V-I-C-T-O-R-Y! That's our campus battle cry!

'Tis the season! NO, not the holidays…FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL!  I live deep in the heart of Texas and honestly, high school football is a subculture! You plan your traffic routes, weekends and wardrobes around the local team!

This year, we're immersed deeply because, not only am I an alum of the school where my kids attend, but my daughter is a die-hard marching band kid (like her dad and I were).  SO…I confess, my youngest daughters have tiny cheerleader uniforms. We all have matching spirit shirts and my parents have printed cushions they sit on at games.  We ARE a football & band family. 

I am, however, NOT a "football fan." The extent of my knowledge is: offense, defense, touchdown, field goal and half time (ok, ok – and concession stand…)  I am woman enough to admit that's all I know and I'm OK with that!.  I go to the game for the party! The crowd, the noise, the student performers and the mascot (we DO love those huge stuffed costumed characters, don't we?) In case you were wondering…that is a Porcupine hugging my children in the above photo. Would YOU mess with a porcupine? I thought not!

My absolute favorite parts of the game are the drill team, cheerleaders and marching band!  These kids spend a huge portion of their time eating, sleeping and breathing their roles.

• The cheer squad is responsible for hyping the crowd and leading us to ENCOURAGE the team when morale is down or when they make great plays!
  
• The drill team dances and entertains us and even if someone is out of step or falters, we clap and applaud and THANK them for the sacrifice of their time and talents!
  
• The band (what would we do without the music in the stands??) is the soundtrack of the evening! They provide the background music to every great play, cheer dances and even solicit crowd involvement! Then, they take the field and perform a series of drills and music that the majority of us would never attempt.
  

Do we watch for mistakes? NO! Do we listen for errors? I hope not! Do we clap and jump to our feet and EMPOWER our kids to keep up the great work? YES!

We are celebrating victories with each clap, whoop and blast of the air horn! We are patting kids on the back for hard work. We are causing younger students to aspire to be like these older kids with our affirmations! WOW!!!

Earlier this season, I would laugh inwardly at some of the athletes when I heard them re-telling the game later. Very rarely did you hear them remembering things that had gone wrong. Typically, they're heralding good plays, great scores and yardage gained. Sure, there were mistakes in the game, but how much MORE fun it was to celebrate their VICTORIES and focus their attention on the positive!!

Just because you and I are no longer (or perhaps have never been) in the Drill Team, on the Cheer Squad, in the Marching Band or on the team…doesn't mean we should stop celebrating our great plays and yardage gained!

Think of one positive thing you've done this week!  How about two?  I challenge you to get a post-it note and make a list of VICTORIES you've had this week and CELEBRATE!  Want to empower the team at your HOUSE? Make a list for each of your kids, your spouse or your colleagues and watch them SHINE as you applaud them!

I believe in Incredible YOU and we are limiting our effectiveness and influence if we are not as positive and energy-giving as we can be!

Be Beautiful! Be Positive! Be Blessed!

You've heard the cliche – "Every Cloud has a Silver Lining." Well – I choose to believe that is true!

You may think I'm overly optimistic – but I prefer to believe that I am allergic to negativity!!

I believe some folks look for the silver lining behind every cloud and some are more 'gifted' in the area of finding a cloud near every silver lining!

But in our house, we have a rule — no whining or complaining! Now…if something YUCK has happened at school or in business…we discuss it – but we must end the conversation on a positive note.

I call it "the SILVER LINING" rule.

Sometimes, one of us has a hard time seeing the positive in a situation (it's always foggiest in the middle of the cloud, don't you think?) But when that happens, someone else in the family will try to help point out something positive! (Warning, this is not always received with a sweet spirit – haha!)

Try that this week – at your job, in your home, with your friends. You might be surprised at how much better you feel when you are seeking the positive in each situation!

I believe we are limiting our effectiveness and influence if we are not as positive and energy-giving as we can be!

Be Beautiful! Be Positive! Be Blessed!

What are we choosing to remember?

One of my “nesting” projects when I'm spring cleaning, about to give birth or moving is usually centered around photos, scrapbooks and memories.

I first became diligent about photos and scrapbooks when we adopted my older 2 children in 1998. We wanted to document every moment for them so that they would be “connected and surrounded” by positive family thoughts. (This is important for all kids, but especially for kids with broken pasts and a history of neglect or abuse).

To this day, their favorite thing is to look at our family scrapbooks. It’s been great fun for me to watch them do this with our youngest two as well…they are retelling family history because they’ve seen and heard it so much!

What I have realized is this – we CHOOSE what we scrapbook! We take pictures of what we want to remember!! Yes, I’ve also documented things like tonsil surgery, accidents and stitches…but in a very factual and upbeat way. So, when we read the scrapbooks of our lives – we remember that there were bumps – but focus on the positive rather than dwelling on the negative!

I’ve decided to treat my days like scrapbooks. I’m going to CHOOSE what moments to focus on…where to direct my energy and thoughts. I cannot be oblivious to trials, pain and inconvenience…but overall – I can be conscious about embracing what is RIGHT about today and what I want to remember about yesterday!

Most Lessons Are Caught – Not Taught…Especially Attitude!

From Disney World where we are having a great time, as always!

However, there are some families here that are doing what we are doing, staying where we are staying, riding the same rides, seeing the same shows…and SOMEHOW – don't seem to be having the same good time we are…WHY?

I suggest that it's the power of ATTITUDE!

If you choose not to listen to the Disney characters, the music, the laughing and the fun noise…then what you hear is this:

• "I'm tired of waiting in line."
  
• "That is too expensive!"
  
• "It is too crowded!"
  
• "My feet hurt!"
  
•  "Rain? Are you kidding me?"
  
• "I wanted to sit in the front!"
  
• "It's hot."
  
•  "I'm starrrrvvvvvving!"
  

And that is among the choruses of "I want this, I want that, Can I have this, Why does she have that…"

 WOW! What a reality check for my gang and I! We are traveling with my kids (ages 3-11), my younger brother (18) and a friend of his (19) and then my husband and I (26 weeks pregnant at the time).  You would THINK that with our age ranges and varying tastes…we'd have trouble getting everyone to agree or be happy. (After all, there is NOT MUCH APPEAL in the Dumbo ride for an 18 year old!)

NOW – what that means realistically is that sometimes we do little kid stuff, sometimes big kid stuff, sometimes rides and sometimes shows – all the time KNOWING that we give and take for the good of everyone.

We have a "no complaining" rule…and I enforce that strictly (that means the adults too!)

On a very practical level, I do what I can to ward off most whining…before it happens.

    * We all carry snacks so that when we're hungry or thirsty, we just handle it.

    * We have a stroller for the toddler so that when she's tired and cranky, she can have a nap

    * We carry ponchos in our backpacks so when it showers, we just put on our slickers and keep going!

    * We come to the park early in the day before the lines start growing so that we can ride without waiting very long. (we plan ahead – *gasp*)

    * We take the park map and plan in blocks so that we're alternating who is getting "catered to."

    * One of the most vital things we do is to talk about fun things that are happening and dwell on great things instead  of the things that go wrong!

    For example, my husband and kids got stuck in the Haunted Mansion ride in the dark when the ride broke down.  My older 2 kids (10 & 11) were already scared and this did NOT help!  So, their Dad proceeded to talk about what a great thing it was to be in the air conditioning and resting their eyes in the dark, pretending about silly ghosts when they COULD be in the heat and blazing sun waiting in line. (Brilliant!) I'm sure that did alot more for their outlook than complaining about the ride breaking and being in the scary dark! Don't you think?

I'm sad for the parents and kids and couples that are "doing Disney World" with negativity instead of dwelling on the great and wonderful things that are happening! You may think that I'm viewing things through "rose-colored glasses" or a stilted lens of realism…WELL – MAYBE I AM!!  In which case, I wish I could share that perspective with YOU!

How can you apply this same view to your office? To your home? To your marriage or even your relationship with your friends?

I'd like to hear some of those "attitude adjuster" scenarios below if you'd like to share a comment!

*Note: this article was written when I was 26 weeks pregnant with the 4 yr old in the photo above. But some lessons never change…*

Raindrops on Roses & Whiskers on Kittens?

Maybe that Nun knew what she was singing about after all!

As I was picking up school supplies (good grief $$$), I had to gather some things for my office as well. A binder, ballpoint pens – basics. As I was checking out – it hit me…I was smiling at my new notebook and pens! I was EXCITED to open them and put them to use! WHY? Because I was anxious to work?

NO! Because they make me smile! My binder has 2" pastel polka dots on it and the pens are the chubby, curvy kind (hmmmm, why do I relate to those?)! 

I could have purchased a solid binder and thin pens…but I gravitated to the things that made me smile! 

When I got to the car…I grabbed my pink plaid and polka dot (ha! another smile!) spiral journal that I carry for brain downloads and immediately made a list of things that bring a smile to my face! 

I thought I would share some of those with you:

• Polka Dots (again with the chubby, curvy theme – what IS that?)!
• Big BOWS on Babies!
• Chunky Writing Pens!
• ANYTHING ORANGE!
• Gerber Daisies!
• Kids singing!
• Babies laughing!
• Doors being opened for me!
• Trumpet fanfare!
• Marching Bands!
• New lip gloss!
• Bumblebees & Ladybugs (not real ones)!
• Pregnant bellies!
• Kissing crinkly cheeks and stroking wrinkly hands (I DO love and appreciate our seniors, don't you?)
• and it always makes me smile when someone SMILES at ME!!

 Am I trying to sway you to like the things I like? No, of course not! But what I've noticed is, that I tend to drift towards the people, the things, the music, the environments that make me smile, laugh and remain up-up-up!!

I tend to mirror the atmosphere around me. Don't you? Hanging with negative people tends to make you more negative! Agreed?? Hanging with very positive people – DOES tend to make you see things on the sunnier side!

I challenge you to make a conscious effort to surround yourself with people and things that make you smile and NOTICE things this week.

If they drain you – ditch 'em! (That goes for negative friends too! Family? Well – you're stuck with them – but you CAN limit your time with them…that's a whoooole different blog post!) — and of course, I don't mean kick 'em to the curb – but do be wise about how much time you're investing in negative influencers.

I keep my journal and my chubby pen very handy and I've been adding to my page regularly…the one that says at the top, "THINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE!" Have a list of things that make YOU smile? Put them below in the comment area – I bet they make us smile too!

I believe in Incredible YOU and we are limiting our effectiveness and influence if we are not as positive and energized as we can be!

Be Beautiful! Be Positive! Be Blessed!

  I’ve been paying attention to specific phrases the last few days from my kids, husband and even me…and I wondered if you’d draw the same conclusions I did.

“Hey Dad, didn’t I do a good job?”

“Hey Mom, did you see how clean my room is?”

“Look at the model spaceship I built!”

“I saved the fish I caught this morning so you could all see it.”

“Mommy, I went potty all by myself and I’m still dry!”

“Was your lunch ok?”

“I’m going to wear this…it makes my eyes look blue-er.”

Are you seeing any common thread?? Our kids, our spouses, our co-workers, even WE OURSELVES are seeking affirmation and encouragement!

Sometimes we fall into the pattern of feeling like we already affirm them enough. They are confident – enough. They have enough self-esteem. Perhaps we have built them up – enough!

But, I’m beginning to wonder – is it ever enough? Guess what?? If they’re still seeking it out with comments like you see above…then – they haven’t had enough!

Soooo…now, the trick is, to compliment, encourage, uplift and affirm even BEFORE they ask!

Think back over the last few days…in the office, at home, at church, on the playground. What have you heard that might be clues to who needs to be affirmed??

Have FUN encouraging someone today. Evidently – it is never ENOUGH!

{EAV_BLOG_VER:4dba0ee4cafaa0dc}

This probably looks familiar to you, as it does to me.

If you close your eyes and breathe deeply, you can likely even still smell the distinct aroma of this clay many of us grew up with.

Play-Doh…every child's friend and every mother's (and carpet's) nightmare!

We take it for granted…this fun 'toy' and vehicle for our expressive imaginations…

But I want to share with you a story about this 'happy accident.'

Play-Doh was invented by Noah McVicker and Joseph McVicker as a wallpaper cleaner. Right! It was intended to be the substance that got the grime, adhesive and 'ick' off of wallpaper.

However, they heard from a teacher, perhaps a family friend, that modeling clay used in schools was too hard to keep pliable, too difficult to work with and was frustrating the kids. So, the McVickers 'tweaked' it.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Now, more than 50 years later, this happy accident has sold billions of units and thrilled kids (and adults) internationally. I shipped some to England recently for some new little friends of mine…so the appeal isn't even just American. Awesome!

When I heard this story recounted…the teller said 'What Play-Doh always reminds me of, is that many of us are just one small adjustment from being who we were intended to be."

I'm not sure about that. After all, some days I feel like I need tweaks and tweaks and tweaks and major adjustments. But what I know without a doubt is that I was created for a purpose, maybe a small one, maybe a big one and I'll keep listening and learning and tweaking until I figure out what that is.

Don't give up on YOU. Be pliable. Be moldable. Be willing to tweak towards your ultimate purpose.

What are your thoughts?

(notes from my 2008 journal…forgive the flashback)

Our team has been busy, busy as usual – but one of us has been especially busy. LauraLee, our toddler, has been really focusing on her walking! She will be 1 in a few weeks (where has the last year gone?) and she decided about 6 weeks ago that walking looked like something she wanted to figure out! This is my 4th walker and so I've not been rushing her, but I have been intently watching the process.

• She's wobbly.
• She falls a lot.
• She sometimes needs a hand to hold sometimes just a pinkie or finger for confidence.
• She prefers to walk towards someone who is reaching out their arms for her.
• She's bumped and scraped from obstacles.
• When she hits her head (or any other body part) it doesn't seem to hurt as much as normal because she's so focused on her destination.
• But, most importantly, she keeps getting up and trying again.

Things I've noticed about those of us around her.

• We clap when she takes steps (even if it's just one or two).
• We reach out to help her up when she topples.
• We praise her and cheer for her (yes, even if she falls flat).
• We hold our arms out for her so she knows where she can fall safely.
• We tell everyone about her successes.
• We dwell on the steps, not the tumbles.
• And most importantly, we encourage her to get up and try again.

Not ONCE have I heard anyone say,

• "well, you've fallen – this walking stuff might not be for you. You should stick to crawling."
• "I know someone who tried that and still can't walk, just save yourself the trouble."
• "Wow, that sure is taking you a long time to figure out. Your sister walked a lot faster than you did."
• "You know you're not supposed to walk yet. This is too early. Sit back down and let us carry you for awhile."
• "Why would you want to bother with that when you're already so good at crawling?"
• "Don't, Don't, Don't – you know you always fall when you do that!" Interesting, isn't it??

There are SO MANY parallels in this story that I hardly know where to begin!

• Are you surrounding your family, friends & business associates with encouragement, praise and positive words?
• Are you telling them why they CAN succeed instead of why they cannot?
• And just as important – are you surrounding YOURSELF with others that encourage YOU in that same way?

LauraLee knows she is in a safe place, surrounded by people who love her and want her to be the best she can be! We want her to learn new things, to progress in her 'walk,' her journey.

Similarly…I want to be one of those people for YOU! And in the meantime, will you choose someone today that might need your arms reached out? They might need a finger to hold (or just the end of your pinkie)? Is there someone that needs you clapping for them? Find them today. Help them in their walk.

Share, Tweet & otherwise let folks you want to encourage know about this post. I appreciate you!

I travel a little bit and when I do, I love to read on the flight. As it happens, I am trying to NOT read 'work-related' books in the air, but rather fiction or biographies (at the suggestion of my friend Patsy Clairmont.)

So – right now I'm reading 'The Happiness Project' by Gretchen Rubin and really enjoying the style and idea of the book overall.

One of her suggestions is to invest in great pictures every once in awhile and also to have pictures, art or deco in your home that makes you smile.

So – I combined all of those suggestions and had our photographer take our family photo in a really different way this year (see above) ==> since I'm known for 'being barefoot' I thought this was really cute…implying that we'd all left our boots behind. It's also unmistakeably VERY Texan…which we are

This made me smile today. I'd love to hear how you can intentionally do something for your own personal happiness today? Share your thoughts below and while you're at it — big hugs if you share on Facebook, Tweet or otherwise!