Something You Didn't Know About Me! :)

I need to be completely honest with you. I need to confess something that I am kind of embarrassed to admit. Are you ready? Here I go. I don't recycle. (Are you still there because I swore I just heard crickets chirping). Casey, don't be sending the Sheriff out to my house because I have been a recycling slacker! :)

Ironic thing is, I take a lot of pride in my well being. Spiritually, I read my bible, I pray, I go to church, I seek to draw closer to God. Physically, I workout and eat healthy. I take care of our home, it is usually spotless (I am a little anal in that department), so why is it when it comes to recycling, I have never really put forth an effort. I guess it is because my parents didn't recycle and I was never exposed to it and I never lived in an area where I was forced to. Kevin WAS exposed to it and would occasionally ask if I wanted to recycle. Every time his parents came down to visit from Canada, they always questioned why we didn't recycle. At any rate, I am very sorry you had to read this out about me. But wait, before you click off and decide to never talk to me again, there is good news…I have changed!! HONESTLY!

Starting today a lot of things are changing in our household, including taking care of the environment which includes recycling. Wow, who would have thought that it would have taken me 41 years to actually care about this. No I can't change the world, but Kevin and I can do our part to make it a cleaner and healthier place to live. As I gaze out our windows and see God's beautiful creation, how can I NOT want to do my part. I want a earth for Scott and his future children to live in. I want an even healthier family and home.

Don't fret, I am not turning into a total fanatic here, but things will be very different from now on. I have chosen to make these changes for myself and my family, and not because it is the cool thing to do. If you were to see the view that we have from our deck, you too would want to do what you could to preserve the beauty. All I want to do is live, eat, and breathe healthy. I know I can't save the world on my own, but I can set a good example for my family. Waste less, want less. Live in a frugal state of mind. Care more about the world around us. Make wise and healthy choices for our homes and bodies. Is that being too extreme? I don't think so.This is me, finally doing my little part.

Happy Birthday Dad

Hope your day is terrific. Have fun in Windsor! We love you!

From your favorite Daughter in Law and Favorite Son! :-)

CHOICES

“If you are longing for something to happen.....MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!" Lets go gang!!! Seize the power!!! YOU HAVE IT!!! Whatever you want for your life, you can have, you’ve just got to CHOOSE to MAKE it happen and not wait for it to.” Denise Taylor

Have you ever had the pleasure of meeting someone who always seems to be in a good mood and always has something positive to say? They seem to be natural motivators. If someone around them were having a bad day, they always point out the positive side of a situation. These are the people who wake up everyday and say, “I have two choices. I can choose to be in a good mood, or I can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose the good mood.” Each time something bad happens, they can choose to be a victim or choose to learn from it. Anytime someone complains to them, they can choose to accept their complaining or they can point out the positive side of life. I truly strive to be this type of human being. I truly try to stay positive and want to inspire others to be a better person.

Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or a bad mood. The bottom line is, it’s your choice how you live your life.

Some choices we make however don't always just affect us; they may affect our spouse, children, co-workers, neighbors or friends. It would be selfish for us to do something that might bring us a moment of pleasure but alienate or hurt others.

We all have issues and problems and the choices we make can make them better or worse. I hope that our faith guides us in making the best possible choice that we can.

Here are a few more pictures of our trip to Denver (the one above is also a picture from our trip):

Beauty of the Lake

We get to witness the most beautiful views living on the lake. The sunrises are absolutely breathtaking and the sunsets are magnificent.

Take a peek at this sunrise, view from our deck:

Sunset!

Doesn't it make you just go ahhhhhhhhhhh!!! :)

Greatest of All Accomplishments

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else, is the greatest of all accomplishments"

These holiday weeks have been a whirlwind of family, friends, visits, holiday parties and traveling, and therefore, has forced me to neglect my poor blog! I know you all missed me! ;) And since I am not feeling well, I decided to post a blog, which always makes me feel better. :) Here is a photo from our trip to the Red Rocks Park in Denver, Colorado earlier this week. Beautiful, just beautiful. :)

I’m very excited for 2008 and I am sooooo ready for a brand spankin new year. A time for change, new challenges and growth. Funny thing is, in this life, God has plans for you and me. I think it is safe to say that He heard my prayers for courage, strength and emotional growth last year. The catch was, that sometimes God's ways are not ours, or how He does things may not have been how we would have chosen the lesson. But at the end, the important thing is to learn the lesson He is trying to teach us and get back up when we stumble. I am quite aware that there will be plenty of times I will still stumble, for I am human. But I also know, that for every time I stumble I will get up and it will have been yet another step forward towards His calling.

2007 gave birth to many, many positive things. Kevin and I moved into our beautiful new home on the lake, which we absolutely adore. We were blessed with good health throughout the year and we were blessed with safe travel and spending time with family and friends that live so far away, ones we normally don’t get to visit. 2007 also brought new people into our lives, new friends and for that we shall forever be grateful and thankful.

On a more personal level, there were still some unenthusiastic moments, like watching some of our dear friends battle life threatening diseases (Colleen, Dave and Jonnae). To really be honest with you, this was one of my more emotional years. I suppose there were many times that I set my personal expectations a little too high and I felt I let myself down at the end of 2007. The year truly taught me that sometimes my plans are not always God’s plans but I was always reminded that God was always with me and understanding my disappointment.

Some of my friends have asked me if I write down resolutions. I don’t believe in them. Don’t get me wrong. We all have issues that we need to deal with. I just feel if you need to change something about yourself why wait until the first of the year. Get my drift! :-) However, some of things I do plan on concentrating on in 2008 are: growing stronger in my spiritual life, taking my workouts to a whole new level and I do have a “special” personal goal to accomplish this year but I am not quite ready to share it with the world yet. :-) And I plan on watching my temper when I am behind the wheel (this is a big one for me).

It is safe to say that I am ready for 2008 and what it may or may not have in store for me. Perhaps those goals and dreams will come true in this new year, maybe not. All I know is that I will take the lessons that I learned and apply them to the new year. I will take the happy memories and leave the sad ones. I will start 2008 with a new mind set, a better understanding and a new hope. I do know that in 2008 that I will be the person God intended for me to be, which sometimes is hard to do.

NOTE: Don't forget to check out the Living Legends at the Legends Weekend website: www.kschampionsweekend.com Get ready to laugh, cry, be inspired, and get motivated yourself. (Am I a bit dramatic or what?) But honestly, this is definitely a weekend you don't want to miss. :) Love you!