Bootiful Winner!

I'm a loser. 


It took me forever to get this blog posted. 


Ok, I'm not a loser, just a busy working mom of 3. I wish I had more time, but alas all I've been praying for lately is HEALTH for my family. 


So, our "Bootiful GIrls" Winner is. . . . . . . FAIRY PRINCESS GARDEN!


Here's her best girl advice: 


". . .  remind them as they grow up is to be TRUE to themselves always, their values, beliefs and dreams. No matter what you go thru, what happens and how you react this will help keep you grounded and moving forward."


Thanks to everyone who has participated! I'm working on at least 3 more giveaways, so stay tuned! :) My next giveaway will involve something I LOVE LOVE LOVE! (and very possibly will be autographed by the owner!)

Girls Are Bootiful!

There is nothing quite like having a little girl. In my case, little girls. 


I'm not sure why, but it's such a huge responsibility holding that precious little bundle of love in your arms. I guess it could be because you know at some point you'll have to "give her away" to someone else, so it seems like your time with her is already limited. 


I will never forget the moment I found out I was having a girl. What would I do with one after growing up with brothers? I wasn't what you'd call a girly-girl either, so I was already anti-pink.
I was use to riding three wheelers, jet skiing and playing softball. I'm pretty sure I didn't play with a Barbie. Ever.  


It didn't take long for me to fit right into the role God intended. Before long I realized what a treasure it was to be able to have girls. Now, 10 years later, we are all extra girly and proud of it. We sparkle and shine with the best of them. 


Tonight as I was running the track in the moonlight, I saw a tall shadow in front of me. The figure had long legs, bouncy hair and began skipping along. I almost cried. 10 years ago she was this itty-bitty little thing and now here she is on the verge of pre-teen hood. I ran up to her, hugged her, told her I loved her and how proud I am of her. 


I also reminded her to always remember to be herself, to run her own race, and to remember that people that follow the crowd don't make an impact and that even when it's hard to do what she knows it best.  I reminded her that it's always the ones who think outside the box, are a little bit different than the others, the ones who steadily set their sights on a goal and aren't afraid to take risks that make the biggest differences in the world.  


I hope she remembers just 1/2 of what I tell her. 


So, in honor of all the sweet little girls out there and the fact that they do eventually grow up, my friend, Tiffany, is helping me do a giveaway! 


Here is the prize: 

Here is the way to enter: 


1. Be a follower of this blog
2. Visit Tiffany's website
3. Go follower her blog
4. Comment here your best piece of advice for the girl in your life - 20 words or less. 


We'll pick a winner Friday, October 15th and have your prize sent to you so you can enjoy this cute bow and a crochet headband for Halloween! 


**Thank you, Tiffany! Visit Tiffany's etsy site here! 

Of Course, I'm thankful.

Today begins my annual 40 Days of Thankfulness. Check out my Facebook group and join in if you'd like!


I always love what this exercise does for myself, personally. As the mom of 3, wife of a man that I love with all my heart, and a team member in bringing home "the bacon" I find myself sometimes drowning in the stuff that life often brings during the fall. 


Illness
Holidays
School functions
Illness
Work, work, work
Family
Illness


Then, I reflect back on some of life's toughest times and wonder if I really was as thankful during it all as I should've been. Death. Divorce. Broken Relationships. Financially broke. Hurtful words. 


It's easy to be thankful when prayers are being answered, everyone is well, money is abundant, and things seem to be "just right."


But what about when someone you love is gone in an instant? 
What about when someone you love is terminally sick? Or when you find out you are the one with the illness that will take months to treat?
What about if you lose your home? Your job? Your livelihood?


As humans we have a tendency to become very selfish in times of hardship. It's easy to have the attitude of entitlement. It can be natural to think that we are owed all of the good. It's easy to become angry with God, others, or ourselves or to push the blame onto someone other than ourself. 


But just like everything else, we must be disciplined in our thoughts and words, especially to ourselves. 


This is why I think the 40 days is so powerful. Yes, we are throwing our positive thoughts out to the world, but most importantly we are consciously reminding ourself daily what is important, what is not worth the time, what things make life worthwhile, and how even the "bad" things in life really are important to get us through our own personal journey. 


An attitude of gratitude really does bring about a sense of peace, a feeling of balance, and a sense of security that nothing else in life can give us. 


So, will you join me? 

Upside Down, Right Side Up

Lately I've been reflecting on my time before Jace and how life was before. 


I remember the exact moment I knew I wanted to have a boy. That thought came out of no where and during the time I thought having a boy was absolutely and definitely impossible. After all, my life was not exactly what I'd planned and to bring another baby in the world at that moment went against everything inside of me. 


I honestly had no idea how having a boy would ever happen. 


Fast forward 3 1/2 years, and here I sit with the most handsome and fun loving baby boy I ever could've imagined. 


I love how God works in our lives. Even when we are at the end of our rope, in absolute despair, and wondering how even the next minute might get better, His work behind the scenes always, always brings good into our lives. 


***********************


Last week, Avy was a sick, sick girl. We woke up Monday morning wondering if we were going to have to make a trip to our local ER. Thank goodness she just had a mystery virus and recovered quickly. 


She's still struggling with the thought that school lasts longer than her little mind had anticipated. She's had several meltdowns at school. 


Her sister was invited to a sleepover on Friday and she usually doesn't do well without her "other half." Despite what they say and how much they fight, they are incredibly attached to each other. 


I decided to make Friday all about me and her, so after 2 years I decided we'd attend our high school's pep rally. I thought afterward I might endure the craziness of GattiTown with 2 kids all alone. Lately, my mommy motto has been "It's all about making the memories. It's all about making the memories." 


Despite how tired I am, how much I have to do after they go to sleep or how hard it is juggling extra activities on top of the regular routine of our 3 kid circus, I've vowed to do at least one thing a week that isn't easy, but guarantees they will remember it forever. 


*Standing in line for 2 hours to see Barney
*Standing in line 2 more hours so little Miss could be on Sprout TV
*Waking up at the crack of down in order to see the hot air balloons at sunrise
*Sweating 5 hours before and during the Jonas Brothers concert


So, the pep rally was a piece of cake, but Gatti Town (comparable to Chuck E. Cheese, but better. much better) was a whole other level of mommy dedication after a long week. 


As we left Avy's school, there was mention of Kenny Chesney. I didn't think much of it, but got in the car, called my co-worker who confirmed the news, and told Avery to repeat the following: We will meet Kenny Chesney. We will meet Kenny Chesney. 


Now, I've said this before. My long time blog readers might remember my first meeting with Harry Connick, Jr. They might even remember the time I made big promises to my students and told them they'd get a picture with Big from MTV's Rob and Big. Years ago as a teen I knew part of my life would end up in a book and SQuire Rushnell did put part of a God Wink story in his book. All ended up being fun stories I enjoy sharing with friends/family. 


So, my idea of visualize, think, be, do really isn't a foreign concept, but I want to teach my girls that nothing is impossible. NOTHING. Most things in my life have not come easy, rarely do they ever, and so this lesson has appeared more than once for me. 


And so if using Kenny Chesney as our lesson was how I'd teach them the concept, well, alright then. :) 


We arrived at the pep rally, found our friend MC, who had front row seats and to our surprise there were free "Boys of Fall" (video) t-shirts on the bleachers for all early arrivers. I guess the rumor was true. 


After finding our place and settling in, I was quickly aware that our friend, Lisa, was sitting near. She is a HUGE, HUGE Kenny fan. Last year when his crews were filming, she was just sure she'd meet him, though, to her disappointment, she did not. Now, here we were again, caught up in the "Kenny excitement." And she had her sharpie in her hand. :) 


Now, if you know me like you think you do, then you know that I carry my camera around everywhere. No, not because I'm a mom, but because you just never know when you'll encounter a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use it to document a great day. (I also carry a sharpie, but that's neither here nor there. shhhh!)


Since I had my camera, Lisa decided wherever she went, I went. And if I was going, Avery was going, and if we were going MC was going to be the purse security. 


So, the pep rally began, special video played and then Kenny came out. The crowd went wild! 
Here's the video.


Then he left. Lisa tells me he's probably gone - he isn't a big fan of crowds. Hmm. Ironic. 


I see my former student gone co-worker who just so happens to be the technical director for all news stations, sound, lighting, etc. I ask if Kenny has left. He told me "No, he's in the locker room, but there is no way you'll get past the media." 


Apparently I didn't teach this student the power of visualization. ;) 


I looked at Lisa, then MC, then Avery. I told them we were going to stand in the hallway. What could that hurt right? So there we go, looking like we knew exactly what we were doing. We didn't, for the record, but usually that's the key to meeting people who are in high demand.


Then we get to the hall. Now what? Finally we spot a coach we know and tell him in our best, professional, pleading voice that we just want a quick autograph. He left. 


Then, he poked his head out and said, "Ok. Come on." 


OMG!??!? Really?!?!?


Well, the rest as you probably know is history. I walked right up to Kenny and introduced myself, asked for autographs, a picture, took some video and then shook his hand again and thanked him for taking time for us. 


Boy is he short. :) 


Now, you might be thinking "Did Kenny really change your life?" Well, it's not everyday Kenny Chesney crashes your high school's pep rally. 


No, he didn't directly change my life, but he did remind me of the following and will help me to teach the girls and Jace: 


*Life is unpredictable and can throw amazing surprises your way
*Always be ready for anything
*Seize the moment
*Do not be afraid to do the thing you think is impossible
*Your circumstances can change in an instant

 

**I've cut the others out to respect their privacy.

*** BTW - see that sharpie? He kept my friend's sharpie! :) She never got it back!

Introducing. . . .

Hello friends! Yet, again, I've let life and being "busy" get in and make a mess of my blogging time and my ability to focus and relax. 


I knew that the past few weeks would be this way, so I asked my friend, fellow blogger, and fellow Harry Connick, Jr lover to do a guest blog for me. 


She graciously accepted and was worried that it would be quick enough or enough. :) 


Bloggers, meet, T. She and I are friends in real life, met because of a man (Harry) and found that we both have some awesome things in common. We both have 2 girls just about the same age, we both live our lives to be a good example to them and hope to teach them some of the things we were not taught early in life. And as I said, we have the same amount of love for Harry and his music, voice, good looks... *swoon*


We also have both been divorced and have since found men that make our hearts melt, our souls come alive, and our face light up! More often than not she has the ability to write exactly what I'm feeling about the love of my life, though, I tend to be a bit more reserved about writing about it here. 


Here are some of my favorite, T, blogs: 


Simplicity 
Learning Moments 
Ups and Downs of an LDR 
Dedications 
I Won't Worry My Life Away

And here is T's blog for you: 

I was so excited when Tisha asked me to write a guest post on her blog. Tisha and I have known each other for years and have had very similar experiences in that time. She continues to inspire me with her strength and faith. It is an honor to know her.

But to write for her blog?!?

As I thought about what to write about, I looked back over posts from my own blog. I found this one…. and it is one of my favorites:

Meeting you where you are

I actually revisited this post earlier this year when I wrote about allowing.

In the original post, I wrote about how yoga and A Course in Miracles (a favorite book of mine) both came into my life exactly when I needed them. I also wrote how they met me exactly where I was, at the time, and continue to meet me as I improve in my yoga practice and learn more about my spirituality.

In that same post, I stated that I believed love would meet me where I was too.

I believed that no matter what baggage I carried, no matter what sort of healing I had left to do, someone would come into my life and meet me exactly where I was then and fit me perfectly.

I was right.

***

When I think back on that post, however, I have overlooked one beautiful thing:

My spirituality and my yoga are both ongoing practices.

In both of them, I have learned to accept myself right where I am. I have learned that there is no perfect yoga pose - it changes day by day, depending on how I feel. There is also no one-day-I-will-be-enlightened perfect spirituality, either. Enlightenment takes place in the now, not in some illusory moment in the future. Both yoga and my spiritual studies are evolving practices in acceptance. They both allow me to find peace right now as I grow stronger in both, without even trying.

Why have I not learned that about love?

Perhaps love is an evolutionary process of practice as well. Maybe instead of trying to see where love will take me, instead of wishing I was better at it, or instead of hoping for some perfect manifestation of the best love there is... maybe I need to find peace as I grow stronger in allowing love right here, right now.

Perhaps if I stop putting pressure on myself to have perfect love, just as I stopped trying to do the most perfect yoga and stopped looking forward to an enlightened future in time and space, maybe I will see the perfection of love in this moment in time.  Perhaps then, I will see that perfect love is always available to me at any given moment. It is Perfect as it is God’s Love.

After all, if I've learned anything from yoga and A Course in Miracles, it is this:

Happiness, love, peace and joy are not something to aspire to. They are as readily available to you the next breath you take.

Do you ever stop and acknowledge the very air you breathe?

Your next perfect moment is that close.

God Wink Winners!

I want to apologize in advance. I previously said I would announce the winners of the God Winks Giveaway on Tuesday. What can I say? Life got busy and that Jonas Brothers' concert Sunday night did me in for sure. I'm too old to be rocking out at concerts late on a Sunday night. ;) 


Ok. So. God Winks. You all had some great winks to share. They were so great in fact that I had a very difficult time picking a winner. I sought out advice from a few friends and then decided to turn to the God Wink "master" himself, SQuire. He and his dear wife, Louise both took time to read your stories and they have together helped me decide the winner(s). 


Yes, you read that right - Winners. We have a TIE! SQuire graciously offered to give away two books after reading your submissions here. :) Thank you, SQuire! I'm so thankful to know you!


I believe there is a certain criteria for a "God Wink." It's hard to explain, but the stories that SQuire write of seem to have a certain "Wow! What are the odds of that" about them. 
And while all of your stories were all excellent and definitely tear jerkers, there were two that definitely stood out to SQuire, Louise and I. 


Congratulations to Kelli and Jen J! Please send me your mailing address info so that I my pass that on to SQuire and he can get your autographed copies of When God Wink at You to you soon! 


Thank you to all of you who shared, posted, and continue to read...


Big love and God Winks, 

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

God Winks Give Away

I'm thrilled that I get the opportunity to write this blog and even more thrilled that my friend and author, SQuire Rushnell, has agreed to help me out and let me give away his book entitled When God Winks at You. 

One of my favorite life experiences is the one I've had with God Winks. 


I came across the original book, When God Winks, in 2005. I was browsing at Barnes and Noble and came across the book, picked it up carried it through the store, put it down and then came across it again. Coincidence? Most probably a God Wink in itself. 


Definition: What is a God Wink? How Can God Winks help us? How can we "map" God Winks of our past?


I read the book cover to cover in one day. I fell in love with the stories, the people, and the heartwarming feeling that each "wink" brought. 


The next summer, I accidentally came across SQuire Rushnell's website and noticed that he was asking for submitted stories. After reading the first book, I'd realized that I, myself, had many God Winks in my life. Here's the exact one I submitted to him: 


As an early college student looking for my path, I realized I wanted to truly pursue teaching. I was undecided on which university to transfer to, but with the help of my high school math teacher, Steve Cates, I decided to go to Lubbock Christian University and finish up my student teaching there. Upon this decision, I realized that many did not support this decision, but as always when I felt led to do something, I continued to press on. 


Days came and went and I filled out all the necessary paperwork - financial aid and dorm room. I had requested to NOT be roomed with anyone. As a junior transfer, I didn't see what I could have in common with mere "freshman." ;) 


Move in day approached and I was disturbed by the fact that I had been matched up to room with someone named "Kim." I was anxious about sharing a room with someone, anxious about going to a new school, anxious about leaving family and a long-time boyfriend. 


I will never forget meeting Kim. She was a cute, spunky, petite girl. She asked where I was from and I told her "_____, Texas" and she said "Maybe you know my brother in law who lives there." 


Steve Cates, my high school math teacher years before and mentor as I began my substitute teaching career. 


I know for a FACT he had no part in any of that. I'm 100% sure he never mentioned me at all to her. And the rest as they say is history. Well, not really. 


3 years after meeting Kim, my oldest daughter Madison was born. December 14th. Kim's birthday. 


I could not believe he contacted me after I sent in my story. I could not believe we were able to chat via phone and that he sent me my story in his words. Even more so I could not believe he picked one of my stories to be in one of HIS books! :) 


The year that his new book hit the market, I was able to meet him in person finally, as well as his dear wife, Louise DuArt. 


Truly, if you had time, I could sit with you and tell you of many more "God Winks" that have occurred in my life. Over and over again they pop up and especially if I'm truly conscious and present of each event, person, and opportunity in my life. 


So, friends, I ask you: What God Winks have you had in your life? What story are you willing to share here? 


To win SQuire's book, When God Winks on You, you must be a follower of this blog and must comment your best "God Wink" story! 


Cannot wait to read your comments and stories! If you'd like, you can find SQuire on Twitter and Facebook. 


I will pick and post the winner next Tuesday, so post your stories NOW! :) 


As SQuire always says, "Wishes and Winks,"