New Year...New Word

So...scrapbooker Ali Edwards encourages her readers to adopt a word for the year... Kind of a reminder of what you want your focus to be in the coming year. Last year was the first year I did it and my word was SIMPLIFY. In reflection; I'm glad I picked that word. I wouldn't say my life was simplified as much as I thought it would be but it did help to glance up at my word and remind myself to take a breath. I purchased the word SIMPLIFY in both wooden and wrought iron form and they are sitting above my desk as I speak...er...type.

So, this year I've decided that my word of the year will be...RELEASE. I mean it this way...release the things that I'm allowing to stress me out that I have no control over...release the things I beat myself up over...release the things I try to take back again and again...release myself from my fears and anxieties...release the things that just don't matter...wait; I think that last one is just a fancy way of saying SIMPLIFY...I digress :-)

Anyway...I made a photo collage of other people's online photos. Each photo shows some sort of release...from the Mandela's release from prison to the release of Stephenie Meyer's new book (which I haven't read and from which I'm releasing myself the pressure to read) to the release of a hawk back into the wild.



Release

One small step...

"...inspire others to look for simple tangible ways to make a difference. It is easy to be halted by the great hurdles of poverty and AIDS, but making an impact can begin as simply as giving someone a pair of shoes..."

So...almost a year ago good friends of ours traveled many many miles to Ethiopia and brought back with them their daughter. Little Miss M is the light of many lives here in Washington and in Michigan as well. We can't stop playing with her, holding her, laughing with her...you get the idea. Many of us were moved by the pictures and stories they brought back from Ethiopia as well. And now I think we all have a soft spot in our hearts for the children of that country.



I remember a few years ago another friend and I were in a conference and the key note speaker was talking about his work in alleviating poverty...I think he was specifically talking about India. He spoke with such fervent belief that world wide hunger could really be eradicated in our children's lifetimes. After we wiped our tears we sat there thinking how it was inspiring but also daunting to think of what it would take to make that happen. We felt like that quote at the top of this post...we wanted to know and feel like even our small offerings of time and money could make a difference.

So...back to Little Miss M...her mom told me of this neat shoemaker who will for every pair of shoes you buy donate a pair of shoes to a child who needs them. So far they have shared around 60,000 shoes around the world and they are getting ready for their next shoe drop to Ethiopia. If you are looking for a unique pair of shoes or for a way to be involved from halfway around the world please visit www.tomsshoes.com. Check out their styles and their story. You can take one small step and buy some funky shoes or an even bigger step and travel with them to make the drop...WOW...that really would be a giant leap for mankind!

**Not a bad way to celebrate my FIFTIETH post**

List Update

Referring to my modified Bucket List:
So...as my oldest and dearest friend pointed out....I probably have made a snow fort. There were many forts made in our neighborhood and she's probably right...I probably did engage in the making of at least one. I stand corrected!

Sarah remembering this reminds me of that movie "Beaches"...except she's not a famous singer and I'm not dying of congestive heart failure...but other than that. The movie is about these two best friends that have known each other for ages and CC says to Victoria "my memory is long" and Victoria says "I'm counting on it" :-)

Good things come to those who wait

Has there ever been something you really REALLY want? I mean *REALLY* want...want so badly that you were obsessed with wanting it, want so badly that all you saw around you was the thing that you want, want so badly that you wished for it and wished for it, want so badly that you began to envy those around you who had it, want so badly that you began to believe...truly believed...that you were meant to have that thing, want it so badly that you've managed to manipulate, trick, and finally convince yourself and those around you that there was no way the world could be right again unless you could possess the thing that you want, want so badly that you were blind to the realities of the possible consequences of said thing...want so badly?

Try not to read anything into this post...I mean..I will read into the post but that's because I'm writing it and I know what precipitated my musings. Don't knock yourself out reading between the lines; the overwhelming message is what's occupying my thoughts.

Things I've wanted; that I didn't wait for; and that didn't turn out so hot...
*Wearing make-up: I talked my mom down to 12 from 16 (man I was good) but ultimately the nuances of make-up application was lost on a sixth grader
*My first boyfriend: He was a nice enough kid; but honestly that's the story that everyone laughs about now.
*Pierced ears: My mom tried to wait until the right time by mandating that I reach a double digit birthday; but the starter earrings stayed in for a month because I was scared to take them out...then finally my grandmother declared that it be time I learned that "beauty is pain" and drug me into the bathroom to take those bad boys out!

Things I've wanted; that I DID wait for; and now can look back on and be thankful I waited...
*Disneyland: I went with Stacie when I was 13 and she was 11; I'd wanted it for a long time but it turns out that was about the perfect age. Old enough to ride all the rides and still young enough to be awed by my first trip to the Magic Kingdom.
*Working at Ghormley: I'd probably wanted to do that since I was an 8th grader; but it turns out that working that summer of 1997 was the best for me...my mom had just passed away so it kept me busy in a supportive and spiritual place and I met my super good friend Carrie.
*Marrying Sean: My friends all did it sooner and I was super jealous at the time but ultimately waiting until we were both working was such a much better decision. I don't know if I'd have finished school had we done it sooner.

So...my point...and I do have one...is this: There are so many things people want in this life...good things...things of value...things that are right. But; just because you want them and just because you can manipulate the situation to get that thing you want right when you want it doesn't mean you should. What if wresting control of the timing of a situation out of the hands of God really turns that wonderful thing into just an okay thing...or worse. I know you want that thing...I know you want that thing you really want...that thing that everyone else seems to have but you don't...I know you think you deserve that thing...I know you can even make it happen...but what would it hurt to just wait? Waiting is not so bad.