TAC Simply Inspired

An Overflowing Cup

Hello November! I love the Fall season and look forward to Thanksgiving each year. Before October had ended, both of our girls were asking about and looking forward to starting our Gratitude tags. Score one for a new family tradition that seems to have taken root. This is our third year with the gratitude project and so far, everybody has contributed something every day! That is one of those things that 'fills my cup!'

I have been reading lately about having a cup filled to overflowing. In the book, Traveling Light Max Lucado explains it this way:

"Hosts in the ancient East used to use it as a powerful symbol to send a message to their guests. As long as the cup was kept full, the guest knew he was welcome. But when the cup sat empty, the host was hinting that the hour was late. On those occasions, however, when the host really enjoyed the company of the person, he filled the cup to overflowing. He didn't stop when the wine reached the rim; he kept pouring until the liquid ran over the edge of the cup and down on the table."

I love that word picture!  I keep thinking about how I can reenact this for my family at the Thanksgiving table. Would we notice if our table was wet? Wouldn't my family be utterly shocked for me to keep pouring the sparkling cider that we celebrate with at Thanksgiving until it ran out of their glasses and onto the table settings? I haven't yet figured out a way to do it, but I want to! What a powerful way to get their attention and share the message of an overflowing cup. What a memorable way to communicate our love to our family.  How many times do we tell our loved ones, "I want you to stay!" "I love being with you!"  "I want to spend more time with you!"

Then, my heart turns to look at my life. Have I noticed that the table is wet? Have I taken note of the new mercies that are available every morning of my life? Have I seen the overflowing grace that God and others have extended to me? Have I understood the forgiveness and compassion that has been made available to me? Have I given thanks today for the most basic of provisions... a home to live in, food on the table, a blanket or coat to keep me warm, family and friends to love me? Indeed, my cups overflows!

If that is true, then shouldn't my heart overflow with gratitude? Shouldn't I stop comparing or complaining? My heart screams, "YES!" So, I endeavor to enter into this Thanksgiving season with gratefulness, not just for the cup, but for the contents; not just for enough, but for the extra. As a reminder to myself, I think I'm going to start carrying around a sponge. Hopefully that will remind me to see the spillover not as a mess, but as a blessing.  I want to absorb it all, knowing it is God's way of inviting me to stay longer. This month, I encourage you to do the same!

Counting My Blessings With You,

Decisions We Must Make

I must admit, I have been seemingly void of inspiration these last couple weeks.  All that life has brought my way has, among other things, robbed me of the time to read or write. For me, when I don't make the time to read and write, it is like not taking the time to breathe. Not breathing = no inspiration.

A friend referred me to an awesome blog this week. I LOVED it, but could hardly relate to the author's perfect life, photos and writings.  I wished I could write like her and take pictures like hers. I wished I could still  dress my girls all in white with brightly colored bows. It made me wish I could sew and have tea parties like hers. My life, however, is much messier! I needed to close that blog and stop for a moment. I needed to intentionally examine these last couple weeks. As I did, I realized that, though there were a few things that did inspire or motivate me, there were no great AHA moments that I could build a blog around. I stopped to be thankful for even those seemingly insignificant moments that add up to a bigger life. Here's what I came up with...

Our street is filled with beautiful trees.  The gorgeous Fall colors scream for my attention each day as I pull out of our driveway. They inspire me to take a deep breath, take note and give thanks for the creativity and splendor of our Creator.

I watched a woman on tv yesterday morning buy $287 worth of groceries and with coupons, pay one cent. REALLY!  It inspired me to start using coupons!

I watched my daughter be there for her friends, after the suicide last weekend of one of their friends. It inspired me to be all the more thankful for her life!

I read the writings of our almost 21 year old daughter as she described herself for a class project. I was impressed by her articulation, the comments her teacher wrote and the fact that she got 24 points out of a possible 20. It inspired me to make a mini-album for her birthday with her very words in it.

I recently saw a travel journal that I love. The graphics, quotes and scriptures were perfect. I was inspired to buy one! In fact, I get to go today to pick it up!

I remembered the life of a dear 92 year old woman as I sat in her funeral service. She never neglected an opportunity to say "I love you." I am privileged to have known her. I was inspired to live a life that matters and that people will want to remember.

Finally, I revisited a book called Hope in the Dark. It is a book of beautiful photography and thoughtful descriptions of the people of Africa. It inspired me to think differently. Here is the part that struck my heart:

"Decisions I must make on any given day:  - Blue shirt or pink cardigan? - Tall soy chai latte or Grande caramel macchiato? - Write reports first or work on budget? - Text message or call? - Eat out or frozen dinner? - Reality television or Headline News?

Decisions SHE must make on any given day: - Blue dress or blue dress? - River water or puddle water? - Walk once for four hours to get water or walk twice for eight hours to get more water? - Sleep with the fisherman who will give food in return or let orphaned grandchildren go to bed hungry? - Persist through the struggle or give up? - Curse God or praise Him?"

That sums it up, doesn't it? Our lives may vary but we all have a variety of decisions to make each day. The decisions we make in regards to our attitudes and responses are much more far reaching then all the mundane decisions we make each day. These last couple weeks have showed me, though, that even in the thick of the mundane and messy, there are lessons to be seen, if we will but take the time to look. I encourage you this week to take a few moments to reflect. You may be amazed (and inspired) by what you see!

Choosing to praise Him this week,

Looking Beyond the Obvious

On the tour that I just returned from, I passed out a "Scavenger Hunt" list of things to look for as we traveled. Some of them were specific to the areas we would be traveling to and some were general things they could see as they watched out the window of the bus. Still others were things that I try to always look for in life such as the word 'abundance,' random acts of kindness, someone helping another person and Fed Ex trucks.

You may be asking, what do FedEx trucks have to do with anything? Have you seen their logo? Do you know that there is a white arrow tucked between the orange E and the x, formed by the inside contour of those letters? If you've never noticed it before, I encourage you to look for it next time you see their truck or packaging. It was very intentionally designed; intended to communicate movement, speed, precision and the dynamic nature of their company. If you've seen it, then no doubt you recognize it every time you see the logo.

You may still be saying, "And what does that have to do with anything?" Well, I think it's a great illustration of what we keep our eyes open to. Whether you are looking for the arrow, or abundance, or God, you are most likely to see it. All of a sudden, examples are everywhere...right in front of your face! Once you see that arrow, you are not likely to forget it. Once you start seeing examples of 'abundance,' they become easier and easier to find. Once we look for God's hand in creation, our families and our lives, we begin to see Him everywhere as well! If you are looking for the injustice or sadness or lack, you are most likely to see that just as easily. It all depends on what you are looking for.

Our house is a mess right now! Our older daughter has just moved home for the second time in her college career. The many boxes are now mostly confined to her room, though there are still a couple left in the living room. Our younger daughter and another girl we have taken in, share a second small bedroom. I cringe every time I look in there. My basement work room is filled with all sorts of memorabilia from tour, as well as all the stuff from about five different projects I've been working on. I completed two of them this week but have not cleaned up after myself yet. When I dwell on the piles, I get overwhelmed and frustrated. As much as possible, I choose to rejoice in the life that is present, rather than dwell on whatever is less than ideal.  Just last night both our girls were home. When I walked in the door from grocery shopping, our oldest said, "Mom, I apologize for everything I put you and dad through in my high school years." Though I know that her frustration coaching high school girls is what fueled it, I took it at face value and said, "Wow, thanks! I forgive you," and gave her a hug! Ideal relationship? No. Improving all the time? YES!  I choose to fix my eyes on what may be unseen to many others.

How we look at things can be a challenge and I believe, is a discipline. Weariness, sickness and discouragement are just a few things that can blind me from seeing the bigger picture.  I JUST received a phone call from a woman who had been on tour with me. Besides the tour, we shared a five hour adventure in a Quebec emergency room, where we were as eager to find an English speaking person, as we were for her diagnosis. She called to give me her health update. I asked if her insurance company was able to reimburse her at all for that very costly visit. Though they were not, she talked to me about her husband's comments since they have been home. That night in the Quebec hospital,  he was distraught, asking me questions  about how they could fly home, where they would fly out of, etc. They ended up finishing the tour with us and now, in hindsight, even with regards to the money it cost, he expressed his gratitude that she is ok and that it wasn't anything worse at the time. Another great example of perspective.

It's why I take notes on Abundance and choose to see God's hand in every gorgeous Fall color in the trees.  It's also why I continue to keep my eye out for FedEx trucks. This week, I encourage you to do the same!

Abundant Blessings,

We insist on playing out God's drama in black and white, ignoring the many colorful brushstrokes of His hand.  - Unknown

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.  - Ambrose Redmoon

Happiness is the art of making a bouquet of those flowers within reach.

Earth is crammed with heaven and every common bush afire with God: but only he who sees, takes off his shoes.  - Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Rich Relationships

As many of you know, I have been away on an eighteen day bus tour through the eastern United States, to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario and down through Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and back to Kansas. It was the trip of a lifetime! I could try to describe some of the beauty we saw, but my limited vocabulary would fall short. Here is what I wrote after a day touring the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia...

"There are not photos or words that could do justice to our journey today. Such beauty and serenity and loveliness defy the confines of my vocabulary or photographic ability. I will choose instead to say 'thank you' and express my gratitude to the God who created the heavens and the earth, who loves me as the perfect Father and who is always here in my joy and in my sorrow. Thank you, Lord, for your incredible faithfulness!"

Though I did take some pictures, there were times that I would hold up my camera and never take a picture. There was no way to capture what I saw and what I felt in the frame of that lens!  I decided I would rather drink in the feelings of peace and inspiration and awestruck wonder that I felt at that moment. I would endeavor to remember. As beautiful as the Fall Foliage was, as pristine and perfect as Prince Edward Island is, as much beauty as we were priivleged to see, I found an even greater treasure along the way.

I had the joy to travel with 28 other people on this wonderful journey. I knew it the second day of tour. We were already interacting and enjoying each other in a way that usually takes a few more days. Those who had been on other tours before, recognized it too. However, as we gathered at the bus in the parking lot of the site of Anne of Green Gables on about the ninth day, something happened that made me truly realize how blessed we were to have each other. Two cruise ships had arrived that morning on Prince Edward Island. The people were loaded into buses and taken to see the sites of the island. I was struck by the fact that none of them knew each other and very few knew even what bus they were on. The bus drivers were not able to help them either. They didn't know who belonged on their bus and who did not! As I stood by and watched the confusion, I was grateful.

I was so grateful to be among great friends... indeed, 'extended family', for eighteen days. They not only knew what bus they belonged to, but they also looked after one another, cared for one another, laughed with one another and would not let one go by unnoticed. What a blessing relationships are. What richness and joy they bring to our lives! I know I have said it countless times before, but regardless of where you are traveling to, it matters even more who you are traveling with.

I consider myself abundantly blessed to have crossed paths with these 28 people. In the words of Anne, "Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world." (Anne of Green Gables) I encourage you to look around for kindred spirits as well. Take time to listen, care, laugh and even cry together. I think you will find, as I did, that you are richer for it.

Take Good Care of Each Other,

Delightfully Drenched

I arrived in Nova Scotia today, along with 28 others that I am traveling with. We are 'family' for this eighteen days and have already quite enjoyed each other's company. Though Nova Scotia is the destination for this particular tour, there is so much more to see and much that has happened along the way, giving us joy for the journey.One of the highlights was not even on the itinerary. Here's a brief background:

The first thing you need to know is that it rained almost constantly the first three days of our tour. We drove through a variety of states but still encountered rain in each one of them. On the third day, we were in Niagra Falls on the Canadian side. The rain lightened up for our stop at the Falls, which was great. As we returned to the hotel, I heard a few of them talking about going back down there that evening to see the Falls lit up. I asked how many would be interested and many raised their hands, The bus driver was willing to take us back down so we set a time to meet after dinner. When that time rolled around, 25 of the 27 people were on board!

By the time we had strolled along the walkway in front of the Falls, we were all drenched. The kind of 'clothes-soaked-through' wet. Those who wore glasses could not see out of them and ALL of us looked like drowned rats. We looked at each other and laughed and laughed! When we got back on the bus I congratulated all of them for saying yes to life! They were willing to sacrifice an hour of rest for an up close view. They were willing to get a bit wet (or drenched) to experience it firsthand. In life and on tour, they show up! In exchange they receive great memories filled with laughter.

A wonderful side note is that as we loaded up the bus to come back to the hotel, on stepped the couple who had not driven down there with us. All of a sudden  I had all of my 27 people and everyone was delighted to see them. To think that no one missed out on that time together brought me even more joy! We laughed about making memories together and one man chimed in... "You're right about that! My wife is never going to let me forget this!"

I encourage you not to miss the little things on your way to something big!

Blogging from Halifax, Nova Scotia,

Debbie~

A Front Row Seat

We took care of our favorite two year-old, Sydney, on Sunday. Our whole family delights in having her at our house. She is observant, talkative, smart, loves to be outside and keeps us smiling. On Sunday we did a variety of things with her. Nothing fancy or out of the ordinary. We went for a walk. We spent some time with a neighbor's puppy, cat and rabbit. She played on the swing, colored and spent some time blowing and chasing bubbles. One of her favorite places in our home is on the landing as we go upstairs from our living room. There is a window there. The weather here has been so beautiful, we have kept the window open, welcoming the breeze. She loves to kneel there, arms on the window sill, looking out, watching intensely. She excitedly gasps every time she makes a new discovery. Her eyes get wide, her eyebrows go up and she whispers her new found revelation. On Sunday it was birds. Every bird she saw and every bird she heard was met with an enthusiastic welcome. On our walk it was the same. As adults, we take note of the flowers as we walk by. She kneels down, staring eyeball to petal and lovingly says, "flower, orange." (These did happen to be orange flowers!)  I told Jenna, "She has a front row seat to life!"

Ever since I said it, I have had that phrase in my mind. This week, I have the opportunity to have a front row seat of my own!   I once again, have the incredible opportunity to take a tour to Nova Scotia. As the Tour Director, I really do get to sit in the front seat of a beautiful tour bus. We (myself and 27 other people) will travel across the Eastern United States, stopping at Niagra Falls and venturing on up to Ellsworth, Maine, where we will take a ferry across to Nova Scotia. We will tour the gorgeous countryside, eventually going to Prince Edward Island (thus far, one of my favorite places in the world!) , New Brunswick and across Canada, through Quebec and Toronto and re-entering the United States in Michigan. I have taken the tour twice before. That has done nothing to diminish my excitement of going again this time. If anything, I am more excited, KNOWING what I get to see. I can't wait to visit the Prince Edward Island Preserve Company, where they have incredible flavors of delicious jams, along with beautiful fine bone china tea cups and beautiful accessories for any home. In Quebec, we travel a quaint back road, stopping at what looks like a simple brick home. It has been there since the early 1800's. Inside, hot freshly baked bread from brick ovens is served with maple butter. The experience is incredible!  Okay, well I just realized the two examples I just gave you happen to involve food. Quite honestly, the sights and scenery we get to see throughout the entire 18 days can easily take my breath away too. I could gasp like Sydney does, open my eyes wide and raise my eyebrows. There is just so much to see and experience.

Tomorrow, I will board the bus for another awesome adventure. For the next 18 days, I will add to my list of abundance. Though I won't be at work, I plan to do a few more posts than usual on my blog. There is so much to see when we look with new eyes.  Thank you, Sydney, for being my inspiration!

I encourage you to take a front row seat to life this week!  Until next time, have fun keeping track of your Abundant Blessings!

Style Your Soul

Not long ago I was introduced to a thirty-something entrepreneur who inspired me. Unfortunately, he was 'introduced' via a television commercial, and not in person.  His name is Blake Mycoskie and he is the  "Chief Shoe Giver" for TOMS Shoes. My hunch is he is much more comfortable being known as the CSG than the CEO! In 2006 he befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. That was the beginning of  the One for One program.

Then, last week, I saw him interviewed. He talked about how these "Shoe Drops" are not only in developing countries, but are also organized for needy children in the United States. They call the program "Style Your Sole." Children are given white canvas shoes and art supplies and are encouraged to decorate their own pair of shoes. I thought it was an awesome idea! The gift of a pair of shoes is made all the more valuable by becoming a reflection of each child's personality. Now that is a masterpiece!

I love the cause, but it is the phrase "Style Your Sole" that also stuck with me. I couldn't help but think about changing a couple letters and pondering the possibilities of a program called "Style Your Soul." Perhaps we have crafted our souls somewhat unknowingly already. So, if I were to intentionally style my soul, what would that look like? How would I do it? What tools would I need? How would I decorate it? What colors would I use? What words would I use to describe it? What music would I play to express it? Who would I show it to? What effect would the style of my soul have on others?

Protecting the 'soles' has helped children in developing countries walk distances for food, water, shelter and medical help, has prevented cuts and sores that lead to infection and even amputation and allowed them to attend school, ultimately realizing  their potential. All because of a pair of shoes.

Imagine then, the possibilities as we protect and style our souls! Living with intention from the essence of who we are and coloring our world as only we can, will also bring safety and health, joy and hope as we cross paths with others. It is clear that's what Blake Mycoskie is doing. His 'world' grows bigger every day as he is faithful to do what was put in his heart to do. I am inspired by him to do the same.

Here's to Styling Your Soul!

Fruitful Lives

Let me begin this post with a disclaimer... I am no gardener!  I am a Southern California transplant to the Midwest who loves the beauty of the countryside but who is also still at home in the city. I do not have my own garden or can my own preserves. There are no farmers in my family. Oh, and I hate bugs! So what am I do writing to you about principles of gardening?

The truth is, I was inspired by a message I heard on Sunday from our Children's Pastor. It in turn, brought me back to one of my all time favorite books, In My Father's Vineyard by Wayne Jacobsen.

Our Pastor holding up a bag of manure would have to count as one of  the most memorable moments of the morning! He made his point clear... without the (excuse my language) 'crap' in our lives, we wouldn't grow. Those circumstances that stink can also enrich the soil.  We perceive it as 'bad.' It works for 'good.' Though it sounds simple, we know it is not always easy.

The other thing that struck me was when he was talking about the pruning process.  The fact is, that when a branch is not pruned, it is actually weakened. When it is pruned, the 'extra' and 'unnecessary' are taken away, leaving room for abundance. (Some of you know how much I love that word - he certainly got my attention using it!) In our affluent Western culture we associate 'extra' with abundance. Many of us are learning that abundance has little to do with what we have and has everything to do with what we appreciate. It goes far beyond material belongings! The truth is, nothing will have more impact on the health and fruitfulness of the vine than pruning. Here is how the author of In My Father's Vineyard describes it.

"He prunes us so we can bear more fruit. He cuts away the clutter from our lives. First, to rid us of canes that are broken or unhealthy. Second, God cuts to rearrange our lives under his agenda. Growth and harvest have a way of multiplying opportunities in our lives, but those opportunities can spread us so thin we are fruitless. The pruning resets our focus so we can concentrate on what he wants us to do rather than everything we can do. Better to do a few things that are fruitful rather than lots of things that are futile, things that turn out to be empty foliage."

Are you feeling the pain of pruning or getting a whiff of a pile of manure? Your life may not look quite the way you wish it would these days. The truth is, the Master is all about the fruit, not about how things look from the surface. He will do what we let him to assure us of a healthy garden, yielding a bountiful harvest, full of good fruit.  Be encouraged, my friends!

Enduring the Pruning With You,

Color Your Life

I recently had a gathering of friends at my home. In a thank you note that I got from a friend, she said, "I felt so welcome there and the energy in that room was just so good. It felt like the color gold if it could have had a color." So, of course, that got me to thinking.

I had never thought before of assigning colors to events or feelings. It made me think of the day last week that I picked my friend up from the airport.  Our Kansas sky was the most incredible bright and clear blue that I had seen in a long time! It was even unique for us but definitely a far cry from the smoggy California sky that we knew and different yet from the Arizona sky where she lives now.  I would not want to assign blue to that day, because we associate blue with being down or depressed. Many times on the way home we commented on how incredible that sky was with its white fluffy clouds. It made us feel happy and positive and optimistic and grateful. Periwinkle is a fun word and a unique and beautiful color. Perhaps that day was a periwinkle day! Or maybe is was blue calypso, providing us joy as we traveled along.

Can you think of special times that you could assign a color to? Can you think of a color that uniquely describes each of your children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews? Wouldn't that be a fun activity around a birthday celebration, family fun night or Thanksgiving table - describing the color that each of your loved ones bring to the rainbow that you call life?

All color really is, is an object's ability to absorb or reflect light. So what color are you? How much light do you absorb and how much light do you reflect? What color are your moods and feelings? Do they make people around you feel optimistic and grateful?  Thankfully, we are all a whole range of colors. Different seasons showcase different colors and none of them are wrong. They simply represent different stages.

An interesting sidenote is that when I got my pictures developed from last week's gathering at my house, there was a beautiful 'buttercream gold' overtone in the ones taken in my living room. It was a combination of the evening sun streaming through my beveled glass windows, the copper lace curtains, and deep wood grains in the furniture. When my friend described it as gold, however, I think it described, not only the physical surroundings but also the rich and beautiful friendships that were represented there. There is nothing else quite like it!

I encourage you this week to begin coloring your life. Look with new eyes. Write down color palettes or colorful descriptions that come to mind. (A great source of inspiration is paint swatch names!) Is your daughter's room or personality 'vintage pink' or was that lunch with a friend, 'berrylicious'? Have you enjoyed a walk in the 'lavendar twilight' of the evening lately or was your recent cafe mocha with your sister a rich and fun 'java jubilee'?  The descriptions and possibilities are as vast as your imagination and creativity! Have fun with it and have a great week!

Coloring My World With You,