{Moments Like This}

WE made this FUNNY video about the Valentine Aardvark -

2012-01-30T10:11:00.000-08:00

Hi ... I'm Betty Jo and this is my brother Billy Jack!

http://youtu.be/ZBXZZNHQ72w

Billy Jack and Betty Jo get a visit from the Valentine Aardvark!
(FUNNY)

Created by: Wendy, Kaleb, Kade and Lauren Christensen.
ps: The bloopers at the end are hilarious! :)

LIKE the Valentine Aardvark on Facebook.

3 Relationship Tips ...

2012-01-21T17:36:00.000-08:00

TIP 1: Respect Matters.

Background: Randomly at night as I am driving kids to and fro, I’ll catch bits and pieces of the John Tesh Radio Show. I can honestly say that his tag line ‘Intelligence for your life’ is true. I always learn something. I just now visited his website and was surprised to see that he is blond. For some reason I picture him with dark hair. OK back to the tip.

One night he was talking about relationships and the number one thing that
makes them last. It’s not money, looks or even attraction. The number one factor (drum roll please) is RESPECT.

I’ve thought about that little nugget of info and totally agree.

TIP 2: Color can set the ‘love’ mood -

Background: I love the Better Homes and Gardens website. I get so much inspiration from their decorating tips and ideas. One day, as I was surfing their smattering of décor ideas and photos – I bumped into a little segment on romantic bedrooms. Oh la la la – I bumped into tip number 2.

Blue in a bedroom makes it more romantic. Blue it is. Can you guess what color made an appearance in my room? Yup, blue.

Tip 3: The storm stops at the door.

Background: One day, I picked my daughter up from a friend’s house and was
moved by the wood sign outside the front door. It said: The storm stops at the
door.

Our homes are special places that should be filled with peace, love and positive energy. Relationships need a safe place to flourish and grow!

The ‘storms of life’ can be left outside – this allows the good stuff to bloom
inside and opens a platform for better communication! When there is positive
energy in the home, there can be positive feelings and relationships!

What tips have you bumped into lately?!

Goodbye Dark Clouds - Hello Mt. Rainier!

2012-01-05T09:33:00.000-08:00

(Leaving the clouds behind ...)

(From the plane - looking down at Mt. Rainier)

November and December have been quite gray this year. We had an air stagnation problem and the dark, gloomy fog and clouds hovered for weeks! Then my husband and I took a trip to LA for the Biggest Loser Finale and it dawned on me how ‘dark’ the days had been.

When did it hit me? While I was in a little airplane flying above the clouds and as we lifted higher and higher, we eventually broke through the cloud barrier and into the blinding, beautiful sunshine! My spirits lifted with the brightness of the sun! And to my surprise, I looked down (via the tiny window) and found myself staring at Mt. Rainier. It was a great moment!

And it helped me appreciate the opposition we face in life. Some days can be stagnant (with dark clouds) and some days are ultra sunny with beautiful moments and views. I’ve decided that the important thing is our reaction to each and every day. Our focus and our desire to see the good in the dark and light – is what matters and makes all the difference. Looking down at Mt. Rainier reminded me that as we climb higher – we leave the ‘dark’ behind! :)

Today: The sun is shining! I’m off to appreciate it and make the MOST of it!

2012 ... LIVE it.

2012-01-03T13:42:00.000-08:00

It's a new year. That usually means new goals ... I heard something I really liked on New Year's Day about having a winning attitude and decided that would be my goal!

I am going to approach each new day of this year with a winning attitude! You can too.

Cheers to winning.
PS: Believe. Act. Do ...!! :)

{Merry Christmas}

2011-12-18T14:20:00.000-08:00

Wishing YOU and YOURS a very Merry Christmas ... :)!!!

ps: Christmas is for love.

{the gift of TIME}

2011-12-02T15:47:00.000-08:00

To get all there is out of living, we must employ our time wisely, never being in too much of a hurry to stop and sip life, but never losing our sense of the enormous value of a minute. ~ Robert Updegraff

This holiday season, I am thankful for time ... time to celebrate, time to heal, time to love, time to grow, time to laugh and for time to live and enjoy the beauty of each NEW day!

Inspiration from John on NBC’s “Biggest Loser” -

2011-12-01T14:06:00.000-08:00

I was watching my brother-in-law, John, on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” this week and couldn’t help but reflect on his journey to lose weight. He has done amazing on the show and even set a new record for the amount of weight lost during the first 6 weeks. As a family, we have enjoyed watching the participants as they have dared to be vulnerable in front of millions and work through some really tough issues to lose the pounds. It’s been very inspiring! And I respect their commitment and determination.

It’s the first day of December and that means Christmas is only 25 days away … The Extreme Makeover episode on the “Biggest Loser” caused me to slow down for a moment and reflect on the importance of our choices and actions. It was so great to see John step out of that limo onto the red carpet and SEE all his hard work. He looked fantastic! In fact, all the participants looked
fabulous. They gave themselves and their families a wonderful gift – the gift of health! :)

As we kick off this holiday season, let’s remember the ‘gifts’ we give ourselves and acknowledge the power we each have inside - to change our lives!

Just as John has created a new life and image for himself – we can too… with our determination and hard work - one little moment at a time!

[Click here for more info on John and The Biggest Loser]

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T09:41:00.001-08:00

I'm in charge of the pies this year ... I made pumpkin pies, lemon meringue, and apple. Also, yesterday I was able to spend the afternoon with my sweet mom and we made up a pumpkin roll.

As I was cooking, I couldn't help but think - "How blessed we are to have a holiday just for giving thanks!" Today, is truly one of my favorite days of the entire year.

It feels good to slow down and make all this beautiful food in celebration of our freedom and for the blessings that so abundantly decorate our lives.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dinner: 2 pm / pie: around 3 pm - bowling around 5.
Up next: Basketball in the backyard.

LIFE IS GOOD.

Thankful Thursdays (you can play too) ...!!

2011-11-03T16:22:00.000-07:00

Image source: papertastebuds.com / Love that site!

Since it's the month of Thanksgiving, I thought it would be fun to use each Thursday (this month) to share some gratitude! Want to share in the fun?! Oh, good!

Thankful Thursday rules -Choose 2 people in your life and let them know how much you appreciate them. Ideas ... give them a note, tell them in person, call them on the phone (or whatever you decide to do) - and let them know how thankful YOU are to have them in your life.

Have fun and invite others to be part of the 'Thankful Thursday' adventure.

Dates to play -11/3, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24

PS: Slow down and say THANK YOU!! ... :)

June Carter and Johnny Cash ...

2011-10-28T21:43:00.000-07:00

June Carter and Johnny Cash ...

June Carter ...

My husband and I chaperoned a youth Halloween dance and dressed up as June Carter and Johnny Cash. :)

Random thoughts (inspired by pumpkin pie) ...

2011-10-19T15:45:00.000-07:00

The latest issue of Better Homes and Gardens arrived in my mailbox yesterday. I had a few moments and started glancing through it – I couldn’t help but stop and immediately WANT a piece of pumpkin pie when I landed on the McCormick pie Ad and recipe. The Ad is so enticing that I decided that THIS is the pie I am going to make for Thanksgiving this year.

As I read through the recipe (conveniently included on the page), I couldn’t help but smile as I read this: For more great-tasting recipes, visit mccormick.com or call 1-800-MEAL-TIPS.

And this imaginary conversation ran through my mind:

{Thanksgiving Eve}

MEAL-TIPS Phone Worker: “Hello, thank you for calling MEAL-TIPS, how can I help you?”
Caller: “Can you help me figure out what to do for dinner tomorrow night?!”
MEAL-TIPS Phone Worker: “YOU called the right place. WE are here for you. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and that means you’ll need some pie, a turkey and some green beans. What time zone are you in? OH, you’re fine – your local store is still open tonight and you can get everything you need. Remember to leave your turkey out so it will thaw for the BIG day tomorrow“!
Caller: “Thanks a million – this will be the best holiday ever! I’m hanging up RIGHT NOW and going to get a turkey, a pie and some green beans.”

Funny stuff … I think I might give 1-800-MEAL-TIPS a call and see what they suggest I make tonight for a party of 5.

PS: Amazing how powerful a pumpkin pie AD can be ... :)

{one of my favorite quotes}

2011-09-27T21:01:00.000-07:00

I love this quote! What are you enthusiastic about right now?!

YOU are in the driver's seat ...

2011-09-20T09:34:00.000-07:00

I'm currently reading "Become a Better You" by Joel Osteen. As I started reading the chapter on Keep Pressing Forward I especially liked this little segment:

"The car you drive has a large windshield, but only a relatively small rearview mirror. The implication is obvious: What happened in your past is not nearly as important as what is in your future. Where you are going is much more important than where you've been. If you stay focused on the past, you're liable to miss numerous excellent opportunities ahead."

As I read that, a mental picture came to my mind of a steering wheel and how WE are the ones in the driver's seat and we control our focus, our destination and the choices we make day to day.

PS: Our moments matter - make them count. Press forward and enjoy the amazing adventure ahead!

Delight in the beauty ...

2011-09-16T09:52:00.000-07:00

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” – Maya Angelou

This little moment matters ... slow down and delight in the beauty of YOU and all the challenges and changes that have helped create the wonderful person you are today.

Amazing really.

And the tree was happy ...

2011-09-12T10:40:00.000-07:00

(We recently had an old tree removed from our backyard ... The stump reminded me of one of my all-time favorite children's books.)

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

And after a long time the boy came back again.

–”I am sorry, Boy”, said the tree, “but I have nothing left to give you – My apples are gone”.
–”My teeth are too weak for apples”, said the boy.
–”My branches are gone”, said the tree. “You cannot swing on them”.
–”I am too old to swing on branches”, said the boy.
–”My trunk is gone”, said the tree. “You cannot climb”.
–”I am too tired to climb”, said the boy.
–”I am sorry” sighed the tree. “I wish that I could give you something… but I have nothing left. I am just an old stump. I am sorry…”
–”I don’t need very much now”, said the boy. “Just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired”.
–”Well”, said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, “well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down… sit down and rest”.
And the boy did.
And the tree was happy…

The end.

Such a great little reminder that no matter what, we can choose to give and be happy! :)

Our new (old) house adventure!

2011-09-07T11:14:00.000-07:00

About two years ago, my husband and I bought an old fixer upper house. It was built in 1944 and needed a ton of work. The price was right and we felt equal to the task! With every step of this adventure, I am reminded (again and again) of the magic that happens each time we embark on fixing up a room, a chair, a window, a wall or the yard. It feels so good to look around and say, "We did this!"

...This new, old house of ours feels more and more like home everyday!
Join the adventure: Built in 1944

Life is like vanilla ice-cream ...

2011-09-04T18:56:00.000-07:00

“The gem cannot be polished without friction nor man without trials.” — Confucius
And ice cream cannot be created without ice and churning. :)

This week - slow down and appreciate the challenges around you - they are teaching you and molding you into the best version of YOU. It may not seem like it at the time but when you look back - you'll appreciate the new flavor and the gem you are becoming...

Monkeys in the window ...

2011-09-02T11:45:00.000-07:00

Photo moment: Bellevue, WA / Store: The Paper Source
I was totally drawn in by the Monkeys in the window! :)

PS - There is just something really charming and alluring about brown paper bag monkeys.

Gentle Thoughts ...

2011-08-31T13:30:00.000-07:00

(Gentle Doodle by me ...)

What type of thoughts do you have running around in your mind? Are your thoughts negative, positive, angry, confused, unorganized or sad? Are your thoughts gentle?
I read something today that made sense and I thought it would be a good ‘thinking tip’ to pass along.

It comes from Richard Carlson, Ph.D. -

Gentle thoughts are those that reinforce the beauty of life and the privilege of being here. They range from thoughts of love and peace to those of forgiveness and generosity. They often include a hint of gratitude.
His definition of gentle thoughts made me smile (from ear to ear.)

Try it – fill your mind with gentle thoughts and enjoy the beauty and privilege of this gorgeous day!

A little reminder from Cinderella ...

2011-08-30T16:37:00.000-07:00

Just one shoe can change your life! ~ Cinderella

One of the most romantic songs ever ...

2011-08-26T12:43:00.000-07:00

Kenny Rogers was performing at our big county fair last night – I love seeing performers at the fair. You throw down a blanket or set up a lawn chair and enjoy the show under the stars with the Farris Wheel and the sound of roller coaster screams in the distance. You’re also surrounded by people eating elephant ears and bright yellow ears of corn dripping in butter (hot off the BBQ) – there’s just nothing quite like it.

Aside from all that I have to say that Kenny Rogers is a class act. His band dresses up and so does he (despite the 100 degree temps). His songs brought back a lot of memories from the 80s and I couldn't’t help but smile as he began one of my all time favorite country songs – “Lady”.

{click here} for Lady via YouTube I think you’ll agree that’s it’s one of the most beautiful, romantic songs of all time.

Little note – This year marks 50 years of being in the entertainment business for Kenny Rogers. Amazing … !!

Did we get a big elephant ear after the show? YES! And we enjoyed every sticky, cinnamon and sugar bite! :)

My thoughts on modern technology and texting … Sent via my heart.

2011-08-24T08:08:00.000-07:00

I sat up thinking the other night (I do that often – think before I sleep). Anyhow, you might be wondering what my pre-sleep thoughts entailed …

First, the thought began with modern technology and how it can sometimes rob us of beautiful moments in life. Let me explain my thought/idea. While growing up, there were no cell phones. Therefore, there were no text messages. In fact, there were no instant messages on any hand held device – well, unless it was a pad of paper and you wrote a note and passed it along to a friend. THAT was instant messaging in my day. And if you dared share an ‘instant message’ in class (at school), you hoped that it was never intercepted and read out loud by the Teacher. I still have some of the ‘instant notes’ from school days – written in ink by friends (some of who) have passed away and they are priceless. The ink has started to fade but the memory of the moment lives on! It was Speech Class and my friend, Keni, was letting me know that he was going to thrash me with his wit and knowledge in the Flag Burning debate. I think I wrote something back on the lined notebook paper that said: “Bring it on!”

OK back to the point – I agree that cell phones help keep us connected and are a quick and easy way to communicate with each other. However, I see a trend with the future generation that entails no eye contact or personal face to face communication skills. Think about it, it’s easier to ask a girl out via text than it is to her face. It’s also easier to break up with a little note that reads – U & me = no more.
You get the point.

I admit it, I’m old school – I love hand written notes, love letters on paper and face to face conversations. It seems to me that modern technology has robbed us of the need for those beautiful moments in life. When was the last time you wrote a letter and sent it via snail mail?
Just a couple of weeks ago, I received a thank you letter in the mail. It had to be torn open and there was a stamp in the upper right hand corner – OH I loved it! And it made me feel special because someone took the time to write something down, address it to me and send it off. Old school.

Don’t get me wrong – I love modern technology and social media and the instant way we can connect and communicate. However, some of my favorite little moments in life have to do with the real moments in life. The ones where you get together face to face, the ones where you call and hear a real voice on the end of the line and the ones where you read a note from someone’s heart and hand that simply let’s you know he or she cares.

This week – slow down … send a note via snail mail instead of text, call someone just to say I LOVE YOU and if you need to break up with someone – have the decency & guts to meet face to face and look ‘em in the eye to say U & me = no more.
Let me know how it goes.

P.S. – This note was not sent via mobile, via runtastic, via iphone or via BlackBerry – it was sent via my heart.

Just keep swimming ...

2011-08-15T13:06:00.000-07:00

While driving today, I heard something that made me smile and do a little reflecting. The deejay said: “Old people have a young person stuck inside of them yelling: “What happened?”

Earlier today I took my daughter to swimming lessons and had a really great time watching her perform the various strokes and moves in the water. I was impressed by the swim instructor and her confidence and her ability to teach the kids to swim. I was also impressed by the kids and their desire to jump into the cold, frigid water and get busy with monkey, tree rocket!

As I watched the kids swimming and trying their best to do the breast and back stroke, I thought to myself … Kids are such great examples of how we should live and be. They jump right in, try things, accept each other and keep trying when they don’t get it right.

I think that’s part of what happens as we age – we lose that beautiful part of ourselves that lets us really live.

(Back to the moment in the car) - As I turned the corner to home, I thought – there is a young person inside of me but she’s not saying “What happened?” She is shouting – Keep swimming Wendy, keep trying, keep believing, keep learning and keep LIVING!
What’s the ‘young voice’ inside of you saying?

What do you do in the summertime? ...

2011-08-11T14:28:00.000-07:00

My kids and I spent the morning at the public library. We love the library – something for everyone. Lauren found horse books, Kaleb found mystery books and a big collection of Guinness’s world records.

What did I grab? … 2 books by Nicholas Sparks – both in LARGE PRINT.

Cheers to summer and the little moments at the library.

Say a prayer for London ...

2011-08-10T22:28:00.000-07:00

The riots in London during the past few days have held my attention. It's sad to see such events unfold ... please join me and say a prayer for peace in London and for peace throughout the world.