Owning my self-image....

It was a busy, non-productive (surprise, surprise), weekend! I had all good intentions to get some ironing done - even went as far as bringing it out to the dining room table. All I had to do was set up the ironing board and get the iron out. I put the clothes back in the closet last night so they wouldn't be on the table all week.

Saturday morning my daughter and grandson asked me to go hiking and geocaching with them. I didn't know then what geocaching was, but agreed to the hiking for I do enjoy a good hike. We went to a mountain nearby their house and started up. We hadn't gone too far when those two had taken off looking for something. After a couple more of these "stops" off the trail, I realized and understood what geocaching is. It actually is fun and I participated in part of it - and located one of the stashes! We went on up the mountain where and made it to the top. It was a beautiful day and still early in the morning so was somewhat cool to walk/hike in. Loved it. Can't wait for an invite to go hiking with them again. (hint hint) On the way back down we passed a young man who apparently was going to propose to his girlfriend at the top of the mountain. He was placing big signs along the trail. We read them as we came down the mountain. "From the moment I saw you I knew you were the one for me." "You have inspired me to be a better man." and there were a couple other signs before getting to the top. My daughter and I were going "awwwww" every time we read a sign. Romance. Excitement. Joy. Love.

And speaking of that, my middle child and his wife celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary yesteday. I loved the wedding photo posted on facebook. They both look so young - and my beautiful daughter-in-law was just that even then - beautiful. I've learned since that she is beautiful not only on the outside, but on the inside. My son is so blessed to have found such a gem.

This morning I'm back to work and coming up with something to send out with the reports wasn't too bad. I'm going through a book and the topic for today was looking at ourselves in a mirror. Do we see what others see? Not just on the outside, but on the inside. Have I taken responsibility for who I am? Hmmmm. Coping with difficult people is always a problem, especially if the difficult person is you.

I learned this morning that we need: self-awareness. Human nature seems to endow people with the ability to size up everybody in the world but themselves. Becoming self-aware does not come easily for most people. It is a process – sometimes a slow one – that requires intentionality.

Another is self-image. Author Sydney J. Harris observed, “If you’re not comfortable with yourself you can’t be comfortable with others.” I would take that one step further. If you do not believe in yourself, you will sabotage relationships. No matter how hard you work, you can only go so far professionally if you are a poor leader. A company, department, or team will always be held back by a weak leader. You image of yourself restricts your ability to build healthy relationships. A negative self-image will even keep a person from being successful. Phil McGraw: “I always say that the most important relationship you will ever have is with yourself. You’ve got to be your own best friend first.”

Still another is self-honesty. Comedian Jack Parr quipped, “Looking back, my life seems like one big obstacle race, with me being the chief obstacle.” If we could kick the person responsible for most of our troubles, we wouldn’t be able to sit down for weeks. What can save us is the willingness to look in the mirror and get honest about our short-comings, faults, and problems. If you want to keep from becoming your own worst enemy, you have to look at yourself realistically.

and another is self-improvement. In the crypts of Westminster Abbey, the following words were written on the tomb of an Anglican bishop who lived in the eleventh century:

“When I was young and free my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country. But it, too, seemed immovable. As I grew in my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it. And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realized: If I had only changed my self first, then by example I would have changed my family. From their inspiration and encouragement, I would have then been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed my world.”

People who often experience relational difficulties are tempted to look at everyone but themselves to explain the problem. But we must always begin by examining our ourselves and being willing to change whatever deficiencies we have.

and lastly, self-responsibility. John Maxwell wrote in his book The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork he wrote about the law of significance. “One is too small a number to achieve greatness.” Every significant accomplishment begins with the vision of one individual. That person not only possesses the vision, but also takes responsibility for carrying it to others. If you want to make a difference in this world, you must take responsibility for yourself.

Take a look in the mirror.

Psychotherapist Sheldon Kopp believes “all the significant battles are waged within the self.” As we examine ourselves, we discover what those battles are. And then we have two choices. The first is to be like the man who visited his doctor and found out he had serious health issues. When the doctor showed him his x-rays and suggested a painful and expensive surgery, the man asked, “Okay, but how much would you charge to just touch up the x-rays?”

The second choice is to stop blaming others, look at ourselves, and do the hard work of resolving the issues that are causing us problems. If you want to have better relationships with others, then stop, look in the mirror, and start working on yourself.

Blessings!

Thank God It's Friday!!

It was been a crazy week here at work. I haven't had any meetings I needed to attend to take minutes, but had to spend nearly 4 days working on the one meeting I think I mentioned last week that went nearly 4 hours. Oh My Goodness!! I would sit here with the ear buds in my ears listening to "you know", and "you know", and "you know"..... I'm grateful I don't have to type word for word (although it was suggested by a friend when I told her about the "you know" throughout the entire meeting), if I could have gotten through without those, we could have saved at least an hour. Yes, it was that bad. At one point I had my hands over my ears, ear buds in my ears, and my head down, while I was listening to the tape. The person for whose meeting I was typing these from came by and asked me if I was ok. She was concerned because my head was down. I just smiled and said "Oh, I'm fine. Just typing your meeting notes." :-)

Today I have one other set of minutes to type, but it won't be as bad, nor as long. I'll whip those out quickly - and then I may need to find something to do for that means I am all caught up! I only have one meeting next week and it isn't anything I have to do a lot for. But, I'll get things done. And I may have a new project to start on.

Yeah, I've been pushing for the company to have a challenge like we did last year for losing weight. Biggest Loser Challenge. I've asked a couple times and was given the 'no' answer. The other day I had someone else ask me about it (what is it, do they think I'm in charge or something? I only participated last year!) so I again sent an email to one who was in charge last year and asked again - can we again do the challenge. My argument is that the company won in the entire challenge. They did not pay out any money as the employees each put in $30 of those who wanted to participate. We did the weigh in each week. When it came time for the payout, the winners received from the money collected (and some that was donated by a previous CEO).

I was busy typing away when I felt someone behind me. It was the person who did the weigh-ins last year and the one I had emailed. She asks me, "If Corporate says ok, will you take the lead on the challenge?" GASP! Do I really want that responsibility? I asked, "all that is involved is doing the weigh-ins for everyone and sending out the updates, correct?" "yes". :) So I told her "yes, I will take the lead." She went back to her desk and forwarded my email to HR and copied me stating "Nova is inquiring on us doing the Challenge again this year. Nova will be taking the lead. Please advise if she can proceed." So now, I wait for a response. But it got me excited. I started counting weeks and when to start and when to finish. I finally decided, providing it gets approved right away, April 16th to August 6th - which will be 16 weeks. I'm trying to hold back in creating motivational and encouraging things to get people motivated because why put out the time and energy if they say 'no' and I'm disappointed. So I wait. I should hear by this time next week. Hopefully. And this time my boss said she would do it too so that we could encourage each other.

I'm glad I can possibly do the challenge for I definitely need motivation to do something. I've been so tired lately that when I come home I sit in my chair and do nothing but read, play words with friends, or read facebook. I've gotten so lazy and I've been 'bingeing' on food throughout the day. I'm usually pretty good about NOT eating cake and candy when it's sitting around - in fact, I have chocolate here at my desk and I usually stay out of it. But this past week I have eaten sooooo much of what I normally do not eat. Stress? Boredom? I have no idea. I just know I have found myself eating that crap and when I got on the scale this morning (first time in about 3 months) I wasn't surprised at what I saw, but disappointed, to say the least. I need to get myself motivated. I wish I had someone who lived close by me that liked to walk/run and would push me to get out and do it. Hubby doesn't like to do either and taking Marley once is awhile is ok, but for me to get exercise from the walk, it is hard to do with Marley. I'm always having to pull her back to stay with me or pull her away from other dogs going by us. I want to focus on ME and keep my heart rate up. My daughter would do it, but she is far enough away that it is almost impossible for us to make contact during the week. Oh well, I need to "just do it".

So what are your plans for the weekend? Are you involved in a challenge and working towards a goal?

Time for me to get moving here at work - things to do - an 8AM meeting to listen to for my boss.

Get out and enjoy the beautiful weather!

Blessings!

But you can change.......

I've been pulling things from "Winning with People" by John Maxwell and sharing at work this week. Today's comments were based on who we are determines how we view life. Did you realize that the only way to change how you view life, is to change who you are on the inside? We all have attitudes, assumptions, expectations about ourselves, other people and life. These factors color how we let people treat us - and how we treat people.

Eleanor Roosevelt said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

Phil McGraw puts it another way - "You teach other people how to treat you."

Hmmmmm. Food for thought.

Our thinking and our attitudes are as much a part of us as our talents and abilities. They determine what we do, how we react/respond. Our genetic makeup can be good news and bad news. Some of your qualities are awesome. That's true for everyone, even me. :-) But we also may have some genetic makeup that we don't like yet have to learn to live with. That doesn't mean others have to accept us 'just the way we are'. It means when it comes to character issues, we need to work on our weaknesses, and on our talents, work on our strengths. You can't change your genes by choice.

However, other factors are up to you.

Your self image, for example. Poet T. S. Eliot observed, "Half of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They do not mean to do harm. They are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves." A person who has a negative self-image will expect the worst, damaging relationships along the way. They find others who are similarly negative. Yet, those with a positive self-image will expect the best for themselves. Those whose self-image is both positive and accurate are likely to be highly successful. They gravitate to successful people.

Everything you have experienced in life contributes to who you are. What you have already experienced as children, you didn't have much choice over. However, you do have choice over many of the experiences you have now. We choose who we marry. We choose our jobs. We choose where to take a vacation, whether or not to exercise, whether or not we will learn something new. We can't undo our past experiences, but we can reprogram ourselves using new ones.

Even more important than choosing our experiences is deciding what our attitudes will be about the experiences we have. We have complete control over how we respond, what our attitude is, about every experience. Whether our outlook is up or down, expectant or reluctant, open or closed, is completely our choice. Your attitude will make or unmake you. It's not the result of your birth, your circumstances, or your bank account. It's all a choice.

One of the most important things we will ever do is choose our friends. As parents we watch who our children (and in some cases, our grandchildren) run around with, because we want them to be around others who will have good influences on them. The people they are closest to will shape who they are. Let me rephrase that. The people we are closes to will shape who we are and how we will respond to things, what our attitude will be.

The words of aurthor and speaker Charlie "Tremendous" Jones really are true: the difference between who you are today and who you will be in five years will be the people you spend time with and the books you read.

The way you view others is determined by who you are. you cannot get away from that truth. If you don't like people, that really is a statement about you and the way you look at people. Your viewpoint is the problem. If that's the case, don't try to change others. Don't even focus on others. If you change yourself and become the kind of person you desire to be, you will begin to view others in a whole new light. And that will change the way you interact in all your relationships.

Maybe it's time for an evaluation of your self-image. Are you, on the outside, who you want to be on the inside? Are you, on the inside, what you portray on the outside? Do you need to make a different choice? Your choices also affect everyone around you. What do you want them to see in you - and what choices do you want them to make in their future? Something to think about.

Blessings!

Problems, Issues, Distractions...... all part of life....

Oh my goodness. I know life is tough, but what is it about all these problems, all these issues, all these distractions going on? I grow weary of seeing it, hearing it, being in the middle of it. I'm tired. I wonder if God is tired of me bringing all these things before Him all the time. Naw..... He wouldn't be. He loves it when I bring all these issues to Him.

I read a scripture in my quiet time this morning that hit home on some things I've observed the past few days.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who holds counsel is wise. Proverbs 12:15

We all naturally assume our own opinions are right. Wise people, however, listen to contrary opinions to see if they might have made a mistake; fools don't.

How many times do we judge others because of something we have observed, heard, or seen? Who we are determines how we see others. We are all made differently, and have been raised differently - even in one family! Many times siblings have totally different personalities because of the way they were raised, of their different likes and dislikes, of their abilities.

And it often determines how we view others. What is around us doesn't determine what we see in people, what is within us does. Why? Because the way people see others is a reflection of themselves.

If I am a trusting person, I will see others as trustworthy.
If I am a critical person, I will see others as critical.
If I am a caring person, I will see others as compassionate.

Your personality comes through when you talk about others and how you interact with them. Someone who doesn't know you, but observes you, would be able to tell a lot about who you are (and what you believe) based on a simple observation. Do you claim to be a Christian and yet belittle and are rude to others? It doesn't matter how they behave - many times you have already formed an opinion by something someone else has said, what this person might have done in the past (whether to you or others). Your self-proclaimed Christian walk is not true if you belittle and demean others by your arrogance, rudeness, attitude.

But God always gives us grace. I would not be where I am today without God's grace. And neither would you. I shudder to think what my life would be like if I had not run to God many years ago and sought His face, His forgiveness of my many sins. Am I perfect today? Absolutely not. I fail many times to be the person I believe I should be. But I live in God's grace, and I try to be whom God created me to be.

Sometimes I am unable to do what I know God wants me to do, but I also know that He knows my heart, soul and mind. He will direct my path and keep me on the journey I am on until He takes me home. Sometimes I wish it was soon for I grow so weary at times. But I know all things are in His timing.

My perception of others is sometimes based on how I've been treated. I need to offer them grace because I don't know what they have gone through to form their personalities. They don't know my story, and I don't know theirs.

I don't want to be thought a fool because of things I say, or my behavior formed by my opinion. I don't want others to see me as hateful and rude and arrogant because of my behavior or the words I say when I say I am a Christian.

I want them to see Christ in me. I want to influence them for Christ. Unfortunately, many times they are turned away because of things said and done. I don't want that on my conscience.

What is your perception of others - and what do you think their perception is of you? Are you a fool? Or wise?

Blessings!

Crazy dreams..... I think......

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night with a crazy dream going on inside your head? I'm sure you do - and I did last night. Of course I have been mulling it around in my head all morning trying to determine what it could possibly mean. If there is any meaning to it at all. I've come to my own conclusions, but they are probably wrong. But I found it interesting, to say the least. My dream?

I was in a house, that was "my house" and I went outside and looked around. There were a couple dirt roads leading from my house, and fields on the side of the roads - yet, there was only broken stalks of corn in the field. It appeared the corn had already been harvested and the field showed what was left. The scene also was in black and white. I hadn't really thought about it before. Do we dream in color? Do we only dream in black and white? I don't know that I have thought about it before. But the scene last night was black and white.

I start walking quickly down one of the roads. I see a man (who looks like my brother-in-law) stomping through the field next to the fence and he is yelling at me. I can't hear what he is saying, but he doesn't have a friendly look on his face. I become uneasy, not knowing what he is saying, or what he would do, although he is not coming over the fence, but continuing to walk along side it yelling at me. I look around me, and realize I have taken the wrong road; it isn't familiar to me. I turn around and start to run back the way I had come, and a young blond girl about 12 is running after me, yelling at me as well. She looks like my little sister. I can't hear what she is saying either, but she is running towards me.

I high-tail it down the road - and I wake up.

I have no idea what that could have meant - if it meant anything! Could it have been the potluck I fixed for dinner last night? (I just threw things together; ground turkey, peppers, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, penne pasta, tomato sauce) I don't know! But I laid in bed for a few minutes to think about it before falling back to sleep.

Crazy dreams come to me on occasion - but it has been awhile. Usually I don't remember them. If I am really afraid in the dream - which sometimes does happen - I start praying as soon as I wake up that God will erase the dream from my mind so that I don't think about it. I used to not be so afraid of things but since I married a former policeman, and he is over-protective, it seems I am wary of about anything and everything. Some of it is good, of course, but I don't like being afraid to do things because of "what if". I despise negativity. Drives me crazy.

One thing I do know, when I am afraid of anything, I know where to run! I run to my Heavenly Father, who is my Protector, my Strength, my Guide, my All. When I run to Him, I don't have to be afraid. If something happens, it is in His will. He has allowed it. Sometimes when things come up against me, it causes me to seek Him more intensely. I become more sensitive to hearing His voice. I look for Him in people and things around me.

We have no control of what other people say or do, and God sometimes allows other people to say or do things that hurt us. Sometimes God allows disease to overtake us or someone we love. It is all in His Plan, and only He knows why He allows these things. I don't feel He does it to punish us, but because He loves us so much. Sometimes it is for us, sometimes it is for someone close to us, sometimes it is for others we haven't met yet. The key is, how do we respond to God and to others when we are in the midst of the trial?

Do we run to others to seek confirmation that 'we're ok'? Do we seek information that identifies where we might have been wrong? Do we even bother to ask the real questions? Do we pretend that all is well and peachy keen? Do we feel it is God's condemnation upon us and that is why this has happened to us? God doesn't condemn us - His Word says so. In Him there is no condemnation. We can rule that one out.

In Him is life, and hope, and joy, and peace.

Seek Him; seek Peace.

Blessings!

It all comes down to attitude.....

When you hear the saying, "It's hard to soar with eagles when you live with the turkeys", what do you think of? For myself, I think of things and people that I have allowed to keep me at their level, not allowing me to excel. I have allowed. That is the key word. Allowed. Yes, I have allowed over the years people, places, and things, keep me from excelling, or from "soaring with eagles" if you will. I take full responsibility for what I have done.

This morning I was looking for something positive to send out with the two reports I have to send each morning as part of my job, and I came across that statement. "It's hard to soar with eagles when you live with the turkeys". Huh. Had to give it some thought. Pause for a moment and think about your life; think about that statement. Huh. Deep thoughts, right?

“The last of the human freedoms is to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.”
~~Victor Frankl

I began to think about our surroundings, how they control our soaring. Turkey-thinking + turkey-talk = turkey-walk. We quickly blend into the color of our surroundings. Similarities in thinking, mannerisms, priorities, talk and opinions are very common within individual cultures. We all know married people who grow to look more alike as the years pass (yikes!!).

A man who had not seen his brother for many years went to the airport to pick him up. After a period of waiting one of the brothers began walking across the terminal. Without hesitation the other brother called out his name and a happy reunion followed. When asked how he recognized the other brother he replied quickly, “I knew he was my brother because he walked like my father.”

No doubt our surroundings help construct our attitudes, too. The word “choices” rises on the opposite side of the environment in the attitude construction issue. Speaking more logically than emotionally, the voice of this word says, “We are free to choose our attitudes.”

Yeah, we know that. And some of us choose our attitudes to be exactly how we feel. Grumbly, Hostile, Arrogant, Whining, Sniffy nose.... and you can probably come up with a few of your own. But, in all fairness, some days we choose to be positive and encouraging, uplifting, happy, giving, caring....... and a few others. Choice.

I had an interesting day yesterday. I was so frustrated. There was a meeting I had to attend to take minutes. Breakfast was delivered (yea) and the meeting was to start at 9AM. The manager did not arrive until 9:40AM. The 10-12 others there were chatting among themselves, eating breakfast, etc. Once the manager got there, it went downhill. She had no agenda (because she hadn't told me what the meeting was about, and didn't give me any information, I didn't create one, and neither did she). Everyone talked over the other person. I was totally lost as to what they were discussing - only picking up a word here and there that I could possibly create minutes on. This meeting was to have been over at 10:30. The manager knew I had booked the room from 10:30-11:00 to set up for another luncheon training meeting. So she decides to continue her meeting on MY time! At 10:45 I stopped her and told her I needed to clear out the breakfast things and get the luncheon set up for 11:00.

Took care of the luncheon training meeting and it was over about 12:10PM. I had to clean up the luncheon items and get them moved down to the breakroom. So what does this manager decide to do? Continue her meeting while I'm cleaning things up - (which I had to rush through so I could get the tape recorder going again to tape the meeting) - and a couple of the people had typed out their own agenda so she was going over THEIR agenda!! She continued for another hour! I was over the top appalled that a manager would allow her employees tell her what they wanted to discuss and she didn't even have an idea of an agenda. The minutes for this meeting is going to be a real challenge! Over all, this 3-4 hour meeting could have been resolved at most an hour and a half if she had an agenda and stuck to it, keeping everyone focused on what was to be discussed. I can honestly say as well that with each item the others brought up, 75% she responded with "well, I don't know, I'll have to ask....". Excuse me? Isn't she a manager of this department? Shouldn't she know what her department needs to do? Or should be doing? Hello?

My attitude was "frustration" at the disorganization of the meeting, and the lack of respect of everyone in this department meeting. Since when is it ok to talk over each other in a meeting, to have your two-three at one end talking to each other and two-three at the other end of the table talking to each other - and everyone talking at the same time?

What was my choice? I sent an email to HR with a suggestion that all leadership take a mandatory class in how to prepare an agenda, how to manage a meeting, and how to have meeting courtesy/protocol so that things get accomplished. I ended it with the department will rise or fall on the person leading it. HR immediately responded that it will be brought up at their next leadership meeting. Is that good or bad?

I also wrote an email to my boss (who is over this person)and told her what happened yesterday and my frustration at the disorganization of the meeting, the lack of respect for others by the constant chattering during discussions. I also told her not to read it until she gets in the office on Monday. This was my first meeting with this manager and I am appalled she is a manager. I've seen her in other meetings where she has been given responsibility to present something, and she just hems and haws and says "well, I don't know the answer to that question, I'll have to ask...." when she was given the information and was told to review a week before the meeting!

With that being said – what is the attitude choice you are making today? Are you going to soar with the eagles today? Is it going to be a positive, uplifting day – or a gumbling, whining day down with the turkeys? Your attitude. Your choice!

I have four meeting minutes that I need to get typed by the end of the month (thank goodness no more meetings this month) so I am going to choose to soar with the eagles today. I'm going to choose to be positive and encouraging. I am choosing to complete my minutes in a timely and positive manner. My attitude. My choice.

What about you? What is your choice for an attitude today? Choose to be positive - you will find your day will run much smoother and it will fly by - and you will be in a great mood to head into the weekend.

Have a soaring day and weekend!! Choose to soar!

Blessings!

Another Meeting Day!

I didn't have to come in quite as early as yesterday for meetings - but I do have two meetings that will take up most of the morning. One is a breakfast meeting at 9AM for the case managers and the other is a training luncheon for more case managers. I'm involved in both so of course I can eat at both. Bagels, juice, muffins, coffee, fruit at the first - sandwiches, chips, salad at the second.

Groan. Just got an invite to a meeting at another location. I went to the manager to see what that was about. Oh - it's a 'provider meet and greet' and I will need to be there to pass out flyers and help the providers set up, etc. (I really do NOT enjoy driving to places alone that I don't know where I am going) But, it is not until April 16th so I have time to prepare for it. Mapquest and Siri are my friends in cases like these. Maybe over a weekend I will take a drive that way just to see where it is and where to park. Once I am familiar with where I am going, and know what to look for, I'm ok with it. This is something I wasn't aware I would have to do. I just checked - I have no other meetings that day - good thing as I think I will be there all day. Could that be a good thing? Could be!

Do you ever tell yourself that when you have a little time that you will do something? What I mean is, I tell myself that when I have extra time (at home), I want to clean this, or iron that, or read this, or work on that. Then when you get the extra time, you don't do anything? Yep that was me last night. Again. Granted, I had been up since 2:45AM so I was pretty tired anyway. But I had plans to get on my treadmill and get some walking/running in. At least 1/2 hour. Hubby was at church. I was "home alone" with Marley. So what did I do? Fixed me a small pizza (personal size), sat down with my iPad, and there I sat. I was still sitting there when hubby got home a couple hours later. I didn't get anything done. Again. This morning I was beating myself up over it - and yet, I wonder why I do that. Beat myself up, that is. I was tired. It is ok I didn't do anything.

So what do you do when you have a little extra time? Do you find something to keep you busy or do you curl up with your electronic gadgets and/or a book and enjoy the evening or time that way? It isn't a bad thing, for sure. We all need to have a little rest.

That's my stand and I'm sticking to it!

Didn't get any of my minutes typed yesterday. Everytime I got started, someone came by and interrupted me. After awhile I felt like I had ADD for I could not get focused on typing them. I don't think I got much at all accomplished yesterday. Two meetings today - but I only need to attend one. The other (luncheon) I just need to get set up, introduce the leaders, and then I can excuse myself and come back when it's time for it to be over and clean up the leftovers. Maybe I can snag hubby a sandwich for dinner tonight. I'm sure I won't want anything.

How is your attitude for today? In looking for something positive to send out to the case managers on their reports, I came across this one.....

One day a man was watching two masons working on a building. He noticed that one worker continually frowned, groaned and cursed his labors. When asked what he was doing, he replied, “Just piling one stone on top of another all day long until my back is about to break.” The other mason whistled as he worked. His movements were swift and sure and his face was aglow with satisfaction. When asked what he was doing, he replied, “Sir, I’m not just making a stone wall, I’m helping to build a Cathedral.”

Our attitude can give us an uncommonly positive perspective.


What is your attitude today? Sure, you can be facing a very difficult day - it could be sickness for yourself or a loved one, it could be a difficult child, perhaps it is just life itself has seemed to throw a few bricks at you this morning. But, how are you dealing with it? Are you angry and bitter and a real crab? Or will you choose to be positive and look for the good in the situation.

One thing I do know for sure, God never gives us more than He feels we can handle. No matter how broke we are, He will always provide what we need. No matter what decision needs to be made, when we ask and listen, He will direct our path. No matter how sick we are, or those we love are, He will strengthen you to endure. No matter what..... He will.... you can fill in the blanks. Our God is so faithful that no matter what, He will walk this journey of life with us, He will never leave us nor forsake us. And He is always waiting on us to call on Him.

Choose today to live life to the fullest - look at today with a joyful attitude. Your day will build from your attitude. Will it be a good day - or a not so good day. It's all your choice.

I choose to be joyful and positive.

Blessings!

Meetings, meetings, meetings!

Had two meetings this morning - yes, part of the job - but wow. Wish the "leaders" which were not the leaders but those designated, knew how to conduct a meeting. I mean, good grief, how hard is it to follow the agenda? I have to go through the minutes from the previous meeting and create the agenda. They didn't have anything new to add for "new business" - it was all "old business" - and can they follow the guideline on getting people to talk about it? Geez! At both meetings, two different "leaders" and I use the word loosely - just sat there and looked around until someone said - uh, should we review the minutes? (like, yeah) and then it was, 'shall we continue on to the next item'? Gads - worse set of leadership I've seen for awhile. One is a VP and the other is a manager! Scares the heck out of me! Now I have to figure out how to create the minutes when things are so mixed up. Lucky me.

But my meetings are done for today. I have a 7AM meeting in the morning, which means I probably will not be creating a blog - and yet, here I am at 1PM writing this. Well, I CAN take a lunch once in awhile! Actually I am procrastinating because I do not want to start on the minutes yet. I got asked about ten minutes ago to order bagels and orange juice for the 7AM meeting tomorrow morning. Don't know who will deliver at 7AM - I'm the only one here that early! Will have to check with the girls who actually place the order. May have to give my cell phone for when the food actually arrives. It may surprise me though and be here by 7AM. Will see. This is another meeting - a Director no less - who doesn't know how to lead the meeting. Last month I just shook my head as she let the trainer railroad her and the trainer actually created some harrassment to the other employees and sorta "threatened" them - laughing about it - and of course the director who is her friend, laughed with her. It wasn't funny and no one else laughed. One person called me later to share that they were offended with the remarks of this person. I took the incident to our VP, but I don't know if she did anything about it. It disturbs me, for it needs to be corrected, but once I reported it, and even shared where the tape (yes, I tape the meeting and the comments ARE on the tape)I can not do anything else about it. I want to believe it was handled. Will see how this meeting goes.

Then I have two more meetings on Thursday - but only one of those I need to attend. One is a training meeting and I will attend for the lunch provided, but I will not stay in the meeting. I will go set up, and I will go clean up. But other than that - nope, not going to hang out there.

I don't mind the meetings when they are interesting and provide information. It's when people show up who haven't done their homework and try to bluff their way through their report I find it so annoying. It's like, 'don't you know your job'? - duh! Grumble! I guess it is like that in a lot of meetings. I'm just amazed at the laziness of some of the people we have in charge. You don't hem and haw about what you are talking about. Either you know it or you don't. Spit it out.

I guess it can also apply to life. How many of us hem and haw our lives away - never really living? We don't get involved because we just don't want to be held accountable. Or we don't want to have the blame or responsibility put on us if we fail. But you have already failed if you didn't bother to try!

What happened to the generation of standing tall and taking responsibility for our families, for our children, for their responsibilities? It has become far to easy to put off doing things that we should step up and take responsiblity for! We allow our behavior of not accepting responsibility overrule the law of responsiblity. We find other things to keep us busy so that we can't move on our responsiblities. We let others take care of us. We let others own the responsibility - until they enroach on our space because we gave them that responsibility - then we explode how dare they tell us what to do! Well, it seems if we don't step up and do what we are supposed to do as adults, and allow others to take over the responsibility we are to do, then we need to expect them to feel they can also tell us what to do.

Not that anything in that last paragraph makes any sense whatsoever.

I'm thinking of people who run to other people constantly to take care of them - and get taken care of - and yet, when they need to step up and be responsible, they don't know how to or just don't want to - and yet, won't listen to the one who has been taking care of them! Then everyone loses because one side doesn't accept the responsibility and the other side who wants to relinquish it can't shut up and won't force the other to grow up. ohhhh been through this before and have listened to it many times..... and now I'm just rambling.

Some people are just enablers. I blame my mother for part of it. The rest of it is a learned trait. And no, I'm not necessarily talking about me - although I have been an enabler at times, I will confess. It is so much easier to help someone get on their feet than it is to let them fall flat on their face and learn to walk again. I have fallen so many times on my face I have a permanent flat nose and a graveled complexion. Sigh.

Wow - how did I ever get on this topic! I guess I will hush on it. I'm rambling as thoughts run through my mind. LOL The vision that just passed through my mind was the scene from the Sixth Sense - where the kid says "I see dead people". Only I had seen a photo of the same scene with the comment, "I see dumb people". That was what I saw. Anyway.....

Maybe I need to see if I can complete a set of these minutes and get them off my list. None down, 3 to go this week thus far. Guess I oughta get busy.

With all this said - I encourage you stand tall and take responsibility. Get your education. Get that job. Find that hobby. Assert yourself. Learn something new. Teach a class. Read that book. Quit making excuses and start doing something! Dang! I hate it when I preach to the choir! Think I will bake cookies when I get off work. Finishing up the last tub of cookies I have. Hubby's men's group will eat the majority tonight. I need to get these out of my house. Maybe I will learn a new recipe. Naw, need to make some cranberry pumpkin nut bread and get in the freezer - I'm down to one loaf! But for now, I need to quit proscrastinating and get my minutes done. I'm outta here! Just for the record - I am NOT pointing fingers at anyone but me. If you feel guilty - then it's all about you!

Blessings!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

It's going to be a fun day here at work. We are having lunch catered in from Chompies - which means corned beef and cabbage and I think some kind of apple stuff - but oh it is all so good. They do this every year and I love it! Sometimes I get a little of the leftovers. Today we are also having a 'green dessert contest'. I created a dessert, but it is not necessarily green. It's called a St. Patty's Day 'trifle' - and I think it is good - but it isn't green. Well, the candies I put on top of it is green, and the flavoring mixed in the cake is Irish Creme, so hopefully it will win a prize. I love to win!

I don't look at this "holiday" as one to celebrate persay, but one to have fun with. I do have Irish ancestors (as I think a lot of people do) and love to honor them, but it is all fun to me. I certainly don't take this 'wearing of the green' seriously. Although I do wear green. I have two pins that I have worn for years. One says 'Pinch me and you are dead meat' and the other says 'Irish sorta'. I used to have a couple more, but I've given them to grandchildren over the years or to other people I have worked with. After today they go back into the jewelry box until next year. I'm also wearing my emerald ring and green prayer bracelet, so I'm covered, I think! It's all fun.

I wonder what God would say about this type of celebration. If you stop and think about it, are they celebrating the day or the man whom they call St. Patrick? I doubt if the 'green beer' that many people imbibe in is in celebration of anything but the opportunity to drink green beer. I have a friend who always takes this day off work so that he can drink green beer all day. Some of the Irish pubs set up tents outside their buildings and will have parties all afternoon and evening. It's kind of funny, in a way. I don't do the green beer, but I like the corned beef and cabbage. A little bit, anyway.

Last Saturday hubby when to a men's breakfast at church and they had green eggs and some other green stuff I think. He said it was really weird trying to eat green eggs. Now that's funny! Reminds me of Dr. Suess' book, Green Eggs and Ham.

Back at work today after a couple days not being here - well, it is kind of hard coming back. I really enjoyed being home, but all good things must come to an end. Gotta bring home the bacon, as they say. My boss is still off for another week, but she does check her messages and answers text messages if I need to contact her. I'm glad she has this week to relax after the build up last week and the wedding on Saturday.

Since it is time for me to get to work - I will leave you with this....


May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.
~Irish Blessing


Never iron a four-leaf clover, because you don't want to press your luck. ~Author Unknown

When Irish eyes are smiling, sure 'tis like a morn in spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter you can hear the angels sing,
When Irish hearts are happy all the world seems bright and gay,
And when Irish eyes are smiling, sure, they steal your heart away.
~Chauncey Olcott and George Graff, Jr. (lyrics), Ernest R. Ball (music)


A best friend is like a four leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have. ~Author Unknown

May luck be our companion
May friends stand by our side
May history remind us all
Of Ireland's faith and pride.
May God bless us with happiness
May love and faith abide.
~Irish Blessing

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
May good luck pursue you each morning and night.
~Irish Blessing


Blessings to you from our Father above....

Sunday afternoon....

As the day is starting to wind down, I can again here the birds chirping in the backyard. Of course, being in Phoenix in March, I have the back door open. It was a little warm earlier, but now it has cooled down where having the door open is nice.

The wedding yesterday was beautiful. The bride was exquisite in a beautiful strapless gown styled like a mermaid in that it fit tight against the body until the knees, then the skirt was poofed out and beautiful. Lots of pearls, sequins and I'm not sure what all, all over the gown. Absolutely gorgeous.

I believe I heard the groom gasp when he got his first look at her - and I watched as he kept struggling to keep his composure, swallowing hard several times, as she walked down the aisle on her father's arm toward him. She was beautiful.

With nine bridesmaids and groomsmen it was quite a scene up on the stage. It was windy, therefore it eliminated the unity candle in which each mother was going to light one, and the bride and groom light the one candle. We had to forgo it outside, however, the DJ was to have them complete that part INSIDE the castle (yes, she was married in a castle). I have a feeling the DJ was not told his part of that for it did not get completed.

We stayed at the reception until 11:30PM (the parents of the bride had asked us to stay) when the Rolls Royce limo pulled up and took the bride and groom off to their hotel. I think they are leaving for Hawaii on their honeymoon this week. We left within five minutes or so after that. We had been up since 6AM and I don't know about hubby, but I was exhausted.

My boss, the bride's mother, looked beautiful in her gown for the evening. She is beautiful - inside and out - anyway, but she was absolutely stunning all dressed up. And yes, I did tell her so. It was pretty special to me - at one point in the evening when I went to her table to speak with her, she hugged me and says "I love you!". Yep. Right out of the blue. Made me feel really loved and special. I adore this woman. She is the most positive and encouraging woman I have ever met. She always looks for the good in a situation.

I once asked her how she could do that when things were stacked against her. She told me that many years ago she made the decision she would be happy. She was not going to let life tear her down. She wasn't going to throw down others. She was going to bring joy where ever she went. And she has. My friend has the most respect of anyone in the office. I have never, in the 25 years I have known her, heard anyone speak an unkind word about her.

When asked at my first interview (and the second) where I am currently employed - 'what is your dream job?' - I immediately replied 'any job working for .... .........'. And that is the truth in the secular world. My real dream job is working as an pastor at a church, but, this is the next best. Anyway, I digress....

I talked with my friend's father for awhile last night. Thinking he would like to hear how valued and loved his daughter is by everyone at the office (I had met him a time or two before - and he remembered me at 85 plus years old!!). I shared with him and he just beamed and said 'she is just like her mother'. My friend's mother died years ago so I never met her, but my friend speaks of her often. Her daddy is so proud of her.

Anyway - the wedding was beautiful, the food at the reception was so good - sirloin tip roast, chicken something or other, mashed potatoes, fresh green beans - and of course wedding cake for dessert. Very good and if you left hungry, it was your fault. Lots of music. This is an Italian/Mexican mix so the music was a mixture. Before the wedding it was all Italian - before the ceremony, the mothers were walked in on Ave Maria, other composers were played as the wedding party walked in, and the bride. But for the reception? Lots of Mexican music in which I did not understand the words. But of course who was out there doing the dancing and having a good time? It wasn't me! Well, we did dance a couple, but overall, we visited with others at the wedding.

We "crashed" once we got to our room last night. After breakfast this morning, did our quiet time, just kind of relaxed a bit, showered, packed and was out the door on the way home about 11:30AM. Hubby has left now to go pick up our "furry child". Yes, Marley spent the night at the pet hotel. She was NOT happy when we took her and growled at the receptionist. Uh oh. They almost didn't take her. I think that if we had not left her there before without any problems, they might have refused her. They were concerned, as they should be. But she walked off with them with no problem.

I think part of it except for the time we pay for "doggie camp" in which they interact with other dogs in a room, or taken outside to do their business a couple times a day, she is kept in a crate - and probably smaller than the one we have here. Oh, by the way, I finally talked hubby in letting her OUT of the crate at night. Funny thing, she will go into her crate when we go to bed (we leave the door open). When we get up and are moving about, she will come down the hall and want in the back room where I am in my quiet time, to sit on the futon with me. So far it is working out well. She can stretch out in her crate, on her bed, or on the carpet or tile - wherever she wants to stretch out. And she has gotten so big - and looks to be still growing - that she needs the extra room.

I am making something for a St. Patrick's Day dessert contest tonight and I smell it baking. Going to try something different. I like to win prizes!

Hope that you have had a good Sunday and was able to relax and refresh yourself after a busy week last week. We have a new week ahead of us - make it a good one.

As I shared with my friend's father on what an awesome and loved person she is, what thought came through your mind? Did you wonder if anyone could ever say that about you? Would they be able to say you are a treasured friend? I have. When I'm gone, what will people say about me? I don't know.

Maybe we both need to think about that and make some changes in how we view life. Let's leave a legacy of love and good will.

Blessings!

I hear birds chirping!

No, not in my head - but from the outside! Yes, being in Phoenix we have beautiful weather today and I have the back door open. AND I'm on a vacation day - which is extra nice. No real reason for taking the day off, but worked at home yesterday so took the day as it is Friday. Mailed a package off to my sissy this morning and just finished paying some bills.

Have a couple errands I want to do yet and may head out that way as soon as I finish this. Just wanted to get a few things completed this morning before I don't do anything. Hey - I AM on vacation!

Hubby has gone to get his hair cut and it is quiet here at the moment. Marley is outside soaking up the sun. She definitely is on a schedule. In the morning when I'm home she will come in the back room to curl up on the futon next to me while I do my quiet time. Once I'm done, she goes outside and soaks up the sun for awhile before coming in to lay on the tile. Really lives a dogs life.

I'm grateful that my job allows me time off for play, or whatever I want to use it for. Some places make you wait until you work a year before you are allowed any days. I was allowed two weeks in my first year. This is my first day off as 'vacation' this year. If we could have afforded it, we would have had a mini-vacation of sorts this weekend. We will still a little bit. I'm officiating at my boss's daughter's wedding tomorrow afternoon. The rehearsal was yesterday. We wanted to stay at a hotel Thursday and Friday night, but we really didn't have the extra money to do that. My boss, as a thank you for doing the wedding (and it is about 45 miles away - all freeway), is paying for a hotel for us Saturday so that we can stay at the reception until the end. I feel that is very thoughtful of them to do that for us. It will be nice to stay up way too late with others at the wedding and enjoy staying at a hotel that night. We will have to come back the next day, of course. Marley is going to the Pet Hotel, which we think she enjoys somewhat. Yes, it does cost us, but it is a nice break not to worry about her being alone at home and being taken care of. We will pick her up Sunday late afternoon.

Well, hubby is back home, and I need to start on errands. Just wanted to take a few minutes to write a few lines. I've been fighting a headache this morning so not thinking too much, for sure!

But I do love listening to the birds chirp. Take some time out of your day to listen to the noise outside. God has placed the birds there for our enjoyment. As well as dogs barking.

Listen. You may hear something...

Blessings!

Working from Home....

I'm working from home today. It was just easier this way. Why? Because I need to be in Chandler at the very latest 4:45PM today. And, considering it is about an hour's drive from my house (yes, closer from my office but I'm not driving in that traffic to someplace I have never been!) I decided to just stay home and work the morning here. Rather, work until about noon or 1PM. Whichever. I have most of my work caught up so there isn't much to do today anyway.

All my minutes are completed but one - and until that manager gives me the agenda, I don't even know what their meeting was about. I have the tape, yes, but.. One thing I discovered when I started to do the minutes yesterday was that this manager does not know how to be assertive and be a leader in the meeting. I've been in meetings before with her and she just hems and haws around as she talks. This was HER meeting, for HER people, and she acted like she didn't know what she was doing. Therefore, I sent her an email yesterday and asked for the agenda so that I could at least follow where she was going in what she was saying. We have to have minutes of the meetings now and if this is what it is going to be, I will have to attend (yesterday she said she would just tape it for me and I didn't have to go) to get accurate notes. I haven't received them yet. It could be a very long morning, for I don't have much else to do.

Which is why I am on my blog at this time. Oh, I do have an employee meeting I can call in for at 9AM and may do that just to find out what is going on. It's for an hour though and I'm not sure I want to sit and listen for an hour... but I may. Definitely go potty before the meeting! Wish they would do video conferencing so that I could just watch it on my computer. Oh well. I'm home and that is good.

Monday is St. Patrick's Day and of course the "Fun Committee" is planning food. This committee, which I am used to it being for the employees and community, etc..... but this committee is basically only for the employees, which is good, but it is always about food! Valentine's Day was chocolate dipped strawberries and cookies. St. Patrick's Day we have from Chompies, no less, catered corned beef and cabbage, and my mind is blank as to what goes with it. Everything but dessert. We are having a green dessert contest with gift cards for prizes. And yes, I'm entering it! Last year for one of the dessert contests I won a gift card for third place. :-( I want to be FIRST! Not sure what I'm going to make yet, but am looking at a chocolate mint trifle. Will see. Don't know. I have the weekend to figure it out.

Today in my comments to employees with their reports, I wrote on time management. To schedule activities out a few weeks and put down those things that are important so that if something else comes up, you will know that you already have something in that timeslot and unless the importance overrules what you already have done, to just say no. Or reschedule.

Some things are non-negotiable. Like doctor visits. It is difficult to get in to see the doctor sometimes so when you schedule an appointment, you will do all you can to keep that appointment. Which reminds me, I need to schedule not only an eye doctor next month but also the dentist. I don't do my physical until July so although I can schedule it, I am not worried about getting in just yet. After all, I want these appointments on MY terms, not theirs. I dislike very much going to the doctor anyway!

So what are your plans for today? Mine are to sit at my computer and go through folders, perhaps try again to complete the minutes from the tape. After that - just getting ready for the rehearsal and heading to Chandler. It will be fun to visit with friends and others. We also get to go with them all for the rehearsal dinner. YEA. Mexican restaurant. Chips and Salsa. Some things just go together naturally. Chips and salsa. Just kind of flows off the tongue, doesn't it. :-)

And I guess I had best get started. Hope your day goes just as it is planned! Take some time for you.

Blessings!

It's going to be a ........................ day.....

I guess you can fill in the blank. Nothing bad has happened, and yet, this one person in our office loves to grate on my skin. Since my boss is on vacation for two weeks, this person had decided that - without asking - she can take over my boss's office. I say she has the 'short person syndrome' and you know how those people are! (Yes, I know I'm 'short' - but I'm taller than her! Shoot me if I ever act like her!) With my boss's office right next to me, I get to hear her loud voice throughout the day, when she hasn't shut the door so that she can "concentrate". I even have a note on the door that the room is reserved from 12-1:30PM today for a scheduled meeting (previously approved) and she is just ignoring it. She WILL be asked to leave so that the meeting can take place.

Other than that, it is a good day, I guess. Traffic wasn't too bad and I was able to get to work fairly quickly. I have one set of minutes yet to complete (finished one up yesterday). Nothing pressing at the moment and I like days like this - except I prefer being kept busy. Next week I have four meetings so I will be busy next week. I am working from home part of the day tomorrow cause we need to leave early to head to Chandler for a wedding rehearsal. I'm taking Friday as a vacation day cause I don't know what time we will get back home and I don't want to stress about needing to get home. Nothing really planned for Friday for me. There are things I need to do, of course, but nothing specifically planned.

Regardless of the grating voice next to me, I am determined to keep focused on my work and get things done today. Found a story to share with you....

Have you ever had a day like the small boy had in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst?

“I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there’s gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
“At breakfast Anthony found a Corvette Sting Ray car kit in his breakfast cereal box and Nick found a Junior Undercover Agent code ring in his breakfast cereal box, but in my breakfast cereal box all I found was breakfast cereal.
“I think I’ll move to Australia.
“In the car pool Mrs. Gibson let Becky have a seat by the window. Audrey and Elliot got seats by the window too. I said I was being scrunched, I said I was being smushed. I said, ‘If I don’t get a seat by the window I am going to be car-sick.’ No one even answered.
“I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
“At school Mrs. Dickens liked Paul’s picture of the sailboat better than my picture of the invisible castle.
“At singing time she said I sang too loud. At counting time she said I left out sixteen. Who needs sixteen? I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
“I could tell because Paul said I wasn’t his best friend anymore. He said that Philip Parker was his best friend, and that Albert Moyo was his next best friend and that I was only his third best friend.
“I hope you sit on a tack,’ I said to Paul. ‘I hope the next time you get a double-decker strawberry ice cream cone the ice cream part falls off the cone part and lands in Australia.’
“There were two cupcakes in Phillip Parker’s lunch bag and Albert got a Hershey bar with almonds and Paul’s mother gave him a piece of jelly roll that had little coconut sprinkles on the top. Guess whose mother forgot to put in dessert?
“It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
“That’s what it was because after school my mom took us all to the dentist and Dr. Fields found a cavity just in me. ‘Come back next week and I’ll fix it,’ said Dr. Fields. ‘Next week,’ I said, ‘I’m going to Australia.’
“On the way downstairs the elevator door closed on my foot and while we were waiting for my mom to go get the car, Anthony made me fall where it was muddy and when I started crying because of the mud, Nick said I was a crybaby and while I was punching Nick for saying crybaby my mom came back with the car and scolded me for being muddy and fighting.
“I am having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day,’ I told everybody. No one even answered.
“So then we went to the shoe store to buy some sneaker. Anthony chose white ones with blue stripes. Nick chose red ones with white stripes. I chose blue ones with red stripes, but then the shoe man said ‘We’re all sold out.’ They made me buy plain old white ones, but they can’t make me wear them.
“When we picked up my dad at this office he said I couldn’t play with his copying machine, but I forgot. He also said to watch out for the books on this desk, and I was careful as could be except for my elbow. He also said ‘don’t fool around with the phone,’ but I think I called Australia. My dad said please don’t pick him up anymore. It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
“There were lima beans for dinner and I hate limas. There was kissing on TV and I hate kissing.
“My bath was too hot, I got soap in my eyes, my marble went down the drain, and I had to wear my railroad pajamas. I hate my railroad pajamas.
“When I went to bed Nick took back the pillow he said I could keep and the Mickey Mouse night light burned out and I bit my tongue. The cat wants to sleep with Anthony, not with me.
“It has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. My mom says some days are like that. Even in Australia.” (Published by Atheneum Publishers, new York, 1976.)


Here are some rules to remember when you have one of those terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days and your attitude starts to plummet:

Rule 1: Maintain the right attitude when the “going gets tough”.
Rule 2: Realize that the “rough weather” will not last forever.
Rule 3: Try to make major decisions before the storm.
Rule 4: Keep in contact with the control tower.


As my mama always said…… “This too shall pass”. And that is what I'm counting on. No matter what is going on in your life right now, you are never alone in your walk. Trust in God to walk with you through it. This too shall surely pass.

My brother in law began chemo treatments yesterday - and from what I hear, has already started the throwing up. I remember my daughter going through that when she had the chemo. Will he be as determined as she to get through it and live? I don't know. Each person's journey is different. I believe he is determined to get through all the chemo, but I'm sure there will be times he will want to give up cause he will be so sick. Everyone is helpless when this is going on for there is nothing one can do to make it all better. Please keep him in your prayers.

If you feel you are having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day..... remember this story....and apply the rules.

Blessings!

Tuesday of a short week....

and I'm already tired! Was up way too late last night and up way too early this morning. I seem to usually average about 5 hours sleep a night during the week - 6-8 hours on weekends. However, in spite of being sleepy and tired, here I am at work. Running just a bit later than usual, although I'm not late. Left about 6:10AM this morning to head down the road..... traffic was backing up pretty bad by the time I reached McDowell Rd. Got around the I10 curve and just before the tunnel before I saw the culprit on the side of the road. 5 car pile up. Well, let's back up. First, my lane came to a complete halt and cars were pulling into the side lanes. As I got closer I found a car sitting in the lane with the flashers going. As I got in the other lane to go around it, I then saw the 5 cars with the police car at the side of the road. It could be a couple things. It was a six car pile up and the car left in the lane would not start so they could move it, yet they moved the five that could be driven off, or ...... it just stopped. Either way, the traffic slowdown delayed me about 15 minutes, I think. But, of course with leaving "early", I'm still here at work 'on time'. In fact, It's nearly 8Am and only one director is in the office yet. Of course a few are on vacation this week - spring break for some of the young families - and my boss has a wedding this weekend.

I think I mentioned in an earlier post how I try to encourage those I need to send reports to every morning by putting a quote, a story, or something positive on the email as I attach the report. Today it was this....

Author Harper Lee wrote, “People generally see what they look for and hear what they listen for.” If you have a positive attitude about people, believe the best of them, and act on your beliefs, then you can have an impact on their lives. But it all starts with the way you think of others. You can’t be a positive influencer if your thinking is like this:

When the other fellow takes a long time, he’s slow.
When I take a long time, I’m thorough.
When the other fellow doesn’t do it, he’s lazy.
When I don’t do it, I’m busy.
When the other fellow does something without being told, he’s overstepping his bounds.
When I do it, that’s initiative.
When the other fellow overlooks a rule of etiquette, he’s rude.
When I skip a few rules, I’m original.
When the other fellow pleases the boss, he’s an apple polisher.
When I please the boss, it’s cooperation.
When the other fellow gets ahead, he’s getting the breaks.
When I manage to get ahead, that’s just the reward for hard work.

Your attitude toward people is one of the most important choices you will ever make. If your thinking is positive, you can really make an impact on them.

Be a positive influencer today!

Nice. I filled up a lot of space there, which is what I was hoping to do, with something good and positive. My mind isn't thinking clearly just yet. Only one cup of coffee down this morning - working on a cup of green tea at the moment. Hubby has been coughing so I'm drink green tea to keep my immune system up. Can't get sick before Saturday (the wedding).

Since I am drawing a blank, and it is now 8AM, I suppose I need to close this off and get to work. Two sets of minutes to work on - and a meeting scheduled for tomorrow to plan for. One of the meetings for tomorrow was moved to the following Wednesday so that gives me a break this week - but gives me 4 meetings for next week. I'm getting pretty good at typing minutes, I think. :-)

Hope you have a great day - I'm praying for you - for safety while you drive, for healing where it is needed, for favor in your jobs, for blessings that can only come from God.

Blessings!

Wild Weekend and a Short Busy Week Ahead!

The weekend went by way too fast - as I'm sure that it did for you as well. I got a fun surprise from my middle child this weekend - he bought me a t-shirt I had seen on facebook and had commented it would be fun to have. He truly surprised me by buying it for me! Of course I had to get my photo taken and put it on facebook. And of course he told me to put it was from my 'favorite' child.

My children know I don't have favorites. They are ALL my favorite. :-)

The evening ended up with my son and his family taking us out to dinner. It was a fun evening to spend with the grandchildren and I loved our youngest grandson cuddling up to me and giving me lots of kisses. He knows how to make grandma smile.

Sunday morning brought a whole new set of happenings.

Saturday night I decided that I would do what I tell everyone else to do. What is that? Well, hubby has been coughing some, so I cut up onions and put beside his bed. They are supposed to pull the germs out as he coughs / breathes at night. I guess you need to face that way though for it to work. Anyway, another thing to do is slice an onion, tape it to the bottom of your feet, and wear socks over them. The onion is to pull toxins out of your body. Well, to keep from getting sick (especially this week as I have big plans this coming weekend), I decided to do just that. I cut the onion slice and taped to the bottom of my feet. Then I put socks on.

I wake up about 6:00AM and head to the bathroom. As I get in the bathroom, my socks are really squishy. My first thought is 'ick - the onions have turned to mush!'. It wasn't the onions. All of a sudden I noticed the sound of water running. And I notice standing water on my bathroom floor (which soaked through the socks). My first thought was the hose had been running in the pool all night and had overflowed. I pull off the icky socks and start running to shut the alarm off and run out the back door to turn off the hose - but when I opened the door, the pool wasn't overflowing. Then I thought a pipe had burst. I wake up hubby and tell him I think a pipe has burst. My bathroom floor has at least an inch of standing water, the carpet in the bedroom is soaked all around the bathroom door. I'm trying to see what else is going on and stop in his bathroom. The water was running from the faucet and of course the drain was closed.

Yep. Hubby had gotten up in the middle of the night and had washed his hands and without turning on the light, thought he had turned the faucet off all the way. But he hadn't. It was flowing just enough to fill up the sink, onto his floor, and then the water rolls under the wall and into my bathroom. Yeah, it appears my bathroom slants down from his - which is a good thing as the water then runs to one side of the house and not throughout the house.

We start trying to soak everything up - Hubby grabs a couple soaked towels and runs down the hallway with them to the laundry room. I grab the soaked rugs and some other towels I tried to soak up the water with - and head down the hall - I get to the laundry room......

and my feet slip out from under me and down I go! Did you know that even on unwaxed tile - they are extremely slipperly when wet? In the tiny space of our laundry room, I went down hard on my back. Praise God no real injuries - I have a black and blue elbow and a big bruise on my arm, my back is sore as if I have been working out (NOT) and I noticed a knot on the side of my head last night that is tender. But other than that - I'm good. I like to think that God's angels jumped in to action as I was going down and caught me!

So that is my excuse for doing nothing this weekend. Yep, another weekend of nothing. I did get to read some books I have been wanted to get into. I meant to go visit our neighbor but by 8PM I'm wanting to go to bed. I think we went to bed about 8:30. Yes, I wake up about 12:25 or so every time we go to bed that early, but I usually can manage to get back to sleep within an hour if my mind starts working at that hour. If I still can't sleep, I get up for an hour or so and read in the back room until I get sleepy again, then go back to bed and I can go back to sleep. Hubby informed me he work up in the early hours and tossed and turned all night cause he couldn't shut his mind off. Rather than thinking, I get up and use that time beneficially. Maybe he will remember to do that so he can go back to sleep. :-)

My boss is on vacation this week and next week, but I still have meetings that I need to attend and take minutes at. This week I have three meetings - but I am working from home on Thursday for part of the day then we need to head to Mesa for a wedding rehearsal. I'm taking Friday off as a vacation day, so that makes this a short week as far as work. I have some things I need to get done on Friday - I'm actually going to sign up for Medicare! I can't believe I am going to be old enough this year! AND, they only have a short timeframe that I can sign up for Medicare A. Better to do it now. I don't need Medicare B until I really retire - which will probably be never. But I do need to get this part done.

And now it is time to get to work - I have a meeting in two hours I need to finish preparing for. Hope you have a great day! Be a positive influence in someone's life today. Speak affirmative words to them and make them feel valued. It can make all the difference in the world how they respond to you.

Blessings!

Yea!! It's FRIDAY!!

It has been a busy and productive week - but I am still glad it is over. Well, nearly. It's almost 8AM and my boss is already in. 4:30PM will not be here soon enough. Although I will get breakfast today. :-) My boss said so. She has to go to a meeting that will have breakfast so she told me yesterday to wait for breakfast. I'm not in this meeting, but I will go over and help myself. One of the benefits of being an administrative assistant. Doesn't help the waistline, but I get to sample a variety of things. Breakfast and lunch! Yesterday I attended a meeting and got a surprise lunch - BBQ pork, BBQ brisket, green beans, mashed potatoes, cornbread, and bread pudding with carmel sauce. Nice.

This morning on my way in to work I thought about how lazy I have become. Not here at work, I assure you. But at home. Shortly after getting married my hubby determined I wasn't to do housework. When the children lived at home, he made them do it - to his specifications. We fought about it in the beginning of our marriage for there are times I do enjoy digging into something and cleaning it. But over time I quit fighting and just said 'whatever'. Once the children left home, he decided to take it over himself. He would tell me early Saturday morning he was going to clean that day so for me to make plans to leave. So I'd go shopping for 4-5 hours and when I returned the entire house was sparkling clean. He did an awesome job.

Over the years I think hubby has regretted that decision. My house shows it. We used to be able to eat off the floors - but not any more! My house looks more 'lived in' than ever before. It's more cluttered, and I agree, most of it is my fault. My clutter. I really need to sit down and go through things and get rid of things. I need to clean out my closets, drawers, boxes. I need to let go of things (which I do, periodically, just not often enough).

I've been asking myself "when" can I get these things done. I work all day, and when I come home I really don't want to work on things - and yet, I beat myself up because I sit in a chair all evening with hubby either watching TV, reading, sewing, or playing games. I literally waste the evening. And I beat myself up. I feel guilty. I complain to myself about the house, and yet, I don't get up to do anything about it.

That needs to change. I was pondering this morning on how I can "attack" an area and work through it. I keep thinking I can start with a room and work in it - but I think I need to attack an 'area' versus a room. For example, perhaps just the closets. I have two. And it wouldn't hurt to clean out the hall closet. There are probably several things we could donate somewhere.

And, I want to can some more jam. I did peach relish jam last week - which I really think would probably be better if heated up and used as syrup as it is so sweet. Last Sunday I made my first batch of orange marmalade. It is so good - and now I want to go get more oranges! Too bad our tree has been depleted. I would love to get some of the grandchildren over to learn how to can some jam. I have a cherry strawberry jam that I enjoy making too. And, I would get to spend time with the grandchildren - which is the best part! I'm just going to have to make some plans.

mmmmm. My boss just told me to come to her meeting. My plate filled up too fast - I probably missed out on some good bacon or sausage wraps! Didn't see what else they had. I ended up with biscuits and gravy (very good gravy!), pancakes, and bacon. and orange juice. mmmmmm think I will miss lunch today - won't have any room left. Actually, I just ate the 1/2 biscuit and gravy and I'm already full. I just don't eat that much anymore (although my body shape won't show that).

All my ramblings and I can easily compare it to my life. Sitting around and being lazy does not bring honor to God. He didn't create us to be lazy. He created us first of all for His glory, that we would worship God who created us. I need to quit saying 'I can't because....' and believe I can. I need to quit making excuses and 'just do it'. I need to change.

What about you? Have you found that as you have gotten older that the little things you used to stress about (like clean floors) aren't quite as important? Are you finding you sitting on your behind more often than you are being productive? I'm challenging myself to 'get up and move' and I challenge you too! Start today. You will find you not only feel better, but you are more fun to be around! On the plus side - laundry will be done and ironed (what's that? I usually outgrow my ironing before it gets done!), bathrooms clean, floors scrubbed, closets cleaned out....

I have heard of one woman who has her house so arranged that everything is in place. Especially in her kitchen. Even her plastic containers are neatly stacked, with all the lids in a drawer, placed together and easily accessible and found. Mine fall out of the cabinet and I often ask myself how can two people make the plastic things fall out when the door is open!

Quit being lazy - join me and let's just move!

Blessings!

Ever have one of those days when you just want to go

GGGRRRRRRRRR at your computer? Geez! What is going on?! It is just d - r - a - g - g - i - n - g !! Geez! How in the world am I going to impart great wisdom for today if my computer will just not cooperate? Oh - I'm up! I mean, the computer is up! I guess that means I can write something!

I am finding that because I am a person who likes to please people (a people pleaser?) I use my own time to do the little extra things that make people happy. As I mentioned yesterday, I come in to work, and the first thing I do (usually after I wash the pots, make the coffee, fill three water containers, etc) is send out two reports. I have been adding a little positive note to each report (yes, the same one - copy and paste) which also takes time to decide what to put on it. That's not counting the time to go into one area, open it, find the report, save it to file, create an email, attach the file, etc. I can easily spend 20 or so minutes getting the two reports out.

But the rewards are worth it. Oh, not for getting the water, coffee, etc for others, but for finding something to say (motivates me) and sending it out with the reports. I sometimes (not always) get comments back how that comment has inspired them. Or encouraged them. That is my reward. I made a difference.

Yesterday I was able to be part of a two hour Employee Engagement Focus Group. It was open to the entire employee list in the company. Granted, there are only about 200 employees, and probably 175 are non-management, but out of that, only 8 people showed up, including me. Really! Supervisors will meet at another time, as will managers, directors, and vice presidents - each group separately. It was real interesting and I voiced my opinion a few times. Because I have been in the business world for so many years, I was not expecting some of the comments being reported of how people are treated (in other departments - although in my previous department there is harrassment, which I do address periodically).

Why can't people treat people with respect? I mean, don't you want people to treat you with respect, listen to what you say (whether or not they agree doesn't matter, they listen), and if it is business related, actually look at how that could work. You want people to treat you with respect, so I will come back to you and ask you if you are treating other people with respect.

Like the guy (or gal) who cuts you off in traffic. Or the 18 wheeler truck that wants to get in front of you in your lane. Or the person in front of you in the grocery line who is counting out their change to pay their grocery bill. Or your superior at work who you think doesn't know anything but had to know something because they are, after all, your superior.

Some days you just want to go gggrrrrrrr at the entire day cause it just doesn't seem to be what you want it to be. You can change that.

Instead of focusing on all the negative things - turn it around and look for the positive things. You are breathing, right? That is positive. You have a place to sleep and food to eat. Another positive. You have someone to love and someone to love you. Another positive. You have something to keep you busy - whether it be children, grandchildren, a job, church, whatever. You can move. Positive.

Negative thinking blows everything out of proportion. You can probably remember some instances of how big that issue was when in reality it wasn't that big at all. It was your negative thinking.

John Maxwell says "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care". Take some time today and say something positive to someone. Even if it is only "have a nice day". It can change everything for them that day.

"Have a nice day" - Think Positive!

Blessings!

Positive Attitudes

Each morning I try to write something encouraging and positive to people I need to send reports to. I have two separate reports that need to go out - one mainly to long term care case managers, and the other is to other nurses and medical case managers. This morning as I prayed about something to write, I thought about attitudes. Are you aware that YOUR attitude sets not only YOUR day, but the day of those around you?

Years ago when I was working for Peachtree Fabrics Inc in Indianapolis (yes, that was a L-O-N-G time ago!!) an Executive Vice President we had gave me very wise advise. Jim Nash came up to me and shared that my attitude when I come in each morning to work, sets it for everyone around me. What did he mean? If I came to work with a positive, happy, attitude, those around me would be more positive and happy. If I came in to work grumbling about how I anticipated my day to be - whether I be overloaded with work or had a fight with hubby which could have set me off or the children had taken their time that morning getting ready - how I took what came against me I carried into the work door with me that morning.

Reminds me of the story (which I am pulling from memory) of the man who came home every night and stopped to touch the leaves on a tree in the front yard before he walked in the door. He would walk wearily to the tree, run his fingers through the leaves, and straighten up, put a smile on his face, and happily walk into the front door of his home to greet his family. His explanation? The family didn't deserve his bad day. He chose to show them a happy side, a loving side, of himself to those he loved so much. It didn't remove his bad day, but it helped him to refocus to have it end well. In the morning he could face what needed to be done, but for the ending of that day, his mind was on his family.

Many of us - me included in that many - need to check our attitudes at times. True, things do not always go perfect. Don't even go like we expect - or want - them to. Sickness comes upon us via disease or headaches or backaches or just life aches. It wears us down and causes us to be easily annoyed, irritated, frustrated. Weary. Sad. Just down right grumpy.

Are you willing to change? And watch those around you change their attitudes as well?

This is what I sent out to my two groups this morning:

Do you feel the world is treating you well? If your attitude toward the world is excellent, you will receive excellent results. If you feel so-so about the world, your response from that world will be average. Feel badly about your world, and you will seem to have only negative feedback from life.
~~ John Maxwell

Attitude application: Which of the following most closely reveals your attitude toward life today:

1. “Make the World Go Away”
2. “Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head”
3. “I Did It My Way”
4. “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning”

Your attitude determines your relationship with other people – those you interact with. How are YOU doing today? Be a positive influence today. 


The choice is yours. How's your attitude?

Blessings!

Monday morning.....

It's Monday morning and I'm already pondering all I need to accomplish this week. It won't be a whole lot as I have only one meeting on Thursday this week. I will be needing to do preparation for three meetings next week. But for this week, I only have one and am down to only one set of minutes left to type from last week, so am doing good, I think. My boss is here this week, this is gone for two weeks - when all my meetings hit. She has been in charge of a couple of them, but has already passed it on to someone else to cover. Come to think of it, I work from home again on 3/13, and then am taking a PTO day on the 14th. Got things to get done that day.

The weekend was good. I made up about 8 jars of peach relish jam (which of course didn't gel.... I messed up my recipe.... but it is still good) and 7 jars of orange marmalade. First time I have made marmalade and a friend who has made them, helped me so that I knew how to do it. Lot of work - takes about 3 hours just for 7 jars and they are small jars at that! But it was fun making them and I did enjoy it. AND they DID gel and they are good!. Of course the majority of things I make I usually end up giving away anyway. Brought a jar of each in for my boss to have. She has lots of relatives coming in this next week for her daughter's wedding.

We had our youngest grandchild's birthday party to attend on Saturday and that was great fun. Was good to chat with my son some, and visit with the others. Pizza was good too. I DO like Peter Piper Pizza.... as well as some others. :-) Got my hair cut and colored too so it was a busy weekend. And a fun one. We even had rain over the weekend -first time this year!

In my quiet time yesterday I was thinking about how many days from Ash Wednesday until Easter. Ash Wednesday is this week. There are 47 days. Ok, some days I'm a little on the slow side. Usually we fast 50 days before Easter, but I was thinking it was from Ash Wednesday. At church we received a fasting booklet, giving suggestions on what to fast. It isn't mandatory, of course, but a choice to do it if we want. My problem is I can't decide what to do. Although we didn't start it yesterday, we can start it today. I'm just not sure what to do. So I've been praying about it. I would really like to do the TRUE Daniel Fast - no meats, sweets, etc - only fruit and vegetables, water, etc. That is a really tough fast - we have done it before but only for 21 days. Usually when we do the "Daniel Fast" we still have our coffee (just can't get hubby to give up coffee)and give up breads, sweets.... can't think what else. See, I don't have clear direction as to what I am to do this time. I'm thinking a modified Daniel fast... hubby has to have his meat too.... but I don't mind doing without it and having protein shakes to make up my protein. I need to figure out today what I'm going to do. We DON'T have to do the same thing - although hubby thinks we should and it's easier - but we can't always agree on what to give up. I'm thinking TV would be good since we didn't watch TV last night. That could be something - I'd love the TV not being on for 50 days. :-) At least in the evening. Maybe we could get some reading done.

Well, my boss has come in and after chatting with her for a few minutes, it is now time to get to work. I will leave you with this....

An old man walked up a shore littered with thousands of starfish, beached and dying after a storm. A young man was picking them up and flinging them back into the ocean. “Why do you bother?” the old man scoffed. “You’re not saving enough to make a difference.” The young man picked up another starfish and sent it spinning back to the water. “Made a difference to that one,” he said.

Make a difference in someone's life today.

Blessings!