~Rekindle~

"Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel."
Author Unknown

One of my New Year's resolutions this year was to be more "in touch." More in touch with myself. More in touch with my family. More in touch with my close friends. And more in touch with people I used to be close to, but maybe not so much anymore.

Ever notice how friendships end? Or dwindle? Of course, relationships do run their course... people grow and change and move. We make new friends with similar interests.  And we plain grow apart.

I lived on an all girls' floor my freshman year at Drake.  We had some of the best times - some of my most favorite college experiences were with those girls.  After sophomore year, we grew distant... I moved into the sorority house and others moved into apartments and houses.  We didn't take the time to get together as often as we should have.  It got even more difficult when we all graduated - some were furthering their schooling, some moved out of state, and it felt like some just dropped off the face of the earth!

With technology these days - facebook, email, texting, skype - it shouldn't be so hard to stay in touch!  And it's really not...  you just have to make the effort.  And that is something I am really trying for!  I had a lot of friends in college that I don't hardly speak to anymore, besides my core group of friends.

My challenge to you - reach out to someone you used to friends with, but maybe haven't spoken to in awhile.  Not only will it make you feel great, but you'll be passing that happiness along to that friend. :)

I plan on continuing this "rekindle" for the rest of the year - either a phone call, a text message, a facebook message.  It should be one of the easiest New Year resolutions!

Today's Starfish

In the last month, I have gotten together with two of my old friends from my freshman dorm.  One was my friend Pooja, who lived right next to me and the other was my friend Leigha who was my freshman year roommate!  It was so great to catch up with these girls over coffee at Starbucks and dinner/coffee at Smokey Row.  

For today's Starfish, I sent both of them a thank you note for spending time with me.  Everyone has such busy lives - but it is important to spend time with people you care about!

 

 

Thank Your Friends

"A friend is one who knows us but loves us anyway"



For those of you who really know me, know that I am very blessed with an amazing group of close girlfriends, but most of them are scattered across the country doing awesome things and I miss each and every one of them very much.

I am lucky enough, however, to have one of them right here in good 'ol Iowa with me.  Although we don't really see each other as much as we would like, we can never "just have lunch" or "just go grab a cup of coffee."  We might plan that, but it always turns into an all day affair. 

I'm sure most of you can relate to this.  Maybe it's your spouse or maybe it's your sister.  Or maybe you have a friend like Brooke. 

It may seem like a no-brainer, but have you ever thanked your friends for being your friend?  Have you ever thanked them for being the type of person who will never turn their back on you, no matter what?  Or thanked them for being the type of friend you would feel comfortable calling at 4am to ponder life with? 

Challenge of the week - pick one of your best friends.  Thank them.  Easy huh!?

Today's Starfish

I went to church Saturday night and got a cup of coffee.  They put a little sticker over the mouth hole (which I've never seen before) and it had the above quote on it.  It really got me thinking about my friendships and how lucky I am.

My regular Sunday School helper texted me late Saturday night to let me know she was sick and wouldn't be able to make it.  I don't like being in charge of a bunch of 4 year olds without someone else in the classroom with me, so at 11:00 on a Saturday night, I texted Brooke and of course she said yes!  So... Sunday School then turned into margaritas then margaritas turned into 3 hours of hot tubbing in the freezing cold! 

I am writing my thank you to one of my best friends - Brooke!  She has been there for me in my happiest and in my darkest times and I couldn't be more thankful to have found such an awesome friend.  Love you Brooke!!



Who Do You Need to Thank?

"What if you gave someone a gift and they neglected to thank you for it - would you be likely to give them another?  Life is the same way.  In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have."
~Ralph Marston

So... if you gave someone a gift and they didn't offer any sort of gratitude in return, how would you react?  Would you be upset and never give them anything again?  Would you try to give them the benefit of the doubt?  Would you be offended?  What would you do?

I am going to be straight forward - when I hold the door for someone and they don't say "thank you" or when I let someone go in front of me on the road and they don't give me a courtesty wave, I get a little offended.  I know, I know... that is not the POINT of being nice, but it helps a little to at least know someone appreciated the tiny gesture. 

This is something I am working on, though.  Maybe when we do something nice for someone else, they don't realize it at the time.  But when they have a chance to pay it forward by opening a door or letting someone go in front of them at Starbucks, they do it.  Something triggers in their mind and says "OH yeah, someone did this for me, I can do it for someone else."

Or maybe they never pay it forward and they don't even realize that you just did something for them that you didn't have to do.  And that is ok too.  Because you should feel good about doing it :)

Challenge of the week - Think about someone you don't thank enough.  Maybe it is your spouse or your friend or your dog or whatever.  Someone who is there for you regardless.  Maybe it has become second nature to count on them.  Don't forget to thank them.  Don't take them for granted!

Today's Starfish


I have been thinking hard about someone who does things for me who I don't really thank very much.  There is always my mom and dad who I will NEVER be able to thank enough for everything they have done for me - especially for giving me life!

But my mind does wander to one person who I have a hard time showing gratitude to... my brother!  He does a lot for me - everything that an older brother is supposed to do.  Of course we do have our little tiffs and scuttles, but at the end of the day he is my big brother and would do anything for me.  Like he lets me live in his house.  And puts things together for me that I have no idea how to start.  And fixes the TV when I press the wrong button.  And lets me have a bunch of girls over to his house for crafting, baking and wine drinking. And he tells me when I am dating a loser.  And brings me Starbucks (like tonight) when I am in the middle of reading, writing and organizing.  So yes - he definitely deserves a small token of gratitude from me.  And plus, I won't have to send this in the mail since he is right upstairs :).

The Year of the Thank You

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. 
~G.K. Chesterton

It is a new year folks!  That means it is time for a fresh start and new ideas.  My blog for the last year was absolutely wonderful and opened my eyes in so many different ways - teaching me how to truly let God's light shine through me and helping others, surprising people with random acts of kindness and opening up my head and my heart through writing. 

This new year is going to be the year of the "Thank You."  I am changing the focus of my blog; however, it will still occur on Mondays and will still remain titled "Starfish Mondays."
Each Monday, I am going to write an old-fashioned thank you note.  Not a quick email or a facebook wall post or a a text.  A real, thank you card that is put in the mail with a stamp and everything.

When I was a young girl thank you cards were important in my home.  My mom would have me sit at the ktichen counter and first write my thoughts on a notecard and put those thoughts into sentence form and then, very carefully, with a ruler so my lines would be straight, I would write my thank you note (in pencil first in case there were mistakes, then I would write over it in ink). As you can imageine,this was a very painstaking process.  But it was all worth it in the end, when I licked that envelope closed and stuck it in the mail box.

Now, I am not trying to "bring back the old days" when people actually sent things through the mail.  But how wonderful when you get the mail for the day and all you see is junk, bill, junk, junk, bill, AHHH A HANDWRITTEN CARD!!, junk junk junk?  And then you open the card and someone has actually taken the time to write thoughtful words to YOU. 

So, keeping the idea of the Starfish (see below for a refresher on the Starfish Story), each card I send each week will make a difference for that one person who receives it.  I am excited for this new year and the new focus on my blog.  As always, if you (my loyal readers) have any suggestions or comments, feel free to contact me!

The Starfish Story

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, "What are you doing?"
The youth replied, "Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them back, they'll die."

"Son," the man said, "Don't you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?
You can't make a difference!"

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said
"I made a difference for that one."

Today's Starfish

First of all, I know this is Tuesday but I have been sick with the flu and I couldn't wait til next week to start my new adventures!

My first Thank You Starfish of the new year is being sent to Diane at LensCrafters.  I got new glasses recently and she was a tremondous help to me when choosing my frames and lenses!