A week later....

It's been a week since I took my last pay cheque to the bank to deposit. In my first week of self-employment I registered my business name - Touch Marketing. I worked with a designer on the logo to represent my venture; Gift & Incentives, Social Marketing Training and then added Previsite to the mix. I've put my goals before me and am GOING for it!

It's incredible to know that you are taking a leap of faith to pursue something you feel compelled to do. The defining moments of realizing who you are, your strengths and weaknesses and then to take the time to contemplate what truly burns deep within yourself. What makes your heart sing and moves you to tears?

I've always been one to watch the overcoming type movies. I love Rudy, Pursuit of Happyness, Field of Dreams, Braveheart even 300 in its brutality is about standing against all odds for what you believe in. One of my favourite quotes is: "Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat." by Theodore Roosevelt

I've listened to amazing leaders like Jody Victor for over 10 years now! With 6000+ hours of personal and professional development (just ask my kids about CDs, books, seminars & Joyce Meyer!) I have boiled it all down to a few simple things....We all have gifts, we choose what to do with our time on a daily basis, which dictates our destiny.

Michael Jordan says it very well in this video:

I have the utmost respect for anyone that chooses to focus their attention on a worthwhile goal and through sweat and tears achieves their dream! How can we look at those that have made a difference in so many peoples lives and not desire to do the same? Desire is not enough; neither is good intentions. The rubber meets the road when you acknowledge that you won't be content until you become what your God given vision is.

A week later.....I've become so very time conscious and aspire to do the next right thing each hour of each day and sometimes that is to rest and trust Him with the details for Rome wasn't built in a day!

This Diamond Lady says goodnight and I wish you all the success you are wiling to work for!

Preparing to Pursue The Dream again....

As I prepare to go back to self-employment, I am thankful, excited and want to give God all the praise. So much happens in the course of a week in my life that I am always amazed at the dates on the calendar.

My sons turned 16 last month - yes I am blessed with twin boys after having three daughters. They really are double the joy. Watching how they interact brings a smile to my face most days. They have never known a life without a playmate. As one walks into the room and says "Ping Pong" the other jumps up and off they go.

For each of my children I've attempted to do something extra special for their 16th birthday as it seems like a real transition time in their lives. I had been thinking about these two turning 16 all year and last spring decided that I'd like to get them tickets to see their favorite hockey teams play against each other. For one, they've never been to see a professional hockey game (I know, how does that happen in Canada?). Secondly, I found out that Calgary and Toronto play against each other once a year in each city.

Therefore, I decided last spring already that this was to be their gift. I shared this goal with several people including the guys from work. In August a co-worker (thanks Rob-true Leafs fan!) let me know the schedule was coming out that day. I came home from work, checked and lo and behold as my finger travelled down the computer screen looking for the match up....Calgary came to Toronto on their 16th birthday! Yes God is that Great - on their actual birthday.

How would I ever contain myself. I did a little dance and shout in my kitchen and sent my son-in-law a text - I knew he'd celebrate with me; being a hockey fan himself. I had to find tickets and keep it a secret until the big day! With the help of my daughters we pulled it off....except my business conference was the same weekend.

I don't miss those conferences as they have been life lines for me. So much more than a business conference. I am blessed with a team of people to lead and take that responsibililty very serious. My children understand that and we celebrate birthday's when it is convenient for all of us. My daughter (and her boyfriend) to the rescue. They would do the driving.

As I sat at my conference I was reminded of how dreams do come true and was thinking about the boys preparing for their game. I was reflecting on that as Wes Beavis came on stage, or should I say jumped on a table and began signing "Celebration". I've never seen a speaker with an entrance like his. He shared a great message about overcoming adversity and fear to becoming all we are meant to be. My kind of message....with the exception that as he was ending his talk he began singing "Cat's in the Cradle".

That song was a favourite of a couple important men in my life and as I listened I wept. It was 10 years ago I began this business and about the same time on a Saturday afternoon at my first business conference I became overwhelmed with the fact that I was born for this arena. This year, as I had already planned my transition strategy from work, and was preparing to pursue my dream of becoming a business leader; God placed this incredibly talented speaker in front of me.

I was thinking that this song was so out of place in this arena of hope because it is so cyclical and its time to break cycles that aren't productive. As Wes finished the song he said it was time we re-wrote that last verse and I cheered to hear his rendition of the last verse: Family Time. I was reminded of why I choose to build this amazing business opportunity. I am committed to the process; Dream, Struggle, Victory!

Now as I prepare for the next adventure of my life; I am reflecting on how awesome it is to feel like I am in the palm of God's hand. I am basking in His attention to details and thanking Him for the faith of my children as together we take this leap.

As you prepare for this Christmas season I hope you pause long enough to be reminded of who you are and how integral your life is to the bigger purposes here on earth! My gift to you "He that lives in hope danceth without music." by George Herbert.

Accidental Growth vs Purposeful Growth - by John C. Maxwell

In 1940 two brothers, Dick and Mac McDonald, started McDonald's Barbeque Restaurant in San Bernardino, CA. Typical of the drive-ins of its time, McDonald's offered an expansive menu from which customers could order and then be serviced by carhops. Through time, the brothers noticed a trend in their sales. A small number of items on the menu accounted for a bulk of their restaurant's profits.

Struck by the trend, the brothers embarked on a bold strategy to streamline McDonald's. They temporarily closed their doors, remodeled the restaurant, and did away with the carhops. Three months later McDonald's reopened as a self-service drive-in specializing in fast service thanks to a simplified, nine-item menu. The combination of low prices and speedy service made the new McDonald's a smashing success with motorists, who flocked to the restaurant en masse to buy burgers and milkshakes.

Click on the article title to read the full article Accidental Growth Versus Purposeful Growth

Confidence - Believing in yourself

As a parent of five incredible kid-adults I am reminded regularly how tough it is being a teenager. In the past few weeks I've witnessed my oldest daughter share her testimony during her baptism, her and her husband purchase their first house, my son's soccer team loose in the final game and my other son's volleyball team win an important tournament. All those events caused me to watch and listen to the people around each arena.

Watching teenage boys participate in their favourite sports and interacting with other parents is a privilege. While neither are the stars of their teams they both contribute their best. They set the example of good sportsmanship and cheer on their teammates. The soccer team has struggled with a few players lack of self-control to the detriment of the entire teams' performance and yet a few boys kept encouraging them towards a better attitude. The volleyball team on the other hand, has such camaraderie that the entire bench stood together, arms around each others necks cheering on the starters!

My daughter and son-in-law have walked out their first two years of marriage very well and grown together. Spending a weekend with them, observing them leading Jr. High youth at their church (and yes I joined in and played dodge ball) it struck me how mature they are and what great examples they set. They purchased their first home, with confidence. She shared some of her expectations, struggles, and victory in front of her new church family and showed how real she is. I am very thankful for her authenticity and commitment to personal growth.

I am reflective of these events because we had a sermon today on parent/teenager relationships and on both sides of the equation it was about love, respect and responsibility. As we strive to raise children to become positive, contributing members of society, we must first look at the example we set and be real enough to admit that we have dreams, struggles, and victories too! We are put in families/communities to help each other learn about ourselves and become who we are meant to be.

Witnessing my eldest daughter's baptism reminded me that all the driving, cheering at sporting events, discussions and late nights were worth every bit of effort and the rewards are eternal!

Enjoy this video:

God's Chisel « Videos « The Skit Guys

When God chisels the dead weight out of our lives it can be very painful. In one of their most requested skits, Tommy and Eddie give a very creative look at a typical believer having to go through the process of discipline.

Click here to see the video - God's Chisel by The Skit Guys

Relationships: Does True Love Exist?

An online devotional by ACTS International

"A new command I [Jesus] give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."1

A Daily Encounter reader asks, "Does true love exist? I have had three broken relationships. Each one made big promises he never kept. I have tried healing myself by reading some inspirational articles, but nothing worked. I always ask God, 'Why has all this happened to me when I was true to them?' Is there no one made for me to give me love? I feel my life is full of regrets. Please tell me what I need to do to heal myself?"

The number one issue Encounter readers write to me about is poor relationships. The fact is that loving relationships—for which we were created—are vital for healthy and meaningful living. Without such relationships we limp along in the shadows of life eking out a lonely, empty and hollow existence—and very likely will die before our time.

True love does exist but it is a fruit of personal growth, maturity and wholeness—emotional and spiritual—for only to the degree that we are made whole will our attitudes, our behavior, our actions, and our relationships be wholesome.

Speaking personally, I had a lot of emotional issues from my childhood that I had to acknowledge and resolve before I found the love of my life. That took a deep commitment not only to God, seeking his help, but also for getting the counseling help I needed to overcome my personal issues and deficiencies.

Unfortunately, some Christians are expecting God to bring the "right" person into their life. It doesn't work this way. If we want to be attracted to the "right" person, we need to be the "right" person. Only healthy people are attracted to healthy people. Actually, if we are truly honest with ourselves, we can learn a lot about ourselves by looking at our significant other relationships as we are as healthy or as sick as the people we are attracted to.

In earlier years why was I attracted to ladies who were afraid to love? It was because I was unconsciously afraid to love. This was because I had felt rejected as a child and was unconsciously afraid of being hurt again. To overcome my fear I needed to acknowledge it and get all the counseling help I needed to overcome. Was it easy? No, at times it was extremely difficult but I knew that unless I overcame my fear of love, I would be running from love the rest of my life. I acknowledged my need when my pain was greater than my fear.

So, like the young lady who asked if true love existed, if you are struggling with poor or impaired relationships, start by asking God to confront you with the truth about you and what it is in you that is causing you to be attracted to bad relationships? Without confronting this truth, you may be floundering in painful relationships for the rest of your life. As Jesus also pointed out, only the truth sets people free.

Then ask God to lead you to the help you need to guide you through the healing and recovery process. Unfortunately, in many parts of the world it can be extremely difficult to find qualified counseling help. However, there is some free online lay counseling that can be helpful. For counseling resources see http://www.actsweb.org/counseling_resources.php.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to see that my poor relationships are your wakeup call to awaken me to the fact that there are unresolved relational issues in my life. Please help me to see what these issues are and help me to find the help I need for healing and recovery. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

Noah's Ark ... Everything I Needed to Know

Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark:

1. Don't miss the boat.
2. Remember that we are all in the same boat!
3. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
4. Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
5. Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
6. Build your future on high ground.
7. For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
8. Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
9. When you're stressed, float awhile.
10. Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
11. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.

The Paradoxical Commandments

By Michael Josephson of Character Counts (607.2)

In 1968, when Kent M. Keith was a 19-year-old sophomore at Harvard, he wrote the Paradoxical Commandments as part of a booklet for student leaders. He describes the Commandments as guidelines for finding personal meaning in the face of adversity:

* People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.
* If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
* If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
* The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
* Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
* The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.
* People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
* What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
* People need help but may attack you if you help them. Help people anyway.
* Give the world the best you have and you may get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.

The essence of these Commandments is that each of us must choose to do what we think we should do, even when we think we have good reasons not to. They remind us that we are capable of rising above common practices that demean our nature and our culture.

We can rationalize distorting the Golden Rule as "Do unto others as they have done onto you" or "Do onto others before they do onto you" but, in the terminology of the '60s, we then become part of the problem rather than the solution.

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.

(c) 2009 Josephson Institute of Ethics; reprinted with permission. Michael Josephson, one of the nation's leading ethicists, is the founder of the Josephson Institute of Ethics and the premier youth character education program, CHARACTER COUNTS! For further information visit www.charactercounts.org.

Commitment towards the future...

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, "begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now."
by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

As I reflect on turning 47 I look back and count my many blessings, 5 children strike me as my most important contribution to this world. The opportunity to raise children and be an example that influences their lives...the people they marry...future grandchildren...their career paths, friends, and the list goes on!

What an exceptional gift I've received and take very seriously. Each one a unique person that has different needs, strengths and weaknesses. Each requiring me to grow personally in a different area of my life to be whom they need.

What could be more important. Only my relationship with my God, as without that none of this is possible. I am reminded once again that without Him I can do nothing. Immediately after my children Jordan comes to mind. The experiences we shared as God used us to show so many what can happen when you act on faith!

To my wonderful family, I truly have learned that when the bottom falls out...it is your family that is there for you. Thank you Mom, Dad, Wayne, Sharon, Brian (yes even my absentee brother with a huge heart!), and Lisa. Lisa continues to inspire me as she hasn't let her health challenges stop her walk!

Leading a team Independent Business Owners is next on my list....the lives I've had the chance to watch, learn and be influenced by - THANK YOU! Now to all of you on the team; I wish I could find the words to show you my appreciation for giving me the permission to lead you. I do not take this lightly. You motivate me to continue the journey of growth, to aspire to become the best I can to assist you with your leadership development. Oh the many lives that we'll touch.....

To all my extended family, friends, and co-workers...thanks for the part you've played in my life; each of you has brought something into my life to learn. I pray that it has been mutually beneficial.

I am one extremely blessed woman that realizes each new day, each new year is a gift to be unwrapped and savoured for everything can change it a heartbeat! I am looking back this morning to prepare myself for the best that is yet to come. I've heard many people talk about their past longing for the good old days...well I prefer to commit to what our Great God has in store for the coming days! I desire to surrender my life daily; less of me and more of you God! The sense of urgency I feel for reaching others is spurring me on for the second half...

Thankful

"I thank my God every time I remember you."1

I have read that "Charles Plumb, a US Naval Academy graduate, was a jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent six years in a Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience.

"One day after Plumb gave a presentation, a fellow came up to him and said, 'You don't know me, but I am the person who packed your parachute the day you were shot down.'

"Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, 'I guess it worked!'

"Plumb assured him, 'It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today.'"

If it weren't for somebody else—perhaps many "somebody elses"—most of us wouldn't be where we are today either. And if it weren't for somebody else telling us about Jesus and his gift of forgiveness and eternal life, most of us wouldn't know him and wouldn't be bound for Heaven. May we ever be mindful and thankful to all who have "folded our parachute" and may we do the same for others.

Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes of ACTS International

How to Deal with Change - wikiHow

How to Deal with Change - wikiHow

This is very interesting. WikiHow - the How-to-Manual That You Can Edit. This encompasses some of the best parts of the internet. Having all this information at our finger tips and an arena in which to share knowledge, experiences and assist our communities to grow.

I firmly believe we were all put here to become life long students. Every experience is an opportunity to learn. When someone mistreats you, you know how awful it felt and therefore can decide to never repeat the behaviour that caused pain.

Life is about Dreams, struggles and victories! The victories are all the sweeter because of the struggles. The struggles only make us stronger as we choose to pursue our dreams. All of this requires a commitment to re-inventing ourselves and understanding that the only constant is change.

"Hold a picture of yourself long and steadily enough in your
mind's eye and you will be drawn toward it. Picture yourself vividly as
winning and that alone will contribute immeasurably to success. Great
living starts with a picture, held in your imagination, of what you would
like to do or be." Harry Emerson Fosdick

What does your future look like?

The truth about grit - The Boston Globe

The truth about grit - The Boston Globe

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Believe God for Great Things

With God all things are possible by The Vine.

Matthew 19:26 NIV
The poet wrote, "Beware of those who stand aloof, and greet each venture with reproof. The world would stop if things were run, by those who say, 'It can't be done.'" Refuse to let the word 'impossible' stop you. Jesus said, "With God all things are possible." If those who've changed the world had left every 'impossible' task undone, we'd still be living in the Dark Ages. Here are four examples:

1) German experts predicted that trains travelling at 25 mph would cause severe nose bleeds and the passengers would suffocate going through tunnels. American experts added that we'd need more mental institutions because people would go mad when they saw the first trains.

2) When the YWCA first announced typing classes for women, there was a furious backlash on the grounds that the 'female constitution would deteriorate under such strain.'

3) Experts insisted that iron ships would never float, that the iron would wreak havoc with the compass readings.

4) In 1797, New Jersey farmers denounced the first cast-iron plough, insisting it would poison the land and stimulate weeds. So much for 'experts!'

More of us are persuaded into believing for too little than believing for too much. Vision is essential for survival. And a God-given vision is conceived by faith, sustained by prayer and fuelled by God's Word. It's not about what you can do, but what God can do with your life when it's fully surrendered to Him. It encompasses things outside the realm of the predictable, the safe, and the expected. "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18 AMP). If God has given you a vision; pursue it, and believe Him for great things!

This is my favourite devotional you can Sign Up to Get The Word For Today - Free!

Emotional Intelligence Skill-Building Can Enhance Leadership Competencies

Emotional intelligence is the ability to acquire and apply knowledge from your emotions and the emotions of others so that you can make good decisions about what to say or do, or NOT say or do. The model I use contains five Emotional Intelligence competencies: Emotional Self-Awareness, Emotional Self-Regulations, Emotional Self-Motivation, Empathy, and Nurture Relationships. The first three represent the intra-personal competencies, those things that go on inside of a person that we cannot see. The last two represent the inter-personal competencies, those behaviors and actions that occur between us and other people.


If we take as an example the leadership competency of "making complex decisions," we can show how development of the EI competencies enhances the leadership competency. First we need to look at the behaviors that comprise the competency, then identify the EI competencies that relate to those behaviors and drill down further to the behaviors representing those EI competencies that would help an individual enhance the leadership competency. Following is an example of this relationship:

Read full article from blogcritics.org

Daily Encounter: Winners Vs. Losers for Thursday, July 9, 2009

Winners Vs. Losers

"According to your faith will it be done to you."1

A winner sees an opportunity in every risk while a loser sees a risk in every opportunity. Winners know that to risk nothing is to risk everything. They know that if they are going to win, they have to be willing to try, to take chances, and to risk failure. They have to be willing to strike out if they are going to hit home runs.

The year Babe Ruth broke the world record for hitting the most home runs in baseball he also broke the world's record for the most strikeouts!

The point is if I am going to hit home runs, I have to be in the game, stand at the plate and keep swinging. Sooner or later, if I practice hard and do my best, I will hit a home run.

As somebody else has said, "To try when there is little hope is to risk failure. Not to try at all is to guarantee it."

Some people think that success comes to those who are lucky. Luck, if you want to call it that, comes when preparation meets opportunity.

True winners make sure their goals are in harmony with God's will and because of this, know that with his help there is a way to achieve them. Furthermore, they believe in their cause and they believe in themselves in a healthy way. They know that God never calls or expects anyone to do anything that can't be done. Therefore, they expect to win and believe they will—and work hard to make it happen. They know that "the only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary."

They also know that if they tried and did their best already they have won.

1. Jesus in Matthew 9:29 (NIV).

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Prayer, timing and Truth!

I love Sundays, for oh so many reasons, but mostly because I've been commanded by a Great and Glorious God to take a day of rest. Rest....hahaha...God has such an incredible sense of humour. I know, I know the Sabbath...I've gone through stages of legalism in my journey, add to that a touch of being opinionated(thanks Dad) and I have to humbly admit that I've changed my views on so many things as I’ve grown in my journey.

As I reflected on how much I've learned about Grace and forgiveness I also had the gnawing at my heart that there is this balance between what we convince ourselves is OK to do and what God says is right. I was reminded of how much I’ve learned through Bible study and how much I’ve missed God at times in my life as I’ve charged full steam ahead.

I’ve come to terms with how much sin I am capable of and have publicly confessed that it is only through my relationship with my Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ that I have any purpose greater than what this world teaches. There are so many times that I’ve felt very alone in this world and today driving home to an empty house I once again thought about being alone and yet was thankful for time alone with God.

I came home to a surprise; a hanging basket of flowers from a friend, my favourite colour too. I thought of a message I had heard a long time ago about being single and God providing. I love flowers and had earlier visited a nursery with my Dad to buy him a new bush for his new garden and thought about what I’d like in a hanging basket but didn’t buy anything for myself.

The flowers made me smile as I was coming into the house and was preparing to listen to a message someone had sent me a few months back and that I had saved because she said it was about an hour long. Interesting….no time to commit an hour to hear a message. But…seeing as I had missed Church this morning which I hardly ever do, I wanted to hear a Bible message.

I also thought about coming home and checking to see if someone I knew that had a gift for words had put anything on their blog for Father’s Day. His Mother’s Day message was awesome. So..I check his blog first….great post….tears..I noticed his previous post and it sounded familiar. I checked the message I was going to listen to and it was one in the same!

OK, so if you don’t know how God works. This is what He does in my life. He is a gentleman; He guides me and waits for me to take the TIME to acknowledge Him. Yet again, I’m the slow one. Here this message has been in my face and totally reflective of my journey over the past 6 months.

I chose to take the hour and listen to Rachel’s story. http://deathisnotdying.com/

Enough said by me. Please listen to her message for it is full of Truth and you will understand how great our God is! Thank you Wendy & Paul for showing me this link. Than you Rachel for reminding me of so many of the truths that I hold dear and get too busy to model.

Reflecting on Heroes

It's been a crazy few months for me. I've probably said that a few hundred times in my life. It's interesting how we wear the badge of "Busy" like it's something to be proud of. What would it sound like if instead we were saying I am "in pursuit" of our Dreams? Wouldn't that inspire others?

I have been extremely active in pursuit of my destiny!

I owe a debt of gratitude to the Heroes in my life. Those awesome individuals that chose to speak into my life. Those words and actions of the Balcony people have allowed me to hang on during the tough times and know who I want to call in the great times to celebrate with!

Here is a shout out to:

Irene Crann (my Mom), she was the one who taught me that the sky is the limit! When the Drama coaches in grade 6 told me that I couldn't sing and shouldn't tryout again for a part in the musical. My Mom let me cry it out and said "what can you do instead to be a part of the play?"
I sold Ads door to door and won an award for the most money raised to support the play. Numerous times in my life my Mom has given me a fresh perspective to see a solution rather than focus on the challenges. Its all about perseverance, right Mom?

Mrs. Hearn (grade 7 teacher), she saw the potential in me, right through the cloud of bad attitude I was portraying. She wouldn't accept less than my best. One grade with this incredible teacher and I won an award for the "Most improved Student".

Frank Rose (my Grandfather), although he lived 1,300 miles away, he started visiting us here in Ontario just when I needed the guidance the most. Moving a 13 year old from the City to the Country is a challenge. My grandfather taught me Who to rely on, Who is unchanging, Who will never leave me nor Forsake me. He led me to my life of Faith.

James Dobson (Focus on the Family), from the day I became a parent I realized how ill-prepared I was to teach this beautiful child all that they needed to know. I am a fact-finder by nature so researching I did! I found the Focus on the Family Ministry to provide me with incredible resources that helped me parent. I believe motherhood is a privilege and shaping a persons life is the most important thing I will ever do in this life!

Joanne Paas (kids grade 1 teacher), this absolutely gentle loving teacher stopped me in my tracks with her positive speech. She blesses each child that walks through her door with the gift of knowing they are uniquely designed and very special! What a privilege to have her teach my children and more so their Mom! The lessons were life-changing.

Joyce Meyer (Bible teacher), I don't remember the day but I do remember the feeling. The first time I heard this woman speak I was shocked that she was saying what I thought. Finally, I'm not crazy, there are others that see things so straight. I've been called a purest and I am. My children grew up knowing that a day that started with me having my "Joyce" time was much better than when I didn't.

Steve Brown (Pastor), he was on the radio every morning as I drove the kids to school. Coming from an Anglican background to a Christian Reformed church at 21 I learned an awful lot from his straight forward teaching. He specifically taught me about GRACE!

James MacDonald (Pastor), his teaching is some of the best in the world. There is no nonsense with James. He tells it like it is and challenges us to stand for the truth as well. There have been numerous times when I've needed to re listen to one of his messages to strengthen my walk.

Kevin DeRaaf (Pastor), he speaks the truth in the most gentle fashion. He nicely challenged my thinking and redirected my path on many occasions. His commitment to speaking the truth in love will change many lives.

Kimberley Coles (Business Leader), this amazing lady has set the example of a Woman of Excellence in Business, Marriage and family. She's the real deal! She works tirelessly, serving others and taking care of her family. She embodies leading from the front!

Garry Coles (Business Leader), this fantastic man has stood with his wife and made some very tough decisions that were totally principle based that will forever cause me to follow their lead. He has spoken into my life at the most crucial times with a word of encouragement. He's never stopped believing in me.

Jordan Streutker (teenager), oh...our story is so fantastic. Our journey is definitely one of the highlights of my life. I only look forward to the movie some day so that we can share what can happen when two people's lives cross paths and God is allowed to lead. A shout out to your parents (Clarence & Sandra Streutker) because their role was equally as important in this story of stories.

John Maxwell (Author...), when I began my own business I started listening to and reading materials from John Maxwell. He gets it! He teaches it! He lives it! What more can I say...I share the same passion for Personal and Professional Development that this prolific Author, Pastor, and Business Leader does.

David Courey (Pastor), what an incredibly gifted Bible teacher. I can't wait to get to church to hear the next message. Being led to your Church was another turning point in my life for which I am extremely thankful.

Jody & Kathy Victor (Business Leaders), there are not words to describe this couple for me. I know of no other couple on this planet that have given more of themselves for a worthwhile cause than these two and their family. The responsibility and respect they show the opportunity they've been give to lead so many people is awe inspiring.

Jessica (& Justin), Sarah, Nicole, Mitchell and Scott (my kids), here comes the tears....you are my reason to continue to fight the good fight of growing, changing and becoming all I'm meant to be, because I know you are watching. You are my heroes because you've had to walk along side me through some tough times and each of you grew because of it. You chose not to become victims but to be Victors and that you are! You will accomplish much for God!

Each of these people have impacted my life with their words and deeds. We all need perspective at times to ensure we don't stray too far from the path we are intended to follow. I thank each and every one of you for influencing and inspiring me.

We are each given the same number of hours in a day....let's not waste them. I implore you to pursue your God given vision with total abandon, for there is no better way to live this life. I know my busyness has caused me to miss out on some of life's little moments but here's to pursuing the BIG dream - Freedom!

Go ahead and Celebrate Your Gifts...I dare you!

The Gift of Encouragement

I look back over my life and can name the various "Balcony People" that have influenced me in a profound way. We all need encouragement;

"As a boy he worked long hours in a factory in Naples. He longed to be a singer, and when he was only ten years old, he had his first voice lesson. "You can't sing. You haven't any voice at all. Your voice sounds like the wind in the shutters," his teacher said.

The boy's mother, however, disagreed. She believed that he had a talent to sing. Though very poor, putting her arms around him, she said, "My boy, I am going to make every sacrifice to pay for your voice lessons."

Her confidence in him and constant encouragement paid off. That boy became one of the world's greatest singers—Enrico Caruso!We all need encouragement!

We all—including, and especially our children—need someone to believe in us."
excerpt from Daily Encounter...the Gift of Encouragement

I Believe....

I Believe...That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe...That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I Believe...That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I Believe...That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I Believe...That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I Believe...That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe...That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe...That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe...That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe...That hereoes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe...that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I Believe...That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I Believe...That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down,... will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,... but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe..That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe...That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe...That no mtter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe...That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could chane your life forever.

I Believe...Two people can look at the exact same thing...and see somthing different.

I Believe...That life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I Believe...That when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you-- you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe...That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I Believe...That the happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything.

Thank You Becky Yantzi...for sharing

Life - It's about our reactions!

"Life has no other discipline to impose, if we would but realize it, than to accept life unquestioningly. Everything we shut our eyes to, everything we run away from, everything we deny, denigrate or despise, serves to defeat us in the end. What seems nasty, painful, evil, can become a source of beauty, joy and strength, if faced with an open mind. Every moment is a golden one for him who has the vision to recognize it as such." Henry Miller

Failing Forward

"Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly-until you learn to do it well." Steve Brown

John Maxwell wrote a great book on this subject. He explains that if you look at each time you fall down it is an opportunity to pick yourself up and be stronger for the experience.

"The not-talked-about, terrible truth is that all roads to achievement lead through the land of failure. Every person you admire has walked this road: the Wright brothers, Arnold Palmer, Mary Kay Ash, Truett Cathey, Erma Bombeck, Tony Gwynn, Amelia Earhart, Sergio Zyman, Hank Aaron, George Bernard Shaw and Mother Teresa have all experienced failure and learned how to turn it into a stepping stone for success. Leadership expert Peter Drucker says, "The better a man is, the more mistakes he will make, for the more new things he will try." Mistakes really do pave the road to achievement. Let John Maxwell teach you the 15 steps to turning mistakes into steppingstones for success!"

Reading John C. Maxwell's book Failing Forward will change your outlook forever.

Our Deepest Fear

by Marianne Williamson

Quoted by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.

We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant,

gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?

"Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn't serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking

so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the

glory of God that is within us.

It is not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously

give others the permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

our presence automatically liberates others.

Selective Attention ….

"Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember?"1 The story is told of a man who once bought a new radio, brought it home, and placed it on the refrigerator. He then plugged it in, turned it to WSM in Nashville (home of the Grand Ole Opry), and proceeded to do the most unusual thing. He pulled all the knobs off! He had already tuned in to all he ever wanted or expected to hear, and so he chose to limit his radio reception to one station.

"Most unusual," we call it. But is it? Really? Many, of not most of us, if we will be honest, do the same thing in principle. Maybe not with our radio but we surely do with our life.

We all have what the communicators call selective exposure, selective attention, selective comprehension or perception, selective distortion, and selective retention. That is, people expose themselves only to messages they want to receive; hear only what they want to hear; perceive or see things the way they want to see them; twist and distort messages to match their preconceived perception of reality; and they remember only what they want to remember. Everything else is filtered or blocked out.

In other words, we hear, see, accept, remember, and apply only that which we want to hear, see, accept, remember and apply. Furthermore we believe only what we want to believe—and for many of us we choose to believe that which is convenient—regardless of its moral or lack of moral value. For instance, people accept abortion on face value because it is convenient. They accept abnormal, immoral sexuality because it, too, is convenient. And they reject God because, more often than not, they don't want to change their lifestyle and be accountable, much more than for any intellectual reason.

As I've said before, if we don't live the life we believe and know in our heart to be right, we will end up justifying and believing the life we live—a very dangerous, self-deceptive, and self-destructive path to follow. God's laws, all of them, are for our safety, protection, and survival. They are as universal as the law of gravity which holds the universe together. We can't break the law of gravity. If we defy it, it will break us. Or rather, we will break ourselves trying to defy it. It's the same with God's moral laws. We can't break them either. They, too, are universal. If we defy them, it isn't God who will punish and break us, but rather we will punish and break ourselves trying to defy them. If we used our God-given intellectual reasoning we would understand this. But we don't reason this way—we reason to find ways to justify what is most convenient for us at any given moment." by Dick Innes
http://www.actsweb.org/

Accepting Yourself!

"Accept everything about yourself--
I mean everything,
You are
You and that is the beginning and the end--
no apologies, no regrets." Clark Moustakas

Know Yourself

Dale Carnegie writes, "If only the people who worry about their liabilities would think about the riches they possess, they would stop worrying. Would you sell both your eyes for a million dollars … or your two legs … or your hands … or your hearing? Add up what you do have, and you'll find that you won't sell them for all the gold in the world. The best things in life are yours if you can appreciate yourself."

Learning who you are begins with understanding your unique personality. I highly recommend: http://www.personalityinsights.com/yougotstyle.html. We all communicate via our personalities. This book written by Dr. Robert Rohm is a phenominal resource. I've attended several seminars and received my Profile. To know yourself is the first step and then you can start to look at those around you and bridge the communication gaps.

This life lesson changed me forever! It's helped me in every area of my life; because whether at home, in business or work its all about relationships. Relationships at their core are dependent upon communication skills, which in turn are based on your perceptions.

Perception is Reality so I encourage you to take the Personality Quiz.

Starting point

Welcome to my world! "If you have anything really valuable to contribute to the world it will come through the expression of your own personality, that single spark of divinity that sets you off and makes you different from every other living creature." --Bruce Barton