Seizing the Moments

I responded to an “SOS” call from my son on Tuesday about their youngest, 11-year old Bryson, who was very sick and because they were going out of town the next day, they needed Nana. There are very few things, if any at all, that would keep me from putting anything else more important than to SEIZE THE MOMENT and go. Within 45-minutes, I was on my way and while my son offered to fly me down, the drive is much less hassle than the rigors of a commercial flight. When I arrived, little man was quiet, curled up in a ball, and it was Nana time with that sweet little man.

Next morning, his mom and dad were on their way and it was time for a lot of TLC love and cuddling – I take it ALL in with pleasure and delight. I know how quickly time flies and to be able to embrace these moments, is such a gift to me. I knew I would be there just that day and head back home to my routines, when my Bryson started begging “Nana, can I go home with you?” He knew that the family would be driving up this weekend for Brennan’s baseball tournament in McKinney (about 30 minutes from my home). I didn't take him seriously because he's quite the “mama” boy and I thought he’d change his mind, but I found out he had texted his hom nine times begging to go back to Frisco with me. They made it back home late Wednesday night and when Bryson woke up Thursday morning, he ran to his mom, still begging to go home with me. Bryson is home-schooled and she told him to ask Nana if she could wait until after his classes, he could. I was still in shock at this new-found freedom of unlatching from his mom. I was delighted.

Suddenly that quiet, sickly little boy that I saw the day before, was excited beyond words and quite amenable to any and everything that was asked of him. He had a plan and the plan came together. First stop of his plan: Buc-ee’s for a root beer and vanilla float. Then it was non-stop conversation all the way back to Frisco. I was in a state of shock. Never has Bryson been in the car with me alone before for any real length of time without his brother – who is the master of conversation. Bryson would always give way to his big brother’s verbocity. But, this trip, he was a chatterbox, telling stories and expressing ideas and thoughts like I had NEVER heard out of him before. He was definitely a travel companion that kept his driver wide awake. He didn’t even want to play games on his phone.

We made it back to Frisco and he wanted to see his cousins and their pets first, and then it was to Dollar Tree. It’s hilarious. I give him $5 to spend and it’s an adventure for him. Cousin Alexia just got her driver's license and was excited to be our driver. We tucked into bed and then it was one of our favorite times – to watch one of Nana’s Hallmark movies. What can I say? He’s a man after my own heart!

I love this season of my life. In fact this morning, for the first time ever I changed “work” on my FB profile to “retired”. I never wanted to say that word because it seemed to identify those who are sitting in a rocking chair and getting nowhere. I had new thoughts about “retired” over the last couple of days. My new definition of retired is “freedom to be ‘on-call’” anytime and in any place for God and WHOEVER He sends me to. It’s freedom to seize the moments like never before, and most of all, to live with no regrets. I’ll be seizing more moments when my Austin family make their way here for Brennan’s baseball tournament this weekend. SWEET!!!

I keep my phone in hand as my camera to "capture that moment" so that I "have no regrets" about that once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity. Rarely do I miss the opportunity to take up a friend's invitation to go somewhere or do something with them. I do my best to listen for God's voice telling me to call or email or text someone, or even go see someone to give a word of good news and cheer. Seizing the moments. Life is just too short not to be that breath of fresh air that someone needs so much. Often, it's easy to say “I’m too tired or too busy to go there or to do that.” But, then we realize the fun we missed, or the opportunity we missed to make a difference in our life and someone else's life.

Are you seizing those moments, minutes, days of YOUR life? We are here at this place, and this moment of time, for a specific purpose that God gave for only us to fulfill. Let's be done with just going with the flow.....and let's live ALL IN! Let's look for those moments in this day.....that are over-the-top outrageous, once-in-a-lifetime moments, so that tomorrow, we'll look back and say, "I lived with NO REGRETS!"

Carpe Momentum -- Seize the Moment

Often I blog about making moments count. There's a Latin phrase for it: Carpe Momentum which means "Seize the Moment". I’m thrilled to be alive HERE on planet earth today in this generation. Even though I live in a 55+ community, I sure don’t want to hang with anyone who thinks “old”. I love hanging with those who live in the moment and in that moment they find so much to be grateful and joyful about.

This is MY own definition of a MOMENT: "an instant, that almost imperceptible amount of time that barely registers measurement, but when being present and given full thought and attention to it, miracles can happen, inventions and innovations can be created, lives are transformed and heaven touches earth -- because the MOMENT was noticed.” – Donna Wuerch

The older I get the more I understand the importance and value of seizing the moment. Life’s “stuff” happens to all of us. "Stuff" happened to my husband and I. I remember a season of major challenges in our lives. Important life-altering decisions needed to be made. But, rather than sitting around worrying, we spontaneously decided to take a trip to Branson, Missouri on November 1st – the first day of Christmas at Silver Dollar City. It turned out to be one of the best decisions we could have made. It was not only therapeutic to get-away-from-it-all, but it refreshed us and took our perspective and attitudes to a whole new place.

When I placed this figurine on my kitchen counter this Christmas, I couldn’t help but remember that weekend, because underneath the items we purchased (as a keepsake of times of sweetness), I would always write the occasion and the date on the bottom. We SEIZED the MOMENT on that weekend.

Seizing the moment is engaging in intentional thinking. At church, when the priest, rabbi or pastor is speaking, do you find your mind wandering or even falling asleep? And all the while, that speaker may have given wisdom for the answer you needed to help you get out of your difficult situation. I’m one of those “note takers” in church or meetings because I want my valuable time to be worthwhile and I want to give honor to the speaker’s valuable time that he/she spent preparing.

I’m the camera/photo opt “junkie” in our family. I'm always seizing the moment to take a photo of precious times. I'm taking a lot of photos while I'm with my two younger grandsons in Austin. Every moment of nurturing them, seizing the moment to cuddle them, and when typical sibling rivalry or some act of disobedience happens, I get the opportunity to talk about God's way being the best way. I want them to remember Nana as one who was always pointing to Jesus. I know these two young boys will soon no longer be needing for Nana to see after them -- like their two older brothers who are now on their own. So every moment seized is every moment remembered.

Seize the moment. It works like this. In the midst of the craziness of life, seize a few quiet minutes to rest, reflect, recharge. Maybe take a mini mental vacation to enjoy life’s blessings. Instead of working through your lunch hour (or just 20 minutes), turn off your phone and computer to truly enjoy the daily bread you have been given. Go out for dinner…at some place that serves your meal on a plate, not in a bag. Stop by to see your parents, older kids and/or especially your grandkids. If you can’t get there physically, then call them, skype them, or just sit quietly and send up a prayer for them. Reflect on life and give thanks that you can see, move or even just breathe.

One Moment Can Change Everything.

I was a “single” teenager (age 17), but in one “I now pronounce you husband and wife” moment, I was a married woman.

I was a happily married woman, and in one moment, when my precious husband took his last breath, I became a widow.

Now I know how a single moment can change everything. Now, I put a checkmark in the box beside “widow”. Now, I’m a single when I'm with couples. “Singles” is the Life Group I attend.

On my Sweetheart’s birthday, September 12th, though nearly seven years have passed since his graduation to heaven, I thought about the many “moments” we made special. Indeed, I have come to realize the importance of a moment. A single moment can change everything.

The point I’m making today, is “we only get so many moments”. Our days are numbered. Psalm 39:4,5 “ LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a MOMENT to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.”

The younger, busier, more occupied with life that we are, the less we consider the “moments” and the less we consider that our days are numbered. I assure you, that changes when we experience a “loss” of that someone that made up the most significant part of our life. That’s why I was inspired for this post/blog today.

Once we realize that our days are numbered, it changes (or should change) how every moment of every day should be valued, appreciated and never taken for granted. It changes how we look at things like stress, money, relationships, the use of our time, disagreements, and what’s REALLY important.

When that reality becomes a major part of our personal value system – we look at life differently. It makes us feel more deeply, love more completely, forgive more readily, overlook others' faults unconditionally, and live life to its fullest more vibrantly.

Recognizing that our days are numbered and a moment is fleeting, it makes us very aware of keeping our priorities on all that matters most. Life is this very moment. We are guaranteed no more and no less.

I suggest we all love deeply, give greatly, laugh freely and live largely. After all, we only get so many moments!

Thinking Back and Looking Forward

It's the 365th day of 2016. I made it!!! 365 days of posting a positive word for my FB friends and family. After all, there's enough negativity in social media with politics, the weat her, the economy, the disappointments many speak about or vent about in their relationships. Once upon a time, I didn't want to be on social media because of those reasons, but then I sensed that God was calling me to bring some sunshine to a world that can be quite dark, and then my special thoughts and words would, hopefully, bring inspiration to others. I can't begin to adequately explain how rewarded I feel for staying true to my commitment. Purposefully, I've had to make sure to stay "in the zone", seizing the moments, noticing little and big God-encounters, recognizing that God is always speaking. I just had to tune in to His still small voice, and, often, His big booming voice as I witnessed His illustrated messages to me through nature, His Word, His kids and His embrace. Fact is.....I showed up for my daily appointment with God.....and He was faithful and true to His promises.....He ALWAYS showed up for me.

I'm not exactly sure what this next year will look like, not only in my commitment to daily posts and blogs, but in life overall. But one thing I do know for sure......I know WHO knows and I'm excited for the journey that awaits me. There will be many opportunities for making FB posts and writing my daily blogs because I'm very aware that God has many more exciting adventures and trails for me to blaze in this new year. So, I'll continue to be on daily assignment.

These photo inspirations are from this day in 2014 and Brennan's video from 2015 with my two little men -- my annual New Year's Eve dates! Tonight, once again, these two and I will be donning our hats and making toasts with our sparkling grape juice, and blowing our horns. We'll even shoot some little fireworks, and we'll watch the giant sphere of sparkles descend in Times Square an hour behind East Coast time as 2016 makes its exit and 2017 makes its debut. We'll be silly and dance and give each other hugs and kisses. Eat your heart out, single women everywhere! LOL!

A new year -- new hope for our future. There is something inherit within us that craves a new fresh start -- a chance to make wrongs right, and good things even greater. The promise of a clean slate is thrilling. I've already begun to think about new horizons, new seasons, and new adventures. My personal motto will continue to be "I'm still here....so I'm not done." I know that God will give me courage to face each new day and the best part, His mercies will be new each morning.

The great news is that God is the author of 2017! He knows each and every twist and turn that is up ahead, both for you and for me. He has planned 2017 down to the minutest detail—all with the goal for our good. Look out, 2017 -- HERE WE COME! Let the GREAT ADVENTURES begin!!!

Kick Your Kicks on Route 66

Day 82 of Photo Inspirations -- Get your Kicks on Route 66!
I love Tulsa, and the more I have taken the time to "seize the moments" this year, the more I discover about this great city.  Tourists come here to take advantage of what we have, and this year I'm stopping long enough to also embrace what's here.  Unless we determine to "stop and smell the roses" around us -- we'll miss out on so many opportunities to learn about what got us here.  

I took these photos at the Route 66 Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza located on Southwest Boulevard at Riverside Drive in Tulsa.  This is the "East Meets West" statue at the Route 66 Memorial Bridge that was installed in October 2012.  I can't even believe 2-1/2 years have gone by and this is the first time I saw it.   The statute is of Cyrus Avery, the “Father of Route 66,” climbing out of his car to help a farmer whose horses have been startled by the vehicle.  It shows Avery’s wife turning to check on their daughter and her obviously terrified cat.  The Centennial Plaza, with the flags of the eight states of Route 66, and the Route 66 logo and skywalk were complete in July 2008.   Are you kidding me?  I've NEVER taken the time to be at this plaza -- what in the world was I thinking?  Fact is I WASN'T thinking.....I was too busy DOING!  I'm a human BEING -- NOT a human DOING!!

Now, I know who Cyrus Stevens Avery was and the credit he gets for being the "Father of Route 66". He created the route while being a member of the federal board appointed to create the Federal Highway System, then pushed for the establishment of the U.S. Highway 66 Association to pave and promote the highway.

In 1907, Avery and his wife and family moved to Tulsa.  Avery realized that an interstate system of highways would help his adopted city and state prosper.  He became instrumental in pushing for a federal level of good roads. In 1925, the United States Secretary of Agriculture appointed him to the Joint Board of Interstate Highways, which was to designate the new federal highways and mark them.

After the highways were routed, the group decided not to name the highways, but instead to follow the pattern of numbering the highways.  The current east-west routes would be even numbers, and the north-south would be odd.   Route 66, which became one of the most famous roads in America, originally ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before ending at Santa Monica, California, covering a total of 2,448 miles.   It was recognized in popular culture by both the hit song "Get Your Kicks on Route 66" and the Route 66 television show in the 1960s.

In 1927, Avery pushed for the creation of the U.S. Highway 66 Association to promote paving U.S. 66 and promote travel on the highway.  (That amazes me -- they were calling it a highway system when there were only dirt roads.)

Avery died in California on July 2, 1963, and was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Tulsa.   Avery Drive, a street in southwest Tulsa, was named for him.  In 1997, the National Historic Route 66 Federation established a Cyrus Avery Award, which has been presented variously to individuals for outstanding creativity in depicting Route 66, and to organizations for noteworthy preservation projects.

And, now you know where "Route 66" came from!  Stop by and see us sometime -- so you can grab hold of a little history!    YOU'RE WELCOME!

What's Your "Attention Getter"?

Day 23 of Photo Inspirations -- Taco Bueno!!
I was driving to the post office and thinking, "Wonder what my photo inspiration will be for today?" Then as I was crossing the intersection at Riverside and 71st, I looked to the left and my eyes were drawn to lots of those "attention-getter" flags.  And they got my attention.  Just beyond those flags was a brand new Taco Bueno that I hadn't even noticed being built. But this day was the first day of its Grand Opening. Typically, a new restaurant or store wouldn't be a "seize the moment" opportunity, but this one was.

First of all, I was impressed with their branding -- those flags that made me do a double-take, and then I was excited about this new location here in Tulsa, and third, it brought back a flood of memories to the Grand Opening of one of their locations in Oklahoma City where we lived at the time. We were, and still are, a family that love Mexican and Tex/Mex food.  But when "fast food" Tex/Mex food (aka Taco Bueno) opened in OKC, it became the "daily routine" for our daughter. Living only a couple of blocks from it, Staci would go there for a taco or burrito or Mexi chips and dip almost every day.  Seems like a taco was like 25 cents back then.

This post isn't really about promoting Taco Bueno or even Mexican Food, but, once again, it's about "seizing the moment" -- carpe momentum.  That moment not only opened my eyes to a new business in operation -- what they're doing to brand themselves to draw attention, but it opened my memory bank to recall some sweet moments from the past.  I love it.  Living in the present -- in the moment -- opens our eyes to the past, the present and the future.  And I think to myself....."What a Wonderful World!"
#TacoBueno #WhatAWonderfulWorld #MexicanFoodByChoice

Seize the Moment

Day 11 of 365 photo inspirations
What a privilege it is to be at the 2015 ‪#‎Unstoppable‬ Leadership Summit this weekend. Awesome, inspiring, life changing and lots of moments that we're seizing. That was the subject I was privileged to speak about today. Staci was introducing me in this photo.

Why the subject of "Seizing the Moment"? Because that's a subject I am familiar with. That's how I live on a daily basis. That's what I do to live with all-out passion, determination and relentless attitude to make the most of each and every day -- not just existing, but to be PRESENT in the moments to know exactly those times when I know that I know "heaven touched earth" at THAT precise moment.

Distractions will keep us from knowing when we're in one of THOSE moments. Regret will keep us from being present for one of THOSE moments. Opposition and discomfort will keep us from being present from one of THOSE moments. But when we realize that those "heaven touches earth" moments can take place at any given time and place, we will keep ourselves -- our eyes, ears and heart keenly "tuned in" whenever and wherever we are. We just never know when it's a moment that alters our course and we step into our destiny!

The First "Seizing the Moment" of the New Year

Day 2 of Photo Inspirations -- The First "Seizing the Moment of the New Year"
Three years ago, my New Year's resolution was to be on purpose, every day, to make Facebook my place of celebrating life, giving hope and inspiration, sharing God's faithfulness and  expressing my great passion for sharing His love with others.  I knew it was a "mission" God gave me, and I've been  diligent to it for these three years.  I am so appreciative to those of you who follow my posts daily.  It is the exclamation point of God's voice to me.

I am passionate about seizing the moments and living with no regrets.  This year, I'm taking my mission up a notch, by not only seizing the moments each and every day, but to capture it in photos.  At least one a day for the next 365 days.  That will be my mission -- but not just any photo -- one that has meaning and purpose and expresses God speaking to me and translating it to my FB friends in special practical ways. Today, January 1st -- was my first opportunity.

Hanging with two boys -- 8 and 10 years old -- certainly gives plenty of opportunities for adventures and to be inspired.  Today, was no exception.  What started out to simply take a photo of Lake Washington as my first photo of the year -- and express the awesomeness and majesty of God, ended up being a celebration of His creation.

It was a most magnificent, clear, cool day in Washington.  You could see Mt. Rainer clearly in the distance, and the gorgeous Seattle skyline distinctly.

So it was a perfect day to seize the moments......and for Brennan to create more movies.   Each of us were characters in his latest adventure film.  People at the park were amused by our antics.   Dusk was falling rapidly as we made our way to our car.  I asked Brennan what he thought God was telling us about this day.  He responded, "God's telling us that His creation allows us to be adventureous.  He made this world for us to have fun and to love people."

And, suddenly the light came on -- earlier today, we had been inside watching TV, playing games, doing craft projects and it was a lot of fun -- but there is nothing to compare with all that God has in store for us when we step outside and behold Him and His marvelous handiwork.  Unquestionably,  watching the sun set, staring up in awe at the giant pine trees, walking in nature away from the hustle and bustle of human activity,

delighting in God’s animals and creatures (we loved the family of Golden Retrievers that joined our adventures). All of these things teach us more about God and draw us to praise and to worship him in deeper and better ways.

What a Masterful Designer, Architect, Builder, Craftsman, Creator, and Artist He is -- and today, His creation was our play place.  It helped us burn a lot of pent-up energy -- but it inspired Brennan with another movie, and for me..... to make this day and year one to be remembered.....on purpose.   Isn't it time to make God's creation your Play Space and Place?
#AwesomeGod

Seizing the Moments -- Wahoo Style

Seizing the moments!  That's the way I live today....more than ever.  I know how valuable and precious those moments are as each day, month and year goes by so quickly.   So I define the moments.  I don't let them define me.

My sweet husband was a man of many skills and talents.  His artistry and craftsmanship is recognized in the many homes, churches, furniture he built and the attention to detail that he had.  He was a perfectionist.  He was never satisfied with "just getting by".  He was a Master Carpenter with a capital "C".  He was also a woodcarver and could make such beauty out of a simple piece of wood.

This summer, I saw a woodcarver making game boards and it reminded me of the Wahoo board game my husband carved for our family when our kids were young.

I don't remember what happened to that beautiful board, but I do remember the hours and hours of fun we had playing it and I know that I wanted my grown children and their families to experience that fun game he'd made again.  I had three Wahoo wood board games made and presented them as a special family Christmas gift for my three families:  The Wallace Family, The Wuerch Family and The Anderson Family.

This is the note I wrote and read to each of them when I gave them their game this Christmas:

"Once upon a time, a very fine man,
Lived here on earth and made lots of things with his hands.
He could build houses and draw planes and even more,
He could carve wood and even doors.
He once made a board game out of wood.
It was called Wahoo, and his family played as much as they could.
They had hours and hours of so much fun.
It was bedtime before they were done.
This wonderful man went to heaven one day.
And I know if he were here, he would say,
“Merry Christmas, I love you so!
From the top of your heads to your little toes!
When you play this game, think of me.
One day you’ll get to see.
The joys and peace and the happy place,
That heaven is.  It’s better than playing Mario’s Kart Race.
I’ll be having Christmas with Jesus – what a treat!
It’s so awesome to be here – I’ll save you a seat!
But until that day, when we meet face to face --
Have lots of fun and run your race!
The next time you play Wahoo,
Remember how much your Papa and Nana
….really, really LOVE YOU!”
MERRY CHRISTMAS -- 2015

Yes, seizing the moments represents more than memories.....it represents joys for today, AND tomorrow!  Over the Christmas holidays, each family has played hours and hours of Wahoo fun -- as seen in these photos
#Wahoo #FamilyTimeRocks #SeizingTheMoments

Seize the Moments

I'm loving this season of my life, and I’m doing my best to seize the moments, and most of all, to live with no regrets. You'll see me with my phone in hand -- not so much to answer a call, but to be ready to "capture that moment" so that I "have no regrets" about that once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity. That's why you'll see photos of trees or sunsets or my grandkids or my friends or the kids' choir at church, or someone being baptized, that I'ved captured on camera. And, I love surprising my friends with photos that I've taken -- especially when they had no idea I captured the moment for them.

And, rarely do I miss the opportunity to take up a friend's invitation to go somewhere or do something with them. I do my best to listen for God's voice telling me to call or email or text someone, or even go see someone to give a word of good news and cheer. Seizing the moments. Life is just too short not to be that breath of fresh air that someone needs so much.

Oftentimes, it’s quite easy to say “I’m too tired or too busy to go there or to do that.” But, then we realize the fun we missed, or the opportunity we missed to make a difference in our life and someone else's life.

Are you seizing those moments, minutes, days of YOUR life? We are here at this place, and this moment of time, for a specific purpose that God gave for only us to fulfill. Let's be done with just going with the flow.....and let's live ALL IN! Let's look for those moments in this day.....that are over-the-top outrageous, once-in-a-lifetime moments, so that tomorrow, we'll look back and say, "I lived with NO REGRETS!"