Month: November 2015

I am a lover of words. Words inspire me, comfort me, communicate to me and can be found all throughout my home. It is no secret to those who know me well that I am a lover of words.

As I anticipate my birthday on Wednesday, It has been fun to already have had a number of celebrations. At my family party on Thanksgiving they did a skit which highlighted the words and phrases throughout my home. It was fun to see my family respond, knowing where the words were in my home. It made me smile to know that I am not the only one who reads the many words throughout my home, they are read and enjoyed by others as well. .

And today I was celebrated by my staff. In addition to some wonderful gifts, I was given a card with words, written by each person I spend my days with. As i was in the quiet of my home tonight, I so enjoyed reading this gift from my friends.

I want to invite and encourage you to consider the gift of words. For the person who has everything this holiday season, consider sharing words that share how you value or appreciate them. There can also be a beautiful gift in the words that convey to them the impact someone has made on your life.

I want to be a person who blesses others with good words often throughout the year. I know for me, it is often the sweetest gift I can receive. Consider offering LIFE giving words to those you love this year.

I am so very lucky to have a great community of friends and family.

Some of this is a direct result of how I am wired as my connecting and extroverted self.

Some of this is a direct result of the home I grew up in. A home where we learned about extending the invitation for others to join in is the norm and in relationship, we experience life in a way that we would not if we chose to not invite others in.

Some of this is the beautiful pathways God has invited me to walk. My involvement with Sunshine Community Church, Visiting Angels, Hospice, Living Stones Academy and Open Hearts Ministries has allotted me opportunities to get to know and stay in relationship an abundance of amazing people.

But tonight I am grateful for a few good friends that I get to work with every day. Some of these friends are also my family and I am grateful every night when I reflect on my day, for these people.

We are a crazy mix of different personalities and work styles. Some of us have worked together for many years and a few are new to us during this past year. We laugh together, we cry together, we struggle together, we spend many hours together. Perhaps the greatest gift is we respect each other.

We come from different journeys with different experiences. We have different education levels and we cover a wide variety of ages. This past Saturday we spent the day together for our year end celebration. We did not have work to distract us and the time was sweet. The conversation flowed easily and ebbed and flowed  between all 8 people. I am grateful and I am aware that for such a time as this, I believe that God has orchestrated this group to serve the Visiting Angels community.

We are a committed and dedicated group of women who come together with all our stories of life.  We strive to make a difference in this world. We love and serve people the best we can.  I am ever so grateful for a few good friends that I can work with every day.

Tonight I wrote a post on a facebook page that is for my workout/weight loss group. You see Thursday was a “free” food day from noon on and we all knew the importance of getting right back on track Friday morning. My post went like this….

Get right back on plan Friday morning…..
Get right back on plan Saturday morning…..
Well, I missed my first two tries but Sunday morning is the day I am back on plan.
Just keeping it real.

I knew it was important for me to put words to and this facebook group has been a good place to check in. Quickly I noticed the “like” numbers climbing. I know it wasn’t people liking that i wasn’t on track. I know what people were supporting was this line….”Just keeping it real.”

I got to thinking more about this and how easy it is to lose the “keeping it real” during the holidays.  I want to be a person who keeps it real. Who is honest about the joys and the stresses of each day. I have moments where keeping it real means putting words to the myriad of emotions that flood my soul between now and the end of the year.

I wonder if you experience any of the following in your myriad….

~ joy in the spirit of the season

~ excitement in the anticipation of what is coming

~ exhaustion from trying to hold the details of celebrating and loving well

~ delight in spending time with friends and family in different ways than the normal day to day.

~ sorrow from the remembering of grief that can feel fresh all over again.

~ weariness at the cumulative expense of gift giving

~ Gratitude for all I have

~ Regret for places I don’t choose to be present or allow my energy to not be life giving.

And there is so much more…….

I invite you to join me this year in keeping it real. Sharing honestly with those around you about what is real and believing that keeping it real is a way to be kind to yourself and others during these crazy and wonderful days.