Challenge and Grace

My father recently passed away. I took this picture from a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan on my way home that day. Over the past week, I have learned a lot more about my father, about what kind of man he really was. Like most of us, he was somebody different to everyone. It sort of depended on how he knew them.  

As I have listened to stories from friends, family, coworkers, etc., one thing that has been consistent is his nature as a person.  There are many words people have used to describe dad; smiling, generous, quiet, outspoken, strength, determination, teacher, coach, handsome,...In general, most people have described him as a man of  character, someone they looked up to and were proud to have known him.  I couldn't agree more. He was the best father a girl could want and was always there for me and my brothers and sister. I could go on and maybe I will talk more about dad from time to time.

For now, the nature of dad that is at work here is his desire to see everyone do their best at whatever they have chosen to do. And once they have given it their all, to let go, and know you have done the best you can and be proud of that.

I chose to create his Memorial Service program on my new desktop publisher. I never thought this is what I would be working on when I purchased my new software a couple months ago. I have a vision of how the program should look. And I am proud of the work I have created so far. It is complete, save for the last page.

I am having a devil of a time trying to figure out the layering components of this software. After having revised that page multiple times, it was time to go to the printers. Time is a factor here. The printer will use what I have created so far, and make the last page work the way I would like.



We little knew that morning

God was going to call your name,

In life we loved you dearly, 

In death we do the same.

It broke our hearts to lose you,

You did not go alone.

For part of us went with you,

The day God called you home.

You left us beautiful memories,

Your love is still our guide,

And though we cannot see you,

You are always by our side.

Our family chain is broken,

And nothing seems the same,

But as God calls us one by one,

The chain will link again.

I want the beach picture, with a small inset of the picture faded, and the final layer is a prayer/poem that was chosen by the family that will be placed inside that faded inset. It should have not been so complicated to figure it out, but for whatever reason, it was. Now it goes to the printer to finalize my vision and I let go of the process. I gave it my best shot and I am proud of the work I have done.

You can bet that I will persevere (and with a smile on my face because dad is watching over me, encouraging me) to learn how the layering aspect of my software works. Someday, that picture and prayer will be framed over my fireplace looking just like I want it to.

Thanks dad, for the encouragement, and the courage to try. You taught us well how to work hard, play hard, live hard, and love hard; and to create a live well lived.

Opportunities Missed...and Taken

The cup of the Day:

You may have seen my stack of favorite coffee cups.  I am going to begin each post with whatever cup I am using.  I choose my cup depending on my mood, so take from that what you will.




This is my garden cup, or my Madi cup. I created it at Color Me Mine one day with my daughters and granddaughter.  It was inspired by the many happy days we have spent in the garden.

Opportunities Missed:
Yesterday was about missed opportunities, nothing serious. It just made me think.  I was having my morning coffee with my laptap in my lap, of course, and the dogs began whinning at the window.  Now, this is really nothing new and happens all too often.  However, this was really stressed out whinning with the whole body involved.  So, I took a look to see what it was all about.  There was a chipmunk on the front sidewalk in front of the window.  After laughing at my silly dogs, I went for my camera and when I got back this cute little guy was standing on his hind legs nose to nose with a little squirrel garden statue I have on the front step.  I went to line up the shot and my movement startled him and he took off.  Missed a great shot!

Chipmunk is probably hiding in the garden laughing at me!

It's funny how something so trivial can start us thinking. I started thinking about other opportunities missed, in life, and how it happens.  Without going into unnecessary detail, the part that counts is learning how NOT to miss opportunities in life.  Of course, sometimes it just happens and is out of our control. At those times al we can do is let it go and move forward with open eyes for other opportunities. 

You can fill in whatever 'opportunities' you like- time with friends, loved ones, business opportunities, a chance to watch the sun rise, or just to sit and smell the coffee.

Opportunities Taken:
My granddaughter spent the night last night.  This doesn't happen often enough so she and I sat down and looked at my calendar last night and marked Friday nights that it could work. At the moment, she is playing WII Fit and doing yoga.  I am sitting right beside her and doing this.  Multitasking I know. But we are together, sharing the experience of a relaxing Saturday morning. 

Soon I will be going to visit my parents.  They live about an hour away.  Dad had a stroke several months ago and is in a nursing home.  Currently, he is back in the hospital.  Mom has had her share of health struggles, too.  They are in their eighties and, well, time is precious. Almost every day that I am not at work, I go there.  It is no big deal.  I welcome the opportunity to spend time with them while I can. I have 3 brothers and a sister that are sort of in the area. We all spend time there weekly. My oldest brother lives in the same town and is the one who is there daily, sometimes ALL day and night.

As for business, I have taken the time to work on my online classes and do some more reading about blogs.  I have thought about which pictures I might use for my stationary,etc. I keep working and moving forward toward that goal a little, or a lot, each day.

It is my loved ones and friends that offer the greatest opportunities in life, the greatest reward.

?Question?
From where, who, what do you receive your greatest opportunity and reward?

And don't forget to take the coffee poll!

Let it Unfold...continued

I may not be writing in my blog everyday, but I am doing something every day.  I have been sitting with my ideas and stirring things around.  Each time I stir, I find a new scenario to sit with and feel  what life with that particular scenario might be like.  I am asking some tough questions to guide my way.  Two of my favorite questions I ask myself when I am trying to make big decisions that will effect my life, and those I love are;

1. When all is said and done and I am at the end of my life, who will I want around me? What memories and values will I hope to leave with those I love? What regrets of things done/not done might I have?  What would I hope people say about me? What stories would they share? (this is really one BIG question).
2. If money and time were no object, what would I be doing?

I don't want to get so caught up in things that I lose track of who, and what, is most important in my life. I would like my greatest successes in life to be my relationships with my family and friends. If I listen carefully to my heart, and head, I believe my business can have that level of success as well, and add to my personal relationships. And if I walk my business path with integrity and have passion for what I do, I believe that some degree of financial success with also follow.

The first question helps to keep me from getting lost, the second helps me to prioritize.  There are things in my plan that are included as ways to support the rest, or to bring in a little more income, hopefully.  I am not sure I would do these things if I didn't have to.  Although, I believe these things I hold in question have value, I also believe they are secondary and supportive.   Then there are the things I really want to do which should take the majority of my time and focus.  I realize this is vague to the reader.  I am not sure the detail is as necessary for me to share as the process.  It is a work in progress and there is still some stirring to be done.

Now that I am closer to knowing where to put my greater energies, I have another question I am stirring around.  Do I quit my full time job and pray for the best.  Or, do I stay as long as I can while my business gets started.  The obvious benefit of staying with the job is the full time pay.  The downside is that I work nights, weekends, weekdays.  My hours are quite flexible and all have to fit into a 40 hour work week.  Then I have home and family time and all that entails.  And I am spending time each week with my parents who live in another town. I also hope to have a little downtime here and there.  So my time to invest in this business is quite fragmented to say the least.  I do know I have many options and I am confident I will know what to do when the time comes.

I have registered for two more online classes that I hope will move me closer to my goal, both personally and professionally.

So, there you have it for today, doing something everyday and letting it all unfold.  I am not in a hurry, yet have my eyes on the calendar.