Throw back to Jaws 1979 and a little encouragment

Shark week is next week and I saw a picture they were using for advertising. It reminded me of being in Universal Studios in 1979. Jaws was the big deal at the time and we went on the tour to see Jaws. We went with Troy's family. It was the Wheelwright's and the Thompson's.  We were sitting in the Universal Studios tour bus going through the park, first we went through the bridge and the sides fell down, and that was a big deal, and then we headed toward the water to see Jaws. We went through the middle of the water and it somehow parted for us to drive through and then here comes Jaws. He was heading right toward us. I stood up and took this awesome picture. The funny part about it was Troy was on the other side of the tour bus and he stood up to take a picture too. He took a picture of the back of my head. He was so mad at me. I felt bad but I printed a copy of this awesome picture and gave it to him. Another funny part of this story is that this picture is his copy. He still has it after all of these years. I'm sure if they still had a shark in Universal Studios it would be way better than this one, but in 1979 this was a big deal. Graphics have come a long way, right?

 

This van was supposed to be really lightweight and I was trying to lift it up but I couldn't. Troy came over to help me, but he just barely touched it and it lifted. You can tell by the look on his face that he thinks I am so annoying. 

I love the fact that I have known Troy my whole life. He has always been the person I have had a crush on. I love how hard he works for our family. He is always giving to everyone. What a great example of being selfless, and he always making sacrifices so we can have a great life. 

There are times in our lives when we feel strong and everything is on track  but there are times when we feel vulnerable and weak because life throws a curve ball at you. We need to look out for each other. Your example may be a great strength to someone whom you may not even be aware of. He or she may be experiencing a difficult challenge, and your friendship and prayers may make all of the difference. I hope you know that you are blessed and that love is something that can always get you through hard times. Always remember that you cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. Reach out to others! #preach

 

#HumbleandKind

What if everything you said came back to you? Something amazing that you just said about the person standing next to you. Give it a try. You want more friends? Watch what you say. When you are saying kind, uplifting and inspiring things, it will come back to you. I have been trying to make this a year of women empowering women. Saying kind things and using my words to uplift others. Interestingly enough, it has come back to me. I caught the words I was using and good has been coming from it. 

I love the new song by Tim McGraw titled Humble and Kind. In an interview he stated that he wanted to remind his daughters about being humble and kind. There's so much wisdom in this song. Here are just a few of the suggestions: 

Visit Grandpa every chance you get, Hold the door, say please, say thank you, don't steal, don't cheat, don't lie, Don't hold a grudge and here's why bitterness keeps you from flyin. When you get where you are going don't forget to turn back around and help the next person one in line. Always stay humble and kind.

Some days are tough. You might not feel like being nice, but I promise that as you go through your day and really truly try to make others feel important, you will be blessed. Prayers are often answered through another person. Stay humble, stay kind, and make a difference. 

Birthday gratitude

Today I turn 46. I am lucky to have a birthday at the first of the year because it is a time of new beginnings and a fresh start. For my birthday last year I did 45 random acts of kindness for my birthday. I started doing this because birthdays were not my favorite thing. I didn't like the extra attention and it was January and it seemed like we were all overwhelmed with Christmas just getting over. I wanted to do start something that would make my birthday meaningful. I wanted to start a new tradition to do something where I was serving others on my birthday. This year I came up with the idea to write 46 letters to thank some of my family and friends. My heart is so full of love and I wanted to let everyone know how much I cared about them. I started writing the letters a few weeks ago. I would see someone that I had written a letter to and it made me so excited to mail them in time for my birthday. I have had such awesome feelings and memories come to my mind and it has made me so happy. I have had fun reminiscing and thinking about my friends and family. I have had so many fun adventures and so many people have helped me. I try to tell others how I love them and how much they mean to me, but this was different and planned. I am so blessed and lucky to be surrounded by amazing people. So many that have helped me with my kids, and just helped me to be a better person.

This year is going to be great! I will continue to write letters and tell others how much I love them. I hope to inspire others to build each other up. Be happy for one another. Look for the good in others. I am excited for this journey and excited to share it with all of you! 

 

Holiday to do list

My friend told me about an obituary where the deceased person didn't want flowers, they just wanted everyone to do a random act of kindness. I love this idea. During this holiday season I can't think of a single present I would rather have, than for everyone to do a random act of kindness. I get so overwhelmed with gifts. I love this Holiday to do list. 

Be Present- Put your phone down, and just listen to each other 
Wrap someone in a hug- It will make their day
Send Peace- Be a peacemaker in your own homes
Donate food- better yet, go and serve at St. Anne's
Make Love- not war ;)
Be the light- This one is my favorite! Be the light in someone's journey

Christmas is not about buying and spending and rushing around to get the perfect present. It seems like when you buy someone a present, it doesn't usually make you feel wonderful. You worry that you did too much, or too little.If you are like me, you walk away wondering if you should have done more. I would love it this Christmas if I received notes of things that were done as random acts of kindness. If you want to do something for me, reach out to others and make a difference.  Let's all remember the reason for the season, and be more Christlike. 

Choose Happy

This picture says so much. I am surrounded by the grumpy passenger type of personality every day. Some days it is difficult to get out of bed and be motivated, but we still have a choice. You may wake up and be lonely, or sad, or maybe really feeling like you need to have a pity party, but you can choose happy. 

One of the best ways to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer someone else up. Reach out to a friend. Do a random act of kindness. Simply smile.....

One day at work, I was really grumpy. The attitude I picked was not working for me, so I choose a different one. I was bouncing back and forth in my mind between being grumpy and happy. I decided to sit at my desk and smile. I am sure to some I seemed crazy, but it worked. Slowly my day was getting better, just because I chose to smile. When I talk to someone on the phone, I smile. I make sure I choose to be nice, and that my voice let's them know I choose happy.

Remember you are precious. Yes you! You are more valuable than rubies. You make a difference. Did you know that all the happiness you will ever find lies within you? Begin today! Take responsibility for your own happiness. The choice is yours. Choose Happiness

Welcome to Holland

This past week my daughter's friend had a baby, and they found the baby has Down's Syndrome. We have all been lucky enough to have an adorable young lady with Down's in our neighborhood and so this isn't something that is new. Kiersten found this awesome story by Emily Perl Kinglsey, she shared it with the new parents. I was so touched by this story that I thought I would share it. 

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability-to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel, it's like this.
 When your're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip to Italy. you buy a bunch of guidebooks and make wonderful plans. the coliseum, the Michelangelo David, the gondolas in Venice. You may learn some phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting. 
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. you pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland?!!!" you say "what do you mean Holland??? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy. 
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay. The important thing is they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guidebooks.You must learn a whole new language. You will meet a whole new group of people you would have never met. It's just a different place. It's slower pace than Italy, less flashy than Italy, but after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around...and you begin to notice Holland has windmills, and Holland has tulips. Holland even has remembrants. 
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy, and they are bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. For the rest of your life, you will say, " yes that's where I was supposed to go, that's what I had planned. 
The pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away....because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss. 
But....if you spend you life mourning the fact that you didn't get to go to Italy,  you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things.....about Holland.

I thought this was such an amazing story. I started thinking about how life is just the same as this story. It doesn't matter what you try to plan, it doesn't always work out the way we want it to. I started thinking about what advice I would give to the beautiful mother and father who just received news that they have been detoured to Holland. My advice would be something like this. As you grow older, you will realize that there are so many things out of our control. Life defiantly has detours. Lots of situations take us on a course we didn't plan. We sometimes try to control our children and we try to save them from things that would harm them. We try to help them reach their greatest potential, but sometimes that is not how it goes. You plan, you try to do your best, but sometimes your plan changes. You wake up and find out that you are in Holland..I have made choices and my flight plan was changed numerous times. My kids have been detoured too. The best thing to remember is that we have a Heavenly Father that loves us. He is aware of our needs and sometimes he changes the flight plan. No matter what life has for you, know you are not alone and that you are loved. 

Doubting self worth

It's been one of those weeks. Normally I am upbeat and happy. You wouldn't even notice anything is wrong when you talk to me. It's not even that something is wrong, it is more like I have been listening to those whispers. You know, the one where you doubt everything about yourself. You wonder why you are a mom, and ponder about how much you are ruining your kids lives. I have been pondering all of the stupid choices I have made in my lifetime. I wonder why it is so hard for me to just choose the right thing, instead of having to always learn it the hard way. I have been listening to that voice telling me that I am not good enough. I have been listening to that voice that says I have no worth. It makes me so mad when I listen. It also made me wonder if anyone else listens....I assume you all listen to that small negative whisper too, because here are a few of the quotes I have seen on Instagram this week. They have meant a lot to me. It helps me remember that I am not alone.

Normally I am the one talking about making a difference and serving. I need to not only be my Heavenly Father's hands, but I needed to pray to be his eyes. I can look for opportunities to serve. All it takes is for me to look for someone who is desperately trying to be seen. Isn't it interesting that good people come into your life at the perfect time. I know that my Savior knows what I am going through, and he is the opposite of fear, and self doubt. Our Heavenly Father only has imperfect people to work with, this must be terribly frustrating at times, but he deals with it and so should we. Our journeys may be lonely but we are never alone. We have a Heavenly Father that loves us.

I am certain I will have a better week. I will pray to see. I can look beyond my own imperfections, and find someone to reach out to. I can be the good, that is placed in someones life to help them along the path. My hope is that if you are struggling, or you feel lonely, that you will know that you are loved.

I am not the mistakes I once made. I am good enough, and so are you!