PHENOMENAL

 

PHENOMENAL

Do do, do do do. Phenomenal. Do do do do. Phenomenal. Do do do do do, do do do, do.........

Sorry. Every time I hear that word, my brain inserts this song. I promise Muppets are not the reason I am blogging today-although, wasn't that a fun, if weird, trip down memory lane?

Phenomenal. That's a strong word. A BIG word. A fun word. I love using it to describe so many things. People, Experiences. Places. Feelings. Situations. Performances. Acts of kindness, bravery, and heroism. It is a wonderful word to describe immense things. 

I have experienced many phenomenal things in my life, which I think is a pretty awesome thing to be able to say. I am a very middle of the road person, so being able to say phenomenal things happen to me shows me I have been very blessed. 

I have been blessed with phenomenal, incredible children-both by blood and by love. Ones that were borne from my body, and ones I have claimed as mine because of the bonds we so deeply share. They are all beautiful-inside and out, are brilliant, kind, talented, and loving. Best of all, I get to call them mine-at least for the time they are here on earth, borrowed from Heaven.  Because of them, I have been blessed with countless amazing people who have come into my life to either benefit the growth of my children, or blessed all of our lives with their gifts and talents. I have villages who have gathered around my children and helped them become who they are. It's amazing. 

I have witnessed phenomenal, incredible, faith-building miracles of biblical proportions in my life and the lives of those around me. Like-"the tumor has disappeared" kind. Or "there's not a trace of cancer" kind. The "she's been rear-ended by two cars at freeway speed and is walking away" kind. The "she's made it through a living Hell but is an incredible person in spite of it" kind. And then there's the "look at the blue on that dragonfly" kind, and the "oh my gosh, I found a dime" kind. I see miracles large and small every single day.  It's astounding. 

I have visited phenomenal places in the world-everywhere from my back yard with the beautiful Ben Lomond Peak to the rocky, windy shores of the Oregon Coast to the calming, see all the way to the bottom of the ocean waters of the Caribbean to the golden tree filled hills of West Virginia. There are jaw dropping, beautiful places in this world. I have only seen a handful of them, but that doesn't diminish their wonder. I hope to see many, many more before the end of my life. 

Palm trees in Las Vegas

Maho Beach on St Maarten

Golden hills of West Virginia

Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, OR

Ben Lomond Peak right here in Utah

I have been blessed with a phenomenal job. Sometimes it is taxing on every level, but there is ALWAYS good in each day-even if it's just a short conversation with a child or a run in with the great people I work with. It is fulfilling, if challenging for me. I love being Miss Heather and I wouldn't trade it for the world. People ask me when I am going to retire and I tell them I won't leave until they kick me out. Truthfully, I want to leave while things are good and before I am too tired, but I have at least 30 more years in me, so we're good! I am grateful every day to feel goodness and to leave a mark of goodness myself while I'm at it. 

I could go on about the phenomenal workings of the world, but I was going through my memories this morning before a really long day, and came across one that just struck my heart. I wrote it 4 years ago and I still feel this way. There had been an incredible lightning storm the night before and there were pictures that had been  on KSL's page that were breathtaking. Now, I am a sucker for a good storm. You give me lightning and thunder and I am a happy camper. Many of my fondest memories are centered around huge lightshows in the sky. When I was a youngster-around ages 7 and 8- we lived in West Virginia for a stint. We had some great friends who had a back porch that hung over a creek. I remember watching some of the most fantastic storms out there. We just all sat in wonder at the lightning flashes that lit up the sky for hours on end, and the ruckus of the thunder bumpers that all but knocked us out of our chairs. GLORIOUS! God puts on a great show. I still get so excited to see flashes in the sky or hear a big boom of thunder shake the atmosphere. I know people who are just petrified of these weather patterns, and I get it, but to me they signify something so divine. Here is the post from the weather page:

And here is what I wrote about it. It actually made me cry.

"When the world seems crazy and unstable, this kind of weather gives me a 

peace that nothing else can. Shows there's someone (thing, entity, take your pick) that is bigger than me and has it all under control. Only something heavenly and 

all knowing could create beauty like this! The storm actually gives me the calm. 

8-3-18"

I need to remember this feeling. All too often, when I am heartsick or worried, or just plain stressed out, knowing God is there is the key to my peace. Feeling something He created makes me know HE IS THERE. Those flashes of light that tear through the sky and those rumbles of thunder that feel like the sky will crack open show me that it's all up to Him and all will be well. There may be a little havoc induced and some unsteadiness in the wake, but in the end there is the calm. The strength that comes with each storm shows me the strength that is there to gird me up. PHENOMENAL. And I am grateful! 

Wait for it.....

VOLUME UP!!!!!!!!!

Never Ending Story

I promised myself I would blog at least once every month of the summer. I'm having trouble settling on a topic. But a promise is a promise. 

I could blog about the craziness of the world, the state of the economy, the unrest in human-kind, the uncertainty in acquiring our basic needs, or the sense of being in an alternate reality almost every day anymore. But instead, I will write about the honor, resiliency, steadfastness, bravery, generosity, and benevolence I still see in the world. The good things that still happen. That miracles that still occur. The valiant acts that transpire in any given moment. The good that still exits.

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Oh, the news would want you to believe otherwise. Those who look to interrupt our peaceful existence want you to lose hope. Those who work to propagate evil would want you to believe light has been snuffed out and only darkness remains in our future. I vehemently contest this sentiment, although I admit to being sucked into the propaganda every now and again. Even then, all I have to do is look at my circle-my village-and I know that light exists and there will always be good somewhere in the world. 

To say I love my village sounds small and trite. It doesn't even begin to cover the myriad and depth of emotions I have for my people. My people have loved me through good times and bad. They have believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. They rush to my side when I am falsely accused. They see the best in me. They will not have my name besmirched, but will champion me at every turn, and give me perspective along the way. My village knows me. My village knows I love them. My village knows I would do anything for them as well. My village is spread out-from the center of my household to the edges of my neighborhood to the far reaches of every state, and even across several countries. Some of my village is even in heaven.  EACH person plays an integral part in my life and has achieved purpose just by being. Yup-you got that right. You can play a role in someone else's life just by existing. And from there, the opportunities are wide open-the chances to help, save, nurture, and cheer. My village takes advantage of that fact and then some. You see, not only are they there for me, but for an infinite number of other people as well. I cannot give enough thanks to every single individual who has crossed my path; the ones that have come and gone, the ones I have yet to meet, and the constants who stay in my life in one form or another-your presence has been felt, done good, changed my life for the better, and brought miracles to me that I could get in no other way. Thank you. I love you. More than I can ever convey. But this post isn't just about me. 

I realize the title of my blog has yet to come into play. I don't know if you ever had the chance to see the classic 80's movie "The Never Ending Story", but if you haven't, it's worth the hour and 32 minutes it takes to watch it. It's cheesy, yes, but full of amazing things like bravery, trial, triumph, heroes, persistence, and my personal favorite: Falcor, the Luck Dragon! More in a moment....

I can't describe how desperately I want one of these!!!

Last weekend I sat in the most beautiful little city in Idaho. We chanced upon it last year and went up to see the "Best Fireworks Show This Side of the Mississippi". We were not disappointed last year, and found ourselves there once again to witness the magic. 

I LOVE AMERICA. I cannot stress this enough. I love my land.  I am patriotic, I was BORN THAT WAY. I bleed red, white, and blue. I LOVE my country. I love what my country is supposed to stand for. I love Liberty. I love being a land of opportunity. I love it that it is up to each person-no matter their circumstance-to take those opportunities and use them, or even make their own, and that anyone who works hard will find some form of success. I love it that we are a melting pot. I love the variety in our land. And I love the idea of being One Nation Under God. If your God is different from my God, we are still supposed to be one nation. I hope we get there someday. Nevertheless, I appreciate more than I can put into words the sacrifices our forefathers, our leaders who truly stand for America, our military, our communities, our workforces and our families have made to help us establish and keep this land that we love. May we never let it go. 

On the gorgeous drive up to Idaho, I marveled at the beauty of vast, wide open spaces, blue skies, and clouds to die for. I reflected on the opportunity I had a few days earlier to go help my mother and her friends in a cause that is dear to my heart and should be one that the world puts great focus on. Operation Underground Railroad  (https://www.ourrescue.org/) is a non-profit entity that raises money and awareness for human trafficking, and provides rescue, rehabilitation and resources for those who have been through this horrific, abominable ordeal. I can't even imagine the destruction being trafficked causes a soul. Well, my dearly departed father had a habit of collecting. Not on a small scale but on a grander scale than many can imagine. One of his items was model cars. Well over 7000 of them. Guess what? When he passed, do you want to know who got to deal with all those cars? My sweet mother. And the rest of us, but it has mostly fallen squarely on her shoulders and it has been overwhelming to say the least. The undertaking of cataloging alone is mind-boggling and time-consuming. Finally my mom got to a point that she felt something different had to be done. She has some friends who run the O.U.R. group in her area, and decided-after speaking with each of her daughters-to sell the cars and donate the proceeds*every penny*to O.U.R. Of course we agreed, and we all feel my dad is smiling upon this endeavor from heaven. Long story short, a few days before our venture to Idaho, I found myself with an open day where I could go show support and help run a booth at an event in Cache Valley. I can't describe the peace and goodness and light I received as I did this. (Honestly I hardly did a thing other than talk to customers and rearrange cars, but it was an amazing feeling.) On one side of our booth was the official O.U.R. booth with info, resources, and merchandise for this cause. We were in the middle, and on the other side of us were the amazing couple who run the DBSA (Depression and Bipolar-Support Alliance     https://www.dbsalliance.org/support/chapters-and-support-groups/find-a-support-group/?state=UT ) support groups in Cache Valley. Can you think of a better set-up? 

Kelly and Jan 

Kip and Kathy

My Dad-the collector

My beautiful, patient mom

At any rate, I was still thinking about this wonderful experience I had when we walked into the venue we had come for and saw the astounding amount of people, goodwill, patriotism, variety, togetherness and community. We were all there to celebrate one thing. America. The founding of it, the protection of it, the diversity in it, the blessing of it. I sat there in amazement as tears streamed down my face and I witnessed the tribute to America that was so generously provided to us. It dawned on me that there is always light. Always good. A never ending story of it. Yup. There's the tie-in. As long as ONE person shares that good, and shines the light so others can see, the story will never end. That feeling enveloped me and wrapped me in a beautiful cocoon of contentment that I have carried with me into this week-even with the endless barrage of disheartening stories that assault our senses every day. The cocoon isn't as strong as it was that night, but my village will bring reinforcements of goodness and light-like they always do, and I will be grateful! 

And a dime to boot!

For more information on the best fireworks show I have ever seen go to https://www.freedomcelebration.com/                     Seriously-the whole show was one huge grand finale!   Thanks to Melaleuca!!!!!

Gimme Gimme

I know. That sounds selfish, Right? We do live in a very selfish world. And I would fit right in running around saying "Gimme" all the time. But let's look at it in a different way. 

..........in a minute.

Make no mistake-I fully understand that I live a charmed, blessed life, and I am ALWAYS grateful that I do. I am not rich. I am average in many, many ways. But I like the middle of the road and am content with who I am and what I have to offer the world. I have everything I need, and many wants as well. I hope to always be worthy of all I have been given. I never want to lose appreciation, because if I am not honoring the source of all my blessings, I know they can be taken away at a moments notice. In reality, many things we treasure in our lives are taken away or changed without warning. But it is what it is. Life. I still believe that by acknowledging the provider of all of our blessings helps our maker be more willing to continue to bless us. So this I do. I thank God. For everything. 

Kind gestures

Meaningful things

The warmth of a daughter's hand in yours

Glorious rays

Beautiful paintings in the sky

Treasures just left on my desk

Fun times

My heritage, America, and Patriotism

I  have had my share of trials and heartaches as well. Everything from cancer to heart issues to heart break to disappointments-big and small. Like anyone else. The last few years have been extra hard, and I know most people can relate to this. I am not good at feeling trapped. In ANY way. Behind things (let the hyper-ventilating commence.)  In small areas. In a situation that is hard. In a room full of bad juju. In a cave. In a bad relationship. In a time of recovery. In a sick body. In messes that are not my own doing.  In messes of my own doing. Between two sides of an issue. In CONFINEMENT of any kind. Being trapped is my worst fear. I have bungled down this road of feeling trapped for a long time now. And I am weary. So maybe knowing that about me will help you understand the strange position I am in every summertime when I am done with work until school starts in the fall. Hopefully it makes sense. 

I absolutely love my job. I adore the people I work with. I adore the children I serve.
I love the environment. I HATE being sick and having to miss work. After the first day at home, if I have to miss any more work to get well it sends me into a tailspin. I try to be aware of others, and sometimes stay home an extra day to make sure there is no chance of me passing it on to someone else. I am not useful at home or anywhere else when I am in a state of sickness, and I feel like I am just waiting for time to pass while I am missing life. It's okay. I get through it. But let me say again. I love my job and I love to be there. My job and I were made for each other. I revel in it-and yes, I get tired in it-but I love being there. Then comes summer. 

When my girls were little and all the way up until they graduated,  I LIVED for summer. For vacation days. For any holiday they were out of school and I could spend time with them. I hated sending them back because I just wanted more time with them. I was NOT the parent who was excited to send my kids back to school. I just wanted to be a mom and make memories. Then my children grew up. They finished school. And guess who the only person in our house is who gets the summer off? Yup. It's me. I get to look forward to 3 months in a quiet house, biding the time until someone gets off work and comes home, or I get to go somewhere and live a little. 

They grew up in the blink of an eye!

I am not complaining. I realize what a blessing this is. I get more done in my house in a summer than I do the rest of the year while I'm working. I do projects. I clean like nobody's business. I cook more. I take late night walks. I visit my mom. I help people with projects. I hammock on the overpass. I exercise more-and better! I go to theme parks. I take little vacations. I see my girls. But it's not the same. I am lonely. So here comes the gimme. 

Gimme (I really can't say that a million times, so give me...), please,  time with the people I love. Give me experiences to treasure. Give me the freedom to travel, to wander, to take in as much of this planet as I can while I exist on it. Give me the calm to get through any situation and the perspective to see what I have in front of me instead of the things I miss. Give me inspiration to help those around me while I have the time to do so. Give me discernment in deciding which tasks are most important, and which ones don't matter. Give my ever racing mind the ability to slow down and ponder, appreciate, and relax. Give me the ability to slow myself down and re-energize for next school year. Give me the ability to touch lives in a way that lasts, to find ways to BE WITH people I love, and to be able to make moments happen.  Give me focus. Give me strength. Give me understanding of everyone around me. Give me peace. Give me CALM. That's all. Not much to ask for, right?

In the grand scheme of things, things are not what I am after. Oh, they are fun, but experiences are all we take with us.I want to appreciate to the fullest the time I do have that I know not everyone gets. I do want a better economy, clearer heads ruling the nations, less hate, and more love, but there's only so much of it that is in my hands. So for now, I am hoping to have at least a few of the things that I mentioned to come to fruition for me. I know we can't have everything we ask for. Nobody gets that. But with an open heart and a drive to do and see goodness, I am hoping that my creator will see fit to bless me with these needs of the heart. And I will be SO grateful! 

YES.. It's THAT important!