Living, Laughing, Loving

Isn't that what it's all about? Living....really living this life we've been given -- with all its many adventures. Laughing out loud in the midst of the good living and the tough-living-times. AND, most of all LOVING God, others AND ourselves. Sure, there's plenty to complain and worry about but, seriously, why waste time, energy and breath on complaining, when there is so much to celebrate and be grateful for?

Here's what I know: Gratitude begets even more reasons to be grateful; laughing begets laughter; God's tender mercies begets even more of God's tender mercies. That's what a life intent on loving, serving God and living for Him is all about. Psalm 103:17-18 says it this way, "But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments to do them."

So, I MUST give gratitude for the last week in Austin.....so that I'll continue to have even more reasons to be grateful. I like that. It's just God's laws of reciprocity. "Give and it shall be given."

When God orders our steps (Psalm 37:23), and we respond with "Yes, Sir!" to His orders, it brings us countless blessings. Our steps were ordered this last week. First was Payton and Alexia's NCFCA Speech & Debate Tournament at Austin's Concordia University where I'm always astounded by the brilliance of these young people. Three days of early morning to late at night competitions. It's a work-out but ever so worth it. Then it was three exhilarating days of family fun with the Wuerch cousins: swimming, fishing, Brennan's winning baseball game (10-2), seeing "Captain America's Civil War", and then Mother's Day breakfast, church, and yummy barbeque dinner before heading north for Frisco last night with laugh out loud jokes and stories along the way.

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To say that I feel overwhelmed with God's tender mercies, puts it mildly. I know it must seem so mechanical to read my posts because I'm always posting about gratitude, celebrating life and its great moments. I just can't help myself. The truth is....that's what I focus on, so that's just what I keep getting. Accentuating the positive and eliminating the negative....just keeps the sunshine shining -- whether there's rain or shine! What a way to live!

Outlook and Perspective

The 2016 Unstoppable Leadership Summit in Texas continued today with incredible sessions that always radically impact us with a new outlook and perspective for this new year.  I loved it when we all received black rimmed glasses (outlook & perspective) with an arrow on the sides -- trajectory.

Set-backs are like an arrow that is pulled back in the bow that propels the arrow to the target.  

This first-of-the-year weekend sets us up for a year of living undaunted in our pursuits to be world changers.  We see total life transformations taking place as well as hilarious times that rejuvenated us and so many "aha" moments that opened our eyes to the possibilities that await us.  

"Warrior Mentality" continued to be our mindset and each of us presented our own winning "battle cry".  

My warrior mentality isn't like most of those guys who are loud, over-the-top with their screams, but what I tend to do in just about any of my daily confrontations with the enemy -- his temptations, taunts, and tactics...I just LAUGH OUT LOUD right in his face.  "Are you kidding me, Loser, you are messing with the wrong girl." So I did my slap leg, rip snorting, belly laugh that always brings me a merry heart and chases away the doubts and fears.

Another beautiful part, each year, is the"rock ceremony".  Just rocks, but so very special because we hand picked each of them from a rock and stone yard.   We engrave "Unstoppable" on each one and then we sincerely pray for "the word" to engrave on the underside.   At the ceremony, each attendee at the summit walks up and selects their rock -- based only on its size and characteristics.  Not until they select the rock, do they see the "word" that is theirs.  It's always an amazing exercise as we see the exact word that causes them to know their course (ie., wisdom, courage, favored, brave, gratitude, selfless, etc.).  The one I selected was "perseverence".

Perfect!!   I know that's my word, because I know the key to accomplishing goals, completing my "God" assignments and finishing tasks is to persevere.  I'll keep that in mind this year when I'm tempted to slow down, put-off-to-tomorrow, quit, and re-treat.

Every year an encased boxing glove trophy is given to someone who has faced tremendous challenges, accomplished incredible things, and went on to victory on so many levels.  They are UNSTOPPABLE.  This year's award went to Miguel Cervantes and Zoila Cervantes​ who unquestionably represent being UNSTOPPABLE.  Miguel was diagnosed with cancer in early 2015, yet with his conquering spirit, and undaunted determination and spirit....has come through to victory.  Both he, and Zoila prove that optimism and unquestionable faith in God is key in overcoming life's challenges.

SHIfT happened in all of our lives....and we will be better, brighter, smarter, stronger and more relentless and #unstoppable in 2016 more than EVER before. These photos help to explain!  

May you be UNSTOPPABLE this year in all you set out to accomplish!