New Year's Resolutions

Every wondered why so many people make New Year’s resolutions?    I think it is because of “hope”. The busyness of the holidays are over, we turn the page on the calendar and get a clean slate to start anew. 

We think, “hey it’s a new day”, so I’ll start fresh and begin again.  If I had a dollar for every New Year’s resolution that I have made about losing weight, I’d be rich enough to retire.  Do I stop making them though?  No.  I continue to hope and make those resolutions to be a better steward of my finances, to lose the weight this time, to get organized, to blog more consistently, be a better person or connect with my family more.  And I keep making those resolutions and I keep them as long as I can.  The reason I do, is because of “hope”.  Every time in my life that hope was lost it seemed as though down was the only place left to go.    Hope gives us a reason to look up, go on, and ponder new possibilities.

I think New Year’s resolutions are good, even if we don’t keep them for more than 6 weeks or so.  It helps us to think in terms of a “fresh start”, “a clean slate” or a “new beginning”.    So I say, keeping making those resolutions.  Resolve to be whatever you want to be, do what you want to do and live life every day as if it was your last.  Tomorrow is promised to no one, so make every day count in 2012.

New Blessings

I am so blessed.  I am writing this to encourage you to look for all the new little blessings in your life.  You may be feeling...yeah, you don't have my life, but even in the darkest of moments we can see the little blessings for us that are there when we look for them.  I'm so excited I just got a new office with a window, that may seem insignificant to some, but to me it's a really big deal.  I've been here for 3 years and was the only one that didn't have a window. 


Today, I decided to ask you to comment on this question.   What makes you  happy?  It's hard to narrow the list for me, but things like eyes that work so I can see, ears to hear the music I love so much.  Color in my life and on my walls make me happy.  Family, good friends both new and old especially the ones that speak truth into your life, even if it's hard.  If your  heart is aching and your day is dark, you might find it a little difficult to think of blessings right now, but now is the best time.  If you can only speak out or write down one thing it will lift you up and make you realize you can be happy even in the midst of a storm. 

I'd love for you to comment and share what makes you happy?

If you care to follow me I'd really appreciate it.  This blog for me is about sharing my life with others, struggles as well as happy times, but that this blog would always be a place you could get encouragement and feel good when you leave here.  I hope I've done that.

Have a wonderful weekend and be blessed today and you will, just look for them.

Come on and Ring those Bells!

My goal for this year, 2011 is to blog consistently.  I love to write and share stories and this is a great forum for me to do that.  Even if no one is following or listening, I need to do this for me. 

Above is a picture of a portion of my bells.  I have a collection of over 125 bells from all over the world.  I have bells from Russia, Germany (in fact that one has a piece of the Berlin Wall, the year it fell.  A treasured piece of history.

I love bells because they are like us...short, fat, tall, skinny, pretty, delicate, loud, one of them is even cracked and damaged just like some of us.  Yet each of my bells is treasured and wanted, just like you and me.  They represent many experiences of my life, I have collected bells from each city, state and place I have been in and remind me of things I've experienced.  Everytime I look at my bells they make me smile, because bells are a symbol of  joy.  You can't hear bells anywhere without feeling  joy in your heart.  It remind me that skinny or fat, delicate or loud etc, I am loved every day and so are you.  If you focus on anything this year, think about the fact that "you are a person of worth and value".

This year, my goal is to blog often and with every post to bring joy to all who read or follow it.  So I will be ringing those bells often this year. 

Look Out World

Hello everyone, I'm back. I have taken a sabatical from blogging to re-group and decide what I wanted to do with my life. I have come up with some very definate goals and one of those for a long time has been to have my own business. I want that for myself, but I also want to use it to bless people, meet new people and help others get what they need to make their lives better.

I was praying the other day and figured out that if I could make $200 a day and then increase that as time goes on to 5 days making $200. a day, I could retire.

Well, it wasn't but a few days later and someone called me to tell me of an opportunity she was given and was willing to share that gift with me. It was an answer from God, I knew.

My new business will go live on October 1st and I can't wait to tell you all more about it and give you the same opportunity to get in on the ground floor...so hold on as there will be much more in a couple weeks.

Give hope and make a difference

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer...August has proved to be pretty nice with some very warm days.  Last week I was on vacation and got to spend the week with my granddaughter, Elisha.  I know, I know, I'm not going to talk about my grandkids today.

This week while in a meeting I was reminded of a story I heard a long time ago.  It is about starfish.  The story goes like this.  There was an older man who took a walk on the beach each morning and this morning he saw a young man running around wildly.  As he got closer he realized he was throwing starfish into the sea.  He stood there and watched him for a while and finally had to ask the young man what he was doing.  The young man replied, "I'm saving the starfish by throwing them back in the water. " You see the tide is going out and they will lay here on the beach and die.  The old man looked around and there were hundreds of them.  He though for a minute, and he said, "young man, your wasting your time, there are so many you can't possible think you are making a difference. " The young man picked up a starfish and gently threw it back into the ocean.  He turned and said it made a difference to that one.

That story reminded me how often we forget that everytime we interact with some one we have the opportunity to make a difference in their life.  Many people are discouraged and feel they have no hope, things are bad in the economy and the world, but the one gift we can gift each person that costs us nothing is  a kind word and encouragement.  We must never lose hope. 

I have been scrapbooking and making cards because I like to bless people with something that I made by my hands and with prayer.  It may sound simple, but each time I give one I expect it to make a difference and I try to use words of hope and encouragement and colors that are bright and cheerful.

I have posted some of the cards I have made that have not made their way into someone's life and heart yet.  

Grandchildren Rock

Last Friday night I attended a high school graduation. It has been a while since I attended one.  Courtney, Chuck’s oldest granddaughter who is very sweet, shy and gorgeous was the one graduating.  She was also the Valdictorian.  I’m an avid people watcher and it’s so fun to see the expressions on the young faces of those who are graduating and ready to go out and make their mark in the world. Some have very definite and lofty goals and some haven’t a “clue”, they just know they are done with high school. The excitement though is exhilarating and infectous. I was married and pregnant when I graduated high school and the only thing I could think of was the joy of becoming a mom. Unfortunately that dream didn't turn out the way I planned. My baby, Shavanna Jeanette was stillborn. She lived 15 minutes. She would have tuned 43 this last February. I think of her often and that night as I sat there thinking about the fact that I wasn't able to attend her graduation, I wondered what she would have wanted to do with her life after graduation.   I still find it so amazing how a life that lasted only 15 minutes could change my life so dramatically. But, then that's another story for another day.

Meet Courtney, Valdictorian and great kid.

I am exceptionally thankful for my son, daughter in-law (who is more like a daughter) and my grandchildren. Having grandchildren is so cool. I always laugh at the saying “If I’d known how much fun grandchildren would be, I’d have had them first”. If you’re a grandparent you know what I’m talking about. My only granddaughter just turned 16 and she is so beautiful inside and out. I am so proud of her. OBTW, I’m not prejudiced or anything.

Meet Elisha, see I don't exaggerate, she is beautiful

My husband had daughters later in life and he has 3 daughters and 4 grandchildren.  His youngest daughter has a 2 ½ year old and a set of twins almost 4 months old. So I have been blessed to have a full quiver of grandchildren that I can spoil and send home. Children and grandchildren truly are a gift from God. There is nothing more amazing than watching a child grow and learn to make their own choices. All the while, we hate their struggles yet know all too well that is what will make them the people they become. I have lived by “what doesn’t kill you makes you strong”. I’m still alive…so there you go!   Blessings to all you grandparents out there enjoying your grandchildren.   Just one more picture, you know how Grandma's are...

Meet Callie and twins, Cailyn and Cooper.  These are also Chuck's grandchildren, but I get to claim them too.   Blessings to all you grandparents out there enjoying your grandchildren.

Gallery

Check back again - pictures will be uploaded soon.