Yesterday I got an email where the sender signed with the phrase "Make It A Great Day!"
I liked this sentiment. Instead of the passive "have a great day" (the day kind of comes at you) she took an active approach: make it a great day. Don't just sit back and let things happen, get out there and do something to change things!
As I wrote yesterday, I was having a bad morning. One of those mornings where life felt like it was crashing down around my shoulders and bad news lurked in every corner. I wanted to get back in bed and pull the covers over my head. I wanted to start the day over or at least just end it sooner. But since none of those things were an option, I resolved to do whatever I could to literally make it a great day.
So, this is what I did:
I surfed some blogs that consistently turn my heart towards home, my true ministry. Elizabeth Foss' blog and Kelli's There Is No Place Like Home always fit that bill. I also jumped over to Painted Rainbows and Chamomile Tea for some good book suggestions. A few beautiful picture books reserved at the library always helps with my perspective, I find.
I also made plans with some friends to do something fun today. This gave me something to look forward to.
I read through a recipe book and planned out some meals I could cook. Then I planned a yummy dessert I could bake later in the day, sent to me by my aunt. (Recipe at the bottom of this post.)
I turned on some music and turned off the tv. I tidied up and made my bed. I talked to a good friend via email chat and together we solved the world's problems. Then I turned off the computer and focused on my children, who needed a mom who was engaged in their lives.
If you are visiting from the devotion that ran today, I think that this post goes with that devotion perfectly-- and I didn't even plan it! I had to stop seeing my day as partly cloudy and get out there and look for the partly sunny moments. I found that when I started looking for them, I found them, hidden around the corner, down the hall, and under some stuff. But there nonetheless.
What do you do to make it a great day? I would love to hear your ideas! They can be silly or spiritual, practical or poetic. Let's help each other find our sunny moments!
And as promised here's a cake that is sure to clear away any lingering clouds...
GERMAN CHOCOLATE POUND CAKE (Icing In The Cake)
1 (18.25 oz) German Chocolate Cake Mix
1 (15 oz) Coconut-Pecan Frosting
4 eggs
1/2 c. oil
1 c. water
Preheat oven to 350.This can be made in either a 9 x 13 or Bundt pan. Baking time is the same on either one.
Mix all ingredients (including the icing), in mixer at medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour into prepared pan and bake 50-60 miunutes. Remove from oven to wire rack and allow cooling for 10 minutes. Invert onto serving plate and dust with powdered sugar.You can also make this using a yellow cake mix and it's called a COCONUT CHIFFON CAKE.
13 comments:
What an appropriate reminder on the Proverbs 31 Woman site on a very dreary Wisconsin morning. Thanks to you and your wonderful son!
As I am sending off my third college student this week, with only one child left at home, I am thrilled that you are setting your priorities straight and enjoying your little ones. Also I am in need of your reminder to look for the sun shining when my heart is aching for mine.
May God bless you and your beautiful family.
Diane
Marybeth, I was just telling my younger kids last night (cause goodness knows my older kids have heard it enough :-) that when you can't change your circumstances, you can still change your attitude!
I had also planned to stop by your blog anyway today because I had remembered at one point you had a link to some state studies (particularly NC history I'm looking for) and wanted to check that out. Unfortunately, I don't remember when I looked at your blog to find that.
If you get a minute, could you let me know that link? But, of course, I understand busy! (followup comment, sgbasham@hotmail.com or my blog)
Wish I'd gotten to meet you at She Speaks....maybe next time :-)
Carpe Diem. Seize the day! I am going to write make it a great day in my journal. Thank you for that lesson.
Thank you!
I sooooo needed this today. I feel so stuck in my circumstances and although I know my God is there, I feel (I know!) I haven't been there with my God. I am letting life drown me in depression, self pity, etc. and I am not the wife and mother I know I should be. I woke up this morning wanting to start right with God, reading my devotions, but I so want to feel more inside me. I feel so distant from God. I get easily distracted from my good intentions by normal wife/mom things that I am not being the kind and patient person I should be. Could I ask for your prayers today so that I can hear/see/feel God real close today?
Thank you,
R
R, I will pray for you-- and anyone else who reads this, will you please pray for R too?
My sister, God does love you. He is near you. Read through some Psalms today and listen to His words to you.
Then go for a walk or bake a cake or go pick out a good book at the library. Whatever you do I hope you make it a great day!
Please let us know what God shows you as you seek Him... I am anxious to hear and believing that He will show up in very clear ways today.
Thank you so much for sharing this message. I always sign my notes I hope you have a good day but 'make it a good day' is so much more positive.
And you made my day. It is funny, the last time you mentioned my blog I was feeling down about my purpose in the blog world and just last night I was feeling the same. If only one family benefits from my suggestions, it should make me happy. And it does. Thank you!
Saying a prayer for R. I think we all know too well the feeling of not measuring up to our expectations of being wife and mother.
This was great. God's perfect timing. I was feeling the same way as others have mentioned, so I called my best friend. We are so good for each other because we laugh and lift each other up, but today she is in the same frump. I got off the phone and felt like I needed a lift so I turned to your blog. In praying for "R", I'm feeling such a lift in my spirit. I hope "R" is too. Sister,s in the Lord ... thank you Lord for this wonderful gift. I think I'll go call my friend back.
How wonderful to learn from our children. I have two grown children and three granddaughters. I'm learning lots of new things from them. I enjoyed your story on Proverbs 31 Site. It's a reminder to me to check my attitude in the morning or anytime. "This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Sometimes circumstances are hard and feelings run low. I know that for me, the Lord reminds me to "Seek Him". Hear hears and answers.
I also liked the phrase "make it a great day"! We have a choice in our attitudes and how to face the day.
I will pray for R too.
May the Lord, Jesus help you to make your days great!
I am anxious to try out your cake recipe too.
A sister in the Lord.
Yep. Sometimes we forget that joy is a choice. :-)
I love that you are so real...that we can all come together as wives, moms, friends, or just plain women and share. I love that I am not the only one who gets overwhelmed and wants to crawl back into bed and throw the covers over my head and stay where it is comfortable for ME, I love that R can express feeling that I myself have also been dealing with, I love that we can all be an encouragement to each other. I have been learning about self talk, soul talk (study by Jennifer Rothschild), and learning to take thoughts captive into the obedience of Christ and say the things to myself that Christ says to me: and believe them!
I love your blog, thank you for always being such an encouragment!
It's funny because right after I read your devotional on Tuesday about "make it a great day" I got to work and my "Kind Today" flip calendar on my bookcase said the same thing..."Make it a great day!" so I think that was definitely more than a coincidence and I paid attention to make it a great day!!
It's all in those little, every day, seemingly meaningless choices that makes it a great day, isn't it? :)
It takes an active decision to turn your eyes upward, doesn't it? Putting praise music on always helps my attitude, but I have to be willing to turn it on!
And the recipe sounds not only delicious, but easy! I hope to try it for a Bible study night at our home :-)
Blessings,
Tammy ~@~
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