Saturday, July 3, 2010
I Did It, I Actually Did It.
It's true, I did it, I actually did it. At a time that I should be thinking about retirement, I went back to school instead and now I am so close to being finished, I can very nearly touch it. I just finished up 160 hours of internship which was more challenging than I anticipated for many different reasons. I was able to use the skills I had learned in class and learned some things about myself along the way, for example, that I do not ever want to work in a doctors office. So what am I going to do with my new diploma? I have no idea. But, I believe that God will use it and me and I'm looking forward to finding out what that is going to be. For now, I am going to just enjoy spare time and the opportunity to get back to doing the things I have missed doing in the past year. Then perhaps landscape design.......?
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The Nature Quest Continues
As I've become more interested in nature with a desire to leave more positive effects on the environment, I decided this winter I was going to be faithful in feeding the birds in my yard. We fed them sporadically last year and had been rewarded with a few interesting birds coming to visit us. This year I put up a few more feeders, I got one from my mom for Christmas and every other day I go out to fill them up. My dad made me a birdfeeder out of a birch log with holes in it that I actually have to make a "bird pudding" to put in it, but that is the feeder that empties quickly. Whether it's because we have about 30" of snow or because the birds know of a good eating spot, we have been able to attract an abundance of birds this year. There are blue jays, cardinals, little red-headed woodpeckers, finches and cute little chubby birds that I'm pretty sure are chickadees. Brenda said she looked out her window and saw deer eating out of her birdfeeders. I'm glad I haven't had that problem, the birds keep me busy enough with filling the feeders.
I have wanted to get pictures of the birds because there are so many different kinds, but, guess what? When I go out there with my camera, they fly away. I could sit out on my deck like I loved to do in the summer, but like I said, 30" of snow and temps up to a high of O degrees, doesn't make me eager to sit out there waiting for the birds to come back so I can take their picture. I guess I'll have to be content with watching them from my window.
One of my birdfeeders is out on my hillside and as I look out there, it's such a strange feeling when I think about all the time I spent out there last summer and all the color that was out there. My gardening flip flops still sit by the back door of our basement. I did get a picture of my winter hillside:
I'm eager to see how it is going to look in the summer. I hope my flowers have multiplied abundantly. I have plans for some things to add out there. For Christmas, again, my mom got me some butterfly cups so I hope to attract more butterflies. I would like to make a path around the hillside (or maybe part of it this year) and steps through the middle. I have not had a whole lot of success attracting orioles and hummingbirds so I hope I can create an environment that will be inviting to them. I've been so blessed by seeing God's creation in my backyard. What a gift this has been.
Much Love,
Monday, December 28, 2009
Firsts and Lasts
It occurred to me recently that I am in a Season of Firsts. Since my dad passed away in July, I have gone through summer and fall and well into winter. Thanksgiving and Christmas have come and gone. These are our first holidays without my dad.
Thanksgiving isn't a holiday that I usually go home. This year my mom went to my dad's cousin, John and his wife Vonnie, and they filled candy bags for the Salvation Army. This is something my mom has done for several years, but this was the first year she did it without my dad. I was home for Christmas and this was the first year my dad wasn't at the head of the table and saying the prayer before our Christmas dinner. December 31 was my dad's birthday. This is the first year, I will think about him, but won't send a card or try to think of a gift for him. On January 1, we will begin a new year and things will happen in 2010, we'll have happy times and perhaps some not so happy times, but it's the first year my dad won't be a part of any of it.
Firsts aren't always bad, in fact many are good. I remember the first time I held my children, I remember their first words, their first steps, their first day of school, their first athletic endeavors. But this particular Season of Firsts is one I never wanted to happen. Karen Kingsbury has written a children's book called "Let me Hold You Longer" about "lasts."
So often we don't realize when we are having a "last." A couple weeks ago, Cody, Carson and Carissa were all home and as we were eating dinner, Cody made the remark that it had been a long time since our dinner table looked like it did that night. I remember all of them being there for dinner, but before this particular meal, I don't remember the last time it was the five of us at the dinner table. I remember the kids' first days of school, I took enough pictures to document the events, but I don't remember very many of their last days of school. When was the last time they sat in my lap while I read them a story? When was the last time I fed them? Or gave them a bath?
I have thought about "lasts" now for a while. Last summer as Noah and Brianna played in their brand new pool, I sat on the deck with Nancy and their neighbor, Fran, who has been in the neighborhood my whole life. On Christmas Eve last week, Fran passed away suddenly. I realized that night on the deck last summer was my last conversation with Fran. I never asked her about her life or her growing up years or how she met her husband. I realize that maybe every event, every encounter should be treated as a "last."
"Let me hold on longer, God, to every precious last." ("Let Me Hold You Longer" by Karen Kinsgbury.
Love Every Moment,
Thanksgiving isn't a holiday that I usually go home. This year my mom went to my dad's cousin, John and his wife Vonnie, and they filled candy bags for the Salvation Army. This is something my mom has done for several years, but this was the first year she did it without my dad. I was home for Christmas and this was the first year my dad wasn't at the head of the table and saying the prayer before our Christmas dinner. December 31 was my dad's birthday. This is the first year, I will think about him, but won't send a card or try to think of a gift for him. On January 1, we will begin a new year and things will happen in 2010, we'll have happy times and perhaps some not so happy times, but it's the first year my dad won't be a part of any of it.
Firsts aren't always bad, in fact many are good. I remember the first time I held my children, I remember their first words, their first steps, their first day of school, their first athletic endeavors. But this particular Season of Firsts is one I never wanted to happen. Karen Kingsbury has written a children's book called "Let me Hold You Longer" about "lasts."
So often we don't realize when we are having a "last." A couple weeks ago, Cody, Carson and Carissa were all home and as we were eating dinner, Cody made the remark that it had been a long time since our dinner table looked like it did that night. I remember all of them being there for dinner, but before this particular meal, I don't remember the last time it was the five of us at the dinner table. I remember the kids' first days of school, I took enough pictures to document the events, but I don't remember very many of their last days of school. When was the last time they sat in my lap while I read them a story? When was the last time I fed them? Or gave them a bath?
I have thought about "lasts" now for a while. Last summer as Noah and Brianna played in their brand new pool, I sat on the deck with Nancy and their neighbor, Fran, who has been in the neighborhood my whole life. On Christmas Eve last week, Fran passed away suddenly. I realized that night on the deck last summer was my last conversation with Fran. I never asked her about her life or her growing up years or how she met her husband. I realize that maybe every event, every encounter should be treated as a "last."
"Let me hold on longer, God, to every precious last." ("Let Me Hold You Longer" by Karen Kinsgbury.
Love Every Moment,
Friday, October 16, 2009
Good One
Mark sent this to me from school and I liked it.
*Ducks Quack - Eagles Soar*
No one can make you serve customers well....that's because great service is a choice.
Harvey Mackay, tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point.
He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey .
He handed my friend a laminated card and said: 'I'm Wally, your driver. While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission statement.'
Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said: Wally's Mission Statement: To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment....
This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!
As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, 'Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.' My friend said jokingly, 'No, I'd prefer a soft drink.' Wally smiled and said, 'No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.' Almost stuttering, Harvey said, 'I 'll take a Diet Coke.'
Handing him his drink, Wally said, 'If you'd like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today..'
As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card, 'These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd like to listen to the radio.'
And as if that weren't enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he'd be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts...
'Tell me, Wally,' my amazed friend asked the driver, 'have you always served customers like this?'
Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. 'No, not always. In fact, it's only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day.
He had just written a book called "You'll See It When You Believe It". Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself. He said, 'Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.'
'That hit me right between the eyes,' said Wally. 'Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more.'
'I take it that has paid off for you,' Harvey said.
'It sure has,' Wally replied. 'My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I'll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don't sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can't pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action.'
Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab. I've probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give the m a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn't do any of what I was suggesting.
Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.
How about us? Smile, and the whole world smiles with you.... The ball is in our hands!
A man reaps what he sows. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up... let us do good to all people.
Ducks Quack, Eagles Soar.
Have a nice day, unless you already have other plans.
*Ducks Quack - Eagles Soar*
No one can make you serve customers well....that's because great service is a choice.
Harvey Mackay, tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point.
He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey .
He handed my friend a laminated card and said: 'I'm Wally, your driver. While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission statement.'
Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said: Wally's Mission Statement: To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment....
This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!
As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, 'Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.' My friend said jokingly, 'No, I'd prefer a soft drink.' Wally smiled and said, 'No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.' Almost stuttering, Harvey said, 'I 'll take a Diet Coke.'
Handing him his drink, Wally said, 'If you'd like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today..'
As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card, 'These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd like to listen to the radio.'
And as if that weren't enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he'd be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts...
'Tell me, Wally,' my amazed friend asked the driver, 'have you always served customers like this?'
Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. 'No, not always. In fact, it's only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day.
He had just written a book called "You'll See It When You Believe It". Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself. He said, 'Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.'
'That hit me right between the eyes,' said Wally. 'Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more.'
'I take it that has paid off for you,' Harvey said.
'It sure has,' Wally replied. 'My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I'll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don't sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can't pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action.'
Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab. I've probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give the m a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn't do any of what I was suggesting.
Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.
How about us? Smile, and the whole world smiles with you.... The ball is in our hands!
A man reaps what he sows. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up... let us do good to all people.
Ducks Quack, Eagles Soar.
Have a nice day, unless you already have other plans.
Loops in Life
The other night as Elizabeth and I drove home after her brothers' football game, we were talking about how we liked seeing things that didn't go together. As we were talking and our toes were actually starting to warm up after watching the game on a chilly night, we met a car pulling a boat. Like a boat that people ski behind. We laughed about how we were talking about contrasting things and there was a boat on a cold night. Who has a boat out after 10 p.m. when the temperature is barely 30 degrees?
This picture is one of my all-time favorites. I took it when we went to Rocky Mountain National Park in July 2005. I like it because Carissa and Elizabeth are in summer clothes and behind them are the mountains with snow.
I see this sight a lot as I drive around the area where I live.
I stood in the same place and took these pictures. On one side of the road, are houses and a very tidy neighborhood. Then I turned around and took a picture of a farm.Sometimes something just seems odd. I think that may be why I find hospitals such interesting places. You find the joy of new life there and the sadness of a loved one leaving life. I'm kind of fuzzy on the details of being at the hospital in Sheboygan when my dad was there, but if I recall correctly, I think the birthing unit was on the same floor as the ICU where we watched over dad. People hear bad news, people hear good news. All in the same place.
I'm not sure this post has a point, it's just one of those things I like to think about and look for. Kind of like an oxymoron. You stop for a moment, puzzle over it a bit and then realize you have just been given a little gift.
Watching for surprises,
Friday, October 9, 2009
The Fields Are Indeed Ripe
As I drive around central Iowa, I have been seeing this sight a lot:
This is a field of soy beans ready to be harvested. I took this a couple weeks ago and by now the beans have been taken out of the field. At that time, the corn still had a bit of green about the stalks and leaves; now it too is ready to be picked.
There are a bunch of lessons here, about the plants needing to die before being picked to provide food and nourishment, to fulfill the purpose for which they were planted. But the one I am most reminded of comes from John 4:35: Do you not say, "Four months more and then the harvest?" I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
I read a disturbing article in the paper this week about child pornography and even in my job typing on people's problems that are a result of poor choices and circumstances, I believe, indeed, the fields are ready for harvest.
Let's Have a Harvest Party,
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Blogging?
On a recent note I posted, this was a comment Brenda made: I recently was considering why I blog.
I was at Michael's craft store the other day and the scrapbook aisle always draws me like ants to jelly. I was looking over the stickers and other scrapbooking accessories and the word "memory" was available in every way imaginable. There were ways to remember vacations, sports, every grade in school, weddings, childhood milestones, and on and on it goes. I think we are more aware of the significance of memories, of remembering certain times of our lives or even just the everyday-ness of life. We hold our memories a little more tightly.
Blogging is a part of that. A young lady, named Paige, who I think is wonderful, recently began her blog and she had some doubts and wondered if it was something she should do. I have read some things she has written and she is a gifted writer. She had a lot of encouragement and I'm happy to say she started blogging. All the blogs I have listed on this site are written by people I know and I love reading all of them.
But back to the reasons for blogging. Do I write because I think people are interested in my life? I think probably not. Personally, I cannot even imagine who would be interested. I don't even think my family reads the things I write. In fact, I don't know if anyone does. But that's okay. While I love my life, I'm sure to many it seems pretty ordinary, not too much excitement. But I believe that's probably how my parents and my grandparents saw their lives and now I want to know more about those lives. The irony of life is that we often become interested after the opportunity has passed. My mom has talked about "thrashing" season while she was a young girl. What was it like for my grandparents to farm? My Grandma Brasser used to talk about taking a sleigh in the winter. With horses. Pulling it. I would like to read their blogs now. So maybe someday, a grandchild or a great grandchild will want to read what life was like when we had to use computers and cell phones.
As Brenda asked the question, someone replied that they blog to remember. I can look back at other posts and see how God worked through something. If my family ever does read mine, they might get a little different glimpse of me that I don't always show. Not because I don't want to, just more because I don't think about it. It can be tiring to those around you to always have the waterfall of emotions going on. There are things I want to remember, the way I was feeling at certain times. Blogs remind me of what happened when and how I responded to it and how God used it. It can show how a person is feeling at a certain time and what is happening in their life. Even if no one else in the whole wide world reads it, you still have that place where you can remember what that time in your life was like. So write, be reminded of God's hand in your life, and then Give Thanks.
Blog on,
I was at Michael's craft store the other day and the scrapbook aisle always draws me like ants to jelly. I was looking over the stickers and other scrapbooking accessories and the word "memory" was available in every way imaginable. There were ways to remember vacations, sports, every grade in school, weddings, childhood milestones, and on and on it goes. I think we are more aware of the significance of memories, of remembering certain times of our lives or even just the everyday-ness of life. We hold our memories a little more tightly.
Blogging is a part of that. A young lady, named Paige, who I think is wonderful, recently began her blog and she had some doubts and wondered if it was something she should do. I have read some things she has written and she is a gifted writer. She had a lot of encouragement and I'm happy to say she started blogging. All the blogs I have listed on this site are written by people I know and I love reading all of them.
But back to the reasons for blogging. Do I write because I think people are interested in my life? I think probably not. Personally, I cannot even imagine who would be interested. I don't even think my family reads the things I write. In fact, I don't know if anyone does. But that's okay. While I love my life, I'm sure to many it seems pretty ordinary, not too much excitement. But I believe that's probably how my parents and my grandparents saw their lives and now I want to know more about those lives. The irony of life is that we often become interested after the opportunity has passed. My mom has talked about "thrashing" season while she was a young girl. What was it like for my grandparents to farm? My Grandma Brasser used to talk about taking a sleigh in the winter. With horses. Pulling it. I would like to read their blogs now. So maybe someday, a grandchild or a great grandchild will want to read what life was like when we had to use computers and cell phones.
As Brenda asked the question, someone replied that they blog to remember. I can look back at other posts and see how God worked through something. If my family ever does read mine, they might get a little different glimpse of me that I don't always show. Not because I don't want to, just more because I don't think about it. It can be tiring to those around you to always have the waterfall of emotions going on. There are things I want to remember, the way I was feeling at certain times. Blogs remind me of what happened when and how I responded to it and how God used it. It can show how a person is feeling at a certain time and what is happening in their life. Even if no one else in the whole wide world reads it, you still have that place where you can remember what that time in your life was like. So write, be reminded of God's hand in your life, and then Give Thanks.
Blog on,
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