Celebrating Rebecca at Skate City, Kansas City, Missouri

Great to have you come by and join my daughter, Rebecca, birthday celebration! :) Rebecca, Bryan, some of her Kansas City friends, and me celebrated at Skate City in Kansas City, Missouri. They had cake, ice cream, and pop for the birthday celebration. We had a great time! :)

These videos were taken with a Flip Video camera which does not have a seperate microphone in the camera.

Here is a quick video of Rebecca on the skate floor before she took off for a skate. She is a really great skater. You can tell that she had a blast by the big smile on her face! :)

2012 Hope Live Love

This year is a new start.  I have been thinking about my three words.  Now last year in 2011, I wanted to work on my health and weight.  These areas are still priorities.

My three words for 2012 came to my mind and I am trusting with these three words everything else falls into place in my life.  My three words are hope, live, and love.

Hope is for the future and great things will be happening for everyone.  Hope changes and carries them through.  When you have hope, you can take the next step when you have vision.  Hope will keep the vision alive.  Hope carried from last year into this year on health and weight issues.

You may be surprised by my word live.  During my life, I have seen many people exist but they were not really living life to the fullest.  Living to me is having a full life with everything you do.  You have a productive, joyful, purposeful, and fun life.  A life you look forward to.  You wake up early because you are excited that you get to live another day on this beautiful earth.

If I had to pick just one word, it would be love.  You break through barriers to get to the other side and bringing love along the way.  You let go of negative feelings and working on positive feelings of love.  With love in your heart, you care and want others to thrive too.  The world needs more love and positive influence.  Hopefully, I provide a positive beacon of light in the world which causes others flames to brighten so they live their life to the fullest, happiest, productive, and fun filled life.  A tall order comes from love.

Hope, live, and love are three powerful words.  In putting them into action, my hope, life, and positive feelings will carry me wherever I go with the attitude that I want to live.

Do you see how these three words will work?

Weight Loss Goal Reached

At the beginning of 2011, I made a new year’s resolution to lose weight.  I was especially pushed towards the goal when Jack Lalanne died on January 23, 2011 at the age of 96.  Also my cardiologist put me on a treadmill as a routine check on my heart.  Just the thought of going through any heart disease surgery or treatment confirmed my determination to lose weight.

My focus was to eat more of a diet rich in fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, chicken, and nuts.  If I went out to eat my focus was to be choosy and eat about half of what was served.  The rest of the food would be put into a to go box for another meal.  A lot of my meals were simply prepared at home.  For lunch a lot of times, I would have a can of tuna with light salad dressing, some fresh fruits and vegetables.

I avoided milk and wheat products.  I drank soy milk for a milk substitute.  For breakfast instead of cereal, I ate an apple and/or additional fruit.  I found nuts were too many calories and eventually pretty much eliminated them.

Yes, I exercised by walking but I could do better in this exercise area.

I lost for the year about 32 pounds which made me feel successful for the year in my goal.  I can definitely tell a difference just walking around how much the extra weight added because I feel lighter.

My goal for next year in this area is to continue watching what I eat and exercise more.  I have more that I would like to lose but I made a significant change.  I really haven’t discussed too much publicly but my hope since others struggle with this problem to let them in on my secrets of weight loss.  Determination is a big part but eating the right foods makes a big difference.  Avoiding high carbohydrates such as cake, cookies, chips, and soda are important.  I did drink diet soda.

Do you feel any of this information could be helpful to you?

Stand Tall NOT in the Shadow

Stand tall NOT in the shadow of anything which harms YOU!

What do you say?

A Symbol

On Christmas Eve, my son gave me this pictured present.  It says, “Home is where your story begins.”  What a beautiful present!  As a mom, I was very proud to receive it.  I found myself thankful for a thoughtful and kind present.  I found the gift a symbol of love towards me.

In my continued reflection for this year, I am looking back on my year.  The symbol, my son gave me reminds me clearly what he thinks.  Everything begins at home.  What a sobering thought!

Your home base is where you start and end your day.  For children their home base are their parents and where they start their life.

What does this writing mean for you?  In your reflection, you look at your past, present, and future.  In your past, where did you come from?  You had a different beginning than me.  Does the history make a difference?  Yes, your start made a difference in your life.

Where do you begin now?  Today.  You have today and not yesterday.  Yesterday is gone.  Yesterday is gone.  Yesterday is gone.  Is yesterday clear in your mind?  Yesterday is gone.

Where does that leave you?  Today.  Today.  Today.  For me absolutely, there are memories.  Yesterday is gone.  Yesterday is gone.  Yesterday is gone.  You let go of yesterday!

Today is here.  Is your home base where and how you want to be?  If it is, then you build from there.  If it is not, build or rebuild what you are going to be happy with.

Life goes fast or even slow.  Home begins with you.  Today.  You reflect on your life today.

For me, my plan for my life will be positive, rewarding, and full of joy. Every day.  Every day.  Every day.

What does that mean?  To have a plan, where you keep your goals in mind.  It is the start that you have for next year.

This writing started with a symbol but today will start with a plan which reflects how my life will be.  Who determines the plan?  Me.  How to get to my plan?  Reflection.  How do you get to your plan?  Reflection.  For me, my home base will be a positive force for the future because the past is gone.

Do your plans reflect how you want your life to be?

Reflection

I love colors and use them in my writing or blogging to bring out more thought and feeling.  Do you see the reflection?

Lately, I noticed people reflecting back on this year.  With reflection, you really take a look on how the year went with your plans vs. reality which is really what happened.  Plans change which can be a good thing through growth.

There is a reflection in someone’s face when you meet or talk to them.  An expression in someone’s face tells a thousand words.  Do you agree?  Your writing is a reflection of you too.  What if you opened up and people were surprised with your reflection?  Maybe, you surprised yourself too.  I believe this year showed this scenario to me!

You think about what this year bought to you.  Reflect.  I will reflect too.  If you want to live your life to the fullest, make plans but you stay flexible enough to leave the door open to life as it changes.  You reflect of how much control which we would all like to think that we have on our lives.

One thing, I have really learned this year.  For every action, there is a reaction.  My daddy and mama had a saying.  They said, “You can do only the best that you can do.”  They wanted me to do my best but when I failed or didn’t reach perfection, I would accept myself.  In accepting yourself, you open up to others.

I hope that you beam with enthusiasm and a great attitude for the coming year.  I going to continue working on myself and my business too.  What is your reflection for the year?

Your Smile is Amazing! :)

Your smile is amazing!  :)

You have sparkles in your eyes!  :)
Your attitude is positive!
You make a difference in many lives!  :)
You look outward!  :)
Noone could replace you!
You are you!  :)
It is simply as that!
The world has a gift!  :)
There is no denying!
The happiness is apparent!
Your song is only yours to sing.
We love what you bring!  :)
The world is better with you!  :)
Thank you!!!!!!!  :)

Be Happy Make Happy

Happiness starts with you.  You got to be happy to make happiness.  Does it make sense?  Let’s say a store’s shelf is empty.  Can the customer be happy?  No.

Customers expect to see, feel, touch, and own products.  Business operates through having product(s) which customers want to buy.  First, the store is built.  The store gets decorated, stocked, and filled.  Then the grand opening scheduled and advertised.  Customers anticipate opening.  Doors are open.  Bam!  Business begins!  This story is about a so call brick and mortar business.

Now, there are options to have a web site and follow a similar pattern as above but instead establish an online presence.  Will we ever get away from having both kind of presence?  I expect not any time soon.

What has become apparent?  So called brick and mortar businesses need more than ever an online presence with mobile capabilities due to the ever changing way people shop.

Busy people are doing more and more shopping online to meet their need to shop so to be happy, shelves need to be filled, displayed, and grand opening announced in an online presence to be happy and make the customer happy!  Without an web presence, part of the equation of business can be missed opportunities.

Online business is a great option because the trend of buying is online.

To be happy and make happiness, business fills the shelves and customers come to buy.  Business has been established on this principle and I don’t expect a change in this area.

With more mobile use, online shopping is affected and web site design needs adjustment.  A lot of online businesses need to prepare for this change or they will miss the boat so to speak.

Do you agree, what do you think, and beyond?

Actions Echoed

What if something you did influenced someone for a day or even a lifetime?  One action, just one action can take someone to a place where they would have never gotten to without what you did!

A kind word, smile, or gesture took you to a place which bought happiness back to you.  In turn, you felt better and gave a kind word, smile, or gesture which fired you up!  With compounding interest, you influenced more than your imagination!  Wow!  Possible?  You probably have them happen to you often. Absolutely!  :)

Yesterday, I went to the doctor.  While I waited, another patient was called quickly and bought into to see the doctor after their arrival.  Do you know what she did?  She went to the receptionist and told her how their office always delivered exceptional service.  A smile came to the receptionist face and a thank you.  My thoughts were that my doctor who referred me sent me to a great place!  Positive feedback echoes and goes beyond the original target.

Yesterday in talking to the youth director at church, she told me how the money that they raised changed kids lives for a lifetime.  The kids make and sell the product to earn money for a youth conference.  They go to the conference and the impact was so fundamentally powerful.  They come away changed forever.  I had bought their product and showed support.  I appreciated the fact that I got to be a part of making lives better for the community.  The youth director was proud too.  The actions echoed!

There are other actions in my life that I can think of which echoed.  Do you have actions which are echoed?

Yes You! :)

You do make decisions all the time.  Decisions make up your life.  They add up to your life.  When you think about the impact, you come to mind.  Yes, you!  :)

You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You!  :)
The impact of the you factor sends a message which brings a great response!   You make a HUGE difference in my daily life!  Your positive influence gives the extra step in my day and smile on my face!  :)

You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You!  :)
You do what it takes to take care of me!  You go the extra mile!  You make me beam again!  The impact and message which you bring takes you beyond into the blue sky.  What a message that you send out!

You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You!  :)
Using the you factor in your day and life, brings you blessings through others!  In business, social, and personal, you continue to matter!  :)

Yes You!  :)

You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You!  :)

Yes You!  :)

Do you feel the you factor?