MY LIFE IS A BALANCING ACT.... LITERALLY

I have an incurable form of vertigo. If you have never heard of this before, it is the sensation of spinning or swaying while the body is actually stationary with respect to your surroundings. So you could call me a dizzy blonde, but you probably shouldn’t! :)

Everyday we make choices about balancing things in our life. Sometimes adjustments are made to set things right. We make choices on what to eat, what to wear, how to react, etc… Today, while everything around us seems to be topsy turvy, we may feel tossed into mayhem where we can’t seem to sit or stand upright. The challenge here is finding a way to right the balance in our lives without tumbling completely into a complete frenzy. We need a structure in which our equilibrium can be regained.

I find the right balance through several factors in my life… my body, mind and spirit (and not necessarily in that order). My faith and the prayers I pray are essential in my life. They give me inner peace, especially on those stress-filled days. As for my body, I believe maintaining a healthy body is one of the best means for living a balance life. A poor diet will spin you out of control and its misuse will leave you with little energy for living. If you are feeling stressed and out of balance, I would suggest a few sessions of yoga to develop a strong and powerful inner core. Without this core you can be knocked off your feet in seconds. But any physical activity will bring you in close communication with your body. You will instinctively know what your body needs and wants to sustain its best strength. There are so many fun things we can do to maintain a healthy body (and mind) besides the usual weight workouts and cardio…. We can take long walks, spend time with nature, learn new things, know and live by our values and beliefs. LAUGH. Did you know laughter is the best medicine for stress? Breathe deep and enjoy your life.

Like my vertigo, I know what triggers it. I make adjustments and move on. Sometimes it works and other times it doesn’t. And like life, I don’t know if we can live a life in true balance all the time but I do believe that we are called to live life fully. Adjustments and changes are part of life. We can’t ALWAYS have complete control over the outward circumstance of our lives but we can adjust our imbalance immediately. A healthy balance is a matter of keeping our feet on the ground and our eyes wide open. Take charge of your life, take care of it, reward it, and the balance within will divulge itself through the smile on your face and the gleam in your eyes.

STRIKING UNIVERSE

What is life about, I often wondered for years, gazing out my window at the ever changing scene. I could spend hours just sitting out on our deck with all the beauty that surrounds me. We get to witness beautiful tapestry of light weaving its way into, through and around everything around us, through the trees, bouncing off the lake…..

When Kevin and I head to work each morning, we bask in the glory of God’s world. There is a melody played throughout all of His creation and we are part of that song and dance of our life. It is up to us to take the time to ENJOY it and LISTEN to it.

This morning was no exception to the wonders of nature. As I walked out into our garage and opened our door, the neighbor’s dog howled. It made me stop in my tracks and think about Stoli. Stoli used to howl at the trains. I told Kevin, Stoli was trying to say “good morning” to us. :)

As we drove further into work, we were thrilled to spot “our” beautiful deer near the rode. He walked up to the road, looked at us, waited until we were almost upon him and then trotted off into the woods. This is not the first time he has graced us with his appearance. Again, another “good morning” to us. :)

And although squirrels can be so silly, crossing the road in front of cars, this particular road brings out a lot of them, I can’t help but think they are adorable. I am always hoping that they make it across the road safely….. :) AND just the other day, there was a beaver sitting on the side of the road (in the grass area) chomping on a nut. It was the cutest thing. :)

My desire is for peace and I strive to create that in my life wherever I am even if it is on my way to work! To me each animal in our life brings lessons, challenges, and the purity of their love and spirit, whether they live under our roof or we meet them on the side of the road. What a gift we give to each other and to ourselves when we allow ourselves to enjoy the moment. :)

DANCE IN THE RAIN

“Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain” Author Unknown

The bottom line is quite simple, weather affects us whether we like it or not. My sinuses are a barometer…….literally. I can usually tell when it is going to rain because, as the barometric pressure builds, my face feels more and more like it is going to explode, kind of like a migraine would feel.

When I have days like this, I usually try to sip on hot tea and take some sinus pressure medication. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes the headache won’t get any better until it actually starts raining. There are some other things I do to relieve the headache until I feel better, like sleeping (if it is possible) or working out. Sometimes that will relieve the pressure, believe it or not. :) Sometimes it takes an act of God to get me moving when the headache sets in, but once the endorphins release, it definitely is worth it.

Casting the headache aside, I love it when it rains…. the freshness, the raindrops falling down, a new slate, the beauty of it all…… makes me think of one of my favorite quotes:

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” Dolly Parton

I don’t know about you but I want to see those rainbows… reminding me of God’s promises…. :)

I WILL NOT BE MOVED

Calamities are inevitable and are a normal part of life. No one is immune. Standing strong in faith when everything is going wrong, and all seems lost, is not a feeling we get, but rather an option we have to make. When we stay in God’s presence, in the midst of our adversities, we may feel some pressure, experience some pain, but in His presence we will encourage ourselves, and God will give us His strength to stand strong till victory comes.

We all can learn to prepare for the storms of life and how to withstand them when they do blow through our family. Are you going to be emotional at times? You betcha! :) But we have to hang on to the truth of His words and let that be the foundation of our home and not the “what ifs.”

Even when we don't feel God is listening or loves us, we know from His Word that He does care. When we don't feel any good can come out of our trials, we know from Romans 8:28 that all things really do "work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

If you get the chance listen to this song. It is one of my favs and I believe in its lyrics. Because I WILL NOT BE MOVED. :) (Not a coincidence my friends, this song came on the radio as I was typing this up, how awesome is our God.) :)

===============================================================
Natalie Grant - I Will Not Be Moved
(From the album Relentless)


I have been the wayward child
I have acted out
I have questioned Sovereignty
And had my share of doubt
And though sometimes my prayers feel like
They're bouncing off the sky
The hand I hold won't let me go
And is the reason why...

Chorus:

I will stumble
I will fall down
But I will not be moved
I will make mistakes
I will face heartache
But I will not be moved
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
I will not be moved


Bitterness has plagued my heart
Many times before
My life has been like broken glass
And I have kept the score
Of all my shattered dreams and though it seemed
That I was far too gone
My brokenness helped me to see
It's grace I'm standing on

Chorus

And the chaos in my life
Has been a badge I've worn
Though I have been torn
I will not be moved

Chorus

WHAT'S UP???? :)

1. Kev is out of town on business for the next few days and this is the first time I will be alone in the house without Stoli. Dumb thing to post on the internet. Not really, my son lives with us so I’m not “technically” alone. I just feel “alone” without Kev and now especially that Stoli has passed.

2. We are praying for all the employees at Kev’s firm. Big layoffs are coming down the pipe and he potentially could be losing his job as well. Please keep us as well as the other families in your prayers. The economy is having a huge impact on EVERYONE! :(

3. Scott and I had the BEST conversation last night. It felt like we haven’t had “quality” time in forever so it was nice just to sit back and listen to what was on his mind. He definitely has matured in so many ways.

4. Why is it that UPS always manages to damage a package? Sheeeeeeeeeesh! :(

5. I just finished reading Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems’ and want to read his other books. I have learned tons about dogs, things I THOUGHT I already knew. :)

6. Why is it the older I get, the harder I have to work out to stay in shape? Hmmph! :(

7. Kev’s parents will be here in 4 weeks and I can’t wait. We have such a great time when we are together, which isn't very often since they live in Canada. They are a hoot! ;) They will be here a week before we go on vacation together over Thanksgiving week. We aren’t going far, down to Big Cedar outside of Branson. We are trying to keep our costs low due to the economy and such. After our trip to Big Cedar, we will go down and visit Linda and Bob in Oklahoma for a few days.

Big Cedar Lodge

8. I can’t wait for the election to be over. I am sick and tired of all of the campaign drama. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and to vote for the person that falls into their category of beliefs. I, personally, am just sick of the negative ads and the “nastiness” of it all. Our country if falling apart and we have no control over it, other than to pray for better leadership. The last thing I want to hear right now is people slamming each other. Get over yourselves already. People will say anything and do anything to get elected.

9. Why is that when you buy the NHL Hockey Package, they DON’T tell you all channels are part of it? You have to pay extra for the ONE channel you really want to watch. Last year it was part of the package, this year it isn’t and we didn’t even have to pay for the entire package to get it. Of course, they won’t give us a refund and let us only pay for the one channel we want. :( Can you say RIP OFF???? Sheeeeeeeeeesh! :(

and Last But Not Least……. I saved the best for last.........

10. I woke up earlier than normal this morning (something I usually do when Kevin is out of town) and because I had such an early start to my morning, I decided to head into work. The fog was lifting up over the lake and low lying areas and the sun was shining just so. It was gorgeous (pictures attached). The song “I Can Only Imagine” came on the radio. It gave me goosebumps. Can you imagine? The world around us is a colorful tapestry. Open up your imagination and let your mind wander to a better place and let God feel your heart with His love. :)

KEEPING MY EYES ON THE COACH

One of my friends shared an e-mail with me and at the bottom it had a statement which read:

Just remember ~ "When life knocks you to your knees, you're in the perfect position to pray!"

Don't wait until you need something from God to pray, thank him for all the blessing in your life right now. Don't think you have anything to be thankful for? Take a look around because I can guarantee you can think of a few things that are right before your eyes, such as your faith, your health, your job, your family and friends. It doesn't always have to be the material things you have to be grateful for. Be thankful that you can get out of bed each morning and have the ability to worship Him.

Bare in mind that being thankful is not only reserved for good times in our lives. Our true power comes when we give thanks for all circumstances, including tough times. The amazing grace of God is that gratitude shifts our perception. We see, feel, and experience things quite differently when we authentically and openly say, “Thank you” in tough times.

So yes pray, pray and pray some more. Pray a prayer of thanksgiving and be grateful no matter what is going on. Find the words and know the depths of appreciation that empowers you to say thanks in tough times.

I don't know about you all but I for one am going to keep my eyes on the Coach because to me there is no other way! :)

ALL WE NEED IS JUST A LITTLE.....PATIENCE

Are you ever around people that grumble and whine about everything except those things that they are interested in? Unfortunately I do. This particular person complains about everything BUT should be thinking their lucky stars that they even have a job to come to every day, especially in this economy.

People will suck the life right out of you, BUT only if you allow them to do so. I don’t know about you but this is just not acceptable and I will NOT allow it around me. I think you have to always consider the source of the pessimism, especially when it is someone who spends his/her life oozing venom through every pore in their body. What kind of credit can we give to a person like that? It usually is a person who isn’t happy with their life in the first place.

A few things I contemplate when people start acting like that are, why are they acting that way? And how will I react to their negativity? While I truly believe each of us are entitled to express how we feel, we can’t sit back and act like we are on the throne. Because trust me none of us are. We all make mistakes and have bad days too. What we can do is pray for that person and hope that the person comes around in time or takes an early retirement. LOL! ;)

No matter how angry or disappointed we are with people around us who project negativity, there is always a way to handle a situation with kind words and we can always conduct OURSELVES in a brighter light than the person being negative. Negativity certainly takes way to much energy and I for one, do not have enough energy to pass around. ;)

To me, it is just another lesson that God is trying to teach me. It is called Patience. :)

BALANCED WEEKEND

Most of you who know us, know we live a very busy life. Our lifestyle is one that is BUSY, BUSY, BUSY. But lately we have been doing our best to simplify as many routine processes in our life as possible. It is something we can all do. Our lives don’t need to be incredibly complicated. I know I don’t want my life to be complicated.

So this weekend, we concentrated on BALANCE. Friday night, we ran all of our errands, Saturday we worked our little butts off around the house (laundry, cleaning, etc…) and were rewarded with a firework show later on in the evening. The City was having a “Blues and Jazz Festival” downtown and they set off fireworks and we were able to view them from our deck. Beautiful…… Sunday, we were able to relax and enjoy each other’s company without having tons of stuff to get done.

I think it is important to understand God’s definition of balance, which is Himself. Let me explain…. Nothing held back but never rushed, never without means, never lacking, never worried, never rushed, always sensible, always gracious, always firm and always, always merciful, gracious and kind.

As we concentrate on having more of a balance life, we also want to concentrate on having a full life. A life of passion and purpose. A life that pursues what we are created to do and that makes us come alive to bring greater good in the world around us. We truly believe that the best thing about having a full life is that when you have a full life, you will have a balanced one.

So you see it all works out in the end! :)

Stoli's Memorial Garden - At Last

It was only eight weeks ago we said goodbye to our beloved dog Stoli, but it seems like yesterday. The house is lonely without him. Sometimes we “think” we hear him and then just shake our heads as to tell ourselves we are out of our minds. No matter all the comfort friends and family have tried to give us one fact remains…We miss Stoli and REALLY wish he was still here with us.

Before

After

For most of us, losing a pet means losing a family member. We realize the importance of taking the time to grieve for him. Everyone grieves differently. Some people need to keep busy and want to be surrounded by friends and family while others just want to be left alone. We decided in our time of grief to create a beautiful memorial garden for Stoli so we would always remember him. It was an act of love and one we are definitely proud of. I have attached a few pictures of the garden (before and after). I know Stoli would have loved it and would have peed all over the bushes! :)

One thing is certain, although Stoli has gone on to the Rainbow Bridge, his spirit will remain in our hearts forever.

Our Beautiful Stoli

WEEKEND GET-AWAY

Every great city should have a great downtown, and Seattle has one of the best. We try to visit somewhere we haven’t been before for several days at least once a year, and this year our choice was Seattle. And although this trip was initially booked for a whole different intention, we were glad we followed through on our decision to go regardless.

BECAUSE we had THE best time. And since we were only there for 48 hours, we decided to make the most of it. What a fantastic City. Upon arriving into town, we had a driver pick us up at the airport. That was the best decision we made all weekend because there is NOOOOOOOOOO way I would want to drive in downtown Seattle. I am not even sure we would have been able to find our swank hotel if it weren’t for our driver taking us from point A to point B. :)

During our short 48 hours, we walked A LOT, took a few strolls just for coffee, did a little shopping, ate fantastically, took a tour of the Space Needle, visited Pike Place Market, and meandered down on the Pier. Let me tell you our feet took in a whole lot of miles over the weekend which was good because of the vast amount of food we ate. AND yes, I did take pictures. Lots and lots of pictures.

There were tons of people milling around all over the place and they all looked like they were just out to have a good time, even if it was raining and extremely windy out. What a beautiful, unique, interesting and all-around fun place to be.

Seattle is a really beautiful place. The diversity is wonderful and I had a sense that there were a lot of “daydreamers” around. It was fun to just “people watch.” As far as stores go, downtown has just about every high-end store you could hope to see or shop at, and there is an unbelievable variety of restaurants, from funky and elegant. We ate lots of seafood (of course) and at a Thai place called the Ginger House. YUMMOS!

And, of course, there is the famous Seattle coffee and the very FIRST Starbucks store, which we did visit. It is hard to walk more than 2 or 3 blocks without running into at least two or three coffee shops, and the coffee shops are mostly jam-packed! CRAZY! But like previously stated, it was cold, windy and rainy so people were most likely just trying to warm up! :)

It was a great way to celebrate my birthday this year and I hope that we will be able to return to Seattle to spend more than just a long weekend. :)