on my way....ahhhh

I'M ON MY WAY TO THIS VERY PLACE....OH, SO NICE

Sometimes you just need a little R and R.  I'm going to get some!  I love nothing more (except my family) than to be in the warmth of the sun.  It revitalizes me.  I thank the Lord all the time for the opportunities and blessings that enable us to visit such amazing little islands.

I love being among different cultures.  The food, people and land...it all astounds me.  When we visited New Zealand I just could not get over how green it was and how friendly and relaxed the people were.  The food wasn't my favorite...pretty bland, BUT the fish and chips were divine!   Hawaii is terrific too!  I love Maui, but have a special place in my heart for Kona.  I would be SO thin and fit if I lived in Hawaii...all I would eat is papaya stuffed with cottage cheese and macadamia nuts, and it's flat...so I wouldn't mind jogging everyday ;]

However, next week I'll be in the Carribean with my most awesome husband and some of our friends and family.  This will be our 14th cruise, so I've lost track of all the islands I've seen...but, what I do know is that my hub's and I love Trunk Bay.  Yep, that's the picture above...and if you've been there, you know what I'm talking about!  Admittedly, it's not my most favorite beach (as far as how the sun hits the sand - how's that for spoiled???) but it has a feeling of fresh warm air, tranquility and the snorkling is fantastic!  It just holds a dear place in our hearts :]  So, needless to say...I'm Stoked!  Rest and Relaxation - HERE I COME!

Wishing you peace...even if there's snow instead of sunshine ;]
lisajp

ps - a cruise is a great time (and my ONLY time) to read a very good book!  I plan on reading Heaven Is Real, and finishing Literacy Beginnings.  Hmmm, I must be getting old?  I really need Dan Brown to come out with a new book to take me on another Robert Langdon adventure :]

being silly...it's a good thing

These 4 girls are an inspiration!  3 out of 4 of them have some sort of anxiety disorder.  My daughter is in the red and the rest of these cuties are her best friends.  My Sadie struggles with generalized anxiety and physical tremors.  The other 2 struggle with similar anxiety issues.  These 4 friends rally together to support whoever it is (that day) who is having 'issues'.  I've never seen girls, at this age, so genuinly care for one another.  There's no drama...only care and understanding.  Even the one who does not struggle with any anxiety is always there to hold a hand or walk her friend to the counseling center when needed.

These girls have become pretty famous in their High School Counseling Center.  The school psychologist has told me a few times how incredible it is, for kids at this age, to support one another so intensly.  These girls have single handedly created an area in the counseling center where all kids with anxiety, depression and social disorders can go to breathe calmly and relax.  As a parent, I am inspired by the efforts these girls have made in behalf of all their classmates who may struggle with one nervous issue or another.

These girls are on a pretty fast track, right now, to getting their anxiety under control.  One is meeting with a neurologist, another is working intensely with her family and my Sadie has seen a doctor and is now teaching herself to 'self talk' herself into feeling better.  They are all very happy girls and will not let these crazy disorders take them down or each other down!  Sometimes just BEING SILLY helps us to get through :]

"Drag your thoughts away from your troubles...by the ears, by the heals, or any other way you can manage it."     -Mark Twain

sometimes we just need to reflect...

When life SMACKS you in the face, it can be difficult to do anything but pitty your situation.  There seems to be nothing to move you forward and you can't seem to see the end of the tunnel?  Well, I've had an anxiety filled 2 weeks and I sort of slipped into this way of thinking (the "poor me!" thing).  I was wandering around, picking up random clutter in my home and I came upon a short story I wrote about a year ago.  It was tucked into the pages of one of my many notebooks.  It caused me to reflect.  Suddenly it didn't seem to matter that my oldest daughter has been in 2 car accidents in the last 2 weeks, and because of one of the accidents we now need to fix 2 of our neighbors brick/rock mailboxes!  The list goes on...but I'll spare you, because that's not exactly what this post is about ;]
Anyway...back to the story I found in my notebook.  Here is what it said...

"I remember the first crafty gift I made was for a gruff and wiry old man named Jack.  He worked in my grandpas tire shop.  I was 6 years old and my gift was made from the lid of a mason jar and some random, happy, colorful pictures I cut out of my grandmas Better Homes and Gardens Magazine.  I glued as many pictures as I could to the inside of that lid, walked out into the busy shop and gave my old, rough friend his 'made with love' creation. I will always remember his genuine laugh, putting me up on his knee and with his arm around my shoulder he gave me a gentle squeeze of thanks."

I love this story.  I forgot that I even wrote it down.  I feel like maybe we need to think of the way we did things when we were little and our minds were open.  It's always refreshing to get a few of those cob webs out of the corners of our brain :]

Happy Reflecting!
lisajp :]

some favorite music...

I was driving on the freeway this afternoon just contemplating how I could make things even better next week for my little preschoolers?  For some wacky reason, I began doubting my abilities and became kind of sad!  Then that just made me mad!  So a combobulation (word? idk?) of feelings came flooding in.  I thought...gosh, where did the peace go that I seemed to be enjoying just a minute ago???  Just at that moment, one of my favorite songs by my very favorite band started playing on my iphone.  I instantly became happy and all my doubts and crazy thoughts of failure were gone.  Here are the words to the song...

Secret Crowds - Angels and Airwaves:
If I had my own world...
I'd fill it with wealth and desire, A glorious past to admire
And voices of kids out walking dogs, birds, planes, trees, cleanest cars

If I had my own world, I'd love it for all that's inside it
There'd be no more wars, death or riots
There'd be no more police, packed parking lots, guns, bombs sounding off

If I had my own world, I'd build you an empire
From here to the far lands, to spread love like violence.

Let me feel you, carry you higher.  Watch your words spread hope like fire.
Secret Crowds rise up and gather.  Hear your voices, sing back louder!

If I had my own world, I'd show you the life that's in side it.
The way that it glows when you find it.
The way it survives with it's families, friends or it's enemies.

Let's make this a new world, I swear you can go if you want to
I know that you have that within you.
Inventing the first clean and usable, God's greatest miracle!

....Then it just goes on to repeat some of it's verses.  My Iphone was on shuffle.  I'm in no way saying this was a miracle, or sign from above, but it was just what I needed at just that very moment.  Anyone who knows me understands that I would almost go overboard to make a sad person happy, a hurt person feel better, someone who is troubled feel loved.  It all makes me sound like an amazing person...yah, no.  It's actually a pain in the back side most of the time :]  It just makes one worry more than one needs!  So just the idea of being able to create a perfect world, especially for children who don't live in one, or family members who you love so much, or even just the homeless guy you saw on the side of the road...it inspired me, now I'm happy!  The power of music...it's magic sometimes ;]

Wishing everyone a random, great, music moment...
Miss Lisa :]

p.s. - yes, I was rocking the air guitar, drums and lead vocals in my car....and why wouldn't I?  I'm SO multi-talented when I'm in my car :D

Recess Monkey!

Maybe everyone knows them...but I didn't until about an hour ago.  RECESS MONKEY!  I love them, my girls love them and they sing the most fantasticly funny childrens music :]  I am adding their music to my preschool playlists!  If you don't know them, listen...it's sure to bring a smile to your face!

Marshmellow Farm by Recess Monkey

Enjoy!

Nothing inspires a bit of fun better than a little laughter :]

it's not impossible for the pink flower!

You know the day's (...or week's) when we let ourselves think the worst?  Well it's been one of those 4 WEEKS for me!  I am not a fan of sob stories though, so I hope what inspired me to start smiling more will help you smile more too :]

This past week, while running errands with my girls, we found a little petunia growning in the middle of a parking lot.  It was hot, and you would think the heat alone would make it wilt...but NO!  This bright pink petunia was finding a way to grow, despite it's terrible surroundings.  It made me think of the challenging moments the last 4 weeks have brought me and my little family.  I immediately thought, "If that little flower can grow and show all its beauty in it's challenging life, then so can I!"

Yep, that's my cute & pink little inspiratioin right there!  I already 100% believed in taking joy in lifes little gifts, but now...I know, and that's a big fat difference!  Sometimes it takes all the stregnth we have to consider our challenges to be actual gifts.  But they are :]  I love my family, I love this little flower and I'm grateful we are living happily despite our hard times.
"Everything is theoretically impossible, until it is done."  - Robert A. Heinlein

a happy house!

With a beachy feel, and colorful design palette this house makes me as happy as I can be :]  This home was designed by 4 Chairs, 4-chairs.com (a local design firm) and was featured in the Parade of Homes in Lehi, Utah.  These photo's inspire me to be a little more simple in my every day living and delight in fresh, fun color!  Enjoy these fun pic's...I did!

I'm NOT an interior designer by any means!  It was my major in college for about 4 months...not my thing, i guess?  However, I find inspiration in all sorts of creativity.  When it comes to my own home, I could give it an overhaul every other month probably :]  There are so many great colors, ideas and product out there!  I also love photography, but I'm not really good at that either...so I stick to admiring!!  I was destined to play with children, plain and simple :]  But, there's a whole lot of inspiration going on in that profession too!  I LOVE inspiration...period.

"When I'm inspired, I get excited because I can't wait to see what I'll come up with next."  Dolly Pardon

Have a groovy week!
Miss Lisa :]

a happy surprise!

Is this the cutest and happiest little girl you've ever seen???  Well, today anyway?

So many times, when I am searching for some inspiration, I come upon something I didn't really set out to find.  This photo is a great example.  In reading up on healthy habits, I found this cute little photo and was instantly filled with happiness!  Not only does it exemplify a childs sense of freedom and joy, but, it also screems HAPPY SUMMER to me.  And I love summer!  My mind set instantly changed from healthy habits to "Oh My Gosh...I've got to go outside and play...RIGHT NOW!"  I guess that's a healthy habit...so mission accomplished :]

If I could preach anything, it would be to think like a child.  Eye's always open, heart always receiving and new adventures always on the horizon.  Children thrill me with their un-known sense of humor and wonder.  I love it when a child asks a question that has an obvious answer but is totally awe-struck when the answer is revealed!  I wish we all had that within us still.  That sense to investigate the obvious and be overwhelmed with the outcome.  I think, like this beautiful little girl, we should smile and be greatful for the little things.  It's not always easy, but maybe just going outside, picking a flower and looking into the big blue sky will help us to be much happier?!?

happy wishes....
Miss Lisa :]

a little dr. suess inspiration...just what the dr. ordered ;]

One of my favorite Suess quotes!  However...there are so many of his that I love I really can't choose a most favorite :]

I was so overwhelmed today...trying to get ready to go out of town, hair appointment, grocery store, laundry, cleaning and so on...I felt like my happy meter was at a low.  I wasn't angry or mad...just, well, blah.  So I sat down to check my emails and browse through google images and I bumped into this cute doodle picture of a quote I guess I really needed to hear?  I couldn't tell ya the name of the girl who drew this fantastic happy page up, but I can say...thank you mystery girl!  It reminds me of what my girls and I do when we sit down with a paper and some markers.  Besides the quote itself, that's what made my happy meter rise...the thought of my girls (for sooo many years now) simply enjoying the gifts that Crayola has given us :]

"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep, because reality is finally better than your dreams!"
"And will you succeed?  Yes indeed, yes indeed!  Ninety-eight and three quarters percent guarenteed!"
"From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere."

Well...anyway, the inspiration is never ending with Dr. Suess :]

Be happy today
Miss Lisa :]

a very cute room

Since I'm in the middle of finishing a new preschool room, I have been looking up pictures of cute and colorful rooms.  This one caught my attention not only because it was super cute and used great colors...but...because I LOVE the idea of hanging photo's, art and random doodling with clothes pins from twine hanging from the ceiling.  I had this idea a few years ago and wanted to see how someone else used the idea in their own room.  Well, here it is...a perfect example (according to me)!
I feel like I just want to sit down, with a cold diet coke and a doodle pad, and spend the day in that cute striped chair ;]   What a fun room, full of inspiration!
Enjoy it,
Miss Lisa :]