Simple Pleasures

I was just thinking today about things that make me smile. What is that for you? I've been reading some great books lately about how to obtain balance in life and one of the questions for this week is what are the simple things in life that just make you smile or warm your heart. I realized there are so many.

Sometimes it's the sound of the birds singing in my back yard when I let Turbo out in the morning. Other times, it's the way Turbo vies for attention if I'm busy with something. He is just like a 2-year-old. I also get that feeling when I see a student reach a goal, pass a milestone, or realize that they CAN do it.

Some of the best pleasures in my life, although I wouldn't say they are at all simple, are the children in my life. My niece has three beautiful kids and they are all unique and special. They are a big reason why I wished I lived in Colorado and not North Carolina. Every time I visit it seems they have grown a foot and gotten more mature. And every time I visit, I come home with yet another lesson learned "out of the mouths of babes." Let me share a bit of that with you today.

Danielle is the oldest. She is 11 going on 30, you know that routine! It's the age where some days the sweet little girl disappears and you realize that this one will soon be a teenager. She has the eye rolling of a teenager perfected. She has discovered boys, and boys have discovered her! She is also one of the best big sisters I have ever seen. Megan and Junior love her and she is so patient with them. She's a great lesson in patience with children, at a very young age. Danielle is also my shopping buddy from time to time. The time we've spent has given us some special time together that I will cherish forever. Danielle has taught me the value of a sense of humor. She has a great one and one I always enjoy!


And then we have Megan, who just turned 7. When she was 2, I fondly called her our demon child. She's a beautiful little girl and you know how people are with beautiful children. Every time someone would stop and say "she's so pretty," out of Megan's mouth in a VERY loud voice would come "DON'T TALK TO ME!" Because I didn't live in Colorado when she was born, it took a little time for Megan and I to develop a relationship. When she was 5, Megan blossomed. She became this very sweet little girl, full of life and so very caring about those around her. We developed a routine when I stayed at their house last year. After her bath, she would bring her brush and the "tangle spray," sit on my bed, and I would brush her hair while we talked about our day. Megan worries about the fact that I live alone and "it's only you and the dog at your house." She always gives me extra hugs because, as she puts it, "then when you go home, you won't be lonely." She touches my heart in ways no child has before. She is a great reminder of the importance of family and connections.



Junior is ALL boy, full of energy, and at five years old, full of a sense of humor like you can't imagine. He is simply a funny child and makes me laugh with his sense of humor. And while he's all boy, he has a tender spot for the females in his life, something I hope he always keeps. From Junior, I learned the importance of loyalty. I took him shopping once. I found the greatest Bronco sweatsuit in his size. I thought it would make a perfect thing for this all boy sports fan. I held it up, so proud of myself, and said "hey, how about this?!" His face got very serious as he said "Aunt Kathy, MY Daddy is a Raiders fan." And so is he. That loyalty to what he believes and thinks will take him far in life. It is something that is a good reminder for all of us.

I am so blessed to have these kids in my life. They are indeed a part of the things that make my life good and make me smile. These are the relationships I hope will carry on through all of life because they are so important.

On this day, 9/11

Six years ago today, our country was attacked by terrorists. We lost many people that day. And today, we have many of our military folks serving in this thing we call the war on terror.

For the last four or five years, I've been involved with support of the deployed military. At the time, I really didn't do it because I supported the war. I was newly single, living far away from family, and looking for something to do with my time as the holidays approached. I happened on the AnySoldier.com website and found there were a lot of deployed military folks who were looking for support. I can't really say I understood much about what we were doing in Iraq, only that I related it to the happenings in our world on 9/11. While I grew up in a military family, my mother was pretty good about protecting us from the reality of the reasons that a military is needed in the first place. Thankfully children in the military are often shielded from the hardships that are endured by their parents.

Being involved with our military the last few years has humbled me. I have learned so much from the folks I have supported. I am constantly amazed by how humble they are. And I have learned that they ARE making a difference in the lives of the people. And isn't that what life is all about for any of us? To be able to make a difference? It's hard for me to try to make someone understand that I don't just support our military because of all they do for me. I do it, in part, because of what it does for me. How it allows me to make a difference for someone else. These folks give of themselves, they sacrifice time with their families, they miss children's birthdays and special events, and they do it willingly and without complaint. That amazes me.

I am also very much in awe of the military spouses who keep things running at home while their spouse is deployed. I have a real heart for this group. Getting to know some of them has given me a refreshed insight into my mother's life and how it must have been, and yet she shielded us from most of that. I think military spouses may be some of the most resourceful people I have met. They seem to always find ways to get around the obstacles, take care of their family, become a "single" parent for a period of time in their lives, and remain supportive of their spouse who is gone. I believe they are the unsung heroes in our war and a group we often forget.

And so, this day, my heart is full of gratitude that we have folks who have made this their life calling. It means something to me. Not only do they make a difference where they are, but they have also made a real difference in my life. And for that, I am thankful.

Envisioning the Future

So much is written about how to envision one's future. The recent craze over "The Secret" shows just how much people want to have a successful, happy life. I actually love the concepts in the book, which really says that the things we focus on, the universe will bring into our lives. It really goes back to a verse that says "as a man thinketh...." and I can see that in play every day in my own life. We DO become what we think about.

I tend to read a lot of books. Where possible, I take those things I read and apply them to my own life. I certainly don't do it perfectly, however, I believe I am better because of it. I've learned in the last few years that defining who I am is only up to me. I've stopped letting others have the power to define who I am. That really doesn't belong to anyone but me. There was a time when that wasn't the case in my life, but no longer. Now and then, someone might try, and I am pretty good at stopping them and reminding them that no one gets to define me, but me.

Lately, I've been doing a lot of thinking about my life, how to find and create balance between work, which I do love, and the rest of my life. I volunteer in my professional organization as well. And yet, life does need to be about more than just things related to one's job. And so my "wish list" is being created. I almost have a picture of what it looks like in my head, where I will live, what I will be doing, how life goes. And you know, just thinking about it gives me ideas about how to get there. Which is, I believe, truly what it's all about. I can't wait to see what it brings.

I did it!

Today I took the first step in something new. I signed up for the Academy for Professional Speaking. I've been doing public speaking for awhile now, mostly because of my involvement with my professional organization and my current position with my job. I have found that I frankly love it.

It's time to step out of the box and do something with it that's bigger than what I've done so far. I have had a long time desire to belong to the National Speakers Association and some day to get that profesional credential as a Certified Speaking Professional. It's not an easy process, nor is it a fast one, but at least, TODAY, I am on the way! Stay tuned!