everyday Ann

living the ordinary seeing the extraordinary

A Promise is a Promise

I love the little things in life that give cause for pause and serve as a reminder of simple life lessons.

Lesson 1:

We spent Memorial Day weekend at the lake with family and enjoyed what seemed like the first taste of summer, finally hitting 80 and seeing some sun.  As we made our way out the door for Mass Sunday morning, it felt like it was going to be a warm and sunny day, perfect for being on the water.  My six year old nephew asked if I would go tubing with him later in the day, he had been wanting to since the day before, so I agreed.  By the time we finished brunch, the clouds rolled in, the wind picked up and the temp seemed to get a bit cooler.  Later that afternoon we decided to all bundle up and go out for a boat ride.  While getting ready for the venture my little nephew gave me a reminder, “Remember Cass you said you would go tubing with me.”  Not the ideal weather, but I thought to myself a promise is a promise.  So I geared up in a wetsuit and away we went!

Giving a little wave to the camera man in between our singing and convo.
Love spending time with my godson!
photo 1

Lesson 2:

Also on Sunday I had told my brother and his fiancée I would go for a run with them the next time they went, as they have been running on a consistent schedule.  Sitting around the breakfast table Monday morning thoroughly enjoying my coffee and scone, my brother informs me of the departure time of the said run.  Oh no, I assured him go on ahead without me, it’s okay I’ll just stay here for today.  Besides, I didn’t want to slow down their pace.  Without skipping a beat my brother reminded me of what I had said the day before, a promise is a promise.  Slightly reluctant, I laced up and dare I say felt a little satisfaction upon completion of moving these limbs a bit.

The takeaway, say what you mean and live what you say.

God Will Sort it Out

Read before hitting the panic button or at least before hitting it another time, and again…

My husband and I have been in the process of an international adoption for over a year and a half.  It has been an emotional roller-coaster of ups and downs, testing all the patience and yielding of control for this type A personality.  Needless to say it has left me with sleepless nights wondering how this will ever turn out, the what if’s, the self-doubt and the burden of not having the solution.

Too often we put so much stress and pressure on ourselves to figure out lives problems, to have all of the right answers and to know which is the next step to take.  Yesterday at Mass, I was reminded that the reality is much simpler if we allow it to be, God will sort it out.  After all, He does have all the answers and I am daily reminded that I do not.  Allowing God to be God and me just to be, while continually being open and receptive to the ways He is working in my life.

It was definitely a message I needed to hear, especially as we try to discern how God is calling us to build a family.  There is something to be said about the peace and joy found when you free yourself from the pressure and burden of having to know it all.

In this place where I am right now, I just need to take one step at a time.  I don’t need to know the exact timing or the way God will bless us with children.  I don’t need to know what will happen with our current adoption process, all I need to know is God is God and I am not.

While I don’t know how the story will unfold or whether the adoption we have been muddling through will work out at all, I just need to remember not to panic.

So here’s to taking the week off from worrying and just giving it over, out of my court into His hands.  It’s on Him, God can sort it out.

Beauty and Bod

With the weather getting warmer and wishes for summer to be upon us, thoughts of shedding the winter weight and getting back into shape fill our minds. Stores are now full of summer apparel including entire sections of swimsuits.  As much as I enjoy shopping I dread trying to find a swimsuit.  Having to look at myself in 360 degree mirrors, finding it impossible to squeeze into the tightest spandex as it compresses my body and not able to find one that will somehow make me look like that flawless model in the ads.

The Today show is currently featuring “Love Your Selfie” week; I found the following research according to Dove very disconcerting.

Nine out of 10 women have felt badly when looking in the mirror, yet they look at their reflections an average of six times a day. In fact, the study found that women spend 50 minutes every day looking in the mirror.

A few years ago I attended a women’s conference where we were each given a hand held mirror.  We had to look at ourselves in it for what seemed like an eternity, but in reality it was only a minute or two.  Really looking at ourselves, not fixing our hair or makeup or critiquing our crooked teeth, big nose, small lips, etc.  Looking at ourselves, surpassing surface level into the depths of who we really are.  It seems like such a simple exercise, but actually was really difficult to do.

We live in a culture where we are constantly bombarded by a hijacked concept of what beauty is.  From TV, magazines, billboards you name it; our subconscious is filled with images we are told we need to emulate and model.

Often as women we give way to these unrealistic expectations, how we must look and what the number on the scale must say.  The focus is so much on weight and appearance that the important factor of just being healthy is lost in the propaganda.  It’s the feeling of satisfaction after a good workout or the energy you have after a good night’s rest, the feeling of self control after saying no to the second piece of cake or third scoop of ice cream.

weight-scale cropIt’s easy to fall into the trap of never being content with our weight even if it’s the lowest we may have been in awhile; it seems our society will still tell us it’s never good enough.  I read a story last week of a girl who had been told most of her life she was underweight, at a recent modeling interview they said she measured as plus-size.

Our feeling of self worth and joy can’t be controlled by a number on the scale.  We are whole and complete by our very nature, but do we also see ourselves as such.  Stretch marks, scars, flaws and all, its part of our story, part of our journey.  The stretch marks making room for life’s greatest miracle, the scars that mark renewed health, our unique traits and features that truly set us apart.

I encourage you to try looking in the mirror, to the core of your being; the beauty, grace, splendor and greatness of who you are!

Being Present

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI thought this was a perfect post to put up today, since it is my mom’s birthday!  I had the opportunity and privilege of spending the past couple of days with my mom, love having mother-daughter time.  Wish distance wasn’t a factor and we could do it more often!  I feel like as I get older I recognize and appreciate even more so the characteristics she has that I hope to model.

My mom is a very friendly and outgoing person; she has the unique ability to strike up conversations with complete strangers.  It’s remarkable to see how people react, especially when their faces light up from her sincerity.  I always knew this, but it was reinforced even more the past few days and it gave me a lot to think about.

A few examples:

She was waiting for an appointment a few months back and started talking with the woman sitting next to her and in the process she told my mom her whole life story.

The other day there was an elderly couple who looked confused while reading a piece of paper, my mom observed that they probably needed help and took the time to point them in the right direction.

Yesterday in the elevator she carried on a conversation with an Amish couple and at the end wished them a good evening as they departed, it was obvious they were surprised by the salutation.

I know it’s partly my personality being more introverted that I don’t find myself having these similar experiences, but more so I think the reason is because I am missing them.  I am often caught up in the hustle and bustle of life to stop and smell the roses, to stop and notice the people God has put in my path at that moment.  I admit I try and get in and out of the grocery store as quick as I can, some weeks I even time myself…guessing that doesn’t leave a lot of room to be open to the person who may need a kind word or a simple hello.

We live in a culture where it’s becoming the norm not to know your neighbors, the people living right across the street from you.  Too often we become consumed with our own lives and concerns that we don’t see the hurting person next to us.  When I think about this it makes me wonder how many times I have missed opportunities to show a little light and love to someone simply because I didn’t take the time.

“The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved.”  – Mother Teresa

Today is a gift…

In the past few weeks I have heard of several heart wrenching incidents where young lives were taken suddenly and what seems like all too soon.  Leaving families and communities grieving beautiful and youthful lives.  Thinking of these stories has left me with a loss for words and pondering the fragility of life and our time here on earth.

It may sound cliché, but truly we do not know the day or the hour.  It’s so easy to go through life wishing for next month, next week or the next day.  We often spend our time waiting anxiously for when the situation will be better and then we feel like we will truly live and be happy.  Whether it’s when I finally have that new job, new house, when I am married, when we finally have kids or when they are all grown up, then I will be able to enjoy life.  It’s sobering to think that we may never have those moments; perhaps this is our last day.

We all have experienced the season of waiting, but it’s what we do with each day while we wait.  Each day truly is a gift from God and should be lived to the fullest right where we are.  Earlier this week I came across a few quotes that really spoke to this.
(Taken from “In Conversation With God”)

What matters is today.  Today is the day we need in which to love, to grow in holiness, through those countless little occurrences that go to make up the texture of our life.

Holiness and efficacy consist mainly in living each day as if it were the only day in our life.

Here and now is where I must love God with all my heart…and with deeds.

Life is fragile.  Today is a gift.

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