IN LOVING MEMORY - DAVE JOHNSON

Sadly, Monday night, my friend's husband Dave Johnson (43) passed away after a long battle with lung cancer. Dave was truly one of the "good" guys and will be missed greatly.

I received a call from Martha this morning and she seems to be fine for the moment, well, as fine as you can be after losing your soul mate. It is very sad, but nevertheless I am relieved that Dave is no longer suffering. Please pray for Martha. She has shown amazing strength during the last few years.

Here is a copy of his obit:

David B. Johnson, 43, of Shawnee, Kan., passed away April 28, 2008, at home. Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, at the Cedar Crest Memorial Chapel in DeSoto, Kan., at (913) 583-1002, followed by services at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Monticello Cemetery. Dave was born on July 18, 1964, in DeSoto, Kan. When Dave first saw his wife, Martha Frogley Johnson, he bet his friend "I'm going to marry that girl!" They began dating and were inseparable. Two years later his friend lost the bet when they were married. Martha and Dave enjoyed 14 years of marriage together. They were a perfect match and brought out the best in each other. They lived in Shawnee with their beloved boxer Rosie. Dave worked at CFS West and truly enjoyed his job and his co-workers. He was hard-working and continued to work throughout his illness. One of Dave's most admirable qualities was his great attitude about life. He always had a smile on his face and was quick with a joke. Dave had a lifelong love of racing and attended races at the Kansas Speedway every year. Dave enjoyed working around the house and on cars, firing up the smoker and smoking a mean butt and some ribs. He will be greatly missed by all!! The family would like to thank Dr. Neubauer, Teresa and Kathy in the infusion room, and the rest of the staff at the Kansas City Cancer Center. Dave was preceded in death by his father, Billy Johnson, and is survived by his wife, Martha; his mother, Rosemary Johnson of Olathe, Kan.; his sister, Colleen Carroll of Olathe, Kan., and his grandmother, Bernice LaClair of Olathe, Kan., and many nieces and nephews.

I had to smile at his obituary. After reading it, I can feel Dave smiling down on all of us! :)

Whizzing Right By :)

Flowers from my Garden

Can we take a deep breath together? Is everyone else moving at warp speed like I am? Holy Toledo people...... I feel like I need to just inhale deeply and let my heart rate slow down for an indefinite amount of time. I should not complain - the winter months and the first part of Spring normally creeeeeeeps by and this year it has just whizzed right past me so that is nice, but I am hear to tell you folks, I am sooooooo ready to resume a fairly slow and boring life again (HA!!!! Does that even exist?). I don’t see that happening anytime soon so I guess I should just buckle up and enjoy it.

Picture from my deck :)

In Charge of Our Attitudes

"I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our attitudes." Charles S. Swindoll

As most of you know, I have been planning for months the KS Champions Weekend (http://www.kschampionsweekend.com/) and things are falling into place and looking excellent. I love that the KS folks are going to make a difference in a lot of people’s lives. However, today I received news from the Y that because of insurance liability reasons, the BFL folks are not going to be able to conduct the classes as first promised. WHAT??? I had negotiated the fee, the time and the classes (and the rooms to be used) for this special weekend. BUT the regional director has since left and a new person is in charge and has told us under no circumstances is an “outsider” allowed to conduct a class on the “Y’s” property. Look, I have been in the legal field for 23 years and TOTALLY understand the legal ramifications BUT it is still very disappointing to me that we initially agreed upon the terms and 60 days out, I now have to change our plans.

It isn’t the end of the world and we will adjust. We still have a great price, good hours and as far as I know, the “Y” will be offering their own classes. I still have one more conference call before the “classes” are official. I’m not worried. :)

I guess the point of this blog is that although I could have pouted, stomped my feet and complained, I took it all in stride. Seriously, what else could I have done??? All I can do is plan as best as I can and hope that everyone has a wonderful time. I FEEL it in my heart that this is going to be a MAGNIFICENT weekend……. I can’t let a few minor details ruin the entire weekend. I am taking this challenging situation and only looking at the positive side of it. It can only get better from here…

LIFE IS GOOD!

SUPER PROUD :)

I can't say enough about Lori and Cori. This weekend they proved that believing in yourself and fulfilling your dreams are possible. They both were amazing and I'm so friggin proud of them! I have so much more I want to write, but not enough time....... be back later. :)

LIVE LIKE A CHAMPION

This was too good not to share this morning.

"Every person goes through adversities or times of difficulty. Maybe you didn’t get a promotion you deserved, or you lost a loved one, a friend betrayed you. It’s easy to get negative and bitter and lose your enthusiasm for life, but understand today, you are not defined by your past, you are prepared by your past. Every challenge you’ve been through, every adversity you’ve faced, God has deposited something on the inside of you. Your character was being developed. Strength was being increased. Your vision was being enlarged. With every difficulty, you can experience a new level of God’s goodness! You may have had unfair things happen, but remember, all things work together for good when you love the Lord! It doesn’t say that all things are good, but God will turn your test into a testimony. No matter what challenge you may be facing now, no matter what you’ve experienced in your past, if you’ll stay in faith God will turn it around for your good! Choose to have a resurrection mentality—you may have gone through an emotional death, and burial but it’s time for you to rise again. God wants to give you His beauty for ashes, and joy for mourning. He wants to bring you out stronger, happier, healthier, better off than you were before!" Joel Osteen

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE LATELY???

"As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good."
2 Thessalonians 3:13, NLT

Have you ever met someone who is a total fake? I mean everything about them is so unreal that you just want to puke? They try to be the life of the party and put themselves out there but you can see right through them and you know that deep down they are not a very happy person? They even stoop so low as to make fun of others just to feel accepted. Trust me, these type of folks, have no inner peace and truly make me sad. I always say a prayer for them because I think they need real peace in their life. Then I try to do whatever I can to become a blessing to them. After all, they need the blessings more than I do. :)

Many people live their whole lives wrapped up in things that make them happy. Often they don't worry about those around them or even realize that they should. It is all about them. Now trust me, I am all for obtaining your goals and getting what you want out of life, don't get me wrong on this point, but I do believe there is more to life than just that. God wants to bless us with a happy life BUT I am sure He wouldn't mind seeing us bless others while we are going about our business (life).

Have you seen the movie, "Paying It Forward"? This movie reminds me to be a blessing to others. Like always do something for someone else in response to the good deed that another person has done for you. This can make for a endless circle of blessing as good deeds continue to be extended. What a wonderful concept and one I think should be used on a daily basis. :)

Many times in our pursuit of perfection, achieving our goals and living life, we do not take the time to realize the impact of our behavior on others, both good and bad. Maybe because we are struggling in our own lives or have our own pain and frustrations to overcome, sometimes we do not put enough effort into being a blessing to others. Do you treat others with kindness and respect regardless of their differences? Do you use the old saying do unto others as you would have others do unto you? Do you practice empathy and compassion when interacting with others? Instead of praying for your own needs and wants, ask how you can be a blessing to others. The rewards are greater than words can explain! Believe me I have tried this method and it definitely works. It has helped me to understand and overcome struggles in my own personal journey each day.

Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small deed you can change a person's life, for the better. Sometimes all it takes is a smile. Now how simple is that…. just looking up and smiling at someone. God puts us in each other's lives to impact one another.

Now I urge you to go out and be a blessing to that special someone today!

LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING

It is a pretty easy concept really, live life to its fullest, as though this could be your last. I have received several e-mails today that have stated pretty much the same thing that my title suggests: LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING.

Stop waiting....

Until your car or home is paid off
Until you get a new car or home
Until your kids leave the house
Until you go back to school
Until you finish school
Until you clean the house
Until you organize the garage
Until you clean off your desk
Until you lose 10 lbs.
Until you gain 10 lbs.
Until you get married
Until you get a divorce
Until you have kids
Until the kids go to school
Until you retire
Until summer
Until spring
Until winter
Until fall
Until you die...

There is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
So work like you don't need money.
Love like you've never been hurt, and, Dance like no one's watching. (Thanks Dawn). :)

Good News and Then Not So Good News :(

Treasure the love you receive above all. It will survive long after your gold and good health have vanished.- Og Mandingo

Yesterday, I received a phone call from a dear friend of mine who said she got the "all clear" from her oncologist. Praise the Lord. She has been through a tough battle over the last few years and has stayed spunky as ever.

However, today I received news that another one of our friends isn't doing so well. He is suffering from lung cancer. I don't want to mention any names as they are very private people but I did want them to know that they are definitely in our thoughts and prayers!

And for anyone of you reading this who are dealing with a serious illness, whatever it may be, my hope for you is that you allow yourself the space to feel your real feelings, without censorship. I wish for you the love and support that will allow you to crack a smile or feel that deep belly-laugh when you are able. And wherever you are in your journey, I wish you gentleness (my theme of the week) in accepting whatever it is that you can or cannot manage and know you have folks out their praying for you!

"Don’t allow the circumstances of yesterday to overshadow the power of God working in your life TODAY!" Joel Osteen

Chalmers Bucket = Rock Chalk Jayhawks National Title

Oh my! What an astonishing game. The Kansas Jayhawks winning the NCAA Championship for the first time in 20 years under Bill Self’s coaching! Whether you are a Memphis fan or a Kansas fan, you had to love the way the game was played last night. It was an emotional nail biter where neither team could pull away for more than a few minutes. However, in the end, it was Memphis’ poor free-throw shooting and KU’s Mario Chalmers with a three-pointer in the final three seconds to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Bill Self said "It'll probably be the biggest shot ever made in Kansas history." That statement couldn’t be any truer! :) Every time I watch it I cry, WOW! If my Grandmother Weigel were alive, she would be so ecstatic about the outcome of this game..... :)

After all, final score, KU 75, Memphis 68!

My son was able to participate in the celebration in Lawrence last night and this is how it looked from where he was....... pretty amazing to have so many happy people in one place. :)

Forsaking Your Friends, NOT! :)

"Do not forsake your friends" Proverbs 27:10

This past weekend, Kevin and I were invited to one of our friend's house for a party. We have been trying to hook up with them for quite some time and something always seems to come up. Either we are out of town, too busy or the best laid plans just don't seem to fall into place. I am sure you all can relate. Life gets too busy and hectic and the next thing you know weeks, months and even years have passed. BUT...............you truly miss your friend and wish with all your might that you could make things happen and spend some more time with them.

I think one of the saddest days in our life could come when we realize that things will never be the same again between you and your friend(s). I know I used to hang out with a bunch of different women but over the past 10 years we have moved on and have grown apart. It isn't that I don't think of them anymore or that I don't love them, it is just that our life took a different path. You know the scenario, your interest changes, your life changes, you start hanging out with different people and before you know it you are heading down a different road (not necessarily a better one, just a different one).

BUT..................... sometimes, you have the urge to fight for a friendship no matter how long it has been since you have seen them and for this one particular friend, that is what I did, I fought to see her. I sent e-mails and even though I didn't get responses at times, I still sent them and FINALLY, last Saturday night I was able to give her the long awaited hug we both needed. It was so nice to get caught up on what had been happening over the last eighteen months. So if you are reading this my friend, I missed you and glad we found our way back! :)

So I'm telling you, if you have a friend you haven't seen in awhile and you can't get them off your mind! FIGHT it! Make a phone call. Send them an e-mail. Organize a girl's night out or get together with your spouses. Do something but don't let the friendship fade away. Our friendship may not be the same as it was before, after all we both have matured, but the friendship we cherished can survive.

All it takes is one determined person who refuses to let the good times be forgotten. Now go make that call! ;)

(NOTE: the photo is of White Sands in New Mexico. Pretty awesome!)