One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Psalm 118:24: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” But on May 22, 2011, I didn’t want to rejoice or be glad in the day. The reason: I’d received an early morning phone call telling me my sister passed away. Linda lost her battle with breast cancer after 16 years. Through tears and laughter (and there were plenty of both) R and I reminisced about Linda.
One thing that kept coming up in our conversation was how Linda grabbed life with both hands the moment she learned of her diagnosis. Since she’d always loved to travel – now it became her way of life. And the minute she got home from one trip, she planned her next adventure to check off her Bucket List.
Whether she was trying her hand at tandem skydiving in Hawaii, hiking down into the Grand Canyon and rafting the Colorado River, or helping out at a soup kitchen in Kansas City – Linda embraced life to the fullest, milking every drop out of whatever time she had left on this earth. And entertaining family and friends along the way.
Linda experienced JOY IN THE JOURNEY.
Thanks, sis, for all the memories you left behind for us to cherish. We miss you so much!!!!
Love ya,
nettie
PS: Please click on the title (above) and listen to Tim McGraw's "Live Like You’re Dying.” This could have been Linda's theme song.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
KINDNESS
What was the first thing you thought of when you read the title? KINDNESS.
Did you think of a kind deed you’ve done for someone?
Did someone's name pop into your head that you've wanted to help?
Or, did you remember a special kindness shown to you?
Why I'm bringing up this subject is because this was the theme at my Toastmasters group last week. The theme was chosen after one of our members lost his home to the Texas wildfires. I thought it apropos.
Whenever someone was introduced at the meeting their introduction had something to do with the topic. It might be their kindness shown to others or received in their own life. Throughout the morning I was reminded of the benefits of benevolence.
How each one of us can lend a helping hand to a person in need. How we can pay it forward with an act of compassion, thoughtfulness, and/or generosity each and every day. How we can show another person the love of Christ in simple deeds we do.
KINDNESS
Let’s give it a try. Someone will be blessed when you do.
Love ya,
nettie
PS: Check back next month - more to come on the subject. :)
Did you think of a kind deed you’ve done for someone?
Did someone's name pop into your head that you've wanted to help?
Or, did you remember a special kindness shown to you?
Why I'm bringing up this subject is because this was the theme at my Toastmasters group last week. The theme was chosen after one of our members lost his home to the Texas wildfires. I thought it apropos.
Whenever someone was introduced at the meeting their introduction had something to do with the topic. It might be their kindness shown to others or received in their own life. Throughout the morning I was reminded of the benefits of benevolence.
How each one of us can lend a helping hand to a person in need. How we can pay it forward with an act of compassion, thoughtfulness, and/or generosity each and every day. How we can show another person the love of Christ in simple deeds we do.
KINDNESS
Let’s give it a try. Someone will be blessed when you do.
Love ya,
nettie
PS: Check back next month - more to come on the subject. :)
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
LESSONS LEARNED
For those of you who have been sitting on pins and needles, waiting to hear how the contest went—I’m happy to report, it was a HUGE success. And, I didn’t die in the process of stepping out of my comfort zone.
Honestly, when I signed up to do the contest (please refer to my last blog if you don’t have a clue what I’m talking about), I wasn’t sure I would live through the experience. But, I did, and along this journey I learned some valuable lessons I want to share with you today.
Lesson #1:
Strength comes in numbers – I knew I couldn’t pull off this contest without a lot of help from my friends. I asked for volunteers and the minute I did, people stepped up to help me. In all, this contest needed 25 helpers. From Toastmaster to Video Person - every role was important in helping make this contest a success.
Lesson #2:
Knowledge is golden – Always remember to surround yourself with knowledgeable people. From the beginning, I gleaned from those who’d gone before me. Without their knowledge and expertise, I wouldn’t have known what to do and when to do it. Another important benefit I discovered – people are willing to share what they know. All you have to do is ask.
Lesson #3:
Ask questions - This is the only way a person learns how to do something they are unfamiliar with. Asking questions, concerning the contest, made me feel comfortable with moving forward with any task I needed to do. I’m sure you’ve heard this before - there is never a dumb question. I’ll add my two cents - But there are plenty of dumb mistakes if questions aren’t asked. I did myself a favor when I took on this challenge – I asked questions – lots of them.
Lesson #4:
Just do it - Step out of your comfort zone. Trust me, it won’t kill you. At any given time I thought it might, but each day I spent time doing something concerning the contest. For once I didn’t procrastinate. If I wasn’t emailing someone, I was checking out paperwork given to me to read. Anything to stay ahead of the game. Preparation is the key to success. Things will run smoother if you have all your ducks in a row.
Lesson #5:
Pray – When fear of the unknown coursed through my veins, I prayed. The verse, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” popped into my head. Those comforting words calmed me down. And when I trusted Him and not my own understanding, I (with my team of volunteers) accomplished the task set before us.
Love ya,
nettie
PS: Thanks everyone for your help!!!!!!
Honestly, when I signed up to do the contest (please refer to my last blog if you don’t have a clue what I’m talking about), I wasn’t sure I would live through the experience. But, I did, and along this journey I learned some valuable lessons I want to share with you today.
Lesson #1:
Strength comes in numbers – I knew I couldn’t pull off this contest without a lot of help from my friends. I asked for volunteers and the minute I did, people stepped up to help me. In all, this contest needed 25 helpers. From Toastmaster to Video Person - every role was important in helping make this contest a success.
Lesson #2:
Knowledge is golden – Always remember to surround yourself with knowledgeable people. From the beginning, I gleaned from those who’d gone before me. Without their knowledge and expertise, I wouldn’t have known what to do and when to do it. Another important benefit I discovered – people are willing to share what they know. All you have to do is ask.
Lesson #3:
Ask questions - This is the only way a person learns how to do something they are unfamiliar with. Asking questions, concerning the contest, made me feel comfortable with moving forward with any task I needed to do. I’m sure you’ve heard this before - there is never a dumb question. I’ll add my two cents - But there are plenty of dumb mistakes if questions aren’t asked. I did myself a favor when I took on this challenge – I asked questions – lots of them.
Lesson #4:
Just do it - Step out of your comfort zone. Trust me, it won’t kill you. At any given time I thought it might, but each day I spent time doing something concerning the contest. For once I didn’t procrastinate. If I wasn’t emailing someone, I was checking out paperwork given to me to read. Anything to stay ahead of the game. Preparation is the key to success. Things will run smoother if you have all your ducks in a row.
Lesson #5:
Pray – When fear of the unknown coursed through my veins, I prayed. The verse, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” popped into my head. Those comforting words calmed me down. And when I trusted Him and not my own understanding, I (with my team of volunteers) accomplished the task set before us.
Love ya,
nettie
PS: Thanks everyone for your help!!!!!!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Freaked Out
Have you ever taken on something and know right away you’re not the man or woman for the job? Have you volunteered for a task only to discover it’s way over your grade level? Have you stepped forward, wishing minutes later that you’d stayed hidden in the crowd?
This very thing happened to me a few weeks ago when I took on an officer’s position in a club I belong to. The minute I answered YES to the email request, the red flags went off in my mind at a fever’s pitch.
The dialogue to myself and those around me went something like this:
I can’t plan a contest in less than a month.
I have no idea what I am doing.
I have gotten myself into something way over my head-AGAIN!!
As you can see, the “I’s” had me tied up in knots. And, if that wasn’t bad enough—someone referred to my way of handling things as freaking out. Those two simple words stopped me dead in my tracks (thanks MS for the wake-up call).
Is that how people see me? WOW! That’s not the picture I wanted to paint. Instead, I wanted others to see me as one who trusted in the Lord for everything – big or small. I bowed my head and prayed:
Lord, I am scared spitless about this contest and all that goes with it. I’m not sure I can do this. You are going to have to HELP me or I’m going to sink big time.
Not the most eloquent prayer I’ve ever prayed but the moment I spoke those words the verses in Proverbs 3:5-6 seemed to wash over me. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Thank You, Lord, for the exact words I needed to hear to calm my feelings of inadequacy. I do need to TRUST in You and lean not on my own understanding. When I do, there's no doubt the contest (and my life) will be headed in the right direction.
Love ya!!!
nettie
This very thing happened to me a few weeks ago when I took on an officer’s position in a club I belong to. The minute I answered YES to the email request, the red flags went off in my mind at a fever’s pitch.
The dialogue to myself and those around me went something like this:
I can’t plan a contest in less than a month.
I have no idea what I am doing.
I have gotten myself into something way over my head-AGAIN!!
As you can see, the “I’s” had me tied up in knots. And, if that wasn’t bad enough—someone referred to my way of handling things as freaking out. Those two simple words stopped me dead in my tracks (thanks MS for the wake-up call).
Is that how people see me? WOW! That’s not the picture I wanted to paint. Instead, I wanted others to see me as one who trusted in the Lord for everything – big or small. I bowed my head and prayed:
Lord, I am scared spitless about this contest and all that goes with it. I’m not sure I can do this. You are going to have to HELP me or I’m going to sink big time.
Not the most eloquent prayer I’ve ever prayed but the moment I spoke those words the verses in Proverbs 3:5-6 seemed to wash over me. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Thank You, Lord, for the exact words I needed to hear to calm my feelings of inadequacy. I do need to TRUST in You and lean not on my own understanding. When I do, there's no doubt the contest (and my life) will be headed in the right direction.
Love ya!!!
nettie
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