Double Portion Inspiration

  Happy NEW Year! 🥳 2023 is here and we are in the midst of starting this year with a fresh start ( maybe ). Is anything actually new aside from the date on the calendar?  Are we ( yes I said we ) stuck in old patterns, old mindsets or behaviors? I often chuckle at the beginning of a new year because I find that really NOT much has changed. It is just a new date on the calendar. Americans are still in debt, COVID remains, inflation still persists, safety and security feel illusive. Our world remains divided and dangerous. For this year to be different it will take YOU taking intentional actions. Personally or professionally you must make up your mind to MOVE forward. Take ONE step forward. I hear people often "talking" about what they want to change. They are fully aware of what they need to do. But unfortunately before January ends, many will slip back into old patterns and habits. It sounds impressive to say, "I want to be debt free, I want to lose weight, I will squa...

In a recent blog post I shared about my menopause journey and 5 tips for the men in our lives. Here's the  link  in case you missed it. One of the side effects that I didn't mention is weight gain. It can be such a big part of the menopause journey that it needed its own post. If you're between the ages of 45-55 (average age range for menopause), you might have noticed weight gain in your mid-section. You may also find maintaining your weight is much harder than it used to be. I started looking into the correlation between menopause and weight gain after gaining 10 pounds in 3 months. At first I thought the weight gain was due to COVID. Late night eating, less active days and cooking new recipes can wreck anyone's weight loss plans. Couple that with menopause and it's a horrible duo in any woman's life. Just know that it's not just your body going through changes.  Women are more likely to gain excess belly weight, especially deep inside the belly, as they g...

When was the last time you took the opportunity to dream? Assuming no limitations, what is your wildest dream? How many dreams are buried inside of you? I remember being with a circle of women and the facilitator of the group asked us to complete a homework assignment. The homework was creating a list of 100 dreams. The dreams could be large or small (ex: mailing a card or reading a book uninterrupted). The pace of life often times gets in the way of us dreaming. As kids, I remember daydreaming all the time. During Summer, I would dream of being an educator just like my mom. I would dream of being a pretty princess in a fairytale. The curiosity of children keeps them imagining a different world. I realized with that homework assignment that I didn't even know where to start in listing my dreams. At first, I struggled to write down any dream.  My ability to dream was buried.   It's been buried as I navigate the role of mom, wife, colleague, girlfriend, sister, volunteer, leader...

The thoughts twirling in my head on any given day in 2020 are random. As I try to process the amount of information and news to stay informed it can lead to anxious thoughts and nervousness. Sometimes the largest battle in our life isn't happening externally (outside world) it's happening internally (inside us). Our smiles and normal demeanor can hide the true feelings rattling around in our brain. We mask (no pun intended) how we really feel thinking no one has the time to truly listen.  WHO wants to hear us complain?  I hear people say reach out to someone if you are struggling, but honestly most often that someone is too captivated with their own day to day living. How do we stop the self defeating and anxious thoughts? What do we do after we've reached out to someone and we feel the same way? With each passing day in 2020, there is more and more to frighten us. I'm learning (not there yet) to sit still. This might be the hardest part of my day, sitting still.  I si...

I know this is shocking news especially since my oldest son is already 20 years old. If I had to do it all over again I would want a sweet newborn that would sleep through the night, not have allergies and not have to deal with asthma or multiple ear infections. CLEARLY - not possible!!  Babies are full of life and innocence. We don't get to choose their temperament. We are designed to parent and love our children NO matter what. As parents, we learn life lessons of being adaptable and vulnerable. Having a newborn in the house is humbling and complex. Everyday we learn about them and also about ourselves. Most likely this year we've wished for a more perfect world. A world that wouldn't have a global pandemic. A world with more employed workers. A world without poverty or social and political unrest. Unfortunately, that's NOT our reality now. How will we RESPOND when our situation isn't changing? Our RESPONSE is the one thing we can control. We can always choose h...

Kelly and I are different. She's Canadian and I'm American. We have worked together and we refuse to focus on our differences. Kelly is a #1 best selling international children's author. You can find her book on Amazon. I read her book OFTEN . I am honored to have her as our guest blogger today.  Kelly discusses strength she's discovered while raising a daughter with facial differences. You never know where inspiration will strike; for me, it was a train ride into the city of Toronto. I was sitting there drinking my morning tea when it came to me; all the situations that we've encountered had one thing in common. We taught her to introduce herself when someone was staring. When my daughter was born, we didn't know that she had Treacher-Collins Syndrome or had ever heard of it. The moment I met my little girl, it changed my life for the better. I took one look and said this little girl is going to change the world. I realized I wanted to be a part of changing it...

Humanity is experiencing a constant stream of loss during this pandemic. The toll on human life as well as the loss of control over our emotions during COVID19, is a reality.  There are many ways in which we could be grieving in 2020: Loss of normal routines Loss of feeling a hug Loss of being around others Loss of not being in the hospital with a sick family member Lost of not meeting a new grand baby Loss of not being able to travel internationally Loss of control Loss of a loved one Loss of employment Loss of attending a concert We can start to feel buried by all the loss and pain. As the days of the pandemic continue, we can feel blue vs feeling full of life. If we are honest, life can feel like too much effort to live.  WHO will rescue us from all this pain? WHO will rescue us from these losses? WHO can restore what has been taken away? Focusing only on the situations happening around us can give us a false sense of defeat. We are definitely navigating some troubled times...

Two years ago, cancer found me. I became a part of a club that I didn't want to join. It's a diagnosis I never wanted to hear. So many people I know have overcome cancer and so many others have succumb to it. It's taken me nearly two years to share my story on this blog. I'm still moving through the cancer process but I'm so thankful to still be here! After waking up in the worst pain of my life in November 2018, Alton rushed me to the emergency room. I was quickly discharged after the physicians told me that a mass on my ovary needed evaluation by my gynecologist. That visit with my doctor never came. After passing out later that evening, the following day I ended up in an ambulance going in and out of consciousness. My daughter was home when the ambulance arrived. I vaguely remember seeing her sobbing and as any mother would do, I gently whispered, "I'm going to be ok." She knew that my situation was dire yet somehow I didn't even ...

The ground underneath us is MOVING. Can you feel it? This is truly the year of TRANSITION . If you feel that you are not grounded or you are unsettled in your spirit, that is a normal. Be patient with yourself through this process. While you are being patient, STRAP on because this ride through 2020 will continue to have turbulence. We've become so accustomed to our norms and when they are shattered we feel a roller coaster of emotions. If you are experiencing self defeating thoughts, a sad heart, confusion, anger, sadness, etc. it is a part of being in a world that's constantly evolving. We must learn how to sit in the seat of uncertainty . We also have to teach our children how to sit in the seat of uncertainty. I was reminded on Sunday that GOD is my anchor when life feels like a merry go round. This is the moment to wrap your life in the arms of God's security. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into Go...

How are you navigating these uncertain times? Does your heart constantly feel sad? Are you feeling that life is out of control? Are you extremely tired? Have you lacked motivation to get out of bed? Are you having restless nights of sleep? Are you experiencing heart palpitations? Are you walking through grief? If you are anything like the majority of Americans and me, you've had shifts in your mood and emotions on a daily basis. Keeping up with the ever evolving COVID19 updates, being a caregiver, learning the new "rules" to go back to work, being unemployed, loss of a loved one or even dealing with small children while working from home can add to our anxiety levels. Did you know that 1 in 5 Americans suffer with mental illness?  I found a great  resource to help me research a local therapist in my own area. Mental health matters . If you've been feeling like you are having some tough days because of isolation reach out to someone for a virtu...

The sound of this global pandemic is SILENCE .  Sports Arenas - Silent Restaurants - Silent Schools - Silent Church Buildings - Silent Parks - Silent Playgrounds - Silent Barber Shops - Silent Libraries - Silent There is a wave of SILENCE sweeping across our world. I truly believe this "GLOBAL PAUSE" has been provided for a reason. As my dear sister told me, we are having a Ctrl-Alt-Delete moment. It's time to hit the RESET button on our lives. When you stop and think about it, we are grieving . I am hoping the word grief helps me understand my MOOD swings. One moment I am fully confident and the next I feel other emotions like sadness and anger. Grief looks different for all of us. But grief will always bring out raw emotions. That's why I keep saying to myself - be PATIENT. We could be grieving the liberty of going to work. We could be grieving the freedom of dropping our children at daycare. We could be grieving the liberty of go...

Our world is changing right before our eyes. We are now, more than ever, aware of the fragility of our world. The systems that we've put our security in are collapsing around us. Our grocery stores shelves are empty, malls are closed, sports are shut down, churches & synagogues are closed, schools are closed and our financial investments are plummeting in value. In all candidness, I have been discouraged . What about you? The sound of this virus has been SILENCE . Main avenues through downtown are empty. Broadway is empty, libraries and movie theaters are empty. The sound of silence and the unknown leaves us feeling more vulnerable than ever. I am learning like many of you, to keep my social media time to a minimum and watch the news only when necessary. I'm learning how to plug into the blessings that are all around me as our world goes through a GLOBAL PAUSE . We've asked for more time to get things done - now we have it. We've asked for more time with our...

LIFE as we know it has changed. Many of us are experiencing disruptions to our normal activity due to the coronavirus. We are all bracing for impact not knowing what to expect. One reality for many people is working remotely. I've worked from home for almost 2 decades. Although I travel often, when I am home I work from my home office. The ability to have a fast WIFI connection and a laptop ensures your capacity to work remotely, no matter where you are. Please realize, not every job has the flexibility to work remotely. I wanted to share a few tips to make this new reality work. Create A Space It is important for you to have a space within your home designated for you to work. It can be a dining room table or a desk in a guest bedroom. You won't have all the features of an office environment like a high quality color printer, water cooler or yummy expresso machine but you CAN make this work.  Dress for the Occassion Just because you are working from home ...

 This is the month that we celebrate our country's independence. We are blessed to live in a country where we are FREE! Free to speak our minds. Free to speak our truth. Free to worship and praise God! In the Bible, several scriptures remind us of our freedom in Christ. To live physically and spiritually free is such a blessing. It reminds us that God is always with us and when we keep Him at the forefront of our lives, we live in true freedom. John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free , you will be free indeed. 2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom . Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Ephesians 3:12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 1 Peter 2:16 Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyon...

During a recent family meal, we each went around the table and shared one thing we loved about each other. Typically my 16 and 10 year old are on each other's nerves, so it warmed my heart to hear them being pleasant to each other. They were also surprised to hear each other's response. Do you ever ask similar questions around your dinner table? If not, try it. My youngest during vacation  As much as it was a blessing to hear them talk about each other, their answer to me was beyond words. My 10 year old started out first. I was pretty sure he was going to compliment my cooking. I've always felt like I take "rock star" status in his mind because I enjoy cooking his favorites on a regular basis. His world revolves around sports, video games, sleep, reading books, and eating. Typical kid stuff. Instead of him listing my participation in any of those activities, he quickly let me know that he loves how I teach him God's word. ...

My Wombmate! Our MOST Special Thanksgiving ! Today is the day when many will enjoy a feast full of incredible Fall dishes. You walk into any Thanksgiving host home and the smells of Fall enter your nostrils making you even more hungry than when you arrived. There is so much activity that will happen around the Thanksgiving table - some people will rummage through retail circular ads planning their Black Friday shopping strategy. The tv, for some, is playing the coveted Thanksgiving Day football games. The kids will catch up swapping school stories as they countdown to Christmas break. Then there is the group that will debate the latest pop culture events and politics. In their opinion, they will solve the world’s greatest problems. Well for Renee and I, this week has been a test of grit, resiliency, faith and a reminder of our incredible bond. I know many of you have siblings but the bond between identical twins is something short of amazing. Renee and I can finish ...

Most Saturday's I wake up early and head to the trail for a 6 mile walk with my dear friend. We always seem to cry, pray and laugh together. We pray for each other, our families, and just life in general. A few Saturday's ago, my heart was heavy and I was overwhelmed by life. We were walking and talking but my mind kept drifting back to my worries. My mind was anxious and I couldn't even focus on what she was saying. Instead of holding it in, I was transparent and shared my concerns and situation. Even though she's walking through her own difficult situations, she immediately started to pray for me. Those few moments of prayer provided encouragement and a renewed strength. A weight was lifted off my shoulders. My perspective changed and I moved from anxious thoughts to grateful thoughts. I realized in a deeper way that: prayer always works prayer in partnership with others is a mighty weapon The results you're looking for aren't always i...

Lunch: Fresh Guac, Tuna Salad & Veggies Last week I shared about my 11 pound weight loss. I shared four small changes that made a tremendous difference in my health. If you missed it, no worries.  Here you go! Since that post, I've received a few requests to share a little more about my diet during the past few months. Let me just say, I don't believe in diets. They come and go and never seem to work for me. Instead I make healthier choices one meal at a time. About 80% of my meals came from the following list (see below). I'm not a nutritionist and I urge you to consult with your physician before making any changes in your diet and exercise. Eating off this list made it easy to maintain. I also fully believe in cheating on any plan. Instead of a cheat day, have a cheat item. No matter what you decide, keep it simple! Meat; Chicken Turkey Salmon Shrimp Eggs Pork Pepperoni Side Dish: Roasted Veggies Veggies : Squash Carrots Arugula Romai...

Thanksgiving is here and that means the 2017 holiday season is in full swing. The level of activity increases for most people. Holiday parties, gifts to buy, recipes to try, family dinners and cards to mail add to our level of stress this time of year. There is a way to change your mental health during this stressful time of year. Today my Pastor spoke from I Thessalonians 5:16-18 and it has the perfect prescription for success. Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful... Shifting our thoughts to gratitude helps us focus on what is here versus what is missing. It grounds us to truly understand the real reason for the holiday season. Although someone else might win that coveted parking spot at the mall, or skip you in line at the grocery store always be joyful, keep on praying and always be thankful. This Thanksgiving, can you find at least three reasons to be thankful?  Well here is my list: Family Friendship Protection...

U. S. Flag Everyday we are bombarded with images of division and evil in our country. Sometimes you walk away from the television wondering, are we really one nation under God? Why does it seem like we are moving further and further away from God? I now realize, from my own personal journey,  one important fact. To be healed from your past, you must confront the painful areas that are buried deep.  That's true in my life, your life and it's true for our country. The journey to uncover and deal with your past can be dark, often hurts and maybe full of tears. However, it's all necessary to adequately complete the healing process. Three years ago I found myself in a broken place. During a women's conference I attended, God brought me to my knees. It was sudden and unexpected. There was a broken area of my life that I never confronted. My way of coping was to bury my feelings and not deal. God had a different plan. In that moment during the conference, the ...