A gathering place for ideas and discussion aimed at supporting adoption and family issues.

Friday, April 20, 2012

A life changing book

I've just got to recommend any one of these books written by C. Terry Warner and the Arbinger Institute:



The Anatomy of Peace: Resolving the Heart of Conflict [Book]
Leadership and self-deception: getting out of the box [Book]

Bonds That Make Us Free: Healing Our Relationships, Coming to Ourselves [Book]
Frequently as I have done counseling, I have been able to use the concepts from these books and encourage clients to get these books.  Too often it is true that the only reason we can't solve our relationship problems is because we are deceived: We don't see that we are a huge part of the problem.  The only thing we can change is ourselves.

Each book gets down to the very heart of conflict.  They describe the same concepts, each in a different way.  They make the reader look at him or herself and think about how we can honor our relationships by being true to the call of humanity in all of us.

If you have read one or more of them, tell me which one you read and let me know what you think.  If you haven't read any of them, I strongly encourage you get a copy, digest it, then let me know what you think.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Marriage: The hard, but good way...

I wanted to post this song and found this Youtube video that works well enough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvniXDH-2-o

Some couples don't realize that marriage really is hard work.  It was really sad when I saw a couple in counseling where the wife was ready to call it quits after just a few months.  I've seen other couples fight like crazy to make their marriage work.  It's not going to just happen.  You don't just "fall" out of love, or grow apart, unless you have been neglecting to Enrich Your Marriage.  Check out this article by Pres. James E. Faust: 

http://www.lds.org/liahona/2007/04/enriching-your-marriage?lang=eng&query=faust+enrich+your+marriage





Friday, April 6, 2012

Slight change in plans: add more stress

Life has been very crazy lately.  It's been in upheaval... a good upheaval, but stressful nonetheless.  I have decided to take a plunge and leave working for the State of Utah.  Not that working for that State is bad, it just didn't pay what it needs to.  I am super excited to start working in a couple weeks as a full-time mental health therapist for Touchstone Counseling.  I still feel I have a lot to learn.  They specialize in working with Attachment disorders.  The population they serve is largely children in foster care and children who have been adopted.

My business plan is not completely on hold.  Technically, I can take on private practice clients anytime, just not too many.  Launching into private practice full-time is still a few years away.  I won't need to do an LLC until I really branch out more on my own.  Touchstone will be perfect for me to work for and continue to grow professionally.  They have a great business and I feel they are ethical, and they have a great reputation, and they are growing.

To make life even more interesting lately, we had to buy a new car because the Saturn was just having problem after problem.  Yep, we had to bite the bullet.  It was worth it though.  I feel like it is more dependable, and there is still a factory warranty.  Also, we have been very blessed to have a couple families who were cutting out and getting rid of sod from their yards so we were able to get some free sod.  We have about a fourth of the yard with grass now.  And to top it off, we continue our quest to be pseudo farmers by purchasing 6 chicks today.  They are currently pecking, eating, drinking, and chirping away in our laundry room.  What were we thinking?!