What's your general perspective on life?  Do you look through the lens that sees the glass as half empty or half full?

I used to pump myself up each morning on my way to work.  I was dealing with heart patients who weren't usually feeling the best.  I needed to motivate them to make healthier lifestyle choices.  So many of them were depressed after suffering a heart attack or health issues they hadn't counted on.

And change can be so very hard!

So I would listen to Zig Ziglar tapes in my car.  Zig is a motivational speaker who influenced me greatly.  I needed to have a can-do attitude and he certainly helped me get through those days.

But life happens.  And life can be challenging.  I've experienced hard times personally.  I've had days when I didn't know what would happen next.  I usually have a perspective that the glass is half full. But when you get hit by hard things again and again, it can be difficult to maintain that positive attitude.

I recently came out of work to find my windshield had been shattered.  As I was driving home, I felt so depressed.  We had cut back on our auto insurance and I didn't have windshield replacement coverage. Fortunately, things worked out and the windshield was replaced.

But now as I look back at this photo, it gave me a thought about perspective.  I could focus on the windshield which would be understandable.  But check out the view past the shattered windshield.  The mountains are gorgeous on my drive back and forth to work.  There's even a cutout on Camelback Mountain called the Praying Monk.

As I've gone through personal trials, my perspective on this life has been changing.

• I'm learning to trust God more and more.  
• I'm beginning to walk more by faith and less by sight.
• I realize that this life is temporary.
• I know how the story really ends and God wins.

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

So how's your perspective?  Are life's challenges getting you down? Can you lift up your eyes and focus on God's purpose in the midst of the trials?

Blessings and love,

I am busy.  It's the first day of summer break.

I have a huge to-do list.

• I need time to refresh since I'm tired.
• I need to get all of the boxes unpacked since we moved.
• I have friends I want to visit.
• I want to lose weight and get back in shape.
• I want to cook nutritious meals.
• I want to plant an herb garden.
• I want to add more rose bushes out front.
• I need to hang my pictures.
• I want to write my eBook.
• I have so many blog posts in my head.
• I want to visit my blogging friends' blogs.
• I want to organize my work space which has become much smaller with this move.
• I need to complete our family budget.
• I want to spend fun time with my husband.

Blessings and love,

Our school year ended yesterday.  It was bittersweet.  I was tired and ready for a much needed break.  But I will miss the children.

Last year I worked through the summer.  I taught Culinary Camp to first through fourth grade children and ...loved it!

But recently, my husband and I have moved into a small condo and there's still much to be done.  Boxes are piled high on the back patio and throughout the living room.  More painting and decisions regarding design need to be made.  I need time to regroup and arrange our new nest.

My heart has been melted by the little children.  As a woman who was never able to be a mom, I believe God has enlarged my tent.  I had the privilege of spending five days a week with 19 adorable 3-4 year old children.  Take a look at these little hands and feet.  Are they cute or what?

I wrote down many of the cute things the children said during the school year.  I placed them in a jar on my desk and today I hope to write them all out.

Here are just a few I want to share with you today:

Evan said: "Miss Debbie, my mom calls me Buttercup."
Maya said: "My pee-pee is yellow.  Mommy says I have to drink water."
Danielle said: "My brother has hair under his arms.  He's a real man."
I complimented Raja on his new haircut and he said, "I took a bath too."
Max shook his hand after coloring and said, "My hand is dying.  The battery is dead."

All I can say is to ...enjoy each moment with your child.  They grow up so very fast.

Blessings and love,

Life can become busy at times.  And no, I've not been hiding.  I've been moving ...still.

There are only two weeks left in the school year so it's a very busy time.  I've missed blogging and visiting my blogging friends.

But there have been many blessings to share.

My niece Kristin and her husband had a baby girl named Kenzie.  She is my great niece and she's adorable.

Have I mentioned that I love babies?  I can't wait to hold her.  These are the times when I wish I didn't live so far away.

My Aunt Ruth celebrated her 75th birthday on Saturday.  My Uncle Bob bought me a plane ticket to come and visit her in June.  That was her birthday gift and she told me how excited she was when she opened her card.  It's so nice to feel loved.  I am looking forward to three days in California with my aunt.  And she's not far from Santa Monica, which is one of my favorite places. :)

I hope to be back blogging as I already finished many end of year photo books.  I love taking photographs and it comes in handy when creating gifts.  But I couldn't believe how many photos I've taken this year and I wanted to choose the best.

I continue to count my every day blessings as I link up with Ann of A Holy Experience for Multitudes on Mondays.

#431 A new baby in our family
#432 A plane ticket to California for time with my aunt
#433 Two weeks left in the school year
#434 Looking forward to a much needed break
#435 Getting settled in a new home
#436 A family get together in our new place for Greg's mom
#437 Getting to see my godchild Brittney
#438 Teacher Appreciation Week was amazing
#439 Feeling loved by parents and students
#440 Getting licked by Roxie the dog (she is four year old Max's dog)
#441 Knowing I will see my mom again one day in heaven





Blessings and love,