Don't let me down!

 Loved this video of a Dad and his son!  The song is called Don't let me down! I think every kid thinks that about his Mom and his Dad! And so they should, we are the parents...we are the ones that are suppose to make the better choices...especially ones that will directly effect their children's lives! We can't let them down!
Good night dear friends!
Watch it ....
here:

Sending some Happy Thoughts your way!

It is late but what a beautiful day it was here! I love the sunshine and how clean and crisp the air is. Got a lot of work done today but no time to do much more than a few Happy Thoughts! Everyone could use a few more of them each day ...right?

Good night dear friends!

Sleep verses Cleaning!

Woke up really early this morning because I was hurting and just couldn't go back to sleep. My arm has started swelling again, I have been wearing my compression sleeve every day and doing my lymphatic draining each day too, but still it isn't going away. The pain feels like it is a bad ache all the way to my bone in my upper arm. Days like this make me frustrated that the Doctor took so many, if not all of my lymph nodes out. I know that is just what they did years ago when they were treating cancer patients. But I was a swimmer at the time and specifically asked not to have many taken out...just for reasons such as this. It has been 5 years and I have had to deal with this the whole time. That is very frustrating. Good news is, I think now they try to leave as many nodes as they can, so maybe there won't be so many women suffering from Lymphodemia as much. We can only hope.
I decided since I couldn't sleep to just get up and clean, that didn't make my arm feel better at all but...I was glad to have a cleaner house. I am still struggling with a decision I have to make and that too ( along with the pain ) was keeping me from sleeping. Why do I let things go so long, before I stand up for myself? I know better than to stay in a situation when there is bad energy there, I can't afford to have that. Negative energy is bad not only for your health, but for your heart and your soul.
Today as I cleaned, I think I came up with ways to fix my situation, but they aren't going to be easy or pleasant, that is what I don't like. Oh well, need to head to bed and see if tonight will be kinder to me.
Good night dear friends!

Hard choices!

I recently had to make a hard choice. One that I didn't want to make and yet...I knew if my kids would have come to me and talked about the same type of situation, I know what I would have said. I would have said, "it is time to walk away, keep things honest and simple when you do." I would remind them that they don't have to be any body but themselves, I would have reminded them that the most important thing is that they tried their best and had the right desires. And last, I would have reminded them to quit comparing themselves to Others ( that is unhealthy ).
I kept questioning myself, I kept thinking of all the scenerios of how it would play out if I did walk away. I really cared about the people who were involved ...but it just didn't work. I knew though, when I finally made the decision ...that even though there is anticipation of what others will think, that the negative energy was not healthy for me and it was time to make a choice. Life is all about decisions and choices, why are some so very hard to make?
Now the hard part comes, by holding up my head and knowing I made the right decision, and just start again somewhere else. Yes, life is wonderful most of the time... but every now and then it is really, really hard. Guess that is why the lesson from this, will be one I won't forget too soon. Still learning every day!

I totally need to do this experiment!

 As many of you know, I started writing this blog, for no other reason than to hopefully share something positive in the world each day. I share it also, in hopes that by sharing my life's story that it may be of some help to others who might have to travel down some of the same roads. I love the challenge of daily writing this blog. Many times my daily entry will have more articles from other places that I have found than my own words. All of which I have found to be uplifting, funny or motivating. Jason Wright has been one of my favorite writers ever since I read his book called The Christmas Jar. Today was busy and in search of something that really makes you think, I chose his article, probably because I realize that I totally need to do this WITMIT experiment today, and in the future. Hope you enjoy it. Good night dear friends!

Wright Words: Could the WITMIT experiment work for you?

I’ve always been easily distracted.

You know my type. I could be running the race of my life and stop 10 feet from the finish line to pick up a shiny penny.

These weekly columns take more time than they should because I’m always going back to the beginning to remind myself what I’m writing about.

Wait a minute. I write a weekly column? When did this happen?

A couple of months ago, I was standing at my office idea board — a large section of my office wall I coated with thick whiteboard paint. It comes in handy for quick notes, sketching out plots or jotting down personal reminders.

There I stood, lost in a bulleted to-do list with more line items than the federal budget. Feeling overwhelmed, I scribbled to the side of the list: “What is the most important thing?”

I re-read my list and asked myself again: “What is the single most important thing I could be doing right now to advance my responsibilities, my goals and my day?”

After another moment, I erased the question and wrote in big block letters the acronym: WITMIT.

What is the most important thing?

I sat back down and decided to tackle a project I’d avoided for far too long. It had been the single most important thing I’d needed to do for two weeks, but I’d delayed the pain by convincing myself everything on the list was equally important.

And who am I to discriminate one task from another? I believe in equal rights for all procrastination.

When I was done with the dreaded task, I glanced back at my whiteboard and thought, "Way to knock out that WITMIT."

The experience prompted me to consider the time-management systems I’ve used over the years and the countless books I’ve read on personal productivity. Some of those approaches worked pretty well, right until I saw a shiny penny.

Sometimes the distractions are email, social media or a request from a reader to sign and mail a book. All might be worthwhile tasks and may, in fact, be quite important. But are they the absolute most important thing I should be doing in that very moment?

How many times have I found myself looking at my clock at 5 p.m. and rushing to finish the one thing that was most important for me to accomplish during the course of the day? Before I know it, I’m texting my wife to negotiate for a few more minutes.

But it’s not her fault I spent the day sorting through less important tasks and procrastinating the WITMIT until the whistle blew. If I had a nickel for every time I walked in the door at dinnertime to find my family waiting for me at the table, I’d have so much money I probably wouldn't be so distracted by all those shiny pennies.

Could the WITMIT experiment work for you?

When you’re done reading this column, take time to examine your day. What are the things you positively must accomplish before you tuck in the day and kiss it goodnight? Do you have an email to send, an errand to run or a client to call?

Ask yourself after completing each task, “What is the most important thing for me to be doing next?”

Maybe you spent the morning working on an important business proposal and your brain needs a break. Take a breather and reply to a note from the old friend you haven't heard from in months. An hour ago it wasn’t your WITMIT, but now it is.

Perhaps you need a moment to decompress after a stressful meeting by visiting Facebook and scrolling through your newsfeed. Did you survive a trip to Costco with a mini-van full of kids? You might deserve more than a moment online, your WITMIT might be to hug the DVR and catch up on “Downton Abbey.”

Has it been too long since you’ve taken your spouse to lunch or volunteered at your child’s school? If so, you may find either of those activities should become your WITMIT for the afternoon.

Imagine how productive we’d all feel every day if by lunchtime we’d knocked out those items that kept us awake the night before. Was it that letter to the IRS? What about that awkward discussion with your boss? Could it be an apology? If so, especially to a spouse or child, it should always be your WITMIT.

Sometimes our projects are multi-step hikes through an organizational jungle that will take days, weeks or even longer. Still, we should ask ourselves: What are the most important steps I can take on that trail today that lead me to a successful end?

My objective with my own WITMIT experiment is to accomplish more of the important things earlier in the day so that by quitting time, my WITMIT will always lead me home.

You may have a time-management system and tools for personal productivity that work for you. If so, keep it up! You’re ahead of the game. But if you’ve struggled to find consistency, give WITMIT a try by identifying the single most important task at any given moment.

So, what’s the most important thing I should be doing right now? I can send this column to my editor and call home to check on a child who’s been ill this week.

What comes after that?

What's the next WITMIT?

Is that a penny?

To read more of Jason's Wright Words you can go here:

"Dost thou love life, then do not squander time,
for that's the stuff life is made of."
Benjamin Franklin

Life is a journey!

How could this happen?

I read an article today about a wife that was having struggles in her marriage. She felt that they had been happy for many years and that things were going well, until her husband made some decisions she was shocked about. The article talked about how the first reaction she had was ...How could this happen to me, to us? She spoke of how heart breaking the whole situation was to her and how that saddened her. Then she went back to the Why me, Why now? Next, she wondered what she had done wrong, self guilt is not an easy thing to handle. Then midway through the article she talks about what she learned through this whole experience and it impressed me, because I think we all have been in positions like this before in our lives where we say "How can this happen to me?"
She learned... that you continue to love the one that disappoints you. She mentioned when she just focused on loving him that there was a wealth of understanding and she was able to find healing and hope. She spoke of her dependency on the Savior and even though her circumstances didn't change, she had changed and it was for the bettter.
She learned...that she can not control her husband's thoughts or actions. She needed to remember that we all have our agency to make choices. She mentioned that no matter how desperately she longed for him to change, she now knew that she could not wish, or force or pray enough to make him change of feel differently. She realized that if he did it just for her, that then it really wasn't a true change anyway, and that his growth and spiritual understanding would be inhibited.
She learned...that even though she cannot control his choices, that she certainly can take responsibility for her own. She realized through prayer that she could learn how to be a better wife, how to love and serve her husband and children more each day. She learned how to draw closer to the Savior and she felt peace there.
She learned... that if she focused on the choices her husband was making then she fell into the trap of self-pity. If she focused on her choices, then she realized she had more hope and happiness
She learned... that when she loved, trusted, and served her husband, that their marriage was still strengthened, even though they had some major differences. She said that she gained a greater understanding of the scripture in John 15:13, in which the Savior says, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." She realized that she needed to put aside her own will, desires, agendas and stipulations for someone that she truly cared about. When she did that she was able to more fully love them.
To read the article yourself, you can go here:

As I read this article, I thought how these same principles apply to not only our marriages, but with our children and our friends. It is especially hard when it is your child making diffferent choices, ones that you know will not bring them happiness. You know if they continue on the path they are on, that huge trials and adversity could come there way. It is hard to remember to control your actions, you as a parent would like to make them, or force them to choose the right, but we can't. That is not what life is all about. So many things you have to learn for yourself...now that if truly hard on a parent. Realizing that things could get much worse before they get bette,r and that is a very tough thing to watch as a Mom or Dad. No parent wants their kids to hurt or suffer and yet...that is not our decision. They have their own agency, you have to trust after they are grown ( if the problems are going on then ) that you have taught them as much as you could. Then you have to pray for them and have hope that someday...they will get it! And that not too much of life will have passed before that happens and not too many permanent mistakes made either.
I think the reaons I clicked with this letter is, because I have been there and done that... on more than one occasion with our kids and frankly ... it hurts and hurts bad. But like the author in this article, I need to focus back on me and what I can do and then pray and have hope....lots of faith, because I know I am going to need it!
Good night dear friends!

“If for a while the harder you try, the harder it gets, take heart. So it has been with the best people who ever lived. ~ Jeffrey R. Holland

“It is not possible to sin enough to be happy. It isn't possible to buy enough to be happy, or to entertain or indulge or pamper ourselves enough to be happy. It is not possible to hide enough or run far enough away from trials and troubles to be happy. Happiness and joy come only when we are living up to who we are..." ~ Sheri L. Dew

Arise and Shine

   I just recently got a calling or teaching position at church to work with the Young Women. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to work with so many amazing girls! Each year they have a Theme that they work on, and the one for this year is Arise and Shine! As I was reading an article here: about the theme, I was impressed with what that really means to Arise and Shine forth. It is sorta like a standard for them to uphold. One definition for Standard is a rule of measurement by which one determines exactness or perfection.
   We all know those people who seem to understand and live this theme don't we? They have a light in their eyes and their whole countenance just shines, it makes you want to be around them. Then after you have been with them, you some how always feel better.  That is the type of person I would like to be!
   The girls are encouraged to take an inventory of their habits and  hearts to see if they are clean and worthy of that light, that countenance that comes from making good choices. But that is not easy to do to in today's world. There are many challenges that the kids today face, that seem much harder than when I was a teenager, some are the same... but some are much more dangerous. Sometimes it is hard to see the way, as leaders we are trying to help them recognize their self worth and potential.
   I love the theme, because it is a good reminder to us all to arise up among all the bad things in the world and try and shine our light to others and help them.

   Yes, I think this will be a good help to me each week as I work with the girls and remember things that I too can learn from.
   Good night dear friends

"You must be the change you want to see in the world."

Mahatma Gandhi

The Abundant Life

I read an article the other day about living the Abundant Life.

I thought I would share it with you,  this isn’t the complete article but I put the reference at the bottom in case you want to read it.
It was of course, talking about the goals and resolutions we make for the new year. The author offers the ABC’s for the abundant life. It is really good.
Good night dear friends!

A…is for Positive Attitude!

So much in life depends on our attitude. The way we choose to see things and respond to others makes all the difference.  To do the best we can and then to choose to be happy about our circumstances, whatever they may be, can bring peace and contentment. Charles Swindoll- author, educator, and Christian pastor—said; “Attitude, to me, is more important than the past,…than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do.  It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.”
We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. For maximum happiness, peace, and contentment, may we choose a positive attitude.

B…is for Believe!

It is for believe—in yourself, in those around you, and in eternal principles. Be honest with yourself, with others, and with your Heavenly Father. Thomas Fuller, an English churchman and historian who lived in the 17th century, penned this truth; “He does not believe that does not live according to his belief.” Don’t limit yourself and don’t let others convince you that you are limited in what you can do. Believe in yourself and then live so as to reach your possibilities.  You can achieve what you believe you can. Trust and believe and have faith.

C…is for Courage!

Courage becomes a worthwhile and meaningful virtue when it is regarded not so much as a willingness to die manfully but as a determination to live decently.  Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide  on, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes a brave men and women to win them. “  There will be times when you will be frightened and discouraged. You may feel that you are defeated. The odds of obtaining victory may appear overwhelming.
Courage is required to make an initial thrust toward one’s coveted goal, but even greater courage is called for when one stumbles and must make a second effort to achieve. Have the determination to make the effort, the single-mindedness to work toward a worthy goal, and the courage not only to face the challenges that inevitably come but also to make a second effort, should such be required. “Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, “I’ll try again tomorrow”.

May we remember these ABCs as we begin our journey into the new year, cultivating a positive attitude, a belief that we can achieve our goals and resolutions, and the courage to face whatever challenges may come our way. Then the abundant life will be ours.

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/01/living-the-abundant-life?lang=eng&query=s.+(name%3a"Thomas+S.+Monson")+(publication%3a"Ensign")

Honesty is the best policy!

I loved this story, honesty is always the best policy. What a great reminder that through making right choices, we can actually change our destiny!

Good night dear friends!

Homeless man's decision to return $3,300 changed his life!

By Douglas Stanglin, USA TODAY

 

 

By David Wallace/The Republic

About a year ago, a homeless man in Arizona found a bag full of cash and made a fateful decision: He returned it.

The Arizona Republic published a feel-good story today that actually feels good about the future of 49-year-old Dave Tally of Tempe.

Tally was in debt, unemployed and had lost his driver's license for DUI violations. Homeless, he was sleeping on a mat in a church-based homeless shelter when he found $3,300 in a backpack at a local light-rail station.

That could have gotten Tally out of his hole, but he decided that was the wrong thing to do. Instead, he tracked down the owner of the cash, a college kid named Bryan Berlanger who had planned to use the money to buy a car to replace one he'd lost in an accident.

"Meeting Belanger and hearing the student thank and praise him for his honesty and kindness made Tally feel good about himself, he says," writes Republic reporter Dianna M. Nanez. "He hadn't had that feeling in awhile."

When word got out that Tally had turned in the cash instead of keeping it, the national media came looking for him.

Donations poured in, and Tally suddenly found himself with $10,000. But he was determined not to fritter it away.

He began paying off his bills, clearing up his driving record, and taking the long road back.

He even moved into a no-frills apartment across from the shelter as "a reminder of where I've been and where I'm not going back again."

One year later, Tally has landed his "dream job," managing a community garden.

Recently, The Republic reports, Tally started overseeing an internship program that allows people who are homeless to volunteer in the garden.

But he doesn't preach to anyone. "I let them know that when they're ready to make changes, it's possible," he says.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/11/life-turns-around-for-homeless-man-who-returned-lost-3300/1

“Integrity is doing the right thing, even if nobody is watching.”

“It's not what we eat but what we digest that makes us strong; not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich; not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned; and not what we profess but what we practice that gives us integrity.”  ~ Francis Bacon, Sr

Time

Jeff and I went out last night for our Date Night and remembered that 23 years ago we moved from West Virginia to Washington. We didn’t have a clue how we were going to make it here, we just knew we needed to leave West Virginia and that Washington was the place we wanted to live and raise our family. We have never looked back, it was one of the best decisions ever and still is! But how could that have been 23 years ago? Brad was two and Amy was five, yikes …time doe have a way of flying by.

Then I look at this photo of Angie ( our granddaughter ) and realized that time once again has flown by. How could my little granddaughter who was just in my arms not that long ago, be  old enough to start school already? It has been a blessing having them close enough to enjoy all these years with them. Just today Angie asked me to do something, I told her I didn’t know if we would have enough time to do that, and her reply was “ Don’t worry Nana, here…..( then she did some magical looking thing with her hands and then made a sound ) …now you have more time!”  I wondered why I didn’t think of that earlier?

Speaking of time, it is almost the Sabbath and I need to get to bed. Good night dear friends!

 

Time is an equal opportunity employer. Each human being has exactly the same number of hours and minutes every day.
Rich people can't buy more time. Scientists can't invent new minutes. And you can't save time to spend on another day.
Even so, time is amazingly fair and forgiving. No matter how much time you've wasted in the past, you still have an entire tomorrow.
Success depends upon using it wisely - - by planning and setting priorities. Time is worth more than money, and by killing time, we are killing our own chances of success.

--- Author Unknown ---

It is important to dream!

I was talking to my friend the other day and explaining to her, how good it felt to look forward to things again and to even dream. During my battle with cancer, my dreams stopped completely. I was so concerned about each day and if I could make it through it.  Honestly at the time, thinking about the future at all ...was just too frightening. Here I am almost 2 and half years from my diagnosis of cancer, and I am beginning to dream and look forward to things again. Some days I still get scared but like this story reminded me, we need to keep dreaming and not let any one, or any situation take them away from us. Good night dear friends!

I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch in San Ysidro. He has let me use his house to put on fund-raising events to raise money for youth at risk programs.

The last time I was there he introduced me by saying, “I want to tell you why I let Jack use my horse. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy’s high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.

“That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track. Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on a 200-acre dream ranch.

“He put a great deal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read, `See me after class.’

“The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, `Why did I receive an F?’

“The teacher said, `This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant family. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later you’ll have to pay large stud fees. There’s no way you could ever do it.’ Then the teacher added, `If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.’

“The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, `Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.’ “Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all.

He stated, “You can keep the F and I’ll keep my dream.”

Monty then turned to the assembled group and said, “I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4,000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace.” He added, “The best part of the story is that two summers ago that same schoolteacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week.” When the teacher was leaving, he said, “Look, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids’ dreams. Fortunately you had enough gumption not to give up on yours.”

- Author Unknown      http://academictips.org/blogs/keep-your-dream/

“Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what.”

---

"The invariable mark of a dream is to see it come true."    ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

What choices am I making each day?

This story was simple but profound! Enjoy!

The Emperor and the Horseman

A Long time ago, there was an Emperor who told his horseman that

if he could ride on his horse and cover as much land area as he likes,

then the Emperor would give him the area of land he has covered.

Sure enough, the horseman quickly jumped onto his horse and

rode as fast as possible to cover as much land area as he could.

He kept on riding and riding, whipping the horse to go as fast as possible.

When he was hungry,thirsty or tired, he did not stop because

he wanted to cover as much area as possible. Came to a point

when he had covered a substantial area and he was exhausted

and was dying. Then he asked himself, "Why did I pushed myself

so hard to cover so much land area? Now I am dying and

I only need a very small area to bury myself."

The above story is similar with the journey of our Life.

We push very hard everyday to make more money,

to gain power and recognition. We neglect our health, time with our family

and to appreciate the surrounding beauty and the hobbies we love to do.

One day when we look back, we will realize that we don't really need that much,

but then we cannot turn back time for what we have missed.

Life is not about making money, acquiring power or recognition.

Life is definitely not about work! Work is only necessary to keep us living

so as to enjoy the beauty and pleasures of life.

Moral of the story ...

Life is a balance of Work and Play, Family and Personal time.

You have to decide how you want to balance your Life.

Define your priorities, realize what you are able to compromise

but always let some of your decisions be based on your instincts.

Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of Life,

the whole aim of human existence. So, take it easy,

do what you want to do and appreciate nature. Life is fragile,

Life is short. Do not take Life for granted.

Live a balance lifestyle and enjoy Life!  ~ Unknown

 

"In every single thing you do, you are choosing a direction. Your life is a product of choices." Dr. Kathleen Hall, from Alter Your Life

“You may think that in life, a lot of things happen to you along the way. The truth is, in life, you happen to a lot of things along the way.”

“There may be a thousand little choices in a day. All of them count.”
http://lifelessons4u.wordpress.com/2009/05/28/26-quotes-on-choices/

No direction

I have always been impressed with people, who know exactly what they want in their lives. I struggled my Senior year, because everyone kept asking me the old famous question...SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN  YOU GRADUATE? I remember feeling frustrated because I really didn't know what I wanted to do with my life at that point. In my Junior year, I was engaged and after I broke that off, I was only sure of one thing...  that I didn't want to be married right away...especially at 16 years old!  I knew that I needed and wanted to move away from home, but I wasn't sure about college because I struggled so hard in High School. So I really didn't know! So when I would hear other Seniors say..."oh, I am going to ...., I am planning this for the next 4 years or ..whatever.  I envied their ability to make a decision on their future and to have ANY type of direction in their life.

"To the person who does not know where he wants to go, there is no favorable wind."...Seneca

Now that I am a mother for the 4th time of a Senior, how grateful I am that he is better prepared for the REAL WORLD than I was, actually all of my kids have been. I have repeated to them, on more than one occasion (when they say they don't really know that they want to do for their future), that "it isn't vital as a Senior to know exactly what you want to do in the future. What really matters is what DIRECTION you are going." I should have known and focused on that, in those early years. So since this last Senior of mine, is into sports, I found a poem, which is an Attitude Plan by Billy Donavan  (William John "Billy" Donovan, Jr. (born May 30, 1965) is an American college basketball coach and former player. Donovan is currently the head coach of the Florida Gators

Even though I am not a Senior anymore (well that type of Senior anymore :), I still think this is great advice to remember!

BILLY DONOVAN'S ATTITUDE PLAN

Always making today my best day
Taking pride in a job well done
Treating others with respect
Isolating my negative thoughts
Treating tasks as opportunities
Utilizing my talents every day
Doing the job right the first time
Expecting positive outcomes daily
Speaking well of others every day

"The key to motivation is motive. It's the why. It's the deeper "yes!" burning inside that makes it easier to say no to the less important." - Stephen R. Covey

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there”  ~ Will Rogers

Making the appointment!

Two days ago when I was in my Doctor's office having my lungs checked for pneumonia, he began discussing a game plan to help my immune system. One of the things that he talked about is that I need to keep up with my regular mammogram's and MRI's. Now that isn't something I didn't know, but I have to admit it has been something that I have been struggling with for over a year now. I know that I can't just shut my eyes and never be checked again. I know that I will be watched and screened more closely than most women because I have already had cancer twice. My mammogram's go way longer and in depth that most, that is not exactly painless or comforting. I am struggling with the whole thing. After my first cancer ( which I found and was missed on a mammogram ) I would get nearly sick every year for my annual check up. I always took Jeff or someone else with me for security reasons.

I remember one day sitting in the waiting room and noticed that this older lady was also waiting and she seemed very nervous. Of course I had to talk to her :). After some small talk, we began to share our stories with each other. She too was a cancer survivor almost 9 years and she said "still I get sick for weeks before I have these appointments." I was sorry for her fear, but so grateful to know I wasn't the only one that felt that way.

1 1/2 years ago, I was going in for my annual mammogram and check up. I had been in remission for 7 years. I was surprised  to look at my calendar and see that I had my appointment soon and hadn't really been worrying about it. After all ...that say once you pass your 5 year mark, you probably are safe from getting it again. I remember Jeff asking me if I wanted him to go with me and I said " Actually, I think I am fine this time. I will be ok" You know the history from there,  I was going to go change after the mammogram and they called me back in, after a few more mammogram's, I was asked to come back the next month 10 days into my cycle. I knew at that moment I had cancer, I thought how could this happen to me again?

Fast forward to today, I did have more than one cancerous tumor, which had spread, I had a mastectomy on my left side and then did 3 months of radiation, Physical Therapy for Lymodemia, and my immune system has never  been  the same since. Do I want to go back into the medical arena and have them look for more cancer? "NO" Will I do it..."YES". The hardest thing is making the appointment. I did set up appointments twice in the last year, but and a week or so before... I got so scared that I canceled them. I know  you are probably thinking, "Lynn, you of all people should know to be proactive in watching out for cancer". That is true, I also know what it feels like to start living again and trying to put cancer behind me and really enjoy life. I know what it feels like to start making future plans and even begin to dream again. Yes, I will go to my appointment in June (which I made on Thursday) but I need to be honest on how hard it is. Those who have never had cancer will never understand this, but those who have, I need for them to know that they are not alone in their feelings. Next I just need to work on my faith. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me, I know that He knows me personally and will give me the comfort and strength to do what I need to do. But I also know that many of life's decisions are not easy ones, those are the ones I pray for more strength and courage.

Thanks for you love, support and encouragement through this whole journey with me. You have been an incredible blessing in my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

"When you have to make a choice and don't make it, that is in itself a choice."  ~William James

"Life is the sum of all your choices."  ~Albert Camus

"Using the power of decision gives you the capacity to get past any excuse to change any and every part of your life in an instant."  ~Anthony Robbins

Change...it is harder than it looks.

Sometimes I have felt to change something in my life was a huge deal. I think it is because I don't break it down. Sometimes the changes that I feel I need or want aren't even realistic or necessary. No matter what the circumstances are, the truth is ...change is much harder than it looks. When I found this poem, it reminded me to just take it one little piece at a time. It also reminded me how important the little things truly are. So if any of you struggle like I do in this area, I hope this poem will help you out as much as it did me. One small change at a time!

Change Your World

You cannot change the world,
But you can present the world with one improved person -
Yourself.
You can go to work on yourself to make yourself
Into the kind of person you admire and respect.
You can become a role model and set a standard for others.
You can control and discipline yourself to resist acting
Or speaking in a negative way
Toward anyone for any reason.
You can insist upon always doing things the loving way,
Rather than the hurtful way.
By doing these things each day,
You can continue on your journey
Toward becoming an exceptional human being. ~ Brian Tracy 

 

"SOMETIMES IT'S THE SMALLEST DECISIONS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER"   ~ Keri Russell

 

"WHAT YOU LEAVE BEHIND IS NOT WHAT IS ENGRAVED IN STONE MONUMENTS, BUT WHAT IS WOVEN INTO THE LIVES OF OTHERS."  ~  Pericles quotes

Getting on with our lives!

I loved this story that I read in an article by Steven E. Snow. It reminded me of how important it is to get on with our lives. Sometimes, I am embarrassed by my lack of ability to just move forward. I often get stuck in old habits or thought patterns. I know that I need to keep going, but many times I fret too much about what is going on, and forget to have faith and keep looking to the future. Change is hard, I know that from personal experience, and from watching my friends and loved ones struggle with it too. Most people will stay in a bad situation that they KNOW, verses making a healthier change to the UNKNOWN. I guess that we all have felt that way one time or the other, but still I am amazed at how crippling FEAR of the unknown can be.  Many lives can be altered by it forever, if we are not careful.

When are kids were little, there were things that they just did not want to do. They didn't necessarily want to go to a new school after we had moved. They didn't want to have to make new friends or have certain teachers at school. Whatever it was, we realized at parents that was our job to help them GET ON WITH THEIR LIVES. We knew they would make new friends, or do ok with certain teachers or whatever. The point was, that we were going to stay right beside them and track their progress or lack of. We tried to be the constant in their lives.

I have heard my kids once or twice talk about their childhood and how hard certain things were or how unfair life was at times. Some of the things they just didn't really comprehend the importance of, at their age and others were just called LIFE!  I have said many times... I wish that I could have changed some of the things that happened to us in the past not all of them but some. I wish that I wouldn't have had so many illnesses and physical restrictions. I wished that I could have been at more of their games, plays, and school programs. Yes, I sometimes feel guilty that they had to learn to work so hard at a young age, they had to take care of me or of each other some times. Then I look at them now, they are all very capable of doing just about anything! They know  how to serve, help, clean, cook, work and love. They are very compassionate kids and for that I am grateful. I realize now that no one can predict what will happen in their life, but we can choose how we want to deal with it. We can learn and grow from it, or go the rest of our lives complaining about how terrible our lives were. It is all about choices isn't it?  Life is all about changes too, and experiences that will teach us in ways that we could never imagine. Enjoy this sweet story and try to remember, some changes we can see coming in our lives and others we can not. We need to have faith, keep our perspective to be able to make those BIG decisions in our lives. We also need to think of who all will be effected by our decisions and try to be happy for the opportunity to grow! We need to remember we have a loving Heavenly Father to watch over us every step of the way! No we are not ALONE! That in and of itself, can bring great comfort.

During the very early years of her life, our niece Lachelle spent the mornings with her grandmother. The two shared a special bond from these hours together. Lachelle soon turned five years old and was preparing to begin school. On their last morning together, Grandma Squire read her granddaughter a story and rocked her in the big rocking chair. “We have had so much fun together, Lachelle,” she told her, “and now it is time for you to go to school. I love you so much; what will I ever do without you?”

With wisdom beyond her five years, Lachelle looked up at her grandmother with big brown eyes. “Grandma,” she said, “I love you too, but it is time I got on with my life.”

" Faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time, for one will dispel the other"                          ~ Thomas S. Monson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RECALL!

Now most of my life when I heard the word RECALL, it meant something was wrong with whatever product they were recalling. Today though I learned another definition for it... reducing stress!  Jeff got a recall from his place of employment. A month ago he got a 2 month noticed to be laid off by April 23rd, today he got that notice recalled and so now we don't have unemployment looming over us any more...like I said stress relief! I am not sure what the future will bring, since he was actively looking at other companies for a job. But either way, some of the stress and strain are off of us and that is a good thing! Now if we have other opportunities that come up we can make our decision based on something other than fear and desperation.

"If one advances confidently in the direction of one's dreams, and endeavors to live the life which one has imagined, one will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."  ~ Henry David Thoreau

Today was my first day back to Physical Therapy. I started going 3 weeks ago and then got pneumonia, so I had to put everything on hold for a couple of weeks. I had a different therapist this time and I have to admit, I liked him better. He was very personable to everyone there, but most of all he explained everything well and seemed to be very knowledgeable .

I have always been muscular and so when I walk into a gym or Physical Therapy place, they think that I must be working out a lot to have such muscles (like in my legs). So today when he began putting me on machines, he put the weights up much higher than I could handle. When I told him that these calf muscles are only for looks he just laughed. Then I had to get serious with him and tell him about my back and neck, and why I haven't worked out in such a long time. He then said that we would go slowly. He then said " Hey let's try something Lynn, let's see if we can actually have you use these muscle, I believe that is what they are there for! :) I laughed but silently prayed, that none of the exercises that would be required of me, would do damage to my back or neck. The thought of any more daily pain, is something that I don't need. However, I did like the feeling of working out again, it has been a long time. I used to be a very active person and so today I actually got excited, thinking that I might be able to really use my muscles again and maybe get back in shape to some degree. Even though I came home tired, sore and worn out....I was excited.

It is late, but I just wanted to let you know that sometimes... when you think for sure you know what direction your life will take, things will turn around and you might be going in a different direction. I am grateful for the direction change in our lives right now, and for the blessings that have come our way. I pray the same will be a blessing to all of you who are struggling with difficult issues. I pray that you might get a recall from your problems, your pains or your worries. Good night dear friends!

"You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight"  ~John Rohn

 

Just do it!

There have been many times in my life where I have wanted to change something about myself or my circumstances, but life just kept happening. I found myself stuck in ruts and behaviors, that didn't make me the best person that I wanted to become. I was overwhelmed by the fact that there were so many issues in my life that I felt I needed to change. When Cancer hit for the first time, I took a long hard look at my life and realized that it was now or never...it was time for me to start changing the things that I knew I needed to change. What was stopping me? I just sorta felt that I have been this or that way for so long, or my situation has been this or that way for so long...I really didn't think I could change all of them.

I remember the day that I was at my friend's house and she was helping me do some research on cancer. I was talking to her about this very subject and I was on the floor crying ( mostly because I was scared of cancer and partly because I felt overwhelmed). I said to her " But how can I change almost every thing about me?" "How can I change everything I am? " Well, obviously I was dealing with some serious issues and feelings, but I wasn't completely a lost cause (like I felt I was). I still can hear her reply..."Lynn, you can change anything you need, you just have to do it one thing at a time." She was an amazing strength and comfort to me that night, and throughout the years. Ok, it does help that she is also a counselor with a whole lot of wisdom, but still basically I think the advice is true for anyone that is stuck in their life. I had to stop a lot of things in my life, so that I could de-clutter my mind and my life. I was good at doing lots of things ( not necessarily important things either), but staying busy so that I didn't have to stop and look at my life or behavior for what it was. By stopping... I had the time to take a good hard look at my life, my time, my habits, my thoughts, and my excuses.

That was a hard time in my life, but one that truly gave me back my life and also my control over my thoughts and decisions, it was empowering to say the least. Now I still have to have time outs in order to check myself, and make sure that I am not falling back into old habits or fears but like anything else ...the only way to truly change your life is to 1st ...recognize the need to change and 2nd... to just DO IT!

I hope by sharing this, it will help someone out there that is struggling with this very same problem.

"When I feel overwhelmed and my stress levels rise, I stop and step back from the situation and put the even in perspective. I always ask myself - what difference will this make in five years time? "   ~ Catherine Pulsifer

I loved this quote, good question to ask ourselves. If we don't do anything or try to change... then where will we be in 5 years? Will our life and the lives around us, be better or worse? Tough question but, we need to be asking them!

Just Do It

Author Elbert Hubbard told the story of an incident during the Spanish-American War. It was imperative that the president get a message to the leader of the insurgents. His name was Garcia and he was known to fighting somewhere in the mountains of Cuba, but no mail or telegraph could reach him. Someone said, "There's a fellow by the name of Rowan who will find Garcia for you if anybody can." Rowan took the letter without hesitation. He sealed it in a leather pouch strapped over his heart. He landed in the dark of night off the coast of Cuba and make his way to the mountains, and after much difficulty, found Garcia. He handed him the letter, turned around and headed home. Hubbard tells this story in "A Letter to Garcia." Rowan didn't ask, "Exactly where is he?" or "I doubt if I can do it." There was a job to be done and he did it. Instead of making a dozen excuses why you can't complete the task, think about Rowan. Deliver the goods!   ~ Author -Neil Eskelin/Elbert Hubbard

"When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better." ~ unknown

Miracles

There are many times in my life when I have seen one miracle after another. I personally believe if you don't see them, it's probably because we are just too busy to notice them. Miracles happen every day and are all around us. I read this sweet story and thought that it would be the perfect post to leave with you tonight. Enjoy!

 

The Miracle of a Brother's Song

Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. They found out that the new baby was going to be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sang to his sister in Mommy's tummy. He was building a bond of love with his little sister before he even met her.

The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen, an active member of the Panther Creek United Methodist Church in Morristown, Tennessee. In time, the labor pains came. Soon it was every five minutes, every three minutes...every minute. But serious complications arose during delivery and Karen found herself in hours of labor. Would a C-section be required? Finally, after a long struggle, Michael's little sister was born. But she was in very serious condition. With a siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushed the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee. The days inched by. The little girl got worse. The pediatrician had to tell the parents, "There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst."

Karen and her husband contacted a local cemetery about a burial plot. They had fixed up a special room in their house for their new baby but now they found themselves having to plan for a funeral. Michael, however, kept begging his parents to let him see his sister. "I want to sing to her," he kept saying. Week two in intensive care looked as if a funeral would come before the week was over. Michael kept nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. Karen made up her mind, though. She would take Michael whether they liked it or not! If he didn't see his sister right then, he may never see her alive.

She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into ICU. He looked like a walking laundry basket. But the head nurse recognized him as a child and bellowed, "Get that kid out of here now! No children are allowed." The mother rose up strong in Karen, and the usually mild-mannered lady glared steel-eyed right into the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line. "He is not leaving until he sings to his sister!" Karen towed Michael to his sister's bedside. He gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. After a moment, he began to sing. In the pure-hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sang: "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray. " Instantly the baby girl seemed to respond.

The pulse rate began to calm down and become steady. "Keep on singing, Michael," encouraged Karen with tears in her eyes. "You never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away." As Michael sang to his sister, the baby's ragged, strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten's purr. "Keep on singing, sweetheart!!" The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping I dreamed I held you in my arms..." Michael's little sister began to relax as rest, healing rest, seemed to sweep over her. "Keep on singing, Michael." Tears had now conquered the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glowed. "You are my sunshine, my only Sunshine. Please don't, take my sunshine away..."

The next, day...the very next day...the little girl was well enough to go home! Woman's Day Magazine called it "The Miracle of a Brother's Song." The medical staff just called it a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God's love!

NEVER GIVE UP ON THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE. LOVE IS SO INCREDIBLY POWERFUL.

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."     ~ Richard Crashaw

"Don't believe in miracles -- depend on them."   ~ Laurence J. Peter