No Day But Today...

The follow is a quote that I fell in love with the minute I read it...

"I expect to pass through the world but once. Any good, therefore that I can do, or any kindness I can show to any creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it, for I shall not pass this way again." -Stephen Grellet

I have always been conscious of the fact that life is short and precious and that we must seize and fully live each moment. I came to this awareness much earlier than most, as my dad died when I was just 8 years old. I saw first hand that life often hands us the unexpected and we can be 'called home' at any moment, without warning.

And so from that time forward I have gone on to live my life trying to live each day, to the fullest. Though I am not the best at it, I am constantly reminding myself to be present, to be in the moment, for I won't be able to go back and get it. Once the moment, or day, or year is gone, it is gone. We cannot go back, only forward.

I have always had a strong belief that part of my life's purpose is to help people. I am not sure how exactly I am to go about doing this. Perhaps it is in the little things, in the simple acts of service I can offer. And so I will go forward trying my best to see and then fulfill the little opportunities God provides for me each day. If I can make someone's life a little easier, their burden a little lighter, their day a little better...

I love this song sung by Idina Menzel called "No Day But Today." It sums up so well the fact that we can live no day but the one we are in. We can't go back, and if we choose to live in the past and regrets, we will miss out on so much of life. If we want to make a change in ourselves, there is only one who can make it happen, and that would be us. There is no better day than today to start making a difference, to make this world a better place...

(Sorry this one has a little extra chit-chat on the end, but it was the one with the best quality for sure.)

There is no day but today, and in it, let us do as much good and help as many as we can for we will not pass this way, or perhaps that person, again...

A Phone Call To Remember

Last night I got a phone call that I will never forget. My cell phone rang at quarter to 8, and I didn't recognize the out of state number that was coming in. I answered. On the other end was a voice I immediately recognized due to a documentary I had seen. It was Ina Polak. A Holocaust survivor. I was humbled beyond words and speechless. I couldn't believe that this sweet woman was taking time out of her busy schedule to call simple, unimportant me. I told her of my disbelief, and she simply and sweetly responded, "I told you I would call you, and I always keep my promises!"

As I mentioned before, I knew this voice due to a very moving documentary I had seen called "Steal A Pencil For Me." It was initially a book compiled by the daughter of Jack and Ina Polak, in which she had gathered and translated letters that Jack and Ina exchanged during the Holocaust as they were in a relocation and concentration camp. It tenderly tells of their love story as they experienced incomprehensible pain and suffering.

Our conversation was fairly short and somewhat simple. Nothing overly profound was discussed. But at one point I became choked up with emotion, as I told her how much I admired her and how honored I was to be talking with her. I knew that I was speaking to one of the greatest souls I have ever encountered. After all she has been through, she remains positive and happy. Having experienced all she has, she would have every right to be angry and bitter at everyone and everything. But she is not. She is full of love and light, wisdom and humor. I believe I have many lessons to learn from this incredible woman...

I encourage every single one of you to watch it or to read the book. You can view it on NetFlix (that is where I came across it), or you can purchase it (it is SO worth buying) on Amazon or through Barnes and Noble.

Here is the link to the website

Brewskies, Brawls, and Bald Eagles

Last night I found myself at the hockey game, slingin' beer, as a fundraiser for Special Olympics. It was a hoot. It was not the first time I've found myself behind the tap, fund-raising. I was there last year doing the same thing. But this year, was much more entertaining... On the night we were there, it was a special occasion called "Beer Fest." Yes, I know, it sounds so very exciting. They had on tap a variety of different brewskies, many of which came from our local breweries. There was everything from Raspberry, to Jalapeno, to a little gem called 'Captain Bastards Oatmeal' something or other, and a stinky delight we sold a lot of called 'Cherny Bock.'

I met a lot of interesting people. Like the man who tried to tell me he was the CEO of one of the sponsoring breweries (sorry buddy, but the tattered business card you fished out of your wallet doesn't qualify you as a CEO.) Or the lady who was chugging her 32oz beer like it was a shot because 'she is here with her fiance and his kids and he won't let her drink in front of the kids.' And what about that funny old man who was doing a little 'provocative-spanking-dance' on my end of the cart as his wife is yelling "I can't take him anywhere!" Good times people, good times!

And I even made friends with the mascots...

(They were both full of it. The Eagle tried to make out with me, and the Grizzly Bear was equally feisty, and had those bottoms been detachable I am sure you would've seen his fuzzy derriere!)

Lent

I know, I know, Lent began on Wednesday and today is Friday. Yes, I am two days late with this post, but I figure better late than never! (oh wait, this seems to be the motto of my entire life! Anyway, moving on...)

For the last few years, my friends, co-workers, and I, have participated in Lent. We all commit to abstain from something or commit to do something that will better us for 40 days (until Easter Sunday). Then if we slip up, we owe $1.00 for each mishap and at the end of the 40 days all of the money collected goes to charity. It's a win-win. Like that year I gave up Peeps and Mt. Dew...the Utah Food Bank made out like a bandit from my $75-ish contribution alone! (Okay, so that wasn't one of my stronger years of self control, but hey, it was for a good cause...)

I don't know if there are any of you who love the Girl Scout Cookies, but I sure do as many of you know and as I have already mentioned in multiple previous posts. I had considered giving up ThinMints, when this thought hit me...If I were to give up those little gems, and then were to have a moment of weakness and let's say 'fall face first into a box of them' I would end up owing a whopping $28 if I finished off the whole box! So at $3.50 just to purchase the cookies and then with the fee being $1 for each slip up or in this case each cookie, I decided against giving them up for Lent as it would be too pricey for me who has so little self control when it comes to the chocolate covered bits of heaven! So I went with giving up baked goods from any store or restaurant (I figure I will be much less likely to consume treats if I have to make them myself) and also committed to hitting the treadmill 4 times a week. (In case you are wondering, I have already tossed $4 into the Lent jar...1 brownie and 3 days of no treadmill. Oopsy. But this is a minimal contribution compared to the $15 someone who gave up the 's' word has already tossed in. I'm just sayin...)

So this year is no exception. We are going ahead with Lent commitments and for those of you, (who I hope is everyone reading this) who want to participate, each slip-up will cost you $1.00 and all of the proceeds go to the Backpack Mission (click HERE to see a previous blog post that will give you all the deets on this incredible organization). We have quite a list of participants this year giving up a variety of vices...there's everything from Ice Cream to Alcohol to Cheetos to before mentioned use of the $#it word.

So who is in? What vice are you going to give up? What are you going to commit to do to make yourself better? Join the fun. And just think, you will only have to give it up for 38 days as we are already 2 days into this bad boy!...

God Keeps His Promises

I was driving home from work today, and this is what I saw...


It really struck me. I was in humble awe of the beauty and as I pulled the car over just to look at it, the thought came to mind "What a beautiful reminder that God keeps His promises!" The rainbow stands as a symbol of God's promise that He will not flood the Earth again as it was in the day of Noah. And today seeing this full rainbow fill the sky reminded me that yes, our loving Heavenly Father keeps all His promises to all His children. If He said it, it will be.

I've been thinking a lot about the promises that our Heavenly Father has made to us. He has promised to always love us and that He will never leave us. He has promised that He will never give us more than we can handle. He has promised us that every prayer we utter is heard and will be answered. Never has He lied to us, let us down, or misled us...He never has and never will.

And so as I ponder the things in my life that are at times hard to understand, the things that I wish were now, and the things that I wish were different...I think of the words of the Scripture found in Alma 37:17 "For he will fulfil all his promises which he shall make unto you,..." There it is in black and white. He will do all He has said and promised to do. The heartbreaks, heartaches, disappointments and longings will all be made right. Whether those promises lay in the pages of the Scriptures, or in a blessing you have received, they shall be. In His divine timing, they will be. Maybe not today nor tomorrow, but surely one day, they shall be. Until then may we be blessed with the patience to wait...