Shea & Rob...

Shea left last night to spend 5 nights with Rob & Tammie (his wife). They are driving to the Oregon border to visit Tammie's brother. They did the same trip last year, just not as many nights. As we waited for Rob to pick her up last night, she kept getting a bit weepy. I had to suck it up and encourage her to have fun and embrace this time with her dad- and I truly mean that. As much as I'll miss her, I want her to love & treasure her time with Rob. Please pray for safety as they travel.

All day, I couldn't help but think of this special Bible verse:

In love, there can be no fear, no fear at all, for fear is driven out by perfect love.
1 John 4:18


A Child
Not until you hold one on your lap do you realize your entire world can fit into your arms.

Sing A Song...

Have you ever been driving along, preoccupied & daydreaming, (the story of my life!) where you find yourself singing a song...that you absolutely despise??? It happened to me today and I'm almost embarrassed to confess what song it was! Remember..."Whip It" by DEVO? Geez- Louise! It made me laugh out loud when I was suddenly shaken from my semi-coma! Even funnier than that...I knew alot of the words! That's subliminal something! Scary, Scary, Scary!
C'mon, go ahead...I know you're dying to...
"Whip it, whip it good!"

UNIQUE adjective

1.) Being the only one of it's kind. 2.) Different from others in a way that makes something worthy of note.

People Never Forget How You Made Them Feel...

Last Friday, one of my friends that I've known the longest, (not oldest-we've known each other since we were 5 years old) Cathy, told me that I was the most "unique" person that she had ever met. I take that to heart and as a huge compliment. I know many, many people- I'm proud that y'all think I'm crazy to send out almost 500 Christmas cards each year! But here's the thing...I've learned as I have gone through this amazing life, that family, people, friends, aquaintances and even strangers at times may forget your name or may never even know it, your birthday, what kind of clothes you wore, what you drove but they will NEVER forget how you made them feel. Just think about it for a minute...you can probably think back to a situation or a particular time in your life where someone may have hurt you or disappointed you in some way- these are things that we may never get over or forget- hopefully, with time we are able to get through them. By the same token, we can also remember times where a stranger or friend did something nice- I know it's rare, but it does happen! I love surprising people, especially ones that don't know me. I never pass up the opportunity to be kind and shock the heck out of someone! My point of this rambling is this: People never forget how you made them feel...Good or Bad. I try to remember that every day and with Cathy's compliment about being "unique"...well, I think it's a good attribute!

Love is always bestowed as a gift- freely, willingly and without expectation. We don't love to be loved; we love to love.
Leo Buscaglia

Never lose a chance of saying a kind word.
William Makepeace Thackeray

Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said!

A couple of years ago I had to speak at Open House and I used this line. It is so true and we really have to watch what we say in front of our kids- they pick up on everything! Children are so honest, aren't they? A good reminder to be a good example to our kids!

Me & Directions...Can't We All Just Get Along?

God has blessed me with many gifts...gifts that I am truly grateful for...a sense of direction is not one of them! I sometimes just shake my head and tell myself that it is ok that I get so turned around and that I don't get how the stupid freeways work! They seriously make no sense to me! I was born & raised here in CA yet often when I am driving, I feel as though I am in a foreign country! (My sister, Cindy, can go somewhere once and go back a year later and remember exactly how to get there! I can go the next day and not remember! But Cindy could never take stitches out or handle blood- she would pass out cold!) Last week, I had an appointment to have a Mammogram at 2:00pm.(Hey- that's just a treat in itself!) So I started off from work, you know, left early with more than enough time to drive and get there with plenty of time to spare! I should know by now to go the way that I know...but I thought I would save time, gas and take the more sensible and time efficient way...I was in Canoga Park and needed to get to Westlake Village. So I start on the 118 fwy going West and I'm really proud of myself and I can even see in my mind where I am supposed to be...then the choices come in- do I want the 23 North or South? It is obvious to me that I want North because the 101 North is the way to The Madonna Inn. So I start driving and start to realize that North might not have been the right choice after all, yet I continue on...all the while watching the clock tick down. I had to put in my Luther Vandross CD just to keep me level headed and so that I would not totally freak out that I didn't know where the heck I was!!!! By this time, I remember driving this way with my Grandfather when I was a little girl because his family lived in Fillmore. I finally turn around and back track to where I started out with the first choice of the 23 North or South. Get on going South- Yay! It's the earlier picture that I had in my mind and now things are looking good! Finally, my destination is ahead...or so I think! One more choice- 50/50 chance-right or left- North or South on the 101...so I choose North...wrong again! Geez- bet you aren't wanting to take me to Vegas right about now, huh? By this time, I'm thinking whatever I think is the right way...do exactly the opposite! At this point, I do what any woman would do...I call one of my best friends, Amy- where I just simply say, "I'm lost- I think I'm by your mom's house and I need to get to my appointment- Help!" This is exactly why I have Amy as one of my best friends- she talked me through where I needed to go all the while staying very calm and not laughing or making fun of me at all! By the time I finally walked in for my appointment, I wasn't even late! Signed in, sat down, filled a million papers out and waited...and waited...and waited! Now, being in medical as many years as I have been, I never mind waiting- I know what it is like to run an office with "impatient patients"! I got to flip through 2 magazines which was a treat! Had the test and the Radiologist told me my breasts looked "fabulous"! You know, what more could I ask for? I would drive 1000 miles any day of the week to hear that from a handsome man! hehe!
My conclusion: I have fabulous breasts...who the heck needs a sense of direction?

Physical Beauty

I always feel so blessed that I learned very early in my life that even the most beautiful, attractive people with the perfect bodies can be really ugly inside. One of my best friends, Dean, always says,"Show me a gorgeous woman with an ugly heart and I'll show you a man who is tired of sleeping with her!" I myself, would rather not have the perfect "outside" but rather an "inside" that is truly something unique, rare and most of all, a heart filled with love that is overflowing! "My cup runneth over"- I love at the end of the movie, "Hope Floats" where the little girl says that! When I work in the Burn Center with the children who have been so badly burned and scarred, I am thankful that I have been touched to learn how to look past the grossness of their injuries. I always feel like the most beautiful person when I go in to play with them- sometimes I have to pull my hair up in a sterile cap, no perfume, no jewelry, in some cases I am not even allowed to wear make up- yet when I walk in, the kids welcome me with open arms. They don't care what color scrubs I have on or if my nails are manicured with the prettiest color nail polish or in rubber gloves...but they always see my smile, my eyes and they know that I am ready to love on them. And by the same token, all I have to do is look in their eyes and I see what true love is all about! I truly count it as one of my greatest blessings in my life to have been given this gift of seeing past what just the outside of someone looks like. I have a framed print of this saying in my bedroom:

Beauty

The world sees our beauty, from the outside, this is true. But God looks at the beauty He placed inside of you. For beauty that is seen, we know will fade away. But the beauty of a heart will never fade away.
Cathleen Zeller

Above this framed print...I have a mirror...just as a reminder.

1st Samuel 16:7- The Lord does not look at the things that man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

On this same subject- one of my favorite sayings is:

Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye.
H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Look Back Upon Your Life...

You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments that you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.

Henry Drummond

SMILE Noun

1.) A facial expression in which the corners of the mouth are raised, usually expressing amusement, pleasure or approval. 2.) An appearance of pleasure or appeal.

It takes 17 muscles to smile and 42 muscles to frown.


The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.
E.E. Cummings

Addendum to my blog posting from yesterday...

What was the first thing Shea said to me other than "Good Morning, Mom"?????
With alot of excitement, "Mom, today Paris Hilton's CD comes out!!!" I guess we'll be at Tower today buying it to add to her "classic collection." C'mon...gotta love Paris! xoxoxo
I'll be looking for The Beach Boys Greatest hits!

What's Wrong With Kids Today?

This weekend I did alot of driving...I don't mind driving or even being stuck in traffic- I just put one of my favorite CD's in, turn it up really loud, maybe play the "air drums" every once in awhile...Ok here is my point: What is wrong with kids today??? Shea insists that listening to James Taylor is torture for her! C'mon- he is a legend, timeless, easy listening and so on. Any sane person would at least confess to liking some of his music. Shea, Alex & Hayley...NO WAY!!! It made me feel "old" when they all just bashed his songs! I tried again with my Luther, (Luther Vandross is my favorite singer ever) and again...they started in and I just couldn't bear any negative feedback about "My Luffa" (as I call him) so...I caved and we put in Jesse McCartney. Now, don't get me wrong- I do love Jesse and even took Shea to one of his concerts- but is there really any comparison to James Taylor?- I mean "Shower The People You Love With Love" is one of my all time favorite songs! Well, the only positive thing I can say that Shea has learned from me and driving in the car- Under NO circumstances do you ever turn off, change the station or even talk during one particular song: Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On"- that is law!
Do you think with age she'll learn to love James? She did with Broccoli...I'm not giving up hope!

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.
Bara Ram Dass

My Relaxing Weekend

I love to just kick it at home...but this weekend, I took Shea & her friend, Alex to Disneyland. We did not go into the park but instead ate at Goofy's Kitchen where the characters come to you and you don't have to fight the crowds! Yay! After lunch, we went into the hotel's pool and just hung out, the girls went swimming and down the waterslide. All the while, I just sat on a lounge chair and well...lounged! I read my People magazine, prayed, people watched and had my own little party in my mind with that someone special! hehe! The girls ended up being in the pool for 5 hours! They took one break and came and ate Cheetos and each had a Shirley Temple- which was really to my benefit because I got to eat all the "Maraschino Cherries" which are one of my favorites...those and Cotton Candy! At one point my heart was touched by a family that was in the pool- mom & dad & 3 kids ages ranging from a teenage daughter, son about 10, and a younger son about 6. The were all linked together in the pool in a circle- they looked so happy and loving- I even asked them if they wanted me to take a picture of them with their camera- heck, that's what memories are made of! The most interesting part of my day was right before we were leaving- there was a lady with her daughter, Devon, who was 9 and as we started talking, she asked me what I did and I told her that I do accounting but that my profession is a nurse. She then explained that the reason she was so intent on "watching" her daughter was because in the last year, Devon has had to have a battery of medical tests trying to determine two seizure like episodes that the Dr. linked to scar tissue in her cervical spine (neck). She shared that Devon started meds and they were worried about the side effects, etc...The interesting thing, they did not know why she had this scar tissue- of course my medical mind was reeling with trying to figure out why a 9 year old could possibly have scar tissue on her neck??? I asked several questions and then asked the mom if she had ever been in a car accident when she was pregnant- at first she said no and then it was like lights went off! She looked pale and said, "I was in a bad rear ender when I was 3 months pregnant"- she told me that she even went to the hospital and had an ultrasound to make sure that the baby was ok at that point. I'm sure most Dr.'s would be thinking Post-Birth but Pre-Birth makes so much sense to me because at 12-30 weeks, it is such a critical time for spinal development in a fetus. It just makes so much sense that over the last 8 or 9 years that scar tissue could build up. I also mentioned about MSG sometimes causing small tremors in children- it happened to Shea until she grew older. My whole point of writing all of this is: There are no coincidences in life- God put me there to talk with this woman- she couldn't wait to go and tell her husband and she made it clear that she was going to talk to Devon's Dr.'s about the accident and the possibility than it could be from that! Please pray for Devon & her family. God is truly amazing and even though it might not be an answer- what are the chances of something like two people just happening to even talk much less, share personal info regarding their kids? I thank God every day for Shea's wonderful health. It was a special day for me.

The only thing that troubles me...WHY do men feel the need to wear SPEEDOS????? Yuck!!!!

Live Well. Laugh Often. Love Much.

How many times have you heard that saying? I love it! I actually have a sign that says it over a mirror in my dining room. I think the reason that I love it so much is because it says it so clear and simple!

Live Well: I decided a couple of years ago to "simplify" my life. When I did this, I was able to realize how precious our time is. I had been running so crazy for so long...between work, housework, bills, daily chores, dance classes with Shea, schoolwork with Shea, etc...I sometimes felt like one of those little hamsters in the pet store- running around in one of those wheels and really getting nowhere! It was amazing to me when I started focusing on what was the most important to me in my life. It came down to my time spent at home and my time spent with Shea...enjoying life and not doing everything to please everyone else! Taking the time to make a few phone calls to say, "Hey- I love you." And listening to more music and watching less TV! I can honestly say that I feel like we are living well. We take time to cuddle with each other and listen to each others stories. I also value my friends and what they each bring to my life. It took me some time, but I think I am there with living well!

Laugh Often: Oh how I love to laugh...and I mean really laugh! Those who are reading this who know me well...can relate to me when I start to get the giggles! Yep, there is no stopping me! My eyes water, maybe a snort or two, and doubled over trying to catch my breath pretty much sums it up! Any of my best friends have been there with me...you know who you are! I love to hear laughter-and I have to say that my favorite to hear is Shea's. Hers is so contagious and she can get me laughing like nobody else- even if I have no clue what we are laughing about! Awhile back, I literally had to pull the car over because she cracked me up about something! And again, the other night, we could not get through our prayers because we were in hysterics! Thank God that He loves to hear us laugh!

Love Much: I love to love! I always feel like God has blessed me more than most with the heart that He made for me. I truly love to love. I have always been so blessed with all of my best friends that I have- I know there are alot of you! Each and every one brings me something different and I have a special place for each of you in my heart. Every day, I tell Shea that I love her at least a dozen times...she will always know that her mommy loved her...without question! But more than just saying those three little words, I show her love and affection every day. I have said before that I have gotten myself in trouble with how affectionate I am- yet I am never changing that! I love giving hugs and holding hands and just showing the people that I love...that I do! The loving part of my life...I have down without a doubt! If you are reading this...I probably love you too...I don't give my BLOG address to just anyone! In fact, my friend, Mitzy, admired my sign in my dining room one night...and yes, I just gave her one just like mine!

Live Well: "Teach us delight in simple things." Rudyard Kipling

Laugh Often: "Exude happiness and you will feel it back a thousand times." Joan Lunden

Love Much: "In the end, our lives are not measured by how much we love...but by how much we are loved." My favorite line from "The Wizard Of Oz."

HAPPY adjective

1.) Feeling or showing pleasure, contentment or joy. 2.) causing or characterized by pleasure, contentment or joy.

Almost daily, I am asked how I stay so happy all the time...The truth is that I choose to be happy each and every moment that I am...that's it...my sentence is finished...I choose to be happy each and every moment that I am. Like everyone, I also experience pain, sadness and disappointments- yet, I always trust in God's timing...not what I think should happen right now and I try not to give into my impatience.

Today one of my best friend's, Amy, called me at the last minute and asked if I could go to lunch- so I left even though I was busy at work and met her at Claim Jumper. We had such a great time and laughed so much. The funny thing was that we split ribs, grilled veggies & salad- talking and laughing the whole time- and at one point I just said, "I love you so much and I love that we can eat ribs and get messy and laugh with junk in our teeth!" Just as I said that statement- 2 gorgeous men walked by- extremely tall- and we both just giggled! (Amy is happily married to Eric-an awesome dude- but it never hurts to look and tell God that He did a good job!) A split second later, one of the men comes back to our table and looks me square in the face and says, "Hey- don't I know you?" My sense of humor and all I responded, "Well if I don't know you...I sure wish I did." We all laughed but as it turned out, he is one of my friends husbands! I wouldn't have recognized him but he sees our Christmas picture each year and knew right away it was me! After he left, I said to Amy, "Geez- go ahead and tell me how much BBQ sauce I have on my face!" My point is...it is so good to be happy and laugh and not worry about what other people are thinking. When you exude happiness, somebody will wish they were in your shoes! (especially if they are pretty shoes!)

"One is happy as a result of one's own efforts, once one knows the necessary ingredients of happiness- simple tastes, a certain degree of courage, self denial to a point and love- Happiness is no vague dream, of that I now feel certain."
George Sand

CHARACTER noun

1.) The set of qualities that make somebody or something distinctive, especially somebody's qualities of mind and feeling. 2.) Qualities that make somebody or something interesting or attractive.

"Be great in act, as you have been in thought."
William Shakespeare

"It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop." Confucius

"It's 5% talent, 15% skill, and 80% hanging in there."
Lucy Lawless

Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking.

My Daughter Is Love

My daughter, Shea Elisa, (pronounced like Shea stadium in New York)
is 11 and a half (that half is so important) going on 18 years old! She is the joy of my life and I love her more than words can say. I am so blessed that she has picked up on so many of my best qualities: She is sweet, kind, loving, affectionate, sensitive and totally hysterical! She definitely has my sense of humor...which really is a great attribute! Her disposition is somewhat like me, yet she has a whole side of her that is the complete opposite of anything that I am. Take for instance our recent vacation up North...at the Mid State Fair she kept insisting that she needed to ride the mechanical bull! The first and second night I was able to put off the inevitable...but by the third night she insisted that she not only wanted to ride the darn thing...but was going to do it and hold on as long as the men that had been thrown down...hard! She had picked up a free, straw cowboy hat from the Carrie Underwood concert that we had been to and I have to say, she did shock the heck out of me! Not only did she get on the "bull" but she did hold on for several minutes...all the while holding that cowboy hat up with the hand that she was not using to hold on with for dear life! She had the crowd of women & men cheering her on...the cheers were almost as loud as the ones we heard earlier for Carrie Underwood! When she finally got bumped off, she just smiled at me and said, "See mom...I told you I could do it!" She is amazing...I thank God every day for her! Shea is my definition of LOVE.
For her 11th birthday, I bought her the book: "Why A Daughter Needs A Mom" 100 Reasons
by Gregory E. Lang

Here are my top 10 that I loved the most:

A Daughter Needs A Mom:

1.) To remind her that there is a rainbow after every storm.
2.) To explain that the sweetest flower may not always be the prettiest.
3.) Who never grows tired of holding hands.
4.) Who will sing along with her when her favorite song comes on the radio.
5.) To make sure she keeps a true heart.
6.) To encourage her to laugh as often as possible.
7.) To teach her that the path taken means as much as the destination.
8.) To show her how to put alittle love in everything she does.
9.) Who never hesitates to show affection.
10.)To teach her that you can not make someone love you, but you can be someone who can be loved.

One last thought about my adorable daughter...she pointed out to me that my Blog name : "ad-ette" sounded alot like "idiot"- yeah...she's a keeper!

Spontaneous

As I get older, I am becoming much more daring and feeling much more apt to take risks that I might not have in my younger days. In my youth, I had too many "what ifs" rather than just taking that leap of faith...I'm not saying that I am not cautious but definitely more spontaneous than I ever was before! I like the rush I get when I can just be free to be alittle bit wild and say things that might be a bit bold. I saw this today and it made me giggle:

I'm planning to be more spontaneous in the future.

I guess there is nothing wrong with planning! :)

"You don't get to choose how you are going to die. Or when. You can only decide how you are going to live. Now."
Joan Baez

"I have learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances."

Martha Washington

One of my favorite books has become Joel Osteen's "Your Best Life Now". It seems that I re-read it constantly. I have found that my favorite part of the book is on Page 16 and it reads:

Admittedly, sometimes good things don't happen as quickly as we would like, but instead of slouching into negative expectations, we must keep our minds set on God. Your attitude should be, "God I know that you are at work in my life. Although the miracle I've been watching for didn't happen today, I know I am one day closer to it! I am one day closer to my answered prayer, and I am not going to get upset. I'll not allow myself to become discouraged. I know that Your timing is perfect, so I'm going to stay in an attitude of faith and keep trusting You to do what is best."

I read this part of the book almost daily- it is such a wonderful reminder to me to do as my favorite Bible verse says:

Proverbs 3: 5&6 -Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.

Faith, Hope & Trust are really groovy!

Small Paper Clips

I returned to work today after being on vacation for a week. My daughter & I had the most fabulous time of fun in the sun! We went to concerts (by the way...I am pleased to say that I kissed Rick Springfield's booty) and really enjoyed the Mid State Fair in Paso Robles, CA. Returning to the piles of work that had been saved for me to catch up on...I realized something today...small paper clips serve absolutely no purpose in the work place or anywhere else for that matter! The larger, more sturdy clips are the only ones that should be made anymore. And don't even get me started on the clips that you have to "learn" how to use- you know the ones where you have to flip around then pinch to open- now those are worth every cent! They make it worth using them! From here on in...I am never using a small paper clip ever again! Unless of course, it is to unfold it and pretend that it is my retainer! Hehe- Did you ever do that as a kid? C'mon...I know you did!

My friend, Keith M., made me laugh out loud the other day at work...
He said, "The thing about COMMON SENSE is... it ain't that common!"
He told me the famous person who quoted this...but his name has slipped my mind...besides, I think it was funnier coming from Keith! Keith is also the one who on my first day of work when the Santa Ana winds were blowing so fiercely said, "Man, I would love to be naked in this wind right now!" I just laughed and told him to strip first and that I would in turn...follow his lead! Ha! Gotta love the guys with "free spirits" and "uncomplicated minds!" I often wonder if his wife knows how lucky she is to have him! :) Well...maybe "lucky" is not the right word! xoxoxo

I always tell my daughter that just because one has alot of money...it does not make them rich. I also tell her that we are rich in so many ways that I will never equate with having alot of money! I love this quote:

Life begets life.
Energy creates energy.
It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich.

Written by: Sarah Bernhardt

I sometimes get myself in trouble for being so overly affectionate... I found this article that I read very interesting...not that I didn't figure it out already!

From Prevention Magazine July 2006

Reach out and touch...A number of academic studies have found that hugging, hand-holding and other forms of TLC ease anxiety by calming areas of the brain that register alarm- and can even lower blood pressure, too.

No wonder why I am always so calm & never stressed! Go hug someone today! xoxoxoxo