Soon

Soon one of my favorite times of year will be here...and we'll have change. Seems like we talk about Change a lot. But I love the 4 seasons. I love that we live in Ohio and that we get to experience in some way the 4 seasons. I love it, don't think I would ever move from that. Fall of course is my most favorite season of all, but I love the snow....I even like driving in it. :)

Over the last few weeks I've been keeping myself very busy with everything from work, new projects, volunteering, golf outings, you name it I'm in it. But I took some time the other day to stop and reflect on this time. I begin to think about how life was a year ago, how I was going through so much with a person who I thought was my best friend, but to find out that I had been fooled. I was really involved in activities, Makayla's day to day, losing weight, being with friends. What has changed-well everything outside of my family and day to day. Everything has changed, just like a season.

I am reminded daily that people are brought into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime and right now....I'm going through the seasons stage. Sometimes it's easier to handle when I am really busy, it just changes and before I realize it I'm in a new season with friends, but other times when I have "time" on my hands to think about it, it saddens me. It makes me miss them, wonder why we didn't stay in each others lives for longer or what could of changed. But then I am reminded....reason, season, lifetime. Then I become very thankful for my lifetimes......

I can begin again...

I like this photo-it really reflects the daily life I lead. Things are always changing. But do you ever wonder what "Things" people refer to when they say "things are always changing." Sure the traffic light always changes, the time on the clock changes, our moods change, the amount of gas you have in your car changes....BUT is that the kind of things that change we are referring too? Not for me it isn't. The "Things" that I am referring too is life, my life, what's happening in my life.

When I was growing up the age old question was always asked...what do you want to do with your life when you get older, what do you want to be when you grow up? It was usually a teacher, a mother...something that meant something. I never said growing up that I wanted to be both the mom and dad....I always thought that my life would have the big house (ok medium size is good too) and the husband/wife team with the kids running around, both successful in their jobs, careers and making a difference in life. So the "things" that are forever changing in my life is that picture. But here's the thing about that picture...it's ok. I am ok with how life has been. What I would of thought, NOPE not in a million years. But because of all this I have learned who I truly 100% really am, how I really handle things, what I will and will not put up in life, what I struggle with, what my real hopes and fears really are. I have this really great thing-it's called change and I'm good with it.

So all that being said it brings me to this. Over a year ago I made a promise to change my life, lose weight and be real. And I'm going to be honest-I did it pretty well for a year and 1 month...then I fell off the path, rolled down the hill and landed face first in the mud. Life hit me good, from every angle really. Personally, financially, professionally and I gave in. I gave into the old habits, the old ways, what was easy and what was the past. I'm not proud of it by any means, but I have learned. I am getting back up, walking back up the hill and continuing the course....but paying for the stumble big time. So to my readers-if I still have any out there....keep me going, help me make this path right and make this part of my life count. I want to make a difference, I want to leave a legacy and I want to at the end of my life know that I did it for all the right reasons....Honoring HIM every day of my life by leading the best life and having a personal relationship with GOD. That's how I get through the "things are always changing".

Make it a good one, make it count.

Connected

What does it mean to be connected? Is being connected always a good thing or sometimes does it get out of hand. I'll be honest, I feel that sometimes I've been to connected to things and/or people. I know that sometimes I've relied on being connected to get me out of things, or put off what's really important. I have relied on being connected to email, facebook, my phone then actually friendships, relationships and things that really have meaning. It's hard sometimes to find the fine line between life and just a computer screen to justify a friendship or that your connected to someone on a "real" level.

I've been struggling with this lately. Actually wondering how many people I actually consider friends or how man do I consider friends because we text or email....I realize that the ones that I just email and text don't hold a flicker to the friends that I see, connect with, laugh with, cry with, support, stand beside, meet for coffee, listen too, pray for, love, care about...those friendships are what really matter. And I miss it. Don't get me wrong I have amazing, wonderful, loving, supportive friends. What I miss is the old fashion connection that once use to be. I remember it in college. About 12 years ago before Facebook, Cell phones and thinking because you text someone that's a good friendship. I remember what it was like to just call a friend up and go to Wal-Mart to kill time. I do that now sometimes...but people are to busy and we take the easy way out of what it really means to be friends. We think because we have technology to keep us connected that it's enough. I don't believe it is. I miss the way connecting use to be.....before what it meant to be "on line".

I've been humbled lately by watching my daughter. Sometimes to tears actually because of how she is so true and real with her friends. Yes she's 6 and has no clue what cell phone, email, facebook really means. She just hears us talk about it. But what I mean is that Makayla honestly at her age cares for her little friends. That at this age she gets it, my prayer is that she grows up never forgetting what it really means to connect with her friends with out all the gadgets and technology. We are always in a hurry that we hardly take time to just enjoy the ride. Really enjoy it.....I'm guilty of it. Sometimes I drive from point A to point B and don't even remember how I got there because I was on the phone or trying to make sure I didn't forget something.

So all this being said....I am making a goal to reach out to my friends and actually connect with them the way that it was always mean to be. The way that we should be, stop getting so wrapped up in text messaging, email, facebook....all that and spend time with them. We don't know if we'll have tomorrow and why would we want to spend it behind a computer "thinking" that we're really connecting with someone. Face to face, heart to heart, soul to soul is the way to really connect in this life. We get one shot, why not make it count.

So to all my friends that I in my life-thank you, thank you for sticking by me, I promise to make a better effort to be connected on a real level.

Make this day count.

In a twinkling of an eye

In a twinkling of an eye....things change. Last night our family was sitting around the dinner table and I asked the normal question "what are your plans for tomorrow?" And this time everyone seemed to answer the same, "nothing really." But with in 12-14 hours that changed with one phone call....

My mom and dad's dear friends Ginny and Richard Weaver have been apart of our lives for as long as I can remember....my mom and I where just talking about it actually, it's been a long time. Richard and Ginny loved each other, they where each others best friends, worked beside each other, worshiped together and lived/loved life together. Richard loved to ride motorcycles. Not just around town but trips, across the United States trips. One summer when my grandma Johnson was here, she had always wanted to ride one and Richard came to our house and took my grandma for a ride. She remembers and loves that moment to this day. We actually talked about it when she was here a few weeks ago. My parents and grandma saw Richard and Ginny two Sunday's ago and my grandma told him that they'd have to do that again sometime.....

This morning Ginny called my mom to tell her that Richard had been killed on his bike while riding in Montana. The time stood still for just a moment, a twinkle of an eye peoples lives have been changed. We rejoice in knowing that Richard is in heaven, celebrating and I bet telling all about his recent trip across the United States and the beauty that he was able to see. Though we have comfort in that knowledge, it doesn't make it any easier for those who are left behind with life. It's another reminder that we take nothing, not a single moment for granted. That we never know what moments we have left-but with what we do have are we living it to the best, to do the right things, to tell those we love that we love them, spend as much time with each other and make an impact.....are we doing those things.

Love one another, care for one another and never forget to cherish the moments because it will all change in a twinkle of an eye.

For just a moment

Well hello...it's good to sit down and write a little. I can say that I've missed this moment. I've been busier lately and by the time I sit down to write anything my brain decides that I'm to tired and it wouldn't make any sense. So I apologize that it's been awhile, but I'm still kicking.

The other day I attended my parents church...(I'm attending a different church then they are...it's good for Sunday conversations) and I'm really glad I did. For a few weeks now I've really been struggling with understand human nature. Trying to understand why people will say one thing and do another, or they will promise something and never follow through. With out going into great detail there has been a lot of let down by people lately. More then normal. I'm not sure why, but it's getting really old and I'm finding myself shutting people out because I'm done dealing with it. Life is to short, I have to many good memories to make to let peoples greed, self righteousness, selfishness, laziness and back stabbing ways be apart of my life. So there you have it...that's what's been bothering me.

So I attended their church and it was a really good thing that I did because the message was clear and what I needed to hear. Straight to the heart actually. The pastor opened with a question, if you ever met a famous person what would be the first question you'd ask them. Many of us would either zone out or we'd say something really dumb-no offense it just happens. But he said "have your question ready, so if you ever get the chance you won't blow it." But he shared what his question would be...."What is your view of human nature?" The first answer that popped into my head...Greed. We are greedy, we are selfish and we are narrow minded. And at that moment I stopped and thought about my own life....what area's do I need to work on, would people feel that way about me, would they say these words about me? Then I started to pray....you see during the last few weeks that I've been so frustrated with people around me, I was learning something about me, learning that I needed to make sure that those things I dis like so much in others, isn't happening in my own life....I began to pray.....

Sometimes it takes us asking the hard questions in our own life to realize that I shouldn't be so quick to point in others. That it's really about this time in life-I get one shot at it, I don't want to be wrapped up in all those negative things, but I want to be focused on the positive things, the things that encourage, the things that motivate and the things that bring honor, glory and love when no one else will.

Make a differences when no one else will.

Hello, it's me

Well I have totally fallen off the blog path lately. I didn't realize that it's been a few...more then a few days since I've sat down and put my thoughts out into the world. It's not that I haven't thought about it, but I just haven't really figured out what I want to say.....but here it goes.

The last few weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions, empty feelings, uncertainty and blessings. The last part is probably the most exciting part of the whole thing. Over the last few weeks I've been amazed by people. Everything from people’s ability to hurt me deeply to going above and beyond what I could ever imagine. I've realized a lot about who I am. I feel like I am always learning a lesson, a lot of repeats because I haven't fully learned them from the past. It gets old most of the time but others I find something else that I didn't realize from before. I've learned that I wear my emotions to close to for comfort and that I take peoples actions to serious. I also realized too that I care for people who could care less about who I am or what my life is about. I guess that's part of the "make up" of me. Does it mean I'd change it, not really...but I will guard my heart a little more closely and realize that sometimes I simply just have to walk away.

The whole blessing part of the last few weeks has really been a humbling experience. I have had a chance to see someone who I've known mostly on the business side of life on a personal side that I would have never imagined. But thankful for. Opportunities have presented themselves because this person prayed for me and helped me out of the stressful situation I've been facing. It's great when I step out of the way so GOD's plan can take place.

Oh the places I will go.....blessings to your life.

Words People

Words...Meaningful words, pointless words and hurtful words. Words of love, encouraging words, supportive words. Words every where and I think sometimes we are just too flippant with our words. I believe a lot of times we don't really treasure the words that we're given or the words that we say. Sometimes the words we use come flying out of our mouths before we even think about it and other times we don't use our words when we really need to.

I was thinking about this the other day. Words-in general. I was thinking of words that I use all the time such as "it's all good". This statement of words you'll hear from me when I am nervous, don't have the "right" words to say or when I just don't feel like getting into it with someone. I use them as safe words a lot. "Fine" another word that I use often, for me personally I feel like this word covers hurt for me. That it's really not "ok" with me, but whatever it is what it is...I don't like that word really. Makes me uneasy. Another word I use..."trust". This word doesn't come out of my mouth often but when it does, either it's been broken or it's been granted to someone.

Words...how do you use yours'? What is your statement of words that you use when it comes to life? What is your reasoning behind them? Do you ever think of the meaningless words that we use or the pointless words....or do you focus on the loving words, the supportive words, the trusting words. I am working on the later part of this. I want to be known as someone who lifts those up with my encouraging, supportive, trust, loving words....that is my hope.