Sometimes When Life Gives You Lemons.......

It is a common cliche to hear, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
But as I came across this lemon the other day while juicing lemons for work, I questioned that sage advise.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I am all for trying to find and make the best of "sour" situations, as these will continually and regularly show-up throughout our lives.

Yet, for the first time ever, as I contemplated this new circumstance, I concluded that this one bad lemon would ruin all the juice I had so painstakingly squeezed.
So although I don't like to waste or throw things away, I determined it was the most logical choice to get rid of it.

As with my life, I realized that for whatever reason, there were often times I had held on to some "rotten" relationships hoping to salvage and get the most out of them, because after all, wasn't it best to 'make the most of what you have'? 
To make lemonade instead of complaining how bad something was?

Looking back now, wisdom and experience have taught me, often through heartache, that sometimes holding on to a "decaying lemon" and trying to make lemonade with it only spoils it for everyone in the end.

That sometimes when life gives you lemons, you choose not to drink that bitter cup.

"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves."~Viktor Frankl

Mac's-A-Million

Mac is a man we unexpectedly met while waiting outside for a table at a quaint little restaurant.
After "signing in" he easily conversed with us, telling us that he was a regular, and that since his wife of 54 years had died a year ago, he stayed away from home escaping the void he felt walking into an empty home, by coming to the restaurant.

As we were called in at the same time he was, and escorted to our table (while he was directed to his against the wall), it only seemed fitting to invite him to join us.

What a wonderful decision that was!
It was evident he was lonely which he admitted.
He spoke with few pauses between his words, which he also acknowledged as he continued sharing. 

In the beginning, it could have very easily been second-guessed by us as to whether or not the invite had been such a good idea, because in doing so we had given up "our time" together. But to see the joy in his eyes and feel the life in his words, gave no doubt it was not a chance opportunity nor a mistake.

It was apparent that the reason he was hurting so much was because he loved so much. As he spoke, the passion and deep love he had for his wife was palpable. With all the negativity in this world, it was refreshing to hear something not seen or heard very often anymore.

Mac was full of humor and history and stories that taught wisdom, business knowledge, enduring hardships, and what true love meant to him. 

Mac was without a doubt, one in a million! 

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966

Don't marry the person you think you can live with; marry only the individual you think you can't live without. ~James C. Dobson

What Happens In The End

The occupations I work in, can seem uncertain at times.
Meaning, there may be points during a work day/night where it seems questionable as to the effectiveness of my performance.

Because all of the endeavors I do, involve working with individuals on a personal level, I often would scrutinize each interaction, sometimes feeling guilty if it seemed I had upset someone. 
But over the years I have learned a valuable lesson.

That just because there may be some low moments, doesn't mean I have failed.
What really matters is what happens in the end.

When the day/night has come to a close, how were those involved feeling?
Were they happy, relieved, satisfied, appreciative and gracious?
Were they thanking me with words, a hug or gentle pat on the back, or holding my hand?

THESE are the telling story to me.

So, if somewhere in my day, I missed or forgot something or was a little slow, or a little too honest or stern, it really isn't where the focus should be.
Because if in the end those I work for felt loved, and appreciated and respected, all that happened in between then was just the "small stuff".
And in my jobs, you are literally too physically close to people to want to "sweat the small stuff".
 
"Train yourself to find the blessing in everything."

Jumping In Head First

The package promised a "growing fairy" if immersed in water. 
Sometimes life is like that.
In order to grow we just have to "jump in", sometimes head first, not knowing exactly how much, or in what ways we are going to expand.
But we are ready for a change and therefore willing to do whatever is needed for growth.
So we dive in, hoping for the best and we find a greater person emerges, revealing and magnifying qualities about us we hadn't noticed before.
And in the end we are grateful that we took the plunge.

When The Joke Is On You

When the delivery man came in with a package and no one was there to receive it, I went to assist.  
As I approached him I saw the box said 'Flowers' on the side.

 So in my best excited, sarcastic voice (which I have honed) I said, "Oh look! Flowers for meee!!" 
His response was, "These are for Reyna."

Then, in my real shockingly, excited voice I exclaimed, "That's me!! I'm REALLY Reyna!! See? (pointing to my name tag) I'm not kidding, for reals, I'm Reyna!"
Sometimes it is very, very nice when this is the joke and it is reversed and is on you.

 
 "There is no surprise more magical than the surprise of being loved. It is God's finger on man's shoulder." ~Charles Morgan

Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?

I received an unexpected package and this is what was in it.
 

It was a surprise gift from a dear friend who is battling cancer.
It was a form of appreciation although I should be the one showing appreciation.
For the example of courage, and hope, and persistence, and the positive spirit and love that radiates from them.

This gift has been a perfect reminder to me each time I wear it of how precious life is and how none of us really know what time it is in our lives.
When we or someone we love will be given a challenge that may try everything we have and sometimes even more than we knew we had.
A time when we are reminded to savor and cherish the common, day-to-day things we often take for granted.
A time to express our feelings of love and gratitude when we otherwise may postpone it waiting for the "perfect time".
Because really, does anybody really know when that time is, if not now?


"Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you." ~Carl Sandburg



 

For What It's Worth

Sometimes unexpected good surprises are the best.
I found this waiting for me when I got back to work.

A gift from a group of sweet little women.
THIS is a million bucks to me!
I don't even want to combine it with my other money, because it is so special.

And I don't care what you say MasterCard...this is priceless!
....Because I felt my worth above and beyond what this is really worth.


"The little money I have — that is my wealth, but the things I have for which I would not take money, that is my treasure." ~Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com

"The best way for a person to have happy thoughts is to count his blessings and not his cash." ~Author Unknown  

Again! Again!!!

I am like a young child.
I hear a new song I like and like young children do when they have a song or book they like, I will  listen to it over and over and OVER again.
And I love doing that too!
No wonder they do that!
I do it so much so, that I think even my dog gets tired of hearing the same song again and if she could, she would roll her eyes while thinking, "Really?! Are you serious? Not again.....!"
But you know what?
It makes me happy.
It feels comforting inside.
No wonder children do that.
So the next time we think we can not read that book or listen to their favorite song yet one more time, try to remember that maybe it is bringing peace and comfort to their hearts and making it smile from the inside out! 

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." ~Berthold Auerbach 

"Music is what feelings sound like." ~Author Unknown

Into the Swing Of Things

"Would you like to dance this fast two-step or we could swing like they are doing?", he asked me.  
I hesitated because I don't know how to dance either one.
He sensed my insecurity and so said it was OK, and suggested maybe dancing another song later, but as I observed them on the dance floor, I determined that I was just going to go for it, and try it anyway.

You see, up until this point in my life I have lived pretty reserved about things that are out of my comfort zone or that I don't know how to do, thus forfeiting many opportunities to learn and maybe even have some fun.
But as additional birthday years are accompanying me and I care more about the quality of happiness that I have in my life than of what others (or even myself) might be critically thinking, I have ventured out.

And guess what?
I had an absolute blast!!!
The poor guy.
We danced fast two-step and swing, or he did, and I got whipped and maneuvered around the dance floor, but I without question loved it!
I laughed hard and danced hard and burned up a few M&Ms I'd eaten, leaving me with unladylike sweat, but I would of replayed and repeated it numerous times, only not hesitating the next chance I got.

I learned something really important that night.
That I will not ultimately know how I am going to feel about something unless I try it. 
Unless I take a chance.
And at that point in my life, I can then decide if it is something I would like to add or deduct.
Because chances are good, if I open my heart and self to what the world may be presenting me, I might just swing into something I never knew I could love.

"To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself." ~Søren Kierkegaard

"Don’t refuse to go on an occasional wild goose chase — that’s what wild geese are for." ~Author Unknown 

Beyond The Packaging

As a chocolate lover, or connoisseur, as I like to refer to myself, when I arrived at my destination, I received these wonderful surprises from a new found friend! 

It was truly a way to instantly become an old, stick-around-for-as-long-as-you-like-kind-of friend!
But there was something more this friend did not know.

Yes, it is correct that I more than love chocolate, but the truth is, is that I would not ever buy these for myself.

You see, they are an "indulgence", something I would not invest in. At least not for me.  (Although I have not had a problem ingesting quite a few given a public, open-ended opportunity.)

I was so touched by the gesture that it emotionally moved me. You see, I realized that hiding beyond the packaging, between the finely wrapped cocoa, was a lesson which would last much longer than the delectables themselves.

It made me question, 'Why does it take someone else to see and recognize our value?,
To see that it is o.k. and even important to add richness to life?,  To once in a while pamper ourselves with something we would not do otherwise?, To give ourselves loving attention?, To not need a reason to celebrate?'

So often we, mainly women, will not take time to look beyond the packaging of our outward appearance and see the real value to what lies inside.  Inside our hearts and souls, where maybe not many people get to really see and partake of.  We do not share the richness of our lives because we it keep stored away, not ever indulging our spirits, that honors who we really are. We instead are reserved, only bringing ourselves out for special occasions which usually are for someone elses needs.

But isn't living "special occasion" enough? Is not every day a day to celebrate our arrival into this home we call life? 

Because of this lesson, I hope to continue not only being a connoisseur of chocolate, but of a very rich, sweet life!  Thank you, my friend!



"Do not doubt the goodness in you. It is inappropriate." ~Dodinsky, www.dodinsky.com 
 

 

A Father's Love Story

When the package he had ordered arrived, there were no instructions included.
This was a cause for concern, as the contents were an indescribably, beautiful, priceless item.

He wondered however was he supposed to know how to care for such a precious gift.
So he decided just to follow what felt right to him inside his being, and just treat it with as much love and respect and care as it looked like it deserved, and hope that that would be enough to protect it from harm.

He chose however, not to keep it confined to only himself, as he felt others should be able to appreciate the exquisite phenomenon.
What he did not realize was that the loveliness and beauty that would be recognized by others would also cause them to want to take it to be a part of their lives too.

This time, setting aside the protective, almost selfish instinct he had within, he reluctantly, but lovingly yielded, allowing it to be shared.
With a weighty heart and ever so gentle hands, he painstakingly placed his irreplaceable treasure out into the world, tearfully kissing it goodbye, knowing it would never leave him completely, as although physically separated from him, they were a spiritually emotional forever bond.

This time there were instructions included that read: 'Fragile, treat with love, lots and lots of love!'

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." ~Elizabeth Stone


The guys who fear becoming fathers don't understand that fathering is not something perfect men do, but something that perfects the man. The end product of child raising is not the child but the parent. ~Frank Pittman, Man Enough  






 

Men Are From ESPN, Women Are From Hallmark

I like to share little things with the customers at my work and I found a use for the little hearts I had left over from our Valentines tables.  For couples who are celebrating their anniversaries I give them this:

Then I ask them to hide it from each other as a sort of "love game".  (I know, I need a life... it's romance by proxy). 
I was happy to see one man so enthusiastic about it as he said,"I can think of 3 great places right now where she will NEVER find it!"
WHATTT?!!!
"Honey, the point is to hide it so we can find it , and be reminded of our love for each other." his wife said.
The competitive ESPN heart stopped beating and the gleam left his eyes, as he realized it was a real life Hallmark chick flick he was going into.


"The people in your life who don't need an invitation still like to get one." ~Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com

I Bet You Were Horrible.....

We were driving through a plaza and I was pointing out to my young little friend the places there that had helped me prepare for the fashion show that I was in a few years before.  "There's the place that did my makeup and hair", I explained, also indicating where I was fitted for shoes and the clothing store I would represent.....

From her booster seat in the back of my car she said, "I bet you were horrible.    .....I mean that in a nice way....".  
Just exactly how can "horrible" thesaurustate (my word for translate) into "nice"?!!

After regaining my breath and control of my car, I asked her as nonchalant as possible why she would think that.
Her reply, "It's just that I've never seen old people like you be in a fashion show."

Be careful what you ask for.....

I should've quit while I was already behind!


"Pretty much all the honest truth telling in the world is done by children." ~Oliver Wendell
  

We Made It! Happy Anniversay

HAPPY 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY BLOG!!!

Probably one of my most important goals in my life is to be what I call "true to the core".  
That what is on the inside of me, matches what is on the outside.
I have tried to do that these past 5 years by the sharing of my life lessons through this blog.

THANKS to ALL you faithful readers! 

When Little Things Really Are Big

Last month I opened my locker and I found this terrific surprise to greet me.

It was a "Hi" message; a simple gesture that could be categorized under "small", yet it was huge in the "big" scheme of things.

It was an act of kindness which took thought, effort and sharing.  Someone had taken time to think of me, and generously shared a coveted, delectable, sustenance.

It was a "Hi-gh" point each time I opened my locker or unwrapped one of those morsels.
It made me more high than the chocolate drug itself as my heart was touched by the affection shown me through this simple but profound act.

Never, ever underestimate the "little" acts of goodness you show to another, for you may never fully know the depth of how really "big" they are!


 

Dear New Year.....

Dear New Year.....
I know I have never met you before, but I am looking forward to you being in my life and getting to know you. 
I am also anticipating getting to experience the blessings that you have to share with me, as well as the lessons I can learn from you. 
I am awaiting what this new year has to add to my life hoping that you stay with me for at least 365 days before you decide to leave.
I will do my best to cherish and express gratitude in all things knowing you are in my life only for my benefit, no matter if some trying days are mixed in there. 
Thank you for adding me to your list of friends and for adding another yearly piece that is forming the puzzle picture of my life. Welcome 2015 to my life!!!
With gratitude,
Love, Reyna 

"Today is the first blank page of a 365 book.  Write a good one!" -2015-

More Art Work

Here is another temple my son did for the same person.
This is the Gila Valley temple in Central, Az.

It also is done with chalk pastel and ink.
(Again, sorry for the glass glare and other reflections :( )

Art Work By My Child

This is a picture of the Mesa, Az. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Temple my son made with chalk pastels and ink (the old school dip-in-a-bottle kind.).  It took him hours and hours of carefully and meticulously making the details with ink as one slip could have ruined the whole picture! (If you can, zoom in and see all the details.)

This was commissioned work but I want one of these.....

(Sorry about the glare from the glass.)

LEGO-MAN: Do You Want To Build A........

Husband.....or A Boyfriend.....?

As I watched the little boys in class over the years playing with Lego's, they would just dig in the big Rubbermaid bin and pick out different pieces to different sets, snapping together all the mismatched pieces to form one character.

A little bit of Pirate-Man, Space-Man, Construction-Man and The Knight.  Coming together to create their "hero".  Their ideal guy. One whom could find the hidden treasure, dream and see things that are out of this world, build anything, and do it all with chivalry.  Oh, what a man!

Wouldn't it be great if we could form our own men who would posses all that?  Taking this ones humor and talents, that guys looks, this ones values, and that ones commitment to relationships, goals and dreams?  Piecing together Thee Guy? Thee one we have diligently searched for, in hopes of someday finding?

Well, we know the routine right?
No matter how loud we sing, 'Everything is awesome, everything is cool when you're part of a team.' while sorting through life's bin of men, it won't make it all work out the way we want, will it?  We can't take this mans heart and that mans brain and make it fit where it doesn't belong now can we, no matter how determined and hard we push.  Some pieces of people just aren't ever going to be compatible matches.

But you know what? 
I can build a real Lego me!  I can find the pieces of the woman I want to be and add them here and there until I have become someone whom I would want to be married to.

I can work on creating a new me, while I of course am belting out, 'Everything is awesome when you're living your dream' !

"If you're looking for a happy ending and you can't seem to find one, maybe it's time you start looking for a new beginning instead."~ socialmeems.com

Child's Art Work

This was a piece of wood my son picked up at a yard work job he was doing, and painted like a human heart for his sister who wants to be a Dr.  (Sorry my photo skills are :( . It looks much better in person.)