Those of you who know me well, know that my greatest passions are sharing my stories of extraordinary connections to my daughter Liz and fire safety prevention.
I came across a story today that combines them both. It is a wonderful story and for all of you skeptics out there, I hope it will make you stop and think, scratch your head, and wonder … maybe there is more to life than what can be seen?
Yesterday started off as a great day! I was still on a high after a very successful speaking engagement at a new book club in town. Over 40 people came out to hear me speak and buy a copy of the book my story is in.
Yesterday was also the day that my blog rolled over 10,000 hits. I had been waiting and watching for that milestone for a few months now and I was excited and happy to see it happen.
Later in the day my happiness turned to sorrow when I learned of the death of Darcy Pohland, a reporter at WCCO in Minneapolis. I have done two stories on fire safety with Darcy over the past three years and I could always count on her to make it happen.
Not only was she an outstanding reporter, she was also a very vibrant and bubbly human being. Her enthusiasm for life was infectious and I loved being able to get to know her alittle bit more each time we did a story.
For those of you who live out of the WCCO viewing area, what you don’t know is that Darcy was also a quadrapalegic. One of the few, if not the only QP reporters in the country. At the age of 22 she dove into a pool and broke her neck … changing the course of her life forever.
For many people this type of accident would be devastating and hard to recover from. I’m sure it was extremely difficult for Darcy as well, but you would never know it. She never let her limitations stand in her way. It is said that her favorite word was … perseverence. That is something she had alot of.
Thank you Darcy … thank you for telling my story … for helping me to get the word out about fire safety … you loved the University of Minnesota just like my daughter did … probably even more. I’m so glad you got to experience the new Goopher stadium.
I didn’t know until yesterday that you were as passionate about figure skating as I am. I wish I would have brought my camera when we did our stories so that I could have captured a moment of the two of us together.
I’m sure you are now even more bubbly than you were when you were here … you no longer need your chair. I would like to think that you and Liz have found each other and are dancing and singing with JOY.
You are one of a kind Darcy and I don’t think there will ever be another reporter who can tell my story and the stories of many others the way that you could.
Job well done my friend … you will be missed.
On February 23rd at 7:00 pm (CST) I will be a guest with Monique Chapman on her radio program, Walking With Spirit.
Check out Monique’s website and her work – mark your calendar and listen live on the 23rd!
I will be a guest on the radio program, Take a Soul Step with Me, hosted by Cathryn Taylor on Blog Talk Radio on Wednesday, January 27th at 5:00 pm CST.
Click below to listen to the show.
If you would like to learn more about Cathryn Taylor and her work please visit her website:
EnJOY your day!
When I was working at my company I had the opportunity each year to be supplied with a Franklin Planner. FP’s are very nice, leather-bound booklets with day by day, week by week, month by month calendars … all designed to help the busy professional keep track of the meetings they needed to attend, business contacts, etc.
As nice as they were, I never chose to have one. I couldn’t see spending the money (even though it was not my money) to have something I didn’t think I needed (and I didn’t). After all, it was enough for me to write any meetings I had on my calendar on my desk. It served the purpose just fine (and I never missed a meeting!)
Now that I’m retired, and 2010 has begun, I actually Need a planner! Who would have thought! Not that I’m going to run out and buy a Franklin … but I could really use one. I found myself yesterday printing out calendars on my computer for January, February and March so that I could keep track of everything I have going on.
It hit me this morning how hilarious it is that it’s looking like I’m going to have more meetings and I’ll be traveling more now that I’m retired than I ever did when I was gainfully employed! As I’ve said before – The Universe definitely does have a sense of humor … and be careful what you ask for … cause you just might get it!
To date, here are some upcoming events:
January 27th – 5:00 pm CST – guest on TAKE A SOUL STEP with Cathryn Taylor on Blog Talk Radio.
February 6-13 – travel to Florida to celebrate 30 years of marriage
February 19-22 – attend Parent Forum in Florida hosted by the Michael Minger Foundation
February 23 – 7:00 pm CST – guest on WALKING WITH SPIRIT radio program with Monique Chapman
March 4th – speaker at a metaphysical book club starting in Owatonna
I will also be traveling to Indianapolis sometime in February to participate with other parents in filming a video on fire safety prevention for college students.
Hmm … maybe I do need to spend today looking for the perfect planner?
Whatever you choose to do today – do it with love and enjoy!
Within the past two weeks I have attended two funerals and one visitation. It’s been said that people die in three’s … if this is indeed true I should be done with funerals for a while … I sure hope so, but you never know.
Each person’s death was completely different, how I knew them was different, and my response to each was also completely different.
But it brings home the fact that all any of us ever have is TODAY. Tomorrow is not guaranteed to us. I’m reminded that I need to live each day as if it were my last.
It also reminds me to hold my loved ones closer and let them know how I feel about them.
Sadly the Christmas season isn’t all happiness and joy … there are many people in intense pain and going through difficult times … this time of year makes it seem especially harsh.
The funeral I attended yesterday was at my church and the burial was in the same cemetery we buried Liz in. Anna and I commented on our way home how difficult it was and how it felt like a flashback to six years ago. We returned home completely exhausted and spent.
Be kind to yourself today and do something nice for someone else … and above all, give your loved ones an extra hug … we never know what tomorrow will bring.
I’ve been asked to provide some of my writing for two different blogs. Both of them have been published this week. Here are the links:
http://lesleehorner.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/kims-click/
If I get enough hits on Monique Chapman’s blog, I will be a guest on one of her radio shows!
Enjoy your day!
I found this poem over on another wonderful blog site run by Phil Bolsta – Triumph of the Spirit
DANCING WITH GOD
When I meditated on the word Guidance,
I kept seeing “dance” at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God’s will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn’t flow with the music,
and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,
both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back
or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.
It’s as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness,
and attentiveness from one person
and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.
When I saw “G,” I thought of God, followed by “u” and “i.”
“God, ‘u’ and ‘I’ dance.”
God, you, and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
that I would get guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God’s blessings
and mercies are upon you on this day and everyday.
May you abide in God, as God abides in you.
Dance together with God, trusting God to lead
and to guide you through each season of your life.
Author Unknown
I’ve never been a huge poetry person. But once in a while you come across a poem that really hits home.
That happened to me this week. This poem, written by Andrea Hill, spoke to me deep within the depths of my soul. It speaks about losing a daughter, and having another daughter you hope never has to experience such a loss. I’ve tweaked it just a tad to reflect my life.
I BURIED MY DAUGHTER TODAY
by Andrea Hill
I buried my daughter today, my soul burns red with pain. No longer will I touch her face or caress her skin again.
I buried my daughter today, God what have I done wrong to have her stolen from my arms, when my faith in you was strong?
I buried my daughter today, thank God I have another. I couldn’t walk this path alone, every breath is a struggle.
I buried my daughter today, she was just a bit past twenty. Searing, ripping, tearing ache, my emotions overcome me.
My other will someday be a mother, to God above I pray, these words by her not repeated, I buried my daughter today.
This poem and others can be found at:
http://netpoets.com
Welcome to my blog about love, life and transformation!
Kim
LOVE LIVES ON 