That Feels Good

I used to see my friends often. I used to walk for exercise almost every day. I used to wash clothes routinely. I used to cook daily. I used to work in my yard weekly. Now I work full time and there's not much time for those things.

I still visit daily with my children, hug my husband, make my bed. There is a long list of things I continue to practice that make up the minutes of my life. It is very different than it was a year ago. I like it, it's just different.

What feels so good is that my sister-in-law and I walked together two days in a row. The way I feel after a walk is healthy and productive. The excercise was great, but, what makes it fabulous is being with her. She is special to me and I feel like I'm important to her. And, that feels good.

Winning

We won! My credit union branch was in a contest with the other branches and we won. It was a challenge given to each manager and assistant by the VP to see how we communicate, coach, and generally run our business. To finish off the month of dares we met at Dave & Buster's and played games. It was fun, but we had a job to do and my manager and I kept our focus and won.

I would love to say that I mainly enjoyed the process of learning from the experience and building relationships with my peers in the credit union, but, that wouldn't be entirely true. I wanted to win. I will, of course, enjoy the friendships that were made, the information I learned about credit union procedure and policy, and of course I will take pleasure in the prize that was financial as well as the paid day off. But, and I am simply being honest, my mind was set on winning.

That, I think, was the difference between those teams that played and lost and the two teams that engaged in the final playoff at the trivia table. Some of the teams never believed they had a chance and merely participated without fervor, sans zeal.

Do you play (work, engage with others) with passion? Do you desire the most that can be experienced when you engage in recreation, in your relationships, and what you do at work? Do you want to win?

If you don't think you can have the most, best, highest, or whatever-est, you probably don't try very hard and I'll conjecture that you aren't having much success or fun while experiencing your days. Don't settle for that kind of life. Play tough. Work hard. Love completely. Live with passion.

I Knew It!

I knew it would happen, I just didn't know when. Ok, I knew it would most likely happen. Well, there may have been times that I just wasn't sure about the outcome. But, here we are and it has happened. (This is really going to be a frustrating entry for many of you because I just cannot reveal the details of what has occurred.)

Basically, I have been watching one of my kids make some choices that were disappointing. Not life altering, not fatal, but having the potential for a future of hardship IF the shackles didn't fall from their eyes. But, glory to God, the Father of all, He has once again had mercy on us and saved us from ourselves.

As the parent of adults I know that I have reared my children to know right, to do good, to love righteousness. But, there are moments when I must observe the events involving my children and watch God move in their lives. This happens, and I know this will shock you just as it astonished me, without my overt intervention. My role was to pray, advise, pray, listen, and pray.

God moved, child was rescued, and our lives are once again in the idyllic state I love. I will continue to pray for mercy, direction, and protection for us all.

Thank you Lord, for your unending protection.

Beloved

My dear Granny is walking with Jesus today. She can hear every whisper, she can maneuver every step, she can hold even the smallest beautiful creation.

I know that as our loved ones pass we sometimes have a tendency to only remember the good times we had with them and ignore controversy or conflict. But, and I speak with verity now, I have not one negative memory about my Granny. She doted on me, her only granddaughter (one of two grandchildren). She has left a legacy of generosity, strength, and kindness to many. I will miss her.

Beloved Precious Memories.

A new doll each visit.
"Working" in the store.
Listening on the party line phone.

Playing on the big yellow bus.
Eating sweets all day long.
A summer friend across the street.

Sandy Beach.
Greasy country cookin'.
Bon Bons.

Singing gospel music.
Christmas eve.
Thursday night visits.

Random Thoughts

I just saw "Julie and Julia " and loved it! I delighted in everything from the scenes in Europe, to the adoration of Julia by her husband, to watching friends having a meal and sharing their lives with one another. Each of those scenes reminded me of special times in my own life that I hold dear.

I finished the last class of my undergraduate degree and made and A. I'm ecstatic to be finished. Will I ever go to school again? Maybe. I need to acclimate to my current schedule and activities before I can realistically consider more challenges.

I spent the day with my sister in law on Wednesday and had such a pleasurable day. We simply browsed at a few shops, lunched, and shared. She is truly a treasure to me. She is easy to be with and that is what I need, an uncomplicated relationship that is what it is.

I really want to begin reading for fun again this week. It's been a long time since I have read a novel. I have a book that has been on my nightstand for a while. My goal this week is to read at least one chapter a day.

A Challenge

I have found that parenting adult children who live in my house is one of the most challenging things I do. That time between graduating high school and when they get married and become adults who make real life decisions and care about others they have chosen to be in their household and family.

Let's face it, I want my kids to make good decisions because it's the right thing to do. Because they will benefit. Because everyone around them will profit. And, because it reflects their ongoing relationship with the LORD.

In the years of my children's teenagerhood my goal has been to give them advice and godly opinions about life, allow my kids to have the opportunity to make age appropriate decisions, and let them experience the natural consequences of their choices. In doing this, by the time they are on their own, they will have practice at assessing situations and making good decisions. It is difficult, especially for one like me that tends to be controlling. (I have a good reason for being controlling, I am always right.:)

For the most part, I am so proud of my "adult- but- not- on- their- own" kids. But, and let me be honest, parenting them is a challenge. I give advice, I see the choices, I see the mistakes, I envision the result. UGH, not my favorite part of life.

LORD, protect us, give us wisdom, have mercy on us, lead us.

Making New Relationships

I have now been at my new job for six weeks. It feels like longer, in the good way. It really feels like "home". I am building new relationships, and, I think, some may become friendships.

I have begun a mentoring program with several of the employees and the results have been a little surprising. I am sending a chapter a week to five of the people at the branch (I work at a credit union). It's not too much to read and it is good to let the information soak in for a few days. Two of the people who are receiveing the chapters really needed these leadership/relationship skills, but I wasn't sure they would read them. The others, I believed, would read it and benefit even though they already exhibited the attributes in some way.

The book, by the way, is the 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader by John Maxwell. You should read it.

Only two of the people (the one's I didn't think would read them) are reading the chapters without extra prompting from me. They are soaking up the infomation and appear to be putting their new found traits into practice. I'm excited because one of the them is someone who seemed to be having a great deal of conflict with the entire group. That conflict is now greatly relieved. The other person who is devoted to reading the chapters each week has expressed her gratitude for the challenge and believes it will help her to ascend from her self proclaimed rut.

I am pleased and having a great time in my new position and still looking foward to how God will use me in this place.

Thank you, LORD, for people and places to serve.