*Simply Happy*

Ten on Tuesday by color

Red - Red is my favorite toe nail polish color
Orange - I prefer orange sticky notes to any other color
Yellow - Every room should have a daisy in it with a yellow center
Green - This is Blair's favorite color...so all green things make me think of him
Blue - One of my favorite color combo is Navy and stark white; though not much in my world is this combo
Purple - Eggplant came to mind. I do enjoy a good eggplant parmigan.  Not much purple about it in that state...haha!
Brown - I love brown purses and brown shoes.  I own no brown clothes...presents quite a problem
Black - Someday I would like to paint my bedroom a soft blue and have craftmans black furnitue with crisp white linens and lots of throw pillows!
Silver - My car and my computer are silver...and I like them both very much
Pink - When I picture pink I picture all things Sally!

A collection of random thoughts

I am once again quite aware of how bad Diet Coke is for me and yet I crave the brown, sticky stuff like a version of legal crack.  I really do think it tastes good and my pulsing head reminds me when I have not had the caffeine fix that DC provides.  So, for those of you who have successfully migrated away from soda...your advice is desired.
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I am not surprised by the heroic status that Michael has regained as a result of his dying.  So many things have been said in his 50 years that unless you've known him personally his whole life, I'm not sure any one person could claim their message is the truth.  I'm just skeptical enough to take it all with a grain of salt and feel sorry for him.  Mostly my sadness is that his life could have been so much more than it was.  But that said, he did some pretty fantastic things for so many people.  Because he lacked interpersonal security and was a pawn for the media, all of the good he did in the world has been overshadowed.  At the end of the day though, in a fifty year period, he had an impact on the entire world.  Not many can make that claim.  Too bad the price for that status is so high.
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We are all on a Peter count down.  Peter is my nephew who is living inside my sister in law, Becky.  He has been in there for 37 weeks and the doctor has said he can come out anytime now.  Becky's body is having some random contractions but not to the extent that has led to his arrival.  We are all in excited anticipation to meet him.  Looks like it will be a July birthday for the first Cooke baby!
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Sally was talking to me yesterday and she used a hand gesture that I use when I talk.  It is a straight hand making a chopping gesture on the other hand to emphasize the concept of order. (ie: first, second, third; or first I did this, then I did this, next I did this).  It was like looking in a mirror.  Very strange to watch your child do the mannerisms that you do.  The platform of responsibility to teach them well...because what you do and how you do it is what they will repeat as if that is the only way it can be done.  As adults, we can assess the things our parents taught us that we would like to repeat and the things we would like to alter, so that we can become the best of them and the best of ourselves.  However, children do not understand this for quite a time and therefore we must be mindful that they will do as we do. 
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When I think I am overwhelmed by the hurdle right in front of me, whatever it may be, I look over at the book case and see my three inch business law text book and smile.  Anyone who has taken business law, or has a law certification of any kind, can agree that if you master that you can master the current hurdle.  The laughter and tears that were a result of that book, case studies and class are more than enough to propel me on to the next victory.  Always keep one victory in sight as a means of motivation during the next trial. (no pun intended. smile.)
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4th of July this Saturday.  Sister's birthday this Thursday.   Mid-term back Wednesday.   Hair appointment on Friday.  All good things to look forward to!

Time Release Ten on Tuesday

7:46a - "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
 
8:21a - "Be still and know that I am God."  The being still part, very difficult.  I can physically sit still, that's not a problem.  But to still my racing thoughts and still my anxious heart...much more difficult.  I do know that He is God and I am not.  I know He has a plan...I JUST WISH I COULD SEE IT! (Hmmm...not very still of me, eh?  haha.)

12:04p When I am training I do a lot of talking.  I give a break to the trainee(s) when I get tired of listening to myself...If I don't want to listen to me, surely they don't either.  haha.

1:00p Tuscan Italian with Balsamic Vinegar Dressing from Trader Joe's.  Don't think...just say, "Yummmmm!"

4:49p- My afternoon went by like a high speed train. 

I am on my way to my Grandma's birthday party...good times ahead.

All of the sudden 4th of July is next week...hmm...July?  Really?

10:00p The remodel of my Gma's house is beautiful.  It's my childhood Grandma house all grown up.  It was kind of a strange feeling to see it so different but I really do like it.

We got to look at, ohhh, and ahhh at baby Jordyn tonight, but she slept through the entire event so no silly faces, holding, cuddling, bouncing, patting...nope, none, nada.  Bummer.

Home, settled for the night, catching up on the Bachelorette...wondering if maybe Jillian just might like the fact that Wes could be on the fame game b/c maybe, call me crazy, she just wants to be a little bit famous too.  Maybe, just maybe, they are perfect for each other.  Since Ed went home, what does it matter at this point?

That's 10 thoughts that came live from the day...happy 10 on Tuesday.

Father's Day Weekend...relaxing, low key, fun

On Saturday, Sally and I treated two of our favorite men, Daddy and Papa, to a trip to Brewbakers.  We made our own soft pretzels and a micro-brew of root-beer.  We pumped the root-beer syrup, poured it into the canister, went outside to kick the can around and then ate our fresh baked pretzels.  Super fun.
On Sunday, Sally and I made a breakfast spread for a King: heart shaped waffles, turkey bacon, scrambled eggs, strawberries and oj.  The resident Dad quite enjoyed the feast.  Then we took a trip over to the Ecological Center in the Bolsa Chica wetlands and went walk/hike/stroll exploring.  Each with camera in hand, we had a enjoyable and windy time.
We finished out the Father's Day celebration with a bbq at my in-laws and the full introduction of corn on the cob.  All in all it was relaxing weekend celebrating the dad's!

10 on tues

1. Blair brought me bright orange gerber daisy's today when he picked me up from work!  Why?  Just because they were fun and he knew I would love them and because he loves me. 
2. I went through a very old pile of papers tonight and found multiple sets of address labels from organizations that want a donation.  Does anyone actually send a donation to these people or are we just grateful for the free address labels?
3. My newest team member ROCKS.THE.HOUSE!~
4. I, with no premeditated intention, have worn the best matching costume jewels for the last week.  I just pick up stuff like this hear and there, if I like it and it's inexpensive I'll get it...but the actual outfit coming together...that's all an accident.
5. Blair hates the feeling of lotion on his hands.  That makes his lotion foot rubs...like a foot washing: selfless and wonderful.
6. Took an idea out of a magazine from April or May (don't remember the mag or I would give their name).  Anyhow, they had a calendar of one random act of kindness to do every day.  I have made a list of things I would like to do and put one on each day of the calendar.  I am excited to get started with very deliberate and intentional acts of kindness tomorrow.
7. Pray for Becky, Kurt and baby Peter.  He has some kidney things going on that are not fully understood by me but God knows so just lift them up and let Him do His thing.
8. Had fresh summer yellow squash with dinner.  Hated it as a kid but have rediscovered as an adult and love it.  It's so fresh veggie tasting. 
9. I've walked my walk trail four times since Sunday morning...watch out, girl on a mission!
10. Have to study for a mid term now.  Topic is Leadership vs Management and the Art of becoming a Change Agent.  There are some other things in there too, but those are the biggies.  I'm stoked!

Pictures of my Princess

We celebrated Sally's 4th birthday all weekend and week...here are pictures of the events! 

Four is so Fun!

Simply do what you can

We seem bombarded with the idea of the "green movement" these days.  A message that has not always filled out television commercials, magazine pages, blogs or conversations.  It is even finding it's way into the very way a building is built or the activities a company supports. 
My first in depth introduction to the green movement was through Blair.  He was appointed to the Environmental Board for the City of HB.  He would come home from his meeting or event and share with me ways that we could contribute to the preservation of our community, county and world. I remember him telling me about a building somewhere that is growing grass and plants on the roof to capture energy and be as self sustaining as possible.  Shortly after this awareness began, we started buying Green Works cleaning products and biodegradable paper goods.  At first my thought was, well, we are going to clean either way, so as long as it does the job well, I don't care what we use.  The smell of oranges instead of toxins was a nice perk too. 
Then I learned all about how Coke built a plant in India and was not very considerate of the waste they were creating, both in drinkable water and dumping of materials. Since then they have taken measures to rectify their behavior, turing bad practices into beneficial processes for the local community.  (Maybe they could have thought of this ahead of time.)
So here is the question I have.  We have been on the plant for a couple of thousand plus years.  We are living in the most modern of times, according to ourselves.  And we have the capacity to do anything the mind can conjure up.   So why did I just walk through an oil spot in the parking lot?  Why can I only see Catalina on a clear day?  Why is the country of China wearing face masks every time they go outside? 
I have been bit by the "green" bug.  I want to do right by the planet.  Call me a tree hugger or environmentalist.  The truth is I think we can all do something a little different every day.  Start with buying one reusable container instead of a box of baggies.  Buy your produce from local growers at the farmers market instead of the grocery store.  Ride you bike or take a walk and turn your electronics off for a period of time.  Don't mishear my heart.  I'm not saying everyone should move to Berkley, burn their bras and become a bunch of granola (goodness knows all you have to do is spend twenty minutes in the vitamin section of Mother's Market and you'll be well on your way to "green-ness"...haha) but what I am saying is that learn something from the folks that have.  Make one change that you can sustain.  Once you conquer one, start another.  You'd be surprised how many green things you can do without changing much about your routine.  Be creative.  Embrace the green!~

bottle that feeling

I have been sitting here watching So You Think You Can Dance and I have to admit, I just have tears that creep out and roll down my face.  Now, before you think I am some kind of crazy, I can pull back and logically tell myself this is strange behavior.  But before I pull to far back I have to unpack what happens inside of me when I watch something like this.  I remember the first time I had this reaction, it was the LA Olympics, Mary Lou Retton was on the floor routine and she NAILED it!  I sat in our house as a young girl and cried, I couldn't stop.  And here's why.
When I watch someone who has worked their whole life, be it twelve years, twenty or eighty and they have the moment of a lifetime, it stirs my soul to overwhelming excitement.  I get this same feeling when Blair and I have our life goals conversation and pray to be humbled and courageous to reach all of them.  I get this same feeling when Kenton uses his gift of sermon delivery and Christ followership.  I get this same feeling when graduates cross over the stage of their ceremony. 
I love excellence and I know in our humanity that true excellence is hard to accomplish.  The roads can seem long and the endurance required can make you question everything.  When the excellence God has given all of us fights its way to debut on the surface instead of crouching behind insecurity and fear, when one has looked them self in the mirror night after night after night knowing they have given it all they had; this is where I find a soul moving connection and for me it comes out in a kind of slow motion set of tears that well up and spill over ,running hot down my cheeks.  The physiologist would say it's adrenaline but I say that it is my spirit so full of joy my physical body cannot contain it and I spring a leak.  I wish I could bottle this feeling to share with you.  However, the truth is, the chemistry is different for everyone.  Take some time to be humbled tonight, lean in and connect with God in a way that allows Him to let your cup runneth over. 

Sally and 4 go together so cutely! ...more photos to come

Happy 4th Birthday to my Sweet, Sweet Sunshine!!

My optomistic natures wants to believe in this commercial...

...My realist side says, "It's all the right words, let's hope they deliver." 

GM Reinvention