The Power of Positive Thinking

A friend shared a fun story not that long ago about waiting for her coffee in the drive-thru of Starbucks. When she got to the window to pay, she was told the car in front of her had already paid for her drink. She was surprised and delighted, then decided to pay for the car behind her. She stayed in the drive-thru long enough to see the person's face behind her when they were told the good news. She said it was priceless. One person's positive choice created a positive chain reaction.

My girls and I have been talking about this a lot lately - the power of positive thinking and the ability to make positive choices. Then taking time to observe the chain of events that result from that choice. I've always believed it takes more energy to be ugly than it does to be kind, but any emotion is contagious.

We live in a world with so many cool technologies that enable us to be more connected than we've ever been. Sometimes, though, I long for the days when you couldn't be reached by cell phone or email (and I know some of you remember). Seriously, the week we spent at Big Bend last spring break was BLISS. After day two of stressing that I didn't have cell service and looking like Chris Farley on the hunt for a signal, I decided being disconnected is occasionally a good thing! And again, sometimes we need to make a conscious choice to disconnect and recharge our batteries.

It seems many of my friends and family have been surrounded by so much heartache and tragedy lately. We can't always control the events or other people's choices that unfold around us. That's okay, because God's in control. We DO have control over how we react, though, and that's what I've been teaching my girls. Make good choices for you. Smile even when someone says something ugly or does something to hurt your feelings. Yes, yes...rainbows and daisies. But seriously, our world is dark enough.

I'm about to break a promise to my sweet husband by sharing a photo that we swore would never leave the family vault...but it speaks to my point about positive choices, which in turn can have positive effects and influences on others. T is about as rough and tough of a boy as they come. Yet, God blessed this amazing man of God with two precious, sweet girls. They've tendered him in ways that only little girls can tender a daddy.

You can see from the picture what's happening. I promise you that 10 years ago, T would have scoffed at the idea of nail polish on his toes. Yet, here he is. When his little girls said, "Daddy, please, please can we paint your toes?" He made a choice to be part of the moment and create a special memory with them. And yes, of course. I teased him later and made sure there was documented proof, because that's what best friends and spouses do!

The point, though, is that he made a choice that built up his daughters instead of one that made them feel that they weren't important. We have the ability to do that with others every single day. Smile. Pray. Breathe. Walk it off. Drink your wine. Do whatever you need to do that helps you keep your positive outlook so that you can spread a little around. We need more of that in this crazy world of ours.

A New Adventure

Well, it feels like we've been sprinting - emotionally and physically - these last few weeks. I mentioned in previous posts that T and I were contemplating a major life change. After literally months of prayer and research, our decision is made. After May, we will officially become a homeschooling family.

I know, I know. People have very differing and strong opinions on public vs. private vs. homeschool. Our decision is not at all based on dissatisfaction with the private school they currently attend. We love their school, their teachers, the administration. We don't love the two hours it takes us to get to and from school, or the lack of family time we have now that the girls have more homework and extracurriculars. The bottom line for us - homeschooling is a calling God places on your heart. I would have laughed hysterically if you told me a year ago that we'd be getting ready to embark on this adventure 12 months later. Yet, here we are. ;)

We are given our children for such a short amount of time, and I could go on forever re: ultimately why this decision is best for our family. A lot of that is excitement we feel for the new homeschooling adventure that is about to begin, and you can be sure we'll keep you posted on our journey along the way. So I'll leave it at this - our decision is made. We are so thankful for our family and friends who have prayed for us during this process and will continue to lend prayers for guidance.

The biggest blessing God ever gave me is a partner who believes God should come first in all things. Our faith walk is a daily re-commitment, but I'm okay that we're not perfect. Life is a journey with lots of interesting twists and turns. Some days are more difficult than others, but I'm always glad T is with me. I absolutely adore him, and he never fails to make me smile. Love, love, love that he's mine.

The love of my grandmother's life passed away two weeks ago today. My grandfather was an amazing man, and seeing my grandmother without him reminds me how precious every day with your love really is. It's not always easy to remember that when you're frustrated "someone" forgot to start the dishwasher - again...or when any of life's daily annoyances threaten the view from those rose colored glasses. It's important to try, though, and that's the lesson I'm taking away from the last couple of weeks.

Late Bloomer

Growing up, how many of us were so sure what our ultimate profession would be? For me, it was a ballerina or a marine biologist. I knew without a doubt that all those hours of practice in the dance studio would pay off when I was a famous ballerina or choreographer. I'm not sure why I had such an avid interest in marine biology, but that aspiration ran a close second to being a dancer...until my dad took our family to Sea World. Once "behind the scenes," I realized very quickly I was not built to dive with sharks.

My sweet A will tell you she is sure to be an artist, a scientist or a teacher...or maybe all three. Our one-of-a-kind EK is positive she will be a rock star. If that doesn't work out, then she'll fall back on race car driving. And if THAT doesn't happen, she says she'll be a veterinarian. ;) These are all lovely aspirations, and who's to say my girls won't do one or all of the things they set their minds to accomplish?

God has a plan for all of us, but what happens when you don't know what that plan is? The second part of that equation is what if you aren't READY to HEAR? I don't know that I was ready to hear God's plan for me until after I was "all grown up." I guess you could say that I was a late bloomer.

(artwork by Shira Sela - www.shirasela.com)

Oh, sure. I kept dancing after high school and into college, but no longer was I sure that was the direction I was "supposed" to go. I entered college and took the "expected" course load, because it was just that - expected. I graduated, got married, began a career in PR - because it "made sense."

My sweet husband and I have journeyed nearly 14 years together, over 12 years as a married couple. In our journey, two life altering decisions stand out (besides the obvious getting married and having a family). The first was the decision to quit my job after EK was born. On paper, we knew it shouldn't work. We didn't make enough for me to stay home, but I would have been working to put two kiddos into daycare. We prayed and prayed and ultimately chose the decision that didn't "make sense." And EVERY month, money arrived in some form or fashion to cover our monthly expenses. Our insurance company mails a check around Christmas each year based on the company's dividends. The year EK was born, that check was TO THE PENNY what we needed to pay our electric bill.

Ultimately the decision for me to stay home resulted in a fruitful consulting practice (and flourished for nearly seven years). This made our second life-altering decision all the more difficult. Last March, my husband and I prayerfully decided to close my consulting practice so that I could pursue my calling to write full-time. Again, financially, this made absolutely no sense for us, but the decision has blessed our family and provided new opportunities to serve God.

When we choose faith and a decision that doesn't "make sense," God can do AMAZING things. Is it scary? Absolutely. But I've learned to trust, and I'm thankful to have a soul mate who reinforces this fact when I'm feeling unsure. The other lesson I'm still learning is that we are all growing and "blooming" according to God's timeline, and it's comforting to know that God doesn't think I'm a late bloomer. To Him, my calling and my ministry are blossoming right on schedule. And so are yours. Pretty cool, right?

T and I are on the brink of yet another life altering decision, and one that will dramatically impact our kiddos. Either choice is a good one, but we want to make the right decision -- not necessarily the one that "makes sense." Sorry, sweet friends. I'm not ready to share details beyond that just yet, but I promise to fill you in on the details soon. Please pray that God will provide us with discernment and we continue to seek His will.

One last thought - the decisions I mentioned above were life altering to us because of where T and I were in our journey with God. Satan tends to get to us through finances, because T & I were most vulnerable in that area of our lives when these decisions were made. Your "life altering" decisions can impact ANY aspect of your life.

Satan's only goal is to keep you from having a relationship with God. When he hits us were we are vulnerable - our hearts, our minds, our pocketbook - he is aiming to distract us from the work God has called us to do. Remember to strap on the armor of God and trust in your Lord to bless you.

Ephesians 6:10-17

1o Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.