DIY Elderberry Syrup

Easy Instant Pot Elderberry Syrup

You’ve probably heard about the health benefits of elderberry syrup. It’s been garnering more attention in recent years and for good reason!

Health Benefits

Elderberry syrup helps support the immune system, which can help prevent illness.

Want more good news? In addition to illness prevention, elderberry syrup is also useful for reducing the duration of cold or flu symptoms if you do happen to catch a virus. (It’s said to be much safer than tamiflu, by the way.)

Why Make Your Own?

I nearly fell over when I bought a small bottle of elderberry syrup at the store once. It was thirty dollars. Do you know how long a 4 ounce bottle lasts in a household of nine? Yeah. Like two days. (Okay, maybe a wee bit longer.)

But seriously, making your own elderberry syrup is waaaay more economical than purchasing a bottle from the store, and it’s so dang easy. Once you do it, you’ll kick yourself for not trying it sooner. 

Another benefit to making your own syrup is that you have control over which ingredients go into your elderberry syrup. You can tweak the recipe to accommodate taste preferences, food sensitivities, veganism or whatever floats your boat.

This sweet potion can certainly be made on the stovetop, but today I’m sharing my recipe for Instant Pot Elderberry Syrup because it’s the easiest! Do you like easy? I like easy.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried elderberries
  • 4 cups water
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 Tbsp fresh ginger
  • 1 cup raw honey, local if possible***

Instructions

  1. Add the elderberries, water, cinnamon and ginger to the Instant Pot.
  2. Cook on Manual, High Pressure for 7 minutes.
  3. Perform a Quick Release.
  4. Strain the liquid into a bowl using a fine mesh strainer, pressing the berries with a spoon or measuring cup to squeeze out as much of the valuable juice as possible.
  5. Allow to cool for 15 minutes.
  6. Stir the honey into the warm (but not hot) liquid.
  7. Transfer to a glass bottle with a tight-fitting lid. I like to use the wide mouth mason jars, either a quart jar or two pint jars.
  8. Store in the refrigerator. Your homemade elderberry syrup will keep for at least a couple months if you followed the recipe.

Dosing – Adults

I’ve read various “dosing” instructions, and here’s how I do it:

Prevention/Maintenance: 1 tablespoon daily

Treatment: 1 tablespoon every 4 hours while awake

Dosing – Children Over One Year Old

Prevention/Maintenance: 1 teaspoon daily

Treatment: 1 teaspoon every 4 hours while awake

***NEVER GIVE HONEY TO A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF ONE YEAR OLD.

DIY Painted Pumpkins

DIY Painted Pumpkins: Fun For The Whole Family

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‘Tis the Season

It’s pumpkin patch season! Hooray!

Looking for fun activities to do with kids this Fall?

A visit to the pumpkin patch is a classic autumnal outing. My kids get a kick out of the petting zoo, and I love the hay rides most. Lucky for me, having multiple munchkins in school means I get more opportunities to chaperone this festive field trip each year. Yay!

Hay Ride
Halloween Hay Bale

Here’s an idea: take advantage of the abundance of pumpkins this season, and create Painted Pumpkins! You can use the pumpkins you picked at the pumpkin patch, or grab some from the grocery store. Any pumpkins will do.

Pumpkin Patch

This activity is simple, fun, and as enjoyable for the grownups as it is for the kids.

Plus, you’ll be able to enjoy your adorable DIY fall décor when you’re finished! Each hand-painted pumpkin will have loads of personality. Our painted pumpkins are now happily perched on the front porch next to my (gargantuan) mums. Except for the one I painted. It mysteriously migrated to my nightstand, and I haven’t returned it to the porch yet.

How To Paint Pumpkins

If the weather is favorable, head outside for this activity. It’ll minimize cleanup and give everyone some fresh air and natural vitamin D. You need more vitamin D this time of year to ward off Seasonal Affective Disorder anyway.

Here are the SUPPLIES you’ll need:

Pumpkins – any size will do

Paints – we really like these Crayola washable paints

Paint utensils – paintbrushes, sponges, fingers, etc

Cup(s) of water for rinsing paint brushes between colors

Newspaper or Disposable table cloth if surfaces need protection

Clothes that can get messy

The rest is pretty self-explanatory. Wipe off any dirty pumpkins before you start. Dip your brush (cotton ball, Q-tip, or other instrument) in the paint, and let your imagination run wild!

Young girl painting a pumpkin

A New Fall Tradition

Some friends came over last weekend to paint pumpkins with our family, and it was such a relaxing, fun time. It was the perfect autumnal day. My friend Lucy & I were literally lying with our bellies on the driveway, feeling the cool ground beneath us and the warmth from the sun above. My senses were more awake than they’ve been in some time. This weather makes me feel so alive! Creativity was flowing. Kids were giggling with glee.

Kids painting pumpkins

Painting pumpkins will make a splendid addition to our family traditions!

Give it a go and share this activity with some special children in your life.

I’d love to hear about it if you do!

Managing Seasonal Affective Disorder

Lighten Up If You’re SAD

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It’s finally Fall, y’all!

If you’ve recently spent any time on social media, you’ve seen the memes and gifs touting pumpkin spice and everything nice: hay rides, cozy sweaters, colorful foliage, football, and all manner of autumnal delights. There are countless pleasures to be had this time of year. It’s my favorite!

There is a dark side to this time of year though. Literally.

Beginning on the Autumnal Equinox, our daylight hours gradually dwindle. The sun rises later each morning and sets earlier each evening. The changes are small – just a minute or two each morning and evening, but it’s noticeable after several days.

Thus begins the time of year when some individuals suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, aka SAD. It’s basically the winter blues on steroids.

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Simply put, SAD is a seasonal depression that’s triggered by the change of seasons. It can happen during any season, but is most common between the Autumnal Equinox (which was September 28 this year) and the Vernal Equinox (which will be March 19, 2020).

January and February tend to be the most challenging months for those with SAD. It makes sense. After the excitement and festivities of the holidays have passed, life can feel a bit anticlimactic. And generally speaking, we don’t venture outdoors as often when the weather is cold and overcast. These two factors alone seem to be the makings for a personal slump, in my opinion.

Signs & symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder

General feelings of sadness or depression

Low energy, fatigue

Inability to concentrate

Difficulty sleeping – insomnia

Sleeping too much

Weight gain

Carb cravings

Loss of interest in pleasurable activities

Low libido

Feelings of hopelessness or despair

In severe cases, thoughts of suicide

Who is most susceptible to Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Those affected by SAD typically live in a temperate zone. And the further from the equator an individual lives, the greater the chances of experiencing this seasonal mood disorder. If you live in a town that is more overcast than not during the winter (been there, done that, bye Felicia!) you are also at increased risk for SAD.

I find it interesting that women are four times more likely than men to experience SAD.

Tips and Treatment

My #1 suggestion for coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder is to BE PROACTIVE. Don’t just sit back and wallow in your SAD state! There are plenty of things you can do to nurture your mind & body during this time of year so pull yourself up by your bootstraps and take care of yourself! 

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for Seasonal Affective Disorder. Try a few different things, and see what works best for you!

Ideas for Nurturing Yourself

Regular physical activity, something you actually ENJOY! Exercise releases endorphins and makes you feel better.

Lighten up. Install brighter light bulbs in your main living space. My fave bulbs are linked below.

Get an actual light box and spend 20-30 minutes in front of it each morning. (Please check with your doctor first as this is contraindicated wtih certain conditions/medications.)

Take a Vitamin D supplement.

Do more of what makes you happy! What hobbies do you enjoy? Is there something you’ve always wanted to learn? (I tend to knit more during the fall and winter.)

Practice mindfulness.

Give yourself grace. Acknowledge your struggles and be gentle with yourself. Treat yourself as you would a dear friend.

Choose light colors for your home interiors.

Keep your blinds open at home during daylight.

Sit near windows. Move your favorite chair or couch next to a window.

Go outside midday if possible, when natural light is brightest.

Eat plenty of fresh veggies & fruits when the carb cravings hit.

Keep warm. Wear comfortable clothes, turn up your thermostat, enjoy warm beverages & foods.

Keep your mind busy. Work on puzzles, learn something new, play games, read books.

Journal daily about your feelings. Be sure to include a few things you’re thankful for!

Socialize with people you enjoy. Family, friends, book clubs, networking groups… stay engaged with other humans.

Talk to a counselor. There’s absolutely no shame in getting professional help!

Find a local support group. And if there isn’t one, find one online or start one yourself!

Use a dawn-simulating alarm clock with full-spectrum light.

Utilize aromatherapy to boost your mood and/or promote restful sleep. Example: put a few drops of lavender essential oil in your evening bath.

Maintain a regular schedule. This will help regulate your circadian rhythm.

Take a vacation to a sunny place. 

Talk to your doctor about medication if you think you might need it. Some people take antidepressants seasonally.

Keep in mind that this is literally just a season. It will pass!

Resources

Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255

The Discipline of Self Care

What do you think of when you hear the word discipline?

I think about correcting my kids’ behavior.

But we’re not talking about the kids today.

We’re talking about you. And me.

Imagine waking up to a sink full of dirty dishes, food crumbs all over the table and floor, yesterday’s coffee dregs still in the carafe. Makes me want to go back to bed just thinking about it!

More often than not, when I feel overwhelmed it’s due to a series of choices I’ve made that are not in line with the life I want to create.

Some of the self care ideas I share here are closely tied to self-discipline. Unlike a bubble bath or a pedicure, these activities aren’t necessarily fun in the moment. Cooking dinner during naptime instead of doing XYZ, washing the dishes before you go to bed, going to bed earlier… not the most exhilarating activities, I know.

But sometimes we need to choose what we want most over what we want now.

Sometimes Self Care is doing the mundane things.

I want to enjoy playing with my kids when they’re not at school. Well, having dinner prepped ahead of time frees me to do that. (P.s. I don’t do this every day. Most days the dinner prep hour is the ugliest hour of the day, if I’m honest. But a girl’s got to have goals, right? Must. Get. Better. At. This.)

I want to wake up to a clean kitchen, sip my morning coffee, and enjoy writing at a clean dining room table. That can only happen if I clean up the house the night before.

I want to feel energized each morning and ready to seize the day! I want to wake up while it’s still dark and have a quiet hour to myself before the kids wake up. Going to bed early is the only way I can achieve this.

So yeah, sometimes I have to suck it up and do the things I don’t feel like doing in order to have the things I want. This is discipline.

It’s like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger you get.

I challenge you to practice making choices with your future self in mind. This could be your tonight self, your tomorrow morning self, your Holidays self, or your next year self. Get clear about how you want to feel, what you want your environment to be, what you’d like to be doing.

And then do a little something to work toward that. I’m not talking about a major life overhaul here. Just baby steps.

Exercise your self-discipline muscle to create more of what you want.

Then enjoy those sweet rewards! Let that enjoyment propel you to find new ways to “treat yo’self” through self-discipline.

Obviously, what’s important to me may be different from what’s important to you. I’d love to hear your thoughts on how you can incorporate self-discipline into your self care routine!

Nurture Thyself: Daily Prompts for Self Care Awareness

Self Care September

Happy September! Are you as excited about Fall as I am?!? 🌻

It’s my favorite season! (And not just because my name is Autumn.)

Back in 2017, September was declared Self Care Awareness Month. I know, I know… it seems like there’s a month or day dedicated to just about everything these days. International Nose Picking Day, anyone? Yes, it’s a thing.

Personally, I think it’s fun! (The unusual holidays, not the nose picking.) So let’s roll with it.

Would you love to encounter a cute little prompt each day… something that’ll inspire you to better nurture yourself? 

Wonderful! That’s exactly what I’ve created for you over on Facebook and Instagram. You’re invited to follow along and NURTURE THYSELF a little extra for the rest of this month! See ya over on social!

Confessions of a Logophile

I’m kind of obsessed with words. My favorite board games involve word play. Taboo, Boggle, Mad Gab, Catch Phrase, Balderdash, and Huggermugger. Game night, anyone??

Whenever I encounter an unfamiliar word, I like to take a moment to learn the definition of that word. When I was growing up, my sisters and I had to lug a giant blue dictionary to the dining room table and thumb through its endless pages to find the word in question. Sometimes it just wasn’t worth the effort.

Times have changed though. Now I have a super smart friend named Siri that I talk to on the daily.

Try this: hold down the home button on your iPhone and say:

“Define perspicacious.”

Seriously, do it. I’ll wait for you. (Insert Jeopardy music.)

Life. Changing. Right??

When I first met my husband Wes, I relished our conversations. He would occasionally use words I had never heard before. Words like perspicacious. That was very attractive to me. And for the record, I still enjoy conversing with my husband, but we have a lot more [children] demanding our attention now. (That reminds me… it’s time to schedule a date night!)

You can see that words are interesting and important to me. I tend to choose words carefully… much like I choose my coffee mug each day. If you didn’t know, coffee mugs matter!

These are small passions of mine. Words. Coffee…

But something I’m even more passionate about is SELF CARE. It’s a topic you will encounter frequently if you follow me.

I don’t consider myself a trendy lady. In fact, sometimes I buck trends just because they annoy me. It’s probably safe to say that self care is a buzz-word these days. A trend. So I’ve been searching for a different word to use that preserves the meaning of my message and adds a slightly different flavor…

And I’ve landed on NURTURE.

Definition of Nurture

I’m guessing you have people in your life that you nurture. And I’m guessing you do a darn good job at it! Probably more than you give yourself credit for.

But who nurtures YOU???

Are the crickets chirping?

I’d like to help you change that.

In the coming weeks, we’re going to have conversations about the benefits of self nurture, some myths about self nurture, and practical ways to incorporate a nurturing practice into your own life. 

I am so looking forward to sharing this journey with you!

Family Pizza Night

I don’t know about you, but I could eat pizza just about every night and not get tired of it. My family is fortunate to live in a city that has a satisfying food scene, including a variety of local pizza joints.

My husband and I enjoy dining out on occasion, but for the most part we plan to cook our meals at home. It’s better for our waistlines and our budget. Oh, and by the way, we means I when it comes to meal planning and preparation. 😉

Let’s be honest though. Sometimes my family eats pizza because I failed to plan, if you know what I mean. (I’m betting you do.)

Other times, I actually do plan for pizza. And oh, how I relish the anticipation of having a night off from cooking dinner! I can look forward to just hanging with my fam and enjoying my food while it’s still hot. Well, maybe!

One of our local pizzerias, Shotgun Dan’s Pizza, is currently offering a Takeout special that’s perfect for us busy mamas whether our pizza nights are planned… or not! 😄

The Family Roundup provides a complete meal for your family:

  • 1 Large One Topping Pizza
  • 1 Large Garden Salad (dressing of your choice)
  • 2-Liter of Soda

For our Family Pizza Night, we enjoyed a (very) large pepperoni pizza, salad with oil & vinegar dressing, and Sprite.

It’s worth mentioning that there was no skimping on the toppings! Yum. Both the pizza and salad were loaded.

The price of the Family Roundup is $19.95, which I think is very reasonable for the quality and amount of food you get. Not to mention the fact that Mama doesn’t have to cook! #priceless

Talk about hitting the Easy Button! Heck, you don’t even have to get out of the car since there’s a drive-thru pick up window at the restaurant.

And if you use paper plates like we did, clean up is minimal, too!

So do yourself a favor and grab one (or three) of these Family Roundup meals while they’re available! Offer is good August 18-31, 2019, at all Shotgun Dan’s Pizza locations, for Takeout only.

You’re welcome.

Thanks to Lucy Baehr Photography for capturing these moments.

Disclaimer: Our dinner was provided for free by Shotgun Dan’s Pizza in Little Rock, Arkansas, in return for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own and not influenced by said company, and/or its affiliates, in any way.

When Things Don’t Go As Planned

Have a plan, but go with the flow.

This has become my approach to life in the last year. Things could have been much easier had I made this my motto years ago, but better late than never, right?

We had a wonderful summer break this year! I hired babysitters to play with my kids for several hours each week while I pursued a passion project that I’ve let sit on the back burner for far too long. It was quite expensive to do that. My husband questioned my judgment. But man alive! It was worth it!

Enjoying a few uninterrupted hours away from home was refreshing, and it allowed me to feel excited to spend time with these young humans again. When I came home from working, I felt enough of a sense of accomplishment that I could happily tuck my laptop away and be present with my kids. So we played hard this summer. Together!

I was looking forward to even more productivity when the kids went back to school. After all, they’re growing up so dang fast that 6 out of 7 of my kids are in school this year! It’ll be just baby Huxley and me during school hours this year. I thought we would quickly settle into a new routine, he would take good naps during the day, and I would have a quiet house in which to kick some To Do List booty.

Who was I kidding?

I can’t tell you how often in the last two weeks Proverbs 16:9 has swirled into my thoughts:

“The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.”

Since last week, which was back-to-school week for us:

  • My college-bound son had a roommate arrangement fall through at the last minute and needed urgent help.
  • My husband completed a house project that required a few days of complete chaos in the house (and… drywall dust).
  • Our 4-year-old was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia.
  • Our 5-year-old got fiberglass insulation in her eye which caused an abrasion.
  • Our 9-month-old is cutting his first tooth.
  • A couple different friends are dealing with some heartbreaking circumstances. (If you know me, you know the empathy is strong here.)
  • I had a bout of mastitis-like symptoms. Some of you are acquainted with that devil.
  • And now my hubby has a hurt wrist after a bike riding mishap (apparently caused by our six-year-old.)

So yeah, things have not gone quite as planned since school started last week. I’ve certainly not experienced the zen-like “in the zone” productive days I’d dreamed of. At least not yet.

You know what though? I’m grateful!

  • I’m grateful that I happened to be at a conference in the same city as my college-aged son the same weekend that he needed me.
  • I’m grateful for the new recessed lighting in my kitchen & living area and for my husband’s thorough cleaning up after his project.
  • I’m grateful for our caring, accessible pediatrician and the top-notch care at our local children’s hospital (one of the best in the country) and for our health insurance.
  • I’m grateful for the caring owner of Shotgun Dan’s Pizza who generously provided dinner for my family while I stayed at the hospital with our daughter.
  • I’m grateful that I have the flexibility to take my children to doctor’s appointments and keep them home as needed… and not worry about calling off work. (Props to you mamas who also juggle a job outside the home!)
  • I’m grateful to be the one who comforts my baby when he’s uncomfortable from teething pain.
  • I’m grateful to still be breastfeeding. And for fresh garlic and how it works as a natural antibiotic!
  • I’m grateful that my husband takes time out of his busy schedule to ride with our cycling-obsessed son.

You see, these circumstances were largely out of my control. Was this what I had planned? Uh… no!!!

But it’s OK. Really.

I know I preach gratitude all the time, but that’s because it can transform your life, my friend!

Maybe things aren’t going as you planned today. 

Or this week. Or this year. Or… this life.

But try to find a silver lining somewhere. And please tell me about it!

What are you grateful for?

Time Blocking

Time Management Tips for Busy Mamas

Sometimes life feels like a circus act. You know.

We mamas are the star performers in a seemingly endless juggling act. And we have an impressive lineup of hats to wear while we perform, don’t we?

Whether you’re a stay-at-home, work-at-home, or work-outside-the-home mom, I’m guessing you’ve probably struggled with time management before. Am I right?

Well, I thought you might like to hear about a time management strategy I’ve been experimenting with. It’s working splendidly for me so far, and it really wouldn’t be nice to keep it a secret, now would it? So without further ado…

Have you ever heard of the Pomodoro technique? I stumbled across it just a few weeks ago while searching for something, anything, to help me be more productive. It’s basically a variation of time blocking that was developed in the 1980s by a guy named Francesco Cirillo. His strategy utilizes one of my favorite tools – the timer. Francesco’s timer happened to be shaped like a tomato, hence the pomodoro technique! (That’s the Italian word for tomato.)

Don’t you love how timers can turn anything into a game? I love games.

Maybe you’d like to jump right in and play, too! Here’s my simple how-to to get you started:

1. Set your timer for 25 minutes and get to work.

2. When your timer goes off, take a 5 minute break.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2.

4. After two hours (four 25/5 blocks) take a 20 minute break.

5. Repeat steps 1-4 as needed.

To take things a step further, I’m combining the Pomodoro Technique with another productivity-enhancing method called batching.

Simply put, batching is grouping similar tasks to be completed during the same time period. For example, you could designate one of your time blocks for making phone calls, another one to pay bills, and another to sort through the baby’s clothes. It saves time to batch tasks that require the same tools, apps, or mindset. It’s far more efficient to open your laptop once to take care of seven digital tasks than it would be to open your laptop on seven different occasions. Make sense?

You can also break down larger projects and batch those tasks the same way. For example, if you manage a social media account, you might choose to write a whole week’s worth of content in one sitting. During your next work session you might edit photos to post with your written content. I’ve discovered that it’s not efficient to toggle among twenty tabs, ha!

Here’s another example: if your goal is to organize your entire house, you would break that project down by focusing on one room at a time or one category of items (clothes, books, toys) at a time.

Whatever your goal, focus on just one type of activity during each time block.

Time Management for Moms

I heard another idea on a podcast recently that has boosted my productivity immensely. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like turning my phone on Do Not Disturb mode while working away from the house. I mean, what if the babysitter has a question or there’s a family emergency?? I wouldn’t want to miss anything urgent or, heaven forbid, make someone wait for an answer to their question! So I remain perpetually available. And the downside to that is… SQUIRREL! All those dang notifications roll in and are very difficult to ignore.

Well, this particular podcaster gave me permission to set my phone on Do Not Disturb mode for short periods of time. Wait! You mean I don’t have to shut the world out for an hours-long chunk of time? Aha! (Anyone else struggle with all-or-nothing thinking?) 

I can work uninterrupted for the 25 minute time blocks, checking for messages only during my designated breaks. Genius!

Also, I may be the last one to have figured this out, but you can change your phone Settings to allow certain Contacts to reach you even when you’re in Do Not Disturb mode. I can relax now, knowing that my important people can reach me if needed.

So all these time management tips can be used together to help you hone those juggling skills and be a real class act mama.

Since implementing these techniques I’ve shared with you, I feel more focused.

And I’m definitely more productive!

Also, a mug of delicious hot coffee never hurts either. 😉

Time Management for Moms

When It’s All Too Much

Do you ever feel like you’re in over your head, Mama?

Me too.

Just the other day I had the thought, “What have I done? I have too many children!

It was only a fleeting thought, and I’m not proud of it. But I wanted to share it with you to let you know that you’re not alone if you’ve had similar thoughts. Maybe not about your children. Maybe about who you married. Maybe about a move you made. Maybe about a career path you chose. Anything that makes you question if you’re on the right path. Or if you’re cut out for this.

Obviously I don’t really believe I had too many children. God gave them to me after all, each precious and wildly unique one.

I’ve often heard people say that God doesn’t give us more than we can handle.

Personally, I think God does allow us more than we can handle.

In my experience, that’s the only way we learn to fully depend on him. I can be pretty darn self-sufficient. That is, until I reach the end of my rope. And when that happens, it can get ugly. Ask my husband.

On second thought… don’t! Ha!

I feel it’s worth mentioning that there is always an end to the rope. It’s finite. We can only handle so much on our own. Sometimes I try to stretch the rope with extra sleep, extra coffee, extra wine, time with friends. But all the self-medicating and self-help in the world won’t suffice.

I need GRACE.

I need to receive it. And give it.

And it flows best in that order!

Receive grace. Give grace. Repeat.

Have you ever been the recipient of a random act of kindness? How did it make you feel? Didn’t it fill you with gratitude and inspire you to turn around and show kindness to someone else? I find that grace works a lot like that, too!

But sometimes in the hustle and chaos of motherhood, when we hardly have the opportunity to take a 30 second shower, a daily spiritual practice takes a backseat. It doesn’t seem to call to us quite as loudly or urgently as the screaming child with the skinned knee in the driveway or the milk dripping onto the dining room floor or the dryer buzzing yet again.

We must be intentional, Mamas!

One of my favorite books is The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness by Jeff Olson. He explains how the simple acts we perform day in and day out have a compounding effect and a potentially massive impact on our lives, for better or for worse. It’s critical that we take care of the important things and not just the urgent things.

Your spiritual well-being is important! So my challenge to you is to conduct a simple self-examination. Think about it. Who or what is your source? How are you tapping in to that source on a daily basis?

If you’ve got a good thing going, keep it up! (And please share your tips.)

If a change is in order, what might that look like in your life? Where in your daily routine might you regularly find a few moments to be still and receive some grace?