What inspires me Wednesday & Weight loss Wednesday Update!

We will start with what inspires me because I am just getting inspired left and right these days. Aren't you? I had no clue today obviously that I was going to be "inspired" or that this blog post would be what it is indeed going to be when this day began. In fact, I began this day in a weird spot because I had no kids at home. All three had sleep overs and well, the husband left for work. The house was quiet. My mind was not.

I took some time today today to clean out my Explorer. Just over the weekend I had gone through the car wash and I am almost ashamed to say I hadn't had that done in over a year and a half. I was so shocked at how nice it looked. It brought hurt to my heart to know that I was neglecting such a sweet treasure as my vehicle. I mean it gets me to and from, the kids to and from, and well it serves our family well. This morning, I decided I was going to spend some time and clean the inside out. I took out what no longer served me any longer; a whole slew of podcast Cd's, a jacket, a scarf, mittens, and tons of paper trash. *shudders*. Then, I decided I would get out the vacuum and vacuum the inside. It had also been ages. When I finished that I wanted to take it one step further. After I dropped the boys off to football camp, I would come back and shampoo the interior. It did not get spotless because lets face it ~ I have had my Explorer for seven years and that was the first time I cleaned the seats and carpet! *shudders again*

When I finished that I had back inside, transferred clothes into the dryer, and got the dishwasher ready to run. I decided to put some make up on ~ well, just because. Then .... I picked the sweaty stinky boys up, and came back in. Not long afterwards I decided to go outside and use the weed eater and do some trimming that needed to be done. That led to trimming the hydrangea bushes. I had some blooms that were beginning to fade. As I gathered them up in a bundle I was just in awe. Just weeks ago these blossoms were so beautiful, bright, lush. They were attracting lots of compliments from the neighbors and strangers alike. I admired them every time I drove up in the driveway and as I drove away from our home. But here I was .... with those same blossoms in my hand ready to be discarded. Seasons in our life are like that. Sometimes what we have in front of us is so bright, beautiful and lush. It fills it's purpose, and inspires others, as well as shines to bring beauty to a brief moment for someone ~ anyone who looked upon it. There are things in our life that are just like these blooms. We spend a "season" in the bright and lush blooms... and in it's due time, they become dull, faded and it's time to retire them. When you enjoy each bloom that happens in your life, you will know when it is fading. It's okay. It doesn't mean you have lost your purpose, or even that your done. It might mean that its' time to move forward and deeper. It might mean it's time to let go and let NEW things bloom in your life. Just as the picture above ~ it is still beautiful even though it's time to let go.

After I came in from doing the yard work, I changed clothes into something clean and not stinky. I didn't' want my husband to come home to a mess (both the house and myself). I then went on to folding and putting away the laundry, followed by finishing up dinner prep. I made some Cream Cheese Chicken Taquitos and needed to roll them up for baking. I flipped on the TV as it had been off all afternoon and discovered that Coal Miner's Daughter was on. I grew up watching that movie and loved it. I haven't seen it in years and thought how fun would it be to watch it while I finished dinner and relaxed some for the evening. I was watching the part where she was just starting out and realized how HARD Loretta Lynn and Dew Little Lynn worked to get their foot in the door. It reminded me that what I am doing as far as my writing goes is worth it. It is my little way of getting my foot in the door in the writing world. I have some ideas and plans on way to get my next book out there in more than just one venue and audience and in just a brief moment I had hope and excitement that I haven't had in a while. Not long after that revelation, I went and looked out the front window. Talk about perfect timing! I discovered that little dragon fly sitting in our bushes. See, at first from inside it looked black with gold wings. I had to grab my phone which was charging, and head out the door in hopes that it was still there. Imagine my surprise when I discovered he was blue! 

The dragonfly, in almost every part of the world symbolizes change and change in the perspective of self realization; and the kind of change that has its source in mental and emotional maturity and the understanding of the deeper meaning of life. (for more information on dragonflies go HERE)

I am in an amazing sense of change in every single area of my life. Now mind you ~ we see them every late spring into early fall and for the last few years Summer has been the time I grew the most as an individual in every area of my life.

Now, to report my weight loss. This week I am glad to say I have lost 4 pounds! I have come to the conclusion that every Wednesday when I come to share, I will indeed have a loss to talk about!