When you walk into my home, you better be wearing your readers. HaHa. My house is full of words. Reminders for life. My kids’ friends like to count all the words they see when they visit. One of the most common words you will find in my house is JOY. (of course!) However, one of my favorite sayings I recently purchased and hung prominently in my kitchen doorway is “Take a wrong turn”. This … [Read more...] about Finding Joy by Taking a Wrong Turn
Finding JOY in the unexpected
One thing I always say is if you don’t know what you are looking for, you will never find it. How often have you opened the fridge to find something to eat and think “I have NOTHING to eat?” Or you go into your closet in the morning and think “I have NOTHING to wear!”… really?? Really??? NOTHING??? Or is it that you just do not know what you are looking for. After all, surely there is some … [Read more...] about Finding JOY in the unexpected
Spreading JOY through kindness
“Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear, and the blind can see.” Mark Twain Recently while visiting with family, my niece was driving with me and noticed my charm that hangs from my car rearview mirror. It says Kindness Matters. She read it out loud then repeated it over and over. I could tell her mind was processing then she turned to me and asked, “Why does kindness matter?” I … [Read more...] about Spreading JOY through kindness
It’s Been Great, Northwoods!
Nine years ago I took a leap of faith and started working again. I had been a stay at home mom for 10 years. My kids were both well settled into their new school as second & fourth graders and so I decided I might like to find a new way to serve. I had been volunteering at my church, Northwoods Presbyterian, for about two years. I had found my way onto a few committees and various volunteer … [Read more...] about It’s Been Great, Northwoods!
40 Days of Lent
As we start a new season of Lent this year, I was reflecting on my 40 days last year... This year I have a new plan, but wanted to share this idea first! Growing up in a big Italian, Catholic family we would always talk about what we were going to “give up” for lent. Each year I would try my best to give up… chocolate (nah, didn’t work), bread (darn, it was hard) and all sorts of other things. … [Read more...] about 40 Days of Lent
Week 15 ~ Reflect & Then Move on
Week 15 ~~~ Here we are at the end of our challenge...at the end of the holiday season and at the end of the year...so I write our last challenge. I just returned home from a wonderful week in Naples, Florida with a whole bunch of Italian family members!!! This picture is of me at sunset paddle boarding on Tiger Tail beach. I was alone with my thoughts and had some time to reflect on the week … [Read more...] about Week 15 ~ Reflect & Then Move on
Week 14 ~ Laugh
Week 14 - This week my challenge to you is a simple one. I want you to LAUGH! Life can be so crazy! This past week I wanted to cry because I was so tired and busy and crazy… but I made it through and today the sun was shining and we had big Texas blue skies and I felt happy and so I thought let’s spend this next week laughing. Plain and simple. Did you know that laughter is good for your … [Read more...] about Week 14 ~ Laugh