To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Parenthood

SIMPLE THOUGHTS SUNDAY- WHY WE MUST CELEBRATE

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(Photo Creds: Senior pics… Kia Bondurant…sorry for the outdated pics boys, but they are really good!)

It’s birthday weekend for our family! My dad was 75 on Thursday, my grandma 95 on Friday and my boys 20 yesterday! I am always “alarmed” (that’s an overstatement but I really am stunned…) when people say they don’t celebrate birthdays! My thought is: WE MUST CELEBRATE!

God gave us each other as gifts, and we simply must take the time and truly we should be EXCITED ABOUT THESE SPECIAL DAYS! Heck, I even think it’s perfectly acceptable to celebrate yourself on your special day and honor your accomplishments and pray for God’s favor over your next year!

My boys have been such an incredible blessing to me and our family. After years of being told I probably wouldn’t be able to conceive a child, with the miracle of modern medicine, our family received a triple blessing!

Today I am CELEBRATING THEM and I hope that you will also CELEBRATE those you love in an EXTRAORDINARY WAY THIS YEAR!

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!

I found my “MOJO” and 12 Tips to finding yours

blog_717879_2776633_1441768333So the story goes, that I was golfing with my son the week before he left for Michigan State! Go SPARTANS!  (Find them on College Game Day on ESPN this Saturday!)  I don’t play much, but anything to spend a few quality hours with the young man that I love before he left the “nest” so to speak.  You could say that I had “sliced” it right, “sliced” it left, and sliced it right into any water source on the course.  A good day for ball retrievers, a bad day for me-  That is, until I found my “MOJO”– The ball above of course.

Actually, I did find the ball that now sits on my desk, as a reminder of that special day with Sam, but my game didn’t improve sadly.  The good news is that “MOJO” is real and you can find yours if it’s lost, and heck, if you haven’t lost it, you can go out and get your “MOJO”!  Below, I have highlighted 12 tips that the Huffington Post drew from Marshall Goldsmith’s now famous book of the same title, “MOJO”, which was a New York Times best seller in 2010.    Some great insights here from a true thought leader.  (I especially like the “NOJO” which are also found below…#3, 7, 9 and 10 are my favs!)  What’s yours?

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Definition of MOJO: “the moment when you do something that’s purposeful, powerful, and positive and the rest of the world recognizes it” – 
MOJO TIP #1: Take responsibility
Take total accountability for your success. The buck rests with you, no one else.
NOJO (No Mojo!): Playing the victim

MOJO TIP #2: Move forward
Ideate next steps and complete them.
NOJO: March in place

MOHO TIP #3: Run the extra mile
Do more than is required, not less.
NOJO: Satisfied with the bare minimum

MOJO TIP #4: Love doing it 
Do work that you are passionate about!
NOJO: Feel obligated to do it

MOJO TIP #5: Appreciate opportunities
Express enthusiasm for the work.
NOJO: Tolerate requirements

MOJO TIP #6: Make the best of it
Do everything you can to make every day a success.
NOJO: Endure it

MOJO TIP #7: Be inspirational
Example positive behavior 24/7.
NOJO: Painful to be around

MOJO TIP #8: Be grateful
Express your gratitude that you get to do what you do.
NOJO: Feel resentful

MOJO TIP #9: Be curious
Find new things that interest you weekly.
NOJO: Uninterested

MOJO TIP #10: Be caring
Everyone wants to be treated with dignity and respect. Lead the charge.
NOJO: Be indifferent

MOJO TIP#11: Have Zest for life
Live fully!
NOJO: Zombie-like existence

MOJO TIP#12: Be awake!
Look for opportunity every where!
NOJO: Be asleep

And Here’s What Went Down.

blog_709281_2762514_1439151037Happy Sunday everyone!  This one will be short, as it is our families “MOVE IN” WEEKEND for the first son to go off to COLLEGE…  A lot of emotional and physical energy invested…I’m sure in some way, shape or form each of you reading this understand that feeling!

Here are some random thoughts to wrap up the week!  The theme this week for the blog has been “What if we were having this much fun?” In no particular order this is what I’m thinking right now.

  1. I should have given some thought to that theme this week. Seriously, sending your child off to college is not particularly fun and as much as I want to “drum” up some enthusiasm, it’s simply not happening folks.  Ever been there?
  2. Okay, having said that, the overall move couldn’t have been easier. Lots of young men eager to help and Tucker even let me make his bed (my mom heart liked that a lot) I love it when a community comes together and that is what happened.
  3. On that note, there were a host of other anxious parents, and some dedicated university staff that are committed to ensuring the success of our students.  I want to point that out.  What a tremendous blessing it is that we have educators that have literally put their entire life on task for this purpose.  THANK GOD FOR THESE BRAVE SOULS!  We are all in this together is the bottom line….
  4. FINALLY, HE WILL DEFINITELY EXPERIENCE THIS WEEK’S THEME… OVER AND OVER AGAIN … COLLEGE is made for FUN!  For today, remember those moments when you were young, and try to REINVENT them this week. My favorite was the annual Lamda Chi WATERMELON FEST… Wonder if there is an “adult” version of that I could drum up?

HAVE AN AMAZING WEEK EVERYONE!  For those sending their kids off to school, take a DEEP BREATH and WALK RIGHT INTO IT!  MAKE A DECISION TO RELISH IN THE JOY OF THIS NEW STAGE, be it Kindergarten, Middle School, Senior Year or the one and only first day of COLLEGE! 

Live Life to Fullest and then some.

I know, I know, I have talked about graduation once, and this blog is not REALLY about graduation, but since I have three graduates, I guess I may include the thought one more time just to be even… Thanks for obliging me! 🙂

Graduation is such a great time.  It feels like a New Year, a new opportunity to relaunch, to go after the next adventure –  Graduation is FUN and EXCITING and possibly scary!

I have the great privilege of being the mom to three boys that bring so much joy to me that I can’t even believe how good God is!  The funny thing about graduation are the comments that folks make… mostly some version of the comment, “it goes so fast.” –  but I have a different view.

One of my life goals is to always be intentional about whatever I’m doing – The role of parent, makes this even more important.  The future of our country and families rely on it!

Our family attends an amazing camp in Texas called Pine Cove.  I highly recommend your family attends or even your student if you have kids under age 18 – It is simply life changing. Pine Cove was responsible for me becoming super aware of how important it was to sit down and really focus on character development of my own boys. It showed me how I want my family life to truly be – It led me asking, “What story did I want for my boys?”

For me, it was to be men of excellence. Men who were obedient to God and lived out their life’s great adventure in a meaningful way.  In order to achieve this things had to happen, Travel to experience the world, build a spirit of community, and embrace diversity and the power in that – This takes a concentrated effort to build the plan – Much like we do in business.

So, each of the last 13 years (The first 5 were a blur…) that was the goal for my boys and I – To engage FULLY in what life had to offer and work toward the goals. It didn’t go fast – Each year was FULL, AMAZING, and an ADVENTURE.  The good with the bad helps us grow and learn. It has been AWESOME and I can’t wait for the next chapter.

One thing I do know, it take us being intentional, and knowing that GOD WILL SHOW UP.  

18 FULL YEARS! Congratulations to my young men.

blog_681667_2730025_1432595379I’m not sure why, but the cliché comment, “it goes by so fast” hasn’t really made its way into my realm  Perhaps it’s because I’m the mom of triplets, or perhaps it’s because we did things differently.  (For the record, I don’t think we did). Perhaps this comment is best reserved for those wiser, older folks who have seen their more recent years go more quickly.  For this post, I have to tell you, my boys and I have had 18 FULL years and I have truly loved pretty much all of it!

We packed each day, month and ultimately the years full of LIFE.  As the mom, single in this case, I have had the opportunity to be the coordinator, the team captain, the drum major… the one who tries to make it all happen.

Some days we do make it “all” happen, some we don’t, but with God’s help (okay he’s really the captain, but I’ll gladly own co-captain), and a village of terrific friends and mentors found in neighborhoods, work, school, soccer fields, books and church camps we have made it….  Made it to the finish line of high school graduation.

Here is what I know, it is an INTENTIONAL affair, to round up three excellent young men and engage them in a full life.   I intentionally spend time on living LIFE, including travel, education and lots of meals and conversations and community engagement.

My prayer is that these boys and their friends (and parents) who have touched my heart in deep ways will go out and INTENTIONALLY live a FULL LIFE in phase 2- “The college years.” My hope is that they will not let a day go by where they are not striving towards God’s plan for their lives of finding their passion. And as their commencement speaker, Mr. Addington said it best, “Find their need!”

Congratulations boys, this mom is well pleased and so in love with your stories and the men you are becoming.