I am...

I am whoever and whatever I say I am. If I keep telling myself and others that I am this or that then that is who and what I become.

I just finished reading the book Unbroken and felt revived both for having been inspired by the story and just by the fact that I actually finished a book that I started; especially such a long one. I have several (and I mean SEVERAL) books on my ipad that are only partially completed and it is even scarier when I just looked at the list and realized that I have forgotten I even bought some of the books no less forgot that I had read half of some of them. I am not going to declare that I am ADD anymore. It is much more rewarding to say and be someone who can focus and finish--so now I declare that I am a focused.

Shake the plant

Today I watered my indoor trees and remembered that "they say" indoor plants need an occasional shaking since they don't ever have to stand up to wind then they will become weak. It is the wind that makes them strong and a good shaking mimics that wind and helps strengthen them.

Life does seem to offer its share of wind in the form of adversity but the good news is that it can make me stronger as long as I don't let it break me. It also seems reasonable that if I stand with my face to the wind then I will really be strong. Even if I am not as strong as I should be, I am going to fake it so the winds won't think they have to blow so hard and maybe I can just enjoy a little breeze from now on.

Hiking with a 3 year old

This morning I went hiking with my three-year-old grandson who is staying with us right now. He insisted on wearing the water back pack, and so it looked like I was a slave driver having this little guy struggling to keep it on and hauling it while I walked with no extra weight (I guess I am carrying enough weight on my own). As he climbed up rocks and struggled with the backpack, I kept asking him if I could carry it but he insisted on carrying the load himself.

Now I am going to get a little sappy. Isn't it just like us. Sometimes we struggle trying to carry an uncomfortable burden and all the while our Savior is there asking us to let Him carry it. I have to say it was hard watching my little grandson struggle when it would have been so much easier for me to carry that burden.

Swimming in the Rain

I just spent the late evening sitting in the hot tub and swimming in the rain with my cute daughter, Court. It was another moment of joy. I'm glad I'm not pushing joy away anymore, she is nice to have around and it seems she always brings her friend faith and then charity comes tagging along.

Let in the Joy

The other morning I was sitting on the deck outside our master bathroom in a lounge chair typing on my trusting ipad zagg keyboard with my eyes closed. It was pure joy hearing the creek flowing, birds singing, and smelling the glorious perfume of our honeysuckle vines. It has been a long time since I sat out there, and I realized that kind of joy is always there for the taking, I just need to put myself in a positive to take it in.

It is that way in life. Joy is always there and I am welcoming it and letting it in.

Happy 4th of July

It is a great day to celebrate independence. I have experienced a form of co-dependence in which I have let other people's choices affect my happiness. I am declaring my independence to be happy regardless of anyone else. I can certainly care and feel bad for other people, but worry and fear that affects my peace and happiness over something I have no control over isn't worth it. I am choosing to be free and live in joy and faith.

Extended Families

I just got back from a little family reunion. I have a great extended family that is so much fun to be with IF you have thick skin. We laugh and make fun of each other like no other family I know. There are so many jokes that go on and on and on. You really have to be careful what you say and do because no one will let you forget something stupid you did. My son Jake says he has to be careful what his aunt says because he is still living with the jokes of what she accidentally said about him.

Like all the jokes about taking pictures in a height line. As a child, my cousins and I had to pose in a height line for pictures at Christmas. We tried to carry on the tradition with my kids generation only to be made fun of. We have long stopped the height-line pictures but the jokes about it are eternal. Most of my kids and their cousins have this genetic sarcasm that is alive and well. I am trying to figure out where they got it? Nonetheless, I am thankful for such a fun family.

Rules vs Spirit

Just came to a big realization. I have put way too much stock in rules. I know I was born a rule follower but it is about time that I move up and realize the ultimate goal of following rules is to feel the Spirit and then let the Spirit be my guide, not the rules.

I still think about the visual image of the star with the points signifying all five dimensions--spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, social. I have been making (and breaking) rules for each dimension and it finally came to me that if I want to be better at relaxing that I had better just make a statement about what I want to be in each area and focus on that and let the behavior naturally follow. I just purchased a cute star at a summer fair that I have hanging in my office and I have put post it notes on the points of what I want to become instead of do in each area. Brilliant. Well, it would have been brilliant if I would have thought of it much, much sooner. Now I just feel like I have been quite remedial.

What's Your Flow Experience?

I know that it is important that I know what activities create that "flow experience" where I feel like I am pursuing my passion and stretching myself. For me, some of my flow experiences are learning, writing, organizing, being creative, eating (wait, I guess that isn't a challenge, just something I'm skilled at and have interest in), dancing, watching a great educational program while on the treadmill, Sudoku, teaching (just ask my Laurels, I can go on and on and on and loose all track of time), to name a few.

I'm curious to hear what other people have discovered is their flow experience.