Tonight my husband and I watched Snow White and the Huntsman. I’d heard good things about it and since we wanted to watch a Halloween “appropriate” movie, that’s the one I picked. (It was either that or Mirror, Mirror which is a lighter “take” on Snow White, but I felt like I wanted to watch a darker movie in honor of the Halloween season).
I wasn’t sure what to expect other than my husband had watched it and said he liked it. I found myself taken in by this movie; I wasn’t sure exactly why but I loved watching it; all of it, even the harder parts to watch like the Queen ripping a heart out of a bird and eating it (that kind of thing usually has me turning my head or closing my eyes) or a young girl having the life sucked out of her by the Queen (yes, she was EVIL).
At one point, Snow White had escaped the castle and was running for her life. She found herself in the Dark Forrest which was terrifying. I guess the thought of having the Queen take your heart would make a person less fearful of the unknown. As I watched Snow White continue to run, sometimes by herself and sometimes with the help of others, I thought of how the running through the fear, parallels life.
We have the choice: we can move through hard times and fearful times and discouraging times or we can stop. Stop where we are; we know where that is - it’s familiar or it’s at least what we know at the moment. But as we stop moving we become stagnant; we quit growing. We want to move toward the light, but we have to go through the darkness and unfamiliar territory to find it - sometimes.
To go through the darkness and to cover unfamiliar territory takes courage and faith. In my case, my faith is in my Savior, Jesus Christ. If I remember He is there then why should I fear? The alternative is to be stagnant and to die; not a physical death in my case (Snow White could have physically died when she stopped); however, I could die spiritually (if only for the time that I stopped) and socially (cut off from those I love).
I think the thing I was most impressed while watching Snow White continue to run in places that she’d never been, was that she was just moving one foot in front of the other. Isn’t that what we have to do daily? Just move one foot in front of the other in a forward motion?
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Remembering My Passions
Last week I was given the opportunity on two different days to remember two things that I absolutely love doing and that give me great satisfaction. I haven't recorded anything on my blog for months, but I couldn't seem to find my inspiration. Thanks to two of my friends, I have found two things I feel passionately about and that give me inspiration.
Last Saturday evening, late, I received a text from a friend who was having a panic attack. She knew that I had been trained in Rapid Eye Technology and must have known that I could help (either that or she was desperate). I haven't kept up my certification in Rapid Eye, but I have not forgotten everything and was able to help her use EFT to lower her panicked feelings from an "8" to a "3" which gave me such a good feeling. I love helping people.
In the same week, I was asked by a friend if I would mind taking some Senior photos of her son for the yearbook. I have not touched my camera for months. I had forgotten how much I loved taking photographs and being creative! She and her son came over on a Saturday in the late afternoon, and even with some slight rain, we took some great photos in my backyard. As I was loading the photos onto my computer, I felt happy to be able to do this for my friend, but also felt happy to be doing something I loved!
For me, life is more enjoyable when I am participating in activities that bring me great joy; I had forgotten or had chosen to forget because I thought that I could not do either of these things very well. Maybe it's not in doing things better than anyone else but just doing things the best I can that bring me joy; either way, I want to remember to stay in this place of remembering the things that I love doing.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Finding some Inspiration
Today I'm not going to write about how long it's been since I've blogged or that I haven't followed up my Girls' Camp experience or whine about my lack of interesting ideas or experiences. Instead I'd like to share some inspiration I found this morning (which will hopefully keep me inspired each day).
I follow Danielle LaPorte's posts on facebook and read one of her past postings titled, The Biggest Threat to Your Creativity. (I'm going to post this short, very inspirational piece - at least inspirational to me)
The biggest threat to your creativity…
… is the fear that it’s already been done, said, created.
(So why bother?)
Say it, do it, make it anyway —
but tell YOUR story along the way.
The story of how you came to know what you know.
The story of what you want to know more of.
The story of why you do what you do.
The story of how you came to care.
And that’s how you create what’s never been created before.
When I read this short piece, a light bulb came on for me since I have had those thoughts of why bother when it's already been done or what do I have to offer since so many others know so much more than me? (I am not looking for sympathy; just expressing my thoughts) She is right about the fact that we are all individuals with different thoughts, perspectives and experiences. We all have our own stories and even if they are similar, they are still different because we are different individuals.
So even with missing about 3 weeks of writing I will push on and find joy in discovering the answers to the four questions of how I came to know what I know, what I want to know more of, why I do what I do and how I came to care. (but sometimes I want to write about light things since life can sometimes be way too serious!)
I follow Danielle LaPorte's posts on facebook and read one of her past postings titled, The Biggest Threat to Your Creativity. (I'm going to post this short, very inspirational piece - at least inspirational to me)
The biggest threat to your creativity…
… is the fear that it’s already been done, said, created.
(So why bother?)
Say it, do it, make it anyway —
but tell YOUR story along the way.
The story of how you came to know what you know.
The story of what you want to know more of.
The story of why you do what you do.
The story of how you came to care.
And that’s how you create what’s never been created before.
When I read this short piece, a light bulb came on for me since I have had those thoughts of why bother when it's already been done or what do I have to offer since so many others know so much more than me? (I am not looking for sympathy; just expressing my thoughts) She is right about the fact that we are all individuals with different thoughts, perspectives and experiences. We all have our own stories and even if they are similar, they are still different because we are different individuals.
So even with missing about 3 weeks of writing I will push on and find joy in discovering the answers to the four questions of how I came to know what I know, what I want to know more of, why I do what I do and how I came to care. (but sometimes I want to write about light things since life can sometimes be way too serious!)
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Lost But not Forgotten
On June 6th, our small town lost its first soldier in Afghanistan. I didn't know Lt. Matt Fazzari; he was only 25 years old, a son, husband and father to two very young children, but today as his body was taken from our small airport to the funeral home, hundreds of citizens lined the streets with flags and hands over hearts to honor him.
I didn't find out about this event until last night in an e-mail, and I'm so glad I did. It was an honor to stand there for him; I hope his family in their time of grief still knows that his death was not in vain. I pray for them to somehow find peace and comfort; I cannot imagine how they feel.
I feel so honored to live in this great land, even with all of its problems. God bless all of our Soldiers who are putting their lives on the line everyday in order to keep us free. And God bless the leaders of our country; may they take their responsibilities seriously and stand by us and not over us.
I took some photos, hoping that they reflected the mood of the time we were standing on the curb. After we stood at the first place we drove to where my husband was with Pacific Power and Light. A few of their employees are related to Matt, and they lined up their boom trucks with flags for the Procession to pass through.
And I hope it's okay and not disrespectful that we were smiling in a few photos; there were certainly some tears shed and reflection taking place as well.
I didn't find out about this event until last night in an e-mail, and I'm so glad I did. It was an honor to stand there for him; I hope his family in their time of grief still knows that his death was not in vain. I pray for them to somehow find peace and comfort; I cannot imagine how they feel.
I feel so honored to live in this great land, even with all of its problems. God bless all of our Soldiers who are putting their lives on the line everyday in order to keep us free. And God bless the leaders of our country; may they take their responsibilities seriously and stand by us and not over us.
I took some photos, hoping that they reflected the mood of the time we were standing on the curb. After we stood at the first place we drove to where my husband was with Pacific Power and Light. A few of their employees are related to Matt, and they lined up their boom trucks with flags for the Procession to pass through.
And I hope it's okay and not disrespectful that we were smiling in a few photos; there were certainly some tears shed and reflection taking place as well.
 |
| Waiting for the Procession to begin |
 |
| The Procession begins |
 |
| You can see the black limousines from the back; I felt funny taking photos of them. |
 |
| I love what this flag says: Lost but not forgotten |
 |
| I think Mary and Sierra's expressions tell the story of the moment |
 |
| My friends, Mary, Lois, Sierra (me) and Faith |
 |
| My husband standing by one of the boom trucks |
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Scattered Thoughts about Girls' Camp Late at Night
I know it's late and I know that I still have much to do in order to get up at 6:00 am tomorrow and be out the door at 8:00am heading up in the mountains with 11 teenage girls and 4 other leaders to join a bunch of other teenage girls and lots of other women! (that makes me tired just writing all of that!)
Yes, I'm going to Girls' Camp! And no, I am not a camper! I do; however, love being with the girls and with the other women; I just know there are some wonderful memories waiting to be made up in the cold weather in the mountains. Yes, I am bringing plenty of blankets, socks, sweatshirts and flannel pajama pants!
It's been a crazy day running around with my friend, who I am helping with all of this camping stuff. We were able to purchase materials for the girls to make vision boards using "Arise and Shine Forth" as the theme to help them focus daily on their goals and dreams of becoming all they can be. We also purchased some butterfly suckers and small windmill things(what are they called?) that I will attach printed words to reflect something to focus on each day. Along with the butterflies is the word, transformation and along with the windmill things will be attached the word, stand firm (an opposite meaning of being blown; I love things like that).
Anyway, it should be lots of fun along with time for spiritual contemplation; I am looking forward to that; to getting away from the ordinary and mundane and getting back to nature. I'm just hoping we are "bear-free" this year and that my blankets will keep me warm and comfy at night in our tent.
I am taking my camera in hopes of getting some fun shots; I'll post those after we get home on Friday. Wish me luck!
Yes, I'm going to Girls' Camp! And no, I am not a camper! I do; however, love being with the girls and with the other women; I just know there are some wonderful memories waiting to be made up in the cold weather in the mountains. Yes, I am bringing plenty of blankets, socks, sweatshirts and flannel pajama pants!
It's been a crazy day running around with my friend, who I am helping with all of this camping stuff. We were able to purchase materials for the girls to make vision boards using "Arise and Shine Forth" as the theme to help them focus daily on their goals and dreams of becoming all they can be. We also purchased some butterfly suckers and small windmill things(what are they called?) that I will attach printed words to reflect something to focus on each day. Along with the butterflies is the word, transformation and along with the windmill things will be attached the word, stand firm (an opposite meaning of being blown; I love things like that).
Anyway, it should be lots of fun along with time for spiritual contemplation; I am looking forward to that; to getting away from the ordinary and mundane and getting back to nature. I'm just hoping we are "bear-free" this year and that my blankets will keep me warm and comfy at night in our tent.
I am taking my camera in hopes of getting some fun shots; I'll post those after we get home on Friday. Wish me luck!
Friday, June 8, 2012
Happy Friday!
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Fear
I just have a few minutes to type out some thoughts this morning, but I'd like to start blogging more than once a week so I'll take the few minutes I have and run with it!
My first thought is about blogging in general. The more blogs I read, the more writers (I mean actual writers) I see who are blogging. And then I think that some of these writers may be reading my thoughts; I just hope my sentence structure isn't too awful! English and writing were actually at the top of my favorite and best subjects in high school!
That thought leads me to the next one: fear. As I think of writers reading my typed out words and sentence structures with all of their flaws, I get a little fearful; fearful of how I write and fearful of how my thoughts come across. I've wished for clarity of thought and a gift to communicate my thoughts clearly; I hope someday to have those wishes come true.
Fear can be a horrible thing if you let it take over your life. It can be debilitating when you allow yourself to succumb to it by stopping anything you may be fearful of doing. Fear can stop you from living your dream if you allow it.
On the other hand, fear can be a great teacher and an avenue for strength when you push through that fear and do whatever it is you're afraid of anyway. I was afraid to blog; at least to blog about personal things, but I push through it (most days, anyway) and put my thoughts to paper and send them out into the vast universe we call the internet. Who knows, maybe someone will relate and somehow be helped to know that they're not the only ones with struggles.
And now (okay, I don't think it's great to start a sentence with "and", but I'm not being paid so I'm going to break that rule) I think this is getting a little too serious, even for me. I guess my point in these few paragraphs is that fear is a part of life and can, in fact, be a friend to us. We just need to know when to stop because of the fear (when we're going to be harmed by something or someone) or move past it (in situations where we can become stronger). Now, let's all go out and have a fearless day!
My first thought is about blogging in general. The more blogs I read, the more writers (I mean actual writers) I see who are blogging. And then I think that some of these writers may be reading my thoughts; I just hope my sentence structure isn't too awful! English and writing were actually at the top of my favorite and best subjects in high school!
That thought leads me to the next one: fear. As I think of writers reading my typed out words and sentence structures with all of their flaws, I get a little fearful; fearful of how I write and fearful of how my thoughts come across. I've wished for clarity of thought and a gift to communicate my thoughts clearly; I hope someday to have those wishes come true.
Fear can be a horrible thing if you let it take over your life. It can be debilitating when you allow yourself to succumb to it by stopping anything you may be fearful of doing. Fear can stop you from living your dream if you allow it.
On the other hand, fear can be a great teacher and an avenue for strength when you push through that fear and do whatever it is you're afraid of anyway. I was afraid to blog; at least to blog about personal things, but I push through it (most days, anyway) and put my thoughts to paper and send them out into the vast universe we call the internet. Who knows, maybe someone will relate and somehow be helped to know that they're not the only ones with struggles.
And now (okay, I don't think it's great to start a sentence with "and", but I'm not being paid so I'm going to break that rule) I think this is getting a little too serious, even for me. I guess my point in these few paragraphs is that fear is a part of life and can, in fact, be a friend to us. We just need to know when to stop because of the fear (when we're going to be harmed by something or someone) or move past it (in situations where we can become stronger). Now, let's all go out and have a fearless day!
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