holidays

Here come the Holidays~Ready or not!

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Welcome to the holiday season — that whirlwind of gift-giving holidays, marketing blitzes, holiday parties and activities galore that begins right after Halloween, builds to Thanksgiving, and continues gaining momentum through the end of the year. You are probably asking yourself, as I am~ How did the holidays get here so fast? 🙂

With all the joys of the holiday celebrations there are also stresses, right?  Every year we commit to ourselves that we will slow down and truly appreciate all that the holidays represent, spiritually and relationally.  Yet, as the holidays roll around again we tend to replay the manic pace of holidays gone by.

Perhaps this is the year to experience the holidays in a fresh way by making some changes that will produce a fresh outcome:

1.  Give yourself permission to say “no” to some activities.  Choose the events you attend well so that you don’t feel like you are “running” all the time.  When you manage your schedule in a manic pace you won’t really have the energy to be present and truly enjoy the memories you have the opportunity to make!

2.  Give yourself permission to keep gift-giving within your budget.  Going into debt, no matter how much you love your family and friends, creates stress!  Think about creative ways to show how much you care.  Some of the sweetest gifts I’ve received over the years were thoughtful and simple; special thoughts,  sweet treats, homemade crafts, etc.  Knowing someone took their time to bless me really meant a lot!

3.  Give yourself permission to reflect on what the holidays mean to you.  Don’t run so fast that you don’t allow yourself to take quiet time to think about the richer meaning of Thanksgiving and Christmas for you.  Beyond the gifts, the food, and the activities; What do they mean to your heart?  Take time to be thankful, reflect on all that the Lord has done for you.

4.  Give yourself permission to change old traditions.  Sometimes we can maintain traditions that are time-consuming and lack the meaning they may have had in years gone by.  Or perhaps there is a simpler way to achieve the same goal.  Consider all the details you expect to cover in the short holiday season and take an honest inventory of the “cost” of pressuring yourself to accomplish them all.

5.  Give yourself permission to bless others.  The holidays can be so fun but they are also a huge season of sadness and loneliness for many people.  Make it a priority to be mindful of the needs in your family, neighborhood, or community.  Lending a loving hand will fill your heart with the true meaning of the holidays!

6.  Give yourself permission to keep your “self-care” in tact!  Don’t abandon your healthy eating and sleep schedule whenever possible. Keep exercising; take a long walk, add a yoga class, anything that helps you maintain energy, and helps wear off those extra holiday treat calories! 🙂

This year, just tweak a few old habits and see if you can breeze through the holidays with greater joy! Happy Holidays!

 

Thanksgiving Thoughts~

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dear-god

Thanksgiving is a time to savor and reflect on all that we are thankful for; an opportunity to gather with those we love to share our hearts and a meal too large for us all!!

I thought I would try to list the Top 10 things that I am Thankful for ( knowing that 10 things would never cover all that I cherish in my heart…but I will make a brave attempt!

MY TOP 10

1.  For God~His grace and mercy, favor and care, comfort and correction. Where would I be without the Lord in my life? Cannot imagine!

2.  For My wonderful Italian husband, Greg, without whom my life would not be nearly as interesting, fun, and love-filled. Together we have weathered many seasons and assignments, all of these experiences have made us a stronger, more loving team.

3.  My amazingly smart, talented, and kind sons.  Their ideas fascinate me, their questions challenge me, and their kindness warms my heart. Nate and Dave are two special men with whom I am incredibly proud.

4. My beautiful daughter in laws.  Oh my, I love them.  These ladies are thoughtful, creative, funny, and smart. When I watch them love on our sons, my heart swells. These girls are also my dear friends and I feel very lucky for their friendship!

5.  My precious parents whose consistent love and generosity continues to amaze me.  Their ability to love deeply, pray regularly, and creatively love on all of their children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren is an example I pray I will follow.  My parents legacy in my life cannot be expressed in words. I am so thankful for them.

6.  My “extended” family~  The word “extended” encompasses so many precious people:  my incredible sisters, creative and caring nieces and nephews, Aunts and Uncles that I adore, Cousins who I care deeply for, my mother and father in law whom I love, so many people who bless my life and heart!

7.  Dear loyal friends. So many amazing people who have walked alongside Greg and I for years and years; cheering us on, giving wise counsel, making memories, and weathering storms….If I named them one by one the list would go on and on……

8.  Our Coachwell Clients (leaders and friends)~I find it simply amazing that I have the incredible privilege to work with, care for, and be a cheerleader alongside so many world-changers!  These leaders bless me more than I could ever express…but I will never stop trying to let them know how much they mean to me!

9.  Our Coachwell team.  We work with a team with such great hearts; loving towards our clients, vendors, us, and one another.  We look forward to continuing the journey with them alongside us!

10. My Church.  Our spiritual family are a gathering of kind people.  We have enjoyed 4 years of growing alongside so many folks working hard to grow in Christ and make a difference in our community and beyond.  Whether it be a teaching, worship, small group, or a women’s events~ all of it has given me opportunity after opportunity to grow! I am thankful for them.

Well, when I started this list I wasn’t sure where it would end up.  However, One thing that I have realized is that PEOPLE are what I am grateful for!  So on this Thanksgiving Day I hope you find yourself somewhere in my LIST and know that I am very thankful for YOU this year!

Have a truly meaningful Thanksgiving this year. 🙂

Saddest Boy Ever~~

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It was a simple Facebook post, another You Tube video. One of many, many I have seen over the past year.  However, I was ill-prepared for the impact of 39 seconds on my heart!!!

The video is of a drill sergeant who has been called in by a little boys mother to help “scare him straight”. Obviously the little boy had behavior that was out of control and a real challenge to his mama!!Saddest-Boy-Ever The response of that little boy to the officer was astounding as the officer, in an attempt to cause the boy to become afraid of his harsh leadership, answered the sergeant’s question “DO YOU WANT ME TO BE YOUR DADDY TILL YOU’RE 18?? with a sincere response……Yes!

The officer, caught off-guard, shouts at the boy, “WHY DO YOU WANT ME TO BE YOUR DADDY, BOY??  The boys tears up and says in a sincere voice, “Because I don’t got no daddy, sir.”   The officer breaks and grabs that boys in a compassionate hug! I melt into a puddle of tears!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVXXDtWtHDY               (to find the clip)

I am left thinking about the holidays ahead and the many, many children whose hearts have been broken by being left by a parent because of divorce, death, or other circumstances beyond their control.  God’s word speaks clearly about His heart that we would reach out to the fatherless.

Thinking deeper, I have to consider that kids who misbehave, or “act out”  do so often times, out of a broken heart. Those of us who have known the wonderful love of our parents are so blessed!  Perhaps ,in this holiday season, we can all keep our hearts open to love on kids around us who are facing rejection and challenge.

Is there a child (children) in your world who could use a soft touch of love and encouragement from you today?  Is there a way you can help heal a broken heart; bring hope?

Isaiah 1:17 says; ” Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”

You never know how richly you’ll be blessed in the process……………………  🙂

Wall of Love!

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Aw… The Wall of Love!

There are so many things I love about the Christmas season; Pumpkin Latte’s, Christmas Music, old corny holiday movies on Hallmark, parties, and ugly Christmas Sweaters!!!

But one thing I really really love is my ever growing Wall of Love!

As thoughtful Christmas cards begin to make my mailbox smile I have the joy of looking at pictures of precious people who matter so much to me!!  Other than Facebook, My Wall of Love is the only place where I am free to gather college friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, childhood buddies, and fellow Christ followers!

As I gaze into the faces looking back at me I am reminded of shared meals, girls nights, hard work, late nights studying over cold nasty pizza, Woman’s Teas, ministry years, working in the community, and shared family experiences!  Looking into the eyes of same- age friends standing by their adult ( or almost adult) children and I know they, too, are surprised at how they got here so quickly.

Ultimately~ I am able to look at each picture with care and pray for them throughout the season and for a time I feel a renewed closeness to them all!

Perhaps you pile all your pictures in a basket after happily viewing them! But maybe you too could build a Wall of Love and make those pictures matter EVEN more this year.  May the faces staring back at you remind you that you are loved, remembered, and genuinely wished a wonderful Christmas season!

A Care~Filled Christmas.

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After sharing a wonderful evening with one of my marvelous daughter-in-laws we began talking about the holiday season and the many people we knew who were facing harsh challenges at this time.

The holidays don’t always represent joy and laughter for everyone. For some it can be a hardship financially, relationally, and emotionally. So how can we truly care for those facing a difficult Christmas season? How can we be be a blessing, make a difference, even if the can’t fix the challenge others are facing?

Well, if we are willing to take a “care-filled” approach to the month of December, if we chose to be mindful of those around us, there will be numerous opportunities to be an encouragement.

For instance;  a smile, a card, a coffee date, a meal, visit to an elderly person who is alone, cleaning a house for an overwhelmed mother, babysitting for a couple who “need” a date, choosing to purchase gifts for the many community “giving trees”, or showing appreciation for those who serve us all year; teachers, mail-workers, hairstylist. These soft touches mean a lot!

Perhaps you have the capacity to do something to actually impact the challenges others may be facing; pay an electric bill, buy groceries for an empty pantry, or give a single mom enough help to provide “Christmas” for her kids.

Take a little inventory and ask yourself if there could be something you could do to celebrate the holidays in a “Care-Filled” way……..If you do you could run the risk of having the most satisfying Christmas you have ever known. The fact is that even if you are one of those who are struggling, choosing to be a blessing where you can will bring you joy and lift the “blues” away!

Happy “Care-filled ” holidays to each and every one of you! 🙂

Will you really be here for the holidays?

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I love this time of year as I gear up for all of my favorite holidays in the coming months.  I anticipate celebrations with friends and family, parties to host and attend, gifts to purchase, wrap, and deliver, & lots of food to prepare. I know it will be a full season of wonderful variables.

However, in the midst of a busy holiday season I am still working, writing, and carrying on with all the responsibilities I normally have on a day to day basis. I face the question; “How can I be fully present in this season rather than being so task driven that I actually miss the valuable moments that come my way? Every year I hear myself saying, “Goodness, the holidays went by so fast!

Whether you’re feeling totally overwhelmed or slightly frustrated as you anticipate the holiday season ahead, it’s easy to lose perspective about what’s most important and valuable to you–your relationships!

Truth is we all spend most of our time in the past or the future, rather than the present moment. What we end up doing is passing through today’s moments on the way to somewhere else and, in doing so, we miss the present moment. That’s how these meaningful memories can end up passing us by!

Benefits of Being in the Moment

  1. Increased enjoyment: We will find that we enjoy life more if we’re fully present rather than having our minds elsewhere. Food tastes better, I have more fun with my family, work is more enjoyable, and laughter is sweeter when I experience them UN-distracted!
  2. Reduced stress. Worrying about the past and future can give us stress. Choosing to give ourselves permission to slow down and focus on “Today” can alleviate the stress of past regrets and the uncertainties of the future.
  3. Better relationships. When we really commit ourselves to being with someone, to listening to them,we are being a better family member, friend, teammate, and even spouse. We have better conversations. We bond with those around us!

“Life brings simple pleasures to us every day. It is up to us to make them wonderful memories.” — Cathy Allen

Enjoy the coming months to the fullest. Slow down and intentionally choose not to be so “busy-minded” but rather give yourself permission to be fully present each day!

…and may this be a very special Holiday season for you!

” I’ve Fallen and I Can’t Get Up!”

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I remember in High School I had a Gymnastics Physical Education class for 3 months.  I loved climbing on the Uneven Bars learning to flip and spin. I even loved learning the ends and outs of the Mat exercises. But the biggest challenge for me was that crazy Balanced Beam! Once I climbed up and looked the length of the beam I began to panic, followed by weaving back and forth.  More often than not, I fell.

The same could be said of our lives. It doesn’t take much to upset the balance of our days.  Saying yes to too many good things, not leaving time for self-care, spiritual connection, or caring relationships makes the “length if the beam” daunting.

What if~~instead of being so incredibly busy , saying yes to everything that comes our way (and feeling guilty if we don’t), we only said yes to those things we are passionate about?  What if we only said yes to the ones we feel the Lord has clearly put on our hearts, and confidently said no to the rest?  What if we earnestly sought the Lord and His direction for the plans we make for our days?

Certainly, there is the grocery shopping, laundry, houses to clean, children to love, spouses to care for, friends to connect with, occupations to excel in. However, I wonder if we add way more things to our plates than is actually required of us.

What if you were granted permission to say no to obligations that take your life out of balance? What if you had permission to “pencil yourself into your calendar” to ensure that you had time to re-group and recharge? What if……………..?

I tend to write on the subject of Life Balance quite often because I see so many wonderful people over-extended, tired, stressed, unhealthy, and fretful. These are great people with kind hearts who desire to be “team-players”. However, being off- balance as a life-style can take a toll on us.

The holidays are around the corner.  What do you need permission to say no to this year so that you can fully enjoy and embrace this wonderful season with peace, joy, enough time to celebrate with those you love?  You have permission. 🙂

Why Wait?

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So often people wait until someone passes away to tell them of their value; of their impact. I have seen in the news that many express their adoration, respect, and love for people AFTER their lives have ended.  Why do we do this??  I have been pondering this lately.

My parents are very much alive; for this I am so incredibly thankful!!! Their friendship and impact on my life is truly immeasurable! I am going to allow you into my heart as I express my feelings, my thoughts to them while they are vital and healthy~~I will not wait until it becomes an obituary!

Mom and Dad, David and Beverly Wray~~~I love you.

More than loving you; I respect you. I could never ask for parents with greater love, richer hearts, sweeter spirits, and a tenacity to love others than YOU!

How I got so blessed, so fortunate to have you as my parents is a real mystery for which I will be eternally grateful!

Thank you for loving God and for accepting Christ as your Savior! That decision alone impacted my life more than you can ever know.

Thank you for being willing to allow black boys from Kenya to live with us in the 60’s ` in the height of Racism without caring what others might think.

Thank you for adopting my two sisters whose lives carried promise but had endured much neglect, loving them as your own and calling them your daughters~ your example and depth of love is so precious!

Thank you for a lifetime of safety, of love, of discipline, of teaching, and mostly a legacy of great faith.

I remember singing in the car, learning to cook, sewing, camping, picking apples, singing in the church choir,  and learning to play piano.

Thank you for teaching us empathy and letting us purchase and deliver gifts for those who were hurting and lonely on our street (Green Valley Road) at Christmas time.  These opportunities to love others during the holidays had HUGE impact on the person I have become.

I remember many heartfelt conversations, as well as needed challenges.  Because of your tough love at the age of 19; you helped me to grow into the woman God wanted me to be!

Mom, Solvang with you was precious. The chocolate on the side of the bathtub as you drew water for me spoke of the greatness of your love and the sensitivity of your heart!

Dad, you are my sweet spiritual mentor~~ we have shared hours and hours of conversations that have let me know two things: how deeply you love God and how richly you love me.

Mom and dad~ you have been our greatest cheerleaders, our wisest counselors, our sweetest helps in times of emotional and financial need, and the most precious grandparents to our children who completely adore you!

I love you both. I am so thankful that I get to see you, love you, talk and laugh with you whenever I want to!!! I am so very blessed!

You mean the world to me! I love you

Dianna

Is there anyone you want/need to share your heart with??? why wait??

DO IT TODAY! 🙂

O Christmas Tree~

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Throughout my life there has been a great deal of tradition surrounding the finding, decorating, and sitting around our yearly Christmas tree. From the time I was a child my folks would pack we six girls into our station wagon and head to a tree farm to find that perfect tree.  We would wander around looking for that “perfect tree” amidst laughter and warm hot chocolate.

When we moved from California to Central Oregon our search for that perfect tree became much more intense as we would trudge through snow, fighting the wind and cold, to bring home a tree that would light up our holiday living room. This tradition brings so many wonderful memories of laughter and snowball fights to mind.

However, I am reminded of a year when we didn’t have a Christmas tree; we didn’t really even have a home. We were living in 3 small trailers and our clothes were being held in two damp tents as we waited for our new house to be built; a project that had gone 3 months longer than anticipated.

My parents, prior to Christmas morning had gone up to our “yet unfinished” home taking Christmas balls and bows with them. Grabbing a tall ladder they decorated the steps with bright adornment in an effort to give their girls a “Christmas tree”.

Imagine our surprise Christmas morning!  We laughed with delight and heartily appreciated the creative efforts that our  parents had put forth, it was a great day of memory making!

Having traditions matters.  In a world where there is an abundance of change, having traditions can pull a family together to share memories that are both historical and new!  They remind us together of what we have shared in the past but give us the opportunity to  build on those traditions in fresh ways if need ~~like the ladder!

This Holiday season give yourself the chance to choose or create some traditions of your own! Whether baking Christmas cookies, Playing “ding , dong ditch” as you bless your neighbors with surprises, drive around looking at all the lighted homes, following the advent calendar as a family, or getting a Christmas tree.  Simply build shared experiences that you can count on each year!  You will find that these are the memories that will warm your heart and fill you with joy-filled reflection in the years to come.

What are your traditions?

Pinterest

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The first time someone asked if I was following Pinterest, I said “WHAT IS THAT?”.  As the site was explained to me I initially thought; “oh my, do I need another online distraction in my life?”  and then I found myself curious.

As I began to investigate this new phenomenon, I became fascinated! Thousand of individuals around the globe are finding items and ideas that identify what they like, what their favorite style is, gifts they’d love to give, ways to decorate that reflect their personal style.  These ideas are being “Pinned” to a wall and saved there–not only for themselves, but for those who would like the same options and would like to “Re-Pin” them to their own wall.

Recently I have received some precious holiday gifts. When I asked where the idea had been found the automatic answer has been Pinterest; I even snatched an Idea for a gift this year!  What a creative idea.

As I began to reflect on this concept I realized I like being able to look at the walls of those to whom I am familiar and smile because the choices they are making in the ideas and options they have “pinned” truly do reflect how I know them or reveal to me something new and interesting about them.  Often I have said to a fellow Pinner ” I thought you would have chosen that or “that idea made me think of you!”.

Being known & understood is something we all desire.  Being able to express who we are is an element of life that makes us unique from one another. Having our ideas “liked” builds confidence in our creative choices.  This crazy idea of Pinterest allows people that option.

We don’t have to wait to look on someone’s “Wall” to learn about their likes, ideas, and dreams however, sitting together over a grand cup of Holiday Coffee is a very tangible way to get to know all those elements for yourself.  While we have many online options to “learn” about each other let’s not forget to continue to connect face to face with the same interest in our ideas and uniqueness’s!

Enjoy this holiday season and take a little time out to get to know someone in a fresh way!  Now–off to “Pin” this new item I JUST found!! 🙂