Why Not Build A Stand?

We have all heard the statement, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade". Well I say when life gives you lemons; grab a hammer, do some work, build a stand  so that you not only make lemonade but you triumph through your trials.

In December, I made the choice to leave a job that I had loved for 3.5 years for another opportunity. I was very naive to think that the relationships I had built through that job would not change. Sure, not everything would be the same, but the deep down core of my closest relationships, I thought would stay intact. I WAS WRONG in all but one relationship.

This was not the fault of any of us. It is just the way it happened. It hurt. I felt lost. I grieved as I am sure many of them did. I knew that there was a lesson for me to learn. While driving to my new job of just 2 weeks, the thought occurred to me that I had spent too much time holding onto my lemons. It was time to not only make lemonade. It was time to grab my hammer and build a new lemonade stand. That is what I am doing!

What lemons do you need to let go of? Life is not fair. We all know that. It is not as important WHAT happens to us as it is the HOW we respond.

1. Let go of the hurt. Holding on to bitterness is the easiest way to become depressed.
2. Have the tough conversations. It is important to address the issues so you can leave the past behind and truly move forward.
3. Forgive those that hurt you. Ask for their forgiveness as well. We all played a part in the problem. Own yours so they can own theirs.
4. Pick up your hammer and start building! This is the moving forward part. Build new relationships. Focus on the positives in your life. Learn a new skill, improve strengths you already have. 

Above all else, I was reminded what it really meant to trust God. I knew that His plan was perfect even when it didn't feel like it. I am very happy to say that I am building the foundation of my new lemonade stand. I have focused on producing quality work that I am proud of. I have learned to worry less about what everyone else thinks. I am just enjoying getting to know new people and building new relationships.

I love you all!

Happy Birthday to My Love

It feels so good to be able to say HAPPY 44th BIRTHDAY to my amazing husband Chris. Those of you who don't know our story may ask, "why is this any different than wishing anyone else happy birthday?".

Wishing Chris happy birthday is different because in May of 2006 all the doctors we spoke to told us Chris won't be around to see his 37th birthday. (Except for one who believed in miracles and said he would give it a shot!) Chris was diagnosed with a horrible terminal cancer in his head, neck and throat.

Numbers like 98% mortality, 6 months to live, .6 white blood cell count are what we heard from everyone. So to say 6.5 years cancer free & 44th birthday sounds awesome to me; would be an understatement!

Chris never said why me. He only said what do I need to do to beat cancer and then did those things!

When questioning the circumstances you may find yourself in, always question with an attitude of WHAT CAN I DO, right here, and right now to make things better.

Maybe you need to Trust God more... Maybe you need to forgive someone who has done you wrong... Maybe you are the one who has done wrong and you need to ask others to forgive you. Maybe you just need to keep doing what you are doing and Wait for God to open doors.

Whatever it is, don't put off tomorrow what you need to do today. None of us can assume that we will have tomorrow. Pick up the phone, pull out your Bible, go visit your family, walk back in to church (the roof will not fall down), The first step is always the hardest. All you have to do is to do it!

Love you all but especially my incredible husband who gets to celebrate his birthday this year with a huge Super Bowl Party!