To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Joy

The magical moments of summer – What are yours?

(Photo Creds: We Heart it)

Summer is truly magical. Tomorrow marks the first true day of summer, although for those of us whose kids have now been off a month from school, it feels like it must be almost over. My encouragement today is to let summer SHOW OFF the MAGICAL MOMENTS. Hit the patios, have a water gun fight, watch the young and the old jump through the sprinklers (we need to see more of that…), take a road trip, enjoy late night conversations while the days are long, get out from the front of the TV and finally, jump in fully.

We are just about at halftime for the year (July 2nd-ish) and it’s time to begin to think about the RESET. Before we do that, let’s make a commitment to REJUVENATE and not let the magic of summer go by. Not even one week of it.

I’d love to hear from you all today on what your favorite summer activity or treat is. What brings out the child in you? Give us all some ideas to get our thoughts generating…. Here’s some I thought of:

  • The ice cream truck! I always love the ice cream truck. The Neapolitan ice cream sandwich or some flavor of bomb pop! Anyone else?
  • Fire flies… I still get a huge smile out of watching kids capture fire flies….
  • Fishing… I don’t really do this enough, but the thought of it makes me smile…
  • Starlight Theater – I hadn’t been for years and my mom and I went last year. It was FABULOUS. Simply charming.
  • State fairs (or at least the idea of them) and people watching at any festival.

YOUR TURN! Don’t be shy. We all need the inspiration!

Simple Thoughts Sunday FUNDAY

(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

A lot of people feel guilt for enjoying the gifts God has given us. I love the concept of “Sunday Funday” that became popular over the last several years. While Sunday is to be a day of Sabbath as a follower of God, it is also a day to get out there and HAVE FUN! To truly rest and refuel. One of the best ways I know to get truly refreshed is to have fun with people you love to be around.

As the scripture says, to “eat and drink” and enjoy what we have earned through working throughout the week. I hope that you have taken time today to HAVE FUN and if not, the night is still young!

Spontaneous acts are usually the MOST FUN. Grab your favorite and go get some ice cream, play Frisbee, take a walk… jump on the bed, catch fire flies… START YOUR WEEK OFF WITH CHILD-LIKE ENTHUSIASM!

We are meant to be together!

Is there any species better than dogs to remind us that we were intended to be together. I have come to truly enjoy the dog park, and watching the dogs just love each other’s company!

We were built to be in “community” as some folks call it: meant to “hang out” with those that make us better, and learn from those that don’t. As summer kicks off, and you begin to think through your weekends, my encouragement is to give some thought to who would make it the best summer ever. That would be true for you and your kids if they are in the younger set. Who could influence them and you for the best? Make it happen after you think through it a bit. I personally know I have some friends I want to connect with over a drink, a long talk on the deck or a local patio, or wherever really! Summer is fun like that… so many opportunities.

Who’s that one person (or group of people) you shared some of the best days of your life with but haven’t seen in years? Call them today and get it on the books!

Heard at home: “I wish I was in Kindergarten right now”

This is terrific! Oh, how wonderful Kindergarten is. My boys had some amazing Kindergarten teachers, they got to take naps, color, sing, join hands with their class, and basically learn the important things in a well lived life.

When my son said this the other day, I laughed out loud. Is this not the truest statement? Even if for just a bit of our day, this time is down right THE BEST. If only we knew then what we know now.

When I was searching for the photo for the post, I came upon a quote, “Dear Kingergartners, if you don’t want your nap today, please send over to the high school.” There was another one, “Dear Naps, I am sorry I was such a jerk to you in Kindgergarten.” Ha!

Well, this post is just to make you laugh a bit, but we for sure can always use the reminder to appreciate the little things. I hope your weekend is great, and if it rains, I hope you will go do something wild and crazy like a Kindergartner… stomp in the mud, color and of course… NAP!

Adventures of traveling with mom

I had the opportunity to take my mom on a business trip this week which we made into a long weekend and Easter celebration. I had no idea how this would go, but it was a joy with a lot of laughs.

My point is that if you have a living parent, an aunt/uncle or someone dear to you and you have the opportunity, try to make it happen. The very idea of it might overwhelm you at first, and if it does, give me a call. I’ll tell you my story and maybe it will help. I want to thank Dr. Mark Box, and Nancy Levota for inspiring me to take the leap! You both really inspire me!

Here are some things I learned (or was reminded of):

She’s a bit like me… I mean, when the fire alarm went off, she didn’t leave the room. I always think it’s a test (and it was), but that’s not the brightest conclusion… but we lived, so that’s for another day. Just an insight that in some way, shape or form, most of us end up like our parents.

She reminded me to stop and smell the roses and TO STAY AMAZED. I got a kick out of how her wonder of looking at the ocean was like a child. It was really cool actually. I too often don’t stop, although I honestly try. I can do better.

We all need to stop and celebrate. We toasted with real and virgin pina coladas, mai tais and iced tea. You really should do this with those that don’t expect it (AKA, in my world, older adults…).

She DIDN’T like the airport full-body, pat-down screening. Once again, being reminded that our WORLD IS CHANGING was good for her… Our world could use some simplicity, the kind technology doesn’t offer.

I hope this sparks your thinking! Do share if you decide to make the leap. I think even a trip to the zoo would be a delight!

Introducing WAFFLES! Because we all need to have more fun!

Last Sunday we brought a new puppy into our home. Much to our surprise, it was incredibly difficult to come up with the PERFECT name. We had some great ideas from friends and family across the country, so thank you! We also had some challenging family group texts… it seemed we couldn’t reach consensus. I wanted a name that represented this stage of life: strong, adventurous, travel, brave… We just couldn’t seem to nail it down and now I know why – I needed a change of heart.

One (late) night – during the puppy’s midnight “wake up and go out…” session – I laid awake thinking about changing my direction. My mind went to something FUN, something that would make us all laugh. I was going to wake up and research fun, giddy & humor in all languages and come up with a few new ideas to toss out to the family. I think my initial idea is still good, but LIFE CAN BE PRETTY CHALLENGING, so adding a SPARK OF FUN made total sense.

When I woke up, one of my boys had sent a few names on a late night text. One being WAFFLES. It was JUST PERFECT!

How can you call the name WAFFLES and not laugh? Not only is she the color of waffles, but my boys often visit Waffle House with Pa Pa Mallory. So, there you have it…  FUN, APPROPRIATE and IT BRINGS UP GREAT MEMORIES of someone we all LOVE.

I had a few folks suggest I share this for today’s blog post! Can’t wait to share more puppy stories along the way! I hope it will challenge you to incorporate FUN into your life this week!

The Language of Rain

(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

Rain. Rain can be…

Generous

Giving

Replenishing…

And at the same time….

Painful

Desperate

Overwhelming….

I wonder if the language of rain helps us understand how we can wrap our heads around serving better. The picture painted in Ann Voskamp’s the Broken Way, is on point: “The abundant life doesn’t have a bucket list, as much as it has an empty bucket – the giveness of pouring out.” I for sure feel like my “bucket” is full when I am pouring out versus being poured upon.

Our lives certainly experience all matter of “rain,” both the refreshing kind and the drenching kind. Today, let’s focus on the filling/refreshing of others who are being flooded with life right now. I think it’s interesting that if you decide that you are going to be more aware of those in need, that you start to see need around every corner it seems. Honestly, I dare you to actually do this, because it shifts and shapes your own perspective. Your fellow co-worker, an extended family member struggling and sharing on Facebook, perhaps someone much closer. We need rain and we need each other to fill those buckets with encouragement and service.

Let’s go out today with the goal to REFRESH.

Cultivate… something that brings joy

(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

I love the idea of community gardens. If you aren’t familiar, community gardens are managed by a collective group of people, generally to meet a need in a community. That might be an area that doesn’t have access (financially or otherwise) to fresh produce, but also teaching. No matter the reason, it is a positive initiative that brings great value to our communities… and improves health and happiness.

Our church is doing a sermon series right now on the idea of “cultivate.” This has me thinking about areas in my life where cultivation is needed.

Cultivate has a double meaning, one being to prepare and use land for crops or gardening. We do this by tilling, plowing, fertilizing, mulching, watering, weeding, etc. It is HARD work as anyone who has run a garden knows. The second meaning, according to Google, is to “acquire or develop” a quality, sentiment or skill.

The two definitions are connected, as it is my thought that anything that is developed requires a level of passion and good ole’ fashion work.

I wrote down the word “joy” in my program on Sunday. I’m not sure if that was an example given, or if I felt that was the immediate area I could use some FOCUS on. JOY is so important. I am usually an evangelist for SPREADING JOY in our world, and feel like we all need to consciously keep that top of mind.  The momentum that comes from a “joy campaign” can be incredible.

While you may have an area of your life that you want to “cultivate,” I am hopeful some of you will join me in generating some JOY in our homes, neighborhoods and workplaces! What can you do today to ELEVATE AND CULTIVATE JOY?

Birthdays are worth celebrating!

blog_735001_2807093_1447301272For those of you reading this thank you! I totally get it if folks skip over this one, because it’s personal. Personal as in the true joys of my life. That is inspiring if you ask me.

I started out my health care career in the OB/GYN field and for those of you that don’t know, those are the wonderful physicians that help us bring new life into our world. In that space, I learned quickly that birthdays are a big deal. Life is beyond precious and worth every candle, every bit of annoying confetti andevery good ol’ loud and obnoxious birthday song – cha cha cha!

So for today, I celebrate my boys’ birthday and share three wishes for them and for all of you:

  1. PURE JOY. As we climb the inevitable mountains of life, that we always remember to stop and soak up God’s beauty as it can be found in everything from the simplest dandelion that pops up in the spring to the most complicated of all, which is the beauty found in the complexity of our first breath and the intricate wiring of our human bodies.
  2. LOVE. “And the greatest of these is love.” To find love everywhere: In our families, love that sustained us as babies (and still today), childhood friends, teachers of all kinds that have been a part of our growth, the well wishes and smiles of strangers, the prayers of generations past, the first kiss and the loves of our lives. My great hope is that you will see these, recognize them, cherish them andlove fiercely.
  3. MAKE A DIFFERENCE. My belief of course is that we were all were put here in our generation, at this very moment in time to serve and to improve our world. Through our life work, our family, career and community, we have opportunities of need surrounding us. My wish is that we will reflect often on how we do this well and show our passion and act often.

Happy Birthday dear boys! Here’s to YOUR BEST YEAR YET!