Reflective Adventures (Rev)
Volume One
Introduction
Welcome to Volume One of Reflective Adventures, a compilation of the first 64 newsletters I produced in Substack! These newsletters, released weekly, are from May 2022 through July 2023. All pieces are available individually; here they are provided in one thematically organized resource. Plus, all issues now have images and audio files. I like to think of this as my first “book” created through Substack!
NOTE: Each underlined title will take you directly to the corresponding place in my newsletter archive.
How it Started
My first posting was entitled Turn the Page. It’s a great place to start reading/listening: Turn the Page
The Path of Life
This, my second issue, includes an explanation/description of each of the recurring sections of the newsletter.
A Minute of Motivation: Compliments
Enjoy Life More: Practice Remembering
Faith Corner: “Take courage! I AM!” [Jesus] Matthew 14:27
Poetry Pause: Surrender
Old Mom to Young Mom: Advice for moms because “mom-ing” is hard – Write in a journal
Detours: Finding Joy When Your Journey Shifts
A Minute of Motivation: Detours
Enjoy Life More: Enjoy the Scenery
Faith Corner: Jesus said, “The narrow road leads to life.” (See Matthew 7: 14)
Poetry Pause: D. E. T. O. U. R.
Old Mom to Young Mom: “You are Here”
Passed Over: The Pain of Being Not Chosen
A Minute of Motivation: Failure
Enjoy Life More: Find Joy in Being Passed Over
Faith Corner: “Because of the blood, death will pass over you.” (see Exodus 12:13)
Poetry Pause: Unwanted
Old Mom to Young Mom: Only One Person Gets First Place
Fog: When Your Path is Obscured
A Minute of Motivation: The Fog of Fear
Enjoy Life More: Enjoy the Fog
Faith Corner: “He spread out a cloud [i.e., fog] as a covering.” Psalm 105:39
Poetry Pause: F. O. G.
Old Mom to Young Mom: Don’t Make Fear-Based Decisions
Tenacity: Defeat is Not an Option
A Minute of Motivation: Happy Persistence
Enjoy Life More: Don’t Quit Important Things
Faith Corner: “Hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping.” (1 Corinthians 16: 13-14)
Poetry Pause: Discouragement
Old Mom to Young Mom: Reward Polite Persistence (aka, don’t let savages get their way)
Turbulence: Navigating Life’s Bumpy Air
A Minute of Motivation: Think Long Term
Enjoy Life More: Trust the Pilot
Faith Corner: Jesus, after calming the storm, said, “Where is your faith?” (see John 8: 24-25)
Poetry Pause: Unsettled
Old Mom to Young Mom: Loving Turbulent Tots and Teens
TIME
A Minute of Motivation: Time for Tact
Enjoy Life More: When It’s Time
Faith Corner: “Jesus died for sinners at the right time.” (See Romans 5: 6)
Poetry Pause: Behind the Curtain
Old Mom to Young Mom: It’s Time
On Hold: Live in Motion While Waiting
A Minute of Motivation: Time Plus Effort
Enjoy Life More: Dance on Hold
Faith Corner: “To all there is an appointed time, even a time for every purpose under heaven.” (See Ecclesiastes 3:1)
Poetry Pause: Until My Name is Called
Old Mom to Young Mom: Waiting for a Fair Share
Yet-Ness: Living with Determination
A Minute of Motivation: Go the Extra Mile
Enjoy Life More: Patient Determination
Faith Corner: “Yet I will praise the Lord.” (see Habakkuk 3:18)
Poetry Pause: The Power of Yet
Old Mom to Young Mom: Patient “Yet-Ness”
Time to Build: Destruction Before Construction
A Minute of Motivation: Life is Like Labor
Enjoy Life More: Joy During Metamorphosis
Faith Corner: “There is a time to tear down and a time to build.” (Ecclesiastes 3: 3)
Poetry Pause: A Time to Build
Old Mom to Young Mom: Prepare Your Child for Suffering
The Countdown: Prepare for Departure
A Minute of Motivation: T-I-M-E
Enjoy Life More: Prepare for Departure
Faith Corner: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18)
Poetry Pause: Mercy Clock
Old Mom to Young Mom: Prepare for Your Departure
Time Portals: Harness the Power of Things
A Minute of Motivation: Let Go of Dead Things
Enjoy Life More: The Power of Things
Faith Corner: Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” (Luke 22:19)
Poetry Pause: Ribbons Remember
Old Mom to Young Mom: Childhood Souvenirs
“My” Days: Who Owns Your Schedule?
A Minute of Motivation: Spontaneity vs. Self-Control
Enjoy Life More: Divine Appointments
Faith Corner: “Teach us to recognize our days are limited; help us to spend them wisely.” (see Psalm 90:12)
Poetry Pause: My Days
Old Mom to Young Mom: Windshield Chats
No Time Travel: Savoring the Flavor of Now
A Minute of Motivation: Satisfaction of Now
Enjoy Life More: Taste the Middle Bite
Faith Corner: “It came to pass.” [463 references in the King James Version]
Poetry Pause: Empty Fullness
Old Mom to Young Mom: Is this the last time?
Complex Emotions
Buzzing: Pesky Background Emotions
A Minute of Motivation: Escape from Addiction
Enjoy Life More: Stop Running and Swatting
Faith Corner: The angels sang, “Glory in the highest to God.” (See Luke 2:14)
Poetry Pause: Just as I am
Old Mom to Young Mom: Background Childhood Buzzing
Tangled: Caught in the Web of Tomorrow
A Minute of Motivation: Small Stuff
Enjoy Life More: Fight Today’s Mosquitoes, not Tomorrow’s
Faith Corner: “Give us what we need for today.” (From The Lord’s Prayer)
Poetry Pause: Tomorrow is a Mirage
Old Mom to Young Mom: We’ll Figure That Out When We Get There
Jumbled: Past, Present, and Future Collide
A Minute of Motivation: Choose Wisely
Enjoy Life More: Focus on Today’s Page
Faith Corner: Jesus said, “Only one thing is needed.” (see Luke 10:42)
Poetry Pause: The Jumble
Old Mom to Young Mom: Choices Have Consequences
A Minute of Motivation: Turning Liabilities into Assets
Enjoy Life More: Always Angry, Rarely “Green”
Faith Corner: “God, a righteous judge, displays His wrath.” (See Psalms 7:11)
Poetry Pause: I’m Angry
Old Mom to Young Mom: Harnessing the Intensity
Triage: Reviewing Wounds and Needs
A Minute of Motivation: Emotional Triage: Sad Boys and Angry Girls
Enjoy Life More: Relationship Triage: “You Complete Me”
Faith Corner: Spiritual Triage: “He put on me the robe of righteousness.” (See Isaiah 61:10)
Poetry Pause: Like the Snow
Old Mom to Young Mom: Parental Triage: Short-Suited Parenting
Feeling Broken?: Try the Healing Power of Laughter
A Minute of Motivation: A Little Crazy
Enjoy Life More: The Healing Power of Laughter
Faith Corner: “Sarah said, ‘God brought me laughter.’” (Genesis 21:6)
Poetry Pause: Too Broken
Old Mom to Young Mom: Laugh With a Child
In the Dark?: Try Opening Your Eyes
A Minute of Motivation: Dare to Care
Enjoy Life More: In the dark? Try opening your eyes
Faith Corner: “The Lord’s mercies never end; they are new every morning.” (see Lamentations 3: 22-23)
Poetry Pause: L.A.M.E.N.T.
Old Mom to Young Mom: Blessings Require Sacrifice
Overburdened: Reduce the Load You are Carrying
A Minute of Motivation: Umbilical Cords of Guilt
Enjoy Life More: Don’t Carry What isn’t Yours to Carry
Faith Corner: Jesus said, “Serving with Me is pleasant; My burden is not heavy.” (See Matthew 11:30)
Poetry Pause: Uphill Each Day
Old Mom to Young Mom: Work Yourself Out of the Job
Nautical Metaphors
Adrift: Making Course Corrections
A Minute of Motivation: Rudder of Truth; Wind of Love
Enjoy Life More: Drop Anchor, then Set a Course
Faith Corner: “Sabbath is a gift from the Lord.” (see Exodus 16:29)
Poetry Pause: Drifting
Old Mom to Young Mom: Develop Sabbath Time
Submerged: Rescue from the Depths
A Minute of Motivation: Stay on Top
Enjoy Life More: Down, but not Dead
Faith Corner: “The Lord lifted me out of the depths.” (see Psalm 30:1)
Poetry Pause: Rescue Came
Old Mom to Young Mom: See Your Children
Doldrums: The Sea Becomes Dangerously Still
A Minute of Motivation: Dare to Dream
Enjoy Life More: Dealing with Doldrums
Faith Corner: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick; but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” (see Proverbs 13:12)
Poetry Pause: D. O. L. D. R. U. M. S.
Old Mom to Young Mom: Responding to “I’m Bored”
Seasick!: Dealing with Disorientation
A Minute of Motivation: This Moment
Enjoy Life More: Focus on the Horizon
Faith Corner: “The Spirit of God was moving above the waters.” (See Genesis 1: 2)
Poetry Pause: Sinking
Old Mom to Young Mom: Teach Endurance
Catchin’ Anything?: Fishing with Purpose
A Minute of Motivation: The Fruit is on the Limb
Enjoy Life More: Fishing or Catching?
Faith Corner: Jesus said, “Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.” (see Luke 5:4)
Poetry Pause: Fish-Finder
Old Mom to Young Mom: Teaching Intrinsic Purpose
Pulled Under: Dealing with Waves of Sadness
A Minute of Motivation: Let Sorrow Run Its Course
Enjoy Life More: Ride the Waves
Faith Corner: “A time to weep and a time to laugh.” (Ecclesiastes 3:4)
Poetry Pause: Waves of Sadness
Old Mom to Young Mom: Listen to their Tears
More Metaphors
A Minute of Motivation: Where is Beauty?
Enjoy Life More: Beauty in the Bones
Faith Corner: “The dead body touched Elisha’s bones and sprang to life.” (See 2 Kings 13: 21)
Poetry Pause: Missouri Bones
Old Mom to Young Mom: Your Children’s Bones
The Looking Glass: What Filters Your View?
A Minute of Motivation: Challenging Days
Enjoy Life More: Through Mom’s Eyes
Faith Corner: Hagar said, “You are the God who sees me.” (see Genesis 16:13)
Poetry Pause: The Looking Glass
Old Mom to Young Mom: Teaching Children to See
Roots: Slow and Invisible Growth
A Minute of Motivation: Roots Before Flowers
Enjoy Life More: Anchor Each Day
Faith Corner: “At the scent of water it will begin to grow.” (see Job 14:9)
Poetry Pause: Smelling Water
Old Mom to Young Mom: Encourage Root Development
Relationships
Belonging: Membership in a Tribe
A Minute of Motivation: A Lesson from “Mystery Acres” – Learning about Tribes
Enjoy Life More: Find Your Tribe
Faith Corner: “Countless people from every nation, tribe, and language were standing before God.” (See Rev. 7:9)
Poetry Pause: Once a Part
Old Mom to Young Mom: Develop Their Tribe
Shelter: A Hug Might Make it Better
A Minute of Motivation: Responsible To Vs. Responsible For
Enjoy Life More: Time to Embrace
Faith Corner: “Under His wings you will find shelter.” (Psalm 91: 4)
Poetry Pause: Shelter
Old Mom to Young Mom: Making it “All Better”
Earthquake: Pulling Joy from Rubble
A Minute of Motivation: Priorities
Enjoy Life More: Focus on What Matters Most
Faith Corner: “We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.” (Hebrews 12:28)
Poetry Pause: Shaken
Old Mom to Young Mom: Pulling Joy from Rubble
Not Alone: Finding Strength “With”
A Minute of Motivation: Don’t Go It Alone
Enjoy Life More: The Opposite of Alone
Faith Corner: And God said, “I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:12)
Poetry Pause: W.I.T.H.
Old Mom to Young Mom: Be With Other Moms
Porcupines: The Courage to Snuggle Up
A Minute of Motivation: Porcupines on a Cold Night
Enjoy Life More: Connect with Each Other
Faith Corner: “In You, the orphan finds compassion.” (Hosea 14: 3)
Poetry Pause: Love is a Decision
Old Mom to Young Mom: Teaching Remorse
Toxic Spaces
Toxic Soil: Be Careful Where Your Roots Are
A Minute of Motivation: Body Pollution
Enjoy Life More: Treat Bitter Soil with Gratitude and Forgiveness
Faith Corner: Paul said, “Be rooted in love.” (See Ephesians 3:17)
Poetry Pause: Toxic Soil
Old Mom to Young Mom: Soil is Important
Detoxify Part I: Heart-Cleaning
A Minute of Motivation: Resentment
Enjoy Life More: Release Darkness from your Heart
Faith Corner: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and hatred… forgiving each other.” (Ephesians 4:31, 32)
Poetry Pause: Frozen Pain
Old Mom to Young Mom: Puking can be good
Detoxify Part II: What’s Poisoning You?
A Minute of Motivation: Prune the Dead Branches
Enjoy Life More: Personal Editing
Faith Corner: “Jesus prunes every branch that bears fruit so it will be even more fruitful.” (John 15:2)
Poetry Pause: Paying the Toll
Old Mom to Young Mom: “SuperMom” is a Myth
Detoxify Part III: Toxic Encounters
A Minute of Motivation: Angry People
Enjoy Life More: Be Teflon
Faith Corner: The neighbor went to the victim and “bandaged his wounds.” [see Luke 10:34]
Poetry Pause: Struggle of the Wounded
Old Mom to Young Mom: Remember You’re the Grown-up
The Prickly Nest: When It’s Time to Leave
A Minute of Motivation: Three Magic Words: “Yes, I Can.”
Enjoy Life More: Flap Your Wings!
Faith Corner: “The Lord knows how to rescue from trials.” (See 2 Peter 2:9)
Poetry Pause: Escape
Old Mom to Young Mom: The “Just-Right Nest”
Restorative Spaces
A Minute of Motivation: You Have What You Need for Today
Enjoy Life More: A Nap Might Help
Faith Corner: “Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” (Psalm 116:7)
Poetry Pause: Return
Old Mom to Young Mom: Be a Calm Example
Smile: Light Your Corner of the World
A Minute of Motivation: Smile!
Enjoy Life More: Today is a Good Day to Smile
Faith Corner: Jesus’ “face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.” (Rev. 1:16)
Poetry Pause: S.M.I.L.E.
Old Mom to Young Mom: Cherish those Smiles
Restoration Part I: Pondering the Lessons of Water
A Minute of Motivation: The Ripple Effect
Enjoy Life More: Thank Your Kidneys
Faith Corner: “Beside water, He restores my soul.” (Psalm 23: 2-3)
Poetry Pause: At the Edge
Old Mom to Young Mom: Use Your Village
Restoration Part II: Pondering the Lessons of Song
A Minute of Motivation: The Song of You
Enjoy Life More: Absorb a Song
Faith Corner: “Jesus sang a hymn with His disciples.” (Mark 14:26)
Poetry Pause: Lesson of the Birds
Old Mom to Young Mom: The Boomerang of Song
Restoration Part III: Pondering the Lessons of Air
A Minute of Motivation: Bloom Where the Wind Takes You
Enjoy Life More: Joy “Under the Circumstances”
Faith Corner: Fly “by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Poetry Pause: on Eagles and Flying
Old Mom to Young Mom: Get Some Fresh Air
The Big Screen: Pondering Rarity and Wonder in the Universe
A Minute of Motivation: Proclaim Your Rarity
Enjoy Life More: Look Up
Faith Corner: P.S. “and the stars.” (See Genesis 1:16b)
Poetry Pause: Mesmerized
Old Mom to Young Mom: Watch Nature’s Big Screen
Grateful Living
Blessings: Are You Counting or Complaining?
A Minute of Motivation: Seek Simplicity
Enjoy Life More: Practice Counting, not Complaining
Faith Corner: Paul advised Timothy to “be content with food and clothes.” (1 Timothy 6:8)
Poetry Pause: C-O-N-T-E-N-T
Old Mom to Young Mom: Are You Counting or Complaining?
Gratitude in Grief: Seeking Joy in Times of Loss
A Minute of Motivation: Emotional Pain
Enjoy Life More: A Thankful Good-Bye
Faith Corner: “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35)
Poetry Pause: The Joy Path
Old Mom to Young Mom: Hold Tight with Open Arms
Stop Grumbling: Surrendering Your "Right" to Complain
A Minute of Motivation: Oh, Fertilizer!
Enjoy Life More: Grateful or Grouchy?
Faith Corner: “Do everything without grumbling.” (Phil. 2:14)
Poetry Pause: Seeds of Pain
Old Mom to Young Mom: Give Thanks for Laundry
Notice Things More: An Often Overlooked Path to Joy
A Minute of Motivation: The Little Things
Enjoy Life More: Catch Glimpses of Eden
Faith Corner: Jesus said: “Store up treasures in heaven.” Matthew 6:20
Poetry Pause: Preston
Old Mom to Young Mom: Experience a Child’s Perception
Finding Enough: When life feels like too much or you feel like too little
A Minute of Motivation: TODAY
Enjoy Life More: Find the Eye (of the Storm)
Faith Corner: Jesus said, “My grace is enough for you.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Poetry Pause: Only Crumbs
Old Mom to Young Mom: Go take a nap!
Personal Transformation
Humility: Sometimes the Way Up is Down
A Minute of Motivation: Humility vs. Pride
Enjoy Life More: Sometimes Going Up Requires Going Down
Faith Corner: “Humbly value others above yourselves.” (see Philippians 2:3).
Poetry Pause: Pride to Humility
Old Mom to Young Mom: Developing Humble Children
Stay in Your Lane: Why Watch Other Runners?
A Minute of Motivation: Comparisons
Enjoy Life More: Stay in Your Lane
Faith Corner: “Run with endurance the race marked out” for you. (see Hebrews 12:1b)
Poetry Pause: Labor and Delivery
Old Mom to Young Mom: Stay in Your Lane Parenting
All in or All Out?: Beware the Stress of Partial Commitment
A Minute of Motivation: Four Powerful Words: There is a Way!
Enjoy Life More: Don’t Be a Dimmer Switch
Faith Corner: “Live fully by being “all in” in the fullness of God.” (see Eph. 3:19)
Poetry Pause: Not a Dimmer Switch
Old Mom to Young Mom: Always a Parent
Fully Awake or Half-Asleep: Has Life Become Too Comfortable?
A Minute of Motivation: Comfort Zones
Enjoy Life More: Fully Awake
Faith Corner: “It’s time to wake up!” (see Romans 13:11)
Poetry Pause: ME
Old Mom to Young Mom: Zone of Proximal Development
Full Tilt or Fully Present?: Consider a Slower Pace
A Minute of Motivation: Quality vs. Speed
Enjoy Life More: Limit Red-Lining
Faith Corner: “Jesus walked.” (Mark 1:16)
Poetry Pause: He Knows
Old Mom to Young Mom: Never Too Busy
Half-full or Half-Empty?: Consider Using a Different Container
A Minute of Motivation: Life is Too Short
Enjoy Life More: The Wrong Container
Faith Corner: “My cup overflows” (Psalm 23: 5)
Poetry Pause: Blessings
Old Mom to Young Mom: Just One Day
Fading: What Remains When Life is Drained?
A Minute of Motivation: It’s Darkest Before the Dawn
Enjoy Life More: The Maple Leaf Lesson
Faith Corner: “Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16)
Poetry Pause: This Fading Season
Old Mom to Young Mom: Showing Your True Colors
Bonus Content: Fading into Glory
Christmas Series
Love: Ancient Tradition of Re-Gifting
A Minute of Motivation: Love’s Immeasurable Gift
Enjoy Life More: Dr. Mac’s Guide to Re-Gifting
Faith Corner: “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
Poetry Pause: Love Like Water
Old Mom to Young Mom: Re-Gifted Parenting
Joy: Listen for Echoes of Good News
A Minute of Motivation: God’s Boomerang
Enjoy Life More: Good News Echoes
Faith Corner: The angel said to the shepherds, “I bring you good news of great joy for all people.” (Luke 2: 10)
Poetry Pause: Nature’s Joyful Songs
Old Mom to Young Mom: A Child is Good News
Peace: The Victory of Surrender
A Minute of Motivation: I’m Sorry
Enjoy Life More: The Victory of Surrender
Faith Corner: Solomon wrote, “there is a time for war and a time for peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3:8b)
Poetry Pause: Peace
Old Mom to Young Mom: It doesn’t matter who started it, only who ends it
Hope: Living Life with Forward Momentum
A Minute of Motivation: Keep Hoping
Enjoy Life More: Hope-Full or Hope-Less
Faith Corner: “Do not grieve without hope.” (from 1 Thessalonians 4:13)
Poetry Pause: H-O-P-E
Old Mom to Young Mom: Hope-Oriented Parenting