Reflection.

 

As this year comes to an end,

I feel reflective...

it's something that most of us do this time of year.

At the heart of everything for me is heart.

It's how I try to live.

I let my heart guide my steps and

it's led me to a place I happy to be.

I've been on an interesting journey over the last couple years.

Maybe it's my age,

Maybe it's the awesome people that love me,

Maybe it's the contentment that comes with helping others,

Maybe it's all of the above. :)

It's easy to be happy

when you remember the feeling of being very unhappy.

Those bad feelings are so strong that it makes it hard to forget.

That's not a bad thing.

It's important to remember the bad

so that you can avoid getting to that point again.

"History repeats itself endlessly 

for those who are unwilling to learn from the past." -Leon Brown

I don't want to repeat the past,
I have spent enough time doing that
while working through the events,
so that I could learn.
And learn I did.

Actually,
I repeat so many of the good things...
I have a lot of things that could be repeated, endlessly.
For that, I am happy.

So, what are you focusing on?
Do you relive the past, hoping that it will change?
Or...
Do you live in the now?

My hope for you as we move into the new year,
is that you live for the day.
The future will be a combination of those days.
If your days are filled with good events, helping others, and learning,
what a great future that will be!

Birthdays and not growing up

Birthdays have always felt funny to me, 

even as a little kid. 

You want the attention, but then, once all the focus is on you, 

you want to run and hide under a blanket. 

Anyone else know what I'm saying? 

Anyone? 

Now I know it may surprise you that I want to hide under a blanket. 

I tend to not be a shy one...and I'm not. 

But there's something about ALL those eyes on me that brings out shy Little Lori. 

She's there. Really. 

She's the one who cringes every time I do something ridiculous and self-deprecating. 

I think she's like Linus from Charlie Brown always carrying around a blanket. 

Of course her blanket is to hide under. 

It's taken me until now...no really, now, to not want to hide. 

I think it's called "maturity". 😉 

See I'm mature about some things.

So I'm embracing the celebrating because people like to celebrate each other. 

I sure do! 

If there's a birthday to celebrate, 

then I'm there and I'll wear a birthday hat and sing really loud. 

So, if I love to dish out the love to others on their birthday, 

then I need to be able to take all the love too.

And Little Lori secretly loves the attention too. 😉 

She's smiling and giggling a bit under that blanket. 

All in all, this is a very weird THANK YOU 

to everyone who has made me feels so special for my birthday. 

I'm soaking it all in and filling my love bucket up to the brim. 

Whoops! It's overflowing! I love that. 

But as Peter Pan said, "I won't grow up!"

Nope, I don't plan to any time soon. 

I'll wear the silly hat, sing loudly, dance like a crazy person, and belly laugh until I cry. 

Who's with me? 

http://youtu.be/sye2NanCYHI

It was a BLAST!

I should apologize, because I think the snow is mostly my fault.

I know. I know.

It's not one person's fault, but I really, really wanted a snow day.

The problem was I forgot to mention that 

I just wanted one really awesome day...

Not an entire weekend!

Oh well, we didn't ask for it but we're so glad it's here!

At Murphy and I made the best of it.

In between baking cookies for Valentine's Day,
we played, 

and played, 

and played.

While heading out again for another round of frisbee fun, 

I heard a voice down the street.

It was a familiar sound...the type sound that I knew pretty well.

It was excitement and joy.

It was the sound of a kid, telling someone REALLY important things.

You see, the kid was talking nonstop. 

The dad was just listening, nodding, and encouraging the story

as they skied down the street.

All the way up and down the street the kid talked, and talked and talked.

Telling his dad all about something super important to this kids' world.

You see, as adults we sometimes forget that kids just want to be heard.

They want to tell us all about elements in their world.

The kid was smiling by the time he got to my house,

and I could see that he and his dad had been snowshoeing up and down the streets.

I imagine that the dad was a little reluctant to head out with his son, 

unsure if his kid could keep up and have fun.

But as soon as they got going, 

the dad knew that this adventure was going to be perfect.

It was just a kid and a his dad.

A simple memory being made...

I wondered if they knew that.

Maybe.

I'd say that is was just about perfect.

So if you're one of those people, but found the Arctic blast a little annoying, 

remember that for some kids this is their perfect time.

Time that they got to spend with their parents 

and undivided attention where other things weren't pulling them away.

To me sometimes I worry that families don't get enough time together,

with all of the distractions of technology and games and sports.

It seems like families are running around nonstop.

But on a snow day...

on a snow day, it's family time.

Time to go out and play.

Time together outside playing or just hanging out watching a movie. 

Sounds pretty perfect to me.

So thinking back,

I'm not sorry about praying for the snow.

In fact I'm pretty glad that it has lasting a few days.

It's a good reminder to spend time with those that you love. 

Murphy and I have no trouble with that.

Oh excuse me, I think let's play again.

Miss IO is here and ready to play.

See, this Artic Blast has been a blast for us...that's for sure.