Writer's Workshop: Soundtrack of my life

This week's writing prompt from Mama Kat is creating a soundtrack of your life with 10 songs. Here is my attempt:

1.If I can help somebody, as I pass along,If I can cheer somebody, with a word or song,If I can show somebody, how they're travelling wrong,Then my living shall not be in vain. Mahalia Jackson

I really love this song. I think about my life and if at the end of it I did not make a change then I did not live a life worth living. When we reach out to others to help, cheer, guide without looking for anything in return you in turn are also touched and sometimes forever changed. So if there is a legacy that I would like to leave to my kids would be one of service to others.

2. Open the eyes of my heart, Lord Open the eyes of my heart I want to see You, Michael Smith

I want to see God in my life every aspect of my life. Happiness, sadness, confusion, anger it is important that in every area of my life I find an opportunity to find God at work. And He is always at work even when we don't understand what is going on. I want God to open the eyes of my heart to see the beauty in people and in the world and to love with out prejudice or bias. To love as God loves.

3. You are my strength when I am weak, You are the treasure that I seek, You are my all in all , Dennis Jernigan

God is a constant source of strength always especially when I feel weak and vulnerable. He has given me strength do things that I would never have done in my own strength. This is also the song that touched my daughter's heart and helped her accept the Lord in her life

4 Love,So many people use your name in vain
Love,Those who have faith in you sometimes go astray
Love, Through all the ups and downs the joys and hurts
Love, For better or worse I still will choose you first Musiq Soulchild

Not to be corny but love really makes the world go round. I am a hopeless romantic always choosing too see the possibility of love. I am a sucker for a good love story, tissues and sobs all the way.

5. There's always gonna be another mountain,I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle, Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb Miley Cyrus

This is a motivational song for me in regards to my business. I have to keep climbing even when I want to give up and keep believing that I am going to be a success. I am going to appreciate the challenges and bumps along the way when I am a success.

6. In my daughter's eyes I am a hero,I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see, She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes Martina McBride

I have been blessed with three beautiful daughters that make me feel so important and they have no idea how each of them individually bring so much to my life. The really have no idea how they lift my spirits , and make my heart smile. They keep me laughing out loud.

7. Pass you by, see you smile and I must admit I get
So emotional, I think I’m falling for you
Bought a pillow for my room (I thought about you)
Heard Alicia sing a tune (I thought about you)
It sends my rocket to the moon
Every time I think about you Luther Vandross Think about you

I have been married for 15 years and my hubby was my prom date. I like the idea of thinking of our love as new and fresh it keeps us from falling into a rut. It especially helps when I really want to throw him over a cliff, then I think maybe I will keep him.

8. Here and now, I promise to love faithfully (Faithfully)
You're all I need, Here and now
I vow to be one with thee (You and me), hey
Your love is all (I need) I need Luther Vandross Here and Now
This was the song that I danced to at my wedding. Enough said!

9. You find your faith has been lost and shaken
You take back what's been taken
Get on your knees and dig down deep
You can do what you think is impossible
Keep on believing, don't give in
It'll come and make you whole again
It always will, it always does
Love is unstoppable Rascal Flats Unstoppable
This is a song that so encouraging, I have my moments of being depressed but I don't like to stay there and songs like these keep me going . I also try to encourage others, funny enough I found that event when i encourage others despite what may be going on in my own life I am in turn encouraged.

10. Baby, Baby, Baby oooooh Justin Beiber

This song made it on my list because it is the current song on replay at my house. I don't what it is about this guy but my 4 year old is gaga over him.

Picasso...Monet...Hmmmm

We all have the multiple art projects that come home from school. Some make it to the refrigerator..some to the art bin...and some well we will maintain the secrecy of their location.

But my 9 year old brought home a painting and I have to say it is one of my favorites from her.



Move over Monet.. here comes my baby

Blog Hopping

It is fun to bloghop , there are some outrageously funny women out there. I just can seem to tell stories that come out as funny.

Jenners@ Life with a little one had me rolling on the floor.

One of the writing prompts this week from the writer's workshop,@ Mama's losin it was "Have you ever"

Have you ever sang along with a song from Nickjr ..when your child was not around?, I have and I actually have favorites is that crazy. I like that lady with the guitar, she always has some great songs. And DJ Lance on Yo Gabba Gabba, they get some cool people on the show. The Backyardigans, "Into the thick of it, Into the think of it"

Have you ever looked at a word that you have typed millions of time and wonder if it is spelled correctly? I have

Have you ever cried during a commercial , Hallmark, Coke, Hallmark, Not tearing up or getting misty but sob crying. Ok I don't think I sobbed but definitely bigger than getting misty.

Have you ever wondered where Max and Ruby's parents are? (If you see prompt #1 you will understand)

Kids say the darndest things

This Mother's Day, my four year old brought home a wonderful gift. She made me 18 again. Her teachers helped her to complete a card by answering a few questions about me, here are her answers.



When she gave it to me I responded as all moms do with much excitement. I told how great of her to think that I was 18 years old. She paused and then asked "Are you really 18?". I said no and my little diplomat responded well that's ok , because you look it. That was a great Mother's Day gift.

Tranquility

Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable Benjamin Franklin

Tranquility as defined by websters is being 1 a : free from agitation of mind or spirit ,a tranquil self-assurance, b : free from disturbance or turmoil

Tranquility is it such an illusive concept. Will it come when my business is making millions of dollars? or when my children are grown and out the house? will it come when I have all that I want?

I really think that tranquility is a state of mind. I have never been in a room with a terminally ill patient, but when I have seen it on TV or spoken to those who have experienced it, I have never heard of an individual who was restless and agitated. There were no concerns of what sale is going on or even of world affairs, but simply a peace that has been made.



In the midst of chaos in our world, in our personal lives and sometimes our own minds, I believe we can experience tranquility. Now when you have been home with children under the age of five, who have gotten into everything and left you feeling crazy at the end of the day, tranquility is a fleeting concept. Tranquility goes beyond our external circumstances. It is something found deep inside, a true contentment with who you are. A feeling that even if at the moment you are not in the most ideal situation, you will be OK. It is that mental "Calgon take me away moment" in the midst of the chaos. As I get older I am trying to find my tranquility in purpose. Doing things that have a purpose, that will impact someone in a positive way. A Random Act of Kindness perhaps; It may not be advertised in the local paper but it has given me satisfaction and peace. Stopping to read a book to your 3 year old even though you have so much to do.

Don't let tranquility be somewhat of a mystery, an unattainable dream. Find tranquility in the smallest moments. Even with the small fingerprints on the wall and the messy room you cleaned just 30 minutes ago, find tranquility. Its like taking a mental "tea" break or a candle lit bath. Experience that breathable moment despite the outside forces telling you otherwise.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Poem

The writing prompt from Mama Kat is allowing me a poetry moment.

It has been a journey
We made it through finals
Late night studying
Late night partying
So much fun
Some guys were hot and some were not
Care packages from home filled with hometown goodies
Long lectures
Made shorter by naps
Chemistry...we wont speak of the agony
Microeconomics pull my nails out one at a time please
The drone of the professor's voice
Made my hour into more like a week
You were a great roomy
So hard to say good bye
Although, sometimes you got on my nerves
Your dirty clothes on my side of the room
Borrowing my clothes without asking
You ate my food
You had your friends sit on my bed
One year of your horrible snoring
All of a sudden
It's not so hard
It's not so hard to say "good-bye"

Humility

The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have...Norman Vincent Peale



Tapping into another of Ben Franklin's virtues, I will undertake humility. Oh, humility...I think many have missed out because they lacked humility. An inability to stop long enough to see or acknowledge our faults, especially when pointed out by others, this may have caused us our friends. An inability to recognize authority, this may have caused us our jobs. To see the bigger picture, to lose ourselves in something bigger, this may have allowed us to miss an opportunity to serve others. I have found that those who have achieved the most fulfillment in their lives are humble. They were not to old to learn from someone younger, they weren't to rich to visit the poorest slums in Africa, they weren't too smart to sit on the carpet of a kindergarten class and be a kid.

How many times have you been called out, put on blast? You know are wrong yet because you refuse to let go of pride you refuse correction. Correction that can save your life, your finances, your soul.

You know I truly believe that God sent our children to teach us humility, and unless we are able to learn the lesson that is being taught we are in turn teaching our children not to be humble and the cycle becomes vicious and one child, turns into a family and into a community of individuals who lack humility. Are you able to apologize to your children? Let them know that they are right? Or are you incapable of receiving correction? Can correction only come from someone older? Someone who has more? Somehow do we feel that by being humble we turn into rugs and all of a sudden everyone will walk all over us?

The funny thing about humility it is one of those foundational values, if it is missing you may appear a little lopsided.

Does humility have a set of rules "Only be humble if.....
Actually there are some rules that I appreciate and hope that I can use as often as possible:

Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 18:12
Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 22:4
Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.

Zephaniah 2:3
Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD's anger.

Philippians 2:
[ Imitating Christ's Humility ] If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.