funny...

found here

proceed anyway

recent post from Danielle's LaPorte's blog ...

This is Your Guarantee of Failure. Proceed anyway.

GUARANTEED, FOR SURE, NO WAY OUT, GONNA HAPPEN, ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY CERTAIN:
You will fail. At some point. More than once.

You will get hurt.
You’re going to get dumped, broken up with. Betrayed, even.
Heart broken. Heart. BROKEN.
You might get kicked out, rejected, canned. Denied entry.
Not invited.

You will be criticized.
You will be denied.
You’ll be too late.
You’ll give up too soon.

You’ll misread the fine print, sign a bad deal, and it’ll cost ya — dearly. You will miss opportunities, miss the mark, let some precious part of life pass you by. You won’t win. You will lose.
You will be wounded and you’ll have scars — that show.

You’ll have regrets.
And things you wish you could do over.
You’ll say things you wished you had never said.
There will be many, many things that you’ll wish you had said — fiercely loving and bravely tender things, righteously justice-rendering things that could change everything — but instead, you’ll fail to rise in the way you wanted to.

There’s no mystery, there’s no avoiding it, and no one born has ever, or will ever, be immune. Failing is as certain as sunsets and detours. So why exert energy avoiding the unavoidable? Shift your energy from protecting yourself from failure to squeezing the life out of life.

Let your guard down, take the brakes off, and tear up that insurance policy – it was a rip off anyway. The status quo has been feeding you factory-grade illusions. Sign up, speak up, get out, and get it on. You will fail. At some point. More than once. Guaranteed. Proceed anyway.

favorite pins of the week

I've got this thing for metal and wire...

Elegant ways to display photos and create centerpieces...

Lovely centerpieces are created with succulents.

 this ixxi product is amazing...

Happy Weekend!

all sources of pins are found on my Pinterest boards...      

Rumi quotes

Turn as the Earth and the Moon,

circling what they love.

- Rumi

happiness

Interview with Danielle LaPorte on 'happiness'.  I highlighted my favorite parts, words, and thoughts.

This interview was found on the happiness project.

“I Used to Think That Cheery, Regularly Happy People Were Too ‘Lite’…”

I heard about Danielle LaPorte several years ago, when I read a Domino magazine article about her work. I found her ideas so interesting that I got in touch with her, and over the years, I’ve gotten to know her better and better.

There’s tremendous buzz around her latest book, which hits the shelves next week. The Fire Starter Sessions: A Soulful + Practical Guide to Creating Success on Your Own Terms is a terrific resource for anyone who wants to get clarity on what they want and how to get there. Passion and purpose! And making ideas real. These are Danielle’s big themes.

Gretchen: What’s a simple activity that consistently makes you happier?

Danielle: Impromptu kitchen disco. (Note: cooking is not required, especially at my house. Just clear the floor, crank the tunes and get down ON it.)

What’s something you know now about happiness that you didn’t know when you were 18 years old?

Happiness is a choice. Often, some “rising above it” is required, or some rigorous re-framing of a perspective. But you can intentionally shift your psycho-spiritual gears into a genuine state of happiness.

The most profound thing I’ve figured out about happiness, is that it’s the clearest indicator of deep wellness. I’m much less broody and moody than I was when I was in my twenties (one would hope so, right?) So happiness is, like, hipper to me than now than it used to be. I used to think that cheery, regularly happy people were too “lite,” too…in denial of something. But I get now that happiness is the result of our core vitality and resilience. Peace is my new cool.

Is there anything you find yourself doing repeatedly that gets in the way of your happiness?

Other than staying up too late? Which I do. All the time.

Well, I’m pretty righteous when it comes to customer service—the cell phone rep, the waiter, the gum-poppin’ cashier…I get inordinately peeved with lame service and get myself into a tizzy about how half the world needs to pull up their socks and be more polite. I could definitely lighten up and send some loving kindness instead of prickly posturing.

Is there a happiness mantra or motto that you’ve found very helpful? (e.g., I remind myself to “Be Gretchen.”) Or a happiness quotation that has struck you as particularly insightful? Or a particular book that has stayed with you?

Motto: My true nature is joy.

Quote: Turn as the earth and moon, circling what they love.—Rumi

Book: The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have by Mark Nepo

Is there anything that you see people around you doing or saying that adds a lot to their happiness, or detracts a lot from their happiness?

Happiness boosters: One of my dearest friends runs triathlons. She tells me the endorphins are like a bliss drug—and she proves that by being incredibly positive most of the time. I won’t be doing any triathlons soon, but I can personally attest, as can my athletic and yoga-practicing friends, that moving your body is the surest way to feel better.

Happiness detractors: My heart breaks for people who obsess about the past. Chronically replaying how you got wronged is putting a fat wedge between you and true fulfillment. Face forward.

Have you always felt about the same level of happiness, or have you been through a period when you felt exceptionally happy or unhappy—if so, why? If you were unhappy, how did you become happier?

During some excruciatingly difficult times in my life, it came down to this declaration / mantra: I will do whatever it takes to be happy. That resolve and devotion opened my life up so much wider. The expansion wasn’t entirely comfortable, of course. It meant I had to walk away from some things (brutal). It meant I had to find my edges, go to places I’d avoided, examine if my dreams were still the right size for my soul.

The learning brought me so much sweetness. I found new things—new theories, foods, cities, yoga poses, ideas, friends, new ways of seeing old friends, that brought me to new depths of happiness.

I made happiness the sacred priority. It worked.

Do you work on being happier? If so, how?

Always, every day, constantly. (Except when I’m happy being miserable.) I try not to work on being happy, as much as I try listen for it. It’s usually there, chillin’ out in my psyche, waiting for me to stop and takes its cues.

Have you ever been surprised that something you expected would make you very happy, didn’t—or vice versa?

I can hardly believe it, but our new guinea pigs are joy-balls. I had a strict no-rodent policy, but my eight-year-old son ran an impressive birthday campaign (I promise I’ll love the guinea pigs forever and ever!) and we now have “Jack Black” and “Bruno Mars” in the house. They’re smart. And soft. (Two of my favorite qualities in people.) We adore them.

As for things that I think would bring me great happiness, but wind up being less than incredible…I consistently convince myself that a new pair of shoes will revolutionize my entire life. The high of high heels is fleeting—but I’m committed to keep trying. Like I said, I will do whatever it takes to be happy.

ixxi

SUPER COOL product! I love the idea of the collage...grouping a bunch of pictures of a collection you own (collection of dishes or tshirts) or an event (concert, wedding, or child's 1st year).  I want to do this!

ixxi's blog looks kinda cool...

LHS Orchestra

Finally figured out found someone to help me edit this orchestra concert video using iMovie.  Eek.  Don't think I could do it again.

Sammy is in the far left corner, next to the stage (not sure if that would be front or back!).

This is the final 3 minutes from "William Tell Overture".  Listen to the very end.  It's wonderful!  Kids are magic.

local church

8 POINTS OF “WHY” THE LOCAL CHURCH

1. Local Church has advantage of the largest participation.

2. Local Church has widest distribution. The church is everywhere.

3. Local Church has longest track record of good. For 2000 years the local church has been taking care of people and meeting needs. 

4. Local Church has fastest expansion. Nothing grows as fast as the church. 

5. Local Church has biggest motivation. LOVE.- the Great Commandment

6. Local Church has greatest authority. God has authorized us.- the Great Commission

7. Local church has the simplest organization. Use ordinary people where they are. 

8. The Local Church has the greatest conclusion. We know how it will end.

Number 7 is my favorite.  'Local church has the S I M P L E S T organization.  Use O R D I N A R Y people where they are'.  It works.

Found this on TeacherScribe blog. The link is on the sidebar...Education Innovation. 

confirmation

Sam was confirmed last Saturday evening.  It really is overwhelming when you finally come to a point of celebration!  Sam read the second reading during the Mass, Ben was his sponsor, and Isaac served.  It was a wonderful evening with a beautiful Mass and supper with family.  Blessings.

Ben and Sam

Father Rick and Sam following the Mass

Isaac has served a lot over the years and I was happy that he was asked to participate in this Mass.

Bishop Hoeppner celebrated with us.  

We celebrated at our home with supper and then Sam opened gifts.  Grandma Olson gave Sam a beautiful cross and Sam is wearing the cross necklace from Grandma Sherry, Dennis, and us.  There were other thoughtful gifts from aunts, uncles, and cousins.

It was so good to have Ben home with us and very special that he is Sam's sponsor.  Unfortunately for Ben, it was the beginning of a very busy finals week.  Worldly obligations and expectations can weigh us down and are difficult to carry, at times.  But it was clear and obvious that Ben was doing exactly what was right at that time... his presence was a gift to Sam and his family.

prom 2012

coldplay

One of my new favorites...

 "The Hardest Part" by Coldplay

is it love?

More to love...this is a post from Danielle LaPorte.  Her link is below...

is it love if you’re all cranky when you give it?

I’ve been searching the archive of my emotions, looking for the root source of the notion that love is easy. Romantic comedies and new age bookstores. Glossy hopes, like my prom picture and all those journals I burned. Smiling martyrs and serene Saints.

Love. Just love. Love makes it easier. Just love and it’s easy. Easy. To Love. Love flows. Love graces. Love doesn’t grind. It doesn’t wince. It doesn’t lug. Love ain’t heavy. Love is light.

Right?

Somewhere in all this I got snagged and questioned my capacity to love. Thinking that if I was resentful, or felt burden, or a little on the crank whilst I was dishing out the love, then it wasn’t … love. It was faux love, pseudo Buddhist, fallen Catholic, contrived agape. Unlove. Not quite right.

Wrong.

It’s still love. Jagged, cranky, lip bitten, heavy sighing. On delivery, it becomes love.

It’s the intention that reaches.
The surmounting that teaches.
Good, hard, real love.

is it love if you’re all cranky when you give it?