Lizzy Charles's Blog

Release day is almost here. Guys, I can barely handle it. Soon you’ll be stretching out at the beach with It had to be You and falling in love with James and Edelweiss. Click here for more info!

Dreaming comes easily to me thanks to motherhood. The job of 24 hour parenting plus the endless loads of laundry, dishes, being a transport guru,  nurse (and in my case a nurse in my day job), teacher, confidant, snuggle buddy, poop wiper, cook, and potty trainer can take it’s toll on my sanity. There’s only so many times I can chip dried maple syrup off my table without creating a super highway into day dreaming territory. The dreams weave through my consistent, daily routine at a welcomed pace.

But as a creative person, I once struggled with the flip of this. I could dream freely because I was consistent with my necessarily parenting routine, but I had no routine for working towards my dreams.

When I finally found time for myself, I felt lost. What did that character say again? What was that awesome quote I wanted to turn into a tote bag and sell? The random list of cool thoughts assaulted me while I stared at the computer screen. And I didn’t know where to start.

And when I did start, it never seemed to make a difference toward achieving my end goal, whether that be launching a book, dieting, revamping my website, editing photos, or creating a new recipe.

And it was all due to a lack of consistency.

Consistency! My lifeboat as a mother and the only thing that allows me to type “the end” when I complete a novel. A book doesn’t write itself after all. You’ve got to set a schedule and stick to it if you want to write an entire novel in 4-6 weeks.

But when it comes to the stuff that doesn’t make my brain sparkle (lots of glitter bombs going off in my dream land I guess), I used to let things slip.

That is, until I got frustrated with myself. I got sick of saying “Tomorrow I’ll do it.” So I’ve adopted a few tricks to keep myself in balance while taking steps toward making my dreams a reality.

Tips to stay consistent as a creative professional.

Set office hours. This is a huge one guys. I literally would not be where I’m at without setting these hours. The hours may change depending on the day (I have a rotating work schedule) but I do set specific time aside for writing, professional development (lots of podcast listening while doing dishes), and then specific hours for the admin side of my business.
Use free tools. I’m all about using a brain board to help me switch from creative mode into admin mode without needing to reset and flinch. Organization does not come naturally to me (not a huge surprise) so believe me when I say I’ve tried every type of to-do app on the planet. Not to mention all the planners I’ve bought! I’ve been known to have over three different calendars, copy the same thing from one to the other to try to constantly keep myself organized. And it’s never worked for me. But then I came up with the idea of creating brain boards. For this, I use a combination of Pinterest and Trello (both free apps). Pinterest is fantastic for creating vision boards (feel free to set them to public or private depending on how close you like to hold your cards to your chest). I’ve used this for character development over the years, snagging the idea of what a character may look like or a logo I love and popping it on a board for inspiration. Recently, I found Trello, and it’s seriously been a Godsend to me! It’s like the mecca of list making but in board format, so it’s easy for me to switch from my Mom board to my business board, seeing all I need to get done on a daily basis.
Work toward balancing the mess. Have you ever walked into an artists workspace? Seen the desk of an author on a deadline? Let’s just say the space can get out of control and the food in the fridge goes bad, fast. Guys, it sucks to wake up from whatever creative juices you’ve got flowing and realize that your entire environment crumbled while you were away. Within the office hours that you set in #1, make time for a quick clean up. Even ten minutes a day will save you in the long run!
Take care of yourself. Consistency isn’t born from shoving cupcakes down your throat while you are on a deadline. Yes, this is the registered nurse side of me speaking right now. That cupcake may feel fantastic going down while you are having your epic moment of creative brilliance, but in the long run it’s going to drag you down with it. Far, far down. You really are what you eat, so eat well. And get outside and walk. Better yet, do high intensity interval training (burn off some of that creative anxiety!). Also take time for prayer, meditation, and yoga. My greatest creative strides have come during moments of my life where I focus on my health and wellness.
Get Perspective. This is a painful one to put yourself through, but it’s necessary. Give yourself a performance review. (Ouch! I know!). Are you meeting your goals? Are you showing up to work on time? What are you adding toward your business? What are you struggling with? What are you enjoying? How can you improve? I do this a few times a week right now to keep myself on track (I’m in major creative mode and I really need this, especially to keep my family life stable!). It’s not a fun process, but it keeps it all in perspective so I can meet my end goals while maintaining a balanced life.
Get Help. Do you hate doing graphic design? Find a virtual assistant who loves it (check out freelance.com). Is it impossible to accomplish anything with three kids interrupting every 12 seconds? Yes, yes it is. So guess what? I ask people to watch the kids or I have the kids watch themselves while I knock out a half an hour of  work (watch themselves as in they play in the basement or backyard while I work from my office within ear shot). Do what you have to do make things work. I know there are excuses, because I’ve told them all to myself. Sometimes you can’t get perfect, but good is usually good enough. So take those good opportunities to stay consistent. When you do, you’ll start seeing movement toward making your dreams realities in ways you’ve never experienced before.
Use the time you are given. I hate to break it to you, but being creative doesn’t mean you get to sit around and wait for inspiration to strike. It actually means the opposite. You take the time you are given and make things happen, even when you don’t feel like it. You paint the darn word art you’ve been contracted to make, even though you’d rather veg out on the couch and watch Stranger Things. To hell with the idea of waiting for your muse to strike. Guess what? It won’t happen. It’s a myth. Sure, some days creativity will be easier, but usually it’s hard work. Remembering that and respecting the time you are given will take you far!

 

 

 

Valentine’s Day is a’coming and everyone needs a new romance book to fall in love with, right? Here’s a fantastic contest that you’ll want to enter to get an amazing book bundle. Check out these amazing books!

NEW ADULT BOOKS

YOUNG ADULT BOOKS

Enter Here

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kids have super powers.

How do they know the differences in the squeaks of the hardwood floor? They all have a sixth sense that I like to call Mom-radar. Their ears perk up the moment I move, and this sense feathers out, coming after me like a toxic fog from a horror movie.

Somehow, they know I’m off to do something just for me. Maybe it’s to sit down with my tea and the book I’ve been dying to read, journal, paint my nails, or exercise. The moment I shift toward me, they are on their feet, running to investigate exactly what I’m doing, asking a million questions through the process while simultaneously demanding that I sew their stuffed animal or set up a painting station.

Mama’s, I’ve got to be honest. There is a deep craving in my soul for a moment alone. A moment to breathe. To bury my head in Pinterest and look at some of Joanna Gaine’s gorgeous kitchen. Or, if I’m brave enough, a moment to think about my own dreams. The ones that don’t revolve around my children.

Of course, that’s when Mom Guilt throws open my front door and struts in with the type of gawdy hat that would block your view in church. How could you want anything that doesn’t involve them?

“BECAUSE I’M HUMAN!”

Then Mom Guilt leans in with her hands on those thick hips, this time digging in deeper. So are you saying you don’t want them?

“No. Oh Goodness, no.” I look down at their gorgeous little heads that smell of chalk and maple syrup and I breathe in their presence. Sure, they may have just chewed and spit out my last bite of quiche back into my palm, but I’d never want to be without them. So I pull them tight, relishing in gratefulness of this rich opportunity of being a mother.

Mom Guilt brushes off her hands. A job well done, she says.

“Yes,” I think as I land a kiss on their foreheads. “Thank you for the reminder. But those dreams? I’ve still got them.”

She shrugs, nodding curtly on her way out my front door.

…Can you ladies just feel my sigh? I know I’m not the only one this happens to, right? Sure, there are times when this doesn’t bother me. I can bounce right back into the constant demands of being Mom without a blink of the eye. But there are other days where it feels like being Mom is the only thing I am.

And, I’ve learned that’s a warning sign.

When I feel this forceful undertow, I tell me kids to go play and go lock that front door. And I try it again. I keep going, striving to carve out time for myself.

“Go ahead, Mom Guilt. Knock as loud as you want. I don’t care if the neighbors think I’m rude. There’s some serious stuff happening in my soul and I will not let you steal the opportunity for me to catch my breath and remember who I am and what I love to do.”

You see, mamas, I’m a firm believer that our liveliness depends on some me-time. If we don’t take care of ourselves, we will go under and the whole ship goes with us.

It doesn’t matter if you are a stay at home mom, working Mom, or work from home Mom, Me-Time is essential. You’ll be able to tackle your day on a firmer foundation when you know you’ve met your own needs. Everything is easier to manage when you remember to put on your own oxygen mask.

And, for me, well I’ve found an added bonus. When I take time to renew, my kids look at me with new eyes. Sure, my preschooler may cry when I honestly tell him I don’t want to play Paw Patrol for the fourth time and I plan to journal, but something inside his little heart clicks into place. A few hours later, he may walk away from his sisters in an emotional wreck, retreating willingly to another place in the house, explaining, “I just want to play alone right now.”

He’s emulating my self-regulation. And oh how it makes me so proud.

My daughters, six and five years old, see ME, not just the woman who happens to be there to make meals and toss out the occasional fruit snack. They understand that I love to write, baths relax me, and exercise keeps me healthy. My oldest loves to tell her friends about my new obsession with juicing and my middle child keeps asking when my next book is releasing. And somehow it gives them permission to be confident in doing their own thing.

So, go be you. Acknowledge Mom Guilt if you must, as from time to time she does serve a purpose, but don’t let her stand in the way of doing the things you love.

Hey folks! It’s a cover reveal day today for Aden Polydoros and his upcoming August 2017 release Project Pandora. Before we make the jump to the gorgeous cover, here’s a bit about the book.

Olympus is rising…
 
Tyler hasn’t been feeling like himself lately, his dreams are full of violence and death, and there are days where he can’t remember where he’s been.
 
Miles away, Shannon finds herself haunted by similar nightmares. She is afraid that she has done something terrible.
 
As the daughter of a state senator, Elizabeth has everything she could ever hope for. But when an uninvited guest interrupts a fundraising gala and stirs up painful memories, everything goes downhill fast.
 
Murder is what Hades is good at. So when two of his comrades go AWOL, he is rewarded with the most exhilarating hunt of his lifetime. For him, the game has just begun.

Now onto the cover. Isn’t it gorgeous?

Y’all may not remember what I dressed up like for Halloween in 2016, but let me tell you, unintentionally I dressed up just like this girl! Very Black Widow-esque, don’t you think?

Want to keep up to date on the release of Project Pandora?

Go add the book to your goodreads or preorder now!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31450642-project-pandora

Preorder link: https://entangledpublishing.com/index.php/project-pandora.html

To enter a great contest, check out YA Books Central: http://www.yabookscentral.com/blog/it-s-live-cover-reveal-1-31

[image error]

Author Bio:
Aden Polydoros grew up in Long Grove, Illinois, the youngest of three children. Aden’s family moved to Arizona when he was in second grade. As a kid, he spent much of his time exploring the desert near his home. When he wasn’t searching for snakes and lizards, he was raiding the bookshelves of the local library.

As a teenager, Aden decided that he wanted to be a writer. He spent his free time writing short stories. He was encourage by his English teacher to try his hand at writing a novel, which inspired him to begin Project Pandora. The YA thriller is set for publication with Entangled Publishing in Summer of 2017. He is represented by Mallory Brown of Triada US.

Website: http://www.adenpolydoros.com/home.html

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdenPolydoros

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aden.polydoros

I don’t know about you guys, but when I was a kid I was a big picture dreamer and planner. One of my favorite assignments ever was in my 7th grade health class where they made us write down our future timeline. I was going to become a physical therapist while playing in the WNBA. Marriage would happen around 28 and we’d share this amazing condo in downtown Minneapolis. Kids would fall into the equation around 32 or 34 and around that time I’d retire from the WNBA to launch my own therapy clinics for children (because, obviously… children lol). We’d then move out to a farm where we’d have goats and horses.

Man, wasn’t it easy to dream when you were a kid?

But then adulthood hits.

And for me personally, my lens had to narrow and the goals fell out of my line of sight. Now, perhaps some people will laugh when they read that because in the last decade I’ve published three books and ghostwritten a few others. But for me, writing my novels never felt like a goal. Getting them published? Yeah, that was a thread of a dream I had had since first grade. But I honestly didn’t feel like I had an option but to write my novels. The stories demanded to be told.

Books aside, my life quieted the muscles that allowed me to plan and dream. Things happen that require visions to shrink to immediacy. Our first year of marriage was hard. Thank goodness we’d been a team since we were sixteen. Our past and our love for one another helped us fight for our relationship through a dark depression my husband never saw coming. That was my first taste of needing to put dreams down, set them aside, and just focus on the present.

And you know what? It was a good thing. Same with having three babies in three years. I mean, who really can even fathom what they’ll be doing five years down the road when you can’t snag more than an hour of sleep at a time? And that year of my life where health issues reigned down on me like a monsoon? Yeah. Pretty sure I was not planning out my dream career while I struggled to simply stand in the kitchen to make dinner for my kids.

But through it all, there was this sense of something missing within me. Almost a darkness that begged to be filled with light, and if you are feeling this right now I just want to reach out and say it’s ok. I get it. There are some seasons in life where dreaming past a hot shower is unfathomable. But I’m also here to encourage you that the season will pass and when you can flex your dream muscles, you should–even if it hurts, because we were all created to dream.

(licensed by Deposit Photos)

I don’t exactly know when it started but gradually over the last year my ability to dream returned. My mind flexes now when I gaze out a window, simply enjoying the day dream of giving a presentation to a group of avid listeners or welcoming people into my own eclectic boutique from behind a unique hand made sales counter. And guys, I don’t even want a boutique! BUT I’m having so much fun dreaming about the possibilities of it. I’d have these gorgeous marble countertops featuring bohemian earrings and… Well, I digress. Back to dreaming.

The point is that dreaming is fun! And goal planning? I’ll be honest–aren’t I always honest?–it can be scary. There are many emotions wrapped up in writing down even the simplest of goals. Am I being realistic? Am I short changing myself? Is this ridiculous? Is this accomplishable? …How dare you think you deserve that in your life.

But here’s the thing– We all deserve to dream and reach. Yes, we may have to bend when life requires us to, and at times there are seasons where we need to push pause on dreams. But never give up on your ability to dream.

One of the most amazing gifts of being a human is our ability to think, wonder, and ponder over our futures, and I so want that to be part of my life. And I want that to part of your life too!

So if you need a little nudge, here are a few ideas to get yourself started.

Play a what if game! — What if I could travel anywhere in the world? What if I had an endless bank account? What if I was a super hero? etc. This is a really fun game to play with girlfriends over a cup of coffee or on a date!
Challenge yourself! Try something new for a month. One of my sister in law’s does a great job of this! For this month, she’s trying to make a new recipe every week. It’s seems simple but these little changes and acts will get your gears shifting, flexing those dream muscles without even trying!
Start a few journals. I have three  journals. Yup, three! One is a journal where I write letters to God. This is my primary journal. The other is a gratitude journal. And my newest addition, is my dream journal. This is a flexible space where I have lists, photos, will write down song lyrics, etc. It’s a place where I allow my dreams to bend and shape. It’s a place that’s SAFE, where my only rule is that I can’t hold back. All three of these journals are so good for my soul and have helped me work through so much. Or if you are a visual person, make a vision board!
Listen to TED Talks during those mundane times. My favorite time to listen is while I do the dishes or fold the laundry. here are some suggestions! Try Something New for Thirty Days– TED talk by Google Engineer Matt Cutts, Success Failure and the Drive to Keep Creating – TED talk by Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love), How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over (love this one!) – TED talk by Mel Robbins
Be graceful with yourself. This is a process. It will ebb and flow, some days developing rapidly and other days it’ll move like molasses.
Get a planner. This “planner” can be as easy as a blank notebook–and sometimes those are the best! I love a blank page where I can add my daily “to-do” list with big boxes so I can check things off. Then I have my “Health and Wellness” section where I write what down my workouts, any appointments/therapies, and how much water I drank for the day. And then I have a section where I write my overall goal for the week, which contributes to one of my big picture goals. …And guess what? Some days, I never check one thing off the list, or write a work out down, and my goal can get unmet. BUT THAT’S OKAY. This is a process? Right? See #5.
Take time for you. This is SO important and your family and friends will be so thankful if you do. You will be happier and during this alone time your mind will naturally turn toward hopes and dreams because it’s what we are made to do. Bring one of your journals with you, say a prayer, and put your pen to the page. What you write down may surprise you!

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year everyone! One of my favorite New Year’s traditions is to choose a word to guide our year. We find this works for us and helps us grow in ways that a set of resolutions do not.

This will be our fourth year doing this. Previous words include: fun, risk (oh man, was that a year to remember!), peace (recovery year after risk), and for the last few weeks we’ve felt lead to the word bold. After nearly surviving risk a few years ago, we kept canceling out bold, pushing joy, calling, or even commitment forward. But none of those words felt right for where we may be headed this year. The words felt like we would be hiding behind them, rather than stepping out and embracing the word God put in our hearts from the start.

Yes, God is calling us to live boldly in 2017.

Merriam-Webster’s defines bold as:

1
a : fearless before danger :  intrepid
b :  showing or requiring a fearless daring spirit
2
: impudent, presumptuous
3
obsolete : assured, confident
4
: sheer, steep <bold cliffs>
5
: adventurous, free bold thinker>

6
: standing out prominently
 7
:  being or set in boldface

We finally accepted the word New Years day and by the time January 2nd rolled around, we had successfully put it to use.

Yesterday was our youngest, Owen’s, third birthday; a glorious age where birthday parties consists of the immediate family plus a cake and an activity. So for his “birthday party” all five of us crawled in our van and went to the Mall of America (this is our local mall) with plans to visit Build a Bear.

But we hadn’t anticipated that Monday, Jan 2nd, was the observed New Year’s day and the last day of every student’s winter break (and I believe every single one was at the mall that day!). We drove around for 30 minutes trying to find a parking spot, which was pure insanity. Being the type of gal who would rather curl up with a book than rush the floor of a concert, I was the first one to present the option that we abandon ship and go another evening when the mall would be empty.

But Greg reminded me of our word, and we continued our search. Not three minutes later did we find our spot, resulting in a delightful (although busy) Build a Bear experience that made our birthday boy so happy!

Owen kissing his choice from Build a Bear, Chase the paw patrol dog!

Now, if I had followed my preference of not going places where people are packed in like sardines, his birthday would probably have felt pretty lame. With no real birthday party planned, we were really counting on Build a Bear to take the place of a traditional birthday party. But thanks to bold, we didn’t throw the opportunity away.

Obviously, this is a small example of how we let our word guide our choices, and I wouldn’t be honest if I said that the word doesn’t scare me a little. But I know it’s the word we’re supposed to be using.

So how do you usher in the New Year? Are you a resolution fan or a word fan? Or do you have another way to start fresh and new? Maybe you have a theme song? Actually… that’s a pretty awesome idea. We may have to incorporate that next year!

And to our Owen? We are so happy you are three!

Happy 3rd Birthday Owen!

You have a fantastic sense of humor and you sweep everyone off their feet with your contagious laugh. You love to play with words, specifically the word booty which you somehow work into all of your conversations (which are a lot! I’ve never known any three year old with a vocabulary and conversational ability like you have). You are fun to hang out with and my little buddy! You love to play with action figures and play sets and, dude, you are well known to belt out some serious tunes. We love you and are so excited to see the wonderful things three has in store for you!

Hi y’all!

Oh man, the last few weeks have been crazy-sauce! Christmas is without a doubt the busiest time of year for most people, but when your husband’s a worship leader life just gets a little nuts. All in all, the holiday was wonderful. We had so much fun watching our kids open their gifts and they seriously haven’t stopped playing with them since Christmas morning (which is why our living room has been Paw Patrol and American Girl central for 5 days and counting).

Christmas morning at my parents’

On top of all that, I had the pleasure of experiencing writer’s block. Guys, it’s the first time it happened to me, and worse, it happened during an editorial deadline. For nights I couldn’t sleep because I couldn’t figure out how to develop an aspect of the story line as my editor suggested within the confines of the word count my publisher set for me. And when I did sleep? I dreamed via Microsoft Word documents and text.

Yes, that’s how much I was staring at the screen and toiling over how to sneak in an extra conversation here or there or a dialogue that “digs deeper” emotionally. Pretty sure I cried a little trying to take the book apart, add a little, and zip it up together again. But in the end, I had a Eureka moment at 4:18AM on Thursday morning, and I woke up and got to work, finishing the edits just in the nick of time!

Funny enough, what got me through this writer’s block had nothing to do with the book. My problem ran much deeper.

You see, I’ve always been the type of person to keep my circles separate. I have my childhood friends, my church friends, my work friends, my publishing friends, my family, etc.  I rarely let the lines cross, and if I do, I’m stressed out because due to circumstances beyond my control, I can’t always be my unguarded self within these groups without making waves that could honestly sink our boat.

Which is why I write under a pen name. It’s a choice I made out of respect for these varying groups, and it was my idea. But because of my decision, I feel as if I’m stuck in a tangled web. It’s hard for me to navigate the business because I want to be authentic, but when I’m doing it under a different name, I feel like it screams phony and all the while I do it I’m afraid i’m breaking egg shells. Don’t offend your church. Don’t offend your family. Don’t offend your friends… (Can y’all tell I’m plagued with being a people pleaser?)

The entire thing just exhausts me. And honestly, if I was writing a story about a character like me I know exactly where I’d make that character end up. So I may as well get to it and save myself from writing 83,000 words about a woman who goes on a quest and realizes that she just needs to be herself after hiking to some peak or running on the beach, etc (The beach idea does sound pretty nice though).

This is me.

I am: A woman who will do anything for love and family.  A woman who fiercely loves God and is so thankful for Jesus. A woman who votes blue. A woman who won’t let my health define me yet is forced to listen to her body every step of the day and change course the moment it waves a yellow flag. A woman who wants to use her writing to inspire and hopefully help some people too. A woman who is lost in her other chosen career field (Nursing). A woman who is dedicated to raising her children to be who they were created to be.

The people who love me will keep on loving me because of who I am. The people who love me will support my dream of seeing Lizzy Charles listed as a best selling author, even if they don’t fully agree with everything I’m about.

And as far as for me and that pen name? I’m so done keeping my lives separate. So prepare for the unfiltered, going both directions.

xoxo, all my names, all at once, all together. Me.

 

Lately I’ve been stuck in a cycle with my kids with our activities. You know the drill. Breakfast, school, errands, school pick up, lunch, nap, park time, school pick up again, dinner, homework, show, bedtime routine. Repeat x7 to make the week work.

Now, I’m all about having a routine. Trust me, I protect my two year old’s nap time like it’s my only hope of survival (Okay, it totally may be just that.). But lately I’ve been wanting to make sure they experience unique outings that will broaden their lens of the world.

And something within me itched for a challenge. We often keep our kids in family friendly environments, but I wanted them to move past the blocks, unbreakable furniture, and acceptable decibles. One of my favorite places that always seemed rather enchanted as a child was the art museum, specifically the Minneapolis Institute of Art. We only went one time a year, sometimes just with school, but there was something about the experience that put me in awe. And, okay, some years it bored me. But that’s okay, because I remember it and overtime learned to appreciate it. Some things take time to cultivate an appreciation, and I wanted so badly for my kids to have the opportunity.

We had fun, and the trip was successful because I prepared both mentally and physically for the endeavor (Even did burprees and squats prior to our departure). Trust me, navigating the grounds of a fancy art museum with a 6 year old, 5 year old, and 2 year old was indeed an endeavor.

Here are the 10 tips I used to make the trip memorable and a positive experience for both myself, my hubby, and my children:

1) Choose a local art museum for your first go, preferably one you have visited before. This is not a trip for you. Now, please understand that I’m not saying the world should revolve around your children. In fact, I think it’s important for you to have some general goals of what you’d like to see before walking through those museum doors. But it’s also important to be flexible and have reasonable expectations. Don’t expect to be able to linger more than a few moments at your favorite piece. In order to instill an appreciation for new experiences—especially art—it’s important to acknowledge any interest your child is expressing. If they want to check out Egyptian art when modern art is really the one that captures your heart, I highly advise spending more time in the Egyptian art area. Still swoop through modern art so you can see a piece that steals your heart, but remember that this is about cultivating an interest in different arts and cultures for your kids, not a time that’s about renewing your own interests (This should be done on a mom’s night out with friends, followed up with an outing for cake and wine).

I stole a moment to snap a photo of an ink press piece that captured my attention for obvious, book-nerdish reasons

2) Have reasonable expectations on time and attention. This many not be a trip where lingering is a possibility. Let them move through the exhibits at a pace that holds their attention. We walked into the museum not expecting to stay more than an hour and a half and, like the best television shows, we ended the trip while we were still on top. We knew their limits and didn’t dare drag them on through the museum to the point where they would be whining or worse.

 

3) Give them something to hold! Pick up a few disposable cameras or slap on those Otterboxes or Lifeboxes and let them have your cell phones to snag their own photos of the experience. [I will spare you my 100 photos of blurry painting, objects, and the floor]

 

4) Wear a messenger bag. Backpacks are not advised in museums because you can knock a statue or painting while turning around.

 

5) Route their brains the right direction. Saying “Don’t touch” only makes them want to touch. Instead, take the “keep hands to yourself” approach. The “Walk please” instead of “don’t run!” etc.

 

6) Point out simple concepts that they can appreciate. This isn’t the time to talk about pointillism or what each hieroglyphic stands for. “Look at those colors.” “This was made a long, long time ago.” “Guys, this is supposed to be a tree. Look how the painter changed it! Isn’t it cool?”

7) Have back up. This isn’t exactly an outing I would do on my own with my three children. There is no perfect ratio for adult to child that can be advised. We all know our own kids. You’ll know if it’s a stretch for you to accomplish this with or without help. Knowing my two year old, backup was essential for me to make this trip fun for everyone.

 

8) Snacks. This is sort of no brainer with this age group. Have a few crumb free snacks packed up. Those cheese wheels from BabyBell work great and a package of fruit snacks is a nice way to reward the kids every few rooms with a nice treat!

 

9) Dress them for success. There’s something about wearing “holiday” clothing or “fancy clothes” that indicates to the kids that they will have to be slightly more mannered. Toss on those dress up shoes and avoid their favorite pair of sweatpants. It’s sort of fun to see their confidence soar because they know they look  know they look darn good. (Now, say they HATE their dress up shoes, then skip it. But maybe toss on a nice button down shirt. One article of clothing or an accessory that makes them feel sharp!)

 

10) It’s okay if your kids’ favorite part of the trip is the kid’s area or seeing the field trip school buses lining up curbside. This is all about exposing your kids to new experiences!

Children’s Reading and Play Room

BONUS Tip #11) If you have an older child, like our six year old, it’s nice to have one adult nearby to answer their questions and point out more detail. She moved around the same pace as my younger kids, but I found she had many more questions about relics and the past. It was so cool to see her interest growing and I promised her we’d make a 1:1 trip soon, as I’m certain she would have enjoyed at least 2 hours to explore.

Expanding your kids’ view of what’s fun–even when it’s not fun for the parents–isn’t always easy, but it can be worth it! Glad we took the challenge and we’ll do it again next year. Admittedly, for my next outing I’ll be grabbing a chai and bringing my kiddos to the park.

“I will get back up again!” Poppy’s anthem from the Trolls movie has been playing on repeat in our car, in our house, and in my dreams since our kids saw the movie in early November. It never ends. But maybe that’s a good thing?

I’ve needed that reminder. For months I’ve been wanting to do so many things. But… well, let’s be honest, sometimes life doesn’t work out the way you imagined, hoped for, and prayed for. And sometimes the results can be crushing, and at best discouraging. I’d walked the road many times before, always getting up and walking down it again.

You’d think I’d learn to just stay put.

Yet, since June, a deep longing called to me to get up and step outside of where I felt safe, take what life has given me, and try. But why? For a few years it felt like every step I took in faith with my dream and career ended up in a full on body slam. Now, I’m not saying my books failed. Oh no. I oh so love all three of my novels and know that they have reached the right people at the right time. In fact, I have another book coming out May 2017 with a great publisher and I’m really excited about it!

Yet, something was holding me back, and it was fear.

Oh fear. It’s such a powerful force, one that can sneak it’s way into your lungs until you can barely breathe, let alone move. Fear haunted me, whispering this constant chant of You’re a failure mixed in with a nice chorus of lies and manipulation about who am I and what I’m made to do. And it almost won.

For months I’ve wanted to get serious about blogging. All summer I threatened Greg that I was going to start a podcast. And, oh! The book ideas keep rolling in like the endless waves from the ocean. But I felt so stuck. So unequipped. Lonely.

I started looking for other career avenues, my mind always spinning webs, looking for solutions. The search felt like I was swimming an endless race and exhaustion overwhelmed my mental state. I took free online career tests and was informed that I should be a writer, PR agent, or go into business marketing.

I’m sure you can imagine the smoke coming out of my ears on that one. Isn’t that what I’ve been trying to do since 2013?

God felt so distant (and I’ll be honest, there are days when he still does and then there are glorious days when I connect, and oh it feels good).  Those online tests must be wrong! I’ve been like a hamster in a ball, running my heart out but going no where. My soul begged to know what I was met to do, how to make the math work, and feel like I’m contributing in a way that I can’t even explain. I mean, obviously, I’m contributing. I’m raising three children, I work often as a nurse, and I’m an author.

But even a month ago, I felt like I couldn’t see the truth of who I was and the validity in what I was already doing. All Fall I dove into podcasts of women I admire, basically listening to every podcast either Jen Hatmaker or Rachel Hollis ever participated in. I read an amazing book called Audacious that tore down so many fake walls within my faith and my perception of Christ. And I journaled and prayed.

And this is what I learned.

Even though I had kept writing and poured my soul into my work, striving to make it my absolute best, I lost one fundamental belief that would give me the tools to fight fear. So I could smile at it, blow those maddening thoughts away, and push on.

I lost my belief in myself. Like fog, it slipped through my fingers and I didn’t even know it had gone.

I sat shocked when I figured this out. Wasn’t I born an encourager? Always telling others to believe in themselves and go for their dreams? No wonder I folded to fear regarding my own dreams. Sure, I believed in my books, but the woman behind them? Oh, I knew her failures too well. There was no way she could keep this up.

Little by little, I let fear steal one of the most precious values a woman should have–belief in their own ability to strive, shine, and be successful.

The moment I identified what was going on, I wiped away a tear and got straight to work.

The career tests said I should be a writer? Ha. This was literally one of those moments where a solid LOL can apply. I’ve got that one covered! New release coming to you May 2017, I’m swamped in edits, and loving every minute of it.

PR and Marketing? Granted, there’s lots to learn there but I’m seriously enamored with the content. It’s fascinating and igniting new and sparkly ideas every moment.

And that fear? I wouldn’t be human if I said it was gone. No. Fear is still something I feel daily if I let my mind wander. The thing is, I’m changing my relationship with it, trying to seek out things that scare me so I can grow, develop and change. When those unsettling thoughts linger, I take a deep breath and think of all the amazing possibilities in front of me if I don’t listen to those thoughts.

And those opportunities are endless. My friends, that alone is exciting enough to get me back up again. Can’t wait for what’s to come!