Fear Not

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There are those who say that fear is a lack of faith.  Maybe.  Sometimes when we get a fearful feeling its an instinctive reaction to our surroundings.  This is good and we should try to follow that instinct with caution.  Living day-to-day with a fear-based mindset can hinder fearproductivity, personal achievement, rob our joy, and even relationships.

Making a decision to face a fear can be a decision of risk and reward.  When a child won’t jump into a pool into his parent’s arms, the fear of the unknown can keep him from the fun of the jump and playing in the water. So, ask the child, what is the worst thing that could happen? Most kids will say their head will go under or “I don’t know”. In that example, the risk is low (as long as the parent is paying attention) and the reward is high.

As we grow up our ability to decide risk/reward is often tainted by immaturity.  Things like going out the night before exams etc.

Adults sometimes fear change because of all they are responsible for.  The risk can be higher and the rewards can be measured on a variety of levels. However, whether facing the fear delivers the success or a failure, there is something to be learned.  There is an opportunity to re-think the direction and even the fearful behavior.

What are you most fearful of? Public speaking? Death? Failure?

Just something to think about?

KK

 

Summer V-A-C-A

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Every summer we go on a vacation of some kind. Some years we’ve gone with extended family and others it has just been us.  We drive on our vacation taking our time, seeing and doing what we want and enjoying each other.  We load the car with snacks and summer vacationthings to do on the drive and we take off.  While there is plenty of video game playing and movie watching, we also play those tried and true games of GHOST, count the cows, “I see something you don’t see” and “I’m going on a trip and I’m taking…” alphabet memory game. Oh, and not to forget the license plate game!

Our vacation plans unfold as soon as we have our baseball and marching band camp schedules.  We should have all of that this week, so where should we go?

Where are you going? Do you take “busy” active vacations or do you like to totally downshift and just escape and relax?

All the best,

KK

 

 

 

First Saturday

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It’s the first Saturday in May in Louisville, Kentucky.  There will be hats and screaming fans. The turf will be vibrant green and the dirt settled (at least until the stars of the day take the field).  The concession stand will have hot-off-the-grill hot dogs and cool beverages.  There will be thoroughbreds of the sport in the field.  And for some of those in the race, it will be all about the pitching from the stretch. Will the clock or the baseball equipmentdistance win?

I’m talking about baseball of course…make up games for rainouts today to finish the collegiate season. What were thinking, derby? What Kentucky derby? Just kidding, I love the derby and the festive environment it brings to our city.  This derby, its about baseball…

See you at the field,

KK

 

Everybody’s Busy

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Everybody’s busy – this seems to be the thing to say when an invitation is declined instead of saying “I’m sorry you can’t attend”. While it is easy to get caught up in all the opportunities life offers today; it’s also easy to waste a lot of time with cable tv, mobile device games, and other internet surfing.

busy peoplePeople are as busy as they want to be.  There are times when work and personal activities collide and a little hustle is required. The hours of the day are full.  This hustle doesn’t last forever.

Adults can take control of their time to fulfill their responsibilities such as work and family.  If life becomes too hassled and full, it may be time to re-evaluate the “time-suckers”.  Do they fall within personal priorities?

If someone declines your invitation, it may not mean they are too busy, it simply means that event is at the same time as something else that day.

Just a thought,

KK

It’s Friday, today is not where we find hope, Sunday’s coming

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Good Friday.  For the believer this represents the day our savior was brutally murdered; but he let it happen willingly.  No doubt his human side and his Godly side did battle all day. He could have stopped the scourging.  He could have destroyed those who thought they were destroying him.  But he didn’t.  As mean and painful as it got, he stuck to the plan.  The plan that he knew from the beginning of creation would come to this day, these hours of complete distress.  His Father had prepared him as much as possible.  Just as he tries to prepare us for the storms.  But we don’t listen always the way Jesus did.  In the midst of every human friend turning on him — the emotional pain; in the midst of being spit on and fists waved — the humiliation; in the midst of having is Father turning from him — the spiritual loneliness; our Jesus still fulfilled his purpose, he willingly gave up his life as the ultimate sacrifice. The world thought they won, but they didn’t remember, that Sunday was comin’…

Watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YByT6wfdhJs (Don Buck P Creacy)

Every time we find ourselves feeling lonely, betrayed, and hopeless, remember, Sunday is coming, again.

Blessings to you,

KK

The Best Laid Plans — Rock!

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For those of you who are learning to communicate with a teenager, this is for you. It’s mid-week on spring break when we did not take a vacation. My son is asked to do three chores one of which is to vacuum. To help with this torturous activity he wears his head phones. The following is our exchange:

He walks into my home office and says:

“Just about done, just have to do the basement steps.”

“Great, what are you listening to?”

“Of Mice and Men.”

“Cool, is it the soundtrack or the audio book?”

He looks at me in a puzzled manner not so uncommon these days and says, “no, the band, mom.”

I bust out laughing and say “I thought it was the book.”

“Oh,” he says “is that one of your classics?”20140402-142228.jpg

I love being the parent of a teen. It is a blast when our generations collide and we both learn a little something about each other. We googled the band so I could hear. Then I warned him that when his high school literature teach mentions reading Of Mice and Men not to stand up and say, “rock on!”

Still learning about parenting,
KK

 

Travelin’

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winter windGloves – check; hand warmers – check; swim suit – check; sun screen – check; rain coat and umbrella – check; baseball “mom” t-shirt – check; team spirit wear – check; sweatshirt – check; sweats for under wind pants – check; Gatorade – check; travel snacks (something sweet, something salty) – check; stadium seats – check; cooler – check. Is the hotel one we get points at? It must be baseball season. We travel and we prepare for whatever season decides to show up. We could have a little bit of spring and a little bit of winter. Images of the parent/fans in the bleachers could easily be mistaken for football season with scarves, gloves and blankets.spring image 2 Late in the season the image is more like survivors in the desert. It must be baseball season.

The parents spend the first few games trying to remember each other’s name, memorizing the names and numbers of the players they don’t know and always encouraging all the players on and off the field. Sometimes it’s the encouraging words of another player’s parent the really helps lift spirits.

The coach does his best to get the team ready for the season inaugural tournament. He reminds everyone that none of the teams will have had a lot of field time practice. “Let’s have fun and learn something. We can have more fun if we get some hits. So, go be aggressive at the plate.”

While outsiders think we are crazy, those of us on the inside know that baseball season with our middle schooler’s travel team is all about the memories being made. There will be button-busting victories and there will be dirt-kicking defeats. One will be celebrated with food and fun at the hotel indoor pool and the other will be quickly forgotten with food and fun at the hotel indoor pool.

Traveling home is usually quiet. Everyone is tired in the best way. At home laundry is separated. The white baseball baseball equipmentpants are the key player in a laundry chemistry project including pre-treatment spray and Fels Naptha. After a 30 minute soak, the uniform is the first to get washed. The result will be somewhere between “like-new clean” and “ready to hit the field.”

 Yes, in a few days we will be back on the field ready to take on the next team and the new challenge. Batter up!

All the best,
KK

Snow!

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Typically in Kentucky January and February are dreary, cloudy and cold months.  They are long and like walking through taffy to get to spring.  This year a winter polar blast has come to visit.  We are in the midst of very cold days and snow!  True to form, people are starting to grouse and wish this six-week visitor would pack its ice cycles and go home.

Beyond the initial mess these winter storms bring, the road crews have done well to get the streets cleared so being out and about lends an opportunity to experience the winter wonder land.  It’s amazing to see the sleeves of ice icy2coating each little limb and stem of the trees and shrubs.  I feel for our old pine tree with the burden of ice that pulls the branches downward from its 60 feet height.  But the sun is out today and is helping to melt away some of that load.  No doubt the strength of 20 plus years will sustain our wooden friend.  The sunshine is probably the great redeemer in this long winter visitor.  If you followed our dog around all day you would know the places in the house that the beams of light invade and remind us that warmth is available.

Yes, warmth is available and more is on its way.  In the next few weeks, whether Mr. Winter has departed or not, the early spring flowers will begin their reign and the seasonal tug-of-war will begin.  I like to think that right icynow beneath inches of snow and ice, my flowers are sleeping and building their strength.  Their time will come and when it does those beautiful and graceful buds will burst through whatever lays above.

Weather is wonderfully unpredictable.  But we can count on the seasons to change.  We can count on the snow and ice to melt and spring to arrive.  It will show up in all its color and glory.  Keep watching for it, but don’t miss the beauty that has beaten the winter doldrums.

All the best,

KK

Farewell 2013

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It’s half past three in the afternoon on New Year’s Eve.  I’ve spent some time in the office taking care of a few things – organizing.  The January calendar is set up and ready for the appointments I have in the first two weeks.  The whiteboard has project priorities.  There is order to my work space.

On a personal note, the checkbook is balanced (yes, I do this at least once a month and recommend it for others).  The big home projects for the coming year have been discussed and prioritized.  To close 2013, I feel the completion of 365 full and rich days. Even those with tears and challenges brought something.

It was a good year personally and professionally.  I am so proud of my son and husband for their accomplishments and letting me be on their journey just as they have rooted me on during mine.

There were goals achieved and others still undone.  Will I recommit to the unfinished?  We will see.

I have grown personally in knowledge and wisdom.  Sometimes I feel my age and sometimes my life experience. One truth is that I will never stop learning.

As we turn the last page of the calendar, may we do so with all of the optimism a new year brings.  May we breathe in the freshness of 365 blank days and look forward to all of the activities and people who will fill them.  God bless you and carry you through each one of them.

All the best,

KK

The Closing

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The calendar is waning.  Christmas is over.  Retailers are rushing us into the next holiday.  There is work to be done, but most meetings are cancelled.  The work pace is easy and there is opportunity to get organized and ready to go.  I spent some time today closing out a few files for 2013.calendar_1

It’s hard not to begin planning for 2014.  Over the last week it has been so wonderful to gear-down that I don’t want to go rushing into the New Year.  I’d like to ease into it, choose my goals wisely and roll from there.

Yes, I used the dirty word, “goals”.  We will talk about that later.  For now, let’s just spend some more time with family and play with our new things we got for Christmas.

All the best,

KK