RSS

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Today Will Never Come Again

I found this picture here, and love what it says.  Today Will Never Come Again.  What are you going to make of today?  What am I going to make of today? 

One of my favorite songs is by Johnny Reid, "Today I'm Going to Try to Change The World".  I love how he talks about changing the world one day at a time, by the little things that we do.  We can be a blessing in someone's life.  How often do we walk right past someone and never even acknowledge that they are there.  How about today I walk past people and always try to make eye contact and smile.  Be a blessing in someone's life today. 

Everyone needs a friend.  I know this because I have watched people who really have no one around to call their friend, and life is pretty lonely and can get desperate.  How about today, I become someone's friend.  How about I look around me at every body and see who looks like they need a friend, and introduce myself.  I have found that some of my dearest friends are the least likely people to step out of their comfort zone and talk to me.  But once we start talking, the friendship just clicks and it becomes eternal.  Be a friend.

Encourage someone today.  How hard is it to say "Good Job", or "You can do it"?  Little words of encouragement can go a long way to whether someone is successful.  I work with little children in a day care, and little words of encouragement are so precious to them.  Often times I think they just get knocked down at home and there isn't anyone who encourages them to be better.  Big people need encouragement too.  It helps us want to go on.  It helps us believe in ourselves, that we can do better.

Take time to care.  We all need to feel that someone cares about us.  I am blessed with a large family that all care about each other.  I know that not everyone has this same blessing.  Many people go throughout an entire day and never even know that someone cares about them.  It is really sad.  It leads to depression and other physical illnesses.  It isn't hard to show someone we care.  A simple hello, a shake of the hand, a recognition of any sort will show them that you care.  Listening to someone is a great way to show that you care.  People don't want advice most of the time, they just want someone who will listen.  Take time to care today, care about you and the people around you.

Let your words heal and not wound.  Oh how much damage the unkind word can do!  We have all experienced unkind words from someone and we know how much they hurt, yet we still think it is okay to do it to others.  I don't understand that.  Why would we purposely hurt someone else by saying unkind words to them.  I must admit that I have a few select people that I would rather not be around, but even these people do not deserve thoughtless, mean words from me.  I just simply choose not to talk to them.  Most of these people have offered unkind words to me at some point, and I have found that it is best to just remove them from my circles, rather than be mean back to them.  We always have a choice on what we say or do.  Think before you speak, and let your words heal and not wound.

These are simple things to do, but they will make a huge difference in your life and the life of those around you.  Be a better person today, and each day to follow, and the world will be a better place because of you.  You will change it one day at a time.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Less and More

I look at the way we all live our lives and feel like there are a few things that we should all be able to live with less of.  We live in a world of extremes.  There are very few things any more that are gray areas.  It seems to me that everything is pretty black or white.

I think we could all live with a little less heartache and a little more joy.  There is heartache in abundance in the world.  Perhaps if we take the time to refocus our thoughts, we might enjoy a
Trouble or joy?  Joy! Fun! Memory!
little more joy in our lives.  The heartache may be there, but we can find joy in the little things of life, if we really try.  The joys are there. They are all around us.  We just need to train ourselves to focus on them instead of the heartache.  We need to make sure that we are part of the joy giving process, not the heartache process.
We would do well to live with a little less bitterness and a little more forgiveness.  I know this one all to well.  I have friends and family who can not seem to let go of the bitterness inside of them, which leaves no room for forgiveness.  Forgiveness is sweet to the soul.  It is a cleansing process.  Whereas, bitterness seems to grow and fester and get worse, but only for the one who is holding it so close.  Please let it go and forgive those of us who are not perfect.  Life is too short to allow those bitter feelings to destroy you.

We could all live with a little less judgement and a little more confidence, and acceptance. It is so very easy to judge someone.  In fact sometimes it is a game I play, to sit and watch people and try to figure out what is going on in their lives.  Of course, I will never truly understand and that is okay.  But judging someone to the point of having it affect their life or yours, is not okay.  Often people who are the harshest judges, live with a lack of confidence themselves, so judging makes them feel like they are in control.  How about instead of judging someone, we take time to build our own confidence.  There is really only one judge, and it is not you.  Take your eyes off of everyone else's problems and try to be the best person that you can be, and then you will become great.  Keep in mind that not one of us are perfect.  We all have our own set of challenges, that are unique to us.

How about a little less selfishness and a little more service.  I have found that forgetting yourself and your problems and turning to the service of others in their needs, will create a feeling of happiness inside you that is not comparable to anything else.  I have made some of the dearest friends, through the service that I have done.  I really do love to serve other people.  It is not okay
to be selfish and think that the world revolves around us.  Guess what?  It doesn't!  Selfishness won't bring you happiness.  It won't bring you friends.  It won't bring you anything except misery.  Serve others, I dare you to try it.  Put it to the test and see for yourself.

We can definitely live with a little less waste and a little more care.  Everywhere I go, I hear people say that we live in a world of waste, a throw away society.  And you know what?  They are right.  It really is sad to see how much stuff is wasted. The amount of food that gets wasted in one household is often enough to feed another family, yet we just throw it away.  Yet our world is regulated so much that you cannot give things to the needy if they are not brand new or fresh, and so we throw things away again.  What are we becoming? 
We are a disposable society.  Toss it out and get new!  That isn't okay.  We really need to take more time to care for "stuff", and the world we live in.  It isn't hard.  It just takes a bit of rethinking.  How could I or someone else use this, instead of throwing it away?

There are things that we can all live with a little less of.  I know in my life that I definitely have things that I need to let go of, and things that I can change, to make me a better person.  I know what these are for me.  What are they for you?  How can you live with a little less and a little more?



Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Memories

Memories can be some pretty powerful things.  Today my Grandma passed away, and I find my thoughts are kind of all over the place remembering things that we did together, and the kind of lady that she was.

I love making good memories.  There are so many stress and unhappy things that happen in life, that we desperately need to compensate by making lots of good memories.  I am always telling my kids to make good memories.  Those are the times and things that we will remember.  We will remember something, so why not make it the good ones.

Love you Grandma
I think back to my childhood, and I remember the good times with cousins and friends.  I remember the fun we had at the special times of the year.  I remember having to bundle up before bed and walk out to the outhouse because the plumbing was frozen. I remember sitting on a red ant hill and being covered in ants and they were biting me.  I remember riding my horse all the time.  I remember being sprayed by a skunk - that wasn't a good memory.  I remember having the mumps - that wasn't fun either.  There are so many memories that I have, and most of them are great ones.

Make great memories that you will remember, your kids and grandkids will remember.  Really, when we leave this earth, like my grandma just did, the only thing we can take with us are the memories we make, while we are here.  Whether they are good or bad, they will always stick with us, so I choose to make them good from here on out.  Unfortunately we can't always choose them.  Life still throws us things that we don't expect and sometimes they aren't happy memories.  That is okay.  Remember to compensate for the bad ones and make more good ones.

My Grandma was a lady to remember.  She exemplified the word lady.  I sure will miss her, but I know she has gone to a better place, and she is with Grandad and her mom again.  She told me that she missed her mom and looked forward to being with her again someday. Now she has that. She is happy and pain free.

Life is great.  Let's all make great memories for many more years to come.  At least until we can outlive grandma.


Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Life is Too Short

Have you ever felt like life is just too short?  I feel like this sometimes, and it seems to be more and more lately.  The other day I felt this keenly when I realized that in just over twenty years, I will be seventy, and then the next thought of how it is now the generation of my parents that are the next to move on from this life.  I don't look forward to that part of it at all. It was kind of an awakening to me, that time is really precious and we just don't have much time to spare, or waste.  What will I do with the time that I have?  Whatever that time allotment is for me.

I have a dear friend who just lost a son a couple of days ago, and this also hit me hard.  I have children this same age, well actually they are grown ups, as was her son.  It is something that I pray I will never have to live through.  Nobody should have to outlive their children.  Yet it happens all of the time.  Perhaps it has even happened to you.

Maybe it is something else, that has happened to you, that has helped you to realize just how short life is.  I am sure that we all have our awakenings, and if you haven't had yours yet, just wait, you will.  I don't believe that any of us are exempt, unfortunately.  Yours may not be the loss of someone, but whatever it is, when it comes, you will know it.  Life is just too short. 

How do we get through those moments?  I really, honestly don't know, other than to tell you that we all do.  We push through.  We do, don't we?  We hurt, we even sometimes break, and then we shake it off and we get tough, and we go on.  It isn't easy, but what choice do we have? 

I think that the thing that gets me through times like this, is for the most part, my family.  I take my refuge in their love and their support.  I also have my faith, which helps me find answers and comfort where others can't.  And I love my quiet time, to ponder, reflect, and look to the future.  I have learned to take pleasure in any and all of the small moments that bring smiles to my face. These moments often include my family.  They are treasures.  I wish that we could all realize just how short life is, before it is too late for us to find that joy, that treasure in the small things.

Life is short!  Don't let it pass by without hugging, smiling, kissing and making those memories.  Always make those memories happy ones, because sometimes, they are the last ones we make.  Always tell that someone, that you love them, even if you have a hard time saying those words.  My parents are of that
generation where their parents never told them that they loved them, and so they have a really hard time telling their children that they love them.  Before I met my husband, I too had a really hard time saying those words because I had never heard them very often, if at all.  I promise you, that the more you say it to someone, the easier it will get to say it to everyone.  I tell my dad, every time we say good-bye that I love him, and I am sure that one of these times, he will actually say it back to me.  I know they are just words, but they are the most important words that you can say, because you never know when they will be the last words you say to someone.

We don't have time to waste fighting and arguing.  We don't have time for ignoring.  We don't have time for being angry. We don't have time to procrastinate.  Tell them every day that you love them, and give them hugs. 

My heart goes out to my friend right now.  I hurt for you and love you. 


Saturday, February 01, 2014

The Beauty of Home

I wrote a blog earlier today about frugal home decor,  and I always think about how I really would like to have one of those picturesque type homes, that everything is pretty, neat, clean, and coordinated in color and theme.  You know one that maybe looks something like this one here. 

Or maybe one that looks more like this log cabin, because I like the
style a little bit better.  They are both beautiful, but  I like the rustic log cabin style home.  They  both just have such a nice feel to them.  But then I think of my home, and nothing beats the beauty of my own home. 

It isn't pretty like either of these two pictures, and on most days, it kind of looks like chaos rules.  His name is Xander and he is two.  He is a busy boy and lives at my home.  There isn't a lot of space for things, and having two households in one, makes for a bit of clutter.  I don't have all of the matching furniture and accessories.  It is a work in progress, my home.  We have been doing renovations for several years now, and maybe someday we will actually finish them, and then again maybe we won't.

But you know what I do have that many other homes don't have?  A beauty that can't be bought.  I have a home that has an open door policy for friends and family.  And if you have been there more than twice, you fall into that category.  My kids love to bring their friends home.  We love to play.  We love to laugh.  We love to eat together.  I heard someone much smarter than I speak many years ago, and he said that if you have teenagers, you should always open your doors and refrigerators to them and their friends.  It is better that they feel loved and welcomed at your home than you not know where they are spending their time.  My husband and I decided then and there that we would adopt this policy and it has always brought us much joy.  I remember many times coming home to find the friends in the house - sometimes even cooking food - and my kids not home yet.  That is the true beauty of a home - a place where people feel welcomed, a place where everyone is equal and loved no matter who they are.  I have this beauty in my home and I wouldn't trade it for the most beautiful home in the world.  To me it is priceless.