Everyone Gets a Medal

Oh My Word! This drives me crazy!! 

At age two it is okay to tell your sweet toddler that they did a great job coloring even though they scribbled all over the page and that they ran the fastest even though you were crawling on your hands and knees and still crossed the finish line first. What is NOT okay is telling your 3rd grader that even though their softball team came in last place they deserve a trophy for showing up with their gloves on. 

-Not everyone gets an A!

-Not everyone gets the preferred job. (or any job)

-Not everyone gets the girl!

-Not everyone wins!

-Not everyone gets a medal!

Why do I even need to talk about this? It seems like common sense to me. Learning to deal with disappointment and failure is part of becoming a well adjusted person who will have something useful to offer society. 

Our church did Project 4:4 last year which meant we read through the chronological bible in a year. Not everyone completed the project but hopefully everyone learned a little more than what they knew in December 2011. I missed some days and even missed some weeks but did my best to catch up or listen to some of the video accelerators the pastors made to enhance the reading. So either you did it or you didn't, not a big deal either way. No one gets a fast pass to Heaven nor does anyone have to stand in the corner of shame. With that in mind, I was bugged when I overheard two women at church discussing the stickers that were handed out at church. Everyone was offered a sticker that said "I finished Project 4:4" 

Woman 1: I see you got a Project 4:4 sticker?

Woman 2: Yes I this was the first time I ever tried to read through the bible.

Woman 1: Don't you think this sets up an environment to make people feel bad if they didn't read it or finish it?

Woman 2: Maybe they should have made stickers that said "I participated in Project 4:4"

OH MY WORD!!  I had to walk away. I wanted to tell them, "In Jesus name, you are what is wrong with society these days!!!" 

I feel better now that I got that off my chest. 

Agree with me or don't.  It really does not matter. We can disagree and both go to heaven but if you have a child, please allow them to fail while they are still in the safety of your home. If you don't, they will fail when they are too big for you to fight their battles and it will not only hurt them but it will hurt others around them.

Blessings to each and every one of you!

The Phenomenon Goes On The Run

BOOK UPDATE

1. ON THE RUN has been well received so far. The reports I am hearing are that this book is better than the first book.  Love that!

2. Our official release date of OTR is January 15, 2013 and it looks like everything is going as planned. That day the ebook will also be released on kindle. If you do not have a kindle or a device that allows you to use the kindle app don't worry it will be released 91 days later in other formats.

3. Our new business cards were ordered today...they look great.  Seriously, it's the little things that get me so excited!!

4. We are still hoping to get the rights to publish our first book, THE NEW PHENOMENON. I don't want to bash anyone...oh that's not true.  I DO but trying hard to take the high road.

5. The author (my handsome husband), is a great speaker and presenter. If you or your organization is looking for someone to speak about writing, reading, publishing, teaching and/or motivational speaking please contact me through this blog or at melanie@chrisraabe.net.
Please check out Chris' website... http://chrisraabe.net
Like his facebook page... https://www.facebook.com/authorchrisraabe (he has a new author page)

Post Christmas Crash

The kids went back to school
The hubby went back to work
The house is moderately clean
I have so much to get done

SO WHY CAN'T I GET MOVING???

I love having my family home during Christmas vacation, spring break and summer. This Christmas our break  was only ten days so it flew by. I didn't even have the opportunity to get tired of everyone being here. (I hate to admit it but that usually happens the last day.) Now that everyone is gone, I really want to take a day to veg out and watch movies by myself. Instead, I have been trying to get stuff done but find myself getting easily distracted and not accomplishing the things on my list. I have all the signs of "Post-Christmas Crash." Oh it's a made up name but it is still a real thing.

With that said, I am logging off and setting my timer (fly lady) so I can get two things checked off my list before lunch. I will then feel like something was accomplished today.