How do we keep our sense of wonder?

One day an email landed in my box that inspired me. It told about a group of students who were asked to name what they thought were the Seven Wonders of the World. The wonders that received the most votes included Egypt’s Great Pyramids, Taj Mahal, Grand Canyon, Panama Canal, Empire State Building, St. Peter’s Basilica, and China’s Great Wall.

But apparently one student had trouble finishing her list, stating she could not make up her mind because there were so many to choose from. The teacher encouraged her to share her list aloud with the other students to see if they could help. She read, “I think the Seven Wonders of the World are to see, to hear, to touch, to taste, to feel, to laugh, and to love.”

This unexpected list was followed by a poignant reminder—“The most precious things in life cannot be built by hand or bought by man.”

This student listed “wonders” that I never thought much about until one day a few years ago when my husband and I took my friend, Shirley,  for what turned out to be her final jeep ride.

Riding in the jeep was not a big deal to me, perhaps because it was “old hat” as some might say. But Shirley, then in the final stages of her battle with cancer, noticed details I never had and she relished every moment of her ride. I was captivated by her adoration and reverence for what she was seeing and by every breath of fresh country air she took in so gratefully. She passed on a few months later.

My jeep ride with her taught me lessons I will never forget. I discovered colors in the sunset I didn’t know were there. I learned that each of our cows has its own distinct bellow and some have really long eyelashes. I noticed that the deeper the hole you drive over, the harder your laugh will be. I found that looking out over big Texas pastures reminds you of the broad expanse of God’s love. I was informed that gazing at the horizon when the sun is setting fills you with a peaceful sense of the infinity of life.

How do we keep our sense of wonder?

How do we maintain our appreciation of all the everyday miracles that compose our day?

How do we never overlook the blessings that make up each life moment?

Even to ask such questions is a good beginning. Pausing to ask these questions also requires pausing to explore for the answers. Our sincere desire to cherish life is a prayer in and of itself—and one that will be answered.

As I learned in my jeep ride, the more acutely aware we are of what and who shares our days, the more meaningful and satisfying life will be. Savoring and mindfully using any of the wonders of sight, hearing, taste, touch, feeling, laughter, and love will guide you to even more of the wonders that God promises for her beloved children.

Start right now—this very moment—and keep yourself in a constant state of awe, admiration, and respect for every ordinary and extraordinary wonder in your day. You don’t want to miss anything. I sure hope I don’t.

 

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What do you make time for…no matter what?

Make time for your prioritiesWhat matters most to us or what will we make time for—no matter what, in any event, in any case? What are we determined to do even if it is difficult? In other words, come hell, hay, or high water, what ranks at the top of our preferences, what takes precedence, what has our highest regard, what is our greatest concern, what will sway us into immediate action, what is so paramount that we can’t live without it? I suspect you get the idea.

This type of questioning can help us set priorities that are truly significant and important to us. With priorities that have our utmost concern, we will be motivated to action. We will set goals that we are impelled to accomplish, yes, come hell, hay, or high water. I suspect our time management skills would also greatly improve.

I think that a person striving to accomplish her goals and dreams or reach her destination, in spite of hell and high water, has clarity of intention, purpose, reason, motive and rationale.  Consequently, this person will be able to stay focused on her direction and objective, and she will let nothing stop her from doing what she must—again, COME HELL, HAY, or HIGH WATER!

What keeps you focused on your goals?

 

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10 Hot Summer Reads from my Daughter

My soon-to-have-her-PhD-in-history daughter has always been an avid reader! As a toddler, she loved her plastic non-tearable books. But even when she started holding paper books, she gently turned the pages as she read the stories to all of her stuffed animal friends. Her love for story and the smell of paper continued to grow as she blossomed into a beautiful and intelligent woman. She still much prefers to hold her cherished books in her hands (rather than using her iPad) as she anxiously turns their pages to discover what happens next.

So when I’m looking for good book suggestions to read myself, I ask my daughter. And I’ve never been disappointed. Below are her Summer 2013 top 10 picks!

 

 

Inferno by Dan Brown

A Spear of Summer Grass by Deanna Raybourn

The Bookman’s Tale by Charlie Lovett

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

The Movement of Stars by Amy Brill

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer

Trains and Lovers by Alexander McCall Smith

The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Revenge Wears Prade: The Devil Returns by Lauren Weisberger

 

What’s on your summer reading list?

What picks you up?

Everyone has one of THOSE days when you’re feeling a bit low and long for something that will lift your spirits. When you feel depressed, overwhelmed, sad, exhausted, bored or trying to find that perfect shot of inspiration, what do you do, where do you look, how do you find what you need and hope for?

Sometimes all we need is a quick little “pick-me-up” to get us back on our happy tracks. I’ve been asking a few folks what does the trick for them and below is some of their responses.

But I would LOVE for you to add your favorite “pick-me-up” to the list!!!!

Watch a funny movie! 

Treat yourself to a treat!

Play with your pet!

Bake an old family recipe!

Exercise!

Call a friend!

Play your favorite song as loud as you can & dance, dance, dance…

 

What do YOU do?

 

 

 

Wait no longer!

“Why wait for summer to make the memories of a lifetime!” the Coastal Living Magazine advertisement exclaimed. “Good point!” I considered.

But then I briskly interjected, “Why DO I wait for many things? Like why do I wait for that thing, person, time or place that somehow suddenly gives me permission to be happy, to have peace of mind, to find the calm I long for, or the satisfaction and contentment that sometimes feels impossible to acquire.

Needless to say I’ve asked myself the question, “What are you waiting for” more than once. And most of the time – these days – when the question comes to mind, the image of a favorite “Curly Girl” greeting card appears in my thought that swiftly answers, “Someday is now!”  

As I wrote in my new book, The Queen of Damn Good Advice, when trying to make just about any decision, I also emphatically ask myself, “What’s stopping you? When I mention to my husband something I’m thinking about changing, he often responds with, “Why now?” My response to him is always, “Why not?”

For me, it’s been the “Why not?” question that had to be answered when making decisions, setting new goals or even planning a dream vacation. And I’ve often found that there really wasn’t a good enough reason not to.

Regardless of the season, stage or time in your life, your answer to “Why not?” may inform you to wait no longer.

Book Sale and Signing

I’ll be selling and signing my books

at

Confections Boutique and Bags

Open House Trunk Show!

Thursday, May 30, 5 PM – 8 PM

8756 Teel Parkway, Frisco, Texas 75034

214-872-1777

Enjoy an amazing night of jewelry new to North Texas, upscale chic clothing, accessories and cocktails with girlfriends! Register to win an awesome “spring” accessories package and join the Confections Boutique “V.I.P. Sweets” Member Club for savings and specials!

And meet Cindy and Alex of “Big Rich Texas!”

Hope you can come and please help me spread the word about this fun girlfriend evening!

 

 

 

 

 

Looking for that four-leaf clover?

I suspect we all have dreams of the person we want to become, the life we look forward to, the goals we yearn to accomplish, the ambitions we hope to achieve, the experiences we long to have, and undoubtedly we can also envision the assets we wish to acquire over the course of our lifetime. And I suspect many of us have wished for that yellow brick road that would get us to our pot of gold as fast as possible.

As I was walking around our farm the other day, I noticed a huge patch of clover. I fondly recalled the many hours I spent as a young child sitting in the midst of a clover patch looking for one with four leafs.

Wikipedia explains that the four-leaf clover is an uncommon variation of the common, three-leaved clover. According to tradition, such leaves bring good luck to their finders, especially if found accidentally. In addition, each leaf is believed to represent something: the first is for faith, the second is for hope, the third is for love, and the fourth is for luck.

Someone had told me that finding a four-leaf clover brought the promise of good fortune. Granted, at six years old, I’m not sure I had a real sense of what good fortune would mean, other than an endless stockpile of my favorite candy. But I knew it sounded like a good thing and was worth my search effort.

With the odds one in 10,000, I never found my four-leaf clover, however.

Even though I gave up long ago the idea of finding the coveted four-leaf clover, I have often longed for some kind of faster track to reaching my dreams. Since most of my dreams cost money, there have been times when I purchased a lottery ticket, rationalizing somebody had to win so why couldn’t it be me.

Other times I go about my dreams the old-fashioned way – setting goals and implementing plans that hopefully – eventually – will help me accomplish them.

It is still tempting to wish for that easier and faster route. And the long, dusty, dirt road we often must endure can become discouraging. It wasn’t too long ago when I had an epiphany that calmed my anxiousness.

I concluded that living the life of our dreams never reaches a final destination; that our lifetime is always ahead of us. I reasoned it didn’t matter if I had not yet become the person I’ve always wanted to be because we’re always in the state of “becoming.” We never reach the point where we can say there’s nothing more to learn or experience or achieve. So there wasn’t an ultimate “pot of gold” to obtain that would indicate my journey was over. This was a relief!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Launch Party Time!

It’s Book Launch Party Time!!


Thursday, May 9th at 12 Noon

Introducing my new book ~ The Queen of Damn Good Advice

At my favorite North Texas boutique!

Sunny Paige

501 N. Union, Whitesboro, TX, 76273 ~ 903-564-5500

It’s also Customer Appreciation Day at Sunny Paige

Come for yummy food, fabulous apparel, shoes, accessories and home decor and MY BOOKS – both are great gifts for moms and graduating seniors, by the way! 

So yes, The Gospel According to Mamma will be there! And ME, TOO!!!

The Gospel According to Mamma

 

 

 

Introducing my new book! The Queen of Damn Good Advice

Be empowered, encouraged and equipped to command & rule your life!

My new book offers the kind of inspiration that will cheer you on!

Queen wants to…

Teach you how to find a good man

Share her secret to having marital bliss

Show the best way to cope with change

Enhance your communication skills

Provide time management tips

Give you bountiful advice that will help you reach your goals and oh….so much more!

Click on the book image and you’ll be taken to Queen’s new home on my website where you can read a book summary, read what some early readers have to say, read an excerpt and find out where to purchase!