Ped(t)aling Joy

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Take a break and fuel your JOY!

Hallmark Cards are Overrated

Dad,

You made that ring for me when I was a baby. 

You taught the neighbor kid a lesson after he peed on me, while mom hosed me off. 

You came home with a beard after being on the road.  I didn't recognize you. You were void of that beard only two time after, that I can remember. 

I had an appreciation for Johnny Carson at a young age.  I'm still a night owl. 

You brought that cat home from the tavern. She always licked our ears. 

You would lay on the couch and I would bring you a glass of Kool-Aid, when we still added sugar.  

You bought that camper. I loved it.You hated camping.We went once. It turned into our clubhouse.

  

We would pack up the U-haul and move. We were expert movers.  

You would take us out in your hot rod truck and do cookies. It felt daring and scary and thrilling.  I want to live a better story.  

You would lay on the couch and I would make and serve you Ritz crackers and peanut butter.  

You insisted that Michelle and I drive tanks to be safe, but remember when you helped me buy that Honda after my divorce.  

You would blow dry your hair.  I didn't know guys did that. I thought it was cool.  

We would stay up on long drives to Nebraska when everyone else was sleeping.  We would guess what each other was thinking. 

You used to make that FUNNY FACE.  

You made a speech once in a high school gym and I was in awe. 

You gave waitresses a hard time when we would go to lunch after church.

You and I would go chop wood together.  I would drive the straight stick out to the wood chopping spot. That's when I learned to drive.

We have serious deep conversations.

You graduated from a couch to a recliner.  That's when I was old enough to make and serve you banana cream pie and rolls on Sundays. 

We started calling you Norman Claus after Dean forced us girls to sneak at our presents under the bed.  

I can't imagine calling a baby Norman. 

You helped on every remodeling project I ever undertook with my husbands.

I called you on the phone screaming because there was a snake in my kitchen. 

When I was a pre-teen, I'd rather hang out with you working construction than anything else. 

I realized you weren't perfect and the love and respect remained. 

I remember when those iron workers whistled at me before they knew I was YOUR daughter.

I remember the first time I made the dump truck, dump.  I thought I was hot shit.  

I know there's a solution to anything.  

Remember that time Brian forgot his belt buckle at the rest stop and you whipped the car around in the ditch to go back and get it? Boy, were you mad.  (Cadillacs used to be tanks.)

Remember when you bought that Matador car?  What were you thinking?

I've learned that silence speaks loudly.  

You always ordered the BIG Roast Beef sandwich at Hardies. To this day I love that sandwich.

You used to buy stuff from those television ads.This is how I knew you were still a kid at heart.  Can you believe Ronco is still around?  

You used to eat suckers all the time. I found a picture of Grandma with a sucker. It was the swirly LifeSaver kind.  That made me smile. 

In some pictures I'm the cute one and in others it's Michelle.  

I look really young in these pictures too.

I'm pretty sure you're the only one in our family with blue eyes.  Gavin is the only one in our family with blue eyes.

You like Johnny Cash and Johnny Horton.  Oh and Dolly Parton.

I know what's it like to want to sit quietly, in solitude. Yet, silliness and laughter are at home to this same space. The contrasts puzzle me at times.

I still tell that flashlight story and still don't know if it is actually true.

Did you like Sunday family conferences?

I love it when you laugh. It's not roaring. You get this cute grin on your face.

It's okay to cry.

Help Fuel The Ultimate Yellow Joy Machine

Join Us in Creating The Yellow Joy Machine which will be part of the The Joy Project 

Modern B*a*g Ladies Truth: The sooner you find an excuse to find joy, the sooner you can spread it.

Pick your joy color. Be prepared to find the joy in that color every day. Take a picture. Add an applicable caption about your joy. Post it here on the Yellow Joy Machine.

Survivors today have many outlets to break the silence and move forward with healing.  The intent of The Joy Project is to give survivors a chance to show the world what living a joyful life means; to express joy though art, poems, pictures and videos that actually define what joy is, where it is found, what it looks like, what it means, and how to live it.  It is a chance to shift the focus from trauma to joy.

Tracie, Vanessa, Megan and I will work on a submission video montage while at the conference.

The Joy Project is open to all attendees of The Army of Angels Conference.  Learn more about the conference.

www.flickr.com More in Yellow Joy Machine pool

Music

I shall not live without music.

It seeps into my pores.

(1)The beat, I See.
(2)The beat, I Hear.
(3)The beat, I Feel.
(4)The beat, I Taste.
(5)The beat, I Smell.
1 - 2 -3 - 4 - 5
Music is the 6th

Dance in my head. Dance in my seat. Dance on the floor. Dance on the table. DANCE.

I shall not live without music.

Singer, songwriters, who don't do it for the fame but may accept it just the same, consider this a nod from across from the room. Our eyes meet and you know what you mean to me. It pours in. I dance through life. I am rich. Sometimes I cry. I will never be the same.

Inspired by Chad Elliott. Please visit his website.

Lacey's Journey of Joy

Click on badge above to go to Lacey's website for all details.

As we move forward into spring, I will be working hard to promote my newest project, 30 Days of Joy, here at my charity blog site PhotoBlog for Change.

Please sign up to sponsor me by using the FirstGiving badge above, or the widget on the sidebar at the right.

I would also appreciate your help in spreading the word about this project and this site. Please use the html banners or text links below in your websites, blogs, or emails to tell others to sponsor 30 Days of Joy in April 2010!

With this photo blogging project, I will be collecting sponsorships for donation to the Angela Shelton Foundation, to help survivors of abuse and violence to heal and live full and joyful lives. In return for your donations, I will post one photo I have taken, representing joy or healing, each day in the month of April.

April is sexual assault awareness month, and this is a great way to show your support!

Thanks so much, for all your help!
~LaceyValaine

You Always Have A Choice

The dirty underwear is calling, "Wash me!"

I am catching a break between my daughter's volleyball games at a hometown tournament, so I ran home to write. That was my choice. I can't say I didn't feel a bit selfish leaving. I mean parents are suppose to sign up to help with the event, by taking admissions, helping in the concession stand. If I felt others judgement it was of my own doing. I had a choice and I made it.



I have a choice as I sit here writing; fold 4 loads of clean laundry or write. I made my choice. I do find pleasure and a sense of accomplishment in doing dishing, washing clothes and cleaning toilets. This morning I vacuumed the upstairs hallway and stairs. I couldn't stand it any longer. Admit it ladies, we get a rush when we hear those little particles of unwanted pieces getting sucked into the vacuum. INSTANT GRATIFICATION.

If you have time to follow your passions and keep a spotless house without killing yourself, I am envious. If keeping a spotless house is keeping you so busy, giving you an excuse to avoid your true self, well it is what it is. If you are killing yourself following your passions, you have some choices to make and some decluttering to do.

Most of the time I can accept loads of laundry and a sink full of dishes. I have a full life, but lately I am feeling as if I need to make some difficult choices. They are mine to make, taking into consideration my families well being. We love each other dearly. I know what I need to do and some days I feel I may not be strong enough. We've all been there from time to time.

When I have a choice between, love and fear. I choose love.
When I have a choice between me or you. I choose me, when I am low on fuel and have nothing to give to you. I choose being myself.
When I have a choice between writing or doing dishes. I choose dishes sometimes.
When I have a choice between my intuition (born beliefs) and borrowed beliefs. I choose to do my best to shred my fear, look past borrowed beliefs and go with my intuition.

Making choices means being OK with making some mistakes. Time to let go of some things and make more room for what is important, my passions, my family and helping others. I'm off, back to the high school to watch my daughter play volleyball. Life is a joy. This is what I love about volleyball.

The Best Job In Twitterville

The best jobs are the ones you don't have to apply for or ask permission to have. The Dancing Believe Act Go Lady has proclaimed her position as Twitter Jockey in the town of Twitterville.

Expanding on a concept from Angela Shelton, The Dancing B*a*g Lady will put a new perspective on songs that will make them more empowering and self relevant as we quest for more joyful lives.

Listen in at @believeactgo. Hope you catch her in cyperspace.

"This is Major B*a*g Lady to ground control. I'm leaving the capsule now. Do I dare? Yes I do. Leaping in the air. Floating on Faith"

I Haven't Stripped In a While

Ok I am checking my math, but um..... yes I think I am correct. I graduated high school 23 years ago this last May. Reconnecting with your high school classmates through Facebook can make one drift back a bit, especially when there are many you haven't seen since that day.

The labels we put upon ourselves and others seem frozen in time. You go about your new life. Some go to college, others marry. We may have pasted new labels over the old only to resurface again perhaps. You lose track.

I reminisce of times when the only label we knew was "friend"! Without the labels we hunted frogs, ate cheerios with chocolate chips, had our own spaghetti eating contests (without utensils), learned to dance in the basement, circled together and cheered before games, had sleep overs on the tramp and in the camper.

Sure we had our spats and immature actions, but "friend" screams louder.

As I age, I find it necessary to strip myself and others of labels and return to my frog hunting, spaghetti eating, dancing, cheering FRIEND. Its a label that covers in all the right places and flatters all figures.

My Best Advice on Giving Advice

Here's the best advice I can give about giving advice, "When you have the urge to give advice, stop and just listen."

Did you hear me? Ok , now I'm listening.

Dare to Dream a Dream So So BIG

I close my eyes and what do I see? Yellow, red, blue and green. Mostly old- not new. I go to this place to do what some would call work, but we will call it something different. Women "play" here and get paid to do so. We will play hard. We will sweat and toil. We will cry and we will laugh. Our pay comes in many forms, giving and getting. Looks more like a home than a place of "business".

Lunch time.......I can smell it now. Fresh bread, fruit and maybe a treat. We will eat together.

Back to creating things for sale for our happy customers whom we inspire and help. Actually we are our own happy customers. Creating is our own therapy. We together have created a place we want to go and do our deeds.

I believe to the deepest core of my heart this is a true story, as dreams are real as real can be. The beating so loud it drowns out my fear.

I thank Dear Daisy Cottage for bringing an eye to my heart.

Features and Benefits of Being a Modern B*a*g Lady

Le'ts familiarize yourself with some main features. Hop in, Let's take a test drive.

B is your Believe. You can categorize beliefs into 4 categories called your BB's; Born, Buried, Bought and Borrowed Beliefs. Our beliefs drive our dreams & thoughts. Dreams and thoughts drive our Actions. This part is about beginning with the end in mind, so it is important to be aware of your BB's.

A is your Act. When our actions are focused around spreading joy, shredding fear and having fun we find the keys to our Traveling Sanctuary. Turn the key. Spark the fuel.

G is your Go. When we believe, dream and take action we can realize our dreams. Our G's are our OH Yes Moments. That inner Yes that isn't that temporary yes from outside forces.

You need to seek out your Fuel. You need frequent, small fill ups. Your Fuel is your self care, not your selfish care. Sometimes your self care includes sharing your fuel as well.

Have B*a*g, fuel and keys, will travel. Traveling is getting out of your safe lane and seeking to help others and yourself. It's proclaiming your dreams to the universe.

As you travel you need to be the safe place for others to renew. You will be the Sanctuary for others. Your mirrors will reflect other's goodness back to them.

Finally, the Modern part is about today being your day. Women are no longer viewed as second class citizens. We have proven ourselves, but perhaps to a fault. Not all women want to bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan. The modern day is ready to allow women to be themselves. Let's claim it today.

B *a*g? Check
Keys? Check
Fuel? Check

Welcome aboard to your Believe Act Go Traveling Sanctuary. Your first B*a*g challenge is to go to your handbag and find some fuel. If all you can find is baggage well its time to go fill it up with one thing that will fuel you dreams and charge you to act. One of my favorite things to carry with me is my Ipod. A Dancing B*a*g Lady needs her music.

Thought to Ponder

Quality First - Quantity Second

Sincere Relationships - Village of Support

Spend Wisely - Give Freely - Financial Freedom (?) - Spend Wisely - Give Freely - Free Your Soul

I love my girlfriends known and unknown

It's been a whole week since my last post. I have been writing, just not on my blog.

I am going to make this one short and sweet because I have been neglecting my sleep a bit lately and my friend Karla reminds me to take care of myself. She is smart and wise, so I am listening to her words of wisdom tonight.

I LOVE MY GIRLFRIENDS KNOWN AND UNKNOWN. To the ones known.....you amaze me every day and it is such an honor to be in your presence. Thank you for accepting me, giving me honest feedback and sharing your wisdom. To the ones unknown......I imagine meeting some day. Smiling at each other. Maybe we will speak. Maybe not. No matter. I see you on the street, in your car, on my computer screen and in my imigination. Let's help each other in any way possible.

I always have an after thought about men and children when i speak of helping women. I know it comes full circle. Because helping each other be the best women we can be ultimately helps the men and children as well.

My daughter added a little something to a photo I took the other day. Enjoy!!! I'm smiling at you right now!

Special Cyber Ladies

When I go to the mail box each day I transform into a little girl. I guess its the optomist in me. I am 10 again expecting the birthday card or special something from grandma.

Today? Jackpot!!! Deni over at Denimnotes sent me two wonderful necklaces in exchange for vintage matchbooks I sent her way. I knew she could create something fabulous with them. My parents used to trade their skills with friends and neighbors when I was growing up. I always thought it was a good way to go. (Upcoming post on Rowdy Grandma. She got some matchbooks too.)

Double Jackpot. When I checked my techno mail box I had another surprise. Marie had started on the scarves for my daughter and I. I couldn't see buying a scarf when I could commission the talented Marie. I will also wear this with pride, knowing a special cyber friend crafted it.

Having a diverse group of friends has certainly broadened my horizons. Technology is grand when used for good. Cyberspace... the new friend frontier.

If I Played the Game of Life Like a Volleyball Game

I watched volleyball most of today. My daughter plays. I enjoy watching my children learn a skill and excel. Their ability to so naturally move they bodies with such physicality. In my mind, I am as strong and agile.

If I played the game of life like a volleyball game.....

1. I would be a Libero more often, when needed. This is a player who can move on and off the court liberally. No checking in with the officials. Their main job is to set the ball so the front line can spike in the opponents faces. They even get to wear a special colored shirt, which is the only glamorous thing about the job. They don't spike the ball they make the spike possible.
2. I would be more encouraging when I didn't get the score. Volleyball is the most supportive of games. They are consistently giving high fives. Even when they lose the point they cheer in support. Its not a rule in the book, its a given of volleyball. Teamwork, support, encouragement. Good lessons for my daughter AND ME!
3. I'd love playing even when it hurt. Whenever I've hit the ball with the inside of my arms it hasn't been a pleasure experience. It hurts. I guess when you are completely in the game and going for the score all the hurt goes away.

Love it~Play Hard~Win (even when the scoreboard doesn't say so)

Putting Yourself First: Selfish or Self-Care?

Kim Beebee, our Sister of Soul B*a*g Lady, shares some thoughts on self care as we approach the most loving of days, Valentines Day.

Kim, and her team, is in the process of launching Soulspring Empowerment Groups for Women ...inspiring women of all ages to let their passions rise to the surface. With a strong support network it is possible to tap into your power, realize your potential and achieve your dreams. I have a feeling we will be hearing from Kim again. Her self care enables her to share her fuel, which fills her tank even more.

Putting Yourself First: Selfish or Self-Care? by Kim Beebe

It’s February, the month of love. Of course our thoughts turn to our most precious of relationships: our spouse, our children, our parents. But often we forget the most important relationship of all; the relationship with ourselves.

Just as our relationships with others take great care to remain strong, so do we need to show our own selves that same kind of care and compassion. While you might expect me to suggest taking a long soak in the tub, which I must say is never a bad idea; the problem goes much deeper than that.

As women we are the nurturers, often putting the needs of others above our own. We tend to make family and work matters our highest priority, thinking that makes us a better mother, wife, sister, employee and friend. The problem is that the longer we go without addressing our own needs (filling our fuel as Kim Lampe would say), the more depleted we become. Our dreams fade, our goals wither and our passions slowly dry up. As you can imagine, this has a negative impact on us emotionally. Often overlooked however is the effect this behavior has on us physically, as research reveals more about the connection between belief, emotion and disease.

What we as women need to understand is that there is a difference between “self-ish” and “self-care”. We have this one life to live and a purpose to fulfill. By not pursuing our passions and dreams we are doing the world, those we love, and most of all ourselves, a great disservice. That is “selfish”.

By treating ourselves with respect, listening to the cues of our body, placing importance on our own dreams and carrying out our divine assignment for our life, we are empowering ourselves at the deepest of levels. That is “self-care”.

While you’re showering affection on those you love this month, don’t forget to give yourself a healthy dose of love. Allow time for silent contemplation daily, appreciate your uniqueness in the world, get in touch with what it is that stirs you, affirm yourself with positive self-talk, and care for your physical body. You’re definitely worth it and it is only then that you will have the “fuel” you need to be and give all you can for yourself and others.

Paint It As I See It B*a*g Lady

The stresses of the world could rob a person of their wholeness if they let it. Almost by surprise if we lay in a wake of numbness, unaware of our pain. Rather a better solution is to acknowledge and release. I believe that is where creativity resides.




Paint It As I See B*a*g Lady does release and purge it onto canvas with oil. Until now I have never been a friend to an oil painting artist. Admiring her paintings is like having a different kind of conversation with my friend. Hope you enjoy this quick chat.

Learn more about this talented B*a*g Lady and take in more of her work at her website.

http://www.focus-on-landscapes.com/

Fruity Tuity (Tooty) - Compliment?

Mom, "You are so Fruity Tuity any more." I am not really sure where my 13 year old daughter got the term fruity tuity and I am still contemplating its degree of compliment. She's not completely comfortable with how mom expresses her emotions freely. Its like if mom is so open that means I have to be open and I am not always comfortable with that.

Let's take FRUITY....... Tart but sweet...Nourishing.....Aromatic....Colorful

Here is the definition from Urban Dictionary and I will highlight the adjectives that suit me:


"Fruity" has a precise meaning, but is difficult to define. Loosely speaking, the word refers to something which is cheerfully and perkily saccharine, naïve, generic, corny, banal, innocuous, un-self-consciously dippy, sexually neutered (or, conversely, having perverse subtexts), or just plain dumb - and is amusing because of it. Dorkiness which doesn't even know that it's dorky, but celebrates its own dorkiness anyway: that which is flamboyantly and happily retarded. Closely synonymous with gay, in the not-necessarily-homosexual sense.

Now let's take Tuity or Tooty?

Here is the definition from Urban Dictionary. I am quite surprised with this definition.

something or someone that defines perfection. usually refers to a person.
Not only does he make me feel special in a way no one has, but he is just all around tooty.

Paige gave me a compliment and didn't even know it. How special is that. She just called me the perfect dork. LOL!!! She agrees with this summation and so do I.

The picture posted is Paige's Fruity Tooty picture entitled, "Peace Begins with Me". I love it. Look a curvy girl, a stick boyish figured girl and an athletic girl. They all agree, If it's to be it's up to me. Go be who you are even if its Fruity Tooty.

Popsicles Anyone?

The Lemonade Award has made its way to Minnesota's Modern B*a*g Ladies blog, Believe Act Go. Awarded by Marie from Permision to Unwind. I used the lemonade and made lemonade popsicles. Brrrrr! Check out Marie's spunky, fun view on life over at Permission to Unwind. Now I'm sharing my popsicles. Hurry up and put them in the freezer before they melt.

Here are the rules for receiving the Lemonade Award:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.

2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!

3. Link to your nominees within your post.

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

I am nominating the following 5 blogs:

Messages for Women

Have Fun * Do Good

Think Empoword

Thoughts of Joy

Sisters of Soul Blog

Ms. Misery Loves Company or not?

You know when you are in a bad mood and your well intentioned joyous friend comes bee bopping up to you and you just want to bite her bee bopping head off, just because she is in a good mood? What in the hell gives her the right to be all bubbly? Didn't she get the memo? If my life sucks I have the right to suck the life out of everything around me. MS. MISERY LOVES COMPANY, BUT ONLY IF THAT COMPANY WANTS TO SHARE IN HER MISERY.

We've all had our Ms. Misery and Ms. Bee Bop moments. Here are some tips for our double personalities.

MS. MISERY being confronted by MS. BEE BOP

1. If you are so far gone that you can't accept a little smile and a good morning just lock yourself in your room and send out an SOS.
2. Give Ms. Bee Bop fair warning that you are not accepting any happiness in a very matter of fact manner. Ms. Bee Bop just wants the facts
3. Let Ms. Bee Bop take her Happy Hammer and tap your misery shell so a little happiness can seep in.

MS. BEE BOP confronting MS. MISERY

1. Once Ms. Misery has stated the facts, test the waters with non confrontational waves.
2. Don't engage in happy conversation, just bring her her favorite soft drink. Ms. Misery really wants her happiness to come out, but it can't be forced. Wait for her to start talking.
3. If her conversation is all about her misery, smile and nod, provide support, only give advise if requested.
4. Do not feed the misery animal with misery snacks. It will cause a feeding frenzy.

Happiness can seem like the most unpopular thing, misery definitely loves misery company. I have also experienced women who disguise misery as happiness and become Ms. Rumor Mill. They are so miserable in their lives that they bee bop around talking about other's miseries or uninteresting life events, so they don't have to deal with their own misery. I challenge you to let rumors go in one ear and out the other, at the risk of entering the rumor mill isolation zone.
Smile, nod and let your happiness show in your actions. Much harder said than done for sure. A little less conversation a little more action can go a long way.