Times and Tides

Once again, a story from the lake. Is this how it's going to be this summer? Who knew so many lessons and stories could come from a day at the lake? Not me. But, I'm open to learning ... goodness knows.

Obviously, we find learning to be "easier" when we are young. Proof positive...my kids. I am loving living life watching it through their eyes. Experiencing things for the "first" time as they experience them. Watching their reaction and relishing in the moment.

I'm not trying to make this deeper than it needs to be. Life is just touching me differently these days and I'm trying to take it all in and remember it. Sometimes I look at things that happen, songs I hear, whatever as a "sign" or "fate", as I'm known to say. Lots of pictures are being taken, both mental and physical - even when I forget my camera and have to rely on my phone. Bad photos happen this way. But, at least I got them.

Another weekend of "firsts" and good times with family and friends...

Belle's first time to tube on the lake! Is this child scared of anything? If so, we just haven't found it yet. I was...and I'll say it...terrified to let her hang onto a big round floatation device while being pulled by only a rope behind a boat on a huge body of water that I cannot see into. Oh no problem. My friends, whose children have been doing this since they were three years of age...what?...sweetly encouraged me telling me she was more than ready. LT said, "Mom, you need to let her do this. Let her go." Let go? She just turned six. She's my baby. She's my very strong-willed, life-loving, energetic, experience-new-things, let's-go-faster daddy, baby. Time for me to step back and let her experience this. Here goes...

Of course, she had the best time ever. She quickly picked up the hand signals for "faster", "slow down", "stop" and "jump the waves". Her most-used hand signal you ask? The thumbs-up sign...faster.

Promise me, Belle that you will know when it's time to slow down and soak up those moments of life you don't want to forget. Don't speed fast-forward through everything. It's okay to coast sometimes and just enjoy the scenery. You've got time. There's no need to rush. Sorry...didn't mean to get deep.

And Ben...yes he tubed too (far right in the photo), but he did something else even more spectacular, at least to me. He went on a sunset cruise around the lake with just Daddy and got to drive the boat for the first time. My little man. When he came back, he wasn't jumping up and down like he was after tubing. He quietly came up to me and said, "Dad let me drive." gulp. Not that him actually taking the wheel was so dramatic since D was right there directing him, but that it was monumental to him is what I cherished about it. And it was. He saw it as something serious and I love that.

He's already starting to take the wheel in so many aspects of his life. When Daddy travels, he does things around the house he normally doesn't do because he is the "man of the house" when Daddy isn't here. He acts different. He acts older. In these moments I'm thankful for such a mature son, but don't want him to grow up too fast. He deserves to be a kid with no worries, or at least as very few as any kid should ever have. I want that for both of them. As parents, it's my firm belief to allow them to be kids as much as possible. We often hide the "scary" stuff from them so they are able to do just this. We make sure they are safe, physically and psychologically while all the while...releasing them just enough at just the right time for new experiences. We are supposed to show them the right way to take chances and learn. Grow. Develop. Have fun. It's delicate business.

Speaking of fun though...He also swam out to a barge in the lake with all the "big kids" and had a great time playing their self-invented, lake version of "king of the mountain". It was time for me to let go once again yesterday as I watched him swim out there, knowing he would have a great time even though it was out of my comfort zone. I'm sorry but it was far away! ...said the nervous mom. :-) I just sat and watched my two kids run in the tide, swim in it and have a ball.

I felt so nervous watching them do these things. I felt like I was taking a huge chance letting her on the back of that tube. I hadn't even asked D if he was ready for her to do it yet. Knowing him as I do though, he was in my head saying, "Of course she should go. Let her go, T." And, when I did tell him, he simply replied, "And she had a great time, didn't she?". Yesssss...she did.

I felt like I took a big chance even letting Ben on the back of the tube and then again when he swam to the barge. "Time to let him go. Let him experience it fully. You're here watching in case he needs you," said the little voice. Sometimes that voice is so hard to hear.

They both had chances yesterday to grow and so did I...in letting them take theirs. Chances present us with opportunities. Which chances we chose to take sometimes require a lot of thought. After all, not all chances are opportunities. And then others we just jump right into. Remarkably, sometimes we jump into the ones that we otherwise thought required great thought but were just sitting there waiting to be revealed! Just ask Ben as his dad literally pulled him into the lake last weekend off the Sea Doo. He knew Ben was thinking too much about it and needed help just making the decision. Sometimes jumping in is the only way to get it done. It's one sure way to find out about the chance!

When given a chance...especially another chance...we should see fit to make the most out of it. Sometimes it's hard to take chances. Equally difficult is to decide to give chances. Both require stepping out of our comfort zone. Both deliver new opportunities for growth. Some chances may not well-deserved, but you never know until you decide to let go of whatever is holding you back from stepping out. It's simple really. Kind of an "on your mark, get set...go!" thing.

I seem to be taking lots of chances these days and it's very scary...and invigorating, all at the same time. Life invites change. Life invites "chances"...good and bad. I'm trying to make the most of my chances. I'm putting it all out there and trying to do it right and be an example for my kids. I don't want to pass on my fears about life and taking certain chances to them. They need to make those decisions on their own. Yes, I'll teach them to be weary of the "important" things (snake holes for example! Yuck!), but sometimes...sometimes... the best way to learn about chances is to take them. Or at least that's what I'm experiencing.

Of course, I must leave this with a song ("Time and Tide" by Basia) I first heard a long time ago with someone who I took a chance on loving and am happy to say I still do. Every time I hear it - it takes me back. Enjoy...

Leaps of Faith

I was so proud of my kiddos yesterday at the lake. We went to spend Memorial Day with D's dad. Since he lives on the lake - we obviously have to spend some time outside playing. Or, at least D and the kids did. Somehow mom forgot to pack her swimsuit.

Regardless, the kids got to get on the jet skis with D and they always love doing that. What was a little different this time was Belle itching to get in the lake. Not just on it. After her romp through it last weekend at our friend's lake house where there was a man-made beach, she discovered complete joy in a body of water that large and was obviously wanting more.

So, as they got ready to leave the dock, she announced she wanted to jump in the lake to which D replied, "Tell you what...after we ride around a bit we'll both jump in the lake." This put a huge grin on her face, but I wondered inside if she would really take that leap off the jet ski into the lake. Neither of them were raised on the lake. The biggest body of water they've been around is a pool. So add that to the fact the lake water isn't clear like a pool and you have to rely on your faith that all will be well.

As I saw them stop, I watched carefully to see if she would really do it. Of course, after her daddy jumped - she followed suit quickly. My heart completely filled with both happiness, because I knew she would be thrilled with her new adventure; and love, because I knew it took her having faith in someone else telling her it would be "okay" in order for her to do it. Oh the freedom that comes with unbridled faith.

Ben was a little more nervous, as is Ben's way. He's the cautious one. Always has been. In fact, he is the one to error on the side of caution. His nerves were centered on what was out of eyesight under the lake. I reassured him that he in no way had to do what Shelby had done, but could tell he really wanted to get past his nerves and take that leap. I told him that no matter if he did or didn't, we had a great time at the lake this weekend and he could leave knowing that. However, I also told him that I knew he really wanted to jump in and I thought he would be very proud of himself if he trusted his daddy and just did it. "You know, daddy and I would never let you do something we thought could cause you any harm," I added. He agreed. And, when it was his turn...he chose to put his faith in his daddy and jumped. And loved it. I could hear him laughing from the dock.

When we are young, we find it so much easier to open up our hearts and trust. We have clear, uncomplicated faith. Maybe because we haven't really been hurt deeply yet or is it because it's just easier to believe similar to the way kids believe in Santa and the Easter Bunny? Dad and Mom said they exist, so they must! Either way, it's something I wish we had more of as adults. That chosen ability to put yourself out there and totally trust the one you love when they say, "I'm going to take care of you. I promise, it's okay."

Only when we put ourselves out there 100% are we able to reap the full rewards. Only when we make ourselves vulnerable are we able to enjoy the complete return of love. If either one of my kids had only put their feet in the water versus totally jumping in, the experience wouldn't have been the same. Not even close. They wouldn't have enjoyed the full pleasure, only part of it. And they would probably have walked away at the end of the day wishing they had made a different choice. It's that way with faith. Until you put your complete faith in someone, you won't fully appreciate the immense love your heart was meant to feel.

As adults, due to the baggage our hearts carry around from past hurts and pains, our pathway to that leap is blocked. We have to actually work at removing those obstacles because we want to be able to enjoy that leap in all its glory. Patience, consistency, tenderness, love, kindness...all things we must draw on in order to move what ever is in our way.

Everyone is at different levels, but this is my experience. For me, I want my heart to be fully submerged in my life. I want my kids to live that way, too. I've recognized it's the only way to completely fill your hear up. God promises us a "new heart" and if you ask him in...he waits at your heart's door knocking. But, you have to let Him in. Just inviting Him isn't enough. You actually have to open the door to your heart and go through the process of letting Him in. For some it's easier. I know for me it's been a process, but I allowed myself to be vulnerable in every aspect and made the conscious choice to let Him and others in and have the faith it will all be okay.

You may ask, "How do you make that kind of choice? Don't you have to get a feeling that all will be okay before you chose?" My answer was no. The feeling came after I made the choice. It would have been so much easier the other way, I know, but that wouldn't have required faith, now would it? I chose to to believe. I chose to know it would be okay. I chose faith. And I haven't looked back.

In return, I have the pleasure of experiencing love the way my heart was meant to experience it. I have made that leap and jumped into my life.

We can't live our lives looking back. If you are constantly turning around you will miss things that lie in front of you. Just think if you were driving down the highway, but kept turning around looking to see where you'd already been. You'd be missing what is right outside your window looking you in the face. You would inevitably miss something and it could be the one thing you were looking to find. But, since you were turned around looking at "the past"...you may have let something beautiful go by unnoticed. Plus, if you don't really care for what you've already seen on the trip...know that a new road lies right in front of you. But guess what...you have to go by faith's roadmap that the new road is a better one.

I hope my kids are able to get past the baggage that is sure to come in their life with more grace than I've been able to do. I'm going to try my hardest to help them navigate through those waters are life will no doubt get more complicated as they grow up.

How will you choose to lead your life? Will you take the leap and experience it completely or dangle your feet in the water of your life and walk away with a only a percentage?

I'll be the one doing a cannonball in the deep end.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Without a doubt, baseball is one of my favorite sports. My 9 year-old son has played ever since Kindergarten and we have so much fun at the games. We were lucky enough to get on a team with a fantastic group of parents. Everyone is very supportive of each other and not at all harsh when the kiddos make errors. And, believe me, it happens every game! They are still learning so much.

We have second, third and fourth graders on our team, so it's a broad range of talent and thanks to our great coaches, the kids work as a team. They win as a team and they lose as a team. It is never the responsibility of one player to win and never the fault of one player when we lose. They have always been very clear on this.

It is through sports I learned to work with others and be a graceful winner and loser. Both are equally important in life. My son is learning it and I'm grateful to his coaches for putting the emphasis on attitude.

I hope he always likes to play a sport, even if it's an individual sport (i.e. golf, tennis, track, etc...) versus a team atmosphere.

Going to the games has become somewhat of a social event in our life and while some may think "how boring" - they don't know our crew! I enjoy hanging out with these people who are made up of the same fabric as us. They are good people and have come to be our extended family. We look out for each other and each other's kids as they run amuck around the baseball fields we travel to.

So, for me, these games are times I enjoy spending with good friends. Catching up. Laughing. Supporting each other. And just hanging out. More importantly, I have enjoyed watching my son learn about a great game, working with others, supporting friends and being outdoors getting exercise!

He got the Game Ball last night for scoring the winning run. Did it matter to us that a walk caused him to cross the plate? Absolutely not! That kid was beyond thrilled it was his foot that got to touch home plate and put the winning run in the books.

The single most important thing kids should get out of sports is self-esteem. So all you parents and coaches out there screaming at the kids at the top of your lungs...cut it out! Seriously, we played a team the other night whose coach yelled at the batter to "Relax! And hit it!" Ummmm...did you just hear yourself? The "relax" part of the sentence came out as if he were yelling at him to get out of the way of a speeding bus!

Don't get me wrong...we do our share of "yelling" to our kids, but not in a tone that makes it sound like we are going to leave them at the ballpark if they don't play perfect.

Hug your kid after each game and tell them, "Great job." And try to include the word "fun" in there somewhere about the game! Too many kids are so hard on themselves when they don't play as well as they hoped and then here come the parents chiming in that they could have done better. Hello? It's our job to build them up.

And I say this to remind myself to do it, too.

My Loyal Friend

Friend...as defined by Websters is: "one attached to another by affection or esteem."

Many of us are lucky enough to find a handful of people in our lifetime who we can truly call a "friend". They do and say things to lift us up, not break us down. They are our shoulders to lean on, not the foot that kicks us when we are already low. They call out the best in us versus pointing out our faults. They are the first to tell us "great job!" instead of the unsolicited "this is what you really should have done."

Yes, our friends are there to hold us accountable, when we need it. And sometimes this is a fine line. But a true friend knows when we need our feet held to the fire and when to keep judgements to themselves and silently "agree to disagree".

I have many friends like this, but only one is consistently there for me in all of these positive roles.

Ladies and Gentlemen...MEET DUKE.

Go ahead. Laugh. But this dog always makes me smile. I swear it's his goal in life to make me happy. If I'm upset, he is the first one there giving me a sweet look that makes the clouds go away. All he wants in return is some food, a little scratchin' and a place to sleep. All of which he gets in abundance. He is always happy to see me and greets me with a smile. (Yes...he smiles). He gives me unconditional love and I do the same with him. He never, ever judges me and he is always there for support. What more could you want in a friend?

Gotta love true friends. I love mine.

Mmmm...Good Chi

My alarm goes off this morning. I stagger to the closet, put on my robe and then out of the corner of my eye, I see it. Laundry. A big ole' pile of laundry. Didn't I just do that yesterday? Is it multiplying much like rabbits do? What the...?

Some things we just can't escape, no matter how much we want to or how hard we try. Obstacles are placed in our everyday life. It leaves many of us asking the question, "Why is the world spinning so fast and why does my life require so much effort?" I'm not just talking about laundry here people...stay with me.

I think Vince Lombardi said it best (didn't he always?) when he said, "The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender. "

I absolutely love his quotes. So many of them I identify with, but this one in particular serves as the backbone for my point.

Things pile up people. Laundry, bills, work, kid's homework, projects, doggie "presents" in the back yard...yes I lead a glamorous life. Determination to make our way through these piles (obstacles) is what makes or breaks us and eventually the journey we take in life.

Now...I can't forget about the Feng Shui.

Do you know about Feng Shui?

I studied it some in my previous job as a Marketing Director at a home builder. We wanted to learn how we could arrange rooms so as to create a good flow. Feng shui entails the positioning of items to achieve a smooth flow of energy or the so-called "chi" in your life.

If your home or office has piles, it in turn relates negatively to your energy and ability to persevere. Think about that for a minute. If you have piles of stuff around you that is calling your attention to come complete it, it's hard to ignore isn't it? It brings you down a little. "Oh yeah...I've still gotta do that. Ughhh. Maybe tomorrow." And the affair with procrastination continues.

We all need to work at reducing our piles. Not just the physical ones, the mental ones too. Another Lombardi quote serves well here..."We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible."

My friend told me awhile back, "When you are driving at night, how far ahead can you see with your headlights on?" I think my answer was something like 30-yards. She replied, "And that's all you need to concentrate on now. What's right in front of you. Just take it 30-yards at a time." Good advice. Creates good chi. Me likey. It's all very possible.

We all...and I mean all of us...face difficulties. So, put on your big-girl panties (men...big boy underwear for you!) and persevere my friend! As Coach Lombardi might say, "Lower your shoulders and plow through." Nothing worth having comes easy. Even clean clothes...ughhh...it's a never ending pile. Here I go...

Tried It...Liked It...Done it Ever Since

And so it begins for me to pass on my immense culinary knowledge on to my son...

We were at the dinner table tonight and I accidentally placed his croissant a little too close to his "all-important" condiment of ketchup on his plate and, well, the marriage takes place between the two. Now...being that I've had this combination before, I'm not worried. Furthermore, being that he is all about trying new things right now, I continue forward with my plan.

"You know," I start off. "Sometimes when I have biscuits, I dip them in ketchup."

"What? That's gross!" he replies.

"Have you ever tried it?" I implore.

"No..." he says.

"Then how do you know it's gross?" I ask in all my immense wisdom.

"I don't I guess. I'll try it." He decides.

You guessed it. He liked it.

It started when I spent the night with a friend in grade school and she was combining the two at breakfast the next morning. I basically had the same reaction as my son and she basically replied in the same manner I did. Obviously, I ended up liking them and have done it like that ever since. No, not every time. But the option is always out there!

Something else I decided to mix as some point in life (who knows when - who knows why) was mixing hamburger dill pickles slices and Frito's. Have you tried it? Then don't judge... .

It's the perfect mix of salt and sour. And - now my mouth is watering.

Keeping on the "chip" ingredient, in high school a friend of mine put Nacho Cheese Doritos on her sandwich. What? Being that I'd learned earlier in life that "Have you tried it?" question and knowing how it ended up, I decided to give it a go. Afterall, I like my sandwich. I like Nacho Cheese Doritos. And, hey...why not add a little crunch to my sandwich? The result...yummmmmmm.

Here's one that every person who I've told about loves. Jalapeno Corn Dip. Yep...jalapenos and corn...together...loving it. Soften a box of cream cheese in the microwave, add a can of drained corn and as many jalapenos as you can stand and mix it all together. You can thank me for this later as - believe it or not - it's the next dip you will take to a party and everyone will be talking about how they can't believe how great it is and you'll be a hero. What to dip it with you ask? Hello? Corn chips!

I've saved the best for last. It's is a recipe I got courtesy of Cardinal Puffs on Lower Greenville in Dallas. It's not there any more (but Ozona Grill took it's place and I'm pleased to announce after a recent visit...it too rocks! Beer picture to right is some proof). Cardinal Puffs had a fabulous outdoor patio (which is still there at Ozona's) and at one of our treks out to this fine establishment, we ordered a pitcher of Coors Light.

When the waitress brought it out, there were "things" floating up-and-down in it with little trails of bubbles following them every time they journeyed up and down the pitcher. They were Spanish Olives. Ummm...Oh my word! This is my absolutely most favorite combination ever. I have passed this on to many, many a friend and every single person has loved it. Of course, you have to like olives, but if you do...ooooooooooohhhh mamma like!

So, next time, before you judge the person sitting next to you about what they are eating...try it first! You may find out you like it. Or even love it! And you'll create a lifelong culinary combination that you can share with others. Or not.

Regardless...Try it...you may like it...and do from there on out.

I Want Only The Best

Too often in life, we are after "things" we can get our hands on versus the intangible objects out there. Some people come to this realization early in life. Others of us, don't get it until later. Some don't get it until it's too late. And, unfortunately, some never get it at all.

For those who do get it, often it is brought to our attention through crisis and we have that moment that propels us into the "okay...I get what is important now" mindset. Why does it take crisis?

My personal belief is we don't multitask very well in this busy world we live in of kid's sporting events, PTA meetings, gymnastics, girl scouts, work meetings, conference calls, you name it... . We are so busy trying to get it all done we are missing out on the complete package that has been offered to us as a life.

Our youngest's kindergarten teacher read part of an article to parents last week (mentioned briefly in a previous post) and it hasn't left my mind, so I'm elaborating. It talkes about "Choosing the Best".

It mentions we all think of "the best school, the best teacher, the best clothing, the best car, the best house and the best looks are the key to having the best life." And this is where we choose to invest ourselves. What happens is these material things only leave us wanting more and doing what we have to do to achieve them. In order to do that, precious time with family gets compromised.

The best life can not be defined by the items in our lives. At least my definition of what I want as a best life can not be defined this way. The journey we take as a family and the things we choose to teach our kids is what makes it the best for me. How do you handle adversity? How do you handle change? How do you handle growth? Taught these tools early in life, I believe, can make a world of difference. I wish everyone had the opportunity to take a step back and ask, "Am I doing everything I can do have the best life for me and my family?" Like I said, some wait until it's too late. Others just give up thinking it would be too hard to change this late in the game.

I lost my mother when I was 15. Being that she was diagnosed with cancer years before, I spent years kind of "bring myself up". As a result, I spent a lot of my adult life paying the price of not knowing how to cope with hardships. The scary thing is I thought I was doing fine! Denial ain't just a river in Egypt, as they say.

God has taken away the things that I used as a crutch to deal with various aspects of my life and has been generous enough to let me start with a fresh slate and a renewed heart. I feel like in some ways I'm getting a "do-over". In return, I plan on passing it down to my kids.

The journey I'm now on will make mine and my families destination a much sweeter one. I'm so proud of my family and thankful for what I have right in front of me today.

Here's to your journey. Are you brave enough to take it on or will you duck your head and turn the other way? There is always room for improvement, big or small. I choose to face it head-on and be the best I can be. I owe it to my family, but most of all - I owe it to me.

Stupid Chopsticks...

I like to think of myself as a fairly coordinated person. Sure, I've been known to be a little klutzy (quit laughing those of you who know me well), but I've always been able to "master" a skill. I can hit a curveball, I can learn correography for VBS, I can even juggle a little...so why can't I hold those two little sticks in my fingers and successfully grab my California Roll without dropping it on my lap?

D laughs at me everytime I drop my food. I've even noticed a smile or two from people sitting nearby who have already earned their belt in Chopsticking. It's embarrassing. Just turn around and quit giving me a pity look as if to say, "Try again...you'll get it next time!"

I love the fact that Pei Wei gives you those little plastic "cheater" grips that hold the chopsticks at the top for you, but I'd never request them the place we've been frequenting. Know why? I'm sure they don't have them.

Just another reason why Tex-Mex is my favorite of all the various multi-cultural foods I could choose from. No funky utencils you need an instruction manual to use. In fact, you can use your chips to pick up most of your food. Gotta love it.

I wonder how my California Roll would tasted dipped in queso or salsa. Just curious.

In the meantime...shame all you chopstickers out there who laugh at those of us who haven't quite got the hang of it yet. We're not giving up and will get this maneuver accomplished. And when we do...watch out. We may sling Wasabi at you with some brut strength. Ha-yah!

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Simply put...I had a great day at the lake yesterday with my fabulous family. As I lay in bed last night reflecting on the events of the day, I realized I had taken so many pictures of things that were happening that made me smile "from ear-to-ear" (as I wrote in an earlier blog!). How lucky am I?

However, it wasn't just "events" that made me smile yesterday, it was sounds, smells and visions that made my heart light up and lead the corners of my mouth to curl upward. I'm blessed to notice things going on around me that make me happy and here are just some of my favorite things...

I like....

...the way the air smells after it rains.

...the way the grass looks in the morning when it still has dew on it (but I don't like walking barefoot in it!).

...the sound of waves hitting the shore.

...the view from the stage at Vacation Bible School of all the little ones dancing and waving their hands in the air.

...the way my son asks so many questions. I remind myself, "It's the best way to learn...be patient with him."

...the way my daughter absolutely loves (loves!) the water. Any water! Pool, lake, bathtub, kitchen sink...you name it. How is it I haven't taken her to the beach yet. Shame on me.

..the way my dogs get so excited when I come home, whether it's been 5 minutes or days. Unconditional love is a great thing...even from a canine.

...the way I feel safe and loved every time my husband puts his arms around me. It just doesn't get old.

...the call of a woodpecker. It's a beautiful sound...right before he starts hammering away at a tree.

...the calming sound of the wind through trees when you are standing under them or right beside them.

...the smell of my morning coffee from across the house.

...the view of my kid's faces when they walk out of school at the end of the day and run to me for hugs.

...the taste of Tex-Mex. You can't beat it. Okay...add a margarita or cold beer and it does tend to make it a little better.

...the view of Old Main amid the trees in San Marcos. So many great memories.

...everything about the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life" and "The Sound of Music" (duh...hence the title of this post!).

...how important and proud I feel when my husband asks me for my opinion.

...the way God always answers my prayers and in His all-knowing time frame.

...the way my kid's instinctively put their hands together and pray whenever we come upon an accident on the road.

...the way my friends have my back. Those kinds of friends are hard to find.

...the way a room looks at dusk or night with only the light of candles.

...the smell of the beach, suntan lotion, sun-kissed skin...takes me to a relaxing state of mind.

...the taste of a perfectly cold beer with a few ice chips on top. Hey...I'm a cheap date and a Texas girl. Both are good qualities in a woman if you're a Texas man! ha

...the sound of those old-fashioned, impulse water sprinklers, before the days of "sprinkler systems".

...the sound of my kid's belly laughs. Priceless.

...the smell of fresh cut grass. Is there anyone who doesn't like this? I mean really?

...purple Texas skies right before the sun goes down.

...the excitement of leaving the house to go on a trip or vacation. Oh the anticipation of new adventures!

...the butterflies I have in my stomach the night before a trip or vacation...let's just go!

...the feeling when someone tells you, "I love you". Family, friends...it's always great to hear you are loved.

...the opportunity to tell those I love that...I love them. We all have the opportunity to make people feel good.

...the sounds of crickets and frogs. So unique.

...the way my dad goes silent when he is laughing so hard.

...the smell of sun baked asphalt (reminds me of trips to Six Flags when I was young).

...the aroma of the floral section at the store.

...the deep satisfaction of a real hug.

I know this is a lot, and yet it somehow doesn't even scratch the surface. Everyone has "memory senses" that make them nostalgic or bring a new sense of hope and sentiment. It's these simple things that happen in our lives, sometimes every day, that I plan on paying close attention to.

Six Years Ago...We Got Belle

My sweet, beautiful, stubborn, button-pushing, little blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl turned six years old today. How in the world has that much time flown-by? While "momnesia" has hampered me from remembering lots of things, I'm happy to say I remember the day she was born very clearly. She was 8 pounds and 5 ounces and just stunning (huge...but stunning). She's even more beautiful now.

She has the world at her fingertips and I hope she learns how to harness all that energy and intelligence she has and lives her life to the fullest. I pray both her and Ben are successful in doing that. I want them to have the best of everything. Not the best cars, houses, clothes, etc...but the best husbands/wives, kids, values, dreams...the really important "things".

My daughter is a pistol, to say the least. As most kids do, Shelby sometimes says things that aren't grammatically correct, which my husband and I actually love. When she starts saying things correctly, we can't help but get a little sad knowing our Belle is growing up all too fast.

One of our favorite quotes was when her and Ben saw some type of bug on the ground and I think Ben asked about it. Shelby's reply was, "He got dead! That's what he got!" From time-to-time she will use the word "got" in place of other - more correct - verbiage. Today, on her sixth birthday, I was listening to the sounds of her and her sweet daddy playing in the other room only to hear, "I got six today!" to which Doug started laughing and repeated it back to her. I know he was as glad she said it the way she did as I was!

It is so easy to let each day go by and get busy with the various things that come at us from numerous directions. Things that take time away from what we'd really like to be doing...really experiencing and expanding the relationships with the sweet ones in our lives.

All of this gets pulled into perspective for me every time I receive an email from the mom of one of the little boys in Shelby's kindergarten class. He is battling cancer and has been for some time. Today, I received word his lungs were clear - which is what they have been working for - but found a tumor near his kidney.

Her reaction was what you would expect a mom's reaction to be..."Are you kidding me? Where are you God?" Then, the next paragraph she went into combat-mom mode. "No...I'm going to fight." I so admire her for all she goes through day-to-day and her faith in God is still strong. She knows He is going to take care of matters. Or "get down to business" as she so eloquently put it!

Yesterday, we saw a sign in the store that said something like, "Faith isn't believing God will do it, it's knowing He will." Doug stopped to look at it long enough to where I said, "Do you want to get it?" and he replied..."No...I already know it." Well-said.

Give everyone you love a HUGE hug today and make sure (make sure) they know they are loved. Don't take tomorrow for granted.

As for my Belle...she lives large every day! So does her brother. I love that. They live like there is no tomorrow. God love 'em. Here's to them staying that way their entire, long, healthy lives. I love you guys more than you will ever know. ("There's no comparison." That's for Ben. He knows what it means.) xoxo

Fan of the Weather...But Not the Dark Clouds

It's that time in North Texas when ominous, dark clouds can roll through our horizon in the blink of an eye. If you live here, you know what I mean. We don't take our blue skies for granted here, as they could be black in 30 minutes churning out mile-wide tornadoes.

I have always loved how the weather changes. Note the operative word...changes. With the exception of today (welcome back sun!), we have had weeks of miserable cloudy days, often times accompanied with rain. This is when you have to be careful because the clouds can easily drift from the sky, into your head.

So take note dark clouds...I'm in control. No, I can't control your arrival in the sky, but I can control your circling around my head. I forecast my life. I've had my head in the clouds for too long and it's great to be in clear skies once again! I like seeing the good in things and working hard for them. I'm proud to have my own thoughts and ideas. I'm blessed to see all the great things right in front of my face that I couldn't see when you were there. And, I encourage my kids to do the same...make the choice every day to see the good. Be happy...it's a choice. I know. I committed to making it one and did it. The past is just that...the past. You can't change it, but you can learn and grow from it. There are too many "clouds" out there trying to create detours in our lives.

Be your own person. Hold true to your values and dreams. Share them with your loved ones and your dreams will be much more celebrated when they come to fruition. What better than to celebrate realized dreams with those you love.

It is so easy to get off-track and let the clouds hamper our views. At the very least, if you find yourself in the clouds...discover the choice to soar through them and come out on the other side with the true-blue sky right in front of you.

"Three keys to abundant living: caring about others, daring for others, sharing with others." William Arthur Ward

The Greatest of These is Love

I know better than to walk in my youngest's Kindergarten class for "Pastries with Parents" without a tissue! It seems like yesterday I was just in there with my oldest one and was totally caught off guard by what was about to happen.

Our kids were blessed with the same Kindergarten teacher and folks...she's fabulous. I mean it. I couldn't have picked a better one for both of them. At the end of the year, they do this program where they bring in the parents and celebrate both Mother's and Father's Day, as well as the Kindergarten year as a whole . The kids have worked hard at making various little things showing us how much they love us.

This year we were surprised with a new treasure. An adorable slide show of artwork done by each student. When each child's artwork came up (they drew pictures of their family!), they had also recorded their voices over it proclaiming why they each loved their family. I'm sorry...can you pass me a tissue, please?

What I had totally forgotten about was the additional slide show this teacher does each year. She puts all the pictures taken of the class all year into a heartfelt presentation that starts off to the song, "I Can See Clearly Now". Killer. Other songs played while showing photos of our sweet little ones at the Pumpkin Patch, Reading with the Eagles, field trips and just around the school. It wrapped up with Kenny Loggins' "Return to Pooh Corner" ballad and by then, everyone was mush. Pardon me...will you please just toss me the entire box of tissues?

So today I was reminded, once again, of the importance of family. Every day I get a reminder (thank you, God) and I'm so incredibly blessed I notice those reminders. Nothing else really matters on this planet. It is the only, and I mean only, thing you can not replace.

We had 1st Corinthians 13 read at our wedding, as do many couples. Verse 13 is what I keep hearing these days..."And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:7). Love is one of those deep emotions that has staying power. It gives us the ability to grow, feel, change and even forgive.

The greatest is love. Is it always easy? Of course not. He never said it would be. In fact, He usually requires us to work for our growth. What in life that is worth having is easy? Not to imply it's hard either, but it's not a given. Otherwise, you take it for granted...believe me. But...it's always there in our hearts just waiting to be turned loose. Don't be afraid to work at it, let someone hear about it and get it just the way you want it. Then, once you do, hold on and don't let go.

You Talkin' to Me?

I know I can't be the only one who does this. Regardless of what you are going through in life. Regardless of what type of day you are having. It happens. A song comes on the radio and you think, "That's exactly how I feel!" or at least the song speaks to you somehow and think, "If I could write songs...I would have written that one."

I go through phases of what stations I tune to. I tend to change the station a lot and flip around until I find what suits me or at least what I can tolerate at the time.

These days it's set, fairly in concrete, to KLTY 94.9 - Christian Music. In fact, it's the largest Christian radio station in the country, thank you very much. **Props to Big D**. Yet I digress...music is on my mind.

Yes, so many songs that come on are calling my name lately. The fact that my heart is set on KLTY should tell me something. I've always (always) been the type of person who has to be hit over the head in order to hear God. And not just God, but sometimes just "clue in" about life around me. I hate that about myself. I'm working on it. Regardless, it can't be a fluke that this music is calling to me right now. Yep...He's at work in my life for sure. And, wouldn't you know, almost every song is speaking to me. You should search some of these out on iTunes. Matthew West's "The Motions", Big Daddy Weave's "You Found Me", Tobymac's "Gone" and my new favorite group Lifehouse's "Broken" & "Whatever it Takes" are just some of my new "anthems". One I'm a little embarrassed about is by Miley Cyrus' (yes...I said it) "The Climb". Sorry, but the lyrics are great.

So, every day I get in my car, God calls out to me through song. And I'm listening. And I "get it". And I'm changed and loving that part about me. (Did I just say I like something about myself?!). Yes, I like my heart a lot better than I used to like it. What a shame it was that way and didn't even realize it.

If you don't love the way your heart is, listen to these songs. They are powerful. In fact, go to YouTube and watch the videos. Matthew West's "The Motions" is right at the top. It ends saying, "What if we really gave everything?" Just imagine...

I know a blog isn't for everyone and hey, it may end up not being for me. But for now, I'm doing it. It's my own personal therapy and just a way to vent! It started in a different way for me, but that's okay too. So what. I look forward to my friend's comments. And for those supporting me already...you know how dear you are to me and thank you. Only true friends have hearts that support you no matter what and are there to build you up. I've found I have a lot of those in my life. Very blessed indeed.

A great friend of mine told me a couple weeks ago that I need to do something every single day for myself that makes me smile ear-to-ear. And, because she's a great friend, she checks in on me often to make sure I'm doing just that. Here's to you, Phyllis.