Tag: my13daychallenge

Wonder Women

Wonder Women: Meet Laura

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Laura

Have you ever met Martha Stewart? I don’t need to because I have met Laura.

Laura is a talented cook and party planner. She can take old clothes from a thrift store, add her own design to it and transform the old into a trendy new outfit. Her crafting abilities have blessed many people.  Laura’s story is powerful. It is real and shows the beauty that can be found in all of life’s experiences. The best way to honor her as a Wonder Women is to let her own words speak to you.

Laura says, “I guess my greatest accomplishment is my family. I am in the process of raising four amazingly talented, kind, beautiful children. I may have grown and nurtured them but they all came with their own unique personalities and talents. I feel like it has been my job to cultivate who they are. I feel like another of my accomplishments is my marriage. We are going on 12 years of marriage and we have endured the years well. We started out happy and have thus far maintained that happiness. I was married young and had a baby young and there were many who vocally doubted us but it never really bothered me. I’ve never really cared what people thought or said about me. So I guess the hardest struggle for me has been ME. I was a teen mother and therefore was afraid that I was a failure. I thought I was somehow not enough to be a good wife and mother. I have such an amazing family and husband who were and continue to be supportive and uplifting, they help me to know that everything will be alright. And of course I always had the Lord as my own cheerleader”.

Remember every women’s success can be my success if I let it.

Wonder Women

Wonder Women: Meet Alie

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Picture

Have you ever met a magician? I have. Her name is Alie.

Today’s Wonder Women took difficult life circumstances and with the magic of grit, faith and hope turned those challenges into an opportunity for growth. Alie’s child Chris was born with several rare cognitive and physical disorders. She wished she could talk to other parents. She didn’t find such a support group in her area so she created a group to meet her needs and serve other parents. As Chris got older, Alie took on an advocate role to find resources and programs to meet her son’s needs. Her advocacy paid off and Chris recently graduated from high school. He works part-time and continues to grow and learn.

When her children were young, Alie found herself not only with difficult health challenges but the need to support her two children after a divorce. She went back to school and earned her degree in school counseling. Alie moved her family to a new state for a better job. She had the courage to date and fall in love again. As her daughter Becca got older, Alie wished she had a coach to help her with the college and scholarship application process. When she didn’t find any couching services that were reasonably priced, Alie created her own college coaching company.

Alie is a magician. She took hard life events and turned them into opportunities for growth.

Remember every woman’s success can be my success if I let it.

Musings

Angel Shots

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shot

Have you heard of  angel shots? They aren’t found on the typical vaccination schedule, but they are just as beneficial to your health and happiness. Angel shots are given when you need an extra boost of love from God. They must be given by angels, because you feel better after getting one. Human beings can give angel shots too when we are kind to others. Have you given anyone an angel shot today?

 

Uncategorized · Wonder Women

Wonder Women: Meet Kim

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Kim S

Have you ever met someone who is brave? I have. Her name is Kim.

I met Kim when she started dating my brother Stephen. I was rooting for her the moment we met. I’m glad Stephen saw Kim’s goodness as well so she can be my sister-in-law. Kim is brave. She will send back  food in a restaurant that doesn’t meet her expectations. She asks for discounts at stores and gets it. Kim is a go-getter. She wanted to move up at work so she applied for a better position. In addition to her bravery, Kim is kind, intelligent and plays the guitar. She is a very busy person, but still has time to help my brother in making movies.

Kim is a Wonder Women. Despite the challenge of  working, attending graduate school and expecting a baby, she cultivates the beauty of her soul with activities that build her.

Remember every women’s success can be my success if I let it.

 

Musings

On the Path

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Amee on the path

Have you ever wished you could see the future? It would be much easier to make decisions if you knew how it would all work out in the end. My incredible Aunt Marla captured this picture a few weeks ago when we took a trip to the Petrified Forest. It really illustrates the uncertainty that is sometimes life.  I know I am on the right path, but I can only see the first part of the journey. It takes courage to go forward when I can only see part of the road. I just have to trust that there is a nice path even if I can’t see it behind the mountain. I really like this picture. It made me think.

 

 

Wonder Women

Wonder Women: Meet Sophea

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Sophea

Have you ever met someone who has a heart of gold? I have. Her name is Sophea.

Sophea and I met at work. She loves bowling, teaching students and taking care of her dogs. When she isn’t working, Sophea enjoys spoiling her nieces and building new inventions for her amazing urban garden. Sophea’s garden could be in a magazine. She can grow anything and she can build anything!  You should check it out here.

Sophea's garden

Sophea lives her religion. As a Buddhist, Sophea believes in karma and the importance of helping others. She brought me dinner last year when I had my surgery. I always look forward to spending time with Sophea, because I know I will have fun and leave happy.

Sophea is a Wonder Women. Despite the challenge of coming to the US as a refugee and losing both her parents at an early age, she cultivates the beauty of her soul with activities that build her.

Remember every woman’s success can be my success if I let it.

Wonder Women

Wonder Women: Meet Jenny

my13daychallenge

Jenny graduates

Today’s Wonder Women is my funny, talented sister. Meet Jenny. Jenny loves sports, helping others, planning parties, finding homes for stray cats and spending time with the love of her life Jesse. When she isn’t saving the world as a social worker, Jenny enjoys dance and aerobic classes.

Jenny is a Wonder Women. Despite the challenge of young married life with work,school and establishing a home, she cultivates the beauty of her soul with activities that build her.

Remember every woman’s success can be my success if I let it.

Musings · My Creative Challenges

Baking

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The Accountant loves to cook. He is always trying new recipes and adding secret ingredients like broccoli or flax seed to his creations. I’m terrible at guessing so I just say kale, because kale can go in anything. This week he made a chocolate souffle cake. I told him he needs to enter one of those cooking contests,and win us some money. Then we could hire a maid to do all the dishes from his cooking.

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Musings · My Creative Challenges · Uncategorized

Ants

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Ant photo

Ants love to bite me.  Most folks have been bitten by ants while doing yard work. That is understandable, because we are invading their natural home. I get bit by ants doing yard work too, but I also get bit while sitting in my bathroom, walking around national monuments, reading a book at the library and a bunch of other places that should not be ant friendly.

Today, I was bitten by another type of Ant. I got bit by the type that attacks your thoughts. A.n.t is an acronym that stands for Automatic Negative Thoughts. The idea comes from a great book called Feeling Good. I was having a bad day and A.N.T.S were running all over my head with the accompanying feelings of anxiety and inadequacy.  Here is the funny part. I was trying to remember what I read from the book about how to replace my negative thoughts with a realistic positive statement when a real ant came and bit my foot. I just started laughing. My A.N.T was interrupted by an ant.

I’m pretty excited. This is my 100th blog post.