To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Friendship

Who is that one person….?

(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

Who is that one person that you meet with BUT not often enough? That person that no matter what, when you do get to share a conversation, they make you better? You leave smiling. You walk away going, “wow, I’m blessed.”

This question is a bit of a trick question, because at least for me, there is no way I could narrow this down to one person. Now, let’s make this a bit more difficult and unless there is absolutely no one else, let’s not think of dear friends or neighbors we see often, or immediate family members.

I did this little exercise a couple of weeks ago; reached out and scheduled lunch… AND, THIS IS THE WEEK. I get to meet with three of the coolest people and boy am I excited!

There is not much that should make us more “JOY CENTERED” than being with those people that most certainly God placed in our path for a reason, to change us for the better and create a life fulfilled.

Your challenge today is to at least come up with one…reach out and put it on the calendar.  A walk in the snow, a mid-day coffee break, a meal to break bread with those you love. Make it happen! I’d love to know if you joined me on this challenge.

Welcome December 2016! Opportunities to love, serve and sacrifice!

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(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

It’s December! Can you believe it? Part of me feels like it’s been a super long year, and the other part feels that we are just getting started. Regardless, it is HERE and I’m ALL IN.

December provides us this AMAZING time to SHINE THE BRIGHTEST! Perhaps my favorite part of this month is that there are so many OPPORTUNITIES to LOVE, to SERVE, and to SACRIFICE for the benefit of those in our daily lives.

This weekend is the IDEAL TIME to truly sit down and be thoughtful about who those people are and creatively come up with a way to express that to them this month. Although the family is top of mind, there are so many people that make our days and ultimately our years rich and meaningful. December offers us a perfect chance to make sure they know how much their silly jokes or simple smiles make our lives joyful.

Of course this isn’t about spending extravagantly unless that is your choice. A hand written note, handmade item, or home cooked “anything” are ideal gifts of thoughtfulness. A meal together or any type of invested time is the best. It’s all about expressing and showing love.

Join me on this exercise this weekend. I’d love to hear your outcomes. Heck, I may get started today.

Some ideas:

A trip to the local fire or police station with a thank you note and some cookies or pizza…. Something to show that you notice their contribution and are grateful! (I have a friend that does this and I think it is so inspiring!)

Of course I try not to forget the hair stylist and all of those folks most of us need to feel and look our best.

What about the postal workers, cleaning crew at work, garbage collectors, medical offices…. And of course the teachers…

How about those that work for the non profits and are so busy raising funds and planning activities that they get overlooked?

So many options…maybe between all of us, EVERYONE CAN FEEL LOVED THIS DECEMBER!

Happy Thanksgiving 2016!

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(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

Simple. Prepared with love. Ready for love to fill the room. What do you see in this picture? I absolutely love it. I am so grateful today and I pray that your Thanksgiving holiday brings you more than a few moments of pure joy. I am confident that if you look for it, it will land softly and yet fully in your heart.

My vision of Thanksgiving is based on a childhood around my grandparent’s table and I am more grateful today for that time and those moments. (Even though I wondered at the time what in the world those adults could be talking about for so long… )

When you wonder if anyone is paying attention, I can assure you that all ages find these traditions to be a critical part of their journeys.

Nothing profound today, only a wish that you will at some point this weekend gather with those you love and truly take in the personal gratitude you have for this moment in time. These days are the ones we hold on to and that weave together our lives. It’s up to us to choose for these to be the very best of days.

It’s LAUNCH TIME!

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(Photo Creds:Rodrock Homes)

New seasons of life are fun, exciting and also scary! My family and I just “dug dirt” on a new home last month, and today I am launching my new and improved website. I call it phase 2.0. I think maybe I should call the move something else, something clever. I’m open to ideas! I tell my friends that this is my “big girl” house, complete with a guest bedroom that is actually safe from kid toys, teenage God-knows-what and most importantly, a lovely refuge for those I adore to get a good night’s sleep. It’s definitely a time of “ground breaking” all the way around, and a season that I am really looking forward to seeing where God takes it all (but it is a bit scary… needless to say! But what’s life without a little risk taking?).

If you, or anyone you know is in a season of “ground breaking” — change in any way, shape or form — I have found the following to be helpful when thinking about change:

1. It’s an opportunity for personal growth
If you’ve read my blogs at all you probably know that I am big on this need to constantly learn. I’ve heard it from wise teachers, centurions and respected leaders… That’s enough for me. Personal growth is critical to our happiness and change provides the occasion for us to dive in and grow. The “STRETCH” that happens with change gives us what we need to move toward our potential.

2. It provides a platform for re-evaluating life’s priorities
Whenever you are starting something new, you naturally think through how this aligns with your personal values and priorities. With the blog, well, I knew I wanted to continue to grow in that area so that was fairly easy. With the house, I had to put it to prayer for quite some time before I had discernment. At the end of the day, I want a home that my boys and eventually their families and my grandchildren will find refuge and fun in. I want to entertain and bring in community, to provide a refreshing place for all. (Oh, and I also want my guest room!)

3. Change adds EXCITEMENT
Without a season of planting we wouldn’t have the harvest. I can only imagine how boring the farmer’s market would be without HARVEST. Without change, we’d have a bunch of ugly caterpillars and no beautiful butterflies — you get the picture. One brings the other, and the other is often MORE EXCITING!

As I embark on this new “season” you can rest assured I’ll be focused on both the growth and the “STRETCH” that surely will come. I hope to share words of inspiration and insights along the way that I hope will also expand your personal growth.

I WOULD BE HONORED IF YOU WOULD ENTER YOUR EMAIL ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDE OF THIS POST AND SIGN UP TO RECEIVE THE BLOG ALSO BY EMAIL.  

Some notes about the blog…

I kicked off the website and blog in June of 2015 with the goal of just taking the step to get started. I have known for quite some time that I am meant to write, and blogging gives me an opportunity to do that on a consistent basis. I am also about 70 percent through my first book, To Serve Well.  (I have no specific time that I want to release that but I feel like it will be before my big 50, so I have one year and five months, but who’s counting!)

I hope that the fresh look on this site will not only be more visually appealing, but allow those that land there to find posts and other resources or materials that will enrich their lives. SERVING WELL in this world is so important, and what we are all called to do. Having others come alongside and help us so that we can achieve that is a key of this site. I love it when folks take time to comment and share their thoughts on whatever the topic is so that others can learn and grow from each other.  

I will still be posting three times a week, with Simple Thoughts Sunday being posted on Sunday early evening with the goal of inspiring your week. This posting generally has spiritual content. I also post on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and those are intended to focus on serving well in the community, home and workplace. If you have any ideas for me, I’d love to hear them! If you want to write a guest post, I’d also love that!  

I’d love to give a shout out to my design team, Ruthie Stark, photographer and Andrea Corless, MO Design & Illustration — Both of these ladies are beyond amazing and have made me better through this process. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

The “hush” before the holidays

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(Photo Creds:  We Heart It)

We ARE going to have a GREAT MONTH! We are going to “SET” our minds and just do it! November is….

“The hush” before the holiday rush.
The month of GRATITUDE
The month of FAMILY
The month of FOOD (healthy food of course)
The month of FIRES and FOOTBALL
The month of FULL HEARTS….

And for our family, a month of BIRTHDAYS! My boys turn into the next decade, my dad turns 75, and my grandmother turns 95. How cool is that?

I try to spend time on the blog reminding everyone to take time to CELEBRATE and this is another good time to do that. What can you do to make this month, this Thanksgiving extra special? If you get started now, you can still…

…Sign up to help feed the hungry this month
….Plan a few surprises for the Thanksgiving table!  (Perhaps a special toast to everyone in attendance)
…Surprise a neighbor (at work, school or in your neighborhood) a “harvest basket,” (I’m not sure what that might be, but perhaps a few of these cool gourds, winter squash… And maybe a thank you card…)

What else? There is so much opportunity surrounding us. To “SERVE WELL” we have to fill our HEARTS and one sure way is through GRATITUDE and the CREATION OF MEMORIES! Let’s have the BEST NOVEMBER OF OUR LIVES!

And We Rise…

blog_848506_2968649_1476929738(Photo: Nancy and Denise were able to make it to all MLB ballparks over the last few years… How cool is that?)

James Taylor’s famous song, “You’ve got a friend” calls it out well…

“You just call out my name,
And you know where ever I am…
I’ll come running…
Oh yeah, to see you again…
Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall,
All you have to do is call…
And I’ll be there, yeah yeah yeah…
You’ve got a friend…”

When my friend Denise was battling breast cancer, her best friend, Nancy Cline, showed us all what it looked like to be a real friend. Michelle Robin, another good friend, told me that she had learned from Nancy what it was like to be a true friend, and that she hoped to rise to that level. My observation was the same. I stood in awe and hoped that I would also rise if called to the bar she set.

Nancy’s care and love was so real, so raw and touching, that you felt you were in the presence of a saint, an angel or someone who truly was anointed. When you consider this insight and example today, I hope that you will allow yourself to go deep and truly think about your dear friends and how you care for them. I know upon my own assessment that I love well, but I’m not sure I get an A. Nancy showed me and those lucky enough to witness her in action a few things I believe deserve all of our attention….

  1. Love when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.
  2. Give your whole self.
  3. When needed, shift your life’s priorities so that what needs the most attention receives it.

All of these are about intention, which is what we talk about a lot in this blog. Living fulfilled lives… serving well… All requires being intentional. If you aren’t, you spend the night at a PTA meeting instead of at the home of your dear friend in need.

Can I ask you who needs you more at that point in time? I know it’s hard… life seems to consume us… I’m guilty. It shouldn’t be hard. Nancy has clarified this for me, it is simply about who needs you and sacrificing personal or perceived other needs to be where you are needed the most.

This blog could be three pages, but I want it to stay focused. Focused on the clear message Nancy gave us and that is to RISE. Rise to be the friend you hope to be!

Nancy, we thank you for your heart, your example and pray that many lives will be enriched because of how well you serve.

The brilliance of courage, take two

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 Revamped post from October 2015:

Brilliance: Exceptional Talent or Intelligence
Courage: The ability to do something that frightens one.

(Photo creds: Pinterest)

Courage is always BRILLIANT.

Courage is stepping into a boardroom prepared to give a killer presentation.

Courage is going into an interview for a job you desperately need.

Courage is signing for your first big purchase… and second… and third…

Courage is bringing your first child home from the hospital.

Courage is RISING TO THE OCCASION to help someone in need, in deed or voice.

Courage is FACING A TOUGH LOSS and making something BETTER out of the situation!

Courage is taking the long road to leave your home and cross borders to achieve your goal.

Courage is seeing the GOOD in bad situations with GREAT FAITH.

Courage is:

  • Nancy Cline: Who stood with my friend Denise Henning during her battle with breast cancer. I will highlight Nancy on Thursday and you don’t want to miss this! You will be a better friend and more “BRILLIANT” because of it… FOR SURE!
  • Tanesha Goshen: A wonderful young professional that I have a mentor relationship with who is trying to make a difference and facing the obstacles that come with the decision to stand for what she believes in. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK TANESHA! It will pay off!
  • Debbie Heiser: A friend and former colleague who picked up and moved to Idaho to follow her heart and dreams. She embraced the anxious thoughts that come when we are called from our “comfort zone” and demonstrated great courage… I believe her son and future grandchildren will be better for that decision of “courage.”
  • YOU: All of us display COURAGE on a daily basis through our everyday choices and actions. We STEP IN and STEP UP and we change lives for those around us.

Go be BRILLIANT!

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Iron indeed sharpens Iron

blog_846930_2967466_1476570633(Photo creds: Pinterest)

I can’t imagine my life without those that surround me and sharpen me. It is one of the lessons I try to impart upon my boys, although, for boys I know it is different. Boys don’t naturally share with one another like girls do, but it is just as important for them. God designed us this way.

Today, I thought it would be a great time to just sit down and make a list of those that have sharpened me and when possible send them a quick thanks…

To the teacher that invested in my life, drawing out a young girl, inspiring, pushing gently, pulling at times, but always encouraging, thank you!

To my sister who was and is the one who has the “hard conversations” and who also celebrates life’s important moments with us, thank you!

To the gals in my personal tribe, friends from many groups… WOW… I am far better because of all of you, thank you!

To my many peers at work… I couldn’t begin to list them, but I think of early mentors, both nice ones and the ones that seemed to be a little too tough on the younger generation… I especially appreciate those lessons now and glad there was a balance, thank you!

To my mentors or mentees… I have learned an equal amount from each of them, thank you!

To my boys who bring an entire new meaning to to “sharpen” and “iron” – haha! They have always pushed me to be the best version of myself from early morning feelings, to late night talks about college life… (And I won’t give up on the whole “boys need to be in community too” part…) Thank you, boys!

Who has “sharpened” you… raised the bar… elevated your “game”? I bet they’d love to hear from you this week!

Thanks “WORLD” for the reminder…

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(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

If you follow this closely, TODAY WAS THE DAY for the unveiling of my new website. I have had a terrific design team assisting me in orchestrating a new version that is a huge improvement and I know you’ll love it!

As best laid plans sometimes don’t go that way, we have had a few technology/process issues that is putting it on a bit of a delay. I have ONCE AGAIN learned my lesson not to give a hard date when it has to do with technology dependent scenarios… Don’t you just love it when you learn lessons, OVER AND OVER AND OVER again! Haha!

At any rate, this made me have a brief insight. Just what if these “glitches” so to speak are a way the world is saying to us: “HEY, HOLD UP, I HAVE SOMETHING BETTER FOR YOU!” OR, “HEY, SLOW DOWN, YOU DON’T WANT TO FORGET THIS OR THAT.” Some of the leading motivational speakers say JUMP IN, DON’T BE AFRAID TO FAIL, ETC., and I also believe in that is true. I DO BELIEVE that it depends on your personality, and I’m always READY TO JUMP, so that’s not a stretch. Maybe it is for you. If so, then by all means JUMP, SET THE DATE, MAKE IT HAPPEN! If you are like me and a bit impatient, then perhaps, you need the “GLITCH” to help you TAKE PAUSE, RETHINK and REGROUP. (Thanks “world” for speaking to me so clearly!  I can’t always count on you!)

We’ll keep working to get the new site up and running. (The new site provides a fresher looking landing page, offers some great resources and a full blog archive. The writing will stay the same and continue, and with a little FAVOR, I will have my book “TO SERVE WELL” done soon!).

HAVE A CRAZY GOOD WEEKEND. FALL DESERVES YOUR FULL ATTENTION! ALSO… I LOVE TO SERVE ALL OF YOU! 

Fire up the JOY: A retro post worth repeating

blog_845031_2965601_1476144341I love this post so much from last October that it bears repeating!

  1. JOY is CONTAGIOUS – It spreads the type of ENERGY needed to THRIVE! If you are in the workplace and happen to be a leader, well then, this may just help your employee satisfaction or engagement as well! Bottom line: Folks want to work, live and SERVE where they are happy!

  2. JOY makes a person MORE PRODUCTIVE! – I don’t know about you, but getting a bit more done in my given 24 hours would be a huge positive! Check out this great little article to back that up.

  3. JOY can MAKE YOU HEALTHIER! This little article outlines nicely the great benefits which include reducing stress, solving problems easier and fighting disease! I am ALL ABOUT all of those! A great blog post here that goes a bit deeper!

As you get moving on this BUSY TUESDAY (busiest day of the work week, in case you didn’t know), remember to take some time to SPREAD JOY! I promise you will be better for it! By the way, don’t put it off until later, stop now and send three brief messages and FIRE UP the JOY. Best five minutes of your day!