Using All Your Colors

Last night I attended an art exhibition; a mind enlightening experience in itself. The room was filled with many diverse guests from all over the world. I stood at the balcony watching the sunset over the mountains as I sipped a glass of wine. The sun hidden, I slowly made my way back into the gallery; watching the guests as I weaved through the crowd to my table. I am a people watcher. I admit it. I love quiet sparsely populated places most of the time but densely populated spaces often catch my attention; stirring thoughts race though my head. I watched the interactions, choices, facial expressions, words spoken and moods that seeped into the room with the same thought intensity that captured me as I strolled through the gallery earlier in the evening. The room was an array of emotion, all taking in the same experience. I feel that your ability to immerse yourself in a moment often shapes your life more than the event itself. Some like art, some don't, some find mingling intrusive while others thrive on it. The bottom line I observed wasn't whether or not a person actually enjoyed the activity but how they engaged in the particular event. Like art; life is subjective. The experiences a person has prior to viewing a particular work of art can actively change the way they view that piece. Their mood or thoughts can affect their perception of whether a piece brings joy beyond words, is ordinary, repulsive and so on. I watched and noticed that everyone’s experience was a work of art. What they put on their plates, how they engaged in the exhibit and with those around them was all painted by the “colors” they carried around with them. Those who were leaving their "colors" put away, generally ended conversations, made bland choices and overall they didn’t engage. They seemed at best bored with the whole experience. Those that took in the space, selecting “vibrant colors”, engaged, laughed, mingled among the artwork, ate delicious food and enjoyed the evening. We all are handed a new box of colors at different times in life. Like the crayons we used during our school days we wear them out, lose them and forget where we left them. Many of us always wear out the same colors over and over again and sit there wondering why our lives always look the same. In order for the picture to be different you need to use all the crayons in your box all the time. If you don’t like the picture you are creating of your life maybe take out a sharp new color you’ve never used before. More color creates more opportunity for something beautiful. More color invites healthier choices, better moods, more engagement with others and a generally brighter, more cheerful and ridiculously amazing life.Copyright © 2017 Micheline Edwards

Defining Amazing

What is the definition of a Ridiculously Amazing Life…is it the way we perceive ourselves or the manner in which others define us and our achievements or shortcomings? We are human and by the very DNA that created us, we are not capable of perfection. We harbor an inescapable quality to use our very uniquely human abilities to make choices, engage and experience emotion. It is our very “human” qualities that allow us to be alive and function as the beings we are and not just merely navigate blindly through life. We own the gift of free will which allows us to design and deliver our own destinies. In the process of making choices we often succeed wildly. We just as often fall short or even fail completely. We tend to judge ourselves and others according to the ideals we desire. It is by the vice and virtue of free will that we often chose a path that is in conflict with our goals and dreams. So what is it that determines a person’s success or shortcomings? Some of us thoughtfully chose a path that we believe will enable us to reach for the stars. Others often consciously or unconsciously pick self-sabotage. Yet, at the end of the day these very choices no matter how we made them or what the day had to offer; are not always what define our happiness or our success after the dust has settled. Is a person’s success or joy determined then by extraneous sources like net worth, travel, beauty and notoriety? Deeply I know it is not but this is often how we measure our own greatness and that of those around us. Why is it that someone such as Mother Theresa who lived of life of vows to be humble, unassuming, nonjudgmental, chase, poor and to serve others without end; is viewed as having lived a truly amazing life? “I believe it was her ability to engage”. ~mE© Like you and I Mother Theresa most assuredly made her share of imperfect choices and was saddled by those beyond her control. What I feel allowed her to be steadfast, to move forward and stand out was that she allowed herself and choose to engage in the moment, regardless of what it brought and to walk away from it being fully immersed as it occurred. What makes you look back at a moment, an event, a day, a year or a lifetime and allow you to feel it was truly, unarguably & inequitably amazing? I feel; No, I know…. “Living a ridiculously amazing life is choosing to be physically and spiritually engaged in a given moment while being able to find or apply value to the event after it has run its course” ~mE© Copyright © 2017 Micheline Edwards

Joy from Within.

What a hot mess! Pj’s coffee in hand and here I sit on this early morning. Excited for what this day and year will bring. I’ve been told that we should be sad or searching for ourselves as this will be the real empty nest year. Someone close to me actually said, “I really feel sorry for you this year”. Honestly I can’t feel it. Our children are all such a part of our lives every day. The only reason I might be searching for myself, is because I am still so entwined in the wonder of my children's developing lives (I won’t trade that!). What a blessing to be witness to lives unfolding. This stage is different they are not dependent upon me for everything but choose to share with me. We have graduations, weddings, new grandchildren and every day scrambles. How can someone feel empty with all that? My husband and I are beginning to feel like our house is becoming ours again. Okay seriously we are feeling like newlyweds. Each day we rediscover who the other one is, where our relationship is growing or needs support. We are getting to travel and are starting to have a “grown up plan” for the house. I am in love with the guest rooms that sit not empty but ready for visits from family & friends. I admit, while not a grown up space; I had fun making a nursery for grandchildren (and friend’s grandchildren). I am a bubble of energy planning paint colors, meals and date nights. A friend who was struggling with empty nest asked me about my joy. I was a bit perplexed. I was told I would/should feel empty, should I? Pondering this I think the joy in my heart is watching our family continue to evolve. To still be a whole family unit caring about and for each other is something I don’t take for granted. We still plan activities with our children that are thousands of miles away and those I see every day. It dawned on me that emptiness is being left out. Like attending church and being active in the community you feel a sense of unity and belonging when it is part of who you are every day. The old saying “A family that prays together, stays together” comes to mind. I think this could be applied to more than even just the family unit but to our other relationships as well. When your family shares the ups and the downs; when you pray for each other and grow together your growth needn’t be under the same roof. Here’s the catch you need to practice being a family when you are apart just as if you were together. Then no matter where each of you are in life, you feel connected. God asks that we build our relationship with him through Sunday worship. If that was the only time we focused on Him our relationship would be empty. Our Father needs daily attention just as we as parents and children need this. It is awkward to visit with someone you are estranged from. Your conversations falter, your words don’t fit and sometimes further avoidance seems like a good fit. Spending time with those we love and those who love us; builds solid and fulfilling relationships that can even endure separations when they occur. Happiness comes from within but it also is built by what we do every day and how we react to those around us. Nobody can make us happy; however feeling included is part of a bigger picture and can create inner joy if we let it. Soooooo.. I sit here in my pj’s. I am looking forward to the day and what it will bring. There are changes in life but the ride forward is amazing! “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” ~Psalm 37:4 Life is such an example of this. If you delight in your family they will give you joy in your heart. Copyright 2016 Micheline Edwards

A Beautiful New Year

Such a gift is a new year. This morning is New Year’s Eve. I am amazed at how those around me have already begun their new year’s resolutions. It is funny how excited we get at the thought of a clean slate or a new way of approaching life but then very quickly slip back into the everyday from the past. Sitting here on this overcast, quiet and thoughtful morning I would like to say that this is bad, my thoughts on this say otherwise. Why is it that we desire change? Maybe because we are human, we have free will to make these choices. Maybe it is because the grass is greener in someone else’s pasture (envy?). Maybe it is due to an eye opening experience that changed our souls? Whatever the reason; most of us approach the New Year with the giddy of a 10 year old begging for a new gadget. If only we can do this, get this or stick to this; our lives will blossom! Even if we get, do or receive the newness fades quickly. Why is it that most of us never stick to the promises we make to ourselves on New Year’s? News flash…for most of us it is because we didn’t have that soul changing, face slapping wake up call telling us what we had was all that bad.. Our lives most likely, short of something devastating were in actuality probably pretty amazing! If you did experience that eye opening moment, you probably made changes in your lifestyle and stuck with them. If you didn’t then I guess the bigger question would be why did you actually make that resolution? Was it because you felt your appearance wasn’t good enough? Your home not organized enough, were you just not enough? This year I urge you to look at the resolutions you are making and why you are making them. If you are making a promise so you can fit into some mold that is not you (societal expectations) then maybe rethink things. How can you adjust “What REALLY IS YOU”? What would actually make you a happier, healthier or better person? God has called each one of us to be individuals; to each set out and make our own positive impact in life. Whether this means losing weight, meeting career goals or serving others look at where you are and have been when choosing new paths. If you love desert and hate exercising then you already know right out of the gate you are most likely not going to give up pie, chips and soda or make it to the gym 4 days a week (of course be realistic, your health is a concern). If you want to be on time, have a cleaner house, be more successful in your career or become a missionary. Don’t walk in the door January 1st and burn out on January 30th. Start small & gradually take your new promise on a test drive; try out a few “promise models” till you find one that you can love. Be sure and ask yourself along the way, am I going to enjoy this and the results it provides? When you love what and why you are doing something; it will become a part of you. You will never be younger than you are right this moment. You might be prettier, more financially stable, thinner, healthier, or just straight up a better person due to a resolution you make on new year’s; but be honest with yourself. The worst promises you can break are those to yourself. When you let yourself down you let everyone around you down. It degrades your self-worth and often undermines your abilities to make good decisions for yourself and those you love. If you want to be better (nothing specific) but just a better you in this New Year, sit down and look at your past. Thumb through old photos; stare out a window with a cup of coffee. Then decide. My Grandmom gave me a cross stitched picture years ago when I was in high school applying for colleges and thinking life was over whelming (I also thought years ago my size 3 body was fat and when it was a size 5 after my first 2 children were born; another subject another day). The cross stitch has the image of a fat little mouse stepping around a mouse trap. The words carefully stitched on it have remained true throughout my life. “Remember these trying times will be the good old days in the years to come”. No matter where you are now; you are only in a place of improving and appreciating where you are and what God has given you. Choose your resolutions wisely. May your choices create joy and peace in you and those around you. Happy New Year! Copyright 2015 Micheline Edwards

Wishing you happiness, joy and a politically correct cup????

“Hope your birthday is a happy one? Happy Anniversary? Get Well Soon?” hmmm…..Right cups and mugs; I don’t usually choose trending topics. There has been a lot of hoopla about Starbucks the last few days and if their throw away take out cups are inductive of the holiday season or not. Notice I said holiday season? That’s right I said it. I am a Christian but it really doesn’t matter? True religion calls someone to believe in a power greater than themselves, to become humble and to have faith in what they can't see or explain. Saying “Happy Holidays” to me simply means, I hope you enjoy the time span between Oct 31 and Jan 1 however you decide to celebrate. Saying happy holidays is about offering a greeting of happiness to someone; it’s saying I hope your next few weeks are filled with joy. It is not a statement about religious choices or even a question about if someone has a belief. Seriously do you ever see, “Wishing you a happy holiday season?” People seriously stop applying a question to the holiday season. Our holiday cards are not asking how you chose to celebrate nor are they a survey of religious preferences. Holiday greetings are supposed to just say have a great time (it is a usually followed by a period or an exclamation point). Let’s face it, it is really a secular holiday designed to allow you to celebrate however you choose (of course let's not ignore the capital gains). If you choose to take this time as most Americans do, to celebrate with family and friends, to get together, to share gifts, to be thankful, to dress up (be it Halloween, All Saints or New Year’s),to spark your religious beliefs and actually attend a holy service of some sort (don’t lie to yourself we all know Christmas and Easter services are triple attendance from the rest of the year), to take or share a dinner with those you love…..You are celebrating “A HOLIDAY” (call a spade a spade). If you can get up in the morning and go buy yourself a five dollar cup of coffee from somewhere. Yay You! You woke up, you probably have a job and your body is working. If you don’t like the throw away cup your beverage came in here is a tip; since you care about world justice. Try bringing your own cup and not contribute to environmental issues. If you can buy a Starbucks Coffee you can probably afford a reusable cup; with whatever makes you happy on the front of it. For five dollars you could make a cup at home and give breakfast to someone in need. You get the picture. So what is the right cup, attitude or right anything? The right cup is the one that makes you smile. I have a cupboard of coffee cups given to me with love by my family. Each one makes me smile when I use it because of a memory is attached to someone I love. A cup that works for you might be one that is actually full (hint...maybe we are not talking about a cup anymore????) As a Christian I am happy to celebrate with those I love throughout the coming season regardless of what moves them. I want those I care about to be happy, healthy, safe and to be in love with life. I want them to get up and actually have a cup with something in it & to look forward to each morning. Life is about potential and choices. Make choices that create joy for you but that do not cause harm to others (a throw away cup or saying happy holidays does no harm). Get up every morning and see the potential that has been given to you for that day;figure out a way to make the most of it. Learn to laugh, love and give. Giving to others is the greatest give you can give to yourself. You can do this and feel free to choose whatever coffee cup you wish, heck go crazy and put something like soda or tea in it. Be a rebel with good intentions, smile and don’t complain about things that make no difference in the life of you or others when you have the potential to make a positive impact every day in the world. So "fill your cup" and get out there and doing something good! Copyright 2015 Micheline Edwards; Five Children and a Farm White Picket Fences and Grace. “Whenever violence is done in the name of religion, we must make it clear to everyone that in such instances we are not dealing with true religion” ~Pope John Paul II 1998

Carving Memories

I should be working on a paper I have due but have found myself arm deep in pumpkin guts. I know this may seem as though my priorities are askew. Maybe they are. My kids are all preparing for Halloween and All Saints Day and our youngest has invited us to join at his new home this year to help hand out treats. We are planning to carve pumpkins tomorrow the kids that are available. So I really should set some priorities and finish my paper. My children and myself love Halloween because of the fun memories we have of amazing costumes and elaborately carved pumpkins. Most of these fun things were made by my parents with love. My siblings and I won so many school costume contests as kids I think my mom might have had a competitive side to her we didn't always see! My father made pies for the school carnivals that always went to the highest bidders and my mother’s pumpkins (and costumes) were something to be in awe over. It was a time of getting in the mood for celebrating the coming holiday season. Yes, I did use the term holiday because at my house when growing up we sort of had a three month (four if you throw in Valentine’s Day) holiday party that climaxed at Christmas. My parents never actually emphasized the material things as you might suspect by what I have just written. Mom and Dad were about the magic and getting the most out of family time..the simple things. This started each fall with huge piles of leaves, lots of baking and of course Halloween fun. I love pumpkins their beautiful cheerful orange faces cannot be passed without a smile. I am assuming I got this love from my mother. She would usually only get one pumpkin (money was tight) and while we were at school she would spend hours; sometimes two afternoons making this glorious orange globe into a work of art. My mother would do this long before there were carving kits, patterns and Pinterest. Mamma only used her favorite carving knife; which she claims to this day she can’t work without. Mama’s jack-o’-lanterns would begin in her amazing imagination and be “painted” onto this plump orange canvas. She would add elaborate details and shading that would cause these to be beautiful before being lit but become museum worthy by adding a simple candle. Everyone who ever saw one of these creations was always left speechless. This year as was for the last few years mom cannot carve a pumpkin. She is too frail and her mind fades in and out of the present. Last week I went with my daughter in law to decorate pumpkins at the care center where mom needs to be. She played along well and was frustrated with applying the stickers and such they provided (they kept sticking to her hands and not the pumpkin). When her pumpkin was complete one of the aides asked if she could take a picture of her with her pumpkin and she agreed. As the photo was done mom’s memory kicked in and she told me that this pumpkin was nothing like “her” carved ones. She told me she was going to do that this year. About ten years ago I got mom one of the good quality foam carving pumpkin and asked her to carve that one that year so we could keep one of her lovely creations for when she couldn’t make them anymore. She agreed, but never did carve it. The pumpkin still sits whole on her porch each fall. Mom won’t ever be able to carve it or others. So this year in honor of family, memories, traditions and my mother I carved a pumpkin for my mother’s room. I used only a knife and a spoon (ok I used a skewer for a few dots, have no idea how mom did those). Mine turned out ok not anything as amazing as my mom’s and if mom is having a good day she will no doubt give me tips. But she will have her carved pumpkin to enjoy. So Mama here’s to all the magic, joy and smiles you brought us as children, to your grandchildren and others throughout the years with your unbridled imagination and love of life. Thanks for raising us to appreciate the little things and to celebrate every day. Sometimes life isn’t about the impact you purposely add to it but the memories you left that you didn’t know you were adding along the way.Copyright 2015 Micheline Edwards

A wedding wish..today and always.

Today is the beginning of your two becoming one. While you will both remain independent, smart, funny and able to make your own decisions you will also be embarking on a new venture. This adventure isn’t totally new; hopefully you have been training for it your whole life even if you were unaware. This is the voyage of a life time one that will come easily at times and be the hardest thing you’ve had to do at other times. For some it is the first realization that everything you do will ultimately affect another. For others this may be a repeated attempt to be the half of a whole that is one solid piece yet has separate thoughts, ideas and emotions. This trip begins before the “I do” and ends as you breathe your last breath. Marriage is not a party, but there will be some. Marriage is the act of surrendering yourself to another with careful and deliberate abandonment. It is not a selfish act but one where your heart should be in a constant state of sacrifice. To love someone is to give to another. Being ready to lay down your all for someone is not something taken lightly but on this adventure it will be the only way to continue your trip. When your spouse cries, loves, laughs, hurts your empathy and compassion for that will be insurmountable and like a rock. Our abilities to give are often easy. To be a giver you must also allow yourself to be a receiver. There is energy flow like the ocean tide that comes and goes; sometimes you gift and sometimes you receive. Like the water you are one fluid being, picking up bits and pieces and leaving some behind and all the while in motion. While it is with great joy you enter into this union and with your heavenly father as witness and a guide. Your wedding day is the beginning of the journey. May you travel with a servant’s heart ready to lay down your all for each other and with this shared load your adventure will be one of greatness. Many blessings. ~Micheline Edwards White Picket Fences 2015 ~In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5 “Our modern culture teaches us to always fight and look out for number one. On this day remember that your one is more and to act with a servants heart as we are called to do and to lay aside yourself to others. In this you will find great joy” http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=servant+song&FORM=VIRE9#view=detail&mid=8036E63D1AC7B27283248036E63D1AC7B2728324 "Live with passion, love without surrender"