Liz's Letters

New Year's Resolutions sort of get on my nerves. Why do we think that because we go to sleep one night and wake up the next morning that our motivation or our strength to make huge life changes will happen just because one number changed on the year of our calendar? Okay, I get the new year, new beginning thing, but we have that same opportunity often. Every day is a new day. Every hour is a new hour, and even a minute gives us the gift of a new start and another opportunity to make a better choice than we might have made the moment before. Not to say that I am not for setting goals because I certainly am, but it annoys me just a little that lists upon lists of resolutions are made at this time of year and so few of them are achieved. I wonder if it is because we make a list of 5, 10, even 50 things that we want to do differently, add to our lives, or resolve to stop doing and in all reality, to make one major change at a time and stick with it is so much more achievable. So my...

Today is the first day of September....wow! Now, I love summer - in fact, I love summer best of all the seasons. I don't know why for sure, but I think it has hung on since my childhood. Summer still represents sleeping in, vacations, weeks with Grandma and Grandpa, homemade ice-cream, and days spent at the swimming pool. Most of those things are not regular parts of my summer schedule now that I am approaching 50. (well, I have a bit to go...but it's coming) I have a job where I leave my house before 7:00 a.m. every morning. That is NOT sleeping in! And my summer vacation? Well, let's just gratefully say it has been postponed to December due to a little airplane in a pond mistake. So, even though my summer does not look like it did when it became my favorite season, and even though I thoroughly love summer, I am very, very ready for fall. And flipping the calendar today to the month of September, well, it just colors my world orange and gold! And I know that Spring is supp...

Mercy! An entire week has flown by! I had a fantastic time at the Women of Faith conference. As I hoped, my mind was renewed, my spirit refreshed, and friendships deepened. The biggest surprise for me was Marcus Buckingham! What a fantastic speaker with a fantastic message. He was not familiar to me when I looked at the speakers when I bought my ticket, so I looked him up by googling him. (love technology!) I was a little curious after reading about him, still not quite sure why he was invited to Women of Faith. What a delight! Check him out here . I could probably write an entire post about what I learned from what he said. And maybe I will. :) In the meantime, my daughter started school as a Junior in High School! My computer caught a virus and my husband doctored it back to health. We had 107 degree high one day, and 89 degree high the next. I am in my second week back to cycling after surgery and then an injured husband. I cooked dinner every day except one and on t...

Recently, I had surgery. Not a huge deal...just a little gallbladder problem. I am feeling much, much better, but still recovering. During the time I was required to stay home and recuperate, I received a basket of flowers from my co-workers. I don't think they had any idea how this lovely gift would entertain me, but I spent hours gazing at the beauty of the blooms that brightened the coffee table in my family room. No television show or book held my attention as long as these beauties. I was too tired to speak to anyone for any length of time. Reading tired me; plus the drugs I was taking didn't really allow for that amount of concentration and I just have to say it, I despise television - even when I am ill. So, I would sit and stare. Then I would see something and move just a little closer. And even closer, realizing how different things looked when I examined closely. The detail, the texture. Never mind the fragrance - that was there too, but what really captivated ...

I can't figure it out. Am I lacking time? Lacking creativity? Or is my life just simply so boring that I cannot think of anything to blog about? Oh, so sad. Dull has not been how I would describe my days as of late, but I don't have much to say about my recent laparoscopic cholesystectomy . My daughter has banned me from blogging about her since the biggest thing happening with her is her love life (that should remain private, by all means). My son, who currently lives in Washington D.C. does have a move date of August 6 th ! He will be moving to Texas! Hooray! Which also means his girlfriend will be moving out. That could be an entire post because I will miss her tremendously. My middle son, who firmly believes he has the curse of the middle child, does have a lot going on, but truthfully, it is fairly boring. He took a transfer with American Eagle Outfitters, who he has worked for since he was 18 years old (he is now 23) so that he could have full time hours for the...

Evidently, I am not inspired to be creative. Days come and go and this is the conversation that I hear: Love Writing Liz, "I want to post something on my blog." Me, "But what are you going to write about?" Love Writing Liz, "I am not sure, but I know something will is there (in my heart) that is ready to be expressed." Me, "I am not sure about that. The brain seems have taken over for the heart and your words are a little....well, direct- aka dull." Love Writing Liz, "That's okay...write anyway." My mind has been busy. For this I am thankful. For one thing, it means I can think! And it also means I am learning, which is fun and makes me feel just a little more alive. There are a lot of changes happening in my world. Some of them are initiated by me, some of them have been introduced by others but I agreed to, and some of them? Well, some of them are just happening whether I like it or not. One evening, recently, I was with t...

that this is gonna be a good, good year!!!!!! I have great expectations! And I don't make New Year's Resolutions, but I do like goals. And prayers. I know God will answer prayers, and there are a few that I look forward to seeing the answer to, hopefully in 2010. It would be great if love and peace and forgiveness would win out in a few broken relationships. I am still praying. And I am look forward to how my marriage will become more wonderful, as it does every year! My health should improve since I am training for a triathlon. I lost 23 pounds in 2009. I look forward to losing about 15 to 20 more. Completing the Caveman triathlon with a couple of my very good friends is a goal that I am excited to achieve! It is going to be fun to see what God is going to do because I said "yes" to Him and stepped up into Home Group leadership with my church. And my church.... I have to say I am amazed and thrilled to love my church! What a blessing after so many years of being a s...

Through love, through friendship, A heart lives more than one life. ~Anais Nin Yes, this is true. My heart has been through a few lifetimes already. Meloncholly.

There was a time that I thought my life was as good as it got. That was about 10 years ago. Then a time came along that I thought my life was as bad as it got. That wasn't really that long ago. But it feels like a life time...WAIT! It is exactly that... MY life - time. And good or bad, it is just what it is And just what it is supposed to be. I like that and it's okay. Right now, I feel like my life is better than it has EVER been. Yep, tops 10 years ago, that's for sure. My marriage is better, my kids are healthy, happy, and lovable, my friendships are healthier and my walk with God closer. And even if I wake up tomorrow and all that is different, I know that it is how it is supposed to be. And I know I will be okay. God has proven that to me over and over again. He has brought me through, shown me how He works, how He heals, how He takes away, and how He blesses 10 fold! How awesome is He? The Most Awesome! Loving life!

Love doesn’t make the world go around. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile. ~Franklin Jones Read this quote on a fellow blogger's site today. Something to ponder. Love is motivating me and giving me much direction today...consciously. I guess the world would go around without love since hate creates movement also. But, yes, love does make the ride worthwhile. Love is all around me and it does make going to sleep tonight worthwhile and waking tomorrow (God willing) worthwhile. Love. I am grateful for love, the love I receive and the love I am able to give. God is love. I am grateful for my wonderful family...no matter where they live. I am grateful for a free lunch at work today - one of the benefits of working for a doctor's office! Got to love those drug reps! Taco Salad was tasty, thank you! I am grateful that I enjoy my job...even my new job, and look forward to going back tomorrow. I am grateful for Flexible Benefits Accounts. I will make a deposit tomorrow that...

It is a wonderful thing when things add up to being just like they should be. Sometimes, it is fun to see what the purpose might be as to why I met a particular person, or why I was part of a certain situation. Even when the edges are still a little fuzzy, the parts that are focused are crisp and clear. Conversations happen, ones that were totally unexpected, and all of a sudden, I can hear. A friend being lost for a long time comes back into my life and it is as if it were meant to be that way. The world is small. God is big. I have a place and it is perfect. and sometimes, I get to find out why. Marveled,

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:3 Some days, I just want to feel sorry for myself. You know, get all caught up in everything that isn't really going my way, host a pity party and make myself the guest of honor, whine, cry, and wonder why trials have to come my way. Humanly speaking, I don't like trials, and I really don't like suffering. Alone, I react negatively to difficulties. But then I read something, or hear something, or God might just plop His word in front of me - like the one's above - to remind me - that life is not just about me. One of the ways that I can test my own faith, is to pay attention to how I respond to things that I find challenging; trials, or suffering. If I remain in the state of mind of ...

Just thinking.... I read something the other day that is sticking with me. Never look for justice, but never cease to give it. This is really difficult to do. I know this because as I ponder it...I have a really hard time not wanting to give it to someone else to ponder. :) I need help! Today I am grateful for a few things. 1. That I do not have to work outside in this outrageous heat! 2. I can drink as much water as I want. 3. That I understand that I am not perfect, but I will continue to strive to always do my best at whatever I am doing. 4. The ability to listen to someone's 5th step inventory with the knowledge that they are becoming healthy, just like someone else listened to mine. 5. Fans...ceiling fans, motor fans, paper fans, you name it. I am very grateful for fans! Happy Hump Day! ~LIZ