Growing Examples

Are you a do as I say person or a do as I do person? Maybe you're a do as I say, not as I do person. I wonder often why this is okay; why do we talk a different walk than we talk? Why isn't it important for us, as adults, as parents, friends, leaders to be a positive example by doing positive things. Positive actions need no words. Why would we tell our children to not do something that we're clearly doing?

We are raising the future and we have one chance to do so, it should be critical l for your daily input to be what you want from the next generation's output. Not a saint, just real. Too often do we use "cause I'm an adult" as an excuse to do what we tell our children not to do. Granted there are somethings that are legal for adults to do but not for children, that's a different chapter!

I'm worried about the success of our future as a nation, not because of our legal system, our school system or our economy. I'm worried about what we choose daily to teach our children or simply what we do not. It pains me to see parents telling their children to not do exactly what they are doing. How do we gain our children's trust and respect if don't earn it by being the best example they could have?

I'm grateful of this little person, this little sponge the good Lord gave me and though I may often fail or fall short, I pray I lead by example, I pray he'll gain respect for life, for women. I pray he'll do things or simply not do them because of what he was surrounded by, to be given one chance to create this little person into a successful, honest, good choice making big person, is a HUGE undertaking but I'm ready. I hope you will take the challenge too! “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” St. Francis Assisi

Ride For The Brand

When you hear "Ride for the brand," you may think of corporate America, standing behind your company, however the saying comes from the old west where the cowboy would ride for the brand, following the cattle till the end because it was his job, his livelihood.

Coming from Wyoming, the last Old West, I've been so fortunate to learn Cowboy Ethics from true cowboys, true men who stand behind their work, honor their work, their family and would certainly give the shirt off their back for their neighbor. Too often now, especially in the big city we don't even know who our neighbor is - why is that. It's truly unfortunate.

Not only are Cowboy Ethics important to me and my family but they have become law in the great state of Wyoming. In March of 2010, Gov. Dave Freudenthal signed legislation adopting an official Wyoming state code.

The symbolic measure spells out 10 ethics derived from a "Code of the West" outlined in a book by author and retired Wall Street investor James Owen.

The ethics code carries no criminal penalties and is not meant to replace any civil codes.

The state code admonishes residents and lawmakers to live courageously, take pride in their work, finish what they start, do what's necessary, be tough but fair, keep promises, ride for the brand, talk less and say more, remember that some things aren't for sale, and know where to draw the line.

If only this code could continue onto our children, but then again, why can't it. Beyond teaching your son to be a gentleman (a near lost art in and of itself), beyond teaching our daughters to be strong and expect greatness, why not teach our youth that a handshake means something, your word, means something. Hard work shows you care about your legacy so why not teach our legacy to strive for the best, do the best, be the best because in the end your word, your character, that handshake is ALL you have.

I pray at the end of the day I've been a great friend, a great family member and a great neighbor. I hope to pass on to my son why your word and your character are the most important tools you have in your saddle bag and that he'll ride for the brand long after I'm gone.

Hi FIVE

Just 24 miles north of Seattle in the cute, neighborly little town of Edmonds lives a new bistro that has quickly become a force to be reckoned with. FIVE Restaurant Bistro opened just a few months ago has quickly become the favorite to the locals, and those just driving off the boat. A very hip, eclectic joint, Five has raised the bar on European comfort food. From their wood fire, rectangular pizza's to their scallops with the lime, bechamel sauce is ridiculously tasty with a perfect touch of spice. The Chicken Saltimbucco, Farm Pizza, kid's macaroni and cheese, lattes and mojitos...need I say more? The staff are very attentive without being overbearing and Ted, the owner; it's just obvious why FIVE is so great when you see him interacting with the guests.

As a self proclaimed "foody" there are very few places I've felt compelled enough to actually write about. Don't get me wrong, we're surrounded by great places to eat, moreso closer to Seattle but few have impressed me like this place. I recommend you add this to your list of must do's in Edmonds.Oh and a plus, plus - the patio is now open!

Such A Headache!

(PFO Occluder placed in my heart to close the hole.)
Bright lights, movement, sounds, all causing excruciating pain. For years I'd dealt with migraines, migraines with visual disturbances (auras) that would put me down for hours. A healthy, athletic young lady, I'd just pushed through these horrible headaches.

One day in early July, 2005, I'd again suffered a migraine, while eating dinner with my young son (2.5). He'd dropped his plate; when I tried to speak I remember sounding like a slow motion record. I stood up and fell to the ground, I had no feeling on my left side. I tried again; nothing. I recall my left arm seemingly moving on it's own, almost in slow motion. I motioned to my son to get the phone; he helped me dial 911.

Was I all of the sudden allergic to shrimp? What was happening? As best as I could, I told Jordan that the ambulance was coming and he needed to help mommy.

When the medics arrived, I recall being scared, not knowing what was happening, scared for Jordan, what would happen with him? The next thing I remember was seeing my son riding on a paramedic's shoulders in the ER of the hospital. The next thing I recall was waking up the next day in a hospital room, not the same hospital I started at, and my mother [from Wyoming] was in my room. It was the 4th of July.

The shock came when the doctor came into my room and explained that I'd had a stroke. A STROKE? I was 30 years old, how is that possible? He went on to explain that I'd had a hole in my heart, because I was on birth control, that caused a clot that went to the right side of my brain.

PFO or Patent Foramen Ovale and the connection to migraines had just started being recognized and studied by medical professionals. I was lucky, I'd just returned from Wyoming the week prior and I lived in a cardiology and neurology power state, I was in great hands.

It has been determined that migraine sufferers with a visual aura are twice as likely to have a PFO. Now you can have a PFO and never have a stroke, however if you are suffering migraines, you're now able to have the hole closed prior to having anything more catastrophic than a bad headache!

In November of that year, just before my 31st birthday, I had heart surgery to close the hole and have been migraine and symptom free!

I suffered residual damage from my stroke, loss of feeling to my left hand, only 30% feeling to my entire left side (it feels like pens and needles all the time), short term memory issues, and mild aphasia, which is where I lose words in my normal vocabulary while speaking.

Overall I'm super lucky, I've been around stroke survivors who have had life altering outcomes so I'm reminded how lucky I am.

I've become an Ambassador for the American Heart Association where I get to speak to groups about Stroke education and the importance of quick action.

My stroke allowed me to be more aware of the blessings in my life, the friends and family that I may have taken advantage of previously. The small things, smells, sounds, memories.

Be heart healthy, know the signs of stroke and act fast! Teach your children how to dial 911 it may save YOUR life!

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body

Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

I'm nutty about Nutella!

As many others, I'm a fan of chocolate and peanut butter - BUT, I'm a bigger, huger, nuttier fan of Nutella! If you've not yet allowed yourself the delicious tongue vacation of the perfect mix of hazelnuts and chocolate, please toast some bread, or just dip your spoon in a jar of Nutella http://www.nutellausa.com/ and savor its greatness.

Sadly, I'd missed the National Nutella Day (yes it's so great that it has it's own national holiday) on February 5th, 2010 but I assure you I'll make it up by trying some of these great recipes http://www.nutelladay.com/nutella-recipes/.

As I continue my love affair with this smooth, rich, delectable concoction, I urge that you experience some yourself. I'm certain it will become a staple in your home soon! Try it on a banana, pancake, crepe or as I said...just a spoon. I wish you all the chocolaty happiness you deserve.

If you're allergic to nuts - I am so very sorry, but I'll find you something equally amazing soon. Stay tuned!

"You never really know a man until you understand things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it" - Harper Lee

"You never really know a man until you understand things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it" - Harper Lee (To Kill A Mockingbird).

We are ever so quick to judge the man next to us - smelly, overweight, not groomed. We watch a mother with her unruly children and judge, a mixed race couple and judge, we even judge the well to do. Our judgments may be positive or negative but usually in the mindset that "it would never be me."

Have you taken a moment to try to dip into their life - how did they get to where they are, that you're now judging?

I feel fortunate in a way to be from a small, small town in Wyoming where everyone was a neighbor, where a hand shake meant more than a contract. It wasn't until I got out of the "bubble" and realized there was a HUGE world out there that didn't function this way - quite the contrary. There is good in everyone, I truly believe this - I believe somewhere in everyone's sole there's a piece of them that is compassionate and caring, loving and generous - I don't believe you could live without this in your heart - it may NEVER be tapped into, but it's there.

You don't have to be religious to want to love your proverbial brother, you should want to because they deserve to be loved, just as you do. They too are someone's family. I agree at times when you're wronged it's ridiculously difficult to turn the other cheek, to seek out the deeper root; we're human, but try as you may to step back and forgive.

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.