We ALL have "that" piece of clothing!!

What am I referring to?

I am referring to "that" shirt that you refuse to get rid of despite the fact that it is SUPER old, you have cut the sleeves and the neck line because it fits a bit more snug that you remember it did in high school, it has holes in it, the letters or images on it are faded, but, "man, it feels so good!"
Or how about that pair of shorts that is completely fringed at the waist, doesn't even have the original string tie it came with, has holes on the inner thigh because of its wear and tear, but you just can't seem to part with it!

YEP! I know you are sitting there nodding your head with a big ol smile thinking about your favorite shirt,shorts,pants, socks or even shoes!

Well, a few months ago, I busted out with my favorite sweatshirt.

Some history, shall we?

I absolutely LOVE sunflowers! They are my favorite flower. I LOVE flowers, period, but that is my all time favorite. They just make me smile and I like that! I think I was in 8th grade when my mom and I were at a Kmart or similar store. (the details escape this aging mind....sad santa tears!)

I digress!

I saw this sweatshirt and I HAD to have it!

If you know me, you know I am FANATIC about the Holidays! Thanksgiving, Christmas, Fall and Winter are all SO delicious to me!! So when I start seeing Fall things in stores and ads(like I am seeing now), it completely makes my heart sing!! Well, I saw this sweatshirt and I saw that it didn't just have ONE sunflower, it has LOTS of them! SUPER SMILES! Then, to make it all better, it had the PEANUTS GANG on it!! (Reminiscing about the Charlie Brown specials that start in Oct and run through Dec) OH MY! My heart went pitter-patter! I was in love for the first time in my life!!! (OK, OK, a little dramatic, I know...but don't forget who's blog you are reading!)

I HAD to have it! And, my mom, always so obliging to my silly little shin-na-ni-gans, let me have it. Well, I am now 32 years old and guess what? I STILL have it!!

I was doing a few things here at the house and I threw it on with my favorite pair of knock-about boots. I walked downstairs where Corrie was in the kitchen and, just as I have come to expect from her, she looked at me and said, "don't move! I need a picture of this!" Of course, she doesn't want a picture because she thinks I am cute and wants to hold the moment like she does for Abby, she wants a picture so she can send to all my friends and family and they can have a good laugh! LOL! (ahh...I LOVE my sister!)

Well, Corrie! This one is for you!

My name is Lizzie and I wear old, crusty clothes that doesn't match and I will most likely never get rid of....EVER! (smirks)

SO...

Here you go world! This is me in my Sunday best!


I am hoping I will inspire others to come out and wear it loud and proud!!!

CVSing!!

For those of you who don't know what CVS is, it is the equivilant to Walgreen's. My sister is constantly there and she really looks forward to going. I never quite understood the "why" behind it until she invited me to go "CVSing" with her.

What a grand thing!


A little historical data...
I have always been the type to not look at prices. I normally see something I like, pick it up and buy it. I don't even pay attention to what they are charging at the register. I slide my card, they ask me if I have a rewards card, I say, "no", slide my card, they ask me if I want my receipt, I say, "no thanks" and walk out the door.

Well, times are a changin', my friends!

There is SUCH a thrill of walking out with $40 of merchandise for less than $20!!!

WOW! And it is an ART, let me tell you!! It isn't just understanding the system of rewards cards, getting credit, using coupons, picking the right product and using their in-store rewards, but now, with the power of the internet, we consumers get all kinds of really great discounts, money back and even stuff for FREE with all the cool extra coupons.

We walked in and she started sharing with me how this coupon that and in-store reward and this and that...and wa-lah....I get a $5 lipgloss for free! WOW! SOOO exciting!

Of course, sometimes you buy things that you don't absolutely need right now, but the thrill of paying next to nothing is absolutely amazing!!

Yes, yes, I know, you must be thinking, "I can't believe she is so thrilled about something as simple as coupon saving", but I have to say, don't knock it til you try it!!!

I, too, used to sit in your same opinion boat. Crusin' the seas thinking, "well that is just silly!" But today, I stand before you a reformed spender and I am darn proud of it!!

AHHH....so grateful to have great people in my life like my sis who teaches me the ways of CVSing, organic this or that, and of course, recycling to save our great earth!!!

Hope you all are well!! Tonight, I rest my head content....and as my Nanny would say, "contenta con mis compras!" (content with my purchases)

What makes me happy??

Greetings all!

Apologies, for it has been 5 days since my last confe....uh...blog! LOL!
Things have been pretty hectic around these parts! Lots of new stuff going on...but all is well!
I can't believe it has been since Tues since I last wrote...where do the days, go??

Anyway, ALL kinds of things swirling through this crazy, little mind of mine lately. I have actually typed out three other different blogs, but I'm not "feelin'" them tonight. So I think I will just babble for a bit before I go to bed.

This weekend was a gorgeous weekend, however, it was stifled a bit because I got this pesky summer cold that always seems to catch me on the nicest weekend! SO...I really didn't get to do much of anything! But that is ok. I guess sometimes, that is a good thing?! Right?!?

Anyway, there are LOTS of things going on lately. Lots of new "places of life" I am in. It is interesting because some of the things that are changing are things I thought I really wanted. And now, here they are, starting to line up before me and I have all kinds of mixed feelings about them. Insanity! What can make this girl happy?

Well...I don't know...but I DO know that speaking of happy, I was thinking about it the other day. I have made a list. Things that make Lizzie happy....
(in no particular order)

* When it rains
* Cold weather to come in from and have chocolate abuelita
* Bahama bucks
* Spending time with my family
* Rockin' out with my band, "The Gnomes" (Rock band, of course)
* Horses, cows and the smell of the country
* A nice, long ride on my ol girl (especially if I can see my Pappy in my rear view mirror)
* Lying on my Nanny's lap as she plays with my hair
* WH, Grandy's or PPP w/ my BFF, Becky-weks
* Dancin'
* Laughing....(duh, right?)
* Hearing Abby say, "Ticka" (she can't say Tia, so it's her name for me and it makes me happy!)
* Getting comments on my blogs (uh....hint, hint)
* Hearing from kids of yesteryear...I can't believe time flies!
* Sitting in my sis' craft room chatting late at night
* Tryin' new restaurants
* A good wine with a great meal
* Havin' lunch with my lil bro
* Seeing how frustrated my sis and bro get that I don't know names, words or artists of songs!
* Road trips
* Rodeos
* Drive in theaters (hint, hint, BDW!)
* A great book
* THE HOLIDAYS!
* Getting to learn new things
* Spending time in the country
* Learning what friendship is
* When my hair co-operates
* Football!
* The music at church
* Abby.
* Waking every morning and reading the sign my bro gave me for Christmas. First thing I see when I wake & last thing I see when I turn in
* Getting to go to the golf range
* Corrie's food! (she's an amazing cook!)
* Corrie's scrapbooks (she amazing at that too!)
* Boots! (yes, cowboy boots...love em!)
* When Nathan's home
* A cozee fire and good company
* Great music
* Hope

Eh...just some ramblings tonight. Between my sneezing and wiping the snot in my nose...that's what I've got tonight! LOL!

I am content tonight. A little tired. A little emotional...but content and ever-so-grateful!!!

Is it really about getting what we "deserve"?

By definition, deserve is ::
to be worthy of, qualified for, or have a claim to reward, punishment, recompense, etc


I always say that there are three sides to every story. There is your side, my side, and then there is the truth.

Here is a story from two sides.

Side one::
Last night, a man who is a dear friend of mine, drove home and tried to rest after the most tiring day of his life. He spent the day in a haze, not really believing what was happening. You see, on Sunday night, he went from having four beautiful daughters in his life to three. His second oldest daughter's life was taken from him Sunday night at the hands of a drunk driver. She was one semester shy of graduating from Texas A&M.
Today, as he wakes, he is left to contend with anger, questions that may never be answered, and figuring out how you bury his daughter and move on.

I'd say that this family has been unjustly handed something they didn't deserve.

Side two::
He is 43 years old. When I walk in, he shakes my hand nervously and has a reserved smile. He tells me his name, I tell him mine. I ask, "so what are you down for?" He begins to tell me his story. He says that he is down for murder. He went out to happy hour one night, had too much to drink, thought he'd be fine driving home and killed a woman with his his car. He has been down (another word for being locked up in prison) for 16 years. As he speaks, his eyes well up with tears. He says, "I will never be able to re-pay on this debt! Whatever anguish or pain I feel will never be enough."
You should know that this man, prior to this crime, was a very respected accountant. Never had a crime to his name before this. It was one night. A few drinks. And a stupid choice.

Has this man received what he deserves?

Listen. I try really hard in my life not to be judgmental. I try to hear things out and understand the different factors. My friend's daughter is the 4th time I have experienced a kid, under the age of 23, be killed at the hand of a drunk driver. Then, I have been on the other side of it and have spent time both behind the walls (in prison) and in the free world with the men that have committed crimes such as these.

So where do I stand on it?

Last night, after speaking with my friend and spending most of the afternoon and evening crying, I was angry! "I don't get it! I'm so pissed!", ran through my head over and over. If you know me, you know that I 1 BILLION percent do NOT condone drinking and driving. And I am NOT referring to, "well, you only had 3 drinks, so that's cool, drive on!" Uh-uh! If you drink at all, I am NOT ok with you getting behind a wheel! I think it is careless, irresponsible, immature, and quite frankly, I have NO respect for it!!! In fact, I would even go so far as to say, I have an utter disgust for it!!!! I have been on both sides of this one.

Where I feel sad for the man having had committed the crime and doing his time, it is almost impossible for me to feel sorry for them. They had a choice. They made it. And now they must live it out.

The families of the lost didn't have a choice. And now they must live it out.

I thought I was on a vendetta before about drinking and driving....what I feel today and know will feel tomorrow and all the tomorrow's after that, is going to be intolerance!!!

This man will bury his daughter.
His daughters will bury their sister.
Friends will say good-bye to a beautiful girl.

Again. This is the 4th in my lifetime. I am fed up and I am done.

I don't care who you think you are. How much you "normally" drink. What you think you can handle. I don't care that you think you can drink for 4 hours and spend one hour sipping on a glass of water and think you can drive. I don't care that you only live 15 minutes down the road. It doesn't matter to me that you've been drunk before and got home fine. I could give a flying flip that you are "only buzzed." Listen! You drink. Don't drive. Let the rest of us have a chance at getting what we truly deserve.

JJW, my prayers and thoughts are with you and your family!

Odd, Ends and a special honor.

Good evening!

It is Sunday afternoon and the weekend has been full! First, I have to discuss what is on the forefront of most all of our minds (or it should be, at least!), the Cowboys! Although upsetting that they lost, it is pre-season and they are feeling everyone out. But it was good to see them on the field on a screen near me! Oh the joy football brings me!

Not a whole lot to share....it was an exhausting weekend. The loneliness birds continue to hover about me, but I am not distressed.

An interesting story.
Today I went to a different church than I normally do because I was going to meet a friend so I needed to go to an earlier service. It was a small church using an elementary school to build their sanctuary. I walked in and everyone had the typical "welcome to the best place on earth" Christian face as I was greeted every 5 paces. (and no, I am not being cynical! They DID have the super happy face you only find in churches!) As everyone is standing around sipping their complimentary coffee and feasting on the donuts the church has provided, I flip through the program. "Jonah", it reads. WOW! What a coincidence! At my church, they just got done teaching an AMAZING series about Jonah! The pastor did such a great job with it, I bought the CD's! That is interesting they are teaching on it here too!
A man in his early 30's, bald, wearing a long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up to reveal his fully tattooed right arm gets up to the mic and says, "would you stand with me."
After the music is over, a man comes up from behind the stage, as if out of the dark. His presence is somber. His eyes are compassionate, shoulders somewhat slumped and he leans over the podium. "I am glad to be back home, family. I was at our sister church last week and I got to speak in three services with over 800 people in each service. It was cool. I look forward to a day when we will be reaching as many." I look at the row in front of me. "1-2-3..." I count there are 5 chairs per row, and there are 6 rows on my side, 7 on the other. I conclude there are about 60 people in the room.
Expectant to hear another great lesson on Jonah, I am left somewhat....uh..no...totally...confused?!?
His entire lesson was spoken out of SUCH a somber demeanor. I lost count how many times hes asked, "who haven't you forgiven?" after 34. He is not even half way through the sermon and the tattooed guy comes out and hits the keys with the, "come to the altar" music we all know. I was like, "how can it be that out of the 4 chapters in Jonah, all he got to teach of it was that Jonah was angry with God and had unforgiveness, and we shouldn't be like that?" WOW!
All of this to say this.
It is not my place to be "rating" sermons. That is not what it is about. I just find it very interesting that in my first visit to that church (which, by the way, I found out has been there an entire year) I could here how dis-content the pastor was. So much to a point that I felt he took a story that has SO many theological learning lessons and made it one sad, sad point.

I started thinking about how there are times in my life that I make things into what they are not, just because of my own skewed mindset. I don't know what is going on in that pastor's life. I can only imagine....they pay such a HIGH price to stand on a pulpit and put their lives out there. However, it really challenged me to check myself. What am I pulling out of conversations with friends and families because my attitude is skewed? What am I hearing or NOT hearing? How is my attitude towards obstacles and opportunities being impacted because of it?

Just some questions that arose today after my "church with the somber pastor" experience.

Now, before I close out this blog, I would be remiss not to mention that today was the birthday of a VERY incredible man in my life. You all might think this strange, but I don't. He has known me most all of my life and I have and will always see him as my "other dad". Though I am saddened that I could not be there to give you a great big hug on your big day or see your eyes well up with tears because of your incredible gratitude, I thought of you today. You are a man with such a gentle spirit and you will forever be in my heart as one of the best men I know. I can only hope that the generations that follow mine will have an ounce of the heart you have! Not a day goes by that I don't think about the kindness and love you have always shown to so many people. You are, to me, a beautiful man! I love you, Dad! Happy Birthday!!!

Happy New Beginings Day!

8-8-08

Today is the official day of new beginnings!

The number eight represents new beginnings.

hhmm...that's refreshing! I am running around today, so I will expand more later.

Have a great day!

Am I pregnant?

WAIT! Let me preface this by saying I am certain that just with the title, this blog will most likely get read the most of any I have ever written.

And if you are this far into reading, and you find yourself wanting to scroll past my stories to find out who with and when am I do....I am not referring to REALLY being pregnant.

Now breathe. Relax. And read on.

(she smiles)

What a day it has been today!

I don't know. My eyes opened at 7am after I had only been asleep for four hours. "It can't be! Body, go back to sleep!"

I hear my sister downstairs with the baby. No, not Abby, my niece. She is with the "furr-baby" my brother purchased for her a few weeks ago. (My sister is an amazing mother! I am blessed to get to learn so much from her. Even to a dog, she rocks!) I turn over in bed and just feel a sinking inside. Not sure why. I get up, grab my laptop and scribe.

The day continues. The clouds hovering over the big D today are perfect for the setting raging in my mind. Not sure why...just one of those days, I suppose.

FLASHBACK
When I was 15 years old, I went to South Africa. One of the highlights of this trip was seeing Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. They are the second largest waterfalls in the world. The coolest thing was that before I went to Africa, I saw this movie called The Power of One. There is a scene where the main character is standing at the falls. It was the coolest thing to physically be standing in the place I saw in this movie. The falls have nothing to do with my blog tonight, just a memory, however, there is a part in that movie that goes in line with some thoughts tonight. The main character speaks about how there are times that he feels so lonely. He references "loneliness birds". He says that they come into his heart, build nests, have eggs and make a home in his heart. He says they leave and then there are times when he "feels the loneliness birds hovering around his heart. Today, I felt the loneliness birds hovering around. Not sure why or what. I guess it just happens sometimes.

I went on with my day, ran the errands I had to do and then went to a bookstore, sat and read. As I sat there, I watched people going in and out. Ear-hustled a few conversations and made note of them in my mind thinking, "I'll have to share that story later in a blog. I'll make them famous!" LOL!

Earlier I spoke with a friend about some of the things going on with me and some of the transitions I am contemplating and he says, "I think you are just doing that so you can fore-go making a real decision."
"What?! How dare you!", I think to myself.

But it stayed with me all day.

Just yesterday I had a long conversation with my sister along the same vein. (Isn't it amazing how certain themes or ideas hit you over and over? Ya, well, it is happening.) So, I take note and mull them over until I am ready to contend with them.

Well. I am contending.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am always full of ....no, not crap! Full of ideas!!! (I know that is what you were thinking!) In knowing this, I talk about all kinds of crazy dreams, goals, ideas, both great and stupid and it is amazing that the same mouth that vocalizes some brilliant things, also spouts off some pretty dumb things. (OK, OK, stop nodding your heads over there!)
HOWEVER.
In all of that, there are a few things that are consistent. And I feel like they are really starting to surface. Like the foam, rising to the top. I mean, I never thought I would be 32 years old, feeling like my life is just about to start. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be in this place. Yet, HERE I am. I can change my outfits. Change my hair. Change what I call myself. Even move 800 miles here or there. The fact of the matter is that I am still HERE. So then. What is Lizzie going to do HERE?

Well, the way I see it is this:
It's time to stop confusing myself with the should's and could's and step in to the "I've got to!"
What I mean by that is that I feel like I need to stop living this life of, "I should do this. I could do that so that is what I should do." I have built a life, both professionally and personally building other people's dreams and ideas. If you know me, you know I can get passionate about anything. I can (and have) been so many people's cheerleader. And now, I feel its time I cheer me on and step into the "I've got to" of my life.

As the sun's light grew shorter today I found myself getting nervous, anxious and excited all at the same time.

I haven't been blessed with the privilege of bearing any children of my own, however, I have been blessed with getting to see many children born. (Don't worry, I'm not going into any kind of detail about it.) But I was thinking today about a woman who is having her first child. She is SO excited about it. But as the months pass, by the time they get to the 9th month, to say they feel miserable is sometimes putting it lightly. They can't sleep, back hurts, feel uncomfortable, etc. They are still excited about the baby, but they just want to have it already! They don't want to be pregnant anymore.

This is how I feel.

I feel like I am pregnant with this great desire and its not comfortable anymore. I am scared. But I am excited. I feel miserable and blessed at the same time. I feel anxious and worried, but so expectant and confident.

"I've got to!" Not because I can. Not because I should. But because I have just GOT TO get on with it. Just do it. Jump. It's in me. It may be dangerous. It may be crazy. It may never work.

What is it, you ask? Well, let me get my mind around some details before my big reveal. But I feel ready. It's time to stop dreaming. I need to get on with it and "git er done". (Yes, that is the redneck, NASCAR influence I have been indoctrinated into here in Texas)

I know my blogs have been super vulnerable lately. A lot of "real" thoughts. But what the heck! For the good and the bad. This is me. Lizzie. The REAL Lizzie, just sharing my life as I'm living it out.
SO...

Tonight, as the loneliness birds continue to hover, for the first time in my life, my mind and heart aren't fixated on them. Not that I am denying they are there. But my soul is busy preparing me for this great birth. (Dramatic, I know!) But seriously, regardless of the day, how I feel or don't feel, one thing is certain tonight....
I'm pregnant with this dream!

Does "controlled chaos" really exist?

Lately, I have been introspective. Wondering about the place I am in, where I am going, what I am doing. There are decisions that are at my doorstep demanding answers and I can't help but reference past decisions and times.

I don't claim to be the the all-knowing-lizzie, nor do I presume to say I live every day in total wisdom. But even in all the smoke, mirrors and dust, I do understand. I am solid. I am grounded.

I used to be a youth pastor is San Diego. One of my most favorite things was working with Jr High kids. I loved it! One time, we had an event at my house and there were about 30 Jr high school kids. It was a sleepover and we did all kinds of cool stuff. We made sure to keep the calendar packed. From scavenger hunts in Laguna Beach to being outside in the freezing cold (for SoCal standards) playing capture the flag til 2am, we had a blast! (the goal was to tire them out!)
My ex-husband and I had it down to an art. We had it plotted to when kids were going to take showers, how we were going to feed them, get supplies, transport everyone here and there, etc, etc. My neighbor came over when we were getting ready for one of the events and she said, "oh my gosh! This is chaos! Why would you ever do this?" I smiled, looked back at some girls on the stairs acting giddy and braiding hair, some boys on the first floor playing pool, while some other boys were yelling from the second floor for someone to throw their towel up as another group zipped right passed us standing at the door. My response to her was, "This? This is all under control!" I believe I did, and still do have a firm grasp of controlled chaos! Some might believe that doesn't exist. I would challenge that by encouraging you to speak to the 22 junior high kids I took to Mexico on another trip to build an orphanage. They are all young adults now and I think they will vouch for me when I say that I had it pretty well under control! (Amanda, Chente, Chris and Ashley, chime in on this one with your comments!)

I tell that story because as I am scaling this unfamiliar wall, to those closest to me, it may appear that it is chaos. However, after spending everyday in these size 5 feet, the element of chaos is one that I can, have, and will continue to live in. A lot would say, "Well, that's just crazy!"

Yes, maybe it is.

But I really don't think I would change it. I have had the privilege of doing some pretty incredible things in my life. Meeting people that I am so grateful for. Experiencing things that very few will ever get to experience. I know a lot of people say that their lives are not average...but I can honestly say that I think my life has been extraordinary. I am grateful for the many doors that have opened for me. (Even if I charged some of them down!)

It is not that I thrive in chaos, but if doing the unusual means that I have to take unusual paths or methods, then I am ok with it.

I think I wrote it best in a picture I dedicated to my mom back in 1992. It was a photo taken from one of the beauty pageants I was in and I was thanking her for all she did. Among the scribbled lines to her I wrote, "you understand how much I want to be different to make a difference."

I think that sums up why I live my life the way I do. And I understand it doesn't make sense to many people.

So in all that is going on around me right now. To those living it out with me right now. I know it seems somewhat chaotic. But hang in there. My heart is steering the course. It's passion has allowed my eyes to feast on amazing things. Its determination has caused my mind to expand. And its resilience keeps me safe.

SO....

onward we go!

Just some random ramblings.

Greetings readers!

As I sit here, I have to start by commenting that although I am disappointed the Colts didn't pull it off tonight, I am THRILLED to hear the NFL song playing on my TV. Even greater to my ears were the voices of John Madden and Al Michaels....(she sighs) It makes my heart glad to know that football is back. (yes, yes, I know it's only pre-season. so what!? let a girl be happy!)

As I sat there watching the game and reading my book in the third quarter tonight, my phone rang. "Pappy", it said. I looked at the time and thought, "what are they doing up?" I answered.

"Hi Betisima", he says.
"Hi Pappy! Whatcha doin?"
He began to tell me how he and my mom were at an outdoor concert listening to music. He asked me what I was doing and I told him I was thrilled to be sitting watching football. Knowing how much I absolutely LOVE the fall and winter, he says, "You know what that means? Fall is right around the corner!" For a moment my mind wonders. I get this overwhelming desire to be sitting right there with them, listening to the music under the El Paso stars. "How is Abby?", his voice brings me back.
I tell him how she is up in her room and although she is supposed to be sleeping she is up there singing songs and chatting to herself. This, of course is in between the times that she forgets she is supposed to be crying so I can feel bad about putting her to bed. We chat a bit and then he says my mom wants to speak to me. I am delighted! "Hi Beta!" "Hi, Nanny", I reply. We have brief conversation and I tell her I am reading and she asked me what book. I tell her and we talk a bit about it. (this book is what I am going to blog about tonight, but I am feeling nostalgic and missing my parents, so you'll have to read through my homesick ramblings)
My mom and I are close to wrapping up our conversation and she says," I love you, mija."
I pause. "I totally felt that", I think to myself. I reply with an I love you too and our conversation is closed shortly after.

Ever find yourself with someone and they say or do something that just hits you? Tonight, my mom's words hit me. I felt her love radiating through the phone and it makes me glad.

Ya, it might be because I am reading this book or it could be that I just miss them or the mexican food I had for lunch. But either way, I am grateful. So grateful that I am writing about it tonight! LOL! (the small things that make this lil girl happy!)

Anyway, I digress.

Brandon bought this book for me called "The Last Lecture". Since I received it, I haven't put it down. It is about a man who is given a few months to live. He is a professor, husband, and father of three young children. (He passed away a little less than a month ago on the 25th of July) The book is his account of his life and how, having but a few short breathes left on this earth, wants to be clear about how he is going to be remembered.
Some might say that he is arrogant because he boasts of the many great things he did in his life. He details how he had childhood dreams and has lived them all out. He writes about the many lessons he's learned through his few short years on earth. So, yes, I can see how some might take him as arrogant. However, I have been so fascinated by it because as I read, I couldn't help by think, "If I were given 2 or 3 months to live, would my last item of business on my little list of things to do be write a book about it?" The answer is no! I haven't even begun to hit my little list of things to do! I admire that he lived his life and pursued his childhood dreams just because.

If you are like me, there are things that you desperately would love to do. However, you don't do them because of this or that. Time or money. Too dangerous, too silly. What will people think? Etcetera, etcetera.
However, here is a man that didn't have to have the gun to his head. He lived these things out because he could. And very few of them just happened. He constantly refers to the brick walls he had to overcome to accomplish some of these dreams.

Reading this book has stirred things up in me like, "what is holding me back?", "Why am I so afraid?" "Just jump, Lizzie. Just do it!"

I know what you may be thinking. "Ya, Lizzie, that's great that you read an inspirational book. So what? Your excitement will wear down by week's end." Well, if you are saying that it is because you know me! LOL! You are right! I do get excited about a lot of things. But I'm not writing to say that I'm going to make my bucket list, throw my life in reckless abandon and do whatever suits me. HOWEVER, it has been like another log has been put on my fire.

For the past few months, I have been contemplating what is next for me. I have recently begun to take the steps towards that new direction. (of which I will divulge in a later blog) I am going to be taking my life and flipping it completely upside down and although I am a bit scared, nervous and worried, in the same breathe, I am excited, expectant and thrilled!

Anyway, there is no real point to tonight's ramblings...but I am grateful, optimistic and glad tonight.

It's Friday!

Today is Friday and the beginning of August already! Yikes! Where DOES the time go?
Not a whole lot going on with me these last couple of days as far as being blog-worthy. I have spent VERY little time in front of my laptop as I have been running all around God's great kingdom in over 100 degree weather! uughh!

Beginning of August brings a slight smile to my face. Why? Because August means that football season is just around the corner!!! With pre-season kicking off in just two days and kick-off following Sept 4, it just brings a tear to my eye!! (o=

Although my team isn't playing this Sunday, I'm confident the Colts and Redskins will still be fun to watch...hey! It's FOOTBALL!

Well, I have a proposal to write, a bike to ensure gets made in a timely manner and school to get enrolled in....

I shall chat with you all more later!

BY THE WAY,
What gives??! What's up with all this curly hair votes? When I first set up that poll, I took the liberty of letting my voice be heard and voted for straight hair....I see I stand alone....(sigh)