This Guy AND I Came to Live Out Loud!

Yesterday morning, I was on the road again! Thanks, Willie Nelson, for the song to accompany my travels to here, there and back again. I really am so grateful that I can hit the road at any given time to be a part of special occasions, get caught up with dear friends and family members and take in some of my favorite places. This time will be a real joy as I stay at my BFFs’ lovely home and then have a special package delivered to me by his grandpa who lives further south in Oklahoma, my 11-year-old, Bryson. He’s going to be my buddy for the next several days here in Tulsa and back home in Frisco. And the finale of this trip will be attending the confirmation of a precious young woman I have sponsored into the family of God.

I'm taking it all in as I get to bask in these precious moments, events, celebrations and accomplishments of my precious family and friends around me. In the words of Émile Zola, French Nobel Prize winner in 1901, “If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I will tell you, I came to live out LOUD.”

I'm certainly not a "rocking chair" grandmother. No offense, if that's your gig -- rock on, Baby! But, for me, I've set big goals for my life and I won't accomplish them if I take a laid-back approach. To me, living out loud means living life with passion, being open to possibilities, and reaching for the stars.....well, at least the top of trees! Living-Out-Loud is living, laughing, and loving unashamedly. It means deliberately choosing to be inspired and motivated enough to live without limits -- or just getting off the couch and doing something! It means letting go of fear, getting gutsy and getting going.

Living-out-loud is unique to everyone. See this guy with the sign "Honk if you love Jesus!" He was standing outside of the service station where I filled my car up with gas. In this Texas heat, one could say "He fell off the turnip truck -- to stand out there with one of "those" crazee signs -- it's obvious there's something wrong with him!" Nope. He is merely living OUT LOUD, because he can. I pulled over and asked "Why do you do this?" He said "Well because I can. On January 9th, after being told I wouldn't live beyond a few months, I was totally healed. I had told the Lord that if He'd heal me I'd declare His love and healing power every chance I could. So here I am -- keeping my promise." He is really living out loud -- so loud that I noticed him. He is using his gratitude, zest-for-life and enthusiasm to make a difference. What if we did the same?

Here's how I live out loud: I purpose to be present to take in God's signs and wonders. This is one I cultivate daily. I purposely choose positive thoughts and intentions. If a stray negative thought creeps in, I quickly change the channel. I take time to enjoy and appreciate family, friends, food, music, children, blue skies, sunshine and ordinary moments. I invest time in my relationships, put the “good” china on when I have friends and family over. I light up the candles for ambiance. I know that giving and doing my best is the most important thing I can do to show the love of life and of those who I value so much in my life. I take a deep breath and express my gratitude for being alive. And, while I’m at it, I observe the sights and sounds and smiles around me. I am so thankful I can see and hear!

I just may not pass this way again, so I'm making the moments count. I’m going to LIVE OUT LOUD with every moment that I can! Why don't you join me? It will be worth the trip! <3

We've Only Just Begun

That was one of our favorite songs (released in 1970) by The Carpenters.  The characters in the song were a couple, just married, and were looking forward to new horizons, new roads to choose, with so much life ahead of them.  We sang that song completely unaware of what lie ahead….but as long as we were together, side by side, we just knew we’d make it through each and every bump in the road that we might encounter.  Seems like unrealistic thinking, but it is the ONLY way to live – believing and always hoping for the best, but just in case the worst might come, we’d be able to handle it together.   That’s because we placed our hope and trust in the ONE who had already prepared the way for us.

We’re one week into this new year and doesn’t the start of a new year make us feel the same way…a certain excitement about the possibilities that are out there for us?    We may reflect on the past, but no longer do we dwell there, because we certainly can’t change the past.  Looking through the rear view mirror is no option.  I mentioned a couple of months ago that for five years I had “Run for Ron” in the Route 66 Marathon, but this Route 66, while I was running, I clearly got the message “There’s no need to be running for Ron any longer.  He’s doing just fine running on his own.  It’s time to run your own race – run strong for Donna.”  I got it.  I had been faithful to keep the past in my present long enough.  I was turning a page in my story.  I knew that I was supposed write some new stories and a new chapter.   It was time so BEGIN again with the expectation of great adventures and unparalleled blessings up ahead.  But most importantly to write some new stories that leave a legacy for those who are following me -- a legacy of "I can" and "I will"!!   

I’m already started on that new chapter, then at the end of 2016....I'll glance back at the victories won and the many, many doors that opened up for me to great opportunities!  

Today, I close the door to the past, open the door to the future, I take a deep breath, step on through and start a new chapter of my life.  How about you?