I’m not exactly sure why, but lighting that pink candle was always a special day when I was a kid. I don’t know if it was because I liked pink or if it was because it meant Christmas was getting closer!

This week’s second reading contained one of my favorite bible verses from 1 Thessalonians: “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” This verse always seems to come up in my life at times when it feels the hardest to be ‘rejoicing always.’

As we prepare for Christmas this year, everything feels different. There are no Christmas Plays, no Christmas Parties, and the prospect of having family get togethers isn’t looking good. It’s getting harder and harder to give thanks in all of our circumstances.

My thought process began to change as Father started his homily. He asked the congregation who among us has never experienced joy. I don’t think any hands went up. Then he asked us, “Where do you find joy?” Understandably, this was a much harder question – ESPECIALLY during this time of uncertainty.

Then Father talked about having the ability to hold a newborn baby and all the joy it brings. How true is that? I’m not sure that there’s much more in life more precious that holding a brand new human. He noted that even though that baby is going to cry and going to need to be cared for and going to need to be changed, you are not only holding that baby. You are holding all of that baby’s hopes. You are holding all of that baby’s dreams.

You are holding everything that baby is ever going to be.

It got me thinking about this year, especially this current time that we are having a hard time getting through. The holiday season is usually a source of stress for a lot of people. This year a lot of the things that cause us stress have been taken away from us due to COVID, but we aren’t left with more time to enjoy with our friends and family. Instead, we are left with more time apart from each other. It’s hard. It sucks. It does. However, just like the crying and the changing and the caring for – there’s more to the story.

Right around the corner, we have a brand new year coming. We know there will be more crying, more changing, more caring for – there always is. That’s life. What we need to remember is this – that’s not all we’re holding. We’re holding all of our hopes. We’re holding all of our dreams. We’re holding all we’ll be in this upcoming year.

Keeping this in mind – I think I’ll continue to pray without ceasing. There are many reasons to always rejoice. Even during these trying circumstances, I’m going to think about the upcoming new year and give thanks – because THAT is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus.

Have a great week – and see you back here next Sunday.

Being late for church was unacceptable in our household when I was growing up. In fact – we left for church earlier than I felt was necessary to not only be ‘not late,’ but we could almost be considered ‘early.’

I did not have that problem this week.

My morning got away from me, and the next thing I knew – I was walking into church at 8:30am on the dot. Funny thing about running late is that you realize as you’re walking into church late with other people that you’re not alone. Lesson learned in humility for the week to not judge latecomers – done, and goal set to get moving a little quicker next week.

This week’s gospel was from the book of Mark (1: 1-8), and it talked about John the Baptist proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah. As Father started his homily, he walked out into the congregation and asked two young children sitting with their grandmother if they knew what a luminary was. He let them ask their grandmother for help, and the answer of “something that lights up” was given. Father said that was correct and noted it could also be SOMEONE that lights up.

He proceed to ask the children if their grandmother was a luminary, and I proceed to get emotional when they stated she was because she was awesome and taught them to bake cookies. My mind immediately shifted to going to church with both of my grandmothers and making cookies with Nanny.

Father then began to talk about how luminaries work. He pointed out the Advent wreath, noting that we could now see two candles burning this week. He said that if the church hall (which is where mass is being held until the carpet renovation is complete in the church) was dark that the light would seem even brighter and allow us to see.

God uses luminaries in the same way. He sends us luminaries during dark times to help us see. He sent us Jesus. He sent John the Baptist to help us see Jesus. He still sends us signs everyday to help guide us on our way. Father also pointed out an interesting fact about luminaries – they can’t always see their own light. When you do a good deed for someone or help out someone else, you have no way of knowing how much light that gave them. We don’t always know how much our actions can effect and help others, but maybe we don’t need to. As long as we let God use us as He intended, we can trust our light is always shining where it needs to.

Mother Theresa once said, “Let God use you without consulting you.” During these dark days of illness and separation, we could all try a little harder to let God use our light in whatever ways He sees fit.

I’m sure glad he used two ladies in my life. I don’t know if they realized how much light they gave me, but I sure felt a little closer to them in church this week.

Have a great week – and see you back here next Sunday.

Ten years.
That’s the length of time between these two photos.
I look at these two pictures, and I really don’t see much of a difference on the outside. I KNOW how much of a difference there is on the inside of these two people – and it wasn’t a quick change either.

Ten years brought with them a lot of changes, and this body carried me through all of them.

Moving and new homes.
A broken heart.
Vacations.
Girls nights.
Weight loss.
Weight gain.
Depressed times.
Happy times.
Friends made.
Friends lost.
New experiences.
Family gatherings.
Storms.
Calm.
More dark times.
Dreams realized.
Dreams lost.
New beginnings……
…and happy endings.

This body has carried me through all of that – and then some. Over the past three years I’ve made a very conscious effort to improve my health. I’ve come to realize, though, that the only way to see permanent results is by making permanent changes. It hasn’t always been easy, and I’m not saying that I don’t have cheat days. I have a lot of them. I still eat chips and guacamole more often than I should, and I still drink wine. A LOT of wine.

Nothing about this journey has been quick, but it’s been worth every step. I’ve changed my way of life and what I consume – and I’m not just talking about food. I make a conscious effort to read and/or listen to positive content everyday. I keep a gratitude journal that I use every morning to start my day off with a grateful mindset. I’ve become a certified yoga instructor, and I plan on beginning to teach this fall. Nothing that I do for myself would I consider to be part of a ‘diet’ or ‘program.’ I try to make permanent changes, and – while they may take longer to see the results of than ‘quick fixes’ – I know these changes are leading to permanent changes in the quality of my life.

If you are reading this and find yourself somewhere you don’t want to be in regards to your health, happiness, or any other avenue in your life – make the conscious decision to make a change today.

Make ONE change today.
Take ONE step forward.
Do ONE thing differently than you did yesterday.

Then tomorrow – do one MORE thing…….

Slowly you will find yourself changing your life and your world. It took me ten years, but I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything.

Can’t wait to see where the next ten years take me…..and where they take you, too.

Even though I am a single woman that does not have children, anyone who knows me knows how full my schedule is.  I’m not content unless every square on my calendar has a highlighted task or appointment.  More often than not I’m asked “What do you have going on tonight?” instead of “Are you doing anything tonight?”  I have always had a very hard time sitting still.  In order to be able to watch TV, I have to be multitasking and doing something else.  So, I wanted to challenge myself to learn how to relax as part of my “50 Before 50” list of goals.  I wanted to learn how to take time out every week to quiet my mind and soul from my normal busyness, and – more importantly – also learn how to enjoy doing so.

I ran my first half marathon two years ago.  Because it was the first one I had ever attempted, it was important goal for me to run the entire race without slowing down to walk.  I wanted to prove I could run 13.1 miles straight.  I did, but my pace was slower than what I had anticipated.  My 10^th and 11^thmiles were my fastest.  I could feel myself holding back in the beginning of the race, not sure if I would have enough strength to finish.  Once I started to get closer to the end, I knew I could do it and kicked it up a notch.

Since that race I now do more interval running.  I will do a short warm up walk, and then I’ll switch back and forth between running and walking.  Oddly enough – my pace improved.  I wasn’t afraid to work harder when I knew I had a short rest coming up.  I think I lived my life in a very similar way.  I was always concentrating on the next task, the next project, or the next appointment.  I was never allowing myself to rest, and – what was probably even more debilitating – I knew that I had no rest to look forward to.

I’ve started to incorporate short periods of rest into my daily schedule – even if it’s sitting in silence for five minutes before I leave the house in the morning.  Knowing that I have a rest – or a “Sabbath” – to look forward to has been a game changer for me.  Over the past month I feel I have lived a more purposeful life than I have in the past three years.  I underestimated the positive effects that rest time would have on the rest of my day.

I know I have the luxury of having a very flexible schedule, so it truly is easier for me to find “Sabbath” moments in my day.  I promise you that once you start scheduling a moment here and there, it is going to become easier for you to plan and find more moments.  You’ll find yourself becoming more efficient in other areas of your life, and it will become easier to find those moments that give you strength.

“The Lord said to her in reply, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.  There is only need of one thing.’” – Luke 11:41

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

Hello friends!!!

It’s been entirely too long since I have last been on here – for many reasons. I could say it’s because I’ve been busy – which wouldn’t be a complete lie. I could say it’s because I haven’t had much to write about – which WOULD be one. Instead – I’ll be completely honest……..after my “Year of 40” has come and gone, I’m here to admit to all of you that I fell short in my ultimate goal of crossing all of those items off that list.

There are several reasons for that. Forty goals in one year is quite a lofty ideal to hold yourself to, for one. Two huge work projects (which were both completed successfully, by the way!) took a lot of time and energy out of me, too. Regardless of the reasons – I stand here before you today to hold myself accountable. I did complete some of those items, and I’m very proud of myself for what I did accomplish over the past year and a half. What upset me more than the fact that I wasn’t crossing those items off one by one was the fact that I wasn’t writing my blog anymore. The longer time went on I did grow to be a bit ashamed about the fact that my list kind of fell by the wayside, and then I grew even more distant from writing.

That stops today. I’m back here – doing what I love – and happy to announce that I’ve set some new goals for myself with a comfortable and realistic timeline of the next decade to reach them. I’m happy to share with all of you my “50 before 50” List! You might see some repeat items on this list, and that’s okay. It just means that item is dear to me and still a goal I want to reach. I’m using this list not as a yardstick by which I’ll measure my success, but rather as a road map for this journey through my next decade.

1. Complete a half marathon every year.
2. Create a podcast.
3. Learn to play the piano.
4. Learn to play the guitar.
5. Go on a road trip – solo.
6. Become a certified yoga instructor.
7. Visit Kinkora, Ontario. (Birthplace of my grandmother and home to one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen.)
8. Attend a church service of a different religion.
9. Go to a drive-in movie.
10. Go kayaking.
11. Meditate daily. (Gonna be riding the Struggle Bus on this one, but I really want to try to make this a part of my daily routine.)
12. Learn a new language.
13. Have a public speaking engagement. (Hopefully it will be more that just one.)
14. Learn a new craft skill.
15. Organize all my old photos.
16. Buy a bike – and use it.
17. Learn how to swim.
18. Visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
19. Try (at least) one new recipe a month.
20. Travel somewhere by train.
21. Set foot in all five Great Lakes.
22. Enjoy a spa day – by myself.
23. Fly first class.
24. Learn sign language.
25. Visit the 9/11 Memorial in NYC. (I’ve actually been there before, but I couldn’t bring myself to go in the building.)
26. Visit the Fred Rogers Center. (Recently watched “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” and I HAD to add this one.)
27. Go back to Washington DC. (I could spend days there.)
28. Attend a NFL game.
29. Send a personal card to one friend a month.
30. Visit Disneyworld.
31. Develop my sushi making skills.
32. Enjoy gardening more and freezing/canning more natural foods.
33. See the Tunnel of Trees.
34. Read the Bible – cover to cover. (I read the Bible almost every day, but there are still several passages I’ve never read before.)
35. Complete an adult coloring book.
36. Complete one random act of kindness a month.
37. Read one book a month.
38. Allow myself “sabbath” time weekly. (Sometimes my schedule doesn’t allow for Sunday rest, but I need to set time aside every week for extra time with the Lord.)
39. Host a dinner party. (Friendsmas doesn’t count toward this one.)
40. Skydive.
41. Have my make up professionally done. (Girly one, I know – but I’ve never afforded myself this luxury.)
42. Minimize.
43. Declutter. Declutter. Declutter.
44. Volunteer more – and for organizations that I normally don’t volunteer with already.
45. Take a class. (Can be for personal or professional development. I just want to keep learning.)
46. Post in my blog weekly.
47. Go on a church retreat once a year.
48. Run/walk 1,000 miles each year.
49. Write in my gratitude and prayer journal daily. (When you are being thankful for your blessings and praying for others, I feel it’s much harder to have a bad day.)
50. Write a book about this journey.

There you have it! Wish me luck, and – more importantly – JOIN ME!!! Can’t wait to share this journey with all of you!

Hello again.

I realize that it’s been a LONG time since my last post – too long. A conversion project at work, the holidays, and our normal ‘year-end busyness’ has kept me very busy over the last six months.

But now that life is starting to slow back down to normal, I’m getting back to focusing on my personal goals and sharing that journey with all of you. This past weekend I completed my second half marathon – and I’ve spent a lot of time over the past couple of days thinking about the path that led me here.

When you’re running 13.1 miles you have a lot of time to think. Saturday morning – as I battled more wind and cold than any runner should have to during the last weekend of April – I spent that time thinking about the past two years. Two years ago I was in a deep depression, my health was in dire straits, and I had no interest in what the future held for me. I had no enjoyment in life and thought about throwing in the towel. I had some good days from time to time, but most days I couldn’t help thinking about how depressed I was and what had caused it.

One afternoon a friend reached out to me and told me that the Lord had put it on her heart to talk to me. She told me it was time to pull myself out of the darkness I was in, and that now it was time to start to bring myself back to light – and life. If I had to pinpoint the moment when I started to find my way back that was it. Over the course of the next few months I sought out medical help to improve my health, I began a regular exercise routine, and I started to look for – and find – more happiness in my days.

If you would have told me back then that I would be where I’m at today, I would have smiled and said, “Wow. That would be really nice” – but I wouldn’t have believed you. I was so focused on the valley I was in that I didn’t even want to think about getting back to the top of the mountain. That afternoon was the turning point where I WAS thinking about climbing that mountain again. I started climbing that day, and I haven’t stopped since. I’ve been blessed with an amazing family and the most amazing friends – and a support system like that makes climbing those mountains a lot easier. However, as with any piece of equipment that you use, you have to actually USE it before you get any assistance. You have to ASK for help when you need it, you need to COMMUNICATE what help you need, and you need to ACCEPT the help when it comes your way. I wasn’t always good at doing that. Sometimes asking for help is the hardest part of the journey, but it’s probably the most important.

I’m currently doing a bible study by Priscilla Shirer called, “Discerning the Voice of God.” This week’s lesson dealt with God revealing his plan to us. Something she said during this week’s session really stuck with me – “Life interruptions can be divine interventions.” She talked about how God can use dry seasons and difficulties in our lives to shape us for the plans he has for us. Just when we think we have been forgotten, the blessings God has in store for us might be right around the corner.

I’m not sharing this story to brag on myself. I share this story to give hope to anyone reading this that feels like they don’t have any. I share this story to tell people that if I can do it, so can they. When we would ask my Dad for advice about a topic – and then doubt what he would tell us, he would say, “I’ve been where you are. You haven’t been where I am.” To anyone reading this that is currently in a ‘dark night of the soul’ or experiencing tough times, I’ve been in the valley that you are in…..but I’m currently on the mountaintop. You haven’t been here yet……but you will be.

Looking forward to sharing more of the climb with all of you…….

“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for woe, to give you a future full of hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11

Most who know me know that I’m a planner. I like to have my schedule all planned out, and I don’t do well with the unexpected. Ask my coworkers about my obsession with planners, and I’m sure you’ll hear several stories.

On the flip side, I love road trips. Oddly enough – road trips sometimes are known for being somewhat spontaneous. So – you wouldn’t think that I would do well with them, right?

Imagine the conflicting emotions I felt when I was invited to go to Nashville on a road trip a couple weeks before Thanksgiving. On one hand – I had never been to Nashville before, and I had been dying to go. On the other hand – how would I get the time off work? What about Thanksgiving? I kept thinking about all the reasons that I shouldn’t go. Then I thought about my list – and realized this would be the perfect opportunity to cross off number 6.

I talked to my family. Even though I wouldn’t be there for Thanksgiving dinner, we had several other family get togethers planned for the upcoming holiday season – and my mom gave me her blessing. I talked to my boss, and we worked out the ‘work’ side of things. Before you knew it – I was all ready to go.

It was a quick – but super fun – trip. We left on Thursday morning, and we were home by Sunday night. One would think the lesson learned here was just to be more liberal with my schedule, right? Not so much.

On our last day of the trip, we decided to venture out to the Grand Ole Opry for the day. What we didn’t realize – and ushers at the Opry confirmed to us – was that all the Opry shows were being held at the Ryman Auditorium downtown (where we had just traveled from) due to the fact that the Cirque Dreams Holidaze show was at the Opry House for the season. We purchased tickets to the show so we could go inside and tour the Opry House, but we were disappointed to find that more of what we wanted to see was at the Ryman downtown. We enjoyed the first half of the show, but left after the intermission so we could go back downtown to see some sights before we left. Plus – Ohio State had just beat Michigan, so I needed to drown my sorrows somewhere.

While at the Opry House we asked one of the ushers where they go to have a drink after work. (PLEASE NOTE: If you have never done this while on vacation, you need to start doing it. Hands down – this is the BEST way to find the BEST places to go.). After we left the Opry House, we went to the local establishment that had been recommended to us. We ordered a couple drinks and a few appetizers while we watched the Auburn game – which had a better outcome for us than the previous game that day. While watching the game, we befriended an older gentleman sitting alone at a table behind us. He was as invested in the Auburn game as we were, and we struck up a conversation with him about college football. What was meant to be a pit stop for a quick bite to eat ended up being where we spent most of the rest of our evening.

The gentleman that we struck up the conversation with ended up being the owner of the bar, and we sat and talked to him for hours. He introduced us to several of his friends that were there, and we heard stories about how the area around the Grand Ole Opry had developed over the years. We also heard stories from his friends about how they had worked for some of country music’s biggest names. The live music at the bar was amazing – and it was the best, TRUE “honky tonk” country music we heard while we were in Nashville. During our conversation with our new friend, all of my friends made sure to let him know that there was a singer at the table. After asking him – and in turn him checking with his house band for the evening, the best part of my vacation happened. The band invited me up on stage to sing with them.

When I finished singing, I hugged the band members. When I walked back to the table, my friends had tears in their eyes. I hugged Mark, who told me to go find our new friend and thank him for the opportunity. When I found him, he hugged me and asked me, “Do you know what just happened?” I started laughing, and said, “I sang?” He turned me around to face the stage and said, “No, sweetie.” He began pointing at the band members. “That guy used to play steel guitar for Randy Travis. Joe played the fiddle for John Anderson. You just sang with a professional band, sweetheart.” Then MY tears started.

I had the sweetest lady (who I still talk to) come up to me in the crowd to let me know that she had taken a bunch of pics and wanted to send them to me. Everyone in the bar was so friendly – it felt like we were back home. We made a lot of new friends that night, and it was the best way to end the trip. Although we had been disappointed earlier in the day, if that disappointment wouldn’t have happened – we never would have ended up there.

We headed home the next day, but I left a little part of my heart in Nashville……and I can’t wait to go back.

Lesson Learned from #6: Sometimes the most spontaneous trips result in the most amazing memories. Sometimes what feels like a mistake may just end up being what sets you on the path you’re meant to take. And – the next time you’re in Nashville, make sure you stop by The Scoreboard Bar and Grill.

Most of us can say that we have had a “Love/Hate” relationship with at least one job in our lifetime.  Whether it was babysitting for your neighbor’s kids, or the first “real” job you had as a teenager, or a “filler” job you had to take as an adult…..we’ve all had one job in our lives that we didn’t love and didn’t look forward to. 

I started working when I was in the 8th grade. My Dad went down to buy potatoes from a local farmer that lived down the road from us. When my Dad saw the farmer’s daughter riding her bike around the farm, he informed the farmer that his daughter (aka – me) was looking to find babysitting jobs and would be available to work at anytime. The farmer’s wife called me, and I was babysitting for them by the end of the week.  Not only did I end up working for them for the next five years until I graduated from high school, we’ve become family to each other. 

I’ve “fallen” into every job I have ever had, and I have been lucky enough to like each one. It’s always worked out that another job opportunity has always fallen into my lap before I’ve ever even thought of leaving the job that I was at. I’ve worked for the same organization that I’m at now for over 13 years.  We all have some days at work that are more stressful than others, but sometimes I think that distracts us from realizing how lucky we are to be able to work.  To have the ability to be able to earn a living for yourself is a pretty big deal.  

This month when I have stressful days – and I’m accountant, so this is budget season! – I’m going to remind myself what a TRUE blessing it is to be able to earn a living for myself.  I’m fortunate enough to love what I do and have a great group of people to work with. 

There’s more at every job we have than just “work.”  Sometimes working with numbers all day, it’s tough to remember that!  I’m going to make a conscious effort to find the “more” in my day – every day.  

Even though I don’t have pictures for these two days, looking at the theme of gratitude…..I’m not sure I should. This past weekend was a little crazy with schedule changes and a whole lot of different things going on.  Plans changed at the last minute, and other things didn’t go as planned….but I rolled with the punches and got as much done as I could. On top of all of that, I’m fighting off a cold – and needed all the extra rest I could get. For the first time in a LONG time – I allowed myself the time to rest that I needed, and I didn’t feel guilty about it. 

I feel more prepared for the week ahead as a result, and I’m happy about that. Sometimes allowing for some downtime in your schedule helps come out further ahead in the end.