Celebrate Valentine's Day with Verve!

 

Steeped in history, full of positive emotion, and a chance to shake off the winter doldrums, celebrate Valentine's Day this year with gusto!

Decorate your space, make your Valentine's card/gift list, plan, and shop!

Where should I go to purchase Valentines and Gift?

As always, I recommend the local dollar store to help you stay on budget and still be generous. My go to is the Dollar Tree. They are nationwide and full of great ideas, wonderful values, and beautiful cards - Hallmark cards and Handmade cards are still so reasonable!

But you can supplement with some high-end items like live cut flowers from your favorite florist, homemade chocolates from the neighborhood candy store, lingerie from the town center boutique, and/or an amazing bauble from your hometown jeweler.

These are merely suggestions. Even if all you can do is construct a card from scraps found at home, it's a wonderful gesture!

Making the effort to tell your friends, family, and loved ones how you feel about them is good will that will come back to you tenfold, so start planning now!

There are only a few days until Valentine's Day. Yet, there is more than enough time to make this one the best yet!

Why not take my advice to heart and ENJOY Valentine’s Day this year?

I can help.

Isn’t Valentine’s Day just for overly romantic couples?

Remember that Valentine’s Day is for all kinds of love - familial, friend, newly smitten, long-term, or even loving and honoring yourself. It’s for anyone who loves love.

So, plan the kind of celebration that works for you.

What kind of celebration should I have?

A cute Valentine’s Day tea party with stuffed animals in attendance is adorable with littles in the house.

A cocktail party is fun for friends and family. Choose red and pink beverages (make sure to offer plenty of soft drinks, too).

Heart-shaped pizza party is delightful! Either make your own or purchase from a local pizzeria that could use your business.

Go on a heart scavenger hunt in your home! You’d be surprised how many things resemble hearts - like my potato chip! ❤️

Get some Valentine’s napkins, a box of conversation hearts, and a plan for February 14th in some way, you’ll be so glad you did!

 

 

 

Valentine's Day Is For Everyone

Valentine's Day is on Tuesday, February 14th. It’s nearly impossible not to notice as stores have been decorated and selling merchandise for this day since the day after Christmas.

Florists, confectioners, and jewelers are waiting to sell lovers a token of affection to give their significant others. And, of course, card stores and the United States Post Office are gearing up for the holiday as Valentine's Day remains America's second-most-popular card-sending holiday, behind Christmas.

Several people sighed while reading. This beautiful holiday has lost its meaning for many.

Contrary to pessimistic belief, it is NOT a Hallmark-made-up holiday. It is steeped in rich history and is a lovely day to tell those you love, you LOVE them.

Since the time of the ancient Romans, a mid-February celebration was observed. In addition, there was really a Christian bishop name Valentine who wed young Roman couples at a time when Emperor Claudius II had outlawed marriage. Claudius II found out and had Valentine jailed and sentenced to death.

Valentine was himself in love with a woman and, from his jail cell, penned a final love letter to her signed, “From your Valentine”. Although Valentine was put to death, his story has stood the test of time and with it a legacy of declaring one’s love unabashedly.

Valentine’s Day is NOT just a romantic holiday, but a day to tell ALL of those you love you do so. So, send a Valentine to a parent, a sibling, a dear friend, your crush, your spouse, your child's teacher who he/she loves, and anyone and everyone else.

There is far too much unkindness in this world. The news is full of BAD news. Let's turn the tide - let's spread LOVE!

Make a card, buy a card, pick up a bouquet of flowers, a heart-shaped box of chocolates, yes, a piece of jewelry, or simply tell everyone you know "Happy Valentine's Day"! It can be as simple or elaborate as you care to be or have the means to be. No stress, just LOVE.

My parents have been married 60 years on this Valentine's Day, the day they ELOPED.

Valentine's Day has been celebrated in my home since I was a child and my children know the joys of a wondrous Valentine's Season (Yes, SEASON) and a fun-filled, love-filled Valentine's Day.

Order your heart-shaped pizzas from your local pizzeria. Take the time to profess your love this February 14^th like Valentine did. Take every opportunity to celebrate Valentine’s Day with love and passion.

I implore you, spread the LOVE this Valentine's Day and you'll get it back tenfold.

 

 

 

 

Thirty Years

January 9, 1993

On January 9, 1993, at 20 years old, I said “I do,” to the man I had been in love for six years. He was 23. We were young, naïve, inexperienced, and a bit crazy, but we knew our hearts. We wanted to embark on our married life together.

Thirty years have passed in the blink of an eye. Thirty years that produced three wonderful children. There were endless diaper changes, countless tears, temper tantrums, health scares, life-altering decisions, and love.

Always love.

During these thirty years I’ve acquired wisdom. Although far from “perfect”, we are still happily married. We have faced proverbial Giants, Dragons, and Pandemics and we are still together.

We’ve had doubts, droughts, floods, disappointments, setbacks, and famine, yet we always loved one another.

Always.

Raising children has been richly rewarding and God’s greatest blessing on us. Yet, children are depleting to a romantic relationship. We had to learn to navigate Parenthood without sacrificing Couplehood.

Our three children
December 24, 2022

We chose love.

Always.

We don’t always agree and at times have grown apart. Then, because we love – and like – one another, we find our way back. We choose to stay in love – and together.

Always.

I offer some wisdom to share. Take what works for you.

We are Human.

We are fallible, but we choose love.

Always.

Thirty Years of Married Wisdom

1.       Put the Couple first, above children, above self. The Couple is sacred.

2.       Be an individual. To bring the best to the couple you must live your life. Experience, explore, create, interact. Every day you will have something new to share with your spouse.

3.       Find time for intimacy throughout the days, weeks, months, and years. Intimacy is not solely sex. It’s emotional, it’s physical. It’s trust, comfort, and relaxation with your spouse. Without intimacy, sex is not fulfilling to the Couple.

4.       Make time for sex. Intimate sex. Passionate sex. Quick sex. There should always be time for sex.

5.       Learn that it’s okay to not have sex when you are in pain, exhausted, sick, or not mentally into it. But when these excuses are constant, seek help professionally.

6.       Go to the doctor regularly to stay healthy. Dentist and eye doctors, too. Stay in peak physical condition.

7.       Exercise regularly. Take care of your body and heart and they will take care of you.

8.       Seek professional therapy – marriage and individual if necessary. Learn to communicate better, love yourself more, and strengthen your marriage. Win-Win.

9.       Speak about your spouse in glowing terms around everyone you speak. Never demean your spouse in public. Never air your “dirty laundry”.

10.   Let your spouse overhear you praise him/her. Often.

11.   Talk about problems with your spouse before they fester.

12.   Decide who oversees paying the bills. Both partners should be aware of the home budget and financial goals and live accordingly.

13.   Chores should be fairly distributed. Only you and your spouse can determine what is “fair”.

14.   Hold hands.

15.   Sit together.

16.   Have Date Nights. Or Date Days. Or Date Mornings. They needn’t cost money, it’s about spending time together and making one another the priority.

17.   Learn to compromise. In a Couple, one person isn’t always going to get their way. It’s not 50/50 that makes a couple survive, it’s 100/100.

18.   Learn to have a sense of humor about Life. Life is stressful and dark at times, but laughter can brighten dark times.

19.   Honor your Couple milestones. Wedding anniversaries should be observed with reverence and celebration. EVERY YEAR.

20.   Do things apart. If one of you enjoys something the other does not, spend time apart so the individuals in the Couple can enjoy their recreational time.

21.   Do things together. Find a few things to do together that bring you both joy and enhance the Couple.

22.   Be kind to your spouse’s parents/family. If you love your spouse, it makes sense to love – or like – his/her family. There are always extreme exceptions, but overall, it doesn’t hurt to be kind, friendly, and loving.

23.   Fighting is part of marriage. When you stop communicating, it’s over. But fighting should have a time when you each listen to one another and figure out what’s going on, and there should be a resolution.

24.   Sing together. There should be at least a few songs you both enjoy. Belt them out in the car, in the shower, or whenever it makes you happy.

25.   Be patient. We all learn Life’s lessons at different paces. Allow your spouse time to navigate Life.

26.   Compliment one another.

27.   Complement one another.

28.   Bring one another coffee, tea, water, seltzer… Small acts of kindness are vitally important.

29.   Reminisce about how your fell in love, your wedding, and other early romantic milestones often. These keep the Couple aware of their powerful connection. Continue to make new romantic milestones that keep the marriage enduring.

30.   Kiss, always.

 

There are so many other nuggets of wisdom, but these made my top list.

As our 30^th Anniversary is upon us, I am most thankful our marriage has endured.

I’m thankful for all the help we’ve gotten to get to this point. Help from our parents and families, from our children and our friends. We also have had tremendous help from two therapists, two 12-Step Programs, and a stubborn belief that we belong together.

We are better together.

We love each other.

Always.

December 24, 2022

The Historical Significance of NASCAR and Dale Earnhardt By: Candice Smith

After earth-shattering events, NASCAR has always been there in modern history to provide normalcy and a beacon of hope for America.

Leading the pack of NASCAR drivers who brought a feeling of hope, optimism, and victory to America was none other than Dale Earnhardt. On what would have been his 69^th birthday, I have gathered historical events that rocked America and how watching Earnhardt’s stellar career unfold made those stressful times in America a bit more bearable. In no way am I implying the tragedies and Earnhardt’s success were related or had anything to do with one another, simply Earnhardt’s victories and Cup championships continued to occur despite national tragedies.

In Dale Earnhardt’s storied career with 76 NASCAR Cup Series race victories and seven NASCAR Cups, he had been a part of the fabric of America from the late 1970s until his death in 2001. 

As he was racing for his first career Cup in 1980, the country dealt in May with the eruption of long-dormant Mount St. Helens in Washington state. Although certainly not related in any way, it is part of a pattern that Americans looked to their passion for NASCAR and its heroes to make it through.

As 1986 dawned, the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster rocked the American space program and the country when all eyes watched live as the explosion occurred. That same year Earnhardt had a remarkable season in NASCAR winning five races and tying up the Cup one week before the season’s end.

In May of 1987, the USS Stark was fired upon during the Iran-Iraq war. That year Dale Earnhardt showed brilliance by winning 11 races his third NASCAR Cup championship, and a back-to-back one at that!

The year 1990 saw the mobilization of American troops after Iraq invaded Kuwait. Earnhardt once again had a dominate season in NASCAR and won his fourth Cup after winning nine races.

By 1991 American soldiers were participating in Operation Desert Storm to liberate Kuwait. Airstrikes began against Iraq and military families were put under enormous strains. Earnhardt raced hard, acquired four victories and another back-to-back Cup that totaled five for The Intimidator.

The first bombing of the World Trade Center in New York City occurred in January 1993. By spring of that year people tuned in daily to learn evermore about the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas while a massive snowstorm labeled “The Storm of the Century” blanketed the eastern United States “from Canada to Mexico” for three days in late March. Meanwhile, Earnhardt won six races and captured his sixth championship in NASCAR’s top series.

In 1994 the country was mesmerized and horrified by the OJ Simpson arrest for the murder of his wife. In addition, America’s favorite pastime, Major League Baseball, struck a sour note with its fans that still reverberates to the present when they went on strike. NASCAR kept powering on, collecting more fans. Earnhardt, in yet another back-to-back Cup, earned his seventh championship, tying him with the sport’s King, Richard Petty.

The loss of Dale Earnhardt, on February 18, 2001, left the sport and the country reeling. A seemingly indestructible sports hero was fallen in what looked like a benign accident at first. The news of Earnhardt’s death sent a tremor felt within NASCAR, the country, and around the globe.

True to form, NASCAR went on with the next scheduled race a week later held at the North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham. The winner of that race was Dale Earnhardt Inc. driver Steve Parks.

In July of 2001 Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove his DEI-backed No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet Monte Carlo to victory at the track his father had perished five months before.

Then the unthinkable happened on September 11, 2001. And the world changed.

But NASCAR was there for America. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. drove his No. 8 to victory lane at Dover Downs International Speedway and then drove his victory laps waving an enormous American flag. The crowd wept with every emotion they had been feeling since the attacks had occurred, and since Earnhardt's death. It was a form of healing. It offered hope.

Another victory awaited Earnhardt Jr. in October 2001 at Talladega.

Fast forward to 2020. Now there is a global pandemic that has kept NASCAR’s engines silent for six weeks and counting. The iRacing with Earnhardt, Jr. and other NASCAR drivers and drivers from other series is filling a void, but unable to quench the thirst of America’s collective need of live NASCAR racing.

It has been nearly two decades since we lost Dale. For many it still feels like yesterday. And Dale Earnhardt, Jr. retired from NASCAR’s Cup series at the end of the 2017 season, yet there are still many heroes on the track.

As we remember Dale Earnhardt on his birthday, let us honor him and his greatness by bringing the engines roaring back to life! If history has taught us anything, it is that healing begins with the normalcy, excitement, and greatness that NASCAR provides.

Let’s do it for Dale.  

The Marriage Story By: Candice Smith

While recovering from a New Year’s illness last week, I had a block of time to watch something on Netflix. With no children around to curb what I’d watch, I chose a drama that seemed riveting to me. A Marriage Story was the name and it stars Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, Laura Dern, Ray Liotta, and Alan Alda among others. I felt I couldn’t go wrong. I knew the premise of the movie – a couple was in the process of a divorce – but felt certain there would be a happier ending as the title is A Marriage Story.

I was wrong.

Spoiler Alert, but you probably don’t need one like I did. The couple DO divorce. I was incensed.

Why?

Because I’m absolutely tired, fed up, and over movies where the couple disintegrates. Where love is lost – obliterated even – and dies. Where the couple most move on from one another to find happiness.

WHAT?!

Listen, I’m NOT a Pollyanna, but I’m a sucker for a Happy Ending.

In the decade or two (three?), I cannot think of many or ANY movies where a couple falls in love, struggles, and then STAYS TOGETHER better for the journey.

Ryan and Candice Smith
Wedding
January 9, 1993

Let me offer a personal backstory:  my husband and I are celebrating our 27^th wedding anniversary on January 9^th. It’s a big number for any couple, but especially since I am 47 and he 50. In fact, we’ve actually been together since I was 14 and he 17. So, Happy Endings mean a lot to him and me.

Realizing that many marriages end in divorce is a fact I’ve lived with my entire life. My husband and I have had great marriage models in our parents and grandparents – all married for over fifty years. But my brothers are both divorced, friends from all parts of our lives are divorced. It’s an epidemic.

Whereas I understand Art has a duty to show divorce for those going through it to understand they are not alone, where is that for couples who want to sustain?

Disney has even done away with “classic” fairy tale endings. Apparently having our daughters believe being a Princess is fine, but in no way should she ever love or have faith in a Prince.

Great, what message does that send our sons?

I am a mother of two sons and one daughter. I have a vested interest in raising both sexes to the light. To show them a world that allows them to be the best they can be, AND to learn to love unabashedly so when they choose a mate, they can defy the odds and collect years upon years of wedding anniversaries like their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.

But what if their future-spouses aren’t raised that way? Then what?

Perhaps an over-simplification, but I think today’s youth – Hell, today’s Society – NEEDS romantic movies, books, and media where the couple STICKS TOGETHER. Where the relationship is held in high esteem, is WORTH WORKING ON, and is a source of COMFORT, not a death knell to happiness.

Marriage is worth the time, the commitment, and the work. Yes, work. It is HARD WORK to make a marriage last. It’s NOT easy. But it can be so worthwhile.

Should every marriage last? No, not in my opinion. Surprised? Don’t be. I know some marriages are toxic, unhealthy to both. Sometimes addiction, abuse, and culture are insurmountable. I believe those people need to be let go of their vows and find health and happiness apart.

But, for most of us, if marriage is entered, it should be the priority for a lifetime. With children, it is a necessity.

My cousin married her love yesterday. She was a beautiful bride and he a handsome groom. They are educated, are gainfully employed, and seem to be blissfully in love. The bride’s parents have been happily married for over thirty years.

But I worry. Is she equipped with the tools to stick with the marriage when it doesn’t seem fun? When romance wains, financial crisis hits, or children invade the status quo, will they dig in and work hard, or secure lawyers to get out? Does he have a marriage model or are his folks apart?

I am an optimistic person who, frankly, loves love, but this movie A Marriage Story truly rattled me. I wish the beautiful couple well and pray they make it.

As for my husband and me, our lives are NOT perfect. Far from it. We fight, we argue, we face uncertainties, we are living a fast-paced life. We bring insecurities to the table daily, and we continue to evolve. The marriage has taken a beating in the nearly three decades since we said our vows. But it still has a strong heartbeat. There is love, passion, and compassion.

A few days ago I worried about what to gift my husband for our 27^th Anniversary. Money is tight. He likes experiences more than things in this stage in his life. I’m not so creative that way.

What I’m giving him is this, my staunch defense of Marriage. The knowledge that no matter how badly he screws up, I love him and will stand by him. And, conversely, that no matter how badly I screw up, I hope he will continue to love me as fervently as he has for these last 33 years.

I love my husband and cannot imagine a world without him. This is our Marriage Story. It stars Ryan and Candice Smith, not Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson. It ends with a marriage intact, not another couple divorced.

We may not be headliners, superstars, or in the majority, but we’ll stay married against the odds.

Happy Anniversary, Honey. I love you always and forever. I hope you liked the experience so far.

What's Happening Wednesday - April 17, 2013

Welcome to another What’s Happening Wednesday on Chief 187™Chatter.

I’m incredibly fortunate to work on several awesome iRadio programs that cover the racing world. Each week I’m using the Wednesday blog post to share with y’all what names are featured as guests and what I’ll be talking about on the different shows I appear.



Tonight LIVE on Drafting the Circuits I am proud to announce that racer Molly Helmuth from Washington State will be with us. She’s a dynamo in the world of racing who earned the NASCAR Rookie of the Year honors in 2012 for Super Late Models in Washington State. Recently Molly was a finalist in the Champion Spark Plug Search for a Champion contest. We’ll have a great time learning about this young driver and finding out where her future is taking her. Of course we will also be talking Formula 1 and IndyCar with Michele Rahal. NASCAR talk will commence with our regular panel as well. You never know what will be said on our LIVE show so tune in early and stick around for the entire program!



Starting Thursday Burning Rubber Radio airs with over 20 amazing interviews from The Rock where show host Andy Delay and returning host Charles Robinson covered the event. From Johnny Sauter to Darrell Wallace Jr. (having choice words for Ron Hornaday Jr.) and race winner and wunderkind Kyle Larson, there are tons of great at-event interviews. In addition, Southeast Super Trucks winner Kenneth Headen stops by as well as race winner Jessica Green fresh from her win down in Florida in a truck series. The show is jam-packed so don’t miss a moment!



After the Thursday broadcast of Burning Rubber Radio and Drafting the Circuits, tune in for Heels on Wheels. This show is staffed entirely by women save the producer, radio veteran, racecar driver, and all-around great guy Bob Steele. He and I do a segment together discussing the Cup race from last week – the NRA 500 from Texas Motor Speedway. Kyle Busch is talked about a lot. The entire show is fascinating with interviews with women all throughout racing.
Here are air/show times for these radio programs:

Drafting the Circuits airs LIVE tonight, Wednesday, April 17, 2013 on http://DraftingtheCircuits.WhooBazoo.com at 9pm ET. We have a live chat for listener interaction so be sure to check that out. The program is archived as a podcast on the site and is also available on iTunes as a subscription here https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/drafting-the-circuits/id616064984
In addition, we are re-broadcast on the Performance Motorsports Network http://PerformanceMotorsportsNetwork.com on Thursdays at 6pm ET, Fridays at 9am ET, and Saturdays at 4pm ET. PMN is a part of Scorpion Radio Group and is available on the Aha Radio Platform.

Burning Rubber Radio airs Thursdays at 5pm ET, Fridays at 12n ET, and Saturdays at 10am on PMN. It also airs on Sundays on Radio Active 107.9FM in Longview Washington (PST).

Heels on Wheels airs on PMN on Thursdays at 7pm ET, Fridays at 1pm ET, and Saturdays at 2pm ET.

All programs on PMN are available on iTunes Radio and on the Aha Radio Platform.

If you are a fan of racing, NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula 1, and other series please tune in to these shows I appear. Each one is unique, has special guests from the racing world, and is prime entertainment!

Remember, for racing articles look no further than http://DraftingtheCircuits.WhooBazoo.com as new works are published weekly!

What's Happening Wednesday

What’s Happening Wednesday is a new feature I am introducing on Chief 187™Chatter to keep people aware of who my guest on Drafting the Circuits is, what we’re talking about on Burning Rubber Radio, and what time all of these shows air – including my stint on Heels on Wheels.

This week Drafting the Circuits has special guest Andy Hillenburg, owner of Rockingham Speedway, who is coming around to talk about the big weekend has track is hosting. With NASCAR’s two of the three top series running at night in Texas Friday and Saturday, Hillenburg’s track gets the spotlight on Sunday for his North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at The Rock presented by Cheerwine for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. It was announced this week that NSCS driver Joey Logano will be in a truck at The Rock. All of the regular NCWTS drivers will be there, too, like 2-time consecutive winner this season Johnny Sauter.

Sauter is having a tremendous season so far and I was fortunate to get to talk to him on Burning Rubber Radio. He is a fun interview as he’s in such good spirits of late. In addition, the gang at BRR also spoke to Casey Roderick, a young driver who was plucked out of obscurity by Bill Elliott. The driver, a talented shoe, is currently seeking sponsorship and a consistent ride.

My regular gig at Heels on Wheels continues this week when producer Bob Steele and I dissect the NSCS race from Martinsville. We talk about Jimmie Johnson’s domination, Danica Patrick’s solid run, Mark Martin’s substitution for Denny Hamlin, and the hard luck of Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Here are air/show times for these radio programs:

Drafting the Circuits airs LIVE tonight, Wednesday, April 10, 2013 on http://DraftingtheCircuits.WhooBazoo.com at 9pm ET. We have a live chat for listener interaction so be sure to check that out. The program is archived as a podcast on the site and is also available on iTunes as a subscription here  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/drafting-the-circuits/id616064984
In addition, we are re-broadcast on the Performance Motorsports Network http://PerformanceMotorsportsNetwork.com on Thursdays at 6pm ET, Fridays at 9am ET, and Saturdays at 4pm ET. PMN is a part of Scorpion Radio Group and is available on the Aha Radio Platform.

Burning Rubber Radio airs Thursday at 5pm ET, Fridays at 12n ET, and Saturdays at 10am on PMN. It also airs on Sundays on Radio Active 107.9FM in Longview Washington (PST).

Heels on Wheels airs on PMN on Thursdays at 7pm ET, Fridays at 1pm ET, and Saturdays at 2pm ET.

All programs on PMN are available on iTunes Radio and on the Aha Radio Platform.

If you are a fan of racing, NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula 1, and other series please tune in to these shows I appear. Each one is unique, has special guests from the racing world, and is prime entertainment!

Remember, for racing articles look no further than http://DraftingtheCircuits.WhooBazoo.com as new works are published weekly!

I hope you can join me for one, two, or all three of these great racing radio programs this week.

Thankful Thursday

In the past week life has gone over 200 MPH and came to a crashing halt. There are times one feels powerless and times when one feels on top of the world; I have experienced both this week.

What it boils down to is an examination of my life. I looked inside and found what I am made of –again – and found that, for the first time in my life, I have a network of friends whose collective support gives me confidence and peace.



My Thankful Thursday on Chief 187™Chatter is chock full and for that I am ever grateful.

$3.20 – It’s not a lot of money and could maybe buy a cup of coffee and a donut, but I stumbled upon a store that this tidy sum (that includes the tax) brought me immense pleasure and no calories. The store is for juniors, a size-range I haven’t been in since I was in middle school to be sure, and had a basket of friendship-style bracelets at the check-out. I did a quick look through and found something the perfect color for my niece. A second look found something perfect for me. I purchased both! I’ve worn my bracelet several times and the sparkly presence – it has tiny rhinestones - makes me smile every time I glance down at it. I’m thankful to have found a reasonable bauble to add sparkle and shine to my days.

Birthday visit - My niece turns 12 this weekend so last weekend my brother drove her to my home and they stayed for a three day visit. We had the most wonderful time! My children get along famously with their cousin and I adore her, too. My brother and I had ample opportunity to talk, hang out, and catch up which is a luxury in this day and age when we live far apart. I am thankful they made the time and effort to visit and we are a close family.

Health - My husband had struggled with a health issue for a couple of weeks which culminated in a test earlier this week. The results could have been everything from cancer to a clean bill of health and myriad things in between. We have learned in our lives to not project, stay calm and positive, and take life as it comes. I am thankful beyond belief to report that he is perfectly healthy and not warranted to go back for this type of test for many years.

Online support – Because of my husband’s situation I was feeling a bit unsettled the morning he was leaving for the test. I immediately took to the computer and sought “prayers, thoughts, and positive energy” from all those who were inclined to do so. If one to three people had responded I would have been happy and content. Imagine my utter surprise, overwhelming knowledge, and incredible delight to find well over 100 people and counting weighing in with “Like”s on the FB status and dozens upon dozens of personal messages of prayers and encouragement, well wishes, and support. I am most thankful for online friendships that transcend face-to-face meetings. Their friendship and commitment is strong and powerful, just like their prayers.

Holding – I am entirely thankful for the opportunity to get to hold my husband. Our lives are hectic, busy, and tiring, but the knowledge and desire to hold him at the end of the day still exists – for both of us.

When life throws curve balls it helps to be flexible and faithful. I had to be both this week. I was rewarded with the best of news. There have been times in my life I have had the worst news come to fruition. Knowing I have an endless support system, an unshakable faith, and a family at home and on FB who care for me and mine gives me so much to be thankful.

This is my list. My hope is that somewhere along the line you make a thankful list in your life this week. Truly examining your life for the positive perspective is powerful. I want that for all of you, too.

Thankful Thursday

Welcome to the first Thankful Thursday on Chief 187™Chatter!

It has been far too long since I’ve written here and I can tell you honestly that I’ve missed it. Life is humming along beautifully, but I can tell not writing for Chatter has taken some of the wind out of my sails.

As 2013 dawned I had the idea to do a weekly Thankful Thursday post as I truly have so very much to be thankful for and want to share that with you all. Alas, time has gotten away from me and we are in Mid-March with nary a post to be found of this kind.

Formality has never been my thing so I won’t worry about the layout, the amount of things I’m thankful about each post, etc. Mostly I just want to share what is on my mind on any given week and ask you to do the same. Seriously! My most favorite thing about Chief 187™Chatter was the interaction with you, my readers, my friends.

So, without further ado, here is my Thankful Thursday post.

Leave-in conditioner – I know it’s not deep or spiritual, but it sure does make my hair look and feel better and that does a lot for the way I feel each day. Call me shallow (I’ve been called far worse) but my hair is something I think a lot about and when it feels and looks good, I feel good. So, I’m thankful for leave-in conditioner!

Burst of energy- Winter leaves me feeling lackluster, uninspired, and tired. I know I must suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) but I keep chugging along as best I can. Last week I had a burst of energy that allowed me to finally clean out my closet of things I can no longer wear, were desperately out of style, or – as in most cases – simply didn’t fit. Holding on to these things, having messy closets, and not doing anything about it left me more frustrated and feeling stagnated. I finally made piles – throw out and donate – and cleared everything out. This burst of energy was good for my heart, soul, and home. It also is providing for others who can take my items and breathe new life into them. I am very thankful for that.

Seltzer – I am new to this veteran beverage. I am one of those people who loves the taste of diet sodas and drink too many of them. So, recently I swapped out diet sodas for flavored zero calorie seltzer and I love the taste! I haven’t drunk the beverage by itself, only as a mixer with my orange juice or grape juice, but it’s very satisfying. I am thankful for the opportunity to drink less diet soda!

Kindness of Others – I have been very blessed in my life, most recently my professional life, to be the recipient of the kindness of others. Whether it was Larry McReynolds and Dr. Jerry Punch agreeing to do my radio show without knowing who I was or Beaux Barfield remembering me and putting us on his schedule mere days before his IndyCar series begins, I’ve been overwhelmed with the graciousness of people I come in contact. The feeling I have is a strong one that there really are so many good people in this world. I just try to put back out there what I have been given.

My family – I try not to be overly sappy or goofy, but I must be honest. I am so very thankful – even more than the leave-in conditioner – for my family. My husband, who is my best friend, my lover, and my champion, honors me every day. Our three children do their best to be good little people. They do try my patience, but when I read to them, they are in a social situation and behave themselves, or I make them laugh the best laughs ever (and myriad other times), I feel – I KNOW - I am the luckiest person.

My collection of things, people, and events I am thankful for run the gamut from silly to reverent. I would be most honored to read your list of what you are thankful for this week. And even if you don’t leave it here, I do encourage you to make a list of what you are thankful for as it truly does lift your spirits and bring life back into focus.

Until next time…

Peace.