The Joys of Speaking

How wonderful it is when you are given the opportunity to talk about something you are passionate about, something you love, something that means so much to you, and to share that with people you care deeply about.

I was given such an opportunity at a recent meeting. Not only was I able to talk about Disney but also the company I work for. What an honor that both parallel each other and that I got to spend a half a day expressing that.

Off to Vegas

My brain is tired. My limbs are tired. My eyes are tired. Let's just say I am TIRED! I am so looking forward to getting on that plane and flying and relaxing for a couple of days with my best bud. I am not taking a huge suitcase like when we go to Florida but if I were to take a big one...you bet I would stuff my son in there too and take him with. He is a lot of fun. He makes me giggle.

I have always wanted to see Celine Dion in concert. Her voice is phenomenal. Her gig at Caesar's will end in December after a two year run so it was now or never to see her.

Sightseeing, sitting by the pool, and well, yeah, this big spender will be playing the one cent machines.... I have been very successful with the penny machines...don't laugh. Anyways, it is fun and silly and well, it will be a great break for me as my job is really getting fun, busy, and exciting so this little break will energize me for the coming weeks.

Then.....it will be cruise time. Oh I love vacations!

I will fill you all in upon my return. I am not taking technology with me as that is the whole point of a "break" and if it is with me...I will work...trust me.

Blessings!

Light Light Baby...

Remember the song "Lightening Striking Again"? Well, that is sort of an appropriate little diddy to be singing when you have surround sound storms going on. At 10:15 PM I was heading home from an awesome evening training session in Niles. A storm started about 9:00 but we just continued. We had a lot to cover and I had a very enthusiastic and attentive crew to teach everything about what we do in four hours. The crew left and then I met with the managers and we covered a few more things before it was time for me to finally head home after a long day that began at seven this morning.

I am on my way home and all of a sudden there are shards of lightening coming down from every direction. It is raining so hard that the lines on the street were so covered with water that they have disappeared leaving no guidelines in the torrential downpour. As my eyes are jetting around me and in front of me, I actually saw two strikes and whole neighborhoods go black. The wind then picked up and so now blowing rain, fogging windows, and wipers that are no where near taking care of the windshield totally removed any chance of seeing where I was going. I couldn't pull off because I couldn't see t0 the side to see where there were curbs or the way off the street. It was a very scary ride.

I have never been so glad to be in my own little dry house.

Nature is beautiful and magnificent but sometimes also looks demonic when you are driving through a severe lightening storm. I loved the light show but frankly...I prefer Disney's Fireworks where I am not dodging sheets of water and shards of electrical energy that potentially would give me a permanent perm.

Nice Mice

What happens when

Mouseatouie meets Ratatouie?



You get this!

What Kind of Leader Am I?

I volunteered today at Church for the last day of the Leadership Summit at GCC. Its been a long while since I have been able to help out. I helped out in guest services but also was privileged to listen to Jimmy Carter, who I have had some very mixed feelings about (politically, not humanitarian wise). His gentle nature came through in the interview and the media's view of former President Carter was proven wrong by this treat of hearing him "in his own words".

I also saw the most heart wrenching story about a young man born without eyes or the ability to stretch out his arms and to use his legs. This little guy started playing the piano at one and they shared footage of him picking out the notes and playing songs. He grew up with music and his father, who not only helped him accomplish things even though he had so many barriers to do so, but also went to class with him daily and worked the midnight shift at UPS. The boy, now being high school age, has taken up the trumpet so that he can march with his school's band. He sits in his wheelchair and his dad maneuvers him around the formations each and every day. The father demonstrates unselfish love and is totally devoted to his child. Amazing. Thanks to satellite, we were able to hear him sing and play for the leadership summit. I know that the love and support I give my kids is criticized because "they need to just be off by themselves". I love that my grown children are also my closest, dearest friends. My children all have their own lives, friends, relationships, and interests but we have our times together as well. Those that criticize might want to see if maybe their criticism stems from maybe wanting that kind of precious relationship with someone they love. Hmmmm ... something to think about. I will never apologize for my relationships with those that God entrusted me to guide, love, and raise. Why should that stop when they reach a certain age? The guiding is now by their choice and the raising is done leaving only love and the relationship built around all of those things over the years.

I started thinking about my own leadership skills. Jimmy Carter still leads today even though people tore him apart and expected traditional perfection. He had his own style and people genuinely respond to his style. I am very relational. I think this is why my teams that I work with out in the field respond to me not with "I have to do this" but "I want to do this and she will be proud of me because I am doing the right thing and treating people the right way". I get that feedback a lot. Though its a business world, I take pride in good old fashioned relationship building to help others feel great about themselves due to improvement, or success, or accomplishment. It is when we build others up that we find the greatest return and response. We have all had leaders that are so caught up in their own importance that they forget about being relational which is what breeds team success, not fear. Life is not about perfection but about doing the right thing towards each other which gives you the results that businesses need to succeed. Isn't it better to do something to please then to do something out of fear with a bad attitude. Teams crumble and fail because disdain breeds discontent and detachment. Wouldn't it be great to daily be told what we are doing right and less about why we didn't dot an I or cross a T? Wouldn't it be great to look at the whole picture to see how much and far we have come instead of looking at today and not being good enough? Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could brag about our leadership in our work no matter what work we are in, as we strive to use them as a positive example instead of looking to them as what not to be like? I feel I am not a perfect leader and I embrace opportunities to constantly grow and learn and improve, but God gives me chance after chance to try to be the best I can be. I never have to fear that God will fire me because I didn't send out a perfect memo. As long as I am lifting and helping others to be the best they can be, God shows me I am doing a good job as a leader. Wouldn't it be great to have that kind of affirmation every day at work?

By the way, our new series at church deals with the work place. May we all listen and learn about that place we call "work" and turn that into a workshop using God's strategies for success instead of our own. Success would belong to us all!

ANTICIPATION

This is the picture that advanced to the last round of the photo contest. I was so excited to get the notification. It will also be included in a coffee table photography collection book. To me, this is very exciting. I guess the final results will be decided in September so until then, I will enjoy being a finalist and whatever happens, happens. It won't change the "proud" and the satisfaction either way. I give props to the advice given on many websites to help me learn to take good pictures. I especially love the advice I get from Lindsay as she has a great eye when it comes to photography and takes a lot of the photos at her work for different things. She learned a lot about "white space" running and directing cameras both at Fox 28 and at Granger Community Church and lends that expertise to me so I can learn. "Thanks Linz".

Expressions.....

Our little artist doesn't just draw trees or houses...but colonies of Pokemon critters, their homes, and intertwined relationships between the little good critters and the bad critters.... (yeah, I don't know much about Pokemon stuff). He really uses a lot of details and can sit with you and explain every one of them.

I love his little drawings. He is so expressive and uses a lot of different means to express what he thinks and feels.

He also takes great pictures for a little guy. Give him a point and shoot and he lines up pictures really well. I am proud of his desire to try and to understand new tasks and opportunities and already has a sense of right from wrong and is disciplined enough to trust us when we deam something as bad.

**On a side note, I entered one of my pictures I took at the beach this summer in a photo contest and got word today that my picture was selected for the final round of competition. I am very new at this photography challenge so I was very thrilled to get this news.

If the Lyrics fit...then HUMMMMMM!

I love Kelly Clarkson. Linz always plays this song in the car and of course I saw Kelly perform it during the American Idol finale' but it wasn't until today that I actually looked up the lyrics and read them. Wow. How many times have we wanted to have the words to say to someone and we search and search and we can't seem to find a group of them to be powerful enough to get the message out...I can think of a few instances that friends of mine have really wanted to put into words their feelings. So it is with a laugh and chuckle that I list the lyrics. I wonder how many will read them, gulp, and know it is for them? Have fun...and props to Kelly for such a catchy song. Now I can sing rather than hum.

I hope the ring you gave to her turns her finger green

I hope when your in bed with her, you think of me

I would never wish bad things, but I don't wish you well

Could you tell, by the flames that burned your words

I never read your letter'

Cos I knew what you'd say

Give me that Sunday school answer

Try and make it all OK

[Chorus]Does it hurt to know I'll never be there

Bet it sucks, to see my face everywhere

It was you, who chose to end it like you didI was the last to know

You knew exactly what you would do

And don't say, you simply lost your way

She may believe you but I never will

Never againIf she really knows the truth, she deserves you

A trophy wife, oh how cute

Ignorance is bliss

But when your day comes, and he's through with you

And he'll be through with you

You'll die together but alone

You wrote me in a letter

You couldn't say it right to my face

Give me that Sunday school answer

Repent yourself away

[Chorus]Does it hurt to know I'll never be there

Bet it sucks, to see my face everywhere

It was you, who chose to end it like you did

I was the last to know

You knew exactly what you would do

And don't say, you simply lost your way

They may believe you but I never will

Never again

[Bridge]Never again will I hear you

Never again will I miss you

Never again will I fall to you

NeverNever again will I kiss you

Never again will I want to

Never again will I love you

Never

[Chorus]Does it hurt to know I'll never be there

Bet it sucks, to see my face everywhere

It was you, who chose to end it like you did

I was the last to know

You knew exactly what you would do

And don't say, you simply lost your way

They may believe you but I never will

I never will

I never will

Never again

What's My Line...What planet are you from?

I really pay attention to all of my young friends as they are dating and having relationships and some are quite serious. Some are ready to take the leap and they are stewing because they aren't sure. This and other things I have heard have really sent my red flags flying. Some are quite humorous that anyone would believe some of the "lines" that are floating around. It also connects with the book, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. You say one thing..but mean another so if you are in a relationship, beginning one, ending one, restarting one, then pay attention. You might just recognize a few things. Here is a collection of them...and from both genders. We will start with the guys:

• "I want to take things slowly so it happens naturally"....(what he really means is that he isn't done messing around yet)
  
• "I didn't lie...I swear...I just left some stuff out".... (watch it girls...this one is a liar through and through and will lead you to heartache)
  
• "I want to develop a friendship and get to know you before I commit." (In most cases this is good because you want to be friends....however, if he is "talking" to girls at work, girls to meet for lunch, girls to email and text and instant message along with you....then you have some problems and how do you know who he is talking to and who he isn't? Is he a techy kind of guy that spends his time "talking" to others...honey...he ain't talking...he is playing)
  
• "I don't want people to think I am wishy washy so we should keep this hush hush for a while.." or
• "I don't want people to think I am jumping from one girl to another so we can see each other and when the time is right, we can let others know" (girls, he is messing around on you and doesn't want you to cramp his style)
  
• "I really care about you but I don't want to commit unless I am absolutely sure. "(Do you know for sure he isn't messing around with and kissing on someone else?)
  
• "I am so confused right now....be patient. " (all the while he is having a good old time telling his other "girls" the same story that you have just heard.
  If he was "confused" once and dumped you or cheated on you while he was confused....are you ever going to be sure you can trust him ever again? (once a cheater and liar....always a cheater and liar)
  

Ok ladies...now your turn...Guys beware:

I was really hurt..so I need to be alone (all the while she is out at Fever having a great time dancing with anything in pants)

I am very social (look out guys...she likes to be out there)

I have a guy friend that is my best friend (watch it so that the best friend isn't a cozy cuddle up friend too)

I trust you (don't count on it)

I love you but I am not ready to committ (yeah....still not done with the social scene)

I just need some time.... (how is she spending her time?)
Here is the thing. Two people can be attracted to each other and may want to explore the possibilities. That is awesome. People shouldn't "play" on each other and do things behind each other's backs.

If a relationship is good...it shouldn't be hidden. If there is respect, there should never be cheating, if there is real love, you shouldn't have to wonder if the other person is "talking" to someone as "friends".

Forever is a long time. Don't settle for anyone who is an idiot and cheats on you. You are worth more than that.....DON'T BE AFRAID TO WALK AWAY ....God doesn't make junk but some take what they have and turn it into junk......

THATS RIGHT....I WATCH DR. PHIL.....I HAVE THEM ALL RECORDED.....THIS IS STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH....

Love Change

Dawson is very excited about saving his money for his cruise vacation this fall. He has a Disney container that he has saved every bit of his Birthday money in plus odds and ends of change that he has managed to find. There is one source though, that has generously and lovingly saved their change for Dawson. Little envelopes of change come his way from the heart of this person.

Lori decided that since he was being so good about saving and not spending, that she would save her bits of change for Dawson's Cruise Fund. He is pictured receiving one of those envelopes. Dawson helped me count and so far he has $19.00 in change plus a bunch of pennies we didn't even count. I think Dawson will take his pennies to the Muscular Dystrophy Association over Labor Day so he feels he gave as well as received. I have been saving pennies all year so I will donate mine as well to his "giving" fund.

What a sweet little boy that has been taught to care and appreciate by his awesome mom. He will grow up to be a respectful, caring, and giving man. I hope I am here to see the transformation. I love that little guy so much.

Thank you, Lori, for your love of this little guy and your generosity.