"The pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." ~Browning

It should come as no surprise that the secret to living a rich, full and happy life lies in the second sentence of this quote. Every time we face a difficulty we have two choices: wilt or grow--it is that simple. We can complain about the difficulty, analyze it, dislike it, think it is unfair or unjust--and we might be right. But that doesn't matter. Whether we are right or wrong, the difficulty remains. We can make the difficulty a statue in our life by focusing on it, or we can make the difficulty crumble, by growing and stepping past it.

As some of you know I have gone back to school at the ripe old age of 43!! I seem to have many days that I want to wilt, turn in the towel and just give up!!. Life is just too hard with all its demand to add another to my schedule!! When this is my focus I most likely will wilt!! Yet I have another choice, to put on my cowgirl boots and cowgirl up!! (a phrase from my past) When I make the second choice I know I will grow, and not only that I will accomplish my goal!

With goals comes obstacles, to help us know if what we are seeking is truly our desire! If we are willing to stick it out when the going gets tough then what we seek becomes our destiny!

Hope happens when we look past the obstacles!!

Where have you been seeing difficulty instead of opportunity? How would it feel to remove the stone statue of "difficulty" and replace it with fertile ground for hope to grow? What can you do today to begin crumbling that status?

May the spirit of this message bless your life no matter what circumstances life finds you.


Remembering 911 a day of remembering what is important!!

For everything there is a season,
And a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate,
A time for war, and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

On September 1st one year had passed since my wonderful, generous optimistic father passed from this life to the other. How I have missed him, yet at the same time felt him close by. Dad was the one I would call when I needed to share the events of my life! When Alex made student body officer my first thought was to call dad.......and then I remembered I couldn't. And so it as gone this year of firsts without one of the great stables in my life.

So I remember the memories: The waterfights, the horseback rides, the snicker bars and country time lemonade. The lessons learned and principles taught. The optimism in hard situations. The list goes on and on.

I pray he knows of my love, and my faith that we will be together again someday.........until then I will keep my chin up and focused on what is important in life, and remember you forever!

As always your favorite daughter!!

My Three Favorites!!
come play along you know you want too!!

Three names I go by:
1.Karen
2.Mom
3. Honey Honey!

Three jobs I've had in my life:
1. Clerk
2. Receptionist
3. Mom

Three places I' ve lived:
1.Utah
2. Idaho
3. New Jersey

Three favorite drinks:
1. Water
2. homemade lemonade
3. lime ricky

Three TV shows I watch:
1. House
2. Physic
3. Grey's Anatomy

Places I've been:
1. London
2. Paris
3. Florida

Three people who text me regularly:
1. Alysa
2. John
3. Kim

Three of my favorite foods:
1. Italian
2. Mexican
3. Alex's cooking

Three friends I think will respond:
1. Jodi
2. Kim
3. Ema

My favorite colors:
1. teal blue
2. Yellow
3. light blue

My favorite hobbies:
1. blogging
2. quilting
3. reading

"Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness." - Seneca

Think about your last several days. Try to envision the faces of people that you saw, try to remember what they were saying, or what their facial expressions revealed about how they were feeling. Can you remember any vividly? Think not only of your immediate family and friends, but strangers that you encountered while shopping, or walking, or doing errands.

Can you remember how you felt as you saw each of those people? Were you intimidated? Did you have a hard time recalling faces of strangers because you were focused on something else? Were you judgmental of some of those you saw?

Imagine if we greeted each person we saw with the wisdom Seneca brings in this quote. Each time we encounter another being, we have an opportunity to share kindness.

Food 4 Thought Friday ~ This week's questions:

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Breakfast

What do you like most about this time of the year? What's not to like.......all the fresh fruit and veggies, the cool night temperatures, the way the colors get brighter,back to school and back to a schedule, Friday night football, fall soccer. I love FALL!

Lunch

What has been your favorite age so far? The age I am right now!

Dinner

What was the funnest thing or best memory you made this summer? I really had a great time at the concerts and sporting events we attended this summer. We had a great summer stay-ation!! Enjoying all the fun FREE things to do in are area! When you have your honey by your side doing things with your children or spending a day with your sisters life is always good!!

Midnight Snack

What is your favorite thing to make for dinner? I love making good food..........lasagna, enchiladas and dilli salmon are some of my families favorites.

Recipe of the Week (instead of your recipe for life, what is it just for this week?)
Smile and make miles and miles of smiles!!

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I know you are probably saying, "she changes backgrounds faster than she changes her post!"

What can I say but you are right! I have had a problem posting regular posts, it isn't that I am not doing anything worthy of a post it is just that I am not great at taking pictures these past few months.........thus I have a block about writing if I can't put a picture with it!!

What's up with the fall background? You might be asking? Well going to school brings out the fall in me, so I couldn't resist this background.

The county fair has always marks the end of summer for me..................I love the sights, sounds, food, and all the fun the fair brings. John and I went to the county fair last Saturday afternoon and evening. We enjoyed the exhibits, the animals,and the fairway. We shopped at the booths, sat in awe at the rodeo and boogied at the dance! Needless to say, we had a great time.
And YES,I took my camera!!