A Wise Teacher

1 Mar

In the realm of metaphysical thinking, everything is happening just as it should.  We often times can’t fathom that because we tend to see the world from a narrow perspective (or at least I do).

But I really believe this is true … everything happens for a reason … we just don’t always know what that reason is because we aren’t privy to the bigger picture.  But trusting that all is right with the world at all times brings a strong sense of peace and calm to life.

God does provide us with everything that we need.  He brings people and experiences to us on occasion and if we allow them in, amazing things happen.   A very wise and wonderful woman came into my life at just the right time.  Her name is Kathryn Harwig, and she has helped me more than anyone on the planet to widen my view of this world, to “see” the world in a new way, and to know that all is right with the world and with me.

If you would like to get to know her a little better, click on the link below and watch the 8 different You Tube videos.  It will give you a sneak peak into this wonderful world and will perhaps help to remove the side shields from your view of the world and take in something new and different.

http://www.thegigstunk.com/Listen_and_Watch.html/

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I Hugged Liz Last Night

22 Feb

I seldom dream it seems … if I do the memories are fleeting.

But last night I remembered.  It truly was a dream and not a visitation.  It was fragmented, it didn’t make alot of sense, but Liz was there.  All I remember is thinking I need to go back and check on our house to see if anyone was there.  There were dirty dishes sitting on every table as well as dirty clothes.  But then there she was.  As I push myself to try to remember all of the details I recall her hair as seeming short and very curly, but still sandy blonde.  She was wearing a pair of jean shorts and a summer top … it was a blue plaid.  She was not wearing glasses as she always has in past dreams or visits.

As soon as I saw her I ran up and hugged her and told her how much I loved her and how much I missed her — which is what I would choose to tell her … or I do choose to tell her … always.  It is always what is most important. 

My dream didn’t end abruptly as they usually seem to do – in fact I don’t remember much of anything else after that … but none of that matters to me.  What matters is that I got to hug my daughter last night and tell her how much I love her and miss her. 

It doesn’t get any better than that!

Make your day great!

Hello From Florida

15 Feb

We have officially been in Florida for 24 hours and we are having a wonderful time.  I guess I have to admit that I must have a strong affinity (as opposed to an addiction) for always having access to a computer … and the internet!  For only $15 we can have internet access for the entire week … that was just too good not to take advantage of.View of the Sunset

Whenever we go on vacation I always wonder whether Liz will check in.  If she doesn’t … it’s really fine … but she almost always does. This trip was no exception … remember it’s only been one day!   Roger and I decided to eat supper at this cute restaurant right on the beach.  It was cheap, the food was good, and the atmosphere was festive … even if we were the youngest people there.

At this outdoor restaurant you go up to a window and place your order.  When it’s  ready the waiter comes out, yells your name, and brings the food to your table.  As we were placing our order at the window a waiter came out and yelled LIZ … LIZ ….LIZ … LIZ …. he continued to yell out LIZ as we went to our table.  Where the heck was this Liz?  We sat down and the waiter was still yelling LIZ!  Suddenly at the table directly behind us …. a woman sheepishly yelled out here I am!

By this time I knew what was going on and I was laughing out loud!  I looked at Roger and said, “You get this right?”  He looked at me and said, yah, some lady named Liz just got her food.  No, no, no, well yes technically that is what happened …. but don’t you get it?  That is your daughter making her presence known.  He looked at me, smiled, and nodded in agreement.

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The End of an Era

7 Feb

Yesterday was my last day at SPX.  After 34 years and ten months,, it ended just as I had always hoped that it would – in joy, and on my terms.

I can’t say enough good things about SPX.  It has played an enormous role in my life.  It brought me my husband, a wonderful life that afforded me the opportunity to have and raise my daughters, buy a home, and travel on occasion.  SPX was there for me in the good times like my wedding and the birth of my children, but they were also there during the most painful time of my life, the death of my daughter Liz.  And they did more than just send flowers and sympathies.

SPX gave Roger and I as much time off (with pay) as we needed.  But they also went above and beyond … they paid for the food after the funeral.  It was totally unexpected and something we will never forget and will always be grateful for. 

We felt the love and support of the entire company as we dealt with this most painful of events.  And it didn’t stop a month or two after the funeral. 

It’s always oh so easy to sit back and criticize the company and/or the people that you work for.  I’ve done it many times over the years.  But when you look at the big picture, I think we  have a tendency to sell our employers short … or always look at the negative instead of all the positive opportunities they present to us as employees.

So … THANKS SPX …. you gave a shy, quiet 19 year old kid a job and it became a wonderful life.   I could not have asked for anything more.

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Planting a Seed … and It Grows!

31 Jan

Raising my children has been the most rewarding, fullfilling experience of my life.   It has also been  extremely frustrating and agonizing at times as well.  In the end, I learned to accept the difficult along with the good.  What always remains constant and unchanging is the love I feel for my girls – it never waivers … even in the most difficult of times.  For those of you who know me, know that I have seen both sides of the spectrum.

The brightness and love  outweigh any darkness and sadness, and in the end you accept it all just as it is in gratitude for blessings received.

Every now and then though, you do get a glimpse that maybe … just maybe you’ve succeeded in a small way as a parent.  I got one such glimpse this week, when I read my daughter, Anna’s blog post.

http://ifonlyforaday.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/spoiled-beyond-belief/

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Which Comes First, Your Reality or Your Attitude?

28 Jan

You are responsible – this is one of the principles taught by the Light Collective through Kathryn Harwig.  http://harwig.com

We each create our own lives by what we do (or don’t do) and by what and how we think.

Many people are not happy with their lives … but instead of looking at themselves they blame others or the world for all of their malodies.

I’m doomed … nothing ever goes my way … nothing good ever happens to me … this is  some of the daily self talk that rolls around in people’s brains each and every day.  What they don’t realize is that it becomes a self fullfilling prophecy, and it snowballs into negativity that doesn’t end.

It’s the old adage of seeing the glass as half full … or half empty … again, depending upon how you view the world.  How we choose to view it, however,  is always our choice.

But enough of my ramblings … click on the link below to go to Phil Bolsta’s blog, Triumph of the Spirit … his entry for today, January 28th, says it much better than I can.

http://bolstablog.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/first/#more-3994

Have a great day and see the glass half full!

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It’s a NEW Day!

20 Jan

Today is the day – I have never in all of my 54 plus years been so excited, so envigorated, so hopeful for our nation than I am today.

It really is a NEW Day … in so many ways.

Barack Obama is like a breath of fresh air in the stale air of Washington DC. 

He brings a new energy, a new sense of purpose, and a new and very wonderful sense of family.  He represents all that is good and that which is right with our world.

Please join me in sending him light and love for the difficult journey that lays in front of him and that he has chosen to accept.

It is a grand day and even better is that today is the 20th!?!  🙂

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Reflections of 2008

16 Jan

Before we get even further into 2009 I’d like to reflect on 2008.  I got this idea from Anna.  Name your top ten occurrences of 2008 Mom, she said.  I thought for a bit and now, almost three weeks later, I’m finally getting around to doing it.

It’s hard to pick #1 but here goes:

1.  Seeing Barack Obama live & in person last February in Mpls.

2. Spending 5 days in NYC with Anna (the best tour guide there is).

3.  Finally letting my family in on my life these past 5 years.

4.  Getting my story of The Letter published in a magazine.

5.  Being a workshop speaker at the Women & Spirituality Conference at Minnesota State University in Mankato.

6.  Having Anna graduate from college.

7.  Spending time with my sister as she deals with breast cancer.

8.  Seeing WICKED (twice)

9.  Having a month off from work to reflect and relax.

10.  Gathering with family and helping at Maddy’s graduation party.

11.  Spending a week on a houseboat with my husband, my parents and my sister.

12. Marking the 5th anniversary of Liz’s death with a TV interview and a picnic at the U of M.

I realize I’ve got 12 things listed.  I couldn’t stop at ten.  Too many things have happened this year — most of them were good … but not all.

All in all, 2008 was a very good year.  But I’m very excited and hopeful that 2009 will be a good year as well.  How do you define a good year?  You continue to learn, to  love, and to give back.

It’s Amazing

9 Jan

I use the word amazing alot in my life … but so many things are amazing and wonderful.  This blog link is no exception.

I’ve come to know Phil Bolsta a little over the past few months, even though we have yet to meet in person.  He is a fellow traveler on the spiritual path we each find ourselves on.

He’s written a very wonderful book entitled, Sixty Seconds: One Moment Changes Everything.  http://sixtysecondsbook.com

 It is a collection of 45 different life changing stories from a variety of prominent people.

There was an event last October … six of the storytellers are featured in the link below.  I believe you will find them as fascinating, interesting, amazing and just plain joyful as I have!

http://bolstablog.wordpress.com/2009/01/08/sixty-seconds-night-at-the-continuum-center/#more-2729

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And a Good Time Was Had By “All”

3 Jan

Anna and I returned home today after spending the last 24 hours in downtown Minneapolis.  Yes, yet another mother – daughter bonding adventure!  We seem to have quite a few of them … but they are so much fun and honestly, we are very much alike (sorry Anna but it’s true) and we get along well and we enjoy many of the same things.

We headed up about Noon on Friday, checked into the Westin Hotel, went to Panara Bread for a quick lunch, then spent some quality time in Barnes & Noble.  We headed back to our room to relax on the most comfy bed I’ve ever slept on.

We had a wonderful dinner at Palamino … we got a table right by the window and we had a glass of wine and a relaxing and very delicious dinner.

After that we headed to the Orpheum to see GREASE!  It was equally entertaining.  But I couldn’t stop thinking about John Travolta.  I found it so ironic that here we were at a performance of GREASE after hearing that his son Jett had passed away earlier in the day.  I know all too well those horrible first hours after such a devastating loss and my heart aches for him and his family.

 And as much as we both enjoyed the production, I think we were both thinking about that soft wonderful bed that awaited us back at the hotel.  A bed is a bed, you may say … but this was no ordinary bed.  All the linens and dubay cover were white — white!!!  I’ve never slept in an all white bed before and it was beyond comfortable.  Oh, and did I mention a flat screen TV?

We left our room behind at 10:00 am this morning and drove to Cracker Barrel in Lakeville where we had a fabulous breakfast.  Who doesn’t love Cracker Barrel!! Grits, bisquits and gravy, mmmmm …. it was so good.

We came home and relaxed alittle more and then went to see the movie Seven Pounds with Will Smith.  A great movie … I love Will Smith. 

Having fun and making memories … nothing could be better.

Oh and Liz let us know she was around as well.  Our room number at the hotel was 820.  I know it should have been 920 … but the number 20 is very significant, so when it pops up,  in whatever way, shape, or form, it means something.

While we were at dinner a woman at the next table was celebrating a birthday.  The waiters all serenaded her with a round of Happy Birthday.  Well, guess what?  They sang:  Happy Birthday dear Elizabeth … happy birthday to you!  I just had to smile!  Yes, I get it dear daughter, I do, I’m so happy you joined us.  If that wasn’t enough, I got a new purse for Christmas which I discovered, also at dinner, was made by “Liz&Company.” 

Thanks Girls!  I’m the luckiest mother in the world!

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