There’s Still Time – Show How Much You Care With This Meaningful

Free  Gift

By: Sadie Foster, MA

Still searching for the perfect gift that will show how much you care?  No gift is more powerful or more important than love.

Often those that we love the most are the ones we tell the least.  They may know that we love them, and we may even tell them – but do we tell them often why we love them?  Sometimes a sincere heartfelt compliment about someone’s being is enough to make a person's day or carry them through a difficult moment. 

One of the most valuable gifts I have ever received was a letter from my 4 year old daughter telling me the reasons why she was thankful that I am her mother.  It’s a gift I will never forget.  I have a special gift for you to share with your loved ones.  Use this special Loving Affirmations Kit to create a gift that your loved one will cherish for years to come.  It will cost you little to no money and it’s available to you right now.  Enter your information below to get started now.  Enjoy your family!

Love and Blessings,

Sadie

Thanksgiving is Just Around the Corner- What are You Thankful For?

By: Sadie Foster, MA

The holidays are a busy time of year.  In the business sometimes it is easy to forget to be thankful.  Ever stopped to think about exactly what you are thankful for and if your thankfulness shines through.  Many times we do not show our loved ones just how thankful we are for them.   We are sometimes blinded by the irritations of life instead.  Things like the messy rooms, toys on the floor, forgetfulness, working late – again.  Some of us have had the devastating experience of losing  a loved one expectantly.  Oh how wonderful it would be to hear that too loud of a voice or running in the house, to remind that spouse that today is a special event and they need to leave work on time, to find that items are not where they are supposed to be. 

It’s important to live in a daily place of thankfulness – thankful for the day as is it.  Thankful that you can try again.  Thankful that while you may not feel great, you can still feel.  Thankful that you can tell your loved ones how you feel.

Ways To Say I’m Thankful

A thank you card or note detailing why you are thankful for them

A special time set aside for just the two of you, with the explanation – I saved this time just for us because I am thankful for you.

A list that complete this sentence as many times as you can think of – I am thankful for you because______.

A random act of kindness. 

A small meaningful gift.  Something that shows you are thinking of them specifically – not necessary something expensive. (ex. A favorite  treat, or music)

Do you regularly express thanks?  What’s a memorable way that you have been thanked?  Tell us in the comments below.

Love and blessings,

Sadie

Managing Stress – Does Your Family Have A Plan?

By Sadie Foster, MA

Lack of stress management has been linked to heart disease, decreased immune function, behavioral problems, difficulty sleeping, decreased school and or work performance, headaches, stomachaches and many other problems.  You’ve probably heard those things before – but did you realize those things are true for children, teens, and adults?  The skills and coping methods learned in youth, can stick throughout life even if they are not healthy. 

Let’s consider some of the facts.  A report released in November 2010 by the American Psychological Association found many disturbing facts.

While parents report similar sources of stress as the rest of the population (80 percent cite money, 72 percent cite work and 72 percent cite the economy as stressors), many also report that family responsibilities are a significant source of stress (73 percent).

Results from the survey suggest that parents feel that they are under a great deal of stress (nearly one-third report feeling this way) and understand the importance of managing it (69 percent say managing stress is important). However, only one-third (32 percent) believe they are doing an excellent or very good job of managing their stress.

While the majority of parents don’t think their children are strongly affected by their stress, children report otherwise.

Nearly three-quarters (69 percent) of parents say that their stress has only a slight or no impact on their children, yet 91 percent of children report they know their parent is stressed because they observe a multitude of behaviors, such as yelling, arguing and complaining. 

The study went on to find that children, tweens, and teens are all affected greatly by the stress their parents experience as well as the stress from their own lives. 

As a parent, it is crucial to learn to recognize and reduce stress as well as teach the children in the household to do the same.

Your family stress management plan should include

-    Defining stress with examples

-    Understanding the impact stress can have

-    Recognizing what things can cause stress in your lives

-    How to find solutions to problems that cause stress

-    Where to go for help

-    How to develop healthy habits

Decide to make and use a stress management plan for you and your family and enjoy today!

Love and Blessings,

Sadie

Gluten Free, Dairy free, Egg free, Soy Free, Corn Free, Sugar Free, Homemade Marshmallows – The Lesson In The Process

By: Sadie Foster, MA

S’mores – in less than 5 hours, really – yikes!  Yesterday, I found out that my daughter’s brownie troop members would be making S’mores over a fire as part of the meeting.   Now while this in an exciting quick treat for many people – for a child with food allergies and hypoglycemia they are normally off limits.  It has been my desire to make alternatives and substitutes so that our children can participate if at all possible.  I had a vague recollection of making marshmallows before – did I succeed?  Was there something off limits in it?  I couldn’t remember.  Graham crackers – yes we make those – but they tend to have higher carbohydrate counts, chocolate –yes maybe we could pull that off in time too – but it tended to melt quickly.  What to do?

We decide to give it our best shot.  My little ones volunteered to be sure the kitchen was clean while I did a little research, and checked my notes.  My neighbor even brought me a missing ingredient.  In the process of making the marshmallows, we made a mess, a frosting, some sort of weird crème, marshmallow crème and finally –marshmallows, a high protein graham cracker, and a chocolate substitute – just the right mix for S’mores! 

What’s the message in all this?

1.       If you have the desire to do something – try your best to make a way.  It may not happen as quickly as you want but keep at it.

2.       Some ‘mistakes’ can turn into something else useful.  We created a few other recipes that we can use on a different day.  Ex. – a new fluffy frosting

3.       Give yourself grace to make mistakes.  During this process, I missed hearing the dog request to go outside over the hum of the mixer. He relived himself on the living room floor.  My son in his excitement ran through the living room, discovering the wet spot – slipping falling and landing inside.  Quite hilarious!  Needless to say there was a pause in the process for bathing, cleanup and sanitizing. 

What everyday challenges have you recently faced that you can find the humor and lesson inside?  Decide to enjoy today!

Love and blessings,

Sadie

Sadie Foster specializes in taking the mystery out of enjoying health, family relationships and life. Her systems teach the skills most  people were never taught, to overcome challenges and get extra-ordinary results quickly.  Making it simple to enjoy health, enjoy your marriage, enjoy children, and enjoy your life with actionable step by step yet flexible processes.  She has been serving families through counseling and nutritional psychology for the last 14 years. Connect with me on Facebook and Twitter! 

Family Date Night – Free Or Low Cost Ideas You May Not Have Tried

By: Sadie Foster, MA

Does your family have a family date night? (Or day   )  A time set aside for everyone in your household to spend quality time together, having fun and building relationships?  I hope so it is an extremely valuable tool and it’s fun!

Many people say they want to have family date time but they have no idea what to do beyond the watch a movie routine.  Try the list of free or low cost family activities below – have an open mind you just might surprise yourself and your family.  Remember that it’s not really about what you do as much as it is about how and why you do it!

1.       Potato sack racing, hide and seek, freeze tag – any motion game.  Don’t let physical limitations stop you. I once watched my  5 year old create a way to play hide and seek with a dear family member in a wheelchair.  She instructed him to find her by making eye contact!

2.       Lightening bug catching- do you remember the thrill of this as a child?  If you don’t live in an area where catching lightening bugs is an option – select something else to catch or spot for an evening of fun.

3.       Sand, snow or stick figure building – pick a season or location.  Your family can build anything – together. 

4.       Board game play – The opportunities here seem to be unlimited.  There are board (and electronic games) for just about every interest!

5.       Cooking together- Even if you don’t like to cook or are short on time this can be fun.  You can go all out and create something grand or do something simpler like make your own pizza, salad, or tacos.

6.       Geocaching – Wikipedia describes geocaching as 'an outdoor treasure-hunting game in which the participants use a Global Positioning System receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (called "geocaches" or "caches") anywhere in the world.

7.       Painting portraits –Depending on the age and artistic ability or interest in your home this can vary from finger paints to portrait paining.

8.       Animal watching – Bird watching, an owl walk, find the nest, a trip to the zoo – you decide.

9.       Serving others – There are people all over the world that need help.  As a family why not clean or serve in a shelter or nursing home.  Shop or donate to the needy or do yard work for an elderly neighbor.

10.   Explore the town – you may or may not be able to take a big trip tonight but you can explore your town as if you were a visitor. 

What are your favorite family time activities?  Decide to enjoy you family today! 

Sadie Foster specializes in taking the mystery out of enjoying health, family relationships and life. Her systems teach the skills most  people were never taught, to overcome challenges and get extra-ordinary results quickly.  Making it simple to enjoy health, enjoy your marriage, enjoy children, and enjoy your life with actionable step by step yet flexible processes.  She has been serving families through counseling and nutritional psychology for the last 14 years. Connect with me on Facebook and Twitter!

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Relationships And The Power Of Your Words

By: Sadie Foster, MA

Think back, with me for just a second.  Think of all the people that you love, the people that you feel the most alive around, the ones you enjoy being with.  How do they treat you?  What do they say to you?  What do you say to them?

Words have so much power that you may not realize how much they really have. Have you taken stock of how much power you have and how you are using it?  Let’s take a look at this story.

"He began his life with all the classic handicaps and disadvantages. His mother was a dominating woman who found it difficult to love anyone. She gave him no affection, no training and no discipline during his early years.

"When he was 13, a school psychologist commented that he probably didn't even know the meaning of the word "love." During adolescence the girls would have nothing to do with him and he fought with the boys.

"After failing at every pursuit, including a stint in the United States Marine Corps he married a Russian girl, but she also began to hold him in contempt. She could outfight him, and she learned to bully him. Finally, she forced him to leave.

"After days of loneliness, he went home, fell on his knees and literally begged her to take him back. He wept at her feet, but she laughed at him and made fun of his sexual impotency in front of a friend. Finally, he pleaded no more.

No one wanted him.

No one had ever wanted him. He was perhaps the most rejected man of his time.

"The next day, he was a strangely different man. He arose, went to the garage, and took down a rifle he had hidden there. He carried it with him to his newly acquired job at a book-storage building. And from a window on the sixth floor of that building, shortly after noon, November 22, 1963, he sent two shells crashing into the head of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

"Lee Harvey Oswald, the rejected, unlovable failure, killed the man who, more than any other person on earth — embodied all the success, beauty, wealth, and family affection which Oswald lacked. In firing that rifle, he utilized the one skill he had learned in his entire, miserable lifetime.*

Not that pain and suffering justifies harming another person, or excuses his actions but what a life!  I realize there is all kind of controversy around the assassination of JFK, so please don’t get lost in that.  This could be about anyone. For the sake of learning, let’s consider the story to be true.

How many of our children, regardless to their disadvantages are starving for love, affection, and discipline? How many children do you think only hear negative talk? How many could it be said of, have never had anyone teach them the meaning of love? If you are around children in any capacity – you have the huge opportunity to bless them and speak joy into their lives simply by speaking kind words.

What about the wife in this story?  I don’t know what life must have been like for her.  Maybe he was mean and difficult to live with – I truly have no idea.  From this vignette we do know how she treated her husband.  She fought him, she bullied him, and she rejected him. She laughed at him when he was down, made fun of him, and embarrassed him in front of others.  What a life!  How do you treat the man in your life? It is often said that people love you for how they feel when they are with you.  How do you imagine your words make your husband feel?

In honor of our ten year wedding anniversary, I will leave you with ten loving words to consider sharing with those you love. 

1.   I appreciate you.

2.   I love your smile.

3.   I love spending time with you.

4.   There is no place I would rather be, than right here with you.

5.   I love the feel of your touch.

6.   You are important to me.

7.   I believe in you.

8.   You’re the best.

9.   You’re my king.

10. I Love you

Speak truth and life into your relationships.  Decide to enjoy your family, enjoy your marriage, and enjoy your life.

Love and blessings,

Sadie

Sadie Foster specializes in taking the mystery out of enjoying health, family relationships and life. Her systems teach the skills most  people were never taught, to overcome challenges and get extra-ordinary results quickly.  Making it simple to enjoy health, enjoy your marriage, enjoy children, and enjoy your life with actionable step by step yet flexible processes.  She has been serving families through counseling and nutritional psychology for the last 14 years. Connect with me on Facebook and Twitter!

* James Dobson’s, Hide or Seek [1974]

I Don’t Care About The Programs- I Just Want My Pictures Back-

Protecting What’s Important

By: Sadie Foster, MA

Have you ever lost something that in the back of your mind you knew you should have worked harder to protect?

Just the other day, I went downstairs into the basement and saw that out desktop computer was not powering on –hard disk error it said.  Yilkes!  I do not like those words.  The computer is older, it’s been around for over six years.  We use it mainly as the server- to network the other computers, printers, and gadgets in our home. For a while now, thoughts have crossed my mind like –  wonder when the last time I did a backup & are those documents backed up somewhere.  Because all of my recent  (last few years) documents and picture are on a different computer – I don’t think much about what is on there.  Honestly – I don’t remember.  Yet, a few days ago when the error hit – my thoughts quickly went to – I don’t care about the programs I just want my pictures.  You see this was the computer we used after the birth of my daughter.  I’m sure I have copies somewhere of most of the important pictures in various places but how can I know for sure what is on that disk if I can’t see it.

The programs are tools to make life easier, get a job done etc.  But the pictures – those are the memories – the things that make life great.  I should not have ignored or put off the thoughts of verifying backup and checking to see what was on the drive.  I could have worked harder to insure what was important and of value to me was secure. 

Are your family relationships much like the pictures on my hard drive?  Now that I’m in real danger of losing them – I’m wishing I had done things differently.  Checking the backup plan, dedicating time to ensure it was taken care of, regular maintenance, looking for signs that something might need attention, refusing to take it for granted. 

Most people don’t want to look back later and see what they could have done.  It’s often painful. Save yourself the potential pain and struggle – take the necessary steps now to protect what is important to you.

Make time even if you don’t think you have time

Do the regular maintenance

Treat your loved ones with respect

Look for signs that something may be off- do something about it. 

Our relationships are what make life enjoyable.  The things that most people don’t want to lose.  Decide today to do what it takes to keep them protected in happy healthy place.  Enjoy today!

Love and blessings,

Sadie

Sadie Foster specializes in taking the mystery out of enjoying health, family relationships and life. Her systems teach the skills most people were never taught, to overcome challenges and get extra-ordinary results quickly.  Making it simple to enjoy health, enjoy your marriage, enjoy children, and enjoy your life with actionable step by step yet flexible processes.  She has been serving families through counseling and nutritional psychology for the last 14 years.

Life Is A Story – What Is Being Written On Your Pages?

By: Sadie Foster, MA

During my time as a hospital nursing assistant,  I remember sitting often with an elderly couple we’ll call Kate and Joe.  Despite things looking extremely grim, sounds of joy, peace and love were often found escaping from her room.  Kate had been battling cancer for several months.  They had not found out about the cancer early, there was little hope from the doctors as it had spread everywhere.  Kate had already made the decision she would enjoy what was left of her life in peace with her loved ones, without further chemotherapy treatment.

If you could see the smiles the gentle touches, and loving looks between the two of them and their children.  If you could hear the love in their voices, the smiles in laughter, the roaring laughter from some of the memories or feel the warmth from their touches – you’d never suspect she was so close to death.  They carried on as if the hospital was a five star hotel.  Even the requests for needed items had special names like wine for water and moo milk for IV.

The couple enjoyed telling me stories of adventure; trying new things, mistakes, and accomplishments from their life together and I enjoyed hearing them.   While Kate was alive – she was able her story.  After she was gone, Joe, her children and those that knew her  told pieces of her story in her absence.

What stories of your life are being told now? 

Often in the daily routine of life, we don’t take notice of the day to day story we are creating.  Right now this very instant there is a story being made.  Where are you right now?  How have you interacted with your loved ones so far today?  Have you left anything out that you want to add?  Have you added anything you wish you could delete?

While life doesn’t have an erase button- we can always attempt to make things right.  To correct mistakes, apologize for wrong doings, and work diligently to rebuild.  You are in complete control of your actions and your words.  You are the star of your own story.  You may not be able to control all of the things that happen to you or come your way, yet you are in complete control of how you respond.  What do you want your husband and children to remember about you.  How do you want them to feel when they think of you today?  How do you want to feel about yourself?  Decide today to play an active role in the story of your life – write your own script.  Enjoy today!

Love and blessings,

Sadie

Sadie Foster specializes in taking the mystery out of enjoying health, family relationships and life. Her systems teach the skills most people were never taught, to overcome challenges and get extra-ordinary results quickly.  Making it simple to enjoy health, enjoy your marriage, enjoy children, and enjoy your life with actionable step by step yet flexible processes.  She has been serving families through counseling and nutritional psychology for the last 14 years.

Do You Really Know Your Husband – Does He Really Know You?

By: Sadie Foster, MA

How well you do know our husband?  How well does he know you?  It is my belief that no one should know your husband or wife better or in the way that you do.    Let me say that again – No one should know your husband better than you do.  Yes that includes Mom, Dad and the BFF. 

You have committed the rest of your life to this person and they have committed themselves to you. There are so many expectations on relationships for happiness, support, pleasure, and understanding.  How can one possibly attempt to provide these things if they don’t truly know each other?

 Some of you are saying – come on – I know my husband, we’ve been together for 20 years!  That may be true, but what really stirs his heart? 

What are his fears, his hopes, and his deepest desires? 

Can he turn to you on his best day and his worst?

What color does he dislike the most?  

What does he do when he’s hurt?

What does he love most about you?

How does he handle rejection? 

In what situations is he likely to lie? 

What things turn him on and what things turn him off?  

Does he know these things about you? 

As with so many other things, in the busyness of life – the fun getting to know you deeper late night talks of dating times, can fall away.  Some couples sadly miss the deep talk phase all together.  Others forget that as time passes – things like wishes, fears, hopes, likes and dislikes change.  There is a thrill, a period of discovery – that comes with discovering new things about someone.  A deeper understanding of anyone or situation goes a long way. 

It is often said that people love you for how they feel when they are with you.  How does it feel to be in the presence of someone who truly “gets” you? How do you feel when you are with your husband?  How does he fell when he is with you?

There are many things that may cause couples to drift apart, feel trapped or have affairs.  As each relationship is different, so are the reasons as to why things happen.  When something is important to people – they tend make studying it and becoming an expert on that subject a priority.  Sometimes this is done intentionally as in studying a particular field, and sometimes it seems to happen by accident – as in understanding a particular sport that is watched.   I challenge you to make becoming an expert on your spouse a priority and help them to do the same for you.   Use questions like the ones above regularly to learn more about your mate.  Join us on Facebook to receive regular tips to help you enjoy your marriage.  Decide today to enjoy your marriage and your life.

Love and blessings,

Sadie

Sadie Foster specializes in taking the mystery out of enjoying health, family relationships and life. Her systems teach the skills most people were never taught, to overcome challenges and get extra-ordinary results quickly.  Making it simple to enjoy health, enjoy your marriage, enjoy children, and enjoy your life with actionable step by step yet flexible processes.  She has been serving families through counseling and nutritional psychology for the last 14 years.

Do You Have A Real Plan For Your Family – Tips for having the family life you want

By; Sadie Foster, MA

Health insurance, life insurance, eye exams, dental checkups, physical exams, savings accounts, college funds – specific actionable plans, steps or activities in place in an attempt to have the family life you want.  What is the family life you want?  Have you ever really set down and thought about it?

The so called American dream is often quoted as 2.5 children, a white picket fence, and a dog.  If that is your dream – what are you going to do with it?  Are you dreaming of a happy family?  What is a happy family/ how exactly does that look to you? 

Many people dream of finding that one person to spend forever with.  The wedding date is set; the arrangements are made – often a year in the planning.  For some, the quest for children begins, healthy living, healthy eating, infertility treatments etc.  Planning for the birth or adoption, learning to breastfeed, selecting proper foods etc. may come next.  Starting a family seems to have logical steps. Things with a focus and items to act upon.  What many people find is after the marriage has occurred, after the baby has been a part of the family for a while – there are no typical next steps that are focused on.  Day to day living of life happens with or without goals.

Without a focus, a plan – things just flow.  The question is – are things flowing the way you want them to flow.  Whatever is in front of the family is what get attention. Sometimes the togetherness is lost.    It is sometimes accepted that “this” is just how it is.

What do you want your family life to look like?  It’s a simple enough question that requires careful answering.  A happy fun family is not quite the answer we are looking for.  Your answer should be specific.  It should be so specific that you can measure if your family is obtaining it.  As an example – I want my family to be fit is a nice dream but it is not really a goal.  How will you know that you are working towards you goal?  Instead you might say it is important for our family to walk together after dinner at least 3 times a week. I challenge you to write down you top three family goals.  Once you know your top three actionable goals – the next step is to do the work.  Complete those tasks or activities you listed.  Come tell me about your top three family goals on my Facebook wall. 

Decide today to enjoy your family. 

Love and blessings,

Sadie

Sadie Foster specializes in taking the mystery out of enjoying health, family relationships and life. Her systems teach the skills most people were never taught, to overcome challenges and get extra-ordinary results quickly.  Making it simple to enjoy health, enjoy your marriage, enjoy children, and enjoy your life with actionable step by step yet flexible processes.  She has been serving families through counseling and nutritional psychology for the last 14 years.