Ab-solute Ab-omination

I started a new habit recently…because I’m crazy. I hold my abs in the whole time I’m in the car (while continuing to breath – very important if you’re driving). And I’ve committed to doing this every time I’m in the car (okay, not on our 12-hour vacation drive – my fingers were crossed).

Not the abs up top – those are easy. But the ones across your hipbones, the ones the work-out instructor is talking about when she says “pull that belly button back to your spine.” (I never knew what she was talking about.) The ones that help keep you from looking like Santa in your swimsuit. The ones Dr. Oz likes to point out are under there, and prove it with a giant inflatable raft full of jelly (your stomach) perched on a board. Who knew?

At first it was difficult to breath. Conversations went something like this: “Tomatoes are (pant, pant) a fruit because of (huge exhale, pant, pant) how they develop. (inhale) But since they’re mostly (pant, pant) used in savory cooking (quick little pants), they’re actually a vegetable (EXHALE…..)”

But then I started imagining I was on a talk show wearing a really tight dress. And that helped to make it more natural to talk, breathe and hold in, except I realized those celebrities get commercial breaks!!! (It helped to imagine them during those breaks with zippers exploding, buttons popping, huge potbellies sitting on their laps…)

It still takes a lot of concentration sometimes (especially if you’ve swallowed 32 ounces of liquid recently), and I wonder when the state legislature is going to outlaw holding your abs in as more dangerous than texting while driving. It would make a really awkward traffic stop: “Hello officer. I’m sorry (pant, pant) that I rear-ended that person in front of me. (hugh exhale, pant, pant) But I’m imagining I’m on a talk show wearing a really tight dress. (pant, pant, pant).”

I know, most of you have probably been doing this for years and wonder what the big deal is. Truthfully, I was not a fan – seemed like a lot of work. But as I’ve been working on increased fitness and core strength this year, I decided to take the challenge. I’m up to 20 minutes of holding in without relaxing. But when I let go…watch out – buttons may fly!

“It's a huge change for your body. You don't even want to look in the mirror after you've had a baby, because your stomach is just hanging there like a Shar-Pei.” Cindy Crawford (She’s one of those whose zipper I imagine exploding.)

Who needs cheerleaders?

The shrill screams of excitement on the other side of the pool brought me slowly out of my brain dose. As I turned my head in the direction of the joy, I saw a little girl jumping up and down in the pool, her hands raised high above her head. “I did it!” “I did it!” She exclaimed over and over for the entire world to hear.

Although I wanted to run over and find out what she had done, I held back and continued to watch her. The celebration went on for a few minutes, but I still didn’t find out what she had done.  I’m guessing she held her breath for an extended period, maybe did several underwater somersaults in a row, or perhaps she perfected a stroke. But regardless of the accomplishment, that exuberance and celebration of pure joy was inspiring. And motivating. And humbling.

You know, I seldom see an adult show that level of excitement at their achievement. Even adults who have all the reason in the world to let everyone know, seldom do – those who’ve gone back to school to finish or get degrees; those who’ve shown integrity in a difficult job situation despite the possible repercussions; who’ve stepped forward to raise a child not birthed by them;  or those who’ve stood up for an elderly parent, sick child, or disabled neighbor. There are so many people who have a reason to jump up and down, and yet, they go quietly about their business, committed to the next goal and next good work.

I wonder how life would be different if we’d take a moment and celebrate our accomplishments every once in awhile. Maybe we’d realize how much we really have if we’d stop and do a little happy dance. Maybe our outlook on life, other people, even ourselves, would pick up a bit if we took a moment to cheer for ourselves. Maybe we’d slow down and appreciate life a little more if we spiked the ball (so to speak) before we moved on to the next task or goal.

That’s my challenge this week – and for you, too. Take a moment to loudly exclaim “I did it!” I know, people around you may start dialing the number to the closest psych ward, but don’t allow it to deter you. Celebrate an accomplishment, and do it so others can hear.

“Be full of joy all the time.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Even Bill Cosby might agree

It's been WAY too long since I wrote my last entry. In fact, thinking of starting this blog fresh and anew. Perfect timing as I've joined Jeff Goins on The 15-Day Challenge to adopt the writing habits of great writers and we have....HOMEWORK! (Jeff Goins 15-Day Challenge)

I'm coaching authors now to help them get their book written. And although it seems I spend most of my days mired in words, they're not my words, and I kinda miss that. Everyone says to me, "You need to write a book about Princess Daughter!" And although I find her (in the yellow hat) hysterically funny and charming, not sure how interested the world would be in reading endless stories about her. I've considered using them to draw life conclusions or reveal character qualities of God, but not quite sure.

I am thinking about creating an ebook through Kindle Direct so I can experience what many of my clients will be doing, and so I can provide amazing insights and advice to them, but we'll see where this all goes. In the mean time, here's today's Princess daughter fix.

Leaving swim lessons today, Princess Daughter and I began talking about the shapes of various people in our family. When we got to my brother (her uncle), she exclaimed that he did have a six-pack for abs. I thought my brother would be very happy to hear that (he works hard on his physique), until she added "A six-pack of pudding cups, that is!"

What life conclusion or character quality do you draw from that? Since nothing jumps to mind (and I'm still pondering those book ideas), let's just leave it at that. Perhaps it's a reminder to do our sit-ups.

The Gift that Keeps on Being Given

I think I have received the gift at least six times. The first time was Christmas 1976 from my parents. Since then, it has proudly been presented to me in a variety of gift bags with tattered tissue paper hastily thrown in by 7-year-old Princess daughter. I make a big deal about the gift every time I receive it, then put it back in her room several days later. It showed up the other day when she knew I was having a bit of a rough time.

This ever-appearing gift that represents my little one's sacrifice and desire to please me reminds me of the greatest gift I've received - the day Christ released me from a life of bondage. Just when I think, "this time I've done it," His gift reappears and reminds me that his mercies are new each day.

When I can't imagine that I could deserve such generosity, He tells me that as my father, He owns everything and wants to share it all with me.

And when I consider the love that spurs yet another round of gifting, I am humbled that I was chosen to receive the gift, yet again.

I smile as I look at the bottom of the gift - a boxed set of "Little House on the Prairie" books - and read the cheesy comment I wrote on it more than 30 years ago: "This box holds a special treasure to me." The giver knows that, which is why I'm expecting the gift to show up in a few weeks on my birthday.

Diamond in the rough

One Sunday before Christmas, Princess daughter was dressed up for church and I was inspired to give her an early Christmas present to complete her outfit. As I opened the little jewelry box and put the crystal snowflake necklace around her neck, she asked if it was real diamonds. I replied that no, it wasn't.

She asked "Will I ever get real diamonds?" to which I replied "Yes, honey, you'll get some some day." Princess daughter thought for moment, then asked if I had any real diamonds. "Yes," I smiled. "Daddy's given me a few over the years."

To which she asked "Will I get your diamonds?" I laughed and replied "Yes, when I die."

"YAAAAAY!!!" and she jumped up and down, hands raised above her head, exclaiming loudly.

Service with a smile

(Can't believe the last time I wrote something was at the end of the last school year and now, we're about to finish the first quarter of a whole new year!)

This past weekend, our church participated in Faith in Action Sunday, where we joined thousands of other churches across the country in replacing our worship time with a service project. In our case, more than 65% of our congregation headed to KCK to help Hillcrest Transitional Housing to clean and refurbish an old dormitory into apartments for homeless families and individuals. One of the clients who is about to graduate from the program (which has a 95% success rate after one year) thanked us. She told us how her life was going to be different and how she now had hope because of groups just like ours that gave our time and talents.

One of the aspects I enjoyed most about this project was that our whole family had the opportunity to serve together. While hubby tackled the manly outside projects in the cold, Olivia and I focused on scrubbing the kitchen in one of the apartments. On the way there, she asked if it was going to be fun. As we were driving home hours later, she said "that really was fun."

Of course, I wanted to pontificate on the character-building value of service, and how God calls us to be servants, and it wasn't supposed to be about fun. But as I watched those little six-year-old arms scrub for several hours with not a complaint in sight, I realized that she got it. She's never worked that hard on our kitchen - she even had her fellow scrubber going back over places they'd missed - she seemed to understand her sponge was working for a higher purpose.

I was so proud of her hard work. Obviously, she was too, as during the middle of her work, she turned to me and said "If I work really hard, can I get a milkshake?" Well, she earned one. We all did. (Sorry - no photos. Maybe a video after this weekend.)

Everything I know, I learned in kindergarten

Seems like just yesterday I wrote about Princess daughter going to all-day kindergarten every day and what would I do with "all" that time. I've managed to find a few things to do and not to do, and now, we're about a week out from completing kindergarten.

Princess daughter had a great year. She learned to read, write, add, tell time, and identify which containers are recyclable, but she's learned so much more about life - about getting along with people who don't look like her, act like her or think like her. She's learning to navigate the rough waters of life with other people. So there really is something to that saying about life and kindergarten.

I spent a lot of time in Princess daughter's classroom. Those sweet children that hugged me every time I passed through the door, the little ones who begged to join Princess daughter and me for lunch are growing up just like her. Soon they won't give a hug; they won't even look my way.

But I realized a new mission for "all" my time. Part of the reason Princess daughter was at this school at this time was so I could be one more caring adult in the lives of these little ones - read to them, check out their library books, help make their parties a ton of fun, invite them to join us when parents didn't come to the Thanksgiving feast, praise their playground feats at recess, and freely give a hug and encouraging word. And it was in kindergarten this year that I learned so much, too.