Oh The Places We Can Go

In an Auditory Verbal Approach, we often speak of the use of extensions as a strategy for expanding language. Today the focus of extensions is with regard to the vocabulary knowledge of the places families frequent. Every place we visit there is an opportunity to expand vocabulary. A child  may as well learn car- hop, menu, and latte as well as any other words. We tend to stick with the same familiar vocabulary. Remember, you don't have to order or drink a latte to know what one is. Granted there are other more pressing and important words to learn when children are developing language, but the point is that if we keep in mind the need to raise the bar for language where ever we are, then those higher level words will become commonplace.

Language Activity Tip #1:

Keep your camera in your car and each time you stop at a familiar location such as gas station, post office, convenience store or school, take pictures of some of the key features. Maybe the gas pump, the mail box slot, the ATM machine, the soda fountain or the flag pole. Copy the photos to your  computer and make a slide show or print them and place them in a book. You can have great conversations recalling what you did there, why you went and what vocabulary is associated with it.

Language Activity Tip #2:  Inference Game

"I'm thinking of a place we go to refuel our car. It has a pump and  a hose. We sometimes go in and buy a drink. My favorite drink to buy there is a Dr. Pepper but you always order a Cherry Icee."

"I'm thinking of a place where children do to learn. There are teachers and principals there and usually we see  children playing on the swings. I like the flag pole in the front of the building."

Language Activity Tip #3: Story Telling

You can also use the photos to generate stories. Help your child develop narrative skills by talking first about recent familiar episodes when those locations were visited. You could also talk about the near future when  you will go there again. You can also begin to tell imaginary stories about the child's family members who went to that place and what they did.

Ex: On day daddy took Seth to school. Seth had his new backpack. His backpack was heavy because he had his pencils, his paper and his crayons. Seth likes school because he likes to draw and write his letters.
When you go to school, what do you think you would like to do?
Would you like to cut, draw or write?

Of course, conversations will happen on the level that your child is processing language. Remember it is a good thing to talk to the child just above their level of language. Don't be afraid to expose him to vocabulary extending beyond the simple daily routines. We want children to be able to have conversations about their own experiences and they will need the vocabulary to do it.

I would love to hear how you have expanded this idea with your child.

Extend, Extend, Extend!!!

A Great Big Gratitude Weekend

This art work says: GRATITUDE: To be present in the appreciation of life's abundance and to share that light with others.

That is how I felt about this past weekend. It was both an amazing weekend and one of disappointment as well. A few months after I began blogging I met three incredible women who blogged and who regularly commented on my friend Julie's blog at Octamom.
We continued commenting on each other's blogs and slowly learned that we had much in common. In fact, Roban of Moments In Time was born on the same day and year as me. In 2009, we all chose a word and for 12 months joint posted about our words. We were faithful readers of each other's blogs and saw photos of family, our vacation spots and our pets. The huge world of blogging was suddenly personal and meaningful and spiritual. These women became as close as many "real world" friends and it was surreal to think that we would ever meet.

This past weekend we did. AnneMarie, Peggy, Julie and I met in Salado, Texas. You can read about the place at AnneMarie's Blog. You can read about my special relationship with Julie and her family at Octamom. And you can read about the long airport wait by Roban and the huge disappointment of us all that she could not get a flight out of Atlanta to come and meet us. Read her story here.

It is hard to describe. In fact it is impossible to tell someone. When asked "Why are you going to Texas?" Well, I met these women blogging, we are meeting for the first time in Texas and yes, we are spending the whole weekend together. No, we don't really know them. But we do! Yes, they are real people. No, not one of them is really a man! Yes, I do know them and they are lovely. Yes, I have seen pictures. I have read between the lines of their many words. I have enjoyed reaching out to these women across the cyberspace and I am a better person for it. We all are. We have grown in so many ways and we share a connection beyond blogspot, facebook and google. We do know each other and the wonderful thing is...we want to know more!!!

I am grateful for you Roban, Peggy, Julie and AnneMarie. Can't wait for another visit!!!!

Meeting Face to Face

Only two more weeks until I get to meet face to face with 4 of my blog friends from around the world. The time is nearing and I know that it will be a meaningful experience. These women are very special and have added such value to my life. I have learned much from them over the last two years. What a blessing!!

Much gratitude for opportunities to be touched by a life.

Talk To Yourself

I once heard about a counseling technique where you picture your younger self sitting next to you. You are the older self and you consider what you would tell your younger self. I found that interesting. When you think about yourself as a young child, how old are you? What age popped into your head at the mention?

I am about 6. I think my memory comes from my first grade photo. Pixie hair cut. Front teeth missing. Knee socks up to my knees and a little plaid dress. She looks pretty happy. No family traumas. Has friends to play with. A brother to fight with. A best friend who lives next door. A happy life. No idea of the world that is yet to be experienced for its good or its bad.

So I wondered what the true purpose of this exercise was.

Was it to warn that little girl with the toothless smile what was to happen in the future? Or was it to share with her all of the good things you would want her to hear, to affirm her so that when she was older she would feel confident and good about herself?

I have actually tried this. It seems that all of the negative things we say to ourselves, those old tapes that replay over and over when we least expect it, those little messages that target our worth were created some time between the age of our childhood and now.

Who recorded your tapes? Who set the message loop on continue so that within your mind you you could always count on a "little voice" reminding you that you aren't near that great.

My little self was a happy yet sometimes a fearful little girl. I would tell her today to gather around her as many people as possible who can love her, see the best in her and always, always be grateful that she is their friend.

Are You Listening?

As a speech language pathologist I spend my days welcoming into my office little people, most under 3 ft tall and their parents as they come to their weekly auditory verbal therapy session. These wonderful dedicated parents travel each week, some for many miles to learn to teach their hearing impaired child to listen and talk. With the technology we have today this is a daily event, children learning to listen and talk. It is hard work for these parents. It takes patience, courage, perseverance, and a bit of grit. You know that edge that helps you over the humps?

Today was no exception, children were welcomed at the waiting room door and most of them now give me the biggest smile and call out my name as if they can't wait to see what I am going to have for them this time. These brave parents follow them back, most of the time with a smile, sometimes with a weariness from the daily grind but always eager to share and learn.

The most special of days is when a child who has not heard suddenly through hearing aids or cochlear implants can now hear. That is a banner day for these parents. While they are anxious, they are also grateful.
Today I saw a young child on his second day after cochlear implant activation. There were noticeable differences in his communication, he was hearing us and responding well. I thought to myself, he is going to be a listener.

After some reflection about listening, I realized that is what I would like for people to say about me. She is a listener. My isn't talking so much easier. Our brains just think of what to say...or not...and out come the words. But to listen, now that is a gift we can give so many others.

What does it take to be an active listener?  Paying attention, showing you are listening, providing feedback to make sure you are understanding, deferring judgement until we can clarify, then responding accordingly with respect and care. Sounds easy! Most of us think we are listeners.

I am grateful today that I have friends who remind me to listen more closely, expect me to listen openly, and listen to me when I need an ear. Bless these precious children also, who are learning to do just that!

How To Be A Blessing

One of my favorite books is called "The Blessing" by Smalley and Trent. It is grounded in the custom from the Hebrew tradition that the father at some specific and special time in a child's life would intentionally and with the greatest depth of feeling give the child a spoken message..a blessing. I have always seen this as an ultimate act of  expression of love and encouragement. We all want to hear words of affirmation, acceptance, and love and when we do we tend to grown into healthier adults. We tend to be adults who can in turn have healthy and close relationships.

According to Smalley and Trent, "The Blessing" has five elements. A blessing must include a spoken message, attach high value, picture a special future, include an active commitment to see that the words lead to actions and must always include meaningful touch. 

The tradition of giving the blessing is still a part of the Jewish tradition. In today's world I think it is even more critical now that children receive this blessing and not just on one occasion but seamlessly as a part of family life regardless of ones religious faith. Taken another step further I love the idea that anyone, no matter their age, can give another person a blessing.

Parent to child, child to parent , spouse to spouse, co-worker to boss, boss to co-worker, friend to friend, neighbor to neighbor. There are endless pairs of relationships in which the gift of a blessing could only enhance the relationship or lift another person up. I challenge us to think about the words of blessing we have received in our lives, be grateful for them and to pay them forward by speaking them to another often. Smalley and Trent offer great help if  a person has somehow regretfully missed out on The Blessing.

 Complete the circle, continue the circle and give and give and give those blessing words away. You will never regret them.

Living Gratefully....one blessing at a time.

Taking Another Road...And Back

My hiatus from blogging gave me the opportunity to complete many other projects that have become valuable both personally and professionally. Yet there is so much to miss, especially the wonderful words of blog friends who have continued their dedication to their blogs.

I've been thinking about how refreshing it is to start something new. I've been grant writing, project managing, and planning and organizing. All things that I find I do well. The challenges have been many. Time management. Setting and meeting deadlines. Working cooperatively with others. Encouraging others and meeting fear head on. Fear can get the best of you when trying something new but if you can press on toward your goal you will find that there are so many gifts along the way.

Of course, there is also loss when trying something new.  Giving up something well loved in order to find out what you are made of. That untraveled path at first does not seem near as smooth as the one you have been on. That comfortable road that you could walk easily. Dare you leave it and go another way?

The good news, and there is good news and that is that when you come back to the familiar, like blogging you just pick up where you left off, no rules. Your fingers fit nicely on the key board and there is much more to say because you've been on that new traveled road. And you really don't mind if you are the only one around.

Hello my comfortable blog. It's me, maybe a bit tired but also refreshed. Different for having stepped back and worked on new goals. And still thinking abundantly and still grateful for all that I have. What a blessing!

Zig and Zag

January 2010 is ending soon and it looks like Oklahomans will break out of this month with an ice storm. Forcasts have been repeatedly stating the possible worst with thick ice causing power outages and up to a foot of snow on top of that. With this next wave of weather, the weathermen are warning everyone to prepare. We have made our list: snow shovel, bag of salt, extra water, food that can be cooked on our gas stove, and favorite books and movies. Guess we are prepared!

At least there is warning. I like warnings. I am a faithful weather watcher. I like to be prepared. I like to know what is coming.  However, in my effort to life gratefully I am also focusing on getting more comfortable with "seeing what happens", "going with the flow" "living in the moment" and "embracing spontaneity". This next event could just be an opportunity to practice.

Even with weather forcasts and radar capabilities, we still do not know what is really in store for us on Thursday. Maybe ice, maybe snow...maybe both. I do know that there will be an opportunity to zig and zag my way through. Whether in travel to and from work, dealing with a power outage or finding ways to occupy my time while snowed in, I will remind myself to adjust, adapt, and be aware that honing this skill might be of course my "planned spontaneity". :)

Living Gratefully is ...being thankful when the zig and zag opportunities come your way!

I'm Looking Around

I did it, I started my "To Do" list for the New Year. I have a compulsion in January to look around my home and really SEE what is before me. Most of the year I am busy with the routine and fail to see little pockets of "stuff" that need my attention. When did that little object get placed there... and why have I not noticed it. Wow! That room is looking bad...what does it need? We could use another .....

So this morning I started the list. I started with the living room...and moving mentally through each room noticed areas and items of neglect. I made a list of needs and a few wants that would improve our visual space but also the efficiency with which we go through our year. Nothing earth shattering but with a little attention I can plan how to make the changes. I can wait for sales, plan how to use my coupons and economically make the changes.

One example; we are down to two good pot holders. An object that I do not care in the least about but one that is necessary if you want to avoid scorched body parts. You get the idea. I am usually thinking big picture and assign more importance to improving my personal qualities rather that my possessions.

So, now I am more aware..the first step toward taking action. Now where is that coupon section of my Sunday paper?

New Year...New Word for 2010

It is the first of the NewYear and time to begin again a new commitment to a WORD for the year. Last year four blog friends and I blogged each month about our WORD journey. We all gained so much from each other. We were drawn to choose a word by Caroline of Constantly Evolving who inspires on so many levels with her words and her amazing photography. She is the one who challenged our little group in 2009, and she was challenged by Christine Kane who lives and breathes her word as well. She even has a Word of the Year discovery tool to down load here. My good friend Roban of Moments in Time has chosen her word for the year as well. Find her inspiring post here.

Abundance was the word that prompted me to begin this blog and it has carried me through faithfully.
My WORD for 2010 is "Gratitude". I'll begin a daily gratitude journal and through the act of gratitude hope to hold back other words that creep into my consciousness....anger, regret, judgement, worry.

The road map from abundance to gratitude came to me through Sarah Ban Breathnack, of Simple Abundance Online. She writes,“Whatever we are waiting for – peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance – it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart.”

I pray for an open and grateful heart as I continue my journey in 2010.


Today I am grateful for ....A Day of Rest.

Reflections on our Word: Year End

January 1, 2009, I made a commitment with my blog friends, post each month about one WORD for the year. I chose ABUNDANCE.

In the beginning, I had been blogging regularly, receiving inspiration from other blogs, and sharing my blogging with close friends. I had already quoted scriptures that speak of Abundance. I understood that God wants abundance for us and wants us to recognize the abundance we already have no matter our situation. In January, for the first post I said this; “How will a WORD impact the way I am living? How will this one WORD teach me, challenge me, make me want to be a better person?”

Well, my commitment to this WORD saved me from myself. When I was depleted of spirit, I was reminded. When I was depleted of funds, I was reminded. When I was depleted of love of others, of love of self, of discipline, of faith, of balance and of excellence, I was reminded. I was reminded of my abundance every month by the words of this blog group. I was encouraged by their words and I was inspired to give more. I had abundance.

I learned that if you hold fast…keep moving…keep living…and keep giving, you will have enough. You will have abundance in your life. God promised it and even without faith we will have it. Faith just makes it better.

Mitch Album says “The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” I could say the way you get Abundance is the same….

I cannot say it any more clearly than the acrostic that I posted in January: Abundance is a verb. It is an act of life that requires one to move…to do, in order to become.

Aone for your hurtfulness.
Bid farewell to judgment.
Utilize your mind.
Notice your surroundings.
Draw on support from friends.
Acknowledge the gifts of others.
Nullify negativity.
Create moments of meaning.
Embrace the little things

I am looking forward to 2010. My word for 2010 is Gratefulness. Again I say, ““How will the WORD impact the way I am living? How will this one WORD teach me, challenge me, make me want to be a better person?” Come along with me those who will and commit to another WORD for your year.

Here are the reflections of my blog friends Peggy, Annemarie, Roban and Julie as we end our year with Balance, Discipline, Faith and Joy, and Excellence.

Peggy of Middle Age Ramblings

This post is our final reflection on our words for 2009. I chose the word BALANCE because I hoped it would empower me to leave my unbalanced life behind in 2008. Overall it actually helped in the most simple of ways. That is, when I was feeling quite stressed out throughout the year, I would, now and then, remember, "oh yeah – balance" and take a few deep breaths.

Today's reflection is about spirituality:

The philosophy of balance can be found in many of the world’s religions, particularly the eastern religions. In both Hinduism and Taoism, the idea of balancing your mind, body and spirit is very important.

In Hinduism it is believed that the body is made up of seven basic "chakras" or energy centers, each of which correlates to different bodily functions, levels of consciousness, emotional states and so on. In order to stay healthy, we need to ensure that these chakras remain balanced.

Similarly in Taoism, there is the concept of "chi", which is the vital energy that flows through the body. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed that illness is caused by imbalances of yin and yang in the body, which blocks the free movement of "chi". Thus, to stay healthy you need to maintain the balance between yin and yang in your body.

In western culture, a commonly heard phrase is "healthy mind, healthy body", which encourages balance between mental and physical health. Having a healthy mind and body, however, is only a part of the story. As suggested by the following Taoist quote, we also need to bring our spiritual selves into balance:

"Unless the mind, body and spirit are equally developed and fully integrated, no [wisdom] can be sustained".
 
AnneMarie of  "So I Was Just Thinking"

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. " (NIV) Hebrews 12:1-3


This is the last edition of my monthly reflections on the word Discipline. My friends and I started on our respective journeys twelve months ago after reading Caroline’s post having no idea where the road would take us. It has been wonderful trip.

I chose the word discipline to inspire, motivate and direct me through the year. It was a good thing to aspire to but one that I will probably never fully achieve. When I finally came to that realization, I finally felt more relaxed. The point was to reach for that goal with PERSEVERANCE. I fixed my eyes on Jesus who helped me to remain steadfast because knowing I could do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

So as I endured difficult times, those words carried me through. My goal was not to be the perfect parent or the perfect teacher, but be more planned and organized in both of these areas.

I haven’t exactly decided what my focus is for next year, but I am certain it will involve creativity of some sort. So don’t “lose heart,” I will be back with another series of posts.
 
Roban of "Moments In Time"

365 days... 52 weeks... 12 months...


That's how long it's been since Peggy, Annemarie, Wendy, Julie, and I first posted about the words we chose to focus on during 2009. During these months, we forged friendships together as we shared our individual journeys with one another.

Although I chose to focus on FAITH and JOY this year, I must say that I learned as much from my friends' words as I did my own. Balance, discipline, abundance, and excellence made their way into my own life as I read their monthly posts or looked at the photographs and other images that helped them tell their stories. I often found myself contemplating their words alongside my own.

When I chose faith and joy, I could already see a connection between the two... that by having more faith in God and in His plan for my life, I will be able to experience more joy in the daily moments that make up my life. I shared my words with my students and made it a point to think about the words as the days and weeks rolled past.

How did I do? I think in the beginning, I was more attuned to the words and what I wanted them to mean in my life. As the months passed, however, I found myself slipping into old habits of worry. Yet, in the middle of the day or during the evening at home, I would stop and really look at the world around me. And I would smile. Joy, I realized, is all around me if I open my eyes wide enough to see.

God wants each of us to be happy... to experience joy in our life each and every day. Why else would He send beautiful rays of pink and orange to greet us each morning? Why would the sounds of nature, from birds' songs to the crashing of ocean waves, soothe our souls? Why would He bless the earth with children whose carefree laughter is a clear invitation for us to experience joy?

He gives us these bursts of color and song as a gift so that we will know joy. 
 
Julie of "Octamom"

What an interesting discipline, this practice of choosing and focusing on a guiding word for the year. It has been a blessing and touchstone throughout '09 to meditate on the facets of excellence as my blog buddies and I have traveled this rotation.


In choosing excellence as my word for 2009, I was expressing a heart's cry to 'come up' in various areas of my life. Because I'm in the business of raising many children, I am also in the business of managing people's expectations. Some folks have very minimal expectations of me, assuming that I am too busy, too distracted to contribute in other areas. Some expect that I must be some kind of 'super mom' and figure I'm the one to call on for any kid-related project.

And the reality is different.

It is focusing on excellence that helps me see what I need to be doing in my day to day life and what needs to be taken to the curb. I can't do it all excellently and there are areas where it is acceptable to me to do simple 'maintenance'. But in those areas I feel the Lord is calling me to serve, a plumb line for me to determine if I am walking where He is leading is to discern the caliber of contribution I am making. And when something comes along that is a good thing but is something that shouldn't be on my plate, holding it up to the light and seeing if it is something that could be accomplished with excellence makes it easier to put down when I see it is something that cannot be done to that level in my present season. Excellence can be defining.

I am so thankful to be on my journey with like-minded people, believers who have let go of legalism and are embracing the miracle of grace. And somehow in the doing, they are also continuing to walk with excellence, not out of a sense of fear or obligation, but out of a grateful heart, wanting to bring their best for the King. Where I set my standards for myself, the level of character I expect from myself, are all outpourings of my desire to please Him, an expression of His in-dwelling.

Has this beacon of excellence been a tool this year? Absolutely. Have I 'achieved' excellence in all the areas I would have liked to? Absolutely not. And that is the purpose of these defining words, to create a philosophy, a guide for our varying paths. Clarity has come this year through this term of excellence, clarity in areas that need more work, clarity in what needs to laid down, clarity in what areas have been refined and may have something to offer.

Excellence.

And the journey continues.

Reflections On Our Words: November

We are nearing the end of the year and my friends and I continue our reflection on our words. Julie, AnneMarie, Roban and Peggy join me in finding a creature in the animal world who depicts our word.
I am still thinking about what my word will be for 2010. Abundance has served me well!


I have chosen the ELEPHANT as an animal depicting ABUNDANCE. Of course, it does have abundant size but it also lives abundantly. Here is  what I found out:

Elephants cry. They express grief at the loss of another elephant. They exhibit behaviors that depict sadness, bowing their heads, lowering their ears, and pausing at the place where another elephant has died.

Elephants play. They express joy at seeing other elephants. They dance around, spin and twirl, and trumpet joyful sounds.

Elephants are helpful. They take care of each other and especially the babies in the group.

Elephants give back. Without intention of doing so, their feet make large depressions in the ground where water can collect and be a provision for other animals.

Elephants are social. They live in large family groups and communicate over long distances with each other.

In my quest for an Abundant life, I think these characteristics are certainly a start. Have empathy for others, find joy in play, care for others, give back to the greater community, and create a positive family environment.

Peggy of Middle Age Ramblings has chosen the DOLPHIN:

One day a long time ago, I was watching a documentary about dolphins and something inside me clicked. I was well into my late 20’s and was watching the television as if I was glued to it. It felt as if I was in a mind-meld with the dolphins and it was too a point that I started to cry because on some spiritual level, I understood what these dolphins were saying. I just knew that the dolphin was my Spiritual Animal Totem, I just knew it!


The beautiful, graceful, sleek dolphin carries many messages for the two legged! A key to understanding because the dolphin meaning is connected with themes of duality. It has to do with the dolphin being both fish and mammal. It is both of the water, and an air breather. Ergo, dolphin symbolism talks to us about "being in two worlds at once." Indeed, the dolphin is a great conveyor of the concept of yin and yang.

It is playful, and is a reminder that time to play is a crucial element in walking in BALANCE. It moves through the water quickly and with great grace, ever moving with the flow. Dolphins tell us to move with the ebb and flow of life, and not to search for brick walls to smash into. To spend our energy fighting the current gets us nowhere. Being constantly at war with others, with our surroundings and with circumstances we cannot change, destroys the spirit, eats away at hope, and consumes the joy of life.

The power of the Dolphin is community in BALANCE.

Julie of Octamom has chosen the SWAN

My word for '09 has been excellence and after a bit of zoological searching, I finally settled on the swan as the emblem for my word. Swans typically mate for life and have strong family bonds. The male and female swans nurture and raise their cygnets together, developing their own 'tribe', if you will. The image of a swan has graced many a coat of arms, conjuring connotations of nobility and are seen as symbols of love and fidelity because of their tendency to form life-long bonds. Many fairy tales and myths surround the species, the moral of the tales often being the adherence to beauty and grace, even in the midst of difficulty and ridicule.

Plus, swans are just pretty to look at. They just are.

Which is perhaps not the most excellent reason to choose a swan as my symbol of excellence. But I also got to take a great picture of one down of the lake during the summer.

And that sealed the deal for me...

Roban of Moments In Time has chosen the DOG

I'm sure my choice of dogs to express the meaning of joy doesn't surprise those who know me. Both Scout and Maggie have a way of warming my soul, making me laugh, and filling me with heartfelt joy.

They are ALWAYS happy to see me. They do the silliest things that make me laugh out loud, yet they are attuned to the personalities and emotions that flavor our home....

Studies have shown that owning a pet can add years to your life. In fact, just petting a dog has been shown to lower blood pressure. And residents of nursing homes have shown a boost in mood and social interaction when a dog has been brought in for a visit.

My two dogs definitely bring joy to my home, to my life, to my family. 
 
 

AnneMarie of So I Was Just Thinking  has chosen the ANT

The ant has received a bad rap throughout history as a pest, a nuisance, an annoyance. While in Puerto Rico, I would often be surprised to find ants in my sugar, but no one else would be surprised. In Texas we are known for a more ferocious type, the fire ant - certainly not a little creature to be reckoned with.


While thinking about this critter, I began to realize the one thing no one has ever called an ant is lazy. When you see ants, what are they doing? Moving, carrying, building, preparing for whatever may come. If you destroy their home, the very next day they have set up shop just on the other side of the sidewalk. Which brings me to my story...

In a field one summer's day, Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing gleefully. Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.

Grasshopper tried to dissuade Ant from his work by inviting him along in his day of reverie, but Ant could not be swayed. He was preparing for the long winter. Ant tried to convince Grasshopper of the foolishness of his ways telling him he too should lay up stores.

Grasshopper was not worried about winter as he had plenty of food for now and continued to while away the hours and days leading up to the first snow at which time he found himself dying of hunger. Meanwhile, Ant and his family could be seen surviving from what was stored away during the good weather.

At that point Grasshopper knew IT IS BEST TO PREPARE FOR THE DAYS OF NECESSITY.

There are times when I would rather play than have the DISCIPLINE to stay at home and clean house or go to the grocery store and shop for the family. Sometimes I give in and later have to pay the consequences. Other times I pull myself together to get done what needs to be.

Over the course of this year, my focus on DISCIPLINE has led me to see the error of many of my ways - most of which I have tried hard to change. Of course being human and having a the luxury of being able to go out if need be, I have not perfected this way of life. It is still something I strive to improve.
 
 

Walking 13.1 miles: Priceless

2009 has been an Abundant journey. I have played more music, looked longer at nature, made contact with more family, started a facebook page, smiled more at work, prayed more for others and enjoyed time with good friends.

In July I vowed to be more serious about my health and nutrition. I began putting one foot in front of the other 3 miles, 3-4 mornings a week and then a longer walk on Saturdays. To make it a game, I set out to train to walk a half-marathon. 13.1 miles. My husband, a runner awakened each morning with me at 5am and walked those miles with me. On Saturdays, a family friend walked the long walks with me as Mike ran nearby. Last Sunday I did it! I walked 13.1 rolling hill miles 3 hours and 34 minutes.

As with any endeavor we do not do it alone. I was nervous since I would have to walk the course without my training partners. I was going to have to depend on my own mental toughness to get through it and I did not know what kind of mental toughness I had inside of me.

My husband ran the half-marathon in 2:02. He ran across the finish line, walked to find me and walk the last leg of the route with me. He wanted to share in my accomplishment.  He walked the final 2 miles cheering me on.

Our family friend who trained with me on Saturdays, texted me throughout the race with words of encouragment.
My sister and brother in law woke up at 6 am on a Sunday morning to take us to the race start so that we would not have to find parking among the 7000 participants.
My boss and a co-worker emailed me before and after the race.
 I also received kind calls and emails after the race to congratulate us on our efforts.

I am proud to have had the opportunity to do the race alone, but the community that I have surrounded myself with was key in achieving this goal. After almost a week, the soreness is gone. I was back on the treadmill today.

What is my new goal you  may ask?

To burn 400 calories per day in exercise, lose 2lbs per week, and maintain my fitness to participate in the Oklahoma Memorial Half-Marathon in April 2010. I have already lost the amount of weight of my small dog and with more pounds gone, that walk in April should have me gliding along! In addition, I won't give up the other list of abundant living tasks that have contributed to my mental well being in 2009. It is only 4 weeks to the end of the year and I will need to choose another word to carry me through 2010. I'll keep you posted!

Abundance is...setting goals and achieving them by putting one foot in front of the other.

Reflecting On Our Words

My blog friends and I are posting again about our word and we have chosen this month to select a flower that we feel represents our word. It is the fall of the year and there are so many flowers to choose from. As I stroll through my neighborhood my neighbors have planted a plethora of colorful choices. The creative minds of my friends Julie, Peggy, AnneMarie and Roban have made mindful associations of their own about their word and their flower choice. Read below and discover what is in the creative minds of my very special friends.

Julie chose Excellence:

As my blog buddies and I continue through our Reflecting on Our Words project, I have been delighted with the number of ways my creative friends have come up with to bring imagery and metaphor to their guiding word for the year. This month, the theme was to choose a flower that exemplifies each of our words. It was a fun mental challenge to think through flora and fauna that would give example to my 2009 word, excellence.

I at first thought of flowers that have great beauty or hardy qualities or are rare. But what kept coming back to me is the flower that we see a lot of during this season, the blossom that someone decided is the 'birth flower' for November. And that would be the chrysanthemum. (The chrysanthemum illustration on the right is from the New International Encyclopedia from 1902, with the image url being hosted at Wikipedia.)

The chrysanthemum is actually native to Asia and wasn't introduced into Europe until the 17th century. It is often seen as a symbol in Chinese and Japanese artwork. In the U.S., it is a floral symbol of the season, a happy spot of color for the autumn.

Chrysanthemums are also used in a number of beneficial ways. The petals can be used to make a sweet tea. The blossoms make a natural insecticide that is not harmful or toxic to animals and humans. The plant is also used as an antibiotic and an antiviral agent. A potted indoor chrysanthemum has also been shown to be effective in reducing indoor pollutants in the air.

And now for the tie-in to my 2009 word, excellence.

True excellence brings with it the benefits similar to the chrysanthemum. When I operate in excellence, I can make life sweeter, more palatable for those around me. When I operate in excellence, I can help reduce the pests of procrastination and apathy. When I operate in excellence, I can help fight off the infecting agents of mediocrity. And when excellence is present in the room, the environment is all the cleaner for it.

 

 
Peggy chose Balance
 
The amazing flower I chose to represent my word is called "Hippeastrum Cinderella".

I took this photo in my hairdresser's garden last week. The complete beauty and balance of this flower called to me as I was leaving his house.

Flowers have always been a source of pleasure and happiness symbolizing love and friendship and since the dawn of time we have instinctively known that flowers can lift our spirits and make us feel well again. They play an important role in restoring or evoking a sense of harmony in mind, body and spirit of healing in its quintessential form.

AnneMarie chose Discipline
 
Thinking about discipline, I chose the orchid because of the amount of dedication it takes to care for this beautiful flower.


The orchid is considered to be one of four noble plants. Because it grew deep in the mountains, it was compared to scholars who had transcended the greed and fame-seeking of the secular world.

Orchid growth is effected by everything from elevation and light to humidity, air movement and nutrition. When I looked up how to care for this "delicate" flower, I realized that this is a flower I would probably kill in just a few days.

In my search for a more disciplined life, I came to an understanding about myself. I like my laid back life. I love that I am not always worried about menus and shopping lists. My children are healthy and happy. Yes, my house is less than tidy, and my flower pots outside are less than tended, but I am happy.

So as this year of searching for discipline is nearing an end, I will begin thinking about what it is that I would like to work on next year....I have two more months to think about it.

Roban chose Joy and Faith.

This year as I've journeyed through life contemplating faith and joy, I've been more aware of the beauty around me each day. Yet even though my focus has been on these two words, I've still had days when I saw the world through a darker lens. A busy schedule and seemingly constant demands have clouded my world at times. When my friends and I decided to choose a flower that reflected our words, my first thought was on finding a photo that captured the essence of joy. I thought of sunny buttercups and my mother's favorite flower, tulips. I also thought of flowers that connected to my word, faith.


When it comes to photography, there's no one better than Caroline Manrique of http://www.nowordz.com to capture the beauty of everyday life, so I asked if she would be willing to share one of her photographs with me. And she sent this....

The beauty of the flower against the muted tones of the background seemed to perfectly capture my feelings this month. Even when peering through the world in an imperfect fashion, there we find it. Beauty. It stands out against the backdrop of life leaving us with a more peaceful and joyful feeling.
 
I chose Abundance
 
I have spent the past ten months with an action plan to have the most abundant life possible. I have cultivated new friendships and renewed old ones. I have committed time to family and used social media to create more connections with people. I made efforts to use my leadership skills in my work and have encouraged countless families in their journey toward spoken language. I have meditated and prayed. I have listened to music that stirs my soul. I have set new goals for fitness and nutrition. Abundance has been all around me each step of the way. My chosen flower can only be the flower that is a personal favorite. I have chosen the poppy. I smile when I see an abundance of poppies scattered across a field as in a Van Gogh painting. The dichotomy is that poppies have a bad rap. They are associated with a shady industry that is the demise of many people, unhealthy, commemorate the death of soldiers in some countries and symbolize remembrance.
They were used in the Wizard of Oz to hinder Dorothy's journey down the yellow brick road. Even so, looking over a field of these beautiful flowers gives me a feeling of abundance and of gratitude. Abundance spread in the open for all to see and enjoy.
 
 

 

Abundance is....a spread of beauty for all to enjoy.

Thank you to Caroline at Whimsical Whispers who started it all!

Reflecting on our Words

We are here ending our 9th month of 2009 and my good friends AnneMarie, Roban, Julie and Peggy join me in meeting yet another challenge. The goal to select a video that defines our word. I would say the challenge this month is the technology. I was fearful of it yet excited to try something new!

The five of us have been a work in progess, each in our individual homes living our daily lives quite apart yet tied to the blog community and each other through posts and emails. So what is it that has contributed to our growth in love and friendship with each other, 5 women who have never met. (I do know Julie in real life) Is it a common goal, a shared experience, a commitment to a task? It may be all of these things but as I have read their blog posts, read their comments to others, read their emails of love and encouragement to me, celebrated the good and experienced care for each other in the challenges...we always know the other women are only a key click away. We all agree our lives have been enriched through this experience.

We actually have a 6th partner in this project, a woman who is the highest example of a work in progress...she is amazing in the way she uses her mind and her artistic talent to create an abundant life. Her blog inspires and causes reflection. She is our shining example and the inspiration for this project. Read more about Caroline here.

Join with me in viewing the selections of each women as we celebrate Discipline, Faith and Joy, Excellence, Balance and Abundance!

AnneMarie of So I Was Just Thinking (Discipline)

Roban of Moments in Time (Faith and Joy)

"When I thought of a video to express some of my thoughts on faith and joy, I immediately thought of the artist Akiane Kramarik. Her art comes from her faith, and her paintings fill me with joy and awe."

Julie of Octamom (Excellence)

"This is Kari Jobe, a really sweet girl who is dear friends with some of my dear friends. She has a gorgeous song out called I'm Singing and she had viewers add their experiences and included them in the video--and the result is just 'excellent'--really amazing people continuing to walk with joy, even in the midst of some tough times"

Peggy of Middle Age Ramblings (Balance)

My video is a lesson in what it might take in action to have and hold on to Abundance.

Abundance is .... knowing your friends are available.

It's My Birthday and I Feel Abundantly Wiser!

I was born in 1961 and September marks my 48th birthday. This is not a seemingly important birthday. 48 is not 45 or 50, typically the mark of major celebrations. But I have to say my 47th year leading up to 48 has really been one of my best years. I can say this primarily because I believe that it is the year of lessons learned and a wonderful journey toward a life of abundance.

Last year, September 2008 I met through blogging Roban. What a surprise to find another person who was born on the same day in the same year. See my post about our new found friendship here. This birthday we are posting about some of the major moments in our lives. I decided to take it by decade not of the tens but of the eights. Please visit Roban's blog "Moments in Time" and tell her Happy Birthday too!

I begin with a photo of me with my parents a year or so after I was born. We have few pictures because our house burned in 1963 and our family photos burned with it. Isn't it something to see our parents as young parents themselves.

In 1969, at 8 years of age we moved to Norman, Oklahoma and I remember this year as a year of starting over..a new school, meeting new friends, a new church.

In 1979, I was a Senior in High School. It was the tradition at my High School for all Sr. girls to have boas for their Sr. pictures for the year book. In high school I was involved in chorus and drama. Gotta love a boa!

By 1989 I had been married for 8 years and had two girls, 1985 and 1988. I had graduated with a masters degree in Speech Pathology and was working part time in a public school. At 28, it was a a challenge adjusting to parenting two small children, starting a new career, and serving a church with my husband. It was at the same time rewarding with activities in social clubs and community theater.

In 1999, at 38 I was learning lessons in patience as we entered the decade of parenting teens, moved to our 6th church and began a new adventure in my career serving children with hearing loss.

It is 2009, at 48 I am enjoying life in all aspects. A few lessons I have learned in this last decade:

• Think of each day as a do over.


• There is enough attention for everyone.


• Once a parent always a parent even when children are in their 20's.


• Yoga makes you bendy.


• It's easier to gain than to lose.


• It's always a blessing to tell someone what they mean to you.


• You will be happier if you learn to let go, give up control.


• Abundance will come to you when you encourage another.


• Reading expands your mind.


• If you need trifocals, get a cool pair of glasses and smile.


• As long as you can still remember your own name, memory loss is okay.


• Technology could be hazardous to your health.


• Call your parents often.


• Learn something new every year.


• Forgiveness is easier than resentment.


• It is okay to say nothing.


• Expect miracles.


• You have to work at living abundantly!

Abundance is....being grateful every day!

A Reflection On Our Words.

Life in the month of August is a "get back to" month. For my friends AnneMarie and Roban it is "get back to" teaching school. For Julie it is "get back to" a routine after a summer of traveling the country. For Peggy and me, it is "get back to" blogging and helping in the fundraising for our favorite charities. As a result of our "get back to" days, our reflections are short, sweet but a powerful WORD about how 5 friends from across the world are together still reflecting on our Words.

AnneMarie thinks: Discipline is setting your eyes on the prize, recognizing what you need to do to get there and removing all obstacles that will prevent you from finishing the race.

Peggy thinks: Striving for BALANCE between complexity and simplicity, constantly evaluating and re-evaluating the trade-offs I have to make to get there.

Roban thinks: I have found that JOY is all around me.... It just takes opening my eyes and heart to really see it and feel it!

Julie thinks: Excellence: A process and a discipline, not a destination.

In August, I recognized the ABUNDANCE of seeing old friends, listening to great music, feeling the cool mountain air, and having a real time phone conversation with a good mate!

This photo was taken this weekend at a winery in Oklahoma. The Plymouth Valley Cellars Winery hosted a fundraiser for Hearts for Hearing where I work and enjoy a passion for working with children with hearing loss. The winery is nearing the last day of harvest, we were lucky to see these sweet babes on the vine. Oh, and the wine is excellent I might add, I know from experience!

Rhythm of the Rain

I've always loved rainstorms. I love the thunder and the lightning. I love the sound of the rain. In Oklahoma we get our share of rain in the late spring. August has been unusual, we have had much rain.


When I was a little girl I always wanted to run out in the rain and play in it. Of course, with lightning around mommies do not let little girls play in the rain. Since then I have let rain curtail many a plan to do something fun outside. Getting wet was not an activity that I was willing to experience. In fact, I have been a maniac about keeping my umbrella with me so that I would be prepared.


I recently have begun to faithfully get up early and walk. My husband walks with me most mornings at five AM. He is a runner and unless there is lightning or extremely cold weather, he has not let the rain stop him from getting in that run. Over the last several weeks we have had a threat of rain early in the morning. The lightning would be only miles away with no drops of rain falling. We managed to get in our walk without a drop falling on our heads.


I learned a new lesson on vacation in Red River. I actually learned many lessons that you will read about over the next weeks. But on this vacation we committed to getting up early and walking. In the mountains, the storm clouds do not necessarily roll in to warn you of the rain. It may look relatively clear and suddenly begin raining. This happened one morning. During our walk, it suddenly began raining. It was a light rain and we settled in and continued our walk. We smiled and enjoyed the rain. Unlike the wicked witch of the west I did not melt!


Songwriters have really made their mark with lyrics about the rain. Rain for some denotes pain, sadness, bad times, heartache. Rain gets a bad name! I think we can learn to enjoy the rainy days of our lives if we relax, breathe through it and know that the rain will not last forever. It will pass and we will have experienced something profound. Lessons can be learned from the rain.


I have embedded a youtube video with 10 minutes of rain. Listen as you will and maybe meditate on your rain experience and think about how rain can lead to your own lessons learned.

Also for your enjoyment I have included many songs with a rain theme on my playlist.






Abundance is....Hearing laughter in the rain!

Come From The Heart

This is a most talented songwriter/singer Richard Leigh. You might know him most for writing the song "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" made famous by Crystal Gayle. See his website for other songs that have been sung by countless artists.

He was one of the artists at the recent Red River music festival. The lyrics of his songs are so heart felt. He is really an amazing artist. I was touched by his lyrics and his performance.

My favorite song of his is "Come From The Heart". Kathy Mattea recorded this song in the 80's.

When I was a young girl, my daddy told me,

a lesson he learned, it was a long time ago.

If you want someone to hold on to,

your gonna have to learn to let go.

You have to sing, like you don't need the money,

Love, like you'll never get hurt,

You gotta dance, like nobody's watching,

It's got to come from the heart if you want it to work.

Now here is the one thing, I keep forgetting,

When everything is falling apart,

In life there's enough, no I need to remember,

There's such a thing as trying to hard.

You have to sing, like you don't need the money,

Love, like you'll never get hurt,

You gotta dance, like nobody's watching,

It's got to come from the heart if you want it to work.

These are beautiful words and if you want to hear the song here is the link to Kathy's Youtube

performance. There is no embedding allowed on this song.

What a risk it takes to really love, to grow relationships, to step outside of ourselves and create an abundant life. How many times in my life have I let fear hold me back from something really beautiful. As I have sought to have abundance in my life, I have really tried to let go of my fears. The September issue of Oprah magazine has some great articles about empowerment and letting go of fear. The front cover says "You're Stronger Than You Know, How to tap into your true power and really make it work for you. What a challenge this is. Putting my picture on this blog was for me "dancing like nobody's watching." In my relationships I am loving like I won't get hurt. I am expecting not to get hurt and I am getting outside of myself and initiating communication that is the most authentic I can be.

What is your fear and what is holding you back?

Abundance is...letting go and reaping all of the benefits!

Oh! My EasyShare isn't just an automatic!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

I have been so envious of all my blog friends with the great cameras that take the most amazing photos. I have been using a Kodak EasyShare Z730 and basically turning it on auto and shooting. Last week during our road trip I began messing with the camera and discovered a few new to me settings. I was happy with the way this little camera performed.

So, today for Photo Story Friday, I have a few photos to submit. No chuckling allowed! :)

This is Jed Zimmerman and Mike Addington, singer/songwriter musicians who performed last week at the Red River Music Festival. In this photo they are performing in "The Lodge" during an early morning breakfast concert. This is a very small bar with only a few tables. The full sun was shining in the window and my cool "backlight" setting completely blocked out the rays.

This is most obviously the "self-portrait" setting. I took this while riding in a moving car. You might notice how my life of abundance has had its effect, this would be one of the few personal photos I have shared.

Abundance is...47 and still learning something new every day!