Be ‘Success’ful

I am not sure who to credit this photo or these words with, but I believe that this is the definition of success for me. I saw this on facebook and it struck a chord deep within me.  I heard a loud ‘gong’!

I believe I need to embrace all these words below the iceberg to be ‘Success’ful.


Hard work.

Risk.

Late nights.

Struggles.

Failures.

Persistence.

Action.

Discipline.

Courage.

Doubts.

Changes.

Criticisms.

Disappointments

Adversity.

Rejections.

Sacrifices.


For the first time in my life I am living outside my comfort zones EVERY DAY. I know my dreams and freedoms live OUTSIDE OF MY COMFORT ZONE.

Did you know I was afraid of horses?  My heart skipped a beat today as I lead this large animal with my son on his back.  I was afraid.  Did that stop me?

Absolutely not!

Success for my son.

Being ‘success’ful outside of my comfort zone.

Be the Gift of a Vomit Bowl

After my mom died, there were few things that I asked for nor wanted.

Stuff just doesn’t hold much “significance” for me.

One thing that we did take was the two blue bowls that my mom had during her cancer journey.

It wasn’t until this morning that I understood the significance of these bowls and the gift that I had been given.

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Last night, my oldest threw up, eleven times… yup, we counted.

We slept for about two hours and now we are into our day, living our life.

I have learned that we don’t live in a world where everything is perfect or where everything will go as we planned.  BUT we can find comfort in chaos and beautiful moments while cleaning a vomit bowl.

My Sexy Neck sent me this text after JC and I’s long night:

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The gift of watching my mom vomit over and over and over again as she journeyed through cancer.  My mom and I would laugh as we were the two most squeamish members of our family when it came to vomit.

The gift of a bowl to help my children and to be able to walk with them through their sickness.

New beginnings.

New Learnings.

A blue bowl.

The gift of a messy, marvelous life that my mom lived fully.

My own messy, marvelous life that I live with in freedom and grace.

Be Asking One Question

I truly believe I can help people.

I never really ‘knew’ how.

I never have felt that I could do enough as a teacher.

In the church, I felt like I never had a gift or a talent.

I could make a joyful noise to the Lord, but was never musical or led to anything else.

Until last November, I didn’t know how I could SERVE other people in this world with love, and endless energy…

Forty pounds overweight, still in deep grief over the loss of my mama that happened not a year previous, I asked my outdoor fitness trainer, Krista King, what I thought was a simple question: “Have you ever done a cleanse?”

That question that was asked through my pain, my mud-pit of wave-crashing despair opened up a completely NEW world and pried open a completely OLD ME!

Since that ONE conversation and the products she told me about, the layers have peeled back.

I was LOST but am now FOUND!

Me.

Freedom.

Food.

Health.

Relationships.

And yes, some residual income for my family.

All just by making asking one question.

And then making one choice.

One choice for…

Me.

The layers were peeled back and I saw:

Ten year old me that loved to drink vanilla shakes every day.  NOW, I have the privilege to drink nutritious vanilla shakes EVERY day and maybe throw in some chocolate or strawberry, if I FEEL like it.

Eighteen year old competitive volleyball player me who wanted to lead, but was surrounded by negative self-talk and unbelief. NOW, I believe in the power of me and am surrounded by positive people who believe in me, themselves and want to lead AND serve others around them.

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(I am #12 in the photo, gotta love those bum huggers)

Twenty year old me who fought on the volleyball court to perform every weekend, but just could never pull it together for two matches because of the fuel in her body.  NOW, I have completed one triathlon and I truly know that my forty-one year old body can do ANYTHING.

Thirty-nine years old, overweight, actually obese for my height, me, was using food to fill an empty hole.  I was looking for food to magically do “something”.  NOW, I have food that fuels me.  I have food that brings me freedom in thought and spirit through shake and cleanse days, protein bars, electrolyte drink and fifty MORE products.

Forty-one years old, I have transformed my body, my mind and my spirit.  I have bought a bikini with confidence just because I can.  I have walked down the main street with no “noise” in my head about what I look like or how I feel about what I look like.

FREEDOM!

I have helped myself and now I know that I can help people.   And yes, this product line does involve network marketing, which I love and you can read my blog about it here.

With the company I am partnering with, the opportunities are endless.  Aging well, being healthier, having more energy, performing better, losing weight or adding a few bucks to your pockets to bless people with, the possibilities are limitless.

I am humbled.

I am grateful.

I am ready to serve anyone that wants an opportunity like I was given just seven months ago.

Don’t be afraid to take the time to listen to your body and its needs.

Don’t be afraid to ask a question.

One question changed my life!

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1st photo: After my first cleanse in November… and still going strong seven months later.

2nd photo: One week after my mom died.  (Who knows why I took this one?)

Be Finding Flow

Oh I want to rap this post, but my words will have to suffice. 

Flow. 

Flowing. 

Flow ‘in. 

I am in the flow. 

My flow is coming in the form of authentic communication.

Communication that is not trying to change someone by resonate WITH someone. 

Communication that flows like a piano duet.  

One part of the duet can be playing the low notes but they stay in harmony wherever they are in the song. 

The people that continue to come into my life, whether it is new or old friends, are part of this beautiful flow that exists in my life right now.  

Nothing holding me back.  

Playing notes side by side.  

Highs and lows. 

All flowing together.  

Where will you find your flow today? 

Will it be in communication?

In movement?

In music?

Alone?

Be find ‘in ya flow!

Peace out! 



Be Glad for Gymnastics 

When our first born was wee, Sexy Neck and I made the decision about which physical literacy activities our children would do: swimming, skating (yup, we are Canadian!) and gymnastics were a must.  

Building blocks.  

Healthy skills. 

Lifelong physical movements.  

Six years later, we say goodbye to another season of gymnastics.  

It ain’t cheap, but it is worth all the five cent.  (We don’t have pennies here anymore.). 

Watching our three year old gain confidence.   

 

Hearing our five year olds laughter and seeing his amazing flexibility.  

  

Sitting in awe as our eight year old flips through the air with or without a harness.   

 

Daily choices.  

Become yearly decisions. 

And lifetime habits.  

Raising healthy, strong, physically and mentally literate boys. 

Be Creating a Family 

Family? 

What does that mean for you? 

Does it trigger tears? Does it make you smile? Does it fill your heart? Does it make you want to run a mile? 

Family is a beautifully, imperfect thing.  

No mother not father is perfect.  

No family is without mistakes nor opportunities to learn.  

Family is messy.  

Family is fun.  

Here are our family rules that sit on our hallway chalkboard:  

 

Any chance we get, Sexy Neck and I help connect our boys to their cousins.  It has been incredible to watch them grow-up together.  

Hand-in-hand.  

Walking.

Jumping.  

Laughing.  

Saying “I’m sorry” and moving on. 

Back to fun!