Ho, ho, ho and …

Ho, ho, ho and Merry Christmas.  As we prepare our hearts may we keep the spirit of love in our minds and deeds.  We are celebrating the birth of our savior Jesus Christ.  He gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we may know true peace and love.  So that we may enjoy a blessed life in eternity.

I realize this event has become quite commercialized however the spirit of hope is still growing strong.  As we walk thru this life we will always encounter the Grinches and scripture can shed light on these dark corners of the world.  I especially like;  “Do not judge so that you will not be judged” Matthew 7:1

It is hard to pray for those who have wronged us or hurt us but it is absolutely essential to our Christian growth.  I have been especially challenged this holiday season and I continue to have great faith in the goodness of people.  We all have the capacity to help each other and to express love.

May this be the foundation for all things ahead of me.  Thank you God.

Merry Christmas 2011

 

 

 

Mile High Faith

Have you been bit by Tebow fever?  Certainly if you are a football fan of any variety you have heard about the Denver Bronco quarterback; Tim Tebow.  He is known for giving thanks to Jesus Christ his savior at the end of any game – win or lose.  He also credits his teammates and thanks God with every opportunity he receives. 

As I have watched the Broncos win the the last moments of the last few games or win in Overtime, I am entertained and excited.  You see I have been a Bronco fan since I was 9 years old….that was a long time ago.  But as I watch these last minute wins I notice my own faith in the ability of the team is tested – do I really believe or am I just a fair weather fan?

This leads me to a larger lesson.  I think Tim Tebow is showing us all week in and week out what faith is all about. 

Do we really believe?  Do we really accept Christ as our savior?  Is our life focused on this relationship?  There is no greater relationship in our lives.  Can it be a football player is helping us all return to our faith?  This is the biggest win.  There is no Greater Win in life than to have a fulfilling relationship with God.  To thank our redeemer daily.  This is my touchdown. 

 Thank you Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos.   GO TEAM!  Thank you God.

Special

Have you ever been with someone who has special needs?

I am not talking about the need to chat or someone who needs a hug but rather someone who has special needs such as a missing body part or mental challenge?

I have had the honor of being in the presence of such people and I am continually surprised at how they bless my day. When I pay attention I am constantly amazed at how they see the world.

The optimism and sunshine that I witness is unmatched. It also makes me wonder just how much better the world would be if we all had more of this spirit within us.

Do I wake up happy to embrace a new day? Am I filled with awe at the possibilities in front of me?

My prayer is that I can also be special and embrace the wonders around me.

Look for the beauty of the moment and enjoy the blessings of each day.

Unexpected Blessings

I took a walk early this morning and while I was drinking in the sky drenched in a shower of peach, orange and blue I noticed an ornament…..a hot air balloon. This was an unexpected blessing to my walk.
Have you ever considered all of the unexpected blessings in your day? They come in the most unusual packages. It could be the warmth of a smile or a green light on your way to a destination. Do we notice the blessings of our days?
The air was crisp this morning and the grass blanketed with a fresh coat of dew. We had storms overnight and the fireworks provided by mother nature were nothing short of breathtaking. They included thunder, lightening and unfortunately LARGE hail. It looked like it was raining golf balls….only mother nature could produce such a spectacle.  Could there be other unexpected blessings in this?
I will hold on to the vision of the hot air balloon as the theme for my Friday. It was light, airy and whimisical. What could be better for the day? What will your theme be?  I am grateful for unexpected blessings!

Milestones

I passed another milestone last week. Yes, the birthday fairy paid me a visit and I have welcomed another fantastic year of opportunity.
In the week since my cake extravaganza I have experienced a wide variety of feelings. From the peaks of possibility to the valley of…what is next in my life? There are times when I feel like I haven’t tapped my full potential and then there are other days when I feel completely empty….can you relate?
With all of these feelings it is important to maintain perspective. I think we all tend to tough self-critics. If we step back and honestly look at other people we will soon realize we are all in similar boats with oars waiting to be used. Where would you guide your boat? There is no such thing as a wrong direction…..all of our experiences create our maginificent journeys.
I am grateful for my adventures and all of the people I have encountered. These people have made the journey sweet and memorable.
Now when I think in these terms, I am eager to see what the next chapter will bring.  I am also grateful for the blessings from God.  God is so patient with all of us.  God is love and it is offered to all of us.  Our job is to embrace the love and help radiate it to others.
Where is your adventure taking you? Have you passed a milestone? Who are you grateful for in your path?
Take a moment and share some joy with those sharing your journey…there will never be another moment exactly like this one.

Dreams

Recently I had the opportunity to support a family member in pursuit of a dream. It is an honor to support others.
I wish we spent more time focused on how to support other people – family included. There is much celebration about being the leader however there is very little celebration for the supporting roles. They are also important an vital to success.

I compare it to being on an athletic team. You won’t find a successful quarterback on a football team without an outstanding offensive line.
The same rule applies to a person with a dream. It is critical to have a support group around you. Other people can bring different viewpoints, energy as well as support. These synergies create something wonderful.
You also learn by being in a support role. Watching another person pursue a dream, a passion in their life provides many lessons. You start thinking about, how can I add value? How can I compliment efforts here?
When the focus is on someone else – amazing things happen.
I am grateful for my recent journey and my renewed faith in the power of having a dream. Is there someone you can support? Is there a dream calling your name?

The possibilities are endless……

There’s No Place Like Home.

Recently I have travelled to see my parents and returned to the home that I spent most of my childhood in. It was a welcome change to enter familiar surroundings. All the sites, sounds and smells I remember with a couple of upgrades of course. The first thing I noticed was that my room was clean. That was not the case when I lived there during high school. But the walls told stories of many athletic events, dances and late night conversations.
It was a delightful visit and I thoroughly enjoyed the conversations, activities and laughs we shared.
While I have a family of my own there is something comfortable about going to my parents home. I regress to some of my old habits and ways. For a fleeting moment I allow myself to be the child and then the thought is interrupted by the needs of one of my own kids. I am a mom, a daughter, a friend…a character.
I am grateful for the new memories we created and the opportunity to spend time with my parents.
Time – it is the one element we all have the same amount of. No matter what your height, weight or economic status may be – we all have the same amount of time. My challenge is gain a greater consciousness about how I am spending it. Am I making it count? Am I adding value to the lives of those around me?
These are great questions to ask……they help me find my center. Mom and dad – thank you for a fabulous visit. I will see you again soon.
With Laughter and Love, April

Ode to Oprah

Were you like me? Did you catch the last episode of Oprah and reach for kleenex? How do you take 25 years of learning and put it in to a 40 minute program? Here is a woman who has interviewed some of the most interesting, dynamic and memorable people on earth.
But then……
She gave us her points of wisdom. We all want to feel validated. We all want to be heard. We all want that common bond of acceptance.
She thanked God, acknowledged God and blessed the future “for the glory of God.”
It was a fabulous moment in television history.
Oprah also encouraged all of us to listen for the little voice inside all of us….the message that comes from God. The divine message which helps guide us towards that life which brings fulfillment and more importantly serves others.
Can you imagine the change we would see not only in ourselves but in the world if we could tap in to a small portion of this potential?
Oprah it has been an honor to take this journey with you for 25 years. I thank God for the gift of YOU and pray that we will all find our gift to share with others.

With Gratitude!

‘Tis the Season…….

It is Holy Week. This week is filled with emotion and gratitude.
I have spent much of the week thinking about sacrifice and dedication. What have these words evolved to mean in society today? Are we willing to make sacrifices to attain our goals? Are we willing to make sacrifices to help others? Are there things you have gone without? What have the people around you sacrificed to help you? Time, resources or perhaps their own needs and dreams?
Can you take my idea a step further? Are there things that you can do to help others? Can you help others attain their dream? How would this feel? Can you provide a meal for a hungry soul? There are opportunities all around us if we simply take a moment to look.
It is humbling to think about what others have done for us. I would encourage you to take some time and think about this topic. I hope it will stir a new level of gratitude within you and perhaps action to help others.

Happy Easter

Spring Cleaning=Ideas

Spring Fever is back. The season is starting to change and with it comes more energy and a sense of renewal all around. I love seeing the flowers begin to sprout and the promise of buds on the trees.
It is also a terrific time to do a little internal spring cleaning or spring clearing. Winter can bring more than frozen toes. For some us, we may have placed ideas and aspirations on a shelf. These ideas and aspirations get crowded out with the pulse of daily life. Errands to run, deadlines to meet, events to attend….time simply runs out.

In everyone’s life there is one level playing field for all of us – TIME! We are all blessed with the same 24 hour clock. You can’t buy more time, you can’t extend it.

Now back to these ideas or inspirations, my goal is to take them off the shelf, dust them off and find a specific time in my day to place them. This is also a reflection of time management. Spring is a perfect time to reevaluate how I am doing in this area. Do I need a bigger calendar, a smaller one or how about just one that I use? I am currently working in between 3 of them.

I am grateful for the change of seasons and the promise of new life. My challenge will be to apply this to my personal life as well.
Join me for a little clearing?