Hey All,
April was my first month of running my Mary Kay business for something greater, and I LOVED doing it!! I was able to raise money for House of Hope through sale profits as well as for St. Matthew Kid Care program. What fun to be able to support awesome causes while "working". . .if only all work could be so easy and so rewarding!!
Well, I'm super late on revealing the May cause, but super, super excited to tell you that May, June and July are going to an AMAZING cause!! I'm sure you are all aware of and perhaps some of you have participated in Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, here's the link so you can check it out: www.komen.org. On April 1, 2011, I received a call from a friend telling me that his mom had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Thankfully, it was detected early and she was given a good prognosis. As soon as I hung up the phone with him, I decided that my Mary Kay charity for May was going to be Susan G. Komen.
Shortly after I made the decision, I was on facebook and there was a link in my newsfeed related to the Susan G. Komen 3-day Race for the Cure. A high school classmate, Angie (Butz) Callahan, is doing the Chicago event in August and raising money in honor of her mom who was diagnosed with breast cancer last fall. Here's the link to her personal page: http://www.the3day.org/site/TRC/2011/ChicagoEvent2011?pg=peditor&fr_id=1611&px=5889334. Reading her story, I decided that I wanted my support for Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure to go directly to her fund-raising efforts and a month didn't seem like enough when I gave thought to the fact that Angie and others who are training for the 3-day walk will be putting MONTHS of time into getting ready for an enormous undertaking. Thus, it only seems right that their months of preparation be matched by my months of support. Therefore, FIFTY PERCENT of all my MK profits in May, June, July and August are going to Angie's fundraiser for Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. This includes any and all profits from parties, one-on-one consultations, catalog order, online orders (www.marykay.com/acweiss) and re-orders! In other words, you can buy MK skincare, make-up, spa products and 50% of your profits are going directly to Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure!!
Last week, I was asked to pray for a co-worker's sister who is in her 30's was diagnosed with breast cancer on May 11, 2011. She is married with a young child and starting chemo. I am in awe of her faith and the faith of her family as she begins to embark on a course of treatment that is sure to be anything but easy. I ask that you keep the three women mentioned in this blog, as well as all of the women who are diagnosed each year with breast cancer and courageously fight back, in your prayers!! Part of the continued race for a cure is to pray for a cure. . .let's not be remiss in underestimating the tremendous power of prayer!!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Life - It's a marathon, not a sprint!
It's been a while since I've posted anything, and it's not for lack of thoughts and ideas. No, it's for lack of time. I feel like the past month has been me running, running and more running, but not necessarily feeling like I'm making ground. There are days when I feel like I am non-stop from the moment my alarm provides it's regular 5:33 a.m. greeting (ACW quirk revealed: I always set my alarms on multiples of 11) to the moment I close my eyes at night, but I don't feel all the accomplished despite the rat-race of the day. On those days I feel like I got just enough done to feel worth the oxygen I consumed in breathing that day, but there's no sense of real accomplishment or fulfillment in the day. In a word, it's a feeling of restlessness.
People who know me. . .in particular, those who are "blessed" to work with me every day, know that I have been in a battle this past week with my not-so-dear friend, insomnia. In truth, I've decided that insomnia qualifies as a "frenemy" because as much as I HATE when I can't sleep, after a few nights of its presence, there is always some revelation that comes from it that makes me oddly grateful for the visit from insomnia. Chances are as good as not that this "revelation" is nothing more than a delusional and exhausted mind that is a byproduct of sleep deprivation, but in my quest to find God's message in all things (even things as ugly as a sleepless night), I like to tell myself that God sometimes asks me to "stay awake" so that He can reveal to me something that I'm missing in the waking hours. I assure you that God and I have had our share of middle of the night arguments, but notwithstanding my valiant efforts at persuasive argumentation, God always comes out the winner. You would think at some point I'd learn to not argue with God, but let's get serious, I'm a lawyer! Asking me to give up arguing with God is like asking me to give up Diet Coke. Neither are likely to happen, and if God didn't sort of enjoy the arguments, He wouldn't wake me up for three, four, five hours in the middle of the night. If I've told Him once, I've told him ever-so-kindly MANY times that if He wakes me up and keeps me awake, He best have something powerful to share with me. That's usually when the arguing starts because His response is generally not speedy and not audible. Earlier this week I literally found myself saying (and by saying, I mean whining), "God, could you PLEASE use your words so I can hear whatever it is you feel is important enough to wake me up for and go back to sleep?!?!?!"
This week was three miserable nights of tossing, turning, looking at the clock and watching it get closer and closer and closer to the morning light. Each of those nights was followed by a day of LOTS of caffeine and a hope that maybe, just maybe, I would be tired enough to knock out the next night. In fact, by Thursday night I invited an intervention from a long lost amigo, Jose Quervo. . .not a lot, but just enough to help the zzzzz's make their way back to my life. Jose did nothing to help me overcome insomnia and gave me a mild headache in the morning which quickly reminded me that there is a reason he is in the "long lost" categories of friends. After three long nights and three long days, sleep was restored, but my restlessness was not. I hadn't yet figured out what I was suppose to gain from laying awake waiting for the message that I was suppose to hear. I can handle less than desirable circumstances in my life, but I struggle when I can't get an answer to the "why?" I think God would tell you that I'm like a two-year-old when it comes to that word. I will ask that question over and over and over and over until I get an answer that either satisfies me or shuts me up. More often than not I am not satisfied with the initial answer, so there is a series of follow-up "whys" until one of two things happens: I get enough of an explanation that I can make sense of it or I get the fateful words that I hate most, the trump card that every parent gets with the birth of their first-born, "because I said so." Well, folks, not to break habit I have been asking "why" for a solid 48 hours, and today is when clarity was restored and the "revelation" that God was trying to impart on me is this. . .life is a marathon, not a sprint!
watch because you can't help but think about all that has gone into crossing the line with hands raised and "I did it!" pulsing though every part of the body!
The root word of endurance is "endure." One dictionary definition of "endure" is "to bear without resistance or with patience;" another definition is "to sustain without yielding." In reading these definitions, I was immediately struck by what seems to be a paradox in definitions. In one sense, it is to "bear without resistance" which suggests a surrender of sorts, right? However, the next definition is "to sustain without yielding" which to me suggests holding firm and not giving in. Is it just me or do these definitions contradict one another?!?!?! Well, in life it seems that both definitions are critical to getting the most out of every circumstance - the joy, the pain and everything in between! You see, there are times in all of our lives when circumstances are completely outside of our control. Admittedly, I am a control freak (in fact, I am the poster child for control freaks). I hate when I feel like I lack control in an area of my life. I hate when I feel like there isn't a dang thing I can do to change what is going on in my life. It's in those moments that my endurance is really a matter of having the strength to know my limitations and to surrender it to God's hand. On the other hand, there are times when I feel like I am challenged a different way because my circumstances require me to fight through something when it would be much easier to give up and call it a wrap. Those are the moments when my endurance forces me to keep going despite the obstacles that lure me to give up and give in. Then there are times in life when I realize that my life is a series of day-to-day sprints. I subconsciously and unknowingly find a place on the shelf for endurance and attempt to run through each day crossing as much as I can off the never-ending "to do" list, but without any thought to the bigger picture. Days go by quickly, but there is a distinct feeling of fragmentation and almost a staccato-like disconnect from day-to-day. It's those days that I often feel like I lose the essence of myself in a whirlwind pace of life. It's almost like life is reduced to a state of mere existence rather than a state of living.
That is EXACTLY what was going on last week when for reasons unknown to me I started doing life as a sprinter rather than a marathon runner. I was doing everything I needed to do. In fact, I felt relatively accomplished in terms of being productive, but no matter how productive I was in any given task, I didn't feel like I was covering ground. I had apparently misplaced my endurance and the days were measured by little more than hours, minutes and seconds. I went to bed tired each night, but it was a restless kind of tired as if I hadn't truly accomplished what was intended for me each day. I incessantly wondered why God felt the need to wake me up night after night after night, and the answer was quite simple. I had never slowed down enough during the day for Him to get my attention. I was operating completely oblivious to the bigger picture and doing little, if anything, to give my full self to each day. The one place and time God knew He could have my undivided attention was the middle of the night, and my attention He got. I needed that reminder that life is an endurance race. I needed the reminder that existence apart from purpose isn't enough for true fulfillment at the end of the day. Not always the quickest to catch on to His messages for me, it took me while to "get it," but now that I understand what He was doing and why, I am super excited about getting back on the marathon course. I am inspired to run with are purpose greater than immediate and instant gratification. The day-to-day sprints were little more than a momentary detour from the race, but I'm back on track and living this beautiful life the way that God intended for me to live it. . .as a marathon, not a sprint!
People who know me. . .in particular, those who are "blessed" to work with me every day, know that I have been in a battle this past week with my not-so-dear friend, insomnia. In truth, I've decided that insomnia qualifies as a "frenemy" because as much as I HATE when I can't sleep, after a few nights of its presence, there is always some revelation that comes from it that makes me oddly grateful for the visit from insomnia. Chances are as good as not that this "revelation" is nothing more than a delusional and exhausted mind that is a byproduct of sleep deprivation, but in my quest to find God's message in all things (even things as ugly as a sleepless night), I like to tell myself that God sometimes asks me to "stay awake" so that He can reveal to me something that I'm missing in the waking hours. I assure you that God and I have had our share of middle of the night arguments, but notwithstanding my valiant efforts at persuasive argumentation, God always comes out the winner. You would think at some point I'd learn to not argue with God, but let's get serious, I'm a lawyer! Asking me to give up arguing with God is like asking me to give up Diet Coke. Neither are likely to happen, and if God didn't sort of enjoy the arguments, He wouldn't wake me up for three, four, five hours in the middle of the night. If I've told Him once, I've told him ever-so-kindly MANY times that if He wakes me up and keeps me awake, He best have something powerful to share with me. That's usually when the arguing starts because His response is generally not speedy and not audible. Earlier this week I literally found myself saying (and by saying, I mean whining), "God, could you PLEASE use your words so I can hear whatever it is you feel is important enough to wake me up for and go back to sleep?!?!?!"
This week was three miserable nights of tossing, turning, looking at the clock and watching it get closer and closer and closer to the morning light. Each of those nights was followed by a day of LOTS of caffeine and a hope that maybe, just maybe, I would be tired enough to knock out the next night. In fact, by Thursday night I invited an intervention from a long lost amigo, Jose Quervo. . .not a lot, but just enough to help the zzzzz's make their way back to my life. Jose did nothing to help me overcome insomnia and gave me a mild headache in the morning which quickly reminded me that there is a reason he is in the "long lost" categories of friends. After three long nights and three long days, sleep was restored, but my restlessness was not. I hadn't yet figured out what I was suppose to gain from laying awake waiting for the message that I was suppose to hear. I can handle less than desirable circumstances in my life, but I struggle when I can't get an answer to the "why?" I think God would tell you that I'm like a two-year-old when it comes to that word. I will ask that question over and over and over and over until I get an answer that either satisfies me or shuts me up. More often than not I am not satisfied with the initial answer, so there is a series of follow-up "whys" until one of two things happens: I get enough of an explanation that I can make sense of it or I get the fateful words that I hate most, the trump card that every parent gets with the birth of their first-born, "because I said so." Well, folks, not to break habit I have been asking "why" for a solid 48 hours, and today is when clarity was restored and the "revelation" that God was trying to impart on me is this. . .life is a marathon, not a sprint!
watch because you can't help but think about all that has gone into crossing the line with hands raised and "I did it!" pulsing though every part of the body!
The root word of endurance is "endure." One dictionary definition of "endure" is "to bear without resistance or with patience;" another definition is "to sustain without yielding." In reading these definitions, I was immediately struck by what seems to be a paradox in definitions. In one sense, it is to "bear without resistance" which suggests a surrender of sorts, right? However, the next definition is "to sustain without yielding" which to me suggests holding firm and not giving in. Is it just me or do these definitions contradict one another?!?!?! Well, in life it seems that both definitions are critical to getting the most out of every circumstance - the joy, the pain and everything in between! You see, there are times in all of our lives when circumstances are completely outside of our control. Admittedly, I am a control freak (in fact, I am the poster child for control freaks). I hate when I feel like I lack control in an area of my life. I hate when I feel like there isn't a dang thing I can do to change what is going on in my life. It's in those moments that my endurance is really a matter of having the strength to know my limitations and to surrender it to God's hand. On the other hand, there are times when I feel like I am challenged a different way because my circumstances require me to fight through something when it would be much easier to give up and call it a wrap. Those are the moments when my endurance forces me to keep going despite the obstacles that lure me to give up and give in. Then there are times in life when I realize that my life is a series of day-to-day sprints. I subconsciously and unknowingly find a place on the shelf for endurance and attempt to run through each day crossing as much as I can off the never-ending "to do" list, but without any thought to the bigger picture. Days go by quickly, but there is a distinct feeling of fragmentation and almost a staccato-like disconnect from day-to-day. It's those days that I often feel like I lose the essence of myself in a whirlwind pace of life. It's almost like life is reduced to a state of mere existence rather than a state of living.
That is EXACTLY what was going on last week when for reasons unknown to me I started doing life as a sprinter rather than a marathon runner. I was doing everything I needed to do. In fact, I felt relatively accomplished in terms of being productive, but no matter how productive I was in any given task, I didn't feel like I was covering ground. I had apparently misplaced my endurance and the days were measured by little more than hours, minutes and seconds. I went to bed tired each night, but it was a restless kind of tired as if I hadn't truly accomplished what was intended for me each day. I incessantly wondered why God felt the need to wake me up night after night after night, and the answer was quite simple. I had never slowed down enough during the day for Him to get my attention. I was operating completely oblivious to the bigger picture and doing little, if anything, to give my full self to each day. The one place and time God knew He could have my undivided attention was the middle of the night, and my attention He got. I needed that reminder that life is an endurance race. I needed the reminder that existence apart from purpose isn't enough for true fulfillment at the end of the day. Not always the quickest to catch on to His messages for me, it took me while to "get it," but now that I understand what He was doing and why, I am super excited about getting back on the marathon course. I am inspired to run with are purpose greater than immediate and instant gratification. The day-to-day sprints were little more than a momentary detour from the race, but I'm back on track and living this beautiful life the way that God intended for me to live it. . .as a marathon, not a sprint!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Weathering the Storm - A Lesson from the Tulips
The woman that owned my house before I bought it planted tulip bulbs around my back patio. I always forget they are there, and one of my favorite reminders of Spring is when I see the green stems, leaves and not yet opened tulip buds emerge from the ground. I love to watch them as they begin to open and I am always AMAZED by the very simple yet very delicate beauty of each and every tulip that comes to life in my backyard. This morning, the tulips taught me a lesson (yes, I can be taught by a flower) that deserves to be shared. It requires me to go back and start a little bit earlier in the month of April.
I don't know the exact date, but I am going to guess it was sometime in the middle of the second week of April when I first noticed the tulips re-entering my world. I was excited to see them and thrilled to see something green in my life after what felt like a ridiculously long Wisconsin winter. No sooner than they had emerged, enter weather pattern number one - tornado. I am relatively certain that in the four years I have owned my home, I have heard the tornado sirens go off one other time (in August), but April 10, 2011, the sirens were in full force and we were in the midst of some nasty weather. It was raining, it was windy and the storm seemed to have one goal in mind.....destruction. The next morning I woke up and hesitated to look out the window, thinking the tulips were going to be a thing of the past. Not so much. They definitely looked as if they had been through a rough night, but they were still standing albeit a bit sluggishly! Sweet, they had made it!
Fast forward a week and on April 17, the fine and wonderful city known for its frozen tundra decided to stay true to its name and in a matter of hours I saw the following forms of precipitation: rain, sleet, hail and yes, the God-forbidden snow! It was dreadful. It made me think the same thing I think each and every January, "Seriously! Why do I continue to live here??!?!!?" If that weren't bad enough two days later, Mother Nature decided that Old Man Winter wasn't quite ready to call it a day and Green Bay was sacked with a 10" snowfall. I wish I were making this fact up, but it's true. So, to recap, in a matter of 48 hours my beloved tulips were rained on, pelted with hail, greased with sleet and covered in a blanket of snow! I was certain at this point that they had given up the fight and surrendered to the storms.
The snow melted, and much to my surprise the tulips were still there and they were still green. I noticed that they were laying much closer to the ground and looked virtually lifeless (as you would expect given the circumstances). Simply put, they looked wilted and defeated! Seeing them, I was disappointed that I probably wasn't going to get to see the tulips in full bloom this year, but understood that at some point something so delicate had to give against the pressure and strength of storm after storm after storm. I mean, really, can you blame them for checking out on life at that point?!!?
This morning I woke up to a bright sun and howling winds. I looked out my back window and there were the tulips standing straight up with life, with vitality and barely affected by the wind as the branches of the trees blew all around them. I stopped and wondered out loud, "Honestly, how are these dang flowers alive, much less standing tall as if completely unphased by the last month of their lives?!?!!?" And, then it hit me that despite the tornado, despite the rain/hail/sleet, despite the blanket of snow, despite the wind, despite all the storms of the life of these tulips, they stand today reaching for the sun!
It begs the question, how strong are we in the midst of storms? How many times are we willing to get knocked around by things outside of our control before we give up? What storms will we withstand in the midst of our lives and what keeps us going when we feel sluggish, wilted, defeated? You know as well as I do that there are seasons in our lives that feel as if the world is out to destroy us. We start with some fight and as one blow after another hits us we lose a little more of that fight and if you're anything like me, there are moments where it seems easier just to lay down and check out on life until the storm passes. If you haven't had that moment (or those moments), I want your life! If you, like me, have been there you know the feeling that I'm describing. Here's the lesson that legitimately blew my mind when it came to me: Through all of the storms, the tulips stand today reaching for, honoring and worshiping the sun! It's as if they knew that the sun, though maybe not readily visible to them, was always there carrying them through the storms. We, too, have a life-giving, life-sustaining, life-restoring, life-changing "sun," that will carry us through each and every storm that comes our way. We have THE Son! How spectacular that we can stand up when the storm passes, reach high, honor, and worship the Son who picks us up after we've weathered the storm!!
I have a whole new appreciation for my tulips today. I am still excited to watch them evolve from closed buds to beautiful flowers, but I see them in a different light. I continue to see them as a delicate flower with simple and understated beauty, but their tenacity and their will and their fight and their determination to weather all storms that came their way in the month of April 2011 and most of all their commitment to "the sun" through and in spite of the storms is truly what makes me appreciate the beauty of the tulips this Spring. Thank you to the tulips for demonstrating to me what it takes to live a beautiful life!
I don't know the exact date, but I am going to guess it was sometime in the middle of the second week of April when I first noticed the tulips re-entering my world. I was excited to see them and thrilled to see something green in my life after what felt like a ridiculously long Wisconsin winter. No sooner than they had emerged, enter weather pattern number one - tornado. I am relatively certain that in the four years I have owned my home, I have heard the tornado sirens go off one other time (in August), but April 10, 2011, the sirens were in full force and we were in the midst of some nasty weather. It was raining, it was windy and the storm seemed to have one goal in mind.....destruction. The next morning I woke up and hesitated to look out the window, thinking the tulips were going to be a thing of the past. Not so much. They definitely looked as if they had been through a rough night, but they were still standing albeit a bit sluggishly! Sweet, they had made it!
Fast forward a week and on April 17, the fine and wonderful city known for its frozen tundra decided to stay true to its name and in a matter of hours I saw the following forms of precipitation: rain, sleet, hail and yes, the God-forbidden snow! It was dreadful. It made me think the same thing I think each and every January, "Seriously! Why do I continue to live here??!?!!?" If that weren't bad enough two days later, Mother Nature decided that Old Man Winter wasn't quite ready to call it a day and Green Bay was sacked with a 10" snowfall. I wish I were making this fact up, but it's true. So, to recap, in a matter of 48 hours my beloved tulips were rained on, pelted with hail, greased with sleet and covered in a blanket of snow! I was certain at this point that they had given up the fight and surrendered to the storms.
The snow melted, and much to my surprise the tulips were still there and they were still green. I noticed that they were laying much closer to the ground and looked virtually lifeless (as you would expect given the circumstances). Simply put, they looked wilted and defeated! Seeing them, I was disappointed that I probably wasn't going to get to see the tulips in full bloom this year, but understood that at some point something so delicate had to give against the pressure and strength of storm after storm after storm. I mean, really, can you blame them for checking out on life at that point?!!?
This morning I woke up to a bright sun and howling winds. I looked out my back window and there were the tulips standing straight up with life, with vitality and barely affected by the wind as the branches of the trees blew all around them. I stopped and wondered out loud, "Honestly, how are these dang flowers alive, much less standing tall as if completely unphased by the last month of their lives?!?!!?" And, then it hit me that despite the tornado, despite the rain/hail/sleet, despite the blanket of snow, despite the wind, despite all the storms of the life of these tulips, they stand today reaching for the sun!
It begs the question, how strong are we in the midst of storms? How many times are we willing to get knocked around by things outside of our control before we give up? What storms will we withstand in the midst of our lives and what keeps us going when we feel sluggish, wilted, defeated? You know as well as I do that there are seasons in our lives that feel as if the world is out to destroy us. We start with some fight and as one blow after another hits us we lose a little more of that fight and if you're anything like me, there are moments where it seems easier just to lay down and check out on life until the storm passes. If you haven't had that moment (or those moments), I want your life! If you, like me, have been there you know the feeling that I'm describing. Here's the lesson that legitimately blew my mind when it came to me: Through all of the storms, the tulips stand today reaching for, honoring and worshiping the sun! It's as if they knew that the sun, though maybe not readily visible to them, was always there carrying them through the storms. We, too, have a life-giving, life-sustaining, life-restoring, life-changing "sun," that will carry us through each and every storm that comes our way. We have THE Son! How spectacular that we can stand up when the storm passes, reach high, honor, and worship the Son who picks us up after we've weathered the storm!!
I have a whole new appreciation for my tulips today. I am still excited to watch them evolve from closed buds to beautiful flowers, but I see them in a different light. I continue to see them as a delicate flower with simple and understated beauty, but their tenacity and their will and their fight and their determination to weather all storms that came their way in the month of April 2011 and most of all their commitment to "the sun" through and in spite of the storms is truly what makes me appreciate the beauty of the tulips this Spring. Thank you to the tulips for demonstrating to me what it takes to live a beautiful life!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Mr. Wendal: The Story of Everyday Miracles!
Every so often, I am struck by a "miracle" that comes into my life completely unexpectedly. I think, like others, I think of miracles as profound, monumental occasions when the unbelievable happens right before our eyes. We call it a miracle when sickness is healed, when something lost is found, when an abrupt change of circumstances occurs for the better with little to no logical or rational explanation. These miraculous moments change us. They inspire us. They makes us think differently, believe differently and at times they will completely alter our attitudes. The funny thing is, they are infrequent and no sooner than we claim ourselves as a "changed person," the rush of the miracle wears off and we often find ourselves back into our pre-miracle state of thinking and believing.
This past week, smack dab in the middle of my workday, I encountered a "miracle" that I can honestly say changed me. It wasn't the type of miracle we all think of when we hear of miracles happening, but the power of its impact on me is undeniable. It was not just an immediate impact, but it's been occupying my mind all week and I feel compelled to unwrap the beauty of the gift of what I call "everyday miracles." These are the miracle messages that come from the most unanticipated and unexpected of places. They are life lessons that we learn from those who we would never guess had something to teach us. These are the profound statements that come from the voice of God through one of His own.
I'm going to age myself, but some of you may remember the song "Mr. Wendal" by Arrested Development.....one of my favs back in high school! I had it on cassette, dubbed from the radio (that was the extent of "media piracy" back in my day) and have since purchased the cd. If you aren't familiar with the song (and I KNOW that those of you who are familiar with it are singing it in your head as you read this), the long and short of this song is the profound impact Mr. Wendal, a bum, has in imparting wisdom on a more "educated" subject. I loved the song at the time it came out in 1992, but I'm not sure how much thought I gave to its message.
Fast forward to 2011, office of "educated" lawyer and enter 17 year old woman with two daughters (2 years old and 4 months old.....sidenote: 2 of the most GORGEOUS children I have ever seen in my life) and everything in her life that I would call anything but miraculous. She grew up in a single-parent home with an absent father and surrounded by men that would come and go. She had her first child at 15. When she became pregnant with her second child, her tenuous relationship with her mother peaked and she was kicked out of the house. I'm going to go ahead and say that if I had been kicked out of my home at the age of 17 a slight freak-out would have ensued. Of all the thoughts in the world, I'm relatively certain that the last thing I would have thought was, "Hmm. I think I will go to the library and see what resources are available for me so that I can have a better life than the one I have." Sound crazy? Well, that's exactly what she did. She went to the library, researched programs, hopped on a bus from Milwaukee to Green Bay, pregnant and with a then one year old in tow and decided that her life was about to take a new and better direction.
I sat SPEECHLESS (and you all know how frequently the phenomena of "speechless" occurs in my life.....uh, never!) as I listened to this woman, a child herself, tell me how she had a decision to make not just about her own life but the life of her two children, one who wasn't even born at the time. Her decision was to give her beautiful girls an example different than the one that had been set for her in her childhood and adolescence. She knew NO ONE in Green Bay and had never been here, but felt that a program at a shelter for teenage women and their children would be a good jump-start to the new life she was about to make for herself. It all sounds good in theory, right?!?! Well, here's the part that blew my mind: This young woman moved here, gave birth to her second daughter, enrolled in and attends high school AND got her CNA certificate while she was attending school, being mom to a young child and an infant!!! She is going to graduate with her class in June and is in the process of enrolling in school for an LPN program and then wants to become an RN.
Maybe it's just me, but listening to her story made me want to hire her as my life coach. She was poised, she had a gentleness that I could only wish to have, she was confident and her interactions with her children were that of a model mother. If you can't tell, I was impressed to say the least! To put it in the simplest of terms, hearing her story and seeing her interact with two little girls who are SO LUCKY to have a mommy who loves them enough to look risk in the face and tackle it without looking back, I became infected by her story!
So, what does all of this have to do with miracles? To some, nothing. To me, everything! This one hour in a conference room was my "Mr. Wendal" moment. I went into the meeting with the thought that I would be "educating" this young woman about the law and I walked out of the meeting knowing that the "education" I provided paled in comparison to the "education" that was provided to me. I walked in with knowledge about the law and I walked out with wisdom about life.....WOW!! Like this "Miss Wendal," we are all faced with choices every single day. We all come to crossroads in our lives. If you're anything like me, I see the fork in the road approaching and I stop, often paralyzed by indecision, I stand motionless, turn around, look back and the freak out of "what to do" begins. What if the approach I took were something different, say a little more like the way my 17 year old "mentor" approached her fork in the road? What if when I saw the fork, I stopped and instead of latching on to paralysis, I looked ahead to where I wanted to be and calmly proceeded on the path that gave me the best chance of getting there notwithstanding the risks of the unknown? Well, I am about to find out because the impact of this sixty minutes of my life is forever impressed upon my mind as one of the greatest lessons learned. Though she may never read this, I am forever grateful to "Miss Wendal" for the everyday miracle she was to me on a day that was otherwise anything but miraculous (by common definition)!
This past week, smack dab in the middle of my workday, I encountered a "miracle" that I can honestly say changed me. It wasn't the type of miracle we all think of when we hear of miracles happening, but the power of its impact on me is undeniable. It was not just an immediate impact, but it's been occupying my mind all week and I feel compelled to unwrap the beauty of the gift of what I call "everyday miracles." These are the miracle messages that come from the most unanticipated and unexpected of places. They are life lessons that we learn from those who we would never guess had something to teach us. These are the profound statements that come from the voice of God through one of His own.
I'm going to age myself, but some of you may remember the song "Mr. Wendal" by Arrested Development.....one of my favs back in high school! I had it on cassette, dubbed from the radio (that was the extent of "media piracy" back in my day) and have since purchased the cd. If you aren't familiar with the song (and I KNOW that those of you who are familiar with it are singing it in your head as you read this), the long and short of this song is the profound impact Mr. Wendal, a bum, has in imparting wisdom on a more "educated" subject. I loved the song at the time it came out in 1992, but I'm not sure how much thought I gave to its message.
Fast forward to 2011, office of "educated" lawyer and enter 17 year old woman with two daughters (2 years old and 4 months old.....sidenote: 2 of the most GORGEOUS children I have ever seen in my life) and everything in her life that I would call anything but miraculous. She grew up in a single-parent home with an absent father and surrounded by men that would come and go. She had her first child at 15. When she became pregnant with her second child, her tenuous relationship with her mother peaked and she was kicked out of the house. I'm going to go ahead and say that if I had been kicked out of my home at the age of 17 a slight freak-out would have ensued. Of all the thoughts in the world, I'm relatively certain that the last thing I would have thought was, "Hmm. I think I will go to the library and see what resources are available for me so that I can have a better life than the one I have." Sound crazy? Well, that's exactly what she did. She went to the library, researched programs, hopped on a bus from Milwaukee to Green Bay, pregnant and with a then one year old in tow and decided that her life was about to take a new and better direction.
I sat SPEECHLESS (and you all know how frequently the phenomena of "speechless" occurs in my life.....uh, never!) as I listened to this woman, a child herself, tell me how she had a decision to make not just about her own life but the life of her two children, one who wasn't even born at the time. Her decision was to give her beautiful girls an example different than the one that had been set for her in her childhood and adolescence. She knew NO ONE in Green Bay and had never been here, but felt that a program at a shelter for teenage women and their children would be a good jump-start to the new life she was about to make for herself. It all sounds good in theory, right?!?! Well, here's the part that blew my mind: This young woman moved here, gave birth to her second daughter, enrolled in and attends high school AND got her CNA certificate while she was attending school, being mom to a young child and an infant!!! She is going to graduate with her class in June and is in the process of enrolling in school for an LPN program and then wants to become an RN.
Maybe it's just me, but listening to her story made me want to hire her as my life coach. She was poised, she had a gentleness that I could only wish to have, she was confident and her interactions with her children were that of a model mother. If you can't tell, I was impressed to say the least! To put it in the simplest of terms, hearing her story and seeing her interact with two little girls who are SO LUCKY to have a mommy who loves them enough to look risk in the face and tackle it without looking back, I became infected by her story!
So, what does all of this have to do with miracles? To some, nothing. To me, everything! This one hour in a conference room was my "Mr. Wendal" moment. I went into the meeting with the thought that I would be "educating" this young woman about the law and I walked out of the meeting knowing that the "education" I provided paled in comparison to the "education" that was provided to me. I walked in with knowledge about the law and I walked out with wisdom about life.....WOW!! Like this "Miss Wendal," we are all faced with choices every single day. We all come to crossroads in our lives. If you're anything like me, I see the fork in the road approaching and I stop, often paralyzed by indecision, I stand motionless, turn around, look back and the freak out of "what to do" begins. What if the approach I took were something different, say a little more like the way my 17 year old "mentor" approached her fork in the road? What if when I saw the fork, I stopped and instead of latching on to paralysis, I looked ahead to where I wanted to be and calmly proceeded on the path that gave me the best chance of getting there notwithstanding the risks of the unknown? Well, I am about to find out because the impact of this sixty minutes of my life is forever impressed upon my mind as one of the greatest lessons learned. Though she may never read this, I am forever grateful to "Miss Wendal" for the everyday miracle she was to me on a day that was otherwise anything but miraculous (by common definition)!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
April Showers Bring...
As a lifer in the Midwest (my most "southern" residence was Chicago), there is something about April that puts a little pep in my step. Recent Wisconsin weather has proven that March is a wonderful time for blizzards, and sometimes Spring comes on its own terms rather than when the calendar dictates! April is different for me. Regardless of what is happening outside, my mindset tells me that Spring is in the air. With that, comes hope for warmer temperatures, more sun, birds chirping and those wonderful April showers that bring May flowers and all kinds of new life!
Thinking about what my charity would be for the month of April, I decided that I wanted to select a charity that encapsulates the idea of HOPE and NEW LIFE that comes to me each April. Let me introduce you to House of Hope (http://www.houseofhopegb.org/index.html). For those of you who are not familiar with House of Hope, I am cutting and pasting material from its home page to give you an idea of its purpose and its mission.
For the month of April, 30% of all proceeds from my Mary Kay product sales will go to House of Hope. The "power product" I have selected is ALL lip products. This includes lipsticks, lip liners, lip glosses, Satin Lips, etc. 50% of all proceeds from lip product sales will go to House of Hope. Check out my website at www.marykay.com/acweiss and email me with any questions about products, etc. I will email you back, or if you would prefer that I call you, let me know a phone number and good time to reach you and I will call you. Keep in mind that I can ship products to home or business addresses, so don't let not living near me be a barrier.
If you don't have an interest in buying anything at this time, that's cool. Remember that I am a no pressure girl! :) I would encourage you to think about the quote of the week from the House of Hope website and check out the "volunteer opportunities" on the website (link above). If nothing else, consider the power of prayer and keep these women and their children in your prayers throughout the month of April. Let's be that small group of thoughtful, committed citizens and do our part to inspire change in lives around us!
Thinking about what my charity would be for the month of April, I decided that I wanted to select a charity that encapsulates the idea of HOPE and NEW LIFE that comes to me each April. Let me introduce you to House of Hope (http://www.houseofhopegb.org/index.html). For those of you who are not familiar with House of Hope, I am cutting and pasting material from its home page to give you an idea of its purpose and its mission.
Mission StatementHouse of Hope offers a safe, supportive place where young mothers
learn to become competent adults and independent, successful parents.
learn to become competent adults and independent, successful parents.
Program Description
House of Hope provides programming, services
and shelter to homeless pregnant or parenting
women, aged 18 to 24, and their children.
House of Hope provides programming, services
and shelter to homeless pregnant or parenting
women, aged 18 to 24, and their children.
Quote of the Week
I am guessing that most people reading this blog have not ever found themselves in a position of homelessness; however, I know many reading this blog are parents. Imagine for a moment if that time in your life when you world was turned upside down by the anticipation of your first child was wrought with the thought of where you were going to find a place to sleep with your new baby, how were you going to feed your new baby and what, if any, support were you going to have in raising up this young life. For some, those thoughts are a reality and the answer to those questions is found through service provided at House of Hope."Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead
change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead
For the month of April, 30% of all proceeds from my Mary Kay product sales will go to House of Hope. The "power product" I have selected is ALL lip products. This includes lipsticks, lip liners, lip glosses, Satin Lips, etc. 50% of all proceeds from lip product sales will go to House of Hope. Check out my website at www.marykay.com/acweiss and email me with any questions about products, etc. I will email you back, or if you would prefer that I call you, let me know a phone number and good time to reach you and I will call you. Keep in mind that I can ship products to home or business addresses, so don't let not living near me be a barrier.
If you don't have an interest in buying anything at this time, that's cool. Remember that I am a no pressure girl! :) I would encourage you to think about the quote of the week from the House of Hope website and check out the "volunteer opportunities" on the website (link above). If nothing else, consider the power of prayer and keep these women and their children in your prayers throughout the month of April. Let's be that small group of thoughtful, committed citizens and do our part to inspire change in lives around us!
When Unconventional Thought Meets Opportunity...
The year 2011 has been an interesting one for me. It has challenged me, it has inspired me and it has illuminated aspects of me that I'm not sure I knew existed within me. All in all, I am loving what 2011 has been thus far and I am even more excited about the direction that 2011 is headed!
Those of you who know me well know that at a very young age I was the resident defense attorney in my family. The issue could (& usually did) have NOTHING to do with me, and I was right in the mix letting my parents know how to best address the issue with whatever sibling was about to get punished. I am not entirely sure why I thought my parents needed my assistance with proper discipline, but I always felt like the "underdog," i.e. the sibling who was the subject of the sentencing, could benefit from my advocacy. Silly me!
As I "matured" (or at least I thought I was maturing at the time), I became "that girl" who was all about the oppression of everyone. If there was a cause, I had an opinion. I think I was so invested in causes and thinking that I had the answer that half the time I was fighting against myself.....and to this day I have mastered fighting with myself and winning every internal battle. I am certain that it all sounded good (or perhaps narrow-minded and stupid) when I went on and on about my various causes, who had oppressed whom and why things needed to change. The problem is it was rarely more than words.
An evolution within began in me my senior year of high school in my social justice class. Something inside of me signaled that my words weren't enough and I needed to put my words into action! The spark was ignited and I was all about what I could do to give back. Throughout my four years of college and three years of law school I engaged in everything from volunteering at domestic abuse shelters, tutoring at schools/juvenile detention facilities, going on service trips during my spring break, cleaning up neighborhoods and building homes, etc. I was motivated to make a difference and it was reflected in my activities.
Something changed when I entered the professional world. It's no mystery why I became a lawyer. I am relatively certain that justice is the primary ingredient woven into my DNA. However, when advocacy became my profession, I stopped having time to give back...or so I thought. I felt that my giving back was what I did for my clients on a daily basis. I saw their need, their vulnerability, their emotional turmoil and I told myself that what I was doing professionally was enough. Deep down I knew it wasn't enough, but I felt paralyzed when it came to doing more. I still had that spark inside me that called me to action, but thinking about it and actually doing it were entirely different animals. Any of you who know me know that I can think and over-think anything five ways to Sunday; but what good is a thought that's not put into action?!?!
I've been thinking about writing and posting this "note" for the better part of six weeks, but there is a voice inside of me that tells me that no one is going to want to read my wordiness and questions how much change I can truly inspire. Well, I guess we are about to find out! This could be an epic fail inasmuch as you all may read this and think to yourself, "Ann(ie) has really lost it this time!" You won't be the first to think it and you won't be the last to think it. Dang! I think it about myself all the time. :) My hope though is that after reading this you feel challenged to start thinking about ways that you too can dig deeper and give more of yourself to those in need.
It's a blessing and a curse (but mostly a blessing) to have an unconventional mind. I love being quirky and I love the fact that just when I think I have myself figured out to some degree of normalcy, I throw a curve ball into my life that I have difficulty explaining even to myself in a manner that makes sense to me. So, when the words, "Yes, I'm all in on this Mary Kay gig" came out of my mouth, the thought going through my mind was, "What in the h*@l am I doing and how am I going to explain this one to people?!?!?" I can't lie and suggest for a second that it was an ounce of benevolence, a spirit of giving or a call to social action that prompted me to buy a starter kit and sign on to be a Mary Kay consultant. A prototypical Mary Kay consultant I am not, and I must confess that my real motivation was two-fold: (1) I have used the products forever and the thought of getting them at discount price was extremely appealing to me and (2) I love skin care and make-up and girl time and it seemed like a good "hobby." One of the attorneys I work with flies planes as a "hobby," another one does triathlons as a "hobby." Why couldn't Mary Kay be my "hobby?" So, decision was made and I was off to the races with my new" hobby".....or not so much. I was excited about it , but something about it wasn't satisfying the itch that needed to be scratched. There was something missing.
It took me some time, but I figured it out. My underlying motivation was all too self serving. The desire to give back, to make a difference, to challenge and inspire wasn't being met by "peddling beauty products for sport." Enter unconventional mind and divine intervention from above and it all started to make sense to me! What if this "hobby" of mine could do great things and move in the lives of the less fortunate. What if my outlet from the sometimes stressful life of a family lawyer could impact the lives of the sick, the marginalized, the young, the old, the imprisoned, the voiceless and those in need of food, clothing, shelter and most of all LOVE! What if "peddling beauty products" was actually an opportunity to change a life! What if, what if, what if?!?!?
Well, this is my chance to find out because the possibilities that exist in the basin of unconventional thought a/k/a my mind are endless right now! I see all kinds of potential for amazing things to start happening and it starts with me making a commitment to action.
In its conception my idea was to select a charity each month and 10% of all of my profits would go to the selected charity. I would likewise select a "power product" each month and 15% of all profits.from the "power product" would go to the selected charity. Upon further review, that's not enough! I operate on a theory of "Go big or go home!" So I am going to make it count...30% of all profits go to the selected charity for the month and 50% of the profits from the "power product" go to charity.
You may be thinking to yourself that this all sounds great but the last thing you want to do is host or attend a Mary Kay party. Trust me, I get it! I fully understand that time is a commodity and that we are constantly stretched to make the most of our time. Thank God for the internet! You can check out all of the products, get all kinds of information, tips and place orders (that will be shipped to your preferred address) at www.marykay.com/acweiss.
If you want more information about the products, would like to set up a one-on-one consultation or want to host a party (the theme of which is "FUN without pressure"), message me on facebook or email me at acweiss33@gmail.com. As hostess of the party, you get to select the charity of your choice and 50% of all profits from your party go to your selected charity. This applies to "catalogue parties" (no actual party but orders placed from catalogue) -- an awesome fundraising opportunity!
Men, you are not left out of this! All orders placed by men (whether the fabulous skin care products for men or purchased as gifts for your leading lady) are in a class of their own. 30% of the profits from all orders placed by men go to your choice of the following charities: American Heart Association, Make a Wish Foundation, Rawhide Boys Ranch or Special Olympics.
I am always open to your suggestions for other ways of giving back whether it be through this Mary Kay endeavor or in other ways. I am also always open to ideas about charities. I've got April, May and June figured out already, but July is up for grabs. Let me know if you have something in mind!
If you are interested in knowing how this is going to work, go to my website and sign up. I will put you on my email list, and each month I will send an email out detailing my selected charity and reason for it's selection as well as a summary of the prior months contributions. Even if you have no intention of buying anything, sign up to be on my mailing list so that you can hear about the exciting milestones we reach by giving back! I have lofty goals and I am absolutely certain that I can reach the goals I have set. June is my birthday month, and I have some exciting ideas in mind for a giant push to shake up the world!!!
If none of this appeals to you, no big thing. My hope and prayer is that my unconventional way of giving back will inspire you to think of your own unique way of giving back. If there is anything I can do to support your effort, let me know because I would love to help where I can. "To whom much is given, much is expected." Luke 12:48. Let's make sure that we all do our part in whatever ways we can to live a life that reflects love for all people.
Those of you who know me well know that at a very young age I was the resident defense attorney in my family. The issue could (& usually did) have NOTHING to do with me, and I was right in the mix letting my parents know how to best address the issue with whatever sibling was about to get punished. I am not entirely sure why I thought my parents needed my assistance with proper discipline, but I always felt like the "underdog," i.e. the sibling who was the subject of the sentencing, could benefit from my advocacy. Silly me!
As I "matured" (or at least I thought I was maturing at the time), I became "that girl" who was all about the oppression of everyone. If there was a cause, I had an opinion. I think I was so invested in causes and thinking that I had the answer that half the time I was fighting against myself.....and to this day I have mastered fighting with myself and winning every internal battle. I am certain that it all sounded good (or perhaps narrow-minded and stupid) when I went on and on about my various causes, who had oppressed whom and why things needed to change. The problem is it was rarely more than words.
An evolution within began in me my senior year of high school in my social justice class. Something inside of me signaled that my words weren't enough and I needed to put my words into action! The spark was ignited and I was all about what I could do to give back. Throughout my four years of college and three years of law school I engaged in everything from volunteering at domestic abuse shelters, tutoring at schools/juvenile detention facilities, going on service trips during my spring break, cleaning up neighborhoods and building homes, etc. I was motivated to make a difference and it was reflected in my activities.
Something changed when I entered the professional world. It's no mystery why I became a lawyer. I am relatively certain that justice is the primary ingredient woven into my DNA. However, when advocacy became my profession, I stopped having time to give back...or so I thought. I felt that my giving back was what I did for my clients on a daily basis. I saw their need, their vulnerability, their emotional turmoil and I told myself that what I was doing professionally was enough. Deep down I knew it wasn't enough, but I felt paralyzed when it came to doing more. I still had that spark inside me that called me to action, but thinking about it and actually doing it were entirely different animals. Any of you who know me know that I can think and over-think anything five ways to Sunday; but what good is a thought that's not put into action?!?!
I've been thinking about writing and posting this "note" for the better part of six weeks, but there is a voice inside of me that tells me that no one is going to want to read my wordiness and questions how much change I can truly inspire. Well, I guess we are about to find out! This could be an epic fail inasmuch as you all may read this and think to yourself, "Ann(ie) has really lost it this time!" You won't be the first to think it and you won't be the last to think it. Dang! I think it about myself all the time. :) My hope though is that after reading this you feel challenged to start thinking about ways that you too can dig deeper and give more of yourself to those in need.
It's a blessing and a curse (but mostly a blessing) to have an unconventional mind. I love being quirky and I love the fact that just when I think I have myself figured out to some degree of normalcy, I throw a curve ball into my life that I have difficulty explaining even to myself in a manner that makes sense to me. So, when the words, "Yes, I'm all in on this Mary Kay gig" came out of my mouth, the thought going through my mind was, "What in the h*@l am I doing and how am I going to explain this one to people?!?!?" I can't lie and suggest for a second that it was an ounce of benevolence, a spirit of giving or a call to social action that prompted me to buy a starter kit and sign on to be a Mary Kay consultant. A prototypical Mary Kay consultant I am not, and I must confess that my real motivation was two-fold: (1) I have used the products forever and the thought of getting them at discount price was extremely appealing to me and (2) I love skin care and make-up and girl time and it seemed like a good "hobby." One of the attorneys I work with flies planes as a "hobby," another one does triathlons as a "hobby." Why couldn't Mary Kay be my "hobby?" So, decision was made and I was off to the races with my new" hobby".....or not so much. I was excited about it , but something about it wasn't satisfying the itch that needed to be scratched. There was something missing.
It took me some time, but I figured it out. My underlying motivation was all too self serving. The desire to give back, to make a difference, to challenge and inspire wasn't being met by "peddling beauty products for sport." Enter unconventional mind and divine intervention from above and it all started to make sense to me! What if this "hobby" of mine could do great things and move in the lives of the less fortunate. What if my outlet from the sometimes stressful life of a family lawyer could impact the lives of the sick, the marginalized, the young, the old, the imprisoned, the voiceless and those in need of food, clothing, shelter and most of all LOVE! What if "peddling beauty products" was actually an opportunity to change a life! What if, what if, what if?!?!?
Well, this is my chance to find out because the possibilities that exist in the basin of unconventional thought a/k/a my mind are endless right now! I see all kinds of potential for amazing things to start happening and it starts with me making a commitment to action.
In its conception my idea was to select a charity each month and 10% of all of my profits would go to the selected charity. I would likewise select a "power product" each month and 15% of all profits.from the "power product" would go to the selected charity. Upon further review, that's not enough! I operate on a theory of "Go big or go home!" So I am going to make it count...30% of all profits go to the selected charity for the month and 50% of the profits from the "power product" go to charity.
You may be thinking to yourself that this all sounds great but the last thing you want to do is host or attend a Mary Kay party. Trust me, I get it! I fully understand that time is a commodity and that we are constantly stretched to make the most of our time. Thank God for the internet! You can check out all of the products, get all kinds of information, tips and place orders (that will be shipped to your preferred address) at www.marykay.com/acweiss.
If you want more information about the products, would like to set up a one-on-one consultation or want to host a party (the theme of which is "FUN without pressure"), message me on facebook or email me at acweiss33@gmail.com. As hostess of the party, you get to select the charity of your choice and 50% of all profits from your party go to your selected charity. This applies to "catalogue parties" (no actual party but orders placed from catalogue) -- an awesome fundraising opportunity!
Men, you are not left out of this! All orders placed by men (whether the fabulous skin care products for men or purchased as gifts for your leading lady) are in a class of their own. 30% of the profits from all orders placed by men go to your choice of the following charities: American Heart Association, Make a Wish Foundation, Rawhide Boys Ranch or Special Olympics.
I am always open to your suggestions for other ways of giving back whether it be through this Mary Kay endeavor or in other ways. I am also always open to ideas about charities. I've got April, May and June figured out already, but July is up for grabs. Let me know if you have something in mind!
If you are interested in knowing how this is going to work, go to my website and sign up. I will put you on my email list, and each month I will send an email out detailing my selected charity and reason for it's selection as well as a summary of the prior months contributions. Even if you have no intention of buying anything, sign up to be on my mailing list so that you can hear about the exciting milestones we reach by giving back! I have lofty goals and I am absolutely certain that I can reach the goals I have set. June is my birthday month, and I have some exciting ideas in mind for a giant push to shake up the world!!!
If none of this appeals to you, no big thing. My hope and prayer is that my unconventional way of giving back will inspire you to think of your own unique way of giving back. If there is anything I can do to support your effort, let me know because I would love to help where I can. "To whom much is given, much is expected." Luke 12:48. Let's make sure that we all do our part in whatever ways we can to live a life that reflects love for all people.
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