Pinterest Pick Thursday

You may not realize it, with all of your last minute Halloween preparations, but November will be here in 2 days.  How will you be commemorating this month of gratitude?

This picture contains a white quote on a back
background.  The quote reads 'When life is sweet,
say thank you and celebrate, when life is bitter,
say thank you and grow. - HPLYRIKZ.com'

Two years ago, Michelle Richards, author of Tending the Flame: The Art of UU Parenting, wrote an article for the UUWorld about gratitude, and how we might go about instilling this important value in our children.  Richards suggested, of course, that it all begins with modeling gratitude ourselves.

So, with that, this week's pinterest pick is all about gratitude...

Pinterest Pick of the Week
Gratitude Challenge

Faith Formation Component
Covenant

Time for Activity
30 min. / day
Each day of November

Recommended Age
Preschool and Up

Materials
A Camera, Additional materials depending on your chosen activity

Activities
About two years ago, I tried to participate in the 30 days of gratitude challenge.  I believe I made it through a weeks worth of posts before I gave up.  It is not that I am ungrateful for all that I have.  It is just that after naming all of the obvious things - my family, my home, and food on the table - I couldn't really think of anything else to mention.  I guess you could say my idea well dried up.

This year, for all the reasons provided by Michelle Richards, and many more, I want to attempt the 30 days of gratitude challenge again.  But, of course, I want this year to be different.  So, to help me in my quest, I have put together a list!  Here it is...

1. Someone I See Everyday
2. A Gift
3. A Friend
4. Something Beautiful
5. A Luxury
6. A Need
7. Something Big
8. Something Small
9. An Ability
10. A Piece of Knowledge
11. Something Natural
12. Inspiring Words
13. Inspiring Person
14. A Difficulty / Challenge
15. Something Old
16. Something New
17. A Time of Day
18. A Physical Feature
19. A Daily Activity
20. A Distraction
21. Shelter
22. A Piece of Technology
23. Memories
24. An Act of Kindness
25. Inspiration
26. A Sound
27. Food
28. Comport
29. Love
30. Something Seasonal

The list isn't the only difference this go around either.  Instead of writing about each of these things, I plan to take and post pictures instead.  When my creative energy for writing is in short supply, I hope pictures will give me the opportunity to express my gratitude without overtaxing my brain cells.

This week - well, this month really - I invite you and your family to join me in this challenge.  Invite each member of your family to take a picture of something they are grateful for each day.  Feel free to use the list provided as a guide or for inspiration.  Then, post the pictures to your favorite social media site - Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook.  If you are a member of the First Church parenting facebook page, I encourage you to post your pictures there.

If you do not use social media, or if you want to focus more on your family, there are plenty of ways to bring this activity home.  In the Michelle Richards piece mentioned above, Richards suggests creating a paper chain at the beginning of the month - a count down until the end of the month - and that each day, as you cut off a link of the chain, mindfully express gratitude for someone or something that holds meaning to you.  On the flip side, Salt and Pepper Moms suggest creating a paper chain throughout the month.  You can download their thankful strips by following the link above.

This picture from Salt N Pepper Moms shows a 'Thankful
Thanksgiving Chain' and several unused thankful strips.

Or, you can create a 'Thankful Tree' like the one detailed by Bargain Bound.

Bargain Bound's Thankful tree starts off as a bare
 paper tree, and as the month progresses, 'fall' leaves
 with thankful sayings are added to the tree.

Or, bring social media home by creating your own 'Instagram wall' using the step-by-step guide on Gimmie Some Oven.

This DIY 'Instagram Wall' is from Gimmie some
Oven, and shows many small pictures in small
white frames, arranged in a grid.

Some questions to explore yourself are...

1. What are the advantage of living with 'an attitude of gratitude'?
2. How difficult is it?
3. What are some ways you can incorporate gratitude into your daily life?

Original Sources
The gratitude list was compiled using lists from The Middle Places, Positively Present, and Media Cache Ec0.  All other links cited above.

Don't forget, this Sunday is Daylights Savings.  Set your clocks back one hour and enjoy the extra hour of sleep!

- Ms. Meredith

Pinterest Pick Thursdays

In conversations with my niece this week I was reminded of a universal truth...

This picture depicts a man pulling a very large stone heart with a string.
The quote says "Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle" - Ian MacLaren

I facilitated a discussion among a small group of parents about a month ago on the nature of parenting and raising a child in the UU faith.  Afterwards, I was asked why I did not speak about my own parenting experience.  I explained that these types of situations are always hard for me, as the DRE, I never quite know where the line is between being a member of the community and being an employee.  But, there is another reason too - as the mother of a former micro preemie who now has multiple special needs, I am often pitied.  People see my situation from the outside and they see pain and loss.  They envision a world of sorrow and they say "Thank goodness that isn't us."  They view my life from the outside and say "Well, at least my troubles aren't that bad."  And, while I do not fault anyone for saying these things - I used to say these things before I knew better - the moment these thoughts enter someones mind, they become a barrier.  Almost instantaneously, my experience prevents people from giving voice to their own 'hard battles.'

Now, let me re-iterate Ian MacLaren's point - We are all in need of kindness because every single one of us facing hardship.  Life is difficult for everyone!  So, then, what is our responsibility as Unitarian Universalists?  What can we do to help lighten the load for someone?  Well, weren't you reading?  Just be kind!

Pinterest Pick of the Week
Take What you Need

Faith Formation Component
Context / Calling

Time for Activity
0.5 - 2 hours

Recommended Age
Kindergarten and Up

Materials
Computer / Printer - or-
Copy Paper and craft materials

Activities
Context / Calling, in short, is all about how you live your UU values out in your community.  With that, you may think that Context / Calling is all about the big gestures, such as attending rallies or volunteering.  And, certainly, there is an element of that.  But, I would say Context / Calling has more to do with the little gestures - small acts of kindness, and the way you choose to live your life day in and day out - than the big gestures.  So, today's activity is all about small acts of kindness, particularly, 'Take what you Need' fliers.  Have you seen these?

There are fliers that provide positive thoughts, such as this one featured on Kind Over Matter.

This positive thought flier encourages people to take a positive thought
such as 'I communicate with love,' and 'Complain less, breath more.'

Or this affirmation flier at DIY Craft List.

This flier reminds people that they are 'amazing' and encourages them to
take an affirmation such as 'You are worth it.' and 'You are loved.'

Or, this attributes flier from Creative Market.

This flier asks people to take an attribute which
they need, such as 'Courage' and 'Passion.'

All of these fliers can be downloaded for free from their original sights.  And, so this weekend, you may just want to do that - download, print, and cut one or several of these fliers, then put them up wherever people will see them (the supermarket bulletin board, the light pole on the street corner, your company's kitchen, etc.).  Or, you may want to make your own using some copy paper and craft material.

Here are some discussion questions you may wish to explore with your children as you do this activity:

• What does it mean to be Unitarian Universalist?
• How do our beliefs influence our actions?
• What are some ways we can be kind to others every day?
• How do you think people will feel when they take a slip from our flier?
• What slip would you take?  Why?

After a day or two, you may want to revisit the places you posted the fliers, just to see if anyone has used them. 

Original Sources
All original sources cited above.

See you Sunday!

- Ms. Meredith

Pinterest Pick Thursdays!

Part of being in a community, is caring for the members of that community.  We do this by celebrating and grieving with them.  We provide warm meals, and kind words when they are in need.  And, we congratulate them when they succeed.

In our church community lately, there has been a lot of both - celebrating and grieving.  So, this week's activity is all about caring for others.

In this picture, two people are sitting in the background.  The
foreground contains the quote, 'I want to make sure it's people,
not projects, that occupy the sacred places of my heart.
@LysaterKeurst.'  It is from the website The Best Yes.

Pinterest Pick of the Week
Circle of Friends

Faith Formation Component
Covenant

Time for Activity
0.5 to 1 hour

Recommended Age
All Ages

Materials
General Art Supplies (cardstock, markers / crayons, glue, scissors, etc.)
Care package Materials (Optional)

Activities
How many communities do you and your child belong to?  I would venture you're at least part of 3 communities - church, school, neighborhood.  Can you name any others?  Start this activity by sitting down with your child and listing all of them out.

Now that you have a list of your communities, see if you can identify who, within those communities, may be experiencing a joy or sorrow.  Maybe you have an elderly neighbor who lives alone?  Maybe someone just had a birthday or won an award?  Or, maybe there is a child in your child's class that is distant or a bit of a bully?  One important point to stress is that while it may easy to have compassion for our friends, but not our 'enemies,' it is normally our 'enemies' who need our compassion most of all.

This picture contains a quote, written in white lettering on a red
background.  The quote reads "Treat everyone with politeness,
even those who are rude to you - not because they are nice, but
because you are."

Belonging to so many communities, you and your child probably won't know everything that is happening in everyone's lives.  But for our church community, at least, you can view a current list of our communities Joys and Sorrows by visiting your inbox.  A list of people in need of our kind words is sent out once every other week or so, over the list serve, under the title 'circle of friends.'

Finally, once you have a list of people in need of our kindness and congratulations, start making cards!  Here are some of my favorite ideas...

• Handprint Cards - If you have a child between the ages of 0 and 3, you may be wondering how you will get your child involved in making cards.  One of my go to activities with this age group is handprint art.  It is a pretty simple - paint your child's hand, manipulate, and press.  Not sure what to make?  No worries, Fun Handprint Art is a whole website dedicated to nothing but - you guessed it - handprint art.

A heart made out of handprints
from Fun Handprint Art.

• Send a Hug - Trace your child's upper body on a piece of butcher paper.  Invite them to color / decorate it however they want.  Cut out the shape and fold it into a hug.  Attach a short letter to the hug, offering your sympathies or congratulations, and then mail it to its final destination.  You can see more pictures and detailed instructions at Roots & Wings Co.

On the left, a boy prepares to be traced.  On the right, the final product, a paper hug.
Pictures from Roots & Wings Co.

• Care Package - If you are wanting to do more than just send a card, then a care package may be the way to go.  You can find great items to create your own care package at the dollar store.  Or, you can find inspiration by visiting the blog Once Upon a Fairy.

Halloween themed care package
from Once Upon a Fairy.

And, just because taking care of others can be a bit taxing on ourselves, here is a little musical nourishment for your soul.

Original Sources
All original sources cited above.

Don't forget, this coming Sunday is the Intergenerational Harvest Celebration!
Hope to see you there!

- Ms. Meredith.

Pinterest Pick Thursdays

For our Jewish friends and neighbors today is the first day of Sukkot.  Sukkot  (sue-coat) is a time of celebration when our Jewish friends and neighbors honor their ancestors, who traveled for 40 years through the desert, before reaching the promised land of Israel.  During their travels, the Israelite's would construct temporary homes out of branches and palms.  A singular home was known as a Sukkah (rhymes with book-ah).  The plural of Sukkah is Sukkot, which is where we get the name of this holiday.

Stock photo of a Sukkah, complete with 3 walls, a roof
made of branches, decorations, and a table.

Sukkot is also a harvest festival - a time to be grateful and give thanks for all that G-d has provided.  In just over a week, we will hold our own harvest celebration at church.  We'll celebrate with an intergenerational harvest service, collect an offering for Shiloh food pantry, and then gather in the Ellen Hall room for a potluck.  The following week, your child will continue the celebration, and honor our 7th principle, with a harvest feast - where they will sample seasonal fruits and veggies, and learn about harvest celebrations in other cultures.

Stock photo of a harvest table.

Bring the concept of 'The Harvest' home with this week's pinterest pick...

Pinterest Pick of the Week
Harvest Celebration

Faith Formation Component
Community

Time for Activity
A Day

Recommended Age
All Ages

Materials
Some money, baking supplies, building blocks

Activities
The harvest is celebrated around the world - from the Yam Festival in West Africa, to the Mid-Autumn festival in East Asia.  The harvest was a significant time of year for our ancestors, and still is for many around the world as it means survival.  However, in our super industrialized culture, where food magically appears in our local supermarket prepackaged for our convenience, we often loose sight of this significance.  In addition, it is easy for us to forget just how dependent we are on our Earth.

You can explore these harvest themes by visiting a local farm - pick apples or pumpkins, or buy fresh fruit and vegetables from the farmer's market.  Some local farms, such as Neiderman Farm in Hamilton Ohio and Sunrock Farm in Northern Kentucky, also have corn-mazes and hay-rides that the entire family can enjoy.  Some questions to explore while visiting the farm...

• Where does this food (and all food) come from?
• Why would people celebrate the harvest?
• What principles can we connect to the harvest?
• What are your favorite fall foods?

At the end of your visit, take your food home and make a special treat or meal with the food you picked up at the farmers market.  Involve your children in any way possible.  Even a child as young 1.5 can smash graham crackers for a pie crust.  Finally, don't forget to enjoy your tasty teat or meal together!  A big part of celebrating the harvest is enjoy the foods you love with the people you love.

If you wish to extend the activity and learn more about Sukkot, you can get an overview of the holiday here, view a special Sesame Street program about Sukkot below, and/or create a model Sukkah out of building blocks or food.

Original Sources
Inspiration for today's activities comes from Jennifer Eblin.  Sukkot overview provided by The Board of Jewish Education.  YouTube playlist compiled by me, Meredith Plummer.  And sukkah instructions can be found at Bible Belt Balabusta.

Don't forget, Sunday, October 19, bring a donation for Shiloh and a dish to share for the potluck!

Until then, Happy Harvest!

- Ms. Meredith

Pinterest Pick Thursdays

Reverend Mark Morrison-Reed is coming to speak with the Cincinnati UU community this coming Friday, October 3.  Rev. Morrison-Reed - minister, historian, author - will be making the stop as part of his book tour promoting his latest work The Selma Awakening, which analyzes the shift in Unitarian Universalist race relations in 1965 Selma, Alabama.

This picture shows the front cover of
The Selma Awakening, by Rev. Mark
Morrison-Reed.

Parents who wish to attend the book discussion, are welcome to leave their children with Faith Maynard, who will be offering children's programming to compliment the book discussion.

I would urge all families who can make the book discussion, to attend, as Rev. Morrison-Reed is a truly inspired historian and speaker.  Can't make it to the lecture?  Well, then, don't worry about missing out, this Pinterest Pick Thursday is for you...

Pinterest Pick of the Week

Multicultural Movie Night

Faith Formation Component

Content

Time for Activity

2 - 3 hours

Recommended Age

9 and up

Materials

A Library Card, A T.V. and D.V.D. player

Activities

A great way to introduce children to the concept of racism and civil rights is through story.  Mildred Taylor, author of Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry has written some great picture books about race relations in the mid 20th century.  The short list below, compiled and summarized by Tim Kraus, is a great starting point for discussion:

• The Gold Cadillac--About an Ohio Family that drives down to Mississippi to visit family after living in the North. The father is an auto worker on vacation. They drive a new Gold Cadillac and the Mississippi Police assume the father stole the car because no black family could own anything so nice. He is put in jail and beaten.
• The Bridge--About racial segregation on buses. A group of black bus riders are forced off of a bus in Mississippi so a few whites can get on. The bus has an accident crossing a bridge and are rescued by the black riders who were kicked off the bus.
• The Friendship--A more complicated story about a friendship between a black man and a white man. The white is seen by his white peers relating to the black man in a too casual of a way and the black man calls the white man by his first name. This forces the white man to shoot the black man in the leg in order to maintain his position in white society. A very gripping story of race and friendship and the burden that racism places on all people.

Before reading any of these books, activate your child's pre-knowledge by asking him a few of the questions below:

• What does it mean to you when I say the words 'Civil Rights'?
• What does racism look like?
• Tell me what you know about the civil rights movement.

Continue discussing the topic as you read one, or several of the books mentioned above.  Here are some questions to help you along:

• How do you think the main character feels?
• What do you think will happen next?
• What would you do differently?
• What are you able to do because of your color that the character can't do?
• What would you do if you saw this happening?

Finally, extend the conversation to Selma, 1965 with Selma, Lord, Selma (TV-PG).  The Disney Movie website summarizes...

In 1965, during the turbulent early days of the right-to-vote movement, a young Alabama school girl is inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to resist the degradation that her fellow African Americans are suffering. Along with a white seminary student from the north, and against the threat of racial violence, she promises to do what she can to help Dr. King's efforts.

A short clip of the film can be found below, and full length versions can be obtained on Netflix DVD and through your local library.

And, don't forget, you can pick up a copy of The Selma Awakening through the UUA bookstore and learn more about Unitarian Universalist's role in the early days of the Civil Rights movement.

Original Sources: All original sources sighted above.

Wishing you well,

- Ms. Meredith