4/30/12 Magnificent Monday

Magnificent Monday-because sometimes being a grown up requires hard work, but the rewards for successfully completing the hard work is magnificent. I spend the weekend helping my husband complete a ridiculously large amount of work for a company where he words as Vice President of Business Development. I did not want to spend the weekend doing this work. I wanted to finish knitting a computer case I was trying to complete. However, the work had to be done and my skills were needed to get the job done. So, I showed up like a grown up and got the job done. It was difficult work, contracts, creating of companies, research into Internal Revenue Service regulations and the like. It was intellectually challenging because there was a lot of information to compile, a lot of research to be done and definitely a test of my 75 words per minute typing skills. However, as I write this post on Monday morning, the work is done and paychecks should be coming in a few days. So in sum, showing up like a grown up and getting a job done completely and correctly is a magnificent thing!

4/28/12 Sensational Saturday

Sensational Saturday-today is a good day to appreciate our friends and to show that appreciation with a smile. Recently a long time friend insulted me and hurt my feelings in a very real way. I spent a few hours MAD. I mean like dogs and Englishmen in the noon day sun mad. i vented to my husband a little and bit my tongue. I was trying to find the words to say to my friend, 'Hey what you did was a bad thing. You ae not acting like a friend. I have known you for so many years I deserve better from you." I say trying to find the words because when I got near the phone to talk to my friend what wanted to come out was , "You **** ****** ****** *** ********." In other words, I kept my mouth shut because while what my friend did was wrong and hurtful, I did not want to act the same way. I wanted to be a good and decent person. So today, I want to celebrate and treasure friends and friendship. A good friend, a true friend is a precious gift that should be appreciated.

Fantastic Friday - The Fantastic Power of Our Words

Fantastic Friday-be careful what you say because your words have power and determine your outcome.

 I always say I spend my life looking for miracles and expecting the impossible. I am happy living that way because my God always delivers miracles and the impossible. I have two friends who always expect the worst. No matter what the situation, they find a way to convince themselves that the outcome will be the worst possible thing. I cannot live that way.

No,  I do not live in the clouds. No matter what the situation, I ask myself, what is the wort that can happen and what is the best thing that can happen. Once I determine these things, I decide that if I can handle each of these situations, life is good and I can keep moving forward toward my goal. My two friends never see the best that could happen. They never think that things will work out. They think the employees at the government office will deny all their requests and that is what happens. Their requests get denied.

I always think the person in the position of power and authority will help me with a smile. And you know what happens, I get service with a smile. Our attitude determines our outcome. We need to get good attitudes in order to get good outcomes. Instead of saying, "things never work out" say, "I am looking forward to seeing what a wonderful outcome I will have." I hope my two friends read this post and start thinking good things so they can receive good things. I want them to know that a positive attitude gives fantastic results and are a fantastic thing. So, the question for you this Fantastic Friday is at what are you going to direct the power of your words?

4/26/12 Thrilling Thursday

Thrilling Thursday-while it may seem thrilling to laugh at the misfortune of those we do not like,but keep in mind, there are those who do not like us. Recently I was involved in an incident with a neighbor that led to serious consequences for the neighbor. This neighbor had done some bad things, some irritating things, some illegal things. As a result, the neighbor is now facing some serious problems, life altering problems. There are some who would be happy about the misery my neighbor is now experiencing. They would say, "don't do the crime if you can't do the time and pay the fine." I am a little different. I recognize that in different ways and to different degrees, we all do things that irritate others, that make others want to wring our necks. There are always people waiting for us to fall so they can laugh at us getting our due. So, in the spirit of you reap what you sow, or karma or what goes around comes around, do not glory in the misfortune of others. Instead, think of something good you did or are doing and find happiness in that. Do not find joy in the misfortune of others, instead, find joy in your own accomplishments.

4/25/12 Wonderful Wednesday

Wonderful Wednesday-I have a dream, a hope and a prayer that one day my children will be grown up, independent, healthy and happy. I am a mama, of all the jobs I currently have, mama is the most important. My husband and I have four little people some of them not so little, that I am responsible for bringing into adulthood. It is an awesome, amazing, difficult and time consuming set of tasks. My husband and I work at this job 24/7 trying to find ways to make it 28/8. I don't know how other people do it. I have a partner in the task and go to bed tired everyday after doing everything I can think of to get the children from here to where they need to be. The job of being a mama changes day to day. For the most part, the things I do today, I do not do tomorrow. There is only one thing I can guarantee I do all day everyday in raising these children-pray. I pray for them when I wake up in the morning. I pray for them throughout the day. I pray for them when they go to bed at night. It is the best thing I do as a mother. It is something my children see me do and copy. When they fall down and get hurt, before the Band-Aids and Neosporin come out, the prayers go up. The children see it and they copy. About a month ago, I slipped on something my teenie bopper left on the steps and got hurt. I screamed out in pain. Before I could get my old hurt but up off the floor, my nine year old son was up the steps touching my shoulder and praying for me. If I am in a bad mood or angry about something, the children will pray for my mood to improve. They pray about all kinds of stuff. It is wonderful to see. Of all the things that my children do that make me proud, (and believe me, that is a long list) I am proudest of the fact that my children are prayers. The hopes, dreams and prayers have for my children are wonderful.

4/24/12 Terrific Tuesday

Terrific Tuesday-when a friend asks for help, friends help, so just shut up and do your job. Yesterday my car tire was slashed and I needed help. I called a friend and her pastor husband. They came, they helped, they prayed for my family, then they went home. They did not ask me why I needed help with the car. They did not say, why did you use up all your AAA service calls. They just showed up and helped. That is the kind of friend I want to be. When someone calls and asks for help I want to show up, help and keep it moving. Sometimes instead of helping we get into blaming the person who needs help. Trying to correct their wrong choices that made them need our help. I think for the most part, when our friends ask us for help. they have already done the soul searching. They have already figured out what they did wrong, they have prayed and made promises about how they will do things differently and better in the future. Our questioning and them and giving lectures will not help. When a friend asks for help, we should just shut up and help. It is terrific to ask for help and receive it from a friend.

4/23/12 Magnificent Monday

Magnificent Monday-because sometimes after your plans have stalled, you have to chick up and do the thing right. Those of you who read this blog on a regular basis know I am training to run the Philadelphia Marathon in November. Over the last two weeks my training has continued, but slowed down. I am looking at where I want to be and where I am. Reality has set in and I need to chick up and kick things up a notch. That is one of the lessons I learned as a business owner and business adviser. When you make a plan, you work your plan. But when your actions slow, conditions change or the desired results are not achieved, the plan should be re-evaluated, re-worked, adjusted and improved. So for me and this marathon thing, it means I have to get up a little earlier, do a workout in the morning while preparing the kids for school, go to the gym to work the machine and weights I do not have at home and then do a little something at night before bed. I am not talking a major workout morning and night, maybe just do some step work that increases over time. In other words, I have a destination in mind- the marathon, I have a plan, workout and run. My progress wasn't satisfactory, so I had to adjust. Now I am working the adjustment and if progress does not continue as I like, I will once again make adjustments. That is what life is all about,making plans, carrying out plans and adjusting plans as necessary in a timely manner. It is what makes Monday Magnificent.

4/20/12 Fantastic Friday

Fantastic Friday-because social networks are a wonderful tool that we can use to make our lives better. I like them.

I post to Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Plurk on a regular basis. I look forward to it. I even have a few people who will contact me if I go a day without posting something. Some people have said they look forward to seeing my daily descriptions of life. Likewise, there are posts I look forward to reading everyday. There are people who I send a message to if they do not post something on a regular basis. Recently a friend and fellow blogger added me to a group of social networking dynamos. I also joined a support group on Facebook for people trying to lose weight and get in shape. The women bloggers group is awesome. These women are on their game. They write blogs on a regular basis about things that interest them and they are now experimenting with video blogs. Being in the group and makes me want to kick my game up a notch and become a better blogger and enter the world of video blogs. The get in shape group makes me want to eat right and exercise every day so I have something good to write about in posts. Reading the stories and struggles of the other group members gives me inspiration and hope.

In short, no matter what you hear anywhere else, social media, social networks and the like are good things, valuable things, even inspiring things. They are tools we can use to make our lives better.

4/19/12 Thrilling Thursday

Thrilling Thursday- because once you realize life is a relay, not an individual race you can do your part and run to win!

I have two friends who work at a jobs that requires lots of people working together in order to succeed. They work in two different industries that vary greatly. However, the fact remains that both jobs require team work and both of them act as if they are working at jobs that require individuals and not teams. Both of them, are having a lot of trouble at work. They are losing money, going home from work angry and frustrated and feeling unsatisfied. They both think they can do it on their own. They ignore the value, skills, and strength of those around them that would help them to run instead of crawl. They are running team sports individually, as a result, it is no surprise that they are not winning.


Even activities that seem like individual events require a team. I am running the Philly Marathon in November. I am running 26 miles. It looks like an individual effort, but it is not. I cannot exercise and train if my husband does not keep the kids so I can go out and do some extra running and training. I need the support of my friends and family to encourage me to keep moving when the road gets really tough and I am too tired to keep moving. Only one person runs a marathon at a time, but a team of people gets each person across the finish line. We need to realize that life is a team sport. We need to work together with the members of our team to get to the finish line. Every role on a team is important and necessary. We need to stop trying to be individual stars when we are playing team sports. And once again, life is a team sport.

4/17/12 Terrific Tuesday

Terrific Tuesday-some people whine about it and some people get up and do something about it and I am not a whiner.

I have a relative who likes to complain. No matter what the situation, she looks for the cloud and not the silver lining. I never want to be one of those people. I like looking for the silver lining and hoping it will turn gold. We are all powerful and in possession of strength beyond measure, beyond compare. I try to teach that lesson to my children. My little twin, Camille, when faced with a tough situation will invariably say, "Chick up, I am a Davis woman and Davis women don't quit.' I am so proud of her. At the age of four she is strong, and powerful and smart. She also says, "When you need help. Ask God for help and he will send help. Sometimes he sends your mother or your sister and sometimes he sends you to help yourself." I love the faith and belief in my child. It is so pure, so true and so strong. She believes her words have power and that there is strength, help and protection in her god.

I want to have the faith and belief of my little Camille because there is power, strength and something terrific in her and I love it!

4/16/12 Magnificent Monday

Magnificent Monday-because everyday is a good day to start and keep resolutions to make our lives better.

Every January, people all across America go crazy making New Years Resolutions. People decide to lose weight, get better jobs, end toxic relationships or get closer to God. The work on the resolutions goes on hot and heavy for a few days or even a few weeks and then slowly things slow down and the work on the resolutions stops. Once the resolution work stops completely, the people making the resolutions feel bad about themselves and feel defeated. This should not be the case. Instead, we should all realize that each day is the start of a new year. Each day we can make resolutions. Each day we can start again, resolve to improve our lives and then do it.

There is a popular gospel song that says, "We fall down, but we get up." When it comes to resolutions and to doing the right thing, and improving ourselves, each day is a magnificent day to start becoming the people we want to be.

04/13/12 Fantastic Friday

Fantastic Friday-everyone wants smart kids, but man oh man, are the expensive!

Everyone always wants their children to be smart, to be geniuses. when we all hope and pray for that, we forget how expensive genius is! My teenie bopper got invited to the National Student Leadership conference, $3,000 plus air transportation. She won a regional Technology Students' Association competition and is headed to the state and national rounds, $1,300 plus transportation. She was accepted into the International Baccalaureate Program and will need foreign travel, starting at $1,500.

My son joined the chess team, this one costs time and gas. He is in the Challenge program for mentally gifted students and his mind requires constant challenge so $$$$$$ per month in books, games, puzzles and activity sets. Even the cute little twins are smart so they have to go to specialist for speech, take an enhanced cognitive learning program and new books and puzzles everyday.

We all want smart children, but man oh man are they expensive, but worth every dime!

04/12/12 Thrilling Thursday

Thrilling Thursday-because I spend my life looking for miracles and expecting the impossible, and life is always thrilling.

As people who read this blog on a regular basis know, I am a Christian wife and mother. I often face difficult situations and I am never defeated at heart because I have faith to rely upon. Often when we face difficult situations, we have no way of knowing how to solve the problem or how to survive until a situation presents itself. It is at these times that faith is the most important and most valuable tool we have. Faith keeps us close to God from whom all our strength and power and solutions come. My faith is ridiculous because it has no bounds and knows no limitations. At the same time it is serious because it is based in a God that never fails.

So on this thrilling Thursday, show a little faith in God and it will take you where you need to go. I do and I am never disappointed.

4/11/12 Wonderful Wednesday

Wonderful Wednesday-because sticking with the plan is even more wonderful when the going gets tough.

Often we have goals and make plans to accomplish them. At that point we feel good because we think we did the hard work- planning, organizing and getting started. In fact, that is not when the real hard work begins! Sometimes our plans need to be adjusted or amended. On other occasions it is hard to follow the game plan. The plan is correct and must be followed, but it is hard. It is at those times that following the plan and continuing on towards the finish is wonderful.

4/10/12 Terrific Tuesday

Terrific Tuesday-because new experiences and challenges can be terrific to meet and overcome.

I know everyone has heard the saying, you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Maybe that is true for dogs, but us old people, we can learn new things, we can master new tricks. I admit I am a weirdo. I do calculus at home for fun. I am teaching myself Spanish and I this old dog can learn new tricks.

It is exciting to learn new things. I always say life is short and life is long. Life is too short to live without enjoying the fullness the world has to offer. At the same time, life is too long to spend dreaming of what could be instead of living what could be. So today on Terrific Tuesday, it is a terrific day to learn a new trick!

4/9/12 Magnificent Monday

Magnificent Monday-because even a liberated, feminist chick like myself loves a man who protects her, thank you husband for all you do.

Those who know me personally know I am an independent, free thinking, strong minded woman. I can do it by myself and I don't need a man to take care of me. At the same time, I have a man who does take care of me and I love it! My husband is a trained accountant. For years he has been doing taxes and helping businesses grow. Very often his clients would offer him tips and he would turn them down and instead say, "Don't worry about me, just take care of my wife." When we had children, he would say, "Don't worry about me, just take care of my wife and kids." Yesterday, at church, he told the congregation,"We live around the corner and my wife wants a church near home for when I am traveling for work. So if you see her and my kids here without me, please watch out for them." Once again, I was touched by his selflessness, his generosity and his care and concern for his family.

I may be out of fashion, with so many women talking about how they don't need a man and they can do what they want all by themselves. I enjoy the fact that while I don't need a man and I can take care of myself, I have a life partner. The Bible says it is better when two or more work together to carry the load because when one falls the other is there to pick him up. So I am grateful to have someone to share the load and make my life's journey better.

4/6/12 Fantastic Friday

Fantastic Friday-because when our children learn the lessons we teach and put them in practice, it is fantastic.

Yesterday my youngest twin daughter made me so very proud. She was out trying to accomplish a task assigned by someone in a teaching position. It was very hard and after a few tries she had not succeeded. then she stopped and said the following to the teacher, "Ok, Davis women never quit. I can do this, bring it on." My baby then proceeded to continue trying to accomplish the task and she succeeded! The teacher was amazed at how my baby acted. I was not amazed. I expected her reaction.

I have always taught my children that they could do anything they set their minds to do. I tell my girls, "You are Davis women, you can do anything, Davis women don't quit." I tell my son, "You are a Davis man like your father, you can do whatever you want. You are smart and strong." These are different versions of the same pep talk. Many times I have seen my children copy my words, phrases and actions. I always have 4 sets of eyes following my eyes and 4 sets of ears listening to my words. My children are motivators, they encourage me to be a better woman. Today is fantastic Friday because my little one, has learned that she can do what she sets her mind to and that her determination and hard work will bring her success.

4/5/12 Thrilling Thursday

Thrilling Thursday-it is easy to be thrilled when there are exciting happenings. The trick is to find a thrill in the everyday.

Today is Thursday, just a regular Thursday full of the regular things and the regular people.I have decided to be thrilled anyway. I have a wonderful family and a nice life. I live in a good neighborhood. I have interesting work and limitless possibilities. In other words, I have been blessed by God and that alone is reason to be thrilled. We always hear about the major miracles. You know, the parting of the Red Sea, the feeding of the thousands with a few fish and a few loaves of bread. What about the miracle of the kids who got along for 30 minutes? Or how about the miracle of the mother who made dinner the whole family liked for a change? Those are everyday miracles that are happening in houses all over the world that are indeed thrilling.

4/4/12 Wonderful Wednesday

Wonderful Wednesday-because showing up like a grown up and handling your business is a wonderful thing.

As I get up this morning, I have so very many chores to do and so many responsibilities it is almost overwhelming. I was tempted to stay in bed, under the covers and sleep the day away. However, that is not a realistic choice. The work has to be done. The dishes must be washed, the laundry must be done, the floors must be swept and mopped,the exercise must be done, the reports must be written, the telephone calls must be made and the list goes on. In other words, there are things to be done and I must show up like a grown up and get them done.

It is tempting to put our work off and pretend we don't have things to do, to look for fun things to do. But, when you have responsibilities, when you are responsible for a home, spouse, children, and work, you must show up like a grown up and get things done. For so many people, passing the buck is a way of life. For them life is made up of kicking the can down the road and hoping it never becomes time to do the work. I think those people must be habitually nervous,always waiting for the other shoe to drop. I can't live that way, I want to push my own shoes, I want to control my own destiny. This means, I must show up like a grown up and handle my business.

4/3/12 Terrific Tuesday

Terrific Tuesday-when it comes to relationships, it seems that those who can do and those who can't write about it.

Everyday on Twitter and Facebook I see posts about how to make marriages stronger and better, but they are all written by people who are single and not in long term, committed relationships or by people who are on a second or third marriage. It truly amuses me. I wonder why those who can't or haven't done it, feel the need to lecture the world on how to attain the perfect relationship. Among my group of happily married friends, at 22 years of marriage I am the baby of the group. All of my happily married friends have been married longer. Yet, none of us has felt the need to go to Facebook and Twitter to tell others how to make marriage work. We may talk about what works for us and how we make it work, but only with the caveat that what works for us, works for us, and should not be copied by others. Perhaps we are too busy making it work to lecture others on what they are doing. In sum, I am constantly amused by the facts bearing out the old adage, those who can do and those who can't write about it on Twitter and Facebook.

4/2/12 Magnificent Monday

Magnificent Monday-only God can explain why my husband's doctor prescribed pancakes and maple syrup 2x per week.

As people who read this blog on a regular basis know, my husband turnd 50 on March 30th. I had scheduled his doctor's appointment for that day as it was the only day they were both available. He was nervous about the appointment because he is overweight and has some blood pressure issues. He went in, got the results from more than 20 different tests that were run and got a new prescription from his doctor. He must eat pancakes and real maple syrup twice a week. He had no other problems. His prostate, cholesterol, heart condition, all were fine. Who but a kind and merciful God could grant such great results considering what there was to work with?

In sum, this ends a wonderful celebratory season for our family and we thank God for the many blessings he has given us.