Keep Calm, Carry On -- Morning Inspiration

My hubby is off flying this week . . . the house needs attention with its mountains of laundry and unfinished projects. . . the kids have state testing in school this week, so they don't need a mom who is stressed out. I was surfing online for a little mommy chill time and ran across these posters.
Funny how the store Keep Calm and Carry On.com popped up on my screen during a Stumble session. The message I need always finds a way to get my attention . . . I'm thankful for early morning direction today.

Keep Calm and Carry On. . . Hmmm, maybe I'll dust off the mountain bike while the kids are in school today.

Blessings to you,

Leisa

Mom Space for the Visually Inspired

I'm inspired . . . the perfect Mom Office for a Visual Thinker like me -- great ideas to organize and keep my thoughts on track. Find it at OurBigEarth.com

A Thanksgiving List

Photo of the Port St. Joe Sea and Sky, courtesy of VisitFloridaBeaches.com

I was listening to Oprah's Soul Series today on XM Radio. Her guest, Sarah Ban Breathnach, is one of my favorite authors. Her book, Simple Abundance, was life changing for me. After reading it, I began the daily ritual of keeping a gratitude journal --writing down at least five things each day for which I am grateful. Once I began this practice, I found that the only thing difficult about it was limiting the list to just five things each day -- so, of course, I don't limit it. I just allow that gratitude to grow and grow. . .

And you know, this process of daily blessing counting has caused those blessings to multiply exponentially in my life. So today, as we prepare for Thanksgiving, I give thanks for the last few amazing weeks of my life where BIG dreams truly have come true. Also, I wanted to offer a little inspiration of my own to you. Below is an updated version of My Abundant List . . . may it inspire you to make a list of your own today, and

Feel the joy of realizing your own dreams have ALREADY come true!

Make a list today.

A list of things to feel grateful for right now, in this moment.
A list of happy childhood memories you can share with your children.

A list of positive attributes others would use to describe you.

A list of little things in life you will no longer take for granted.

A list of dreams in life that have already come true for you.
A list of moments you won something in life . . .
And a list of moments you learned something valuable instead.

A list of memories that take your breath away.

A list of kindnesses bestowed upon you within the past week, month, or year.

A list of facts the world would be surprised to learn about you.

A list of choices you’ve made that made a difference in your life.

A list of values you hold most dear.

A list of opportunities open to you right now, just waiting to be seized.

A list of qualities your children possess that make your heart sing.
A list of people who have touched your life in such a powerful way that you will always feel their presence.

A list of every moment that made you smile during the past week.

A list of books you think everyone should read.

A list of what you can do today to brighten another person’s life.

A list of the reasons why you fell in love with your husband and . . .

A list of reasons why you love him even more today.

A list of all the people who have ever called you friend.

A list of what you find beautiful in your home.

A list of lessons your children have taught you.

A list of practical items you are grateful to own.

A list of all the things that make you happy right now.

Give thanks for a life so abundant that you were able to make such a list!

Some Day

A couple of weeks ago, my husband, Rob, and I drove to this waterfront lot on the Chesapeake Bay to dream of "Some Day." I had discovered this treasure a few days earlier and couldn't wait to share its beauty with him. I remember telling him when we arrived, "They say if you are lucky enough to live on the water. You are lucky enough." He agreed. Then I told him, "Someday, we will be this lucky. I don't know how, but someday this dream will come true. You'll see." Then we agreed that this spot along the Chesapeake was beautiful, but our little stretch of beach was going to be in Florida -- some day.

It's amazing how "Some Day" arrives in ways unexpected. My mother used to tell me, "Anything is possible!" And when the teenage girl before her would roll her eyes and respond, "Sure Mom." She would stop me firmly and say, "Think about it! ANYTHING is possible." My mother always speaks the truth I need to hear. I'm glad I decided to listen and believe. Any dream can come true if you allow it to. Our "some day" is almost here . . .

100 Years from Now -- Tribute Video

Life Time Fitness Child Center Team Tribute

The following video was a labor of a love that my husband and I created for a team and a workplace that absolutely changed my life. I had the good fortune of serving as a Child Center Activities Coordinator at a Life Time Fitness in Texas.

I believed in our team's mission to make an impact in the life of the children brought to our care. I believed in the company's focus on family and healthy lifestyle choices. And I believed in the people with whom I shared my time -- coworkers, members, friends, and hundreds of precious children. Yes, I said hundreds! Sure, we had our share of drama (as any workplace is bound to have), but I will never forget the joy or the incredible lessons learned during my time there. My life is richer for having been a part of this wonderful team.

100 Years From Now
It will not matter
what house I lived in,
the kind of car I drove,
or the size of my bank account,
But the world may be different
because I was important in the life of a child.

And. . . . a personal note about the quote chosen for this video. I don't think I ever shared this with any of my coworkers. I first saw this quote on a frame underneath the picture of a beautiful young nurse and her 9 month old son. A pediatric unit had been named in this nurse's honor after her life was taken too soon in a car accident -- the day after the photo was taken. The baby boy in the photo lived through the accident. We all know his mother's final prayer was for his life to be spared. This boy -- now almost 10 years old -- is my nephew. His mother was my brother's wife.

The beautiful nurse, Heather is her name, was well-known for her devotion to critically ill children in the hospital where she worked. She was an angel to know. Heather was often asked how she was able to work with so many terminally ill children -- surely it had to be heartbreaking. Heather's response was always, "I know where the children are going. My job is to just make their time here as comfortable and joyful as possible." Heather made a difference in the life of children and inspired me to do the same.

My Frog Mistake . . .
I was weeding the garden again this weekend, and noticed hundreds - maybe thousands - of tadpoles have taken up residence in our koi pond. Then . . . I remembered the discovery I reported in this blog on the first day of Spring: " A family of frogs - three parent frogs with babies on their backs . . . " I guess it is safe to assume those weren't babies after all.

A Thanksgiving List

Make a list today.

A list of things to feel grateful for right now, in this moment.

A list of happy childhood memories you can share with your children.
A list of positive attributes others would use to describe you.
A list of little things in life you will no longer take for granted.
A list of dreams in life that have already come true for you.

A list of memories that take your breath away.
A list of kindnesses bestowed upon you within the past week, month, or year.
A list of facts the world would be surprised to learn about you.
A list of choices you’ve made that made a difference in your life.
A list of values you hold most dear.
A list of opportunities open to you right now, just waiting to be seized.
A list of qualities your children possess that make your heart sing.

A list of every moment that made you smile during the past week.
A list of books you think everyone should read.
A list of what you can do today to brighten another person’s life.
A list of the reasons why you fell in love with your husband and . . .
A list of reasons why you love him even more today.
A list of all the people who have ever called you friend.
A list of what you find beautiful in your home.
A list of lessons your children have taught you.
A list of practical items you are grateful to own.
A list of all the things that make you happy right now.

Give thanks for a life so abundant that you were able to make such a list!

MomStory

My story did not begin here in motherhood. . .

26 years before I brought a life into this world, I lived. I have many of those stories to tell – some are quite riveting! But, my journey into motherhood is where I gained perspective. My purpose became clear. My actions, more deliberate – determined. In a way, it seemed nothing else before this time mattered. But, indeed, it all mattered. All my stories, fantasies, dreams had created the path leading to this great journey called motherhood. The moment I became a mother was the moment I stopped rushing. In this moment, I realized life was
not some quick excursion toward an undisclosed location, but rather a series of moments – stops along the way – meant to be savored and enjoyed.

Life is after all, many moments in time. Each one important. Some crucial. Some . . . well, they just take your breath away!

Life for most of us, I believe, makes sense only when we grasp our soul’s purpose. I realized when I had my first child, mothering was my calling. So this is not the beginning of my story, but rather, it is where the scene changes, the plot thickens, and the characters steal the show.
This is the reason for telling the story at all…

First day of Spring . . . Welcome!

This afternoon while the boys played football in the back, Ainsley and I rocked on the porch swing under our deck to watch. It was a crisp, cool day and the wind seemed to travel up through the slats in the swing, so I wrapped her up tightly in our big, fluffy brown blanket. I told her she was a baby caterpillar and this was her warm cocoon and when she awakes from her spring time nap, she would be a beautiful butterfly. She lay there for a while swinging in my lap almost dozing off until a chilly wind crept up and rattled through the trellis behind us. Pretty soon, she wiggled free of the blanket and began her springtime flight across the lawn. . .

As my butterfly princess danced, I began weeding the garden around our pond. There I discovered a family of frogs -- three parent frogs with babies on their backs and possibly more tadpoles underneath. I called Ainsley over to meet our new guests. Her brothers, seeing Ainsley's excitement, were next to us in a flash. The frogs didn't flinch - just stared at us curiously. Could they find us as interesting as we find them?! It was quite a joyful sight for all of us to see our pond so filled with life.

Butterfly naps, garden ponds, and frog families . . . what a perfect welcome to Spring!

The gift of today.

It is early yet today, but I know there is much to do -- meetings scheduled, commitments, priorities, daily tasks I know will need to take place. Today, after my sons board their bus to school, I will drive my daughter to preschool, keep driving to another preschool where I will teach a weekly exercise class to other mothers' precious children. Afterward, I will attend the settlement of the home we are building, then I will return home to clean, do laundry, and prepare for my precious children's return from school. The boys want their friends to visit tonight. I wish to plan a weekend of fun, but before I can do that, I will have work reports to complete, and household items to organize. I have many purposes to fulfill on this day, and several steps I must take to manage the tasks efficiently.

But what excites me about today, is that despite intense planning, I realize surprises await. Life itself has a previously ordained purpose to fulfill today, as well. Perhaps, today will produce a surprise encounter. An opportunity to uplift a broken spirit. An important lesson to learn. A new friend to meet. Despite my precise planning, there is a today before me still planning to unfold. A gift waiting to be opened. My heart is open to the limitless possibilities as I humbly accept the blessings this day holds. I pray for the awareness and grace to recognize its great worth.

A life recorded is twice precious, first the experience itself, then the memory of it, full and sweet, when we read about it later. ~Elain Cannon

Once upon a time, I was a scrapbooker. . .

There, it's official. I'm reaching the acceptance that I either no longer have the time or just don't wish to create the time I need to scrapbook anymore. Or perhaps, I'm just finally cleaning house and realizing decluttering my workspace of little used and vastly disorganized designer papers, punches, tapes and glues will greatly contribute to my sense of peace in this world. After all, every clean-up-your-act expert agrees that if a person hasn't used something in six months, then chances are she never will. And well . . . it's been a year. Time to donate the goods and find a new hobby.

Blogging seems to be a clutter-free endeavor, so I think I will give it fair chance to sustain my creative flow while freeing my home of excess paper.

Words can still be written. Photographs still taken, compiled, and treasured. The two may still connect peacefully into a collection of memories I wish to share.

But this time, the process doesn't completely impede the usefulness of three industrial shelves and six cabinets -- spaces, I'm sure, that will function much better as holding pens for an ever growing supply of toys and trinkets --many of which will probably be looking for a more loving home within the next year as well.

So, here I am . . . ex-scrapbooker and blogging newcomer : Leisa_T. a.k.a IdeaMom, wife to Rob, mother to three darling children, and friend to, hopefully, too many to name. Ready to face a new adventure, traverse new terrain -- in a delightfully new (to me) clutter-free way. Thank you for joining me in the journey.

These are the MOMents
I live for. . .

moments that melt my heart, take my breath away, and warm my soul. . . magic moments with you.

In this magic moment, my son read to me for the first time . . . he was four.