The towel on the floor...

See there always seems to be a towel left on the bathroom floor.  There is a hook on the wall about two feet away, but the towel just can't seem to make it all the way there. ;-)  Even with encouraging words and reminders, it just seems to find its own place on the floor.  I've let it bother me lately.  I may trip over it, and I say a few words. In the mornings I'm grumbling as I make my way to my blow dryer and straightener to try to make something out of the mop on my head. After the kids go to bed I look at it as I pass down the hallway saying, "Why can't they just hang up that towel!"

Then it hit me last night... It's just a towel!  Really that's all it is. I picked it up off the floor and hung it up on the hook, and as my hand let go of the towel a flood of emotions came over me.  Instead of being angry that the towel has been left on the floor, my heart turned to the blessings that this towel reminds me of in our lives.  Our house 5 years ago was graced with our first youth in our home, and it has been filled with ups and downs since.  This towel, reminds me of the laughter and giggles we have when we have tickle battles.  This towel, reminds me of our simple, but yet fun day trips we take together to create lasting memories.  This towel, reminds me of the conversations we have with each other as we sit at the table each night to have supper and ask each other, "How was your day?" This towel, reminds me of the simplicity of being a kids. This towel, reminds me of the blessings we have for our health and lives.  This towel, reminds me I need to not stress so much over the small things and live in the moments we have.  Because one day, I won't be picking up this towel, and I will miss it! 

Word of the Year

I've never been a fan of New Years Resolutions for myself.  I usually can't follow through with them, and then I feel like I failed.  

One of the Weight Watchers Ambassadors that I follow: Beautifully Broken Journey likes to choose a word to focus on for the year.  I have another friend that does the same, so I thought I would do it as well.  My word this year is......

 STRONGER

Physically 

Now that I am at a weight that I'm comfortable with, I want to work on getting stronger. I signed up for a half marathon. I feel like mentally I am there, I just need to work on the physical part.  I don't want to look super muscular. My focus will be on toning and defining.  I need to strengthen my legs to train for the half marathon.  Also, the hard part of weight loss is maintenance.  It was take will-power and strength to keep it off. 

Spiritually

This year my focus is to be strong in the Lord.  I want to spend more time in the Word, prayer, and daily reflection.  I'm hoping I can do more of that when I go on my runs.  It is a time for me to get away from distractions and spend time with God.  United Methodist Women have a reading list and a goal of reading 5 books in a year.  I did it two years ago, and I slacked off this past year.  It is time to get back on track.   

Mentally & Emotionally

This summer, I plan to take another online grad class for education.  It isn't towards a masters degree, but I do enjoy studying and sharpening my brain.

From my experience through Dressember, I also plan to research and study more about human trafficking and fair labor across the globe.  

I want to work on perspective thinking this year, too. When in a negative situation, I look at some positives - not let one or two bad things ruin my whole day.  When I am negatively impacted by another person, I want to look through their eyes and see why they said/behaved the way they did. 

I know some of these are lofty, and I may not be able to reach each one of these goals, but I hope by December 31st, 2018.   I can say I'm a little 

STRONGER!

Reflections on Dressember

Today I woke up with the thoughts of putting on a pair of pants. (I may be wearing dresses more often now, as I realized the great feeling of not having my waist line restricted. ;-) )  I wanted to take some time to share with you about my experience in participating in Dressember.

Last year, I had a friend post about participating in Dressember. I followed her posts and read them with intent, but I didn't participate. I followed the Facebook page, and when they posted about the start of the movement again, I knew in my heart I should participate. It was so much more than a dress. I felt all of these: humbled, sadness, happiness, empowered, anger, enlightened, strength, determined, prayerful, and most of all-changed.

Some Things I've learned since participating in Dressember.

Statistics

1. More than 30 million people are enslaved worldwide.

2. Human trafficking generates about 150 billion a year.

3. About 2 million children are exploited in the global commercial sex trade.

4. The most recent study from the International Labor Organization in September 2017 found that women account for 99% of victims in the commercial sex industry and 58% in other forms of slavery.

5. Every 30 seconds, somewhere in the world, a child is trafficked.


How to Recognize the Signs of Human Trafficking

https://polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/recognize-signs


Areas Dressember Supports

1. Rescuing Victims
Our partners work closely with law enforcement to identify, protect, and free people who have been forced into the commercial sex trade.They also work to train law enforcement, hospital staff, and transportation authorities to identify conspicuous signs of slavery.

2. SERVING JUSTICE
We facilitate collaborative work with legal authorities to build strong cases against traffickers, pimps, and criminals, and ensure that all victims are well represented in court.

3. RESTORING LIVES
We know that every survivor deserves unique, individual treatment. Survivors are provided with access to housing, medical treatment, as well as individualized trauma counseling, vocational opportunities, and education.


Ways to Educate Ourselves

a blogpost on some good podcasts to listen to: http://www.dressember.org/blog/podcasts

an app to use to check out companies: Good on You https://goodonyou.eco/app/

http://www.dressember.org/blog/childlabor


Ethical Shopping Choices
http://www.dressember.org/blog/mensethicalguide

http://www.dressember.org/blog/holidaygiftguide


http://www.dressember.org/blog/stockingstufferguide


http://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/fair-trade-clothing


This is not an exhaustive list for sure, as I didn't want to overwhelm you with too much information. My goal is just inform you a little more, and how we can stand up for human rights. This doesn't end for me, as I will continue to learn more of what I can do.

Food - late post (I forgot to finish writing it and posting it.)

July 2017:
As we were planning our vacation, we received an e-mail from the owner of the cabin and he shared the details for us.  Included in these details was a list of recommendations of restaurants. Throughout the week we tried hard to find the best restaurants to eat at and not to eat at a chain.  A thought crossed my mind - Why do we focus so much on food?  I get that it is necessity, and we need it to keep our bodies moving and to stay healthy, but why is it such a huge focus for the majority of us.

When I think about meeting up with a friend, planning something with the family, working on a big event - food becomes a large part of it.  If I think back in history, when people had guests they would make sure to have the best meal for them with their fine dining dishes. All around us food.


Some thoughts to ponder - I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Why does food have to be such a focus?

If it does need to be a focus, why do we prepare so much?

Why do restaurants serve us so much food that is equivalent to 3 servings or more?

If we actually had portion control, wouldn't this help out in the health care field as well?

The Blanket

It has taken me some to write this into words, but writing can heal the heart. I apologize for the lack of eloquence in words.  Writing is not my strength...

Growing up, we would go to auction sales of our deceased relatives.  My mom would always buy something that she could hold on to remember her relatives.  I remember one sale in particular and she really wanted this old fashion baby buggy.  It is pretty cool, from her aunt and uncles.  She dressed up in a parade with her siblings with it and she has such wonderful memories. If I remember right an antique collector was bidding against her until, he realized it was family and gave in.  We came home with this large beautiful baby buggy. My sister and I made porcelain dolls through 4-H, and many of them through our hands were placed in the buggy in the window of our dining room.  My mom also has this beautiful cabinet from my grandma's house and a couple of special chairs from relatives as well.  Another neat addition to my parents home is my dad's father's desk.  It has such character and fits just perfectly in the corner.

As our dining room got tighter and tighter with these special heirlooms, I made comments and sly remarks to my parents.  "Why do you need all this stuff? You have your memories to remember your loved ones.  Why do you need the stuff?"  I was harsh and told them to just let it go.  Of course, the immaturity of me wasn't met with a hard head, and they just let the words fly in the air and go.
Then there is this blanket...my Aunt Anita made for me a few Christmases ago.  She remembered my favorite color green, and it is so soft and warm.  I would occasionally take this blanket and wrap it around my legs for warmth as I read a book with a dim light before bed.

Flash forward...I've recently lost this special someone.  She was a remarkable women full of love, passion, and kindness.  I always said I wanted to be a children's librarian someday just like her.  It would be my dream job!  Then the week of her passing, in our classroom our story was "Tomas and the Library Lady."  It took every part of me to read the story that week, as I reflected on all the "Tomas kids" she touched as she worked tirelessly with the students from area schools in Sterling.

Now this blanket is no longer just a "blanket", but a comforter and healer for me as I wrap it tightly around me at night thinking of all the wonderful times I've had with her.  I've become protective of it as I don't want anyone else to touch it. Every time I flip the page of a children's book she gave me, which I either have at home or in my classroom, I think of her reading the words off the page. I couldn't imagine anyone else having these books.  I had to stop myself, as I said this is crazy, and then I thought of all the beautiful furniture items at my parents house.  How quickly I was to judge, when now I'm doing the same thing.

I know I don't need the blanket to keep all those beautiful memories tucked away in my mind, but there is just something about it to help make the connection.

So to my parents...keep your "blankets" for as long as you need them.  I can handle the clutter of a house.

Focus on others...

To start off, I want to thank everyone for helping out with sending birthday cards to my dad for his 60th birthday. I'm looking forward to seeing his reaction to receiving all the cards this week!  I love getting personal letters/cards in the mail, and I'm sure he will as well. 

Life is going to start picking up the pace a bit now as I start track season. It's hard to believe as I look out my window at all that light fluffy annoying beautiful snow.  This week also starts 40 days of Lent.  I haven't always been one to give something up from my life during Lent, but I do make time for more reflection. I came across on Pinterest an idea that a pastor posted last year and I think I will try this Lenten Season: 40 notes in 40 days - cultivating relationships through Lent. 

Here is what Pastor Robb said about the idea: There are no real rules to this idea.  This is just a way to write a note to 40 different people, and pray for them in the process.  I’ll leave the content of the note up to you.  Only share what you feel comfortable sharing with others.  For example, you don’t have to tell someone that you’re writing them a note to fill in their “might be fearful” slot, and you don’t have to offer forgiveness to the person on March 27.  Any note could be as simple as saying, “During the course of my prayers today, you came to mind.  I hope you are doing well.”

He also shares ideas of different people that you can send a note to during the time. I probably won't follow it all, but it is a great way to get some ideas.  Find out more here http://fatpastor.me/2013/02/12/40-notes-in-40-days.     

Curious to hear what you do for Lent. I'm praying that I'm able to complete the task. 

By the way a little update on my diary writing.  It has become a daily habit now, and it's been great to reflect everyday of what I've done.  Thanks again to my Aunt Anita for the journal at Christmas to spark my interest in starting the diary. 

2014 - Keeping History Alive

As a fan of technology, I finally purchased a smartphone a few months ago. Nothing fancy - not an iphone - but it does the trick.   I've fallen into using the instagram app.  I find that its fun to catch a moment in time to share with others every so often. I take a picture now and then to share with my friends.  What I've realized though is that we live in such an instant world. It makes me wonder though have we lost the art of keeping the old traditions alive.

Does anyone out there miss when you took photos with film, and then waited for it to be developed to see the surprise?

Do you miss getting a hand written note in the mail or a real phone call from a friend?

Does anyone miss the sound of music from a record player?

What about not having the internet and actually looking up information in a book?

Speaking of books, when using an electronic device to read, don't you miss the smell and feel of a real book?

I like to say I have an "old" heart.

My family has a beautiful tradition - writing in a diary.  We have diaries from several generations ago, and there is something magical about reading what people did on a day to day basis many years ago.  My parents have kept the tradition going by keeping a diary too. Every so often, my dad will get out a diary and read about what we did that day several years ago.  We might look up when we were born or what we did on our birthdays.  It's fun to hear about the weather and what we did to have a good time.
For Christmas this year, I received a journal from my aunt. It has encouraged me to continue on with this family tradition of writing about my daily life in a diary format in my own handwriting.  I can't wait to look back and read these memories with my family some day. I hope to keep you posted with this goal.