Senior Discounts

Today was another trip to the Bingo Hall with my mom and yes once again we were shut out. We got there early and as I was getting stuff for our lunch when I looked up and see this sign on the wall advertising a Senior Discount on Monday’s. So I was walking back to my chair and realized that I’m now a ‘Senior’. I think that was the first time I have noticed that there are some discounts that I am now eligible for. Not sure how I feel about that, but hey if I can get a discount why not.

I took the picture with my cell phone so it isn’t all the good of an image; it advertises Senior Day, $2.00 off every Monday, 50 and over.

I did it!!!!!!

I currently work for a company that makes hand carried ultrasound equipment. This equipment is used in a lot of Emergency Rooms and Intensive Care Units because of its small size and portability. For the last year an a half part of my job has been to train the sales team on how to connect the equipment to the hospital network. Well today I had to put my money where my mouth was. I actually went down to a Doctors office on 1st Hill in Seattle and installed one of our systems onto the hospital network.

I prepared the training materials I use in my classes by reading the technical documentation and everything made sense to me and seemed pretty straight forward. I have had many complements on the classes I give because I translated the “Geek Speak” in to a language that our sales team could understand. But the truth is I had never done an actual installation. So today was interesting because I was going to be by myself and could look real dumb in front of the customer if I didn’t get the stuff working.

Well not only did I get it working, but it only took me 20 minutes and half of that was waiting for the IT guy to fix the patch panel to activate the network port in the Doctors office. Not only was I able to do it, but I just validated that my teaching materials are really quite good and almost anyone could do it.

Oh Happy Day.

Skills, Talents and Gifts

Did you know that I like to play golf? Yes, that is probably redundant for most of you reading this, but I just wanted to make sure that you knew that about me. Golf is a skill that I am learning. I wish I could say I was a talented golfer, but that is not the case. Maybe that is part of the allure of golf for me is that it is something I need to learn and perfect, it doesn’t come naturally.

Now I am not a born klutz, but I also don’t have a natural talent for sports either. Back in the day I played collegiate softball and basketball so I could hold my own. I was part of the team not so much for my physical abilities, but for my mental abilities. I had the basic skills and I used my mental skills to anticipate. This helped me to compete against others that had natural talent but hadn’t put the effort into it to develop that talent to its full potential.

When you think about talent often it is in reference to music. Music is another area that I have a passion for but I was not blessed with that natural ability or talent. I work and practice to improve my skill on the guitar and I am so grateful for the music team at TRC for allowing me to play with them as I continue to improve this skill.

We all know of people that are very talented musically or even physically some have even honed their talents and excel. But then there are those that are gifted.

So what’s the difference between being talented and being gifted? Both come naturally and those that are talented may be gifted. The people with a gift except and cherish that gift as something that they didn’t earn or deserve. It is not theirs and can be taken from them. A gift is God-breathed. Those with a gift may not be the most technically proficient but they have a heart that is pure. That is probably the biggest difference is the purity of heart.

I have many skills and I try to keep learning new skills as I go. I have a few talents and these I continue to develop as you would a muscle. I have a gift that I didn’t create or earn it is God-given and I am only asked to be a good steward of it and to cherish it as the gift it is and to not become prideful in it and thus tarnish it, to keep my heart pure.

So today I would ask you what is your gift and do you respect it?

Heart Pills

I’m going to let you in on a little secret; Kyle and I have found the perfect holistic approach to heart medicine. Now I’m not all that holistic, my favorite meal is hot dogs so don’t get the wrong impressions. Since Kyle’s little heath opportunity a couple of years ago we both have become more aware of foods that are good for your heart. Tops on his list are Dark Chocolate and Whole Almonds.

FACT 1: Studies have suggested that cocoa or dark chocolate may possess certain beneficial effects on human health. Dark chocolate, with its high cocoa content, is a rich source of the flavonoids epicatechin and gallic acid, which are thought to possess cardio protective properties.

FACT 2: Research further associates almonds in lowering the blood presence of HDLs (high-density lipoproteins) and LDLs (low-density lipoproteins) equally with the statin drug line and can significantly lower heart disease risk.

Those two facts equate to the perfect heart pill being – drum roll please:

Dark Chocolate covered Almonds

One more fact is that because I buy them for him on special occasions such as our anniversary, his birthday, Valentines day, Christmas or any other day that I want to let him know how much I love him they speak to his heart.

So the next time you want Dark Chocolate covered Almonds, go to Monroe and stop by Sweet Escapes and ask for “Heart Pills”, they will know what you mean and probably get a laugh out of it.


Trivia
* Consumers spend more than $7 billion a year on chocolate.
* U.S. consumers eat about 2.8 billion pounds of chocolate annually, making per capita consumption about 12 pounds (5.44 kg) per person a year.
* American chocolate producers use about 1.5 million pounds of milk.
* Chocolate has over 500 flavors components, more than twice the amount found in strawberry and vanilla.
* Switzerland has the highest Chocolate consumption in the world with an average of 10 kg (22 pounds) per person.

Which one is the Blue Jay?

Yesterday when I stopped to get my mom some strawberry's there was this bird in the parking lot. If you were to ask my husband he would tell you that it was a Blue Jay. But you know what that is not correct. The bird I saw was a Stellar Jay as shown in the picture above.

A Blue Jay is native to the eastern half of the US and is slightly smaller and has a white under belly. This is the bird that the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team is named after. It is shown in the picture below.

Just a bit of trivia for you west coasters.

Stuck in a Rut

So when does our daily routine become a rut? A routine is something that is followed regularly and often performed without much thought. A good athlete or entertainer will practice and practice repeating a particular task until it becomes routine and they don’t have to think about it. We in our own lives have routines, we routinely go to church, we routinely go to work, and we routinely have meals. Routines are not bad, I really don’t like to have my day-to-day routines disrupted. I personally don’t like it when I miss a meal or have my sleep disrupted.

But when does a routine become a rut. A rut is when you do the same thing all the time and become bored. You catch your self-doing something just to do it and never make any progress. Again as an athlete, they must change or alternate their training routines or their muscles will get bored and not continue to grow. An entertainer must change their routine or people will get bored and not see their show more than once.

What actions in our lives are routine and what actions need to be changed up to prevent them from becoming ruts? Maybe the only thing we need to do is change our perspective so that we see them as routine and that there is a benefit to the routine.

Rut – definition: A grave with the ends kicked out.

Aging

Saturday night I was standing around talking with a couple of friends and the topic of age came up. I have developed a trick over the years of how to find out peoples ages and not be offensive. I just make sure I guess an obviously wrong, yet flattering age. As an example, I sometimes need to find out what class room to put a student in at church so I guess there age to be 15 or 16 when they are really about 8 or 9. It always makes them feel good. Or how about a 16year old, guess that they are 20 and watch them glow. Now this trick works on us more mature folks as well, tell a 50 year old that they look like they are 30 and you have made a friend for life.

Aging is a fact of life and the alternative isn’t very promising. What we can avoid is getting OLD. Old is a state of being stale and showing deterioration. We need to mature as we age, we need to continue to grow in character and wisdom with every experience that life brings us. My husband is always saying, “old is a state of mind” and I prefer to age like a good cheese and get better as the time past.

Blow Out

My June 6th post talked about praying specific prayers, too bad I don’t always remember that. As I talked about in yesterdays post Kyle and I attended the Mariners game last night. As is normal the weather this last week has been iffy for an enjoyable game down at Safeco field. Yes, I love to go to the ball park, eat hot dogs and peanuts and enjoy the game, the only problem is that I don’t like to be cold.

For the last couple of weeks I have been praying for the weather to be clear and warm. Last night we got to the game and it was near 70 and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Thank you Lord that you answer even prayers for weather at a sporting event just to make me comfortable.

The only problem was that I didn’t pray that the Mariners would show up and play baseball. They were blown out. The Reds had 4 runs in the first inning and it went down hill from that.

Reds 16, Mariners 1

So remember, God expects us to ask and He expects us to be specific, even if it is only a ball game.

"There is No Crying In Baseball"

This is a line that Tom Hanks used in the movie A League of Their Own about the Woman’s baseball league during WWII. This is also a line that Kyle used last night while we were part of a sold out crowd at Safeco Park that celebrated the return of Ken Griffey Jr. A crowd of true baseball fans that showed their respect to a player that is credited with “saving baseball in the Northwest”.

I was amazed at the emotions of the moment and frustrated when the tears did start. See for me, I thought it was just going to be a night that Kyle and I got to go to a ball game. I am a fan of baseball, not necessarily a fan of a particular team, but what I love most is going to the ball part. As a kid I would go to ball parks and watch my dad play recreation league, and then I myself started playing in organized leagues when I was in third grade. I like to be in and around the ball field, whether it is softball or baseball.

So about two months ago Kyle came home all excited about having tickets this game at the end of June, it would be the first game that Griffey played at Safeco since being traded to the Reds. I was glad for the tickets, especially because they were great seat behind the Mariners dugout, 12 rows up from the field, but didn’t really care about the inter-league play part of it. I guess I’m a purest or just don’t like change and I don’t like the inter-league format, leave it for the World Series. So anyways, we head down to the ball park and get to our section, make a pit stop, grab a foot long hotdog and a soda and arrive at our seats just as the national anthem starts. We sit down and start eating our hotdogs and settle in for the pre-game festivities. The sun is shinning the weather is warm for a Seattle game and the seats are full. Out comes a couple of guys in suits and then they announced Ken Griffey Jr and the place erupts in a standing ovation that lasted and lasted. I almost went deaf from the guy behind me yelling so loud thank God it was an open stadium. It was during that time that the tears started. As I tried to wipe the tears and not be obvious I notice that the guy in front of me has tears running down his face too, it was just an emotional moment in time.

In trying to figure out why I was in tears I can only think it was because of the true emotion of the moment. In that time there was no division, there was only celebration, there was unity and where there is unity there is power.

Strawberry Season

These are the freshly cleaned local strawberries that I picked up for my mom at the Yakama Fruit Market in Bothell. Now that she lives in Kenmore I drive by it when I go to her place and these last couple of weeks they have had local strawberries so I stop in and get her a pint, clean and cut them up and put them in individual serving baggies for her to enjoy during the week.

Now you might think that I am being the “good daughter” but the fact is that I do it for my self also. See every time I stop to get her some, I bring some home for myself also. I love fresh strawberries and raspberries (so does my mom). I know that cherries are big here but for me it is all about the berry.

So today I got my mom strawberries and oh by the way, got some for myself too.

Words - Part 2

Yesterday I was working with a group here at work and as we were finishing our task I said “Cool”. Then I corrected myself and said “Sweet” and we all laughed. I told them I was trying to change my demographic and use the new words I had learned from the interns.

Then there was the conversation with a friend where she told me that recently she had given a gift to someone and they told her to “Shut Up”. She explained that at first she had been hurt and then it was explained to her that it was a Good Shut up and meant ‘you kidding right, that is awesome’.

Here is a short list of idioms that are a part of our culture and language, I challenge you to keep track of how many times in your daily speech you use an idiom, I think we all would be amazed. Let me know if you have others.

SMILE

She wants her teeth back

I love being Grandma Karen, I get these little pic on my phone. Isn't this precious?

Top 10 Signs You Work in Marketing

1. You lecture the neighborhood kids selling lemonade on ways to improve their process.

2. You get all excited when it's Saturday so you can wear casual clothes to work.

3. You refer to the tomatoes grown in your garden as deliverables.

4. You find you really need PowerPoint to explain what you do for a living.

5. You normally eat out of vending machines and at the most expensive restaurant in town within the same week.

6. You wear gray to work instead of navy blue to make a bold fashion statement.

7. You know the people at the airport and hotel better than your next door neighbors.

8. You ask your friends to "think out of the box" when making Friday night plans.

9. You think Einstein would have been more effective had he put his ideas into a matrix.

10. You think a "half-day" means leaving at 5 o'clock.

Words

I have become more aware of my own lapse in writing and grammar since starting a blog. I have become too reliant on MS Word for spell check and grammar check capabilities. After a few obvious errors being pointed out to me I now create all of my blog entries in Word first and then cut and paste them so that I get some help. Too bad I’m still not getting it right all the time. I was thinking about all of the folks that are trying to learn English today as a second language and how hard it must be for them.

I have made a short list of words to consider:
- read or red
- threw, through or thru
- hear or here
- right or write
- witch or which
- no or know
- your or you’re
- too, to, or two
- I will read or I have read

Can you think of other examples?

The Intern Inn

During this last year, we renamed our home The Intern Inn, because on many occasions we had three or even four of the ten interns in this years class spend the night. We had two that were our full time interns, Josh and Juan. I can’t say that we spent a lot of time with either one of them due to very different schedules, but being a host home was an interesting experience.

Things I learned from the Interns:
- Young men will sleep until the very last moment.
- Young men take more time in the shower than any woman I know
- Young men can sleep through just about anything, including the noise from the garage door opener hung just below their bed.
- Young men love to invade the refrigerator at 11pm
- If you don’t want leftovers invite the interns over for dinner.
- If you DO want leftovers you need to HIDE them.
- Young men’s voices can penetrate most walls at 1am.
- Young men just need a little direction some time.

This morning I said goodbye to Juan as he is heading home to Texas and Josh will move out today. So as of tonight The Intern Inn is closed for remodeling and restocking.

Character

Thinking about the Intern’s graduating has caused me to think a little about Character, I’m still working on my thoughts about Character but decided to share a couple of items I have come across:

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

-- Frank Outlaw

Organization is 60%.

Organized - methodical and efficient in arrangement or function.

I was talking with a colleague at work this week about how I manage to keep a complex set of problems and responsibilities organized and from being overwhelmed. She herself was feeling totally overwhelmed and was looking for any help. This is the strategy that the Lord gave me back in the 80s when I ‘burned myself out’ trying to do too much for too long.

First - God blessed me in that I just think organized, I see a problem, I then see the steps necessary to get to the end. Not everyone does, but just as I have learned to be an exhorter, you can learn from others a few steps to help you be organized.

Second - I use the resources available and don’t expect or try and do everything myself. Thank God I can rely on Him when I just don’t know what to do next.

Third – layout a plan or a map of how to achieve your goal, with out a plan you can easily get off course.

Four – Once I have a plan I manage the exceptions. The plan should manage itself.

Forth - make a list of the things that need to be done, not so much so you can keep track of them, but more so that you can cross them off and see that you really are getting stuff done. When you are feeling overwhelmed it is usually because you are looking at the end and not seeing the steps that are already behind you or the fact that you accomplished something.

Fifth - pick one or at the most two things that you will get done each day and make sure that getting them done is realistic. The trick here is that at the end of the day you can say that you met your goal. Now if you get more than that done it is extra and you don’t feel condemned.

I have found this strategy useful in every area of my life, not just at work, but in my personal life also. As a working woman I sometimes get overwhelmed with the things I need to do at home as well as in the office. Think about it, I know for me I really don’t like spending all day on a Saturday cleaning house so I do it in steps in the evening during the week. Clean the bathrooms and vacuum upstairs one night and clean the kitchen and vacuum the downstairs the next, do the laundry on Friday nights when Kyle and I are sitting around watching TV. That leaves Saturday’s open for what ever else I may want to do.

So for today make a list and find one thing that you can get done. You will feel better knowing you accomplished something when you lay your head on the pillow tonight.

What Would You Do?

Picture this; you are running a little late and yet you need to make a quick stop at the local Fred Meyer’s and pick up something to take with you. You pull into the parking lot and it is really full. But wait, you see a spot just on the other side of that red mini van near the exit and you think, “Yeah, I hit the parking lot jackpot!” You pull out to make a smooth sweeping turn into the spot and just as you are about to put it into park and jump out of your vehicle you look over at the side of the mini-van and see this sign:
Yes, my wheelchair van has this sign on the side of it and because I use this van as my everyday vehicle this scenario plays out every time I park in a parking lot. I find it interesting as to whether or not the spot on the left side of the van has a car in it when I come out of places. I do my best to park away from the buildings so as not to take up two prime locations, but there are times when I too need to make a quick stop on the way home.

So, what would you do?

My Liliac Bush

I love lilacs in the spring. As a child we lived on a farm for a short period of time. This farmhouse was 100+ years old. Yes, it was built before Washington became a state. I was only about 7 and the lilac bush was my favorite place to play. These bushes were probably as old as the house it self and so they have strong branches and were just the right size for me to be able to climb. I could even hide inside of them and not be seen from the outside when they were in full leaf. I would crawl inside the bushes to just get away from everything and to dream about all the things I would do as a grown up. Any time I smell fresh lilacs I think of the dreams I had for my life.

Since that time I have had lilac bushes at each of the homes I have lived in and on Sunday I planted lilac bush at the house we moved into 2 ½ years ago. When I finished planting it I thought finally, it is a home, a house of my dreams. I can hardly wait until spring when I have lilacs of my own again and to dream new dreams under my lilac bush.

Opportunities

A few years ago I made a choice to change the way I think. I made the choice to look at the circumstances, obstacles, trials and challenges that come as opportunities. Instead of being “a victim of circumstances” I take advantage of the opportunity. Every instance in our life is an opportunity to learn, overcome and grow. By looking at them as opportunities it allows me to see them as positive events instead of negative events.

This is a learned behavior for me and it has been very valuable. Now don’t get me wrong it is not always my first reaction, but I have been doing it long enough now that it doesn’t take me too long change my thoughts, usually in a few hours at the most.

I even like to use scriptures – Karen’s version

James 1:2,3
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face Opportunities of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

1 Peter 1:5-7 (New International Version)
who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had all kinds of Opportunities. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all Opportunities, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

So let your opportunities today lead you to a new level.

Giving is Priceless

I had the most amazing weekend. I crawled into bed last night with a feeling of utter joy. Last night I stayed up too late because I was reliving it, none of the events this weekend were planned or structured and yet they were totally of God. I was able to give of my self, my time and my resources.

First my mother who is unable to do very much for herself had asked me to pick up a few birthday cards for her to give to her friends. No for me I can’t just give just any old birthday card; it has to be just the right one for each individual. I don’t know which type of store I can spend more time in, a bookstore or a Hallmark Shop. When I look for birthday cards I will open each card and read it sometimes laughing out loud. If I find a card that fits a certain person I will buy it and then hold onto it for months waiting for that persons birthday to come around. Each person is unique and their birthday is unique and so should their card.

Feeling that way about birthday cards it was hard for me to think about picking out just a few random ones for her to give so I decided that since I didn’t have anything scheduled during the day Saturday, I would just make time to go and get her and take her to the store and let her pick out her own. The really cool part is that I didn’t tell her about the plan, I just showed up as she was finishing her lunch. She was sitting at the table with her friends and I came strolling in the door. She looked up, saw me and asked what I was doing there. I told her that I needed to go to the store and pick up a few things for her and I thought I would take her with me. That little gift of my time, a couple of hours out of my day were priceless to her. That smile on her face and the sparkle in her eye when I told her the plan was priceless to me.

Then there was just giving of my self by talking to friends who just needed a little encouragement at that moment. It isn’t that I can change anything; it is just being there and knowing that someone cares that makes it more manageable. It wasn’t much but I know in my own life that when a friend reaches out and just cares it is priceless. It is priceless to me to be a friend to them.

I was also able to give of my resources this weekend, even though I have needs of my own, I have learned that if I give to others first my needs will be taken care of. To be able to give someone a dinner just to bless them when they don’t need it, to buy lunch for friends just because or to pay for the car behind you in the Starbucks line, to be able to meet a major need in someone’s life. All of these are small things and the receivers would have never asked and that is what makes the gift priceless. To know that I do have the resources to give, no matter how small is priceless to me.

I had an amazing weekend, I was able to give and that for me is priceless.

M.E. - Recap

I started writing about Memorable Experiences (M.E.) with my first posting on May 12th, and did my last one to day on June 8th. I started out with a list of about 5 and ended up doing 16 of them. During that 4-week period I add and subtracted a few items. I made a choice at the beginning to share only the positive experiences and not to share the negative opportunities and deep loses I have had in my life; who would really want to hear that stuff.

Hopefully if you have read them all you weren’t bored, I really did try and keep them short. For every ME there were at least three pages of notes that I had to cut down and yet not loose the spirit of what I wanted share. I have kept the short and long version of each one, who knows what I will do with them.

If you haven’t read them all, here is the list and what the key point of each.
· 5/12 – ME – 1st trip to Seattle – Developed the confidence to be in front of a crowd.
· 5/13 – ME – Almost Arrested in DC – Ask when you are unsure.
· 5/14 – ME – The Night The Edmund Fitzgerald Sunk – Learned to make hard choices.
· 5/15 – ME – Working on Mackinac Island – How to deal with people
· 5/16 – ME – Freeport Pretzels – Reached the end of myself and accepted Christ
· 5/17 – ME – Germany; Arm-in-Arm – Grew emotionally, Spiritually, and relationally.
· 5/19 – ME – Fighting for Shoes – I am called to a Nation
· 5/22 – ME – Hotel Good View and AK47s – Grateful to be an American
· 5/24 – ME – Hurricane Kenna – Gods extends His Grace and Mercy to the helpless
· 5/25 – ME – The Big C – The Lord is faithful
· 5/26 – ME – I Can’t Fix This – Keep trusting and believing
· 5/29 – ME – Gas Chambers – Truly there is good and evil in the world
· 5/30 – ME – Secret Service – The pure enjoyment of friendship
· 6/4 – ME – Kissing the Blarney Stone – Take time to stop and take a break
· 6/7 – ME – End Of An Era – In a time of transition stay focused on the Lord
· 6/8 – ME – Health Opportunity – Trust God with all things.

Thanks for being patient and we will see what comes up next.

Next M.E. - ???; Yet to be determined.

M.E. - Health Opportunity

I turned to see my husband holding his chest, his completion ashen and his eyes pleading and confused, then ever so slowly he says he is having chest pains. I quickly end the phone conversation I was having with my niece as Kyle made is way to the couch to sit down. That is how my world was rocked on November 20, 2005. All of the first aide and lifesaving training kicks in as I grab his wrist and check his pulse and respiration. They seem normal but the fact that he had no color and was cold and clammy told me that something was wrong. I told him I wanted to call 911 and he said no. I asked if at least he would let me take him to the ER and of course he said no. I asked again and he said yes. Right then and there I knew this was no small thing so I quickly get my shoes on and grab his shirt and shoes and hand them to him and he tells me we have to wait until the end of the Seahawks game. WHAT, I turned around and saw that there was only 43 seconds left in the game and stayed calm enough to let him finish the game. I figured if I freak out it wouldn’t help either one of us.

We ended up in the ER in Monroe and the doctor there found an anomaly so he kept Kyle over night. The next day during his stress test he starts having chest pains again and they shipped him off to Everett immediately, it has one of the best Cardiac Care Units in the country.

The best way to describe his condition is that Kyle was a heart attach waiting to happen. If he had not let me take him to the ER and he would have gone to work the next day; he had what they call the ‘widow maker’, he would have died even if he had been in the ER at the time it would have still been fatal.

Once at Everett they schedule a procedure to unblock his artery and put in a stint to keep it open. The night before the procedure I stayed with Kyle; I can’t say that either one of us slept. I even wrote in my journal that morning while he was on his way to Everett, “Lord, if this is the last day for Kyle here, I want to thank You for the time and legacy. I know I can trust You with him.”

I truly didn’t expect him to live through the procedure. During the night I really felt it was going to be our last chance to be together but I was at peace. I felt that Kyle would go and it was OK to let him go. Maybe that was it; I just needed to get to the point that I would let him go.

Two days after the procedure we had the Pearson family over for Thanksgiving Dinner and what a time of rejoicing we had. The day after that I slept for 14 hours, I guess I was just a bit tired.

I have come to grips with my own death, knowing that I can trust God. That night I came to grips with the Kyle’s death, knowing hat I could trust God. Is there anything else that I can’t trust God with? What more could there be, this was just another Health Opportunity.

Next M. E. - Recap

M.E. - End Of An Era

An era - a period marked by distinctive character. On August 1, 2005 an era came to an end for me, I was laid off from a company that I had been with for 11years. A new VP had been brought in for the purpose of bringing change and he decided that anyone that worked in Marketing who didn’t have a Marketing degree was not good enough. So there were seven of us in that category. Even though I had 5 years of experience as a Product Marketing Manger I wasn’t qualified purely because I have an engineering degree and not a marketing degree.

When I was told the word "transition" came to me. Transition - A change from one state to another. I needed to transition from my confidence in who I thought I was at work, to who I am in the Lord. Transition - characterized by strong contractions - I guess that is the best way to describe it - strong contractions that will yield a new birth, a new vision, a new level of faith, a new trust in the Lord. Transition - from one of being in bondage to my job to one of liberty in the Lord.

The last time I had a month off was June 1975 - thirty years ago - when I finished college and before I started my 1st professional job. I took a month off to mark the transition from student to professional. I sailed, I swam at the beach, I played my guitar. It was a wonderful time as I look back on it. It was a major transition time in my life. Not only did I leave college and what I had known for the last five years, but also I moved to a new state where I knew no one. I moved to a place were I finally reached the end of myself and had to reach out for something bigger than myself. Someone I could trust to lead me and carry me when I wasn't able to do it on my own. It was after that transition that I reached out to the Savior and accepted Jesus.

Now, fast-forward 30 years and it is another time for a month off (actually turned out to be 4 months), I played golf, I sat with a friend under the shade tree and drank tea. Another time of transition, but this time it was different, I knew Jesus as Master, as my Lord and as my Friend. I had the Father God to love and protect me. I had the Holy Spirit to lead and guide me. Just like a switchback on a mountain trail, I have been climbing, climbing, climbing all the while heading in one direction, but now to continue to climb higher I needed to make a drastic turn or the climb would be too steep and I wouldn't make it. The switchback is necessary to keep my footing on the climb upward.

During that time of transition my prayer was that I would stay focused on the Lord and what He wants for me. He has proven Himself more faithful than I could have ever believed. Transitions are never painless but once you get through them it is always an improvement.

One of the most bizarre events in the lay off process was that on the day that the official announcement was made public to the rest of the company that I would be leaving, I received a performance raise and my severance package was based on my new salary.


Next M.E. – Health Opportunity.

Canned Vegatables

Have you every thought about canned vegetables? Most of us have some in our cupboard or pantry. We usually have more than one variety. We store them to keep on hand just in case.

There are few people I know that like the taste of a canned vegetable better than the fresh one (except for peas, maybe). It is the convenience of the canned vegetable that we probably like most. All you need to do is grab the can opener and warm them up and there you have something that nourishes your body. Is there anyone that hasn’t heard, “Eat your vegetables, they are good for you”?

To me eating canned vegetables is a lot like watching TV preachers. Yes it is convenient and you get a message, but is it really as good as being in a live service? Yes you get nourished and you get a large variety, but really now, don’t the fresh vegetables just taste better. Isn’t it worth the extra effort?

Pray the Specifics

This week I had a little reminder that at times we need to be specific in our prayers.

Back on the May 22nd I wrote about feeling as if I’m being used at work. Well I did accept the new position but I have also been applying for several positions at different companies. On Monday when my new position took effect, I received an email from a friend and she said that she was praying that I would hear back on the jobs that I have applied for.

On Monday afternoon I received a call from one of the companies that I had previously applied with and they said they had a short-term contract position open and wondered if I was interested. I told them no thanks; I was only looking for a full time position.

On Tuesday I told my friend that I needed her to pray a little more specific and pray for a full time position and she said she would more specifically. Low and behold Tuesday afternoon I got contacted about scheduling a phone interview with a different company looking to fill a full time position. I had to laugh and called my friend and told reminded her that “the prayers of a righteous woman avail much.” James 5:16b

So remember that God loves it when we get specific with our prayer request.

Interesting

This is an interesting picture that I took recently.

“Interesting”, there is so much power in this one word. This one word can mean so many things. I even train our engineering staff and sales staff to use this word when working with customers. Remember the customer may not be right, but they are never wrong. I tell them to respond with “interesting” instead of telling the customer they just had a dumb thought.

It can mean how totally cool, tell me more or it can me that is really bad, how could you say that. I learned this word/phrase from a friend of mine in Illinois, she uses it in almost every situation and uses it to encourage even when you say something totally stupid. It is a phrase that has served me well in my professional and my personal life. It has become my first response to any situation that may be hard or when the wrong response may hurt someone.

Interesting is a word that fits every situation. It is a word that does not pass judgment and leaves room for interpretation and continued communication. Isn’t that what we all want is the chance to make dumb statements from time to time without judgment and leaving the door open for communication.

So the next time you are in a situation and you are left struggling with how to respond, just nod your head and say, “interesting” and let the other person lead the conversation from there.









By the way that picture above was from behind a waterfall, the shot below was taken from just outside the waterfall.

M.E. - Kissing The Blarney Stone

By March of 2005 my job required an excessive amount of travel. Now when I say excessive I was spending more than 80% of my time on the road and during one 18-month stretch the longest time that I spent at home was 8 days. Most of the time I would fly out for a few days be home for a couple and fly out again, I was a true road warrior. I chuckle when people talk about how fun it would be to travel, but it is only fun if you like seeing a lot of airports, conference rooms and hotels. Seldom is there time to visit any of the places or for that matter, even go outside except to catch a cab headed to the next destination.

One of the perks of that much travel was the number of frequent flier miles that I accumulated, so when I had to go to Dublin, Ireland for a meeting I used some of those miles for Kyle to go with me. Neither one of us had been there before and besides we just needed some time with each other at that point. I had meetings for 2 ½ days so that left us with time in the evenings and two additional days to be tourist once you take out the travel days.

I highly recommend that get a chance that you take the Hop-on/Hop-off tour bus as we did. It allowed us easy access to all of the regular tourist sites: Dublin Castle, Trinity College and the Book of the Kells, The River Liffey, Ha’Penny Bridge, Guinness Storehouse (I drank a Coke), Old Jameson Distillery (I drank water). In fact Kyle spent one of my meeting days riding around town he enjoyed it so much.

On one of our days together Kyle and I took the train down to the town of Cork and then off to Blarney Castle, home of the Blarney Stone. Its official Kyle is full of it. We even have the certificate mounted and hung in our house commemorating the fact that he kissed the Blarney Stone. The legendary Stone of Eloquence found at the top of Blarney Castle and it is said that once you hang upside-down and kiss the stone you gain “the ability to influence and coax with fair words and soft speech without giving offense’. Now he is on par with the likes of Sir Walter Scott a host of American presidents, world leaders and international entertainers that have gone before him. Can you imagine the germs that are on that thing?

In that same period of my life, besides all of the travel and day to day stuff with my job, Kyle and I had a new home built, my mother moved from Michigan to Monroe and I took responsibility for her and her upkeep. So I was stressed with a capital “S”. I was on the verge of a physical and emotional break.

This trip along with some great advice from one of the pastors at The Rock Church brought some much-needed rest and a reconnection with my husband. We enjoyed long walks, many laughs at nothing at all, eating the best fish and chips ever, sitting in the park talking with the locals and even sharing a kiss on while on the walls of Blarney Castle. There are times in each of our lives that we just need to stop and take a break. Even today, Kyle, my Swedish, Jewish, German husband speaks with a fine Irish Brogue upon request.

There is a stone there,

That whoever kisses,

Oh, he never misses

To grow eloquent.

'Tis he may clamber

To a lady's chamber,

Or become a member

Of Parliament.

Francis Sylvester Mahony


Next M. E. – End of an Era

No Foo Foo Pizza – there is just something totally wrong with calling anything with a cream sauce, fruit or whole wheat crust a pizza. Now I know that I am in the Northwest, heavy on the West, but common – Pizza in America was first started by Italian immigrant with the first "official" pizzeria in America is generally believed to have been founded by Gennaro Lombardi in Little Italy, Manhattan1905 with New York's issuance of the mercantile license. I know many Italians that agree with me.

So though you may call it Hawaiian Pizza, to us purest pineapple is a fruit and belongs in a dessert.

BTW: We had pepperoni PIZZA for dinner tonight.

Making Progress

For the past couple of months I have been unable to wear my own shoes. I have been wearing post operation attire to protect my foot as it heals. I am happy to say this week I have been wearing my own shoes. What a feeling – even thought I still have a little pain, the fact that I am in my own shoes is an assurance that I am making progress.

We all want to know that we are making progress that is why we make list. As we cross things off our list and we know we have made progress. It is feeling that we are making a difference and everything is not a waste.

Sometimes in our walk with the Lord we don’t think we are making progress, we feel as if we are just going through the motions and not making progress. Sometimes changes in us come at such a rapid pace and it is obvious that He is changing us. Other times the changes are slow and sure, maybe it is just a time where He is helping us to develop patience and grace, but rest assured He is at work and if we stop and think we will see that we are making progress. Maybe we aren’t so quick to get made, or we are at peace when we don’t get our own way, or maybe when we do get mad we get over it quicker, that is progress.

So remember progress is measured in the little things sometimes and rejoice when you can get back into your own shoes.

Happy Anniversary Kyle

Today is our 7th wedding anniversary but I’m not really one for ‘anniversaries’. By definition an anniversary is the celebration of a past event. I would rather celebrate our marriage and not the wedding.

· Our wedding had a beginning and an end; our marriage I truly believe will never end.
· Our wedding had only a few guests; our marriage is full of people, friends and family.
· Our wedding happened in the past; our marriage happens in the now.
· Our wedding was legal event; or marriage is a God event.
· Our wedding was only for a day; our marriage is new every day – even if it does start in the middle of the night.

So today and every day I celebrate our marriage and the wonderful man who continues to make our wedding a marriage that I celebrate.