I’m the Barnyard Chicken Around Here

I’m surprised I’m even telling you what’s new around our place. It doesn’t quite fit with my image of myself to say that I own chickens.

Builderman has gone on and on about wanting chickens until I said, “Fine- as long as I don’t have to see them, smell them or help in any way at all… get your chickens.” He called me on Friday morning and said, “I need a favor. I need a poultry pick-up.” My response was “You’ve got to be kidding me, right?” No. No he wasn’t kidding.

This is what I picked up at the post office- who knew they ship real live peeps in the mail!

I’m going to quote my friend Diane who’s husband recently decided they need pack goats. Yes, you heard that right. She writes, “Maybe your first question, when you are finished laughing, is: Why did Rod and Diane get a goat? And I'm not gonna lie. There is a small part of me that is slightly embarrassed by the fact that we own a goat. That is probably why I usually refer to him as the "puppy-goat." I guess I have a certain type of person in mind when I think of people who own goats. I need to get over my biases. So do you.”

Oh, Diane, I know exactly how you feel. At least I can commiserate with one of my fellow bloggers. And I will quietly admit that the little peeps are cute for now. I'm thinking that's a temporary state.

Lighting the Past

As I carefully carried the heirloom chandelier from my car, the prisms tinkled daintily, transporting me to another time in another place.

This chandelier’s home had been in LouLou’s dining room, a shadowed, chilly room that was only aired and used on formal occasions and holidays. In winter months, because it was seldom heated, it was used as a refrigerator for the overflow of food stockpiled for hordes of visiting relatives. I can almost taste the rich dark chocolate sheet cake that was a favorite comfort food and stored on the marble sideboard.

Because the house was old and its off-grade foundation had settled like an old woman’s bone structure, it was virtually impossible to walk across the floor without causing the dozens of prisms to start their chorus. I recall the reprimands directed at me and my cousins that we sounded like a herd of elephants tromping through the house.

The light that shone on countless family gatherings is being passed on to the next generation. I like being the courier.

The Old Switcheroo is Making Things New

I usually consider exercise to be almost as fun as a trip to the dentist. In other words, it doesn’t even make my list of things I like. At all. However, like going to the dentist, it is on my list of things I have to do whether I like it or not.

I will say that my love of blogging has resulted in a new level of fitness for me. Participation in 2nd Cup of Coffee’s Fitness & Food Challenges that began in March has actually pushed me to achieve a goal I’ve had for several years; adding weights to my regular exercise regimen.

When I won Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred just before this last challenge when we were asked to switch up our exercise routine, I figured it was providential. (A special thanks to Jamie - this was her first blog give-away.) Do you want a work-out that is fun, inspiring and easy to do? Then don’t get this DVD. I loathe it. BUT… it has turned my wog into a run that actually feels like a vacation after working out with Jillian. It's quite effective as Jillian is a tough coach in every sense of the word. I use the DVD 2 or 3 times a week. Forget daily.... you'd hear my groaning from here to your house.

A Shout Out to Linda for helping inspire the following changes I’ve experienced over the last few months:
* A new habit of exercising an average 5 days a week. I used to set my goal for 3 and if I missed 1 or 2 days, it simply wasn’t enough exercise. This is working much better for me.
* I feel stronger, my clothes fit better, my posture is better and I feel toned. (No more arms flapping in the wind! Yay!)
* They say that weight bearing exercise is vital for peri-menopausal women in order to prevent osteoporosis. I’m very happy that I finally found a way to achieve this form of exercise. (I’m using 5 lb hand weights – I’m no Hercules but it counts.)
* I’m enjoying new snacks and healthy recipes that my blog friends have let me know about.
* The encouraging words that friends in Bloggsville leave in the form of comments are amazing inspiration. Ya’ll are awesome. I have observed that there's alot of healthy relationships that include friendship and mentoring in Bloggsville.

For more inspiration, go on over to Linda’s . She'll teach you the Un-Cha dance and it's FUN!

Laughter is an Instant Vacation

Mondays often seem like a good day to discuss stress-relief since mine are always busy. Last week I promised I would try to find some new hilarity for this week. This very short clip titled "Are Women Born Like this?" found at Richard's creations, fills the bill nicely. Happy Monday!

Friday Drive Thru

1. I met with a small group of women this week who wanted information about blogging, social media and basic internet etiquette. I had fun taking them on a blog tour; they met some of you! I was able to hook up my laptop so that it was displayed on the large flat screen TV. It was especially fun when I showed them Mocha with Linda's site for book reviews and awesome give-aways and she had just posted that I was the winner of a book! All of us learned alot from the session. They encouraged me to teach a class like this and charge for it. I never ever had considered it but I bet there would be a good response.

2. A friend passed along a complete wardrobe of tiny pink dresses and adorable clothes ranging from “Onesies” to the new “kiddopatamus” swaddler. Who knew? It’s been almost 20 years since my last pregnancy and it is so much fun to see all the neat new things devised for babies. It’s been like Christmas in June as I’ve enjoyed helping to prepare for this gift of a grandchild. I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time playing with baby clothes this week and loved every minute of it.

3. One of my favorite things about summer is all the fruit that’s in season. Peaches, blueberries and watermelon are tops on my list. I wouldn’t want to leave out the fresh squash and tomatoes our garden is producing. What a treat!

4. It’s Friday Fitness Day and National Donut Day, which are obviously mutually exclusive. Since you didn’t need to know this is, I heard that Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme have give-ways going on. I’m delivered from temptation by virtue of living in the boondocks, not by virtue of self-control. ; ) Please pass the squash.

5. I meant to say "pass the ice cream." Want a chance to win a year's worth of free Blue Bunny ice cream?? I thought so! Details Here


5. Fridays seem to be a good day for a random run-down. I’m usually not geared up to write a focused post yet have things to share. Shelly and I have entertained the idea of hosting a “Friday Quick Takes” with Mr. Linky. What do you think?

The Surpassing Greatness of His Power

I’m reading a book I bought because of the title; it comes straight from the book of Ephesians. The truth of those words has been ringing in my soul for several weeks. It’s part of a prayer that I’m going to turn in your direction today.

I give thanks for you today and pray that the Father of glory may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know Him better. I pray that the eyes of your understanding will be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints and the surpassing greatness of his power toward us who believe.

Wow. That puts wind in my sail. After all, faith is the sail that catches the wind of the Spirit and hope is the anchor of the soul when we’re waiting for the wind to come up.

Sail on. See you on the water.

Living with Passion

Monday, Monday. Did you know that…

• Medical researchers estimate that up to 90% of illness and disease is stress-related.
• Stress is linked to the six leading causes of death.
• Stress is manageable, and reversible.

Did you get that? Stress is manageable, and reversible.

I’ve discovered that walking in joy instead of stress is dependent on making a place in my life every day for the truly important things. When we’re using our gifts and talents and have a constancy of purpose, the clamor of the small stuff is muffled to a tolerable level. It’s all about finding your “YES!”. Doing that thing which makes your heart sing, even if only for small increments of time, keeps things in perspective.

Have you ever awakened in the middle of the night and as you started thinking about your list of things to do, broken out in a sweat? You’re lying in bed wired and awake but it’s ludicrous to get up at 2 AM to start the day. Then you wake up at 6 tired from working on your problems all night. I think we’ve all been there, done that. But in the light of day, those details which grew to heart-stopping proportions in the middle of the night are in reality much more manageable. It’s all about perspective.

If God removed the rocks, the brook would have no song.

In making time for what we feel passionate about, it's usually necessary to sort the good things from the best. Not always a clear distinction. So that brings me to my question.

What are you passionate about today?

For me, it’s encouraging people through the vehicle of LifePoint. I have a vision and the best is yet to come! That puts fire under my feet.

As a follow-up note, thanks for your input when I asked for Team Brain help. I decided on Life Notes for my newsletter title and my tag line is
Motivation, Inspiration. Mastery.

Oh mercy, now I have people signed up for a newsletter that has yet to be created. But that's fun, since I'm not often at a loss for words.

Coming soon: My second major stress-management technique is to LAUGH! I’ll see what hilarity I can come up with for a post on that. : )

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. ~William James