OK, so summer is over and it is full swing of FALL right now, but its never too late to write about it, right?  My issue of TEACH magazine came to me in mid to late summer and I have read it and reread it numerous times, as I always do.  I try and keep them around so I can read an uplifting story here and there when I have a few moments. 

One of the first stories that touched me was titled "My family = My Friends?"  This story discusses growing up with sibilings and being kind to one another and each other.  I know that i wasn't always the greatest oldest sibiling t my younger brothers, but I do know that as we get older things do seem to get better between us all.  I tell my children this all the time as two of them bicker, call each other names, hit and just plain old mean to each other.  I tell my children that we all need to get along with each other and so I read this story to them.  Jessica Cover the aithor of this article summed it up best, and so I typed up her words and posted them in my home so that all the kids could see them and be reminded.  Tips for Cultivating and maintaining close relations in the family:  1.  Laugh together!  Enjoy each other!  2.  Treasure each other!  Compliments, encouragaing words, smiles and hugs.  3.  Forgive each other and pray for each other!  Never, ever, ever be bitter.  4.  Make your relationship with the Lord your TOP Priority.  5.  Persevere! You can do it!

This next story that caught my attention --Mission Impossible! by Shelley Noonan just had me rereading and rereading her article.  She spok about finding quiet time---How am I supposed to find quiet time when I can't even go to the bathroom by myself? Oh how this truly rings true in my home. LOL  She challenges us to get creative and to make some adjustments.    Her first note is to adjust your location.  sometimes for me that is just going for a short drive in the car.  Second  is Adjust your time, for this I started making the big kids go to their rooms to read and the little ones to go to bed a little earlier, then I can relax on the couch, read or evern just go to bed earlier.  Third and last is adjust your boundaries.  To do this is to Verbalize, Signal and Enforce.  What a great article.  I may not be a pro at this yet, but I am working on it more and more each day.

I will have to write more later, I need to take my daughter somewhere.  TTFN--Debra