Women's Lives Changed

It's here! The week of our Brandon and Waterloo conferences! It has been an incredible spring season, seeing God at work in lives of women across the country.

Margaret and I had the opportunity to travel to Grande Prairie, Alberta for our 10th Annual Women Alive conference in that city. Hearing women share their stories of how the past 10 years of conferences have impacted their relationship with God and how they have grown in their faith was a tremendous encouragement. We made new friends with women right from Grande Prairie, and many who had traveled through the snow -- up to seven hours! And we continue to lift up in prayer the families of several youth who lost their lives in an unrelated car accident not too far from Grande Prairie the same weekend as the conference.

The following weekend we were back in Brantford, Ontario (the home of our National Office) for our "Just the Word" conference with Precept Minstries. A woman there attended Margaret's sessions on Nehemiah and accepted Jesus Christ into her life just days later as a result!

This past weekend, Women Alive was at Missionfest Toronto. Thanks to everyone who came by the booth to say hello and share how God has used Women Alive to touch your life. Many of you shared that our annual Waterloo conference is the highlight of your year and a much-needed spiritual refreshment!

We're looking forward to this week ahead, with both Waterloo and Brandon conferences. And we're excited for all that God has in store - far more than we could ever ask or imagine!

Won't you join with us in prayer? That women attending these next two conferences will be impacted by the Truth of God's Word, the Hope of Jesus, and Joy of living for Him!

With love,

Michelle

A Cheerful Heart is Good Medicine

“A happy heart makes the face cheerful ...and a cheerful heart is good medicine” (Prov. 15:13; 17:22).

What is so important about fun and relaxation that I would write about it three times? In the first two blogs, I shared experiences that were both fun for me and and relaxing at the same time. Both stories involved people, talking, laughing, sharing dinner and telling stories. Did you ever notice how much more fun you can have when there are others around? Being alone is not fun - you need someone to share it with.

Scientific studies have proven that “hanging out with friends for fun and relaxation actually counters stress that women experience on a daily basis.” Dr. Laura C. Klein, of Penn State University, says that engaging in friendships and relaxation reduces stress and produces a calming effect in one’s life. This fact has significant implications for our health. Dr. Klein and associate, Dr. Shelly Taylor found in their research that social ties, friendships and relationships “reduce the risk of disease by lowering blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol.”

If having fun and relaxing with others is so good for us, why don’t we do it more? What is the stumbling block? Most of us are so busy, we think we don’t have time and we put our friends on the back burner, promising them and ourselves, “We’ll try for next week.” If only we could remember the source of strength our friendships provide, we would not be so quick to put them on hold. Is there a friend you need to call today and set up an uninterrupted time just to be together, to talk and share as friends do? It will be a healing experience.

I’d love to hear your thoughts about fun and relaxation. Why not take a moment to share some of your experiences with us.

Eileen

Seize the Moment!

Life is busy for everyone. It seems like there is never enough time to do everything we need to do. Who has time to even think about fun and relaxation? One of my friends said to me recently, “I never take time to relax and have fun. I’m too busy.”

I started thinking about that. I have a full schedule as well and don`t plan for fun as often as I should, but somehow it seems to happen for me. Just a week or so ago, my 19 year-old grandson had a birthday and I was able to host the party. You can imagine ten young people around the table and everyone laughing and talking. It was wonderful - each one telling stories on the others. For about two hours I enjoyed the most wonderful entertainment. It was both fun and relaxing. I seized the moment.

Early last Sunday morning a friend I don`t see very often, called and asked if I could have lunch with her after church. It was a spontaneous invitation and I responded in the same way. She had made a scrumptious dinner and as we sat at her little table, beautifully set, we had lots of fun and laughter, as well as some serious conversation. After dinner, we relaxed in the living room and talked some more. Driving home, I realized how blessed I was. Those two hours, spontaneously ordered, were both fun and relaxing. We had seized the moment.

Eugene Peterson tells us we need to “pay attention to the ordinary,” and to realize that “God is in the everyday.” I agree. Sometimes we let the days slip by without watching for the special moments God may have planned for us - and we miss them. We keep waiting for that large block of time when we can take a big holiday when we think we will have lots of fun and relaxation. We need to keep our eyes open and watch for God’s everyday surprises - and seize those moments.

Have fun!

Till next time,
Eileen

Fun and Relaxation: Let Me Surprise You!

A few weeks ago I hosted a dinner in my home. There were five of us. When I invited the guests (one was unable to come), they all asked who was coming. “Let me surprise you,” I told them. Each one of these women was a leader and none of them knew each other. One by one as they arrived, I could see their pleasure as they discovered new friends. We visited in the living room for a while before dinner and I could not believe what happened. As they began to talk and get acquainted with each other, it was like a spark had been lit. Joy and laughter exploded into the room. No one was a stranger anymore. We were having so much fun I hated to interrupt to gather them to the dinner table.

My intention in having this dinner party was to bring together young women in leadership for mutual edification, encouragement and connecting. Well, it certainly happened. The joy continued throughout the whole meal, but now it was on a different level. They began to ask each other about their lives and ministries, and they listened intently as each one shared her story. The respect and genuine interest on each face was an encouragement to the story-teller and I could see that she was being empowered just from being listened to, and the listeners were being edified by the words she was speaking. My heart was bursting with joy as I watched.

The evening flew by as these women shared experiences that face women in leadership, each one encouraging and building up the others by the reminders of God’s faithfulness through every situation. It truly was an evening of fun and relaxation. I lived on the crest of the joyful atmosphere for several days after.

Tell me about a special time of fun and relaxation you have experienced recently. I’d love to hear about it.

Eileen

Recreation = Recreating

Oxford dictionary defines recreation as a 'means of recreating oneself, pleasurable exercise or employment.' That seems to indicate that our work could actually have an element of recreation.

Have you found that to be true?

What do you think of the following quote?
U.S. novelist James A. Mitchener states:
"The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labour and his leisure...his information and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him, he is always doing both."

Spontaneous Fun: Postpone the "To Do List"!

The ringing of the phone broke the silence of the quiet summer evening. As I answered, I was pleasantly surprised by my sister's cheerful voice inviting me to spend a couple days at her cottage.

Usually a visit there meant lots of people, lots of cooking and tons of noise. But her request meant just the two of us. Ah! Dreaming of the beauty that would surround me, giving me a quiet spot to relax, to read with no phones, dirty fingers or laundry, excited me. Quickly my excitement waned as I remembered my "to do" list. It included defrosting the deep freeze, thoroughly scrubbing the ceramic tiles which had been neglected for too long, answering speaking requests as well as writing assignments due later that week.

What a decision...the water in the lake or the water in the scrub pail? What would your choice be?

It's been said that "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." Now I don't want to be 'dull' so I chose the lake water, beautiful Lake Muskoka. Grabbing a few essentials (toothbrush and bathing suit), I set out for the three hour drive. On arrival, it only took minutes for hugs, then a sprint to the waters' edge. The calming effect of water sparkling like diamonds, the soft breezes creating unending ripples, and the bluest sky I'd seen in months, all convinced me that I had made the right decision.

Since we can't always go to a cottage, how do you incorporate recreation into your day? A break from the routine can inspire new ideas and energy.

What are some ideas you have used to have fun with your family?

Share with us your thoughts and ideas about the importance of Fun and Recreation throughout the year.

Whatever happened to fun?

What happens to fun as we grow up?

Having lived in a family filled with fun and laughter, I expected it to just remain an integral part of my life. In my early career years, I loved my work and had many friends who loved fun as much as I did. Living with 4 roommates in a home, we added fun to our everyday lives. Every weekend there were invitations to go skiing (living 1 hour away from Banff made this irresistible), potluck dinner parties with inventive themes, movie nights, and the hard-to-resist shopping marathons. As a new wife, I recall fun times being a natural ingredient in our marriage - lots of laughter and light-hearted moments.

When the children were young it was my dream 'job', celebrating life and laughter with these little enjoyable ones. Every day was an adventure.

I first noticed fun leaking out of our lives a few years later, as parental responsibilities became more challenging, and the stresses of life began pressing in. It happened without me noticing, until the day I heard my psychologist friend say, “The number one need of business and professional women is fun.” That just stopped me in my tracks. (and I happen to believe that it's the #1 need of all women). As I reflected on my friend's statement, I came to believe it was true of me. I agreed with her that I had been trying to nurture everyone else in my life, without nurturing myself. I had indeed depleted my resources, and there was precious little energy left, and no fun.
I began to resolutely put fun back into my life, and that of my family's.

When our daughter was going through a rough time, I promised to put so much fun into our lives that I hoped 'she wouldn't be able to stand it'! She started horseback riding lessons, and as I watched from outside the paddock, I observed her build a unique and special rapport with her horse. It was magic to watch her, and it added to her self esteem as well as adding fun to her days. We started going to a craft class in our small town, where we would spend an hour or 2 being taught a craft and walking out with the finished product. Soon the craft table was filled with women and their daughters (many of whom were friends we had recruited) We reinstated family nights for silly games and funny movies. We began camping together...certainly more fun for the kids, but I was game.

I also invited a group of women to a lunch one day. They were acquaintances from our church who I never had the time to get to know. We began a monthly lunch group at each others' homes, and called it 'The Fun Lunch Group.' It nurtured us every month - many laughs, and some tears as we grew very close and shared the ups and downs of life.

My older brother and I share jokes by email - he lives far away and I only see him once each year, but these laughs keep us close. My Mom and I also share a great sense of humour. We took a trip to Italy together and expected to have fun, but we turned into Lucy and Ethel, with a new and funny adventure every day.

Is there fun in your daily life? What things are fun for you?
I wonder if this is partly a generational issue - my 20 something daughter seems to have a lot of fun with little effort - is it easier for women under 40?
Are you able to take time out for things you think of as fun without feeling guilty?

Please let me hear from you - I speak to women of all ages, and would love to hear your comments.

Yours in Fun,
Darla

Women need fun!

A psychologist friend of mine told me that the top need of women today is fun. Does that surprise you? Apparently, as women, we are very good at nurturing everyone else at our expense. Are you working hard to put fun into your life this summer?

Do you build personal time into your summer schedule? How is it working for you?

Enjoy your summer!
Darla