This is...

I have to share something with you; I’ve shared this experience with a few people and each time, I’ve wondered in my head “so what the heck is the big deal?!”  But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it IS a big deal!  This event came up right when it was needed, right when I needed something to remind me and show me that God’s got this – that I’m strong enough to handle what he puts in my path.  I needed a reminder that I wasn’t just gliding along on the coat tails of other people’s support because I couldn’t handle it (let’s make this very clear here and now – this is not to say I take the support systems in my life for granted; I am forever grateful for the support in my life!) .  This particular event was one of God’s little reminder’s that I am strong and able and the best part was, I didn’t even know I needed a reminder! Let’s back up (yeah, that’s right, I’m not going to tell you what it is yet….and no, you should not skip ahead to find out...

The beauty in music, poetry and lyrics is it's uncanny ability to capture the exact emotion we have struggled to find words to express. This is a beautiful, encouraging and empowering song. I hope you enjoy it "Roots Before Branches" Room for Two http://youtu.be/9KJwyQ7F7Dg

Let me start this well overdue blog by stating the obvious... It's a new year!!! In the grandest of all New Years traditions, I wanted to share my New Years resolution with you all. My hope is that by sharing this resolution, I will have some accountability in sticking with it. I resolve to make NO promises on a steady, consistent delivery of this blog!  Phew! Those of you who know me will understand the difficult challenge this poses,(HAHA)  but never fear, I am confident I can do it!!  :-) Well, now that that is out of the way, let's reminisce a bit... 2013 held its ups and downs, much like the years before. Something different did happen though. I haven't been able to put a finger on it or pin point exactly what it was, but through the course of 2013, I struggled with a lot about my life; things mostly centered around how it's felt like my life has stalled in many aspects like work, home, relationships, etc. None of these things in my life felt like they were in th...

Those who know me, know that I have come a very, very long way from the girl I used to be. Those who also know me, know that I have a very active imagination and mind. My mind can get pretty busy with everything that races through it sometimes. Those fears and insecurities I've worked so hard to overcome, do they ever fully go away? I don't know. Sometimes, they pop back up... quietly in the background of my mind and taunt my thoughts, even cause me to doubt myself. Then I look at where I am in life and I wonder if it's the right place; but what is the right place to be in life?! I'm thirty years old, I have two incredibly strong and smart kids and a warm roof over my head... but there are pieces missing, and I wonder sometimes if those pieces are ever meant to be found or is it me hanging on to pipe dreams? How is it I can look around - kids tucked into bed, listening to the rain fall outside while I stay warm and dry with my dog snuggled at my side - and still feel a ...

Wowza.... the things I could go on and on here from the last 2 weeks... but I shall remain focused!  So, my new commitment!  Working with a personal trainer, getting into shape and kicking butt right?!  Well, there's been a minor setback... a bump in the road.  One of my favorite all time quotes is "A bump in the road is either an obstacle to be avoided or an opportunity to be enjoyed; it's all up to you!"   So, this bump in the road - it's not an obstacle, I want it to be an opportunity.  An opportunity to get creative in my workouts, to stay focused and driven even IF I have to hold back, to learn restraint, self-discipline and other areas where I can work on that aren't so physically challenging right now.  OH!!  My bump in the road!  Helps if you know what it is doesn't it?!  Well... it's kinda a funny story.  I got through my fitness assessment in week 1 - good news, I'm not in awful shape, but I'm not in the best shape.  ...

Alright, so guess what?  Those of you who don't know me, I kind of maybe sorta might not be so great at following through on things... **cough,cough,BLOGS,cough** .  I know ... SHOCKER !!!  But it's okay, we all have our faults and the first step to changing something is recognizing the fault and then accepting and embracing the need for change.  YAY!  Okay, that's the easy part.  We can ALL say "here are some of my faults that I am going to change!" but what happens when it's time to follow through?  This girl, right here, sitting at the keyboard will tell you it's the follow through that's not only the hardest part, but in many cases the most scary and/or overwhelming part!  The best way to kick yourself in the rear, and not look like a dummy doing it... I mean c'mon... have you ever kicked your own rear?  There really is no graceful way to do it... but, the best way to kick yourself in the rear and get moving forward is to put in place...

HELLO!!  No, I did not fall off the face of the earth.... I believe I mentioned early on when I started blogging that consistency would not be my strong point; I've done well and proving that point now, haven't I? :)  For me, this space isn't about coming up with something to write on a consistent basis, it's having an outlet where I can take the things that come up in life which light the literary spark inside of me, and share them!  So why today?  Well, today was a rough day.  It's actually been a rocky couple of weeks, but what has struck me over and over again is, in light of it all, smiles have not been lost and life continues to move forward. Today, I was woken up by the sound of my daughter, wheezing and crying and coughing and asking what time the doctors office opened... she had a fever too; good morning to me......    I got her settled and snuggled into my bed, dozing in and out while I got up and got dressed and got ready to go s...

Okay, Okay... so it's been 3 weeks(ish) since my post.  You saw the kitchen and the front room/dining room.  YES!  They're still looking like the pictures!  So, I have to share a two things that I really feel need to be shared in this process...    *1*   I have found in this process that I didn't realize how CRAZY my house drove me; sure because of the chaos - but underneath that feeling it was because I knew this wasn't normal and it could be better and I knew there were ways to take care of it, I just couldn't get that mental block to life and get moving forward with it.  Welp, mental block gone, moving forward now!     *2* There is something my mom has told me for years and years now, something that I've taken to heart and really worked to do.  "Get your own house in order first, and others will want to be a part of it."   Now, this comment came up usually in conversations about relationships and dating and all...

Wow!  Alright, so I had to wait a bit since my last blog before I started posting anything because I had to see if this was going to actually stick.  For about 2 - 3 weeks now, I have been working to get through my house, the kids too!, and get it in order and not just liveable - but in a place where it is HOME!!!  I told you last time, I would share this process with you - one I've been struggling with for some time - and that there might even be pictures (EEEK!!) .  Now, I know that there are still some of you who still aren't understanding why I've struggled with keeping my house in order and that's okay.  My guess is, you're a cleanie, which is great!  But I've found, as I share this more and more, that there are some who struggle with this process - yes, some because they have too much stuff or are choosing to be lazy and not address it - but there are also some of us who struggle with it as if it's almost a mental block, like there is something ther...

Summer is over and it's back to school!  I took a hiatus from blogging.... okay, okay, so I'm not consistent at it to start with, but I have faith you'll forgive me :-)  (check out my past blog on forgiveness if you're struggling with forgiving me!)   This summer surfaced a very interesting and unexpected confession and the marked the start of a new adventure for me and the kids in our house! It was a crazy summer... and in my life, crazy is most often synonymous with good - which in this case holds true!  First off, for those of you in the who do not reside in the Colorado area and may not be aware, Colorado was on fire this summer - literally!  There were so many wild fires it was insane; and the record breaking heat played a large part in that.  So here we were, the kids and I, home with temperatures breaking 100 multiple days in a row, no AC , and multiple wildfires within a 30 mile radius of the house.  This situation = bad news for anyone's lun...

Have you ever had something in life that you were doing everything you could with and it just wasn't working out right?  I've been dealing with a particular situation for nearly 8 months like this.  2010 was a rough year, I'd been in and out of the doctors and hospitals and specialists, racking up a total of 3 trips to the ER, one resuling in admittance and an over night stay, 2 minor surgeries and a major surgery in Nov 2010.  Just two weeks prior to my surgery, both my kiddos had their tonsils removed as a result of multiple trips to the ER with high fevers due to Strep Throat.  Needless to say, my medical bills were stacked up and bombarding my mailbox.  I had organized the insane amount of bills/accounts that had accumulated for each of us and worked diligently to pay them all off and to make sure I called and worked with each billing office if there was ever an instance where I couldn't make the full payment that month...

Have you ever looked at yourself and asked “Who am I?”   Am I the only one who finds this question difficult to answer… I can’t be, but I feel like I am.   I know WHAT I am, that’s easy.   I am a mom, a sister, a daughter, a co-worker, a friend, a follower of Jesus.   I lead in various capacities, from church to work.   I am a divorced woman, I am a single mom, I am a volunteer.   There are so many things that make up what I am – but where does it say WHO I am?   The fact that I cannot fully answer that question at this point in my life seems a little scary.   My future rides on who I am and if I were asked today “Who are you?” I wouldn’t be able to give more depth than “I am Lisa.”   Has anyone found the answer to this question?   Where did you find it?   I feel like I know what I am, but even with the enjoyment and satisfaction I get out of all these things that encompass the “WHAT” about me, I still have the nagging sense of a vo...

Have you ever just felt overwhelmed with where things were in your life?  Even when they're good, it can be overwhelming!  And I know I can't be the only one who has ever thought Oh My Gosh?!  What Was I THINKING?!   I have a mindset this year, it is to strive to be the best at what's put in front of me... that means be the best at handling big changes on the job, be the best at keeping calm and not yelling when things go crazy at home, be the best in my prayer life, be the best at managing my finances (this one needs some polishing!) , the best at putting God first in my life...  Just simply be the best at what comes my way.  Now, the hard part of that mindset, is even when a task is placed before me, and I KNOW I'm not going to be the best at it... I still tackle it with that attitude, with that goal of being the best.  So, I started with my prayer life - because to be honest, it's lacking; which is sad because I have seen the power of prayer ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR !   It's 2012... where's my flying car?!  :-)  As a child, I alwasy envisioned we'd beliving like the Jetsons by this time, but I look around and alas, we are not.  We do have some pretty cool gadgets that have graced society though, don't we?  The iPad (yes...I want one!!) , our GPS systems, bluetooth, in vehicle integration, 3D television... the list goes on and on.  With all of these amazing and life changing things being introduced into the markets, it's so easy to be caught up in the "I Want That" race .  A few things have happened over the past weeks, which have brought my feet firmly back to the ground and reminded me of WANT vs. NEED ... and where true happieness lies.  I was driving home with the kids and took a detour through an upscale neighborhood.  The homes there are beautiful...and BIG .  My daughter asked me if they were town homes.  When I explained that these homes were for one family each, she wa...