When in doubt LOOK UP!

The past few weeks have been a little overwhelming for me, hectic to say the least. I will spare you all the details of what has been going on, some good, some not so good and some really frustrating moments. This is when I start to have an inner struggle and things come out in frustration that may hurt others, because I am on overload, I may start to become UNGLUED! Not even thinking about what it is I say or how I react is sometimes a problem for me. I try as I might to carry the weight of my family, life and the all my clients on my shoulders. This I know that I shouldn't do but sometimes it is so hard to allow myself this forgiveness for not being able to do or get to everything. Sometimes I get an idea in my head and want what I want when I want it. I have lived in my home almost 12 years and trying to change or spruce up rooms without having to completely re-do the whole thing for mostly a time and cost effective reason... I decided the rug in our family room is in need of a big fat dumpster. Even after multiple cleanings with two big dogs and a kid it has seen better days! I have been looking for several months and finally decided to go to a store where some friends of ours said they got a real good deal on a rug. I had a hour to waste in between clients a few days ago so I went to check out their goods. I took several pictures of rugs and brought them home to show Steve. We picked one out. I went the next day in between appointments again. Unfortunately the one I set my heart on was out of stock and not available until March. SERIOUSLY! March? I NEED it before Sunday's Super Bowl party. With limited time the salesman and I looked through several other rugs and I picked out a couple more. I was leaning more toward one than another however I wanted to again check with Steve. I also bought flowers and a picture at Hobby Lobby to go with my new rug, that I could not have! Too funny! But the other two rugs did have some of the same colors. When I got home I knew I had a vase for the new flowers, which I wanted to arrange right away- Remember, I am creating my own sense of urgency which is just causing me more frustration! And the vase which of course I could NOT find. Really, go figure, because I wanted it right now! Needless to say I did get frustrated but had to leave to go to another appointment. After getting in a heated argument with my mom over something I honestly today can't remember, sometimes we do that. I am glad I have her to vent, forgive and forget. However, I probably should practice asking for permission to vent first which just properly sets her up for my rant because I doubt she would ever tell me NO she doesn't have time to listen. It is just the polite thing to do. Anyhow.. after a long day of frustration, closings, errands, multiple people pulling me in different directions, not feeling that I got to everything that I needed to, feeling guilty about not being home 3 nights in a row for dinner... I made it to bed allowing myself to realize that tomorrow is a great day to start again. When I woke up this morning I read my bible and daily devotional... (hmmm which I did not do the morning before), headed to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee I went to the pantry to shut the door which had been opened and there in the corner of the very top shelf was the vase that I had been looking for. My advise for you today is to be patient if you don't get what you want right when you want it, they may be a lesson in progress, WHEN IN DOUBT- LOOK UP! God blesses the people who patiently endure testing, afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. - James 1:12 NLT

Don't judge a Soup by it's Title

Sitting at lunch with some friends yesterday in Show Low it was chilly and soup sounded so good. I had my heart set on soup and salad bar and when I asked the waitress what their soup of the day was, she immediately responded beef and potato. My first reaction was to curl up my nose and make a sort of "really" face. Which I know she totally went in the kitchen and mentioned! Not sure why I reacted in such a way, I am really not sure what I was hoping she would say. I associated beef broth, some chunks of meat, a few potatoes and some really big thick onions. Not really what I was craving, even though I wasn't sure what I was craving. Long story short the soup ended up being more like a roast that my mom used to make in the electric skillet, thick with beef chunks, potatoes (hers had carrots), we used to soak up the juice with buttered bread, YUM! Contrary to my initial reaction it was so good I had to request my mom to make her roast this week- I now can't wait. I even pointed out to the waitress before we left that the soup was far beyond what I imagined and really good. So I try not to be a very judgmental person. Whether it is judging people or things. EXCEPTION ALERT! I am very judgmental when it comes to books- If the cover doesn't have it, I have no interest! Probably not the best way to judge a book by its cover, but I do! You never know about a person or a thing until you really get to know or try it out. You never know what will transpire from trying something for the first time, learning a new skill, meeting a new person who you can build a lasting relationship with, or help you somehow progress in areas you need developing! Just remember next time you curl up your nose at a new thought, idea, person or suggestion, be open to the possibilities of what may develop from it, and try it! I did and it was amazingly good. This is something we teach our children on a daily basis, if you try it and don't like it don't have more, if you try it and you fail, at least you know you tried, you never know what may be amazing!

Sparkle

As I continue to receive updates regarding my friend's cancer that has crept back into her life after almost 4 years free- a mom of two beautiful girls, a wife to a very loving supportive husband, a daughter, a sister, a friend, I feel like I have to HOPE for my future by living in my present. By enjoying what I have and what I am blessed with every single day. Disaster, depression, disease, anxiety, worry, death and grief can come into our lives quicker than we can blink an eye. They say that troubles in our lives can come and go. It is how we chose to deal with those troubles not the troubles themselves that really define us as a person. Trouble is a tunnel through which we pass and not a brick wall against which we must break our heads. - Claire Weeks Yesterday marked the 23rd year anniversary of the death of my best friend growing up of 10 years. We grew up across the street from one another, inseparable at times. She was diagnosed with brain cancer at a very young age. I always looked at her as a great example of a fearless person. Even though I never knew what was truly going on inside her as we were so young. She died at only 10. Looking back she was just so full of life, of love of compassion for others. Her silliness, happiness and lack of complaining even though she struggled every day to hang onto her life, shows me that through the little hiccups in my life I must keep going, I must be positive and I must carry on her legacy of touching others in a positive way every day. Count your blessings, be aware of the good stuff in your life. Let the frustrations, little burdens and unwanted actions of others, pass you by. Make an effort to see the upside of any and every unwanted situation and try to turn it around to be positive, don't compare your life to others, you never know what is going on behind closed doors, practice acts of kindness not only toward friends but complete strangers, a simple smile can go a long way. Don't take your loved ones for granted, they may not be here tomorrow, Stay active, be engaged, do things that make you happy. Savor life, write things down, take pictures. Make goals, take steps, commit and pursue them. Forgive others, let go of hurts, put the past behind you. Find something funny to laugh at every day, laughter is good medicine, laughter heals, laughter brings people together. God blesses the people who patiently endure testing, Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. - James 1:12 NLT Dear God, help me to focus on you when I struggle, help me to remember to stop and pray for my blessings and to know that anything I am faced with is little compared to what others may be going through and that with your help I will maintain stamina and move on past my fears, my temptations and my fits. Help me to Sparkle and be an example to others of what a strong, happy and positive person can overcome.

Beyond Anxiety

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. - Philippians 4:6 It was brought to my attention yesterday that a dear friend of mine, although thousands of miles apart, is in a fight for her life. How many of us can say our worry for tomorrow is truly life-threatening? No one has ever changed the future by dreading it. Leaving it up to God, we are so much better off. Living life to the fullest. Staying away from becoming a victim. I recently read a book called The Law of the Garbage Truck by David J. Pollay. In chapter 27 he tells a story about a lady named Kim, married with 2 young children. She was diagnosed with cancer, it went away and came back in other places a few years later. He talks about how she flourished despite her set back, despite her worry, despite her bad news, despite her fear of the unknown, of who would care for her children if she were to leave this world. That is what kept her going and focused on staying positive, keeping her sense of humor and ability to switch from sadness to gratitude on a dime! In situations like cancer there is something in our life beyond our control, we must be reminded to look for the greater things, to not let this disease dump on the person dealing with it or us as a family member, don't focus on the bad, focus on the good and greater things in our lives, you cannot afford to waste your energy on negative distractions. In the words of Kim- We all have issues, it is not isolated just to someone with cancer. It's easy to see the world through your own filter of "Oh my goodness, I'm dealing with cancer." The reality is that everybody's dealing with something that they feel is very important in their lives. And who is ultimately the judge. Which is worse? There is no competition. I wonder what tomorrow will hold. I know that I have amazing people in my life and that I am in great hands medically. By letting go of (most) of the fear and living my life with appreciation for everything I have- my husband, my children, my family and friends- I am a happy, grateful, pro-active survivor. Growing up I had a friend who passed away from brain cancer when I was just 11 years old. She was 10. We grew up together, like sisters, right across the street. Always at each others side. She was an inspiration to me. A positive bubble of energy, or happiness and gratitude no matter what she was going through. She was a light to other people. I learned from her early on that no matter what life throws my way, no matter what obstacles or set backs, I can be sad a little, I can be mad a little, I can grieve and be a victim but only for a short period of time, before I need to pick myself up, dust myself off and push forward. My friend now struggling with this almost 4 year remission of cancer to find out that she now has it in more than one location of her body is saddening. Reading her post was heartbreaking. I just saw her in October and she was so full of life and love and happiness! Her and her husband just recently took her experience and turned it into a positive, opening up a cancer resource center in their local town, trying to give back to those who fall victim to this devastating disease, to use her energy and her experience to show those around her that you can survive and how to survive through this ordeal. I am so proud of her and her accomplishments. It is easy to get mad at God sometimes in these situations and ask "WHY?" "WHY her God?" She is trying to help others. unfortunately, I don't think it is for us to understand the "why" sometimes. I truly believe God doesn't cause things to happen in our lives but sometimes he doesn't intercede. Maybe she needs to go through all of this again for those people that she has opened her heart and her center to truly relate and see how actively positive she can remain, we may just never know. I do want anyone reading this to please keep her and her family in your prayers. There will be lots of doubt, fear and stress, it is humanly natural, however I pray that their hope for the future, their positive attitudes and their appreciation of what is around them and their blessings will sustain. Take this today as a reminder to always be focused on how you can be appreciative in your life. How you can take your sour attitude toward something that just isn't quite going your way and flip it on a dime to a happier moment! Life may bring you lemons, but you can make lemonade! Sometimes the very essence of faith is trusting God in the midst of things. He knows good and well we cannot comprehend. - Beth Moore