Summer fun!

Our summer has been jammed packed with lots of activities.  Today was a play date after summer enrichment classes at school.  Naomi has been wanting to get together with her good buddy "C" since the school year ended last month.

 We started with a yummy picnic lunch.

 Then they spent some time at the splash pad.  Not too crowded today - yay!

 Then we went home to do a little craft I've seen floating around pinterest for some time now.  I blogged about it in detail on my craft blog right HERE.

Sharpie tie dye t-shirts - they turned out great! 

Even though they were all exhausted, they still managed to enjoy some Yogurtland before C got picked up to go home.  

So thankful for a fun-packed day with good friends.  

Friendships that last...

This is my dear friend Miki. We became friends in the 10th grade. She flew down from Washington to visit with me. I had the greatest time with her. Such a true person. True blue for sure. Just one of those people that come into your life and you never want them to leave.

This above all:
To thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.

~ Hamlet, Shakespeare

For the better...

Way back in January, I chose the word JOURNEY for my One Little Word. I wanted to be more aware - more present - on this journey of life. I wanted to see and experience more. I have to constantly fight the urge of worrying about the destination - the outcome - because I miss the actual events that take place along the journey. I wanted to make better choices. I wanted to speak out more for myself. I never have a problem speaking up for my friends or family, but when it comes to standing up for myself - I just don't really care...that much. BUT, I need to care. I don't need to stuff feelings down or put them aside just because I don't want the other person to feel bad.

So, I've been doing it. It hasn't been easy. I am making better choices for me. I am trying to slow down and look around. Telling myself to simmer down when I feel the need to start panicking about something... lol

I've started eating a Paleo Diet again and I hope I can just make it a part of my lifestyle. It takes planning and lots of will power. It's not the cheapest option either...but it's so worth it. I feel great and I've been losing weight consistently.
I'm making better choices about who I share my heart with...it's not always easy to reel myself in. I have a tendency to trust so easily. I am learning that I really need to guard my heart and be more careful who I allow to hold parts of it...
Naomi and Lily have such a sweet and innocent relationship. I wish that's how it will always be... Here they are sneaking a little sweet snack under the umbrella at the beach. =)
Here's a breakfast I made recently. It's a bacon and egg cup. I added asparagus to them too. The Bruce family was here for this so I made some that had bread and cheese for them, but I made a few without bread and cheese for me. =) Better choices, right?

Here's the easy recipe:

Grease a muffin tin ( I used butter)

Partially cook some bacon (enough slices to have one for each muffin cup)

Prepare your asparagus however you prefer. Mine is just sauteed in coconut oil and seasoned.

Line each cup with a slice of bacon and drop an egg into it. I break up the yoke with a fork. Then add the pieces of asparagus and salt and pepper. You could even use mushrooms, broccoli, etc.

Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes or when the eggs are cooked to the firmness you like.

***Optional: From a slice of bread, cut out circles with a cookie cutter to fit the bottom of each muffin cup. Put the circle of bread in the cup, then the bacon, then some shredded cheese and then the egg and veggies. Bake the same way.

Anyway, if we aren't doing things for the better, then what are we doing?

Are you surrounding yourself with people who are making you better? Do they bring out the best in you and you in them?

Are you surrounding yourself with things in your home that make you truly happy? I'm not talking about things that are expensive and untouchable. Things that make you smile, remember good things, inspire you...

Are you consuming food and drink that is making you better? Healthy food can be satisfying food. It can be tasty and colorful and exotic...even comforting!

Are you moving your body? Are you running, jumping, stretching, lifting, throwing...?

Are you listening to great music, reading great books, being creative in some way?

It's your choice. What do you choose?

Who can say if I've been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better
And because I knew you...
Because I knew you...
Because I knew you...
I have been changed for good.

(For Good~ Wicked Soundtrack)

Love is not self-seeking...

This was such a sweet moment. Naomi was crying over something that was probably not that big of a deal to most of us, but it didn't matter to Lily. She saw that her friend was sad and she reached out to her. She didn't tell Naomi to quit being a baby, she didn't judge her, she didn't laugh at her, she didn't think that Naomi was weak...she just reached out. In her innocence, she showed true love.

Oh, to be that kind of friend. To love without judging. It's so hard once we get a little older and we "wise" up. Instead of unconditional love, we set conditions. We may not even realize it, but we do. I know that I have - but I don't want to anymore. If you could have only been there, in the moment, to witness the kindness shown by Lily. Sincere concern in her eyes for her friend.

I imagine this is what God meant when He inspired 1 Corinthians 13. I especially love the following verses:

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Wow! Think about those verses. May we learn to truly love as God intended.

12 of 12...in April...

Today was a different day for sure. I was in Boise, Idaho when I woke up. I had gone on an unexpected trip to be with a friend that needed me. 1) It feels great to know you're needed. 2) I was thankful for my very understanding husband who agreed that I should go and for the way it worked out and was possible for me to fly there on a moments notice. =) I ended my 12th in my bed in California. I sat up in bed, did some reading, wrote in my journal and then checked on some of the blogs I follow. My friend and I were up until 4 a.m., so I thought that I should ease into the morning. I guess I could have technically began taking pictures around 1 a.m. eh? After a shower and getting ready, I brought my luggage up. Just one small suitcase and my computer bag. I pack very light and love being low maintenance when it comes to travel. This is Lily. She is Erin's 6 year old. Ready for ballet. So sweet. We haven't changed much since college...right? ;) We went to Cracker Barrel for lunch. It's one of my favorite places to eat, but we don't have any where I live. Lily was playing the peg game which made me miss my little ones who always loved playing whenever we were able to go to one. The food was comfort food in it's finest and the atmosphere reminded me of our college days. This is Erin and her husband Tim.

We were dropped off at the mall to pass some time before I had to leave for my flight. Pictured with us is Sean. He is their assistant pastor and works with their youth. He is authentically funny and incredibly gifted with the power of prayer. I was encouraged by his easy way of speaking to God.

Once we were in the mall, I made a bee-line for Borders book store. I wanted to pick up the book "Heaven is For Real". I love their gift section and was delighted to see their seasonal items.

Not a bad mall...for Boise. haha ;)

My plane was delayed and I ended up spending three hours at the airport...waiting for my flight. I decided to get a bite to eat. This sandwich was incredible. Grilled chicken with brie, grilled veggies, mmmm. Yeah, I didn't mind the wait and a chance to read and relax.

Southwest Airlines. 4 different flights round-trip. No complaints from me.

This was taken in Oakland, California. I had a 45 minute wait and then flew in to Ontario. I wanted to take a picture when I got home or whatever - but I was done. I still have that ridiculous cold with the horrible cough and I've just had enough. What a day. Long and full spent with old friends, new friends and my family. Did I mention that I feel super blessed? I do.

Reverb 10|Day 16|Friendship

December 16 – Friendship
How has a friend changed you or your perspective on the world this year? Was this change gradual, or a sudden burst?
(Author: Martha Mihalick)
_____________________________________________


Funny you should ask... *sigh*
I've learned a lot about friendship this year. One of my memories (that I listed as wanting to never forget yesterday) was learning who my true friends really are. It's seems that life-long friendships take a life time to cultivate. Who would have thought? =)
There are some people in this world that will smile and hug you and say that they love you, but really, they don't mean it. I am going to be frank here. What they really mean to say is "I love you as long as you agree with me and will sit by and watch me try to control your life." There are some "friends" that are only your friends if they can get something from you. These are not TRUE friends.
I also learned that you can not make someone be your friend. You can force them to care about you the way you care about them. You can not chase them.
My perspective on friends changed drastically, one day, when my dear, sweet husband saw me in a funk, crying over a "friend" that I felt I could not reach. He listened to me for a while (as he did many times in the past) and finally told me that I needed to get a grip and move on. He kindly informed me that I was crying over people who were not my friends and that they would never know how to be a friend. WOW. That stopped my boo-hooing.
Just as a teacher learns that she can not exert all her energy on a couple of troubled students who are totally rebelling when she has good students who are willing to learn and are also in need of attention.
I have friends that are like family to me. They allow me to be me. They accept me as I am and ask nothing more, but at the same time, they encourage me to stretch. I realized that a friendship should feel natural and easy. It should not feel forced or one-sided. There should be honesty, loyalty, forgiveness, room for growth and most of all - laughter. There should be lots of laughter.
It took a while for all of this to sink in because my heart just wanted to believe that everyone felt the same way about me as I did for them. It hurt to learn that it wasn't so. Fortunately, it feels even better to learn what TRUE friendship is all about and I'm blessed with a core group of friends near and far who love me just the way I am.

Reverb 10|Day5|Let Go

December 5 – Let Go. What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why? (Author: Alice Bradley)

Wow. I seriously thought that this was it. I only got up to day 5 and I was ready to give it up. Why? Because this prompt was beckoning me to be honest...authentic...real. This year has been about letting go of a lot of things.
One of the things I had to let go of was second guessing myself, feeling insecure about every little thing while trying to look like I had it together on the outside, basically feeling like I was never good enough.
I know that a lot of this has to do with the way I grew up. Guess what though? I'm done. There are so many things that I have not even tried to do, because I have this fear that it won't be perfect. 2011 will be the year that all of that changes. As a matter of fact, it's starting now - it has already started!
I also had to let go of some people in my life this year. Oh, yes - I may still see them from time to time, but I am no longer out looking for them. I had this, I don't know - sickness I guess, where I felt like I was chasing after the approval or friendship of people that really could not give a flip about me. Seriously. I think it all goes back to the feeling of not being good enough. I was surrounded by genuine, loving, giving friends and I would still ache over that "friend" that never seemed to be able to return my calls or respond to my messages on fb. The one that was always so busy in her life that she could not take a call or acknowledge me once in a while. I beat myself up over what I might have done to deserve that sort of treatment... I lost sleep over why we couldn't have that friendship that she swore we'd always have.
Well, I'm done worrying over it. As a matter of fact, one day recently I was whining to my husband about how I felt about a particular friend of mine acting this way toward me and I was telling him that maybe I should just go to her or send her a little gift or...or... All of a sudden, he firmly - but kindly - told me to get over it! He said that they were not what a true friend should be and he didn't think that they were ever able to be capable of being a true friend!
Well! I couldn't believe it, but he was right. I had a good cry and in that moment, I knew I felt peace about it all. I was no longer going to try to "make" someone be my friend. I am no longer going to waste sleep, tears or thoughts over someone that does not think that I am enough. Now I have more time to show those that are dear to me that THEY are ENOUGH.