Confidence has its Rewards

According to my journal, today is the 37th day of quarantine. How time flies when we’re having so much fun! Even though there are many still in “crisis” mode because of the effects of the virus on their bodies, so many in financial straits, and others exhausted as front-liners, the end is actually in sight!

I felt it yesterday when I walked by my community’s golf course that has been closed because of the pandemic. The golfers were out in abundance. We can get our hope up – our expectors expecting! Soon we’ll be back in the routines of daily go – go! Workers will go to work. Graduates will get to have their graduation. Huggers will get to hug again. Campaigners will campaign again. Restaurants will be open for business. Parks will be full. Sports arenas and fields and entertainment parks will resume. “Open for Business” will be the norm again. But, we will never forget the pandemic of 2020.

These weeks of mandatory separation from others has given me plenty of time for spring cleaning and organizing. But, it has also been a time of reflection for me and my thoughts. Like many others, I never thought I would see anything like this in my country. I believe this will go down in history as a time the Church stood strong and saw the salvation of the Lord! We didn’t waver in our faith and belief that God is alive and well and He is still in control. We continued to pray. We continued to watch on-line church and I think the Sabbath day became what God really modeled for us in creation. That it is the Sabbath day to be kept holy as a day of rest. We have stood strong and together in unity!

I became extremely nostalgic when I was looking through my large bin of photos. The bin tipped over from the vulnerable place where I sat it. Those photos scattered all over my garage floor. I am convinced it was God’s way of having me look back at all the blessings and joys of family and friends over the years. It was my incentive to organize all those photos (hundreds, maybe thousands) and put them in organized boxes for my children and me.

This scripture came to me "Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which will be greatly rewarded...” (Hebrews 10:35) Those photos reminded me of some of the “wins” we had after struggles. And, that’s what God shows us in His Word. That "confidence" scripture comes just before a long list of heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11. I am always encouraged when I read about those great women and men of faith. They endured, and were rewarded. And that’s how God wants us to live – not in the past of regret and remorse, but scriptures, photos and memories that illustrate confidence, endurance AND wins!

These last few weeks have definitely been a tester of our faith. God loves us so much and He has our best interests at heart. If His power was enough to defeat sin and raise His Son from the dead, surely, He is delivering us. We have learned so many lessons about trust during these times. We placed our lives in hands. We’ve trusted Him and we will continue to trust Him in whatever and wherever our faith journey takes us. Just think about the faith muscles we’ve acquired during this time. We’ve not only endured the season – we are making it through it. Our endurance has paid off because of our genuine faith and trust in our unfailing God.

We’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel but we might be struggling with the uncertainty of what lies ahead. Oh, but, no fear, we know what lies ahead for us because our future is guaranteed by the Author and Finisher of our faith!

Investing in our Greatest Assets

Day 101 of Photo Inspirations -- Investing in Our Greatest Assets
For the last few days, I've been in Texas and absolutely amazed at the caliber of talent that these hundreds of "home-schooled" kids have amassed in their young lives.  My two Texas grandchildren, Payton Wallace​ and Alexia Wallace​ gave stellar performances in their own right, which certainly made this Nana proud, but watching all of these students stepping up to give debates on international issues (way over my head in understanding), as well as speeches on strategic and impressive topics --  before complete strangers, and with composure, poise and finesse.  It was incredible.

I know I continue to be on my soapbox as I encourage parents to invest in their kids. No other asset we have gives such unsurpassed rewards.  Payton progressed on to semi-finals and I loved it when Alexia wanted to buy him his favorite red velvet cupcake and give him this sweet card to congratulate him.

 Payton was always convinced he wanted to be in debate and speech, but, our Alexia, on the other hand, needed a little more encouragement and nudging from her parents.  Unlike her Mama, she hasn't yearned for the stage, but now, after taking to the stage, we're seeing her blossom so beautifully, and, in fact, now handles it as second nature.  She placed 1st in several of her speech competitions.  It won't be long before she's moving up in the rankings.  In the meantime, she is a girl that loves having fun.  She is a free spirit -- and as seen in these photos, we just  HAD to go shopping a little between the rounds!  LOL!

Maybe I'm "old school" but I still think it's important for parents to guide and reinforce what they see as potential talents and abilities in their kids -- and then to stretch them or gently push them towards opportunities that they know will make them better in life and give them an unlimited future of possibilities.  

When I first got down to Dallas, Staci had the kids give their speeches to me.  If they faltered, she'd make them start over again.  Oh, that brought back so many memories to me.  Staci's Daddy would do that to her. We had a sound system set up in our basement, and he'd make her practice her singing over and over again --until she was in tears.  Now, she looks back and thanks her Daddy for his coaching and pushing her to be the best she could be.  We knew she was God's gift and asset to us and we were responsible for "multiplying" that investment.

What are you doing with your greatest assets? Technology (iPads, iPhones, video games, etc.) is a great thing -- but, perhaps it's time to put technology away for a while so these precious assets are learning how to cook, how to speak or sing or play an instrument, or play a sport, or how to make crafts or take photos, etc. etc.  I promise you.....every hour you dedicate to their future -- will be multiplied in rewards to you as you see what they become!

Mama's Got Game!

Have you heard it said about someone “He or She’s got game”? Typically that means – “They are really good at something!” But when someone says that about me, it means “She’s NOT simply a fan watching the game from the sidelines or the stands -– she’s in the game, playing on the field, and not only hitting the ball – but knocking it out of the ballpark (well, at least in my imagination).” This Mama’s got game!In October, 2011, my son, Ryan, and his amazing wife, Shawntel, were talking strategies about what their next business enterprise would be. After all, Ryan had, just a few months prior, exited from the company he founded and built to a $1.2 billion valuation. After 10 years of diligence and hard work, it should have been time to relax back and enjoy the fruit of their labors, but that was not to be.

It was in that same month that Ryan had an epiphany – to create a company, uncharacteristic of typical “big enterprise mentality”. This company would be one that placed its values on relationships and core values and providing a tangible means of helping people make a better living for themselves and their family. So, of course, I wanted to be a part of something that had those kinds of ambitions. When I first heard the vision and plans for this company, I said, “Game on!” But, then Ryan said, “Mom, I told Dad I was going to take care of you. You just be the grandmother of Solavei (the new company). Initially, I thought, “Beautiful – Mama can be a cheerleader and support the “Sol Train” (aka Solavei Team)! But after hearing my daughter, Staci, sharing with an individual about Solavei, and hearing her passion for seeing our country’s economy revived and many people’s lives transformed, I could just hear my Honey speaking to me from heaven and saying “Donna, what are you thinking? Really, you’re going to sit back and watch what we believed, prayed and planted the seeds for – for over 40 years? Do you really want to be the grandmother of anything besides our six grandchildren?” And to that, I answered with a resounding, “NO!”

So, then, I had to put a plan together, a case for Mama being in the game. No handouts expected. No rules of engagement any different from any other player on the field. I had to not just “talk the talk”. I had to “walk the walk” and put my plan to action. I set out to be the “Poster Mama” – showing others what can happen when we stop whining about being “too little or too big; too old or too young; too female or too male; too black or too white; it’s too difficult or too easy”……and to JUST DO IT!! And, so I am!!

Yes, here I am today….playing in this game. I’m loving it. And, my team is loving it too! I’m a Founding Member of Solavei. Last week, my son said to me, “Mom, you’re a machine!” Some of my friends are probably thinking, “What happened to Donna? Where is she?” Would you please tell them for me? “Donna’s in the batting cage – she’s practicing her swing, throwing the ball – practicing her pitches, she’s on the field doing her warm-ups, getting the plays down and working hard to be her best -- from sun-up to sun-down.” Oh, yes, Donna’s got game! And, it’s not a competition with anyone other than ME! And at the end of this game season, I will have fulfilled my game assignment!! And you won’t hear me saying “I wish I had!” Oh, no! I’ll be saying “I’m so glad I did….and look, now I’m going to Disney World….oh, actually, it will be Hawaii – Solavei rewards its players for their “WINS”!