Today was a good day...

At the end of the day, the little things accomplished resulted in huge gains one would not expect.

In my looking back at my own "year in review" I am taking the entire month to reflect and focus on two words - Relevant and Intentional. I'm going to try embracing the meaning of these words in my daily life - as I walk another journey this year.

My youngest who is 23 and runs a childcare home has this in her newsletter going home to parents stressing the importance of recycling:

"I know this sounds like a BIG HASSEL to be recycling but don’t just think about yourself think about how much it helps this wonderful planet we live on!! By sorting them before u bring them will help me out TREMENDESLY!!! THANK YOU!! Please DON’T STOP recycling!!!"

That makes me proud.

Caught by the bug....

I started doctoring for the feeling of the onset to sickness on Thursday with a good healthy dose of Echinacea. I was faithful again Friday, but Saturday I skipped and it's crazy how it overcame me Saturday night.

Today woke up sick. Not only did I have this laryngitis and a plugged up head and sinus system, Rick's nephew Matt was visiting his Uncle Rick when I stepped in the garage. We had a really nice visit but we all stayed up until 1:30 am!

Today, my oldest daughter who is learning how to cook, called me and wanted to know if I could talk her over the phone, how to make Bierox. hehe Of course I said that was a hands-on learning experience so I've been over at her house baking bierox, cinna-buns, and watching her and Jayden put up the tree. Her house is decorated for Christmas. It is her absolute favorite season.

It was a good day eventhough I felt half-baked.

Been Away...

I have been absent from many of the things I love most.
In order to do what? Try to change the world?

I think of my mom and dad and my life from 17-50 years old and then I think of me as mom and our two daughters, and others don't know what they don' t know. It is such a different life than I lived...and I feel guilty for my share of what I now see. Love never fails because God is Love. Take strength in this.

I spent the evening at my office with my youngest daughter and we worked on her entrepreneurial skills. We both worked late and had put in a hard days work. She does an amazing job! She told me tonight she has never heard me tell her she was most like me. That made me sad. She paid me a great compliment in how important that was to her. I hope she knows how special she is and how much she is loved, collectively. Both my girls have a keen and connected sense of family and that makes me warm inside.

I love you. Good night.

Starting a new Century...

The first two songs I heard today were "Let It Be" by the Beetles and "Down on the Corner" by Creeedence Clearwater Revival. How perfect to start the day with. Both of these songs took me back to a wonderful childhood. I remember when my oldest brother and my sister started getting their first records. I remember Mom letting them turn up the music and we would dance and sing. I remember my Mom loving the song "Let It Be". I remember, listening to "Down on the Corner" for the first time and, was it Tom who sang the words to the chorus and shocked and delighted us all?

Music has always been a huge part of my life. My parents filled our home with Boots Randolf, Al Hert, Chet Atkins, Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass, and so many more I can't recall off the top of my head.

As I celebrate my life, I am thankful for my heritage and wish the world provided more children the opportunity to be wrapped in love from birth to 50 and beyond.

Remembering Irene.....

I see I have been away for a long time. Yet, as I open my paper journal, held together by the backbone of it's spirals, loose papers fall out on my lap. I've been sick and it hasn't been a healthy week for me.

As I prepare to create my presentation for an upcoming conference, I find myself distracted once again with what I've written in ink in my most prized journal that lies between the somewhat tattered hard cardboard cover of my notebook that I've carried around for over a year now. The notebook was inspired by Dan Pinks work "A Whole New Mind" as I call it my "design notebook". It's my book full of blog posts than never got written.

The loose paper that fell out of my journal? I quote my entry....

Journal Entry for 6/30/2007

I sigh - thinking with the emotion of life, death, family, friends, and community. You have all of these components in the death of a loved one.

Roland's house was just like what Irene would have so loved. Putting on a celebration of family - for family. The stories are fading away with the loved ones who's voice is now gone. We relish in the ones that are left.

I have wonderful stories - but sometimes our stories aren't significant after hearing stories of another side of humanness. We struggle trying to figure out the complexities of the human brain with the how and why questions.

Strength comes from having faith. We have to believe in a higher power within our very selves in order to overcome emotional bankruptcy.

Musings...

I'm supposed to be organizing my technology building that I now call my office. In the midst of feeling like taking advantage of the little "free" time I have to myself lately, I find myself taking long pauses to write down and explore a few thoughts. The learning catches me. I'm off task.

Along the way, as I searched for this great new song by John Mayer, "Dreaming With a Broken Heart", purchased btw on iTunes for 99 cents @ 10:44 a.m. today. Good song.

I'm feeling a bit depressed these days...when my quest to save the world, in my own little ways, aren't successful under my own roof. I'm trying to practice self-control, perseverance, compassion, and remain honest under the cloud.

Thinking about family keeps me inspired. I love you all!!