Good News!

Yes! Today is the day something sparkled in the dirt! My post last week referred to the fact that we are all working so hard and it seems the rewards are few and far between. Today I got wonderful news with regard to ZipperBack Gloves (I can't tell yet, but when I can, you'll be the firs to know!). Then, on the same subject, Mike signed a new retailer and took a glove order! I know! Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I got a great opportunity to do a freelance writing gig! Holy cow, I'm expecting my phone to ring any minute with the confirmation that I booked the spot speaking on television. Why not? It's been that kind of a day and thank goodness, we need some good to come along to inspire us to keep swinging that pick-ax!

The lady bugs are clearly not gems in the literal sense, but they are in that they are a symbol for luck. Hard work + Perseverance = Luck!

It's A New Week.

Yes, we have fifty-two of them a year! I love that, fifty-two! It's my favorite number you know. So what does that mean? It could inspire you that you have fifty-two periods of time to make something happen this year...provided you want to work in week long increments. This is silly, but when I thought it's a new week, it just led to this. Laughing!

So what will you do this week? I have big plans...Oh jeez, I know, God is getting ready for a great, big, heavenly belly laugh! I'll let you know what happens, and since we're talking weeks, there is only 13 left until Christmas!

Chink, Clang, Chuck! Chink, Clang, Chuck!

That's the sound I hear as I keep swinging my pick-ax in the mine that is my life right now. It feels like lots of work with no real gems sparkling. I don't have to ask if you know what I mean because I know you do! I've talked with so many of you and we're all working so hard for what feels like so little.

Well, let me tell you that no matter how long this apparent dry spell lasts, the gems in this mine will appear. Diamonds in the rough, sapphires that initially look black like coal, I just can't believe anything else. Keep your eyes open and be looking for that sparkle, that one little reflection of light, because where there is one, there is more!

Quotes That Resonate

When the winds of life rage with their fury,

you must sometimes be willing to bend.

When you face such an adverse condition,

you must bend or you’ll break in the end.

- Wes Fessler

Friday Was High...Monday is...

Well that remains to be seen, doesn't it? The day ahead is really all about how you think it will go. Now, I know, I've been around the block and what did I say just a week or two ago, "If you want to see God laugh, make plans."

Even in the light of being side-tracked and kicked to the curb, you can still see something good in the rubble. For me, I see that I have the where-with-all to keep going, to get back to what it was I planned, and in the end, chuckle that it really wasn't all that bad anyway! What about you? What do you do when life derails your perfectly planned day, week, month, okay, I gotta say it, year? Do tell and there will be extra points for making me laugh!

What Is It About Friday?

All of you know me and know I love Fridays! There is a magical energy from the time I get out of bed, through my lunch time, to the five o'clock hour when it feels like anything is possible! It makes me giggle just at the thought of Friday...the magic, dinner out, the possibility of something fun for the night....I love Friday!

What Is Winning To You?

Monday's quote resonates with me to my very core! I absolutely see winning as simply finishing in many areas of my life. Finishing the laundry - WIN! Finishing the blog post - WIN! Finishing all the calls on my calendar in my work shift - WIN!

There are many things that we do that start and stop. Lots of little journey's make up a big, collective journey that leads us to destinations that start new journeys! If you don't ever celebrate the little successes because they are not the destination, you will never celebrate.

Quotes That Resonate

“Winning isn't always finishing first. Sometimes winning is just finishing.”

~Manuel Diotte

We Will Always Remember.

As a military family, we remember 9/11 everyday. We may not talk about it, but when I see Dave leave the house everyday in his uniform, I'm reminded about all that has been sacrificed for the freedom we all take for granted. We do. We get comfortable in our day to day lives and we fail to realize that there are men and women, right this minute putting their lives on the line so we can speak our minds, worship as we wish, and marry who we love. It's not only our military, our emergency services personnel are at the ready when we need them. I'm here to say from our family to yours, thank you for the part you play in assuring our freedom as Americans.

9/11/01 - The day the world stood still.

More Mayhem!

I love cliche' sayings. They are repeated because they're true, like the one I'm living right now, "If you want to see God laugh, make plans."

I made plans to have an amazing week, get so much done and instead, I wound up in the emergency room with Mason and a broken arm. Oh, don't worry, it's only a fracture but now there's an appointment with an ortho, another for a cast, another appointment for x-rays, and all of this is time that I am not doing what I had planned. I adore Mason and it breaks my heart to see him hurt. I will do whatever it takes to get him the best care available. In the meantime, God is laughing!

Quotes That Resonate

"Wanting something is not enough. You must hunger for it.

Your motivation must be absolutely compelling in order to overcome the obstacles that will invariably come your way."

~Les Brown~

How Do You Get Around?

How do you get around the barriers and road blocks you encounter? There are just times that you can't get around them. I find that the best thing to do is to leave it alone. Yep, don't do anything. I haven't done an official study, but it seems like more than half the time, whatever is in my way, goes away on it's own.

I'm sorry to say, that my current disease (not literally, I'm completely healthy!) is not going away. There doesn't seem to be a pill to cure my ill, or at least I haven't found it yet. I'll keep looking as giving up is not an option! What do you do when faced with situations like this?

Dang Barriers!

Do you ever have a cycle in life where it seems like all you do is run up against barriers? I've been dealing with something like this for the last three to four months. It's been in my professional life and to say it's maddening would be an understatement!

Now I'm not one to let one little road block stop me, but I have to say, this one keeps coming back! I know this simply means I have not found the right solution but a girl will get worn out. This week I think I've found a way to do what I want to do while still staying within the letters of the law, so to speak. I'm hopeful, but what if this still isn't it? I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll put my head under the covers until I cool off and can get back to the drawing board. What do you do when you hit a repeated barrier? Share with me and inspire me to keep moving.

I'll share more about what this situation is, hopefully "was" when I finally do find my way and do the good I'm trying to do!