Fish & Flower Fairies

Today is dedicated to fish and flower fairies. My daughter has been noticing my blogging and wanted to blog as well.  Today's post is two blogs she wrote in school yesterday.

Happy Goldfish

I have goldfish.  I have five.

They are all named Goldy.

They are in a beautiful tank.

I feed them food and they swim all day.

The End

The Flower Fairies

Once upon a time in Neverland there was a flower fairy.

She went on an adventure.

She planted seeds on an island.

The End

Here is my lovely Flower Fairy. 

Pruning and Homemade Bread

Today, before I got out of bed I asked my husband to pray for us.  Mind you, I really didn't want to get out of bed. I would have prefered to pull the covers over my head and stay there.  His prayer surprised me - he prayed for my encouragement.  Let me remind you of my state of being. 



I thought, "Yeah, how can this day even come close to OK?" 

God does answer prayer.

Encouragement came in some interesting ways. 

First and foremost, of course, my amazing husband and daughter helped me get going.  School went well and ended with my daughter writing her first blog.  (More on that tomorrow!) 

Second was meeting a new neighbor.  She's wonderful, charming with great kids and a daughter about my daughter's age.  The girls were already planning multiple play dates after about 30 seconds of meeting each other! We brought them cookies and talked while keeping maternal eyes on the kids. 

Third, I had a really uplighting and affirming conversation with a friend and mentor.  It was a good reality check and reminded me to keep my eyes on the prize and don't mind a little mud on my shoes.

Fourth, I went to my Belly Dancing class.  I don't think I need to explain that one!  It's so much fun and a great group of women.  I always leave feeling fabulous and feeling the effort in all the right places.  Besides, I love the outfits!  (Laurel, you rock!)

Fifth, (yes, there was a fifth) we had an impromptu ice cream outing with friends after dance class.  The kids had a great time, the adults had a great time AND ice cream. 

Does it get any better?  Yes, it does. 

As I was chatting with my friend, I thought, "Ahhhh, this is what I want.  I need to focus on a few true, genuine friends who are people of heart and integrity, instead of the superficial ones. It was a refreshing conversation.  Thank you! You know who you are.  :-)   

In the pain of pruning there are refreshing breaks and breathing places.  The fact that my homemade bread attempts are improving was just a bonus.

Don't Bunt, Eat the Apple in Bites (A Mixed Metaphor)

I read a great quote from David Ogilvy whose commitment and professionalism forever changed the advertising industry. 

"Don't bunt. Aim out of the ball park. Aim for the company of immortals."

Sound advice.  How often do I make a concerted effort to "aim for the company of immortals"?  Most of the time I'm just trying to get through the day and accomplish my mundane tasks with the more inspirational things sandwiched inbetween and often squeezed out. How often do I forget the importance of daily disciplines in the big picture?  How often do I bunt to get by instead of full out 200%?

Too often.

A question I often ask my students is "Can you eat an apple in one bite?"  They usually laugh, look at me like I'm nuts then say "No, of course not!"  Now, if you eat it in bites, the answer is obvious.  Daily disciplines are the bites, eating the apple is the goal.  If I keep at it long enough, everyday goals are achieved and I'm hitting it out of the park.  Will I hit it out of the park, the first time I try?  Most likely not. 

If I work at it, eventually - Yes.

It all comes down to the little choices I make every day. Jack Canfield, the author of the "Chicken Soup for Soul" books, says that the number one reason people don't achieve their goals is NOT TAKING ACTION.  By taking action, even small ones, I am announcing that I desire and am ready for growth and success. 

My goal is to take action.  I don't want to be distracted by analyzing, planning, organizing and talking, I want to move forward.  Now analyzing, planning, organizing and talking all have their place, but if they are hurdles to be overcome, than they have become obstacles instead of tools to help propel me forward.

For example, this Blog is an exercise in the little bites of discipline.  I've been writing a book which has come to a standstill.  So, my personal challenge has become to make space to write a little everyday.  Ta-da! A blog fits the bill.

Right now, it seems there are many diverse challenges and goals to grow through, take action on and achieve both personal and professional.  How am I working on these seemingly insurmountable tasks?

One bite at a time.  Eventually the apple will be consumed, that ball hit out of the park, the mountain top achieved.......you get the picture.

Living vs. Being Alive

I was checking email this morning and the subject line of one caught my eye. 
"Living vs. Being Alive". 
It wasn't from someone I knew, it wasn't even a devotion - it was just an ad.

The truth is, we choose every moment of every day to truly live or just simply exist or perhaps what is the worst of all, to be so distracted by whatever current drama or difficulty we are in the middle of, that we miss what is most important. This morning, for me, it was hot chocolate and my husband's wallet.

I had a list of a million things that had to be done, no, that NEEDED to be done.  The regular morning routine just seemed to be getting in the way.  My husband and I were trying to carve out a few quiet moments before the mayhem began.  My daughter was very concerned about our tradition of a hot drink and snuggling on the couch while watching one of her shows.  I was concerned about getting dressed, making breakfast and getting school done by hook or by crook so I could work on my list inbetween school, playdates and appointments. My husband was trying to get out the door for what was guaranteed to be an extremely long day.  (At the time of this writing, it is nearly midnight and he is still not home.) He got out the door and we waved him off with three cheers for Daddy.  I looked at His smile and her sweet, lovely, loving little face and thought, "Ooooo, I almost missed this."  I gave her a smile and a smooch and we walked back to the kitchen to make her hot drink of choice.  Just a few minutes later, I saw my husband's wallet on the couch.  (Where he had left it last night.)  We called Daddy on the video phone to let him know.  I was prepared to drive it to him, but he was headed back.  We sat on the shoe bench in the entry way, snuggling, drinking hot chocolate with our shoes on, ready to bring Daddy's wallet to him. In just a few moments, his car came around the corner and we walked out in the morning cold and sprinkles to give the wallet to him.  We were both wearing pink and smiled at him.  I said we matched.  He said we looked good together.

Showing love through loving actions,

showing love through giving undivided attention,

showing love through awareness of another's concerns -

These things are much more important than any "to do" list. 

So, the day started out right after all.  My husband and I actually had some time together, he got his wallet, my daughter had her snuggle time with Mommy and hot chocolate.  (Hey, she's a girl and loves her chocolate!)

Did I finish my list? No, of course not! 

I did get quite a bit of it done, but more importantly I chose today to not just be alive, but to live.  I chose to savor the sweetness of the moments amid all the chaos. I chose to love those around me and wouldn't trade it for anything.

Everyday, I pray "Thank You, God for my life.  Thank You for my Husband.  Thank You for my sparkling Daughter.  Thank You in advance for Your plans and direction for us.  Thank You for the path ahead.  Thank You that we are not alone and we walk together with You."   

Amen.

Stripped to the Nub

Yesterday I was out with my husband and 6 year old daughter.  We were leisurely doing Saturday errands and generally enjoying the afternoon  and just being together.  The weather has been odd for this area - we even had an extremely light dusting of snow on the foothills.  This is strange weather for California!  It was a mix of menacing clouds and brilliant sun - very brisk and fresh .  I kept looking around expecting any moment to see a rainbow. 

One of our errands took us to a friends house.  The front part of their property has a vineyard.  My husband called our daughter"s attention to it and began to comment how the vines had been stripped to the nub to prepare them for Spring.  The sentence and image stuck with me.  (I took a quick picture on my phone.) 

Right now, the vines look brown, dead and rather unremarkable.  You can see the piles of prunings in regular intervals alongside the paths inbetween.  Looking at the vines, it is hard to believe very shortly, new leaves will sprout as the vines prepare to bear fruit.  Before long, we will come to this same spot and instead of brown, barren twigs there will be an abundance of lush, green leaves. There will be so much growth so the green will mostly obscure the earth.  I know this because I stood in this same place last Spring and saw it with my own eyes.  Knowing it will happen again is not such a huge stretch. 

In my own life it is hard to remember Spring sometimes.

Right now, I am being stripped to the nub.  The personal pruning is intense.  Let me say for the record, pruning is not comfortable! It seems that everything in my life is fair game and nothing is off limits.  Relationships, ideals, values, work ethic, persistance, personal discipline, self esteem and generally all I hold dear are being snipped at.  In church today, the Pastor spoke about praying for the things that we think are impossible.  I can immediately think of three so called "impossibilities" in my life.  They are:  my husband's full physical recovery, (more on that another time) my personal growth and the potential financial disaster that looms on the horizon. 

When God asked Solomon what he wanted and that God would give him whatever he asked, Solomon asked for a discerning heart to rule Israel.  God was so impressed with his answer so He not only gave Solomon wisdom but all the other things He didn't ask for: wealth, health, long life and a lasting legacy.  If God asked me the desire of my heart, I'm almost afraid of the pettiness of my answer.  I want all the things most people want: financial security and abundance, health, happiness, legacy and long life for me and my family.  As I peel back the layers of my answer, my real answer is there underneath it all. 

It whispers wistfully "I want to be like You."  

I know God hears the whispers of my heart underneath the shouts of the tyranny of the urgent.  I know even in Winter the promise of Spring is still there.  I know I will look up and suddenly see a brilliant rainbow.  I know God calls us to thank Him in advance of what He will do. I know true faith is the assurance of what is not seen. 

Even though the trees don't blossom,

Even though the fields are bare,  

Yet, I will rejoice and praise You, God of my salvation. 

("My Hope" by H.M. Lasky copyright 2002)

So, I surrender to the pruning and know I can unquestionably trust in the One wielding the shears.  I trust Him for life and in death, I trust Him with all I desire and hold dear. Even so, I struggle to submit and hold on to hope yet know with the certainty of Winter that Spring will come.

Come quickly.........

Friendship

I've been giving a lot of thought to what true friendship really means.  I went to Webster for a little help.  Some of the synonyms are: amity, benevolence, brotherhood, charity, cordiality, cordialness, fellowship, friendliness, goodwill, kindliness, neighborliness. The antonyms are: ill will, malevolence and venom.

It has been a bit shocking to this extrovert to realize while people in my life aren't neccessarily full of venom and malevolence they are certainly lacking in fellowship, friendliness, goodwill, cordiality and neighborliness.  So many people I thought were my friends are in actuality acquaintances.  Nothing more, nothing less.  So I am taking a hard look at who my true friends are and what kind of friend I am. 

I remember hearing Dr. Laura say on her radio show to some poor woman whining about her lack of friends, that she needed to focus on being a friend first.  What do you do when you are a friend but people do not return the cordiality, goodwill or fellowship? Now I know there is only so much energy and time to apportion out to various relationships in everyone's life, but what do you do when it's so often thrown back in your face?  I have to admit I'm tired of being a "B string" friend. 

I heard Darren Hardy, the editor of "Success" magazine speak recently.  He said of all the people who would consider going to your funeral, 50% would decide based on weather.  Of all the people who did come, only 6 would weep.  Mr. Hardy said in dealing with rejection or disappointment, he would allow himself a few minutes to sulk and then if they were not one of the 6, it didn't really matter and he would move on. 

In a heartbeat I can tell you who those six people are for me.   

Another part of the definition was, "a kindness or help given to someone".  In a time when kindness and help would mean so much to me, it is few and far between.  Why is kindness and help so scarce?  True friendship is a rare commodity indeed. Now the optimistic part of me starts singing somewhere inside, "you've got to ac-cen-tu-ate the positive, e-lim-inate the negative, hold on to the affirmitive, don't mess with Mr. Inbetween."  When you think of it, that's pretty sound advice.

At the end of the day, I resolve to embrace and be thankful for the many blessings God has given me, let go of the negative, forgive (it only hurts me!), accept people for who they are-not what I wish they were and leave mediocrity behind.  I know if I focus on those things I'll be a better friend and know who my true friends are.

I look forward to finding out and perhaps being surprised in the process.  

Bless Each Breath

I am finally doing what I didn't think I would.

I am blogging.

As I wracked my brains for a suitable title, something catchy, something clever, then suddenly it occured to me.  The perfect title that encompasses so much.  This is a place for me to breath, to be honest, to vent and express the moments that I am living in.

Bless Each Breath.  This is actually the title of a song I wrote.  The chorus is, "Bless each breath.  Bless each breath.  Bless each breath.  Bless the dance of this life."  This is part prayer, part desire and part conversation.  Oh God, bless me because I need so much and fall so short of everything I hope for.  I'm so tired of trying to be everything I'm supposed to be.  So, I'm giving it up, all up to You.  As Michael Card expresses in his book, "A Better Freedom", true freedom is in submission.  The things that we tend to look at as weakness are where true strength lies.  The things that I view as my worst faults - feeling things so deeply, taking things personally, crying easily -  are really my strengths.

Breath in. Breath out. Breath in. Breath out.....

Bless me.