winning, and how you would share the Majic.
So, here's the deal: HP is offering a mega give-away, and allowing each sub-contest to be run at the discretion of the chosen bloggers who are awarding the prizes. I happened to find this one (click on the title to learn more), but apparently there are 50 simultaneous Blogger Magic Giveaways going on. http://http//www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/blogger-magic/
including one at http://www.techiediva.com/2008/12/06/techie-diva-presents-the-hp-magic-giveaway/ and another at
http://merlotmom.blogspot.com/2008/12/its-here-hp-magic-giveaway-begins.html
One of the fun things about entering is you get to visit some really cool blogs. You might even find a few you want to follow. Each blogger sets his or her on rules. Most of them encourage you to at least tell how you would share the magic.
In the Living in Theory contest, our challenge is to write about how we impact the lives of others. I am not quite sure where to begin. As a mom of twelve, nine still living at home, I guess I could say I impact lives everyday. My hope is that through nurturing and instilling compassionate values in my children my investment will be compounded as they can far out reach me in making a difference in the world.
If you read any of my other blog posts, you'll realize that I am passionate about health. My goal, or mission statement, if you will, is to impact the lives of thousands through helping them learn more about wellness, and how to improve the quality of their lives. Nothing is more gratifiying to me than to be able to help someone recover their health, and get their live back (outside of watching my children grow up and achieve their dreams.) I am especially concerned with helping families with special needs children. Part of that drive comes from losing a son (who had a medical condition) ten years ago. I always think... "if I had known then what I know now would things have been different?" So I make it my goal for other parents to not have to ask themselves that question.
I am a MannaRelief Champion and I raise funds to sponsor children with medical challenges. The sponsorship provides Optimal Nutrition for children and helps to improve their quality of life. I also personally sponsor an orphanage through MannaRelief. A long term goal of mine is to take my family on a MannaRelief missions trip where we would actually participate in distributing product, and meeting the children. Currently I am working with a family that has two children with special needs. Both boys have seen great results and the parents would like to keep them in the program. As the economy suffers, so does charitable giving. As their champion, I am on a mission to find the funds to keep them enrolled.
How does this relate to what I would do with the HP Majic Giveaway prizes? It doesn't really, except that one of the boys who is autistic would greatly benefit from having the touchscreen computer. I would love to be able to offer it to this family for their son.
Also in my rambling blog posts is the saga of our family, and our current separation from Daddy. My wonderful husband is on the other side of the country while we are here, waiting for our house to sell. He is incredibly lonely, and having a laptop to 'link' back home would help him trememdously. It is, in fact, on our items to purchase list... only I have yet to take the time to search out the best deal. With us having to stretch our budgets to cover his living expenses as well as ours, winning the contest would allow us to save that laptop money for other things while we stretch our dollars.
With as many children as we have, we are probably one of few families that *could* actually use all the giveaway ourselves. However, we aren't in need of another printer. I am perfectly happy with the HP we currently have, so I would donate it to the local Pregnancy Center, or the Care Cottage (which is a liason for children who are in the DFACS system.) The mini would be perfect for my younger children to do their school work on and would help me keep my sanity when we pack the caravan to drive thousands of miles across the country. I am sure it would help to eliminate the incessant "are we there yet" questions that will no doubt test my last nerve without a portable DVD player to distract them.
Even after I have written all this, there were so many contestants who are far more deserving, and had much loftier plans in place were they to be the lucky winner. I think the neatest thing about this contest is that it doesn't matter who wins. Just by participating, we have stimulated our thoughts (and hopefully our actions) about how to pay it forward and make the world a better place. So, by all means, check out Sugar's blog (follow the title link) and share what you are doing to make a difference. Entertain the idea of winning, and how you would share the Majic.
The Pursuit of Dreams
Helping my children pursue their dreams gives me immense satisfaction. I encourage lofty goals. I want them to reach for the stars, and see where the path leads them. I hope you'll take a moment to visit Hannah's website. Pamper yourself while your there, and help a little girl as she tries to find her place in this world.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Everything is a process
So, I am trying to get my head around this blog thing.. still.
Wondering how to connect my feeds so that I can update just one blog, and it forwards itself to all my social networks.
I know it can be done. I see it happening all around me, but I am not connecting these dots. :)
I have been contemplating setting up my own webite, complete with all the bells and whistles. I am a person who could either be called lazy... or expedient, depending on your perspective.
My goal is always to get as much done as I can while putting forth the least amount of effort possible. Really, it isn't because I am lazy. I just like to multiply my time. More for less - it is the only way to make 'more of me.' That used to be my generic excuse for not getting things done. "If only there were more of me"... or "there just isn't enough of me". Now, I am determined to turn that into a positive. I am going to make more of me.
How can I reach a bigger audience? Connect the internet dots...
I am open to suggestions. I pride myself in being teachable. Show me a better way, and I'll implement it. How can I get the best ROI? I love to share and educate. I want the world to know there are answers. Writing for my local paper touches hundreds, perhaps thousands. I want to touch thousands - millions. I want to wake up slumbering America. For such lofty goals, I need a large platform. I see bloggers with huge followings. They are just every day people, sharing their lives, their joys, their tears. I am just an ordinary mom, with an extraordinary vision. (And an extraordinary number of people who call me mom!) I want others to be able to learn from my mistakes, and my experiences. Being a mom times twelve gives you lots of diverse experiences!
I have the dream, I have the drive, I will achieve my goals. I'd prefer it to be sooner rather than later. This is a shameless plea for help from any of my internet savvy computer guru friends or family. Left to my own devices, it might take me years to decipher the code on my own!
Wondering how to connect my feeds so that I can update just one blog, and it forwards itself to all my social networks.
I know it can be done. I see it happening all around me, but I am not connecting these dots. :)
I have been contemplating setting up my own webite, complete with all the bells and whistles. I am a person who could either be called lazy... or expedient, depending on your perspective.
My goal is always to get as much done as I can while putting forth the least amount of effort possible. Really, it isn't because I am lazy. I just like to multiply my time. More for less - it is the only way to make 'more of me.' That used to be my generic excuse for not getting things done. "If only there were more of me"... or "there just isn't enough of me". Now, I am determined to turn that into a positive. I am going to make more of me.
How can I reach a bigger audience? Connect the internet dots...
I am open to suggestions. I pride myself in being teachable. Show me a better way, and I'll implement it. How can I get the best ROI? I love to share and educate. I want the world to know there are answers. Writing for my local paper touches hundreds, perhaps thousands. I want to touch thousands - millions. I want to wake up slumbering America. For such lofty goals, I need a large platform. I see bloggers with huge followings. They are just every day people, sharing their lives, their joys, their tears. I am just an ordinary mom, with an extraordinary vision. (And an extraordinary number of people who call me mom!) I want others to be able to learn from my mistakes, and my experiences. Being a mom times twelve gives you lots of diverse experiences!
I have the dream, I have the drive, I will achieve my goals. I'd prefer it to be sooner rather than later. This is a shameless plea for help from any of my internet savvy computer guru friends or family. Left to my own devices, it might take me years to decipher the code on my own!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Follow Your Dreams
Rachel:Living Life Differently; Following Her Dreams.
She is studying Parelli Natural Horsemanship which is based on building a partnership, trust, and respect. What fun to gallop bareback and bridleless over hill and dale! Actually I would say Parelli is as much about Life as it is Horsemanship.
My favorite Pat-ism is: "Take the time it takes; it takes less time."
She spent the summer in Montana, and is now back in Georgia. She has taken a full-time job with the Thompsons to pursue her dreams. Hopefully we'll get to see more of her before we move.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Looking at Life a Little Differently
Time for Change... but not the Obama way.
I am excited that we have come to a point of change in our lives. Turning the big 4-0 has made us reflect on where we are, where we wish we were, and how to get there from here. We are making big changes... and the reality is sinking in.
Being a mom of twelve is a badge I proudly wear, but being a geographically single mom isn't looking so appealing. I know the Lord has a plan, and it is a perfect plan. But I am beginning to doubt our soundness of mind in deciding to pack the wagon and head west. I used to think I would have been a bold frontierwoman, but I have always been in awe of the women of the west who lived without their men for months on end. My fortitude will soon be tested. How will I measure up? With just a few short weeks to go, reality is beginning to look me in the face.
Other changes are also on the horizon. My blogspot is taking on a new look, and a new function. As a local wellness consultant and weight loss coach, I reach out and touch hundreds of lives. Being able to facilitate face to face health seminars has been so gratifying, but I am realizing that in order to help more people I must concentrate more on connecting on a cyber level. My passion is to enable, empower, and encourage people to take control of their health. As a mom, I realize that I set the stage not only for myself, but my whole family. I lead, they folllow (idealistically). Reaching out to other moms seems to be a good way to broaden my scope of influence.
The tone of my blog is changing to reflect my desire to touch more lives, change more perspectives, and in my own small way, have an impact on a little segment of history. We as moms don't realize the potential we have as we mold and shape the next generation. Are we going to create a society that follows like sheep, or will we raise up thinkers and doers, movers and shakers? What has God called us to do? For what were we created? When we turn to toxic chemicals to make our lives easier, or toxic medicines to make us feel better, who are we relying on? In this day and age when the world is blissfully complacent with doing things like we've always done them... what will we be remembered for? My hope is that I can help others reach their full potential, be all the God created them to be, and take care of the temple God provided them with to bring glory to Him.
It is truly a time for change. Will we turn to God and search for wisdom and a return to common sense, or will we (as a nation) continue to play follow the leader and become a statistic in the system of sickness we have created? Is this what we want for our children (who are already sicker than we were at their age)?
Are you ready to look at life differently? What kind of changes are you willing to make? How can I help?
Sharing Hope.........
I am excited that we have come to a point of change in our lives. Turning the big 4-0 has made us reflect on where we are, where we wish we were, and how to get there from here. We are making big changes... and the reality is sinking in.
Being a mom of twelve is a badge I proudly wear, but being a geographically single mom isn't looking so appealing. I know the Lord has a plan, and it is a perfect plan. But I am beginning to doubt our soundness of mind in deciding to pack the wagon and head west. I used to think I would have been a bold frontierwoman, but I have always been in awe of the women of the west who lived without their men for months on end. My fortitude will soon be tested. How will I measure up? With just a few short weeks to go, reality is beginning to look me in the face.
Other changes are also on the horizon. My blogspot is taking on a new look, and a new function. As a local wellness consultant and weight loss coach, I reach out and touch hundreds of lives. Being able to facilitate face to face health seminars has been so gratifying, but I am realizing that in order to help more people I must concentrate more on connecting on a cyber level. My passion is to enable, empower, and encourage people to take control of their health. As a mom, I realize that I set the stage not only for myself, but my whole family. I lead, they folllow (idealistically). Reaching out to other moms seems to be a good way to broaden my scope of influence.
The tone of my blog is changing to reflect my desire to touch more lives, change more perspectives, and in my own small way, have an impact on a little segment of history. We as moms don't realize the potential we have as we mold and shape the next generation. Are we going to create a society that follows like sheep, or will we raise up thinkers and doers, movers and shakers? What has God called us to do? For what were we created? When we turn to toxic chemicals to make our lives easier, or toxic medicines to make us feel better, who are we relying on? In this day and age when the world is blissfully complacent with doing things like we've always done them... what will we be remembered for? My hope is that I can help others reach their full potential, be all the God created them to be, and take care of the temple God provided them with to bring glory to Him.
It is truly a time for change. Will we turn to God and search for wisdom and a return to common sense, or will we (as a nation) continue to play follow the leader and become a statistic in the system of sickness we have created? Is this what we want for our children (who are already sicker than we were at their age)?
Are you ready to look at life differently? What kind of changes are you willing to make? How can I help?
Sharing Hope.........
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