Savor Every Moment

This week has been a roller coaster of emotions, joy, sorrow, excitement, exhaustion. It began with a frantic call from a friend.  Her wedding coordinator was nowhere to be found just hours before her only daughter's wedding.  I closed the store and joined another friend to help coordinate the wedding.  Once we arrived, my friend relaxed enough to leave and dress for the wedding.  We could not relive all the stress or frustration but we were able to lift the burden of managing the reception so that she could rejoice in the moments.  There were many!  Her daughter walking to the Hoopa with her Dad, the visits with family and friends, the dances, and food.  Everything turned out beautifully and as I left after midnight, I was high on being a part of this amazing family memory.

The next morning I was on duty at school at 7:30 am.  A little tired but happy to greet students and see their smiles.  My classes flew by but then I cratered.  At 54, staying up past 10:00 pm is a challenge. :)  So when I got home I rested for awhile and then began to think about the original wedding coordinator who had not arrived.  She is also a friend and the more I thought about it, I knew she would not have missed this event unless something had happened.  I called and got no reply so I asked a another friend, who lived close by,  to go by the house.  She peered in the windows, noticed dry cleaning and a box on the porch, but nothing seriously concerning.  We talked and decided to wait until the next day to see if she would return my call.

When I got out of school the next day, another friend let me know that my wedding coordinator friend had been found dead at her home.  We were all heartbroken and feeling guilty that we had not been in touch for the last several days.  On Thursday, we were able to find out from her son that she died in her sleep.  I felt relief that even if I had checked, I would not have been able to change the results.

My friend was so full of energy and ideas.  She was a writer of children's books, loved her family, and was passionate in her beliefs.  She was quick to offer help to others and fought against companies that tried to take advantage of the fact that she was a woman on her own.  She moved to this area to help a friend and be near her son.  She lived every day of her life!  She died too soon but has moved on to a better place.  I am glad she was a Whimsy Girl for a time and I will not forget her.

These events had already made for a full week but more was to come.  I applied for a grant to fund IPADs for my Game Design classes.  On Thursday  the prize patrol entered my classroom with much celebration and handed me the award!  My students and I cheered and looked forward to the project we will complete because we have these tools!

On Friday, I was going to a meeting to discuss the maze my classes will build at the Emily Ann Theater when I decided to trip and fall on my knee.  The meeting was great but the knee is bruised and a little swollen.

I told you this week has been a roller coaster.  But as I look back over everything, the lesson that stands out is Savor the Moments!  Every part of life adds to this tapestry that is me.  Each time I am able to participate in the lives of others or experience the results of efforts, I get stronger.  My knee will heal, my heart will be soothed, and my life will be enhanced by all the people that enter my life, even if their stay is brief.

I hope you see the hand of God in your life as I do in mine and learn to savor every moment!

Politics makes me want to spit.  I am not alone.  Who is honest out there?  Who gets that we cannot continue to spend when the money has run out?  Who understands you can't tax a turnip?  If we can't make money, there will be no taxes.  I want to elect people who are committed to getting the job they promised to do, done.  So I have an idea.  The politicians won't implement term limits because their opportunity to leverage their position would be impacted.  That leverage opportunity is what keeps them from voting and accomplishing anything.  Many are trying to benefit themselves while they procrastinate with our futures.  If they had one term, and one term only, to accomplish what they were elected to do, I believe we would get more honest people running and we would make some progress.  So let's impose term limits.  Vote out every incumbent.  Let some new people try to make a difference.  This is not a Democrat of Republican initiative.  They all need to be replaced.  Make it clear that the new politician just gets his/her term to get something done.  The power will be disrupted and returned to the people.  If you really want to give this country a chance, vote out all incumbents.  Send a strong message that you are sick of politics as usual.  Then take another step and choose to serve one term and find righteousness women and men and convince them to serve a term.