Category Archives: Goals & Dreams

November 15, 2012 · 3:19 pm

Call me Crazy or a Fool….

There is a song by the Christian group Avalon that is one of several “theme” songs for my life. It is called “I Don’t Want to Go” . Here are the lyrics (or you can listen to it here):

You changed my world
When You came to me.
You drove a passion,
In my soul down deep,
Lord, to follow You in everything.

I don’t want to go somewhere
If I know that You’re not there,
‘Cause I know that me without You is a lie.
And I don’t want to walk that road,
Be a million miles from home,
Cause my heart needs to be where You are.
So I don’t want to go.

So come whatever, (whatever may come)
I’ll stick with You (right by your side)
I’ll walk You’ll lead me,
Call me crazy or a fool,
For forever I promise You…

That I don’t want to go somewhere
If I know that You’re not there,
‘Cause I know that me without You is a lie.
And I don’t want to walk that road,
Be a million miles from home,
Cause my heart needs to be where You are.
So I don’t want to go…

I can’t even listen to this song without tears streaming down my face. You see when the Lord reached down and touched my heart so deeply in the summer of 1979 as a 16 year old girl I was never the same. He did exactly what this song says…He drove a passion deep down in my soul to follow Him in everything!

And yes that has led to many many times being called…

Crazy or a Fool

I have a feeling that this blog is going to be another one of those times. And that is really ok by me…I am simply trying to follow the Lord’s lead.. where ever that is and whatever may come.

You may or may not know that ever since we adopted baby girl in 2009….we have hoped to be able to officially adopt at least two more children. Most doors for that are closed to us for various reasons:

Foster adopt in California has strict unbendable rules as to the the number of children per bedroom and with our home we won’t qualify for that until 2021 (didn’t they ever read or watch Little House on the Prairie or The Walton’s who all raised fabulous families with limited bedrooms?)
Private Agency Adoption has roadblocks with our ages….hmmmph! 😉
International Adoption is not an option because our annual income does not meet the immigration guidelines of $75,000 a year for a family our size (somehow I think orphans living in poverty around the world just hoping for one meal a day and clean drinking water might not mind living at the Lambdin “poverty level”…yes it is true that with our income and family size we are considered poverty level..sheesh…talk about crazy!)

So we have just smiled, told the Lord our desires & prayed knowing that a private independent (not agency) adoption was really our only option & the likelihood of having a pregnant mom just come to us “out of the blue” and ask us to adopt her baby was very slim.

But God……

Six weeks ago we became aware of a woman who was pregnant with twins at the age of 51 and was going to terminate her pregnancy. It was one of those facebook posts friend of a friend of a friend type things. I called her on the phone We spoke on several occasions but she was hesitant to get together and a bit “cold”. I just continued to call and text offering any support I could. Then three weeks after our initial contact she called and asked me to come to her house. She shared with me that it seemed every time she thought about going to get that abortion, she would get a text from me and it would stop her. She said that my persistence made an impact on her life and that she would like to consider placing her babies with our family.

She has a long complicated life story….with some real sadness, horror and tragedy….that has led her to consider this alternative. A story that has in its chapters – abuse, abandonment, molestation, rape, murder, prison, drugs, alcohol, rehabilitation, marriages, divorces, many children, a few miscarriages, domestic violence, poverty, restraining orders, government assistance, church attendance, friends, family, mental illness and a measure of faith. To be candid, the more I learn, the more my mind is overwhelmed by one person having lived and endured such a life.

We have spent the past several weeks getting to know her, assisting her, supporting her and loving on her. It has been fulfilling, exhausting, energizing, frustrating, exciting, good and crazy! We have all come to love and care for one another.

And that brings you to today. The question asked me daily by friends and family: “How’s the adoption plan coming?” or “What’s the latest on your adoption?” or “Is everything settled with the adoption?”

To which I answer with a combination look of confusion, happiness, sadness and questioning….silence. I do not know how to answer those questions. I am dealing with a pretty unstable situation in many ways. I am walking a road with someone, who in my heart of hearts, I believe simply does not have what it will take to raise those children as their primary caretaker. It’s not just the lack of resources, reasonable shelter or stable family support relationships that are almost non existent…it goes so much deeper. There are many complications and there is no clear path to a simple adoption. Perhaps an open adoption will be the answer. Perhaps we will end up somehow with legal guardianship instead. Or perhaps we will be a second family — Auntie Beth and Uncle Dan to these precious twins that are due to be born in just eleven weeks. I simply do not know how it will all play out….and yes for a recovering control freak….this is bringing me to an even great level of giving over my control and letting God be in complete control of every part of our lives. I am reminded once again of this scripture in James:

^”Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to do this or that or we have great plans to have this happen” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.”

Yes…my friends (especially those with the same control issues as I) that is what it the Bible says!

So I will say Lord willing….we will be adopting twins into our family.

Or Lord willing….we will be taking them and their Mom into our extended family.

Or how about this Lord willing…we will purchase the house next door that is currently going up on a short sale for a “steal of a deal”.

Wait! What did she just say?!

Yup…I said Lord willing, we could somehow, someway own the house next door.

And what does that have to do with anything? Why do you want to own the house next door?

Oh I am glad you asked! Call me crazy or a fool…but just in the past few days I had this thought about the house for sale next door. I thought how perfect it would be if we could move our new friend into that house. We could then look after her and help meet her needs from right next door. And whether we end up adopting, having legal custody or just being an ever present family providing stability and helping to train up those babies with the life skills that are missing from previous generations, taking then to church and teaching them the ways of the Lord…we would be able to do that and be a life giving blessing to the mamma as well.

Yes…that is just how my big vision, big dreaming mind and heart works. And Lord willing….it could happen! All we need is $130,000 cash and we could do it. Someone out there may just need a big year end tax deduction, right?! By the way, have I told you that Inspire Ministries…is now officially incorporated as a non profit with the State of California, IRS paperwork filed to be a 501(c)3, bank account opened and ready for donations, website in process and facebook site posting! Wouldn’t this be an exciting first BIG project…a ministry home to be used to help those in need with the ministers right “on site” to train and support?

Wouldn’t that be amazing? It could happen…Lord willing!

You drove a passion,
In my soul down deep,
Lord, to follow You in everything.

11 Comments

Filed under Adoption, Attitude, Callings, Faith, Goals & Dreams, Inspire Ministries, Life at the Lambdins, Lifes Challenges

August 28, 2012 · 3:30 am

Fabulous 50: A New Decade is Dawning

This week…Saturday September 1st to be exact…I am turning 50. <deep breath> Yes, one of those milestone birthdays.

I clearly remember my first “decade day”…my 1oth birthday… as we had just recently moved from San Pedro, California to Springfield, Virginia and I had zero friends. After spending the weeks prior to my big day living in a hotel while my parents searched for a house to buy, I only had my family to celebrate with. It was fairly uneventful but I had an awesome sense of hope and excitement for the future as just a few days later I would begin my life in Virginia with a new school, new friends and a fresh new start. One of the greatest things, as a kid from a military family moving every few years, is that you could “re-make” yourself with every move. Literally the slate was wiped clean and you could start all over and be whomever you wanted to be! My childhood and youth were spent in that decade and life was good. It was during that season that I met Jesus, at almost 17, in a very real and personal way and I have never been the same!

I turned 20 at the start of my junior year at UOP…such an awesome time of my life as we were seeing God move mightily across our campus and the Lord was using me, despite my youth, my many flaws and personal struggles to reach others for Christ! It was an amazing season of life….and when I think back on it I am still in awe at the powerful happenings all around me. I loved being in my 20’s…I felt youthful, confident, independent and strong…in fact in my heart and mind I still often feel like I am in my mid 20’s. I graduated from college in my 20’s, started in ministry in my 20’s, got married in my 20’s, had my first baby in my 20’s but more than anything else during that era I learned that Jesus is all I need, my everything…truly a life changing decade!

One of my favorite photos from my 20’s (and it’s not because I am a cat lover) but because at this point I was in full time youth ministry…passionately following the Lord and wanting to please Him and do His will. In that way I am still the same!

Turning 30 was not something I looked forward to….30…it sounded so “old” and besides I wanted to be in my 20’s forever! I was seven months pregnant with my second child and I was sick, tired and blah. I remember being so ambivalent about turning 30 that I told Dan that I did NOT want a birthday party of any kind and yet he put together a small shindig anyway at Mallards Restaurant with a few friends…I was not very happy about it at all (that poor guy!) If the Lord had opened up a window to let me peek at the simply miraculous things that were to take place in that new decade, I would have been thrilled to watch it arrive. In my 30’s I had four of my children. I was a teacher,activity adviser and guidance counselor to students who would become life long friends. I helped found a Christian High School that many said could never happen. I started my Creative Memories career that to this day continues to bless my life in spectacular ways. I also began homeschooling, something I never considered attempting and yet I truly believe it is one of the biggest factors in my children becoming who they are today. My 30’s also included some life changing, course altering tragedies as I lost my dear father (much too young) and I was betrayed and fired from a ministry that I poured my heart and soul into for over a decade. It was definitely a decade of great growth, faith building and new beginnings!

Then 40 came along and I was “loud and proud” about reaching this milestone! I threw myself a big fancy birthday party, despite being three months pregnant with my sixth sweet baby and as always sicker than ever , I was thrilled to get together with my friends and family to celebrate! I felt in some way that I had “arrived” in life…that I had finally made it! This past decade since turning 40 has been filled with both the very good and the very bad:

I was blessed with three more precious babies…one through adoption, the most miraculous thing I have ever experienced in life!
I began to have health problems that sent me to the hospital on several occasions
I had the unfortunate gut wrenching experience of a couple of my children in serious life and death situations where I was forced to deal squarely in the face with my control issues and truly give God complete control of my life.
I experienced both the best of financial times in our married life and the worst of times(and not because of the economy’s ups & downs)
I started writing and speaking…two things that I have become passionate about and are sure to shape my future.
I experienced stellar personal achievements, awards and accolades running my own business, to then be led to scale way back on my efforts there and use those same God given gifts & talents at the high school we had started years earlier, to then be cut loose after three years of great success and momentum because of pride and power struggles in leadership (pride & power…a double edged sword with the ability to do so much good or so much harm depending on whose hands it is in).
I have had the thrill of launching my first three daughters out into the world and watching them soar!
I had learned in the previous decade, in my 30’s, to put all my trust in the Lord and had seen the Lord take the worst thing I thought could ever happen and turn it into the greatest thing in my life! This decade I was able to sail much easier through the “bad” knowing that in the end it would be for my greatest good. I enjoyed the peace that comes in knowing that the Lord uses authority, even unwise or misguided authority to lead me in the direction He wants me to go….it felt like I had passed the “Truly Trusting God Test”.

Now here I am turning 50 this week…and ready to celebrate the amazing life I have been blessed with and the great things that God has allowed me to experience and be a part of these past 50 years ( a half a century…doesn’t that sound impressive?!) I am at the beginning of a another new decade of life…a decade that is sure to include many life changing and monumental events (the launching of three more children, college graduations and major life choices for those children in the areas of careers, ministry, marriages and children, helping my mother and inlaws walk through health and other challenges that come with aging while rejoicing in their milestones of 80th birthdays and Lord willing a 60th wedding anniversary as well as celebrating our own 30th & 35th wedding anniversaries, to name a few of the very real possibilities this decade). And yes this decade is sure to have it’s share of hardships, pain and sorrows that I pray I can walk through with grace, peace and strength in my Lord….a living testimony to the greatness of God and an encouragement to others!

As I stand at the edge of this new beginning, the dawn of a new decade of life…I am also filled with excitement, anticipation and hope:

Hope for even greater things to be done in and through my life than ever before!
Hope that my dreams of speaking and writing to inspire others to live a life of passion, purpose and praise would come to fruition through Inspire Ministries and perhaps even by joining hands with others to run a Camp and Retreat Center in the Santa Cruz Mountains or wherever the Lord opens doors (I have so many retreats I want to host – Engaged Retreats, Marriage Weekends, Family Camps, Mentoring Moms, Treasured Traditions, Purposeful Parenting, Passionate Living…and more!)
Hope for a season of provision & prosperity…to not always be the one in need but to generously meet the needs of others!
Hope for the Lord to use our children to do abundantly above and beyond all that we could ever imagine!
Hope for the Lord’s return in all His glory! To see Him and to be like Him!

8 Comments

Filed under Blessings, Goals & Dreams, Inspiration, Life at the Lambdins, Life Lessons, Lifes Challenges

September 22, 2010 · 11:16 am

What would you tell your “college age self”?

I just spent the past several days down in Southern California on a college visitation trip with two of my high school girls and their dear life long friend along with one of my closest friends and mentor to the girls. We had a great road trip complete with long hours in the car, lots of fast food and less sleep than we needed but lots of good times, learning and laughter too!

I found myself looking back to thirty years ago when I was a high school senior choosing where I would attend college. I tried to remember my thought process and how I came to the decisions that I did. I remembered first stepping foot on my college campus as a young and in many ways unprepared student and the many decisions I made both good and bad while I was there. I also wondered if my decisions would have been different had I had older and wiser mentors in my life giving me advice along the way.

I do not remember much advice at all from my high school teachers or counselors other than – “go to college where you can get the best financial aide package” or “make sure they have your major”. (why? because your major will never change several times during college…ha!) My church youth leaders gave no input. My friends talked about having the most amount of fun (dorm life, fraternity parties, football or basketball games, boys etc…) and freedom (from any rules or restrictions) wherever you chose to attend college.

I am thankful for parents who gave me the following advice (aka: non negotiables): You will go to college or you are on your own after high school. You will go away to a four-year college and live on campus. You will not get married until you get your degree. You will visit several colleges to find the right “fit” for you. While these paradigms were quite valuable and more than many high school students receive, I often wish I had been given more from those older and wiser mentors around me.

In fact I began to think this weekend what exactly would I, now three decades later, tell my “college age self”?

Choose carefully and wisely where you go to college. No other time in life are you more immersed in a community and culture than during your college years. You are living with people outside your family 24/7, you are engaged in constant exchange of ideas both inside and outside the classroom, you are exposed to different and new ways of thinking, believing and living. Is the college environment one that will increase your faith, solidify your values and produce growth and maturity in your life? You will likely make life choices regarding your calling and career that will affect the course of your life. What type of college and professors do you want to influence those choices? You will likely develop forever friendships with both students and faculty and you may even meet your spouse…look closely at the profile of students who desire to attend the college as well as why the faculty are teaching there. Are these the people who you want to have influencing, mentoring, inspiring and challenging you throughout your life?
Do what you love! Choose a course of study in something you are passionate about regardless of anyone else’s opinion, regardless of whether it will make you rich (or even make you money at all), regardless of the job market, regardless of if it is the “smartest” or most practical thing to do or even regardless of if you will ever do anything career related with your degree. (and if you have many passions…pursue them all!)
Embrace this season of singleness. (ie: do not spend time the moment you step on campus looking for “the one”) You have spent 18+ years in your parents home and you dream of being happily married for 50+ years. If you live an average life span that leaves less than a decade of being single. Embrace it! Enjoy it! Don’t waste it away always looking to the future and missing the opportunities in the present. Work on becoming the most godly, loving, giving, self-sacrificing, interesting, knowledgable and mature person you can be so that when you are married you will be the most amazing spouse and parent ever!
Develop positive habits that will add value to your life. Up to this point you have probably been “forced” to eat healthy (as much as your parents could make you), exercise regularly (thanks to PE classes & sports), balance your budget (mostly due to your lack of credit worthiness or available funds), go to class, attend church services regularly and plan ahead. College should be a time that we build upon these positive habits not throw them out the window and live an undisciplined, out of control, “free for all” life. This is the time not only to learn and grow academically but to practice self-control and discipline in your life without being forced to do these things. It is a true sign of growth and maturity and may even be a greater benefit to your life and happiness than your actual college degree.
Go out of the country. Whether you study abroad for a year, go on a summer missions trip to a third world country or participate in a “semester at _____” (you fill in the blank) you MUST take advantage of at least one opportunity for amazing growth, learning and a life changing experience. After college you will have responsibilities to take care of, bills to pay, careers to pursue not to mention marriage and parenting that may arrive sooner than you think. Do not say you will “do it later” because even if you are one of the rare adults who are able to pull that off – it will be harder, more complicated and you will wish you had gone during your college years. Let’s have no regrets here people!
Seek out mentors. I really wish that someone would have encouraged me to find older mentors in my life to learn from during my college years. They could be upperclassmen, grad students, faculty members or even college pastors or adults from a local church. I now realize that we can learn and grow so much more from other people “speaking into our lives” than we do through classes, lectures or textbooks. While a few small private colleges encourage and promote these types of relationships, you need to decide to seek them out for yourself. Find people of godly character, full of wisdom, passionate about their purpose and traveling in the direction that you want to go. Then be bold and ask for their time to invest in your life. (You need not be demanding or draining to them…simply be willing to just hang out with them at their convenience or be a blessing by working alongside them)
Serve others. The college years can often be very self-centered and self-serving. One of the best ways to grow and learn is to serve others and give of yourself. Find ways to serve your college or community. Become a resident or student advisor, start a prayer group or bible study, pick up trash around campus, volunteer to help in admissions or campus tours. Get off campus and feed the homeless, volunteer at a crisis center, participate in a non-profit fund-raising campaign, serve in a church nursery. A life lived only for your self and your own self interests is a shallow and unfulfilling existence.
College is a valuable investment! If you have to take out loans, do not stress about that. It is a better investment of your money than your future home (that you will likely take out a very large loan to purchase) or a vehicle (that can cost you more than any loans you aquire in 4 years). Your college education will not rust or break down or become worthless as it ages. No one can take it from you, steal it or destroy it. It will be one of the most valuable things you have in life (especially if you go to the right college and use the time wisely) If you have to work several jobs to make it happen…do it! Apply for every scholarship possible (and perhaps some that are impossible.) Ask others to invest in you. Leave no stone unturned!
Appreciate every aspect of not living in the “real world” — ok so I am sure many college student’s dislike hearing over and over that they are not living in the “real world” but really…it is truth in many ways? When, in your adult “real life” will most of you –

have someone available to cook for you at every meal (not to mention the wide variety and volume of food available in most college cafeterias – endless salad bars, soft serve ice cream, soda fountain etc..)?
put your dirty dishes on a conveyor belt to watch them “magically” disappear and then reappear at the next meal clean and sparkly?
not have to ever clean your own toilet?
be able to work out at a fully equipped fitness center just steps from your living space?
wear whatever you want to work (aka: class) or for that matter decide when you want to attend and when you don’t want to attend work?
have access to social interaction and fun 24/7 (as well as 24/7 access to trouble & temptation)?
create your own personal hours according to your personal preference by only signing up for afternoon & evening classes (or the opposite if you are one of “those” morning people)or not taking Friday classes and giving yourself a three-day weekend? (I can promise most of you that you will never again get to completely create your own hours)
and if you go to a Christian college…get to attend an inspirational worship service and listen to compelling, motivating speakers three times a week? (my oh my what I would give to have that part of my “real” life almost every day)

10. College is not for everyone. While I believe that here in our culture in the United States that college may be the wisest way go for most young people, I do not think that everyone must attend college. However, I do believe that the college age is a very important season of life for growth, education, maturity and experience. It is not a time to be wasted or used in a frivolous way. Almost all of the things I would tell my “college self” can be applied to a young person who has decided not to attend college. Be purposeful and productive. Some other great options are trade school, an internship, the military or a missions trip.

What would you tell your “college age self”?

11 Comments

Filed under College & Career, Goals & Dreams, Inspiration, Life Lessons, Parenting

August 25, 2010 · 12:34 am

A Lesson Plan for Life

Can someone please tell me when the month of August ceased being summertime? I am becoming a militant mom on a “save our summer” campaign as it seems summer break is getting shorter and shorter each year.

Isn’t August still a time for being a “floatin’ fool in the swimming pool”, savoring backyard barbecues with friends, attending carnivals, state fairs & baseball games, sipping ice coffee & having conversations on the patio in the cool of the evening after a sweltering day, enjoying late night ice cream sundaes in front of a newly rented movie and sleeping in as late as you want in the morning! It is truly the best of the “dog days of summer” …no schedules, no agenda…just enjoying the easy living of summer!

A few photos of what we have been doing this week!

These days summer seems to come to a screeching halt by the end of July as more and more schools are choosing early start dates instead of the traditional day after Labor Day, 1st day of school. My life has been affected by this evolution….with dear darling hubby working at an educational institution that began August 10 along with three of my daughters who attend there, the charter school I homeschool through following suit, soccer practices already in full swing for the fall season & even the local neighborhood pool cutting back their hours to weekends & “after school” (even though its 100+ degrees outside today!). It has even dampened my September 1st birthday celebration that always fell during the last week of summer vacation with no worries, no school, no homework. (and I didn’t care about missing out on cupcakes in the classroom…I’d take a vacation time birthday over that anytime!) Yes, in my perfect world …it is and should still be – Summertime – with all its many wonderful diversions!

So, since I refuse to conform to this “new” definition of August…for us this marks the last week of summertime before school starts. Which means it is a time to continue to enjoy the last lazy days of summer while at the same time beginning to form a plan and prepare for the upcoming school year.

Having personally been entrenched in the education world for over 24 years (11 years as a high school teacher & administrator and the past 13 years as a home school teacher)… I always see this time of year as a new beginning much like the time right before the new calendar year in January. A fresh start to a brand new school year that I can make into whatever I want it to be. The past school year, with all its failures, mistakes as well as successes, is over and gone, only to be remembered through report cards, school records and the scrapbook or yearbook.

I always loved that fresh start feeling! I had an empty lesson planner and a school year calendar sitting blank in front of me and I could create whatever type of year I wanted. I could continue to fine tune & develop the things that were successful and make them even better. I could throw out things that were not working so well. I could try brand new, perhaps even “risky” ideas in hopes of inspiring my students in their quest of learning. As I sat there with my yearly calendar, my goals & objectives and my weekly lesson plans…the sky was the limit! I could accomplish anything that new school year.

But one thing was always certain….I never started a new school year without a “plan”. And none of us would accept our child’s teacher telling us that they had no specific plan for the year – no goals or objectives – that they were just going let things happen. No, we would leave that classroom (in shock!) and head straight to the office to demand a new teacher!

YET…that is exactly what many of us do with our lives. We just “let it happen” without any goals & objectives and with very little planning and then we wonder why it’s not working” for us? I want to challenge you today to begin to make a plan for your life this “school year”. Forget the past…and make this year a fresh new start. And my first suggestion would be to…

…Begin with the end in mind!

What personal or family habits do you want to cultivate?
What new traditions do you want to establish or new ways to celebrate life?
What do you want to teach your children?
What do you want for your marriage and/or family relationships?
Do you have any new skills you want to acquire or talents you want to improve upon or use?
Where do you want to be spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally & financially?

After you write out your dreams, goals, objectives…..take each of them and make a list of what needs to happen to accomplish them. Then “calendar” those things into your year and write out your daily, weekly & monthly “life lesson plan”.

Here is an example of what that could look like –

Goal: To get caught up & stay current on my family photo albums

Ways to accomplish this: weekly time set aside to journal, monthly workshops, yearly retreats

What to put on the life lesson plan & on the calendar:

Weekly: Journaling time every Sunday afternoon for 1 hour
Monthly: First Friday of the month attend a 4 hour workshop to complete albums
Bi-Annually: Every October & February go on a scrapbooking weekend retreat with friends.

Here is a “heavier” example

Goal: The family to grow spiritually over the next year.

What needs to happen to accomplish this: church involvement, regular family prayer & devotions, scripture memory, cultivating personal time with God, becoming missions minded, developing meaningful spiritual traditions around the holidays etc…

What to put on the life lesson plan & on the calendar:

Daily or Regularly –

Provide a “quiet time” at home (even if it is just 15 minutes) for cultivating a relationship with God thru the word & personal prayer & meditation.
Decide on best time for family prayer & devotions and make it happen. (even if you begin with once or twice a week rather than daily)
Pick a verse to begin memorizing and post it around the house (bathroom mirrors, fridge, car dash board etc..) – practice together daily at a family meal or while driving to school.

Weekly

Calendar in weekly church attendance – Sundays and or week night youth or prayer services
Do a weekly family Bible study together

Monthly or Quarterly:

a mission trip or other local outreach opportunity (like working at a local soup kitchen or passing out blankets to the homeless)
Research making holidays meaningful & implement one thing to each holiday this year. (for ideas & inspiration for holiday and other meaningful family traditions you can look at my blog here and here and here)
Have a monthly time of family communion (read about this here)

And one more example – since the #1 post on this blog (11,500 views) has to do with improving your marriage (taking the love dare challenge) let me give you a sample there too.

Goal: To improve our marriage and have greater communication, deeper friendship and renew passion

What things need to be accomplished to meet this goal: setting aside time to talk and pray together, going on regular date nights, looking for ways to serve one another, loving each other in the way they need to be loved, reading, learning & growing in our marriage skills, romantic weekends away

What to put on the life lesson plan & calendar:

Daily –

Pray together each morning or evening while in bed (no distractions)
Don’t leave each other each day without an “I love you” & goodbye kiss
Greet one another upon returning home with an “I love you” & hello kiss

Weekly

Have a “coffee & conversation” time each week…perhaps on Sunday night before a new week begins to discuss both the good and bad of life, whats on your plate for the upcoming week and any other issues needing to be discussed
Do one thing each week to purposely fill the love tank of your spouse (you would need to read The Five Love Languages by Gary Smalley to really understand this…but basically you are choosing to love them they way they want to be loved…I think I will write another blog about this because I feel a plan brewing)

Monthly:

Date Night…special time out alone…looking great…just like the pre marriage dating days!

Yearly

Attend a marriage conference or read a book together to improve relationship (even if it is good!)
Go away for a romantic weekend together (or longer if you can pull it off!)
Celebrate your anniversary every year (which is when we take our romantic get-aways!)

So as your summer winds down & the new school year begins – stop and take the time to write out your dreams & goals for this year. Make a life lesson plan & then put that plan into action and on the calendar! (In my house our motto is: If it is on the calendar…it happens!) Don’t continue to just let life “happen” but rather “Make it happen”. You will reap great rewards for your efforts.

Here’s to August 2011 when as you are enjoying the “dog days of summer” basking in the sun by the pool, you’ll also enjoy looking back at your many accomplishments of the past year & basking in the glory of a year well lived.

2 Comments

Filed under Goals & Dreams, Life Lessons, Marriage

March 25, 2010 · 12:25 pm

No Time Like the Present!

My dear friends, family & 600+ blog fans….

You are probably wondering where I have been as far as writing on this blog…or perhaps maybe I am just hoping you are wondering. I can hardly believe it has been over two months since I have posted anything at all! Yikes! Seeing that this is one of my favorite things to do, you think that I would not let that much time go by without sitting down at my computer and tapping out my thoughts, opinions, ideas and life stories in hopes of encouraging, motivating & blessing you.

Not to worry….nothing tragic has happened in our lives and it is still my plan to write regularly (and yes perhaps one day even write a book or two). I really have no good excuses although let me try some out:

I forgot how time and labor intensive it is to have two “littles” less than two years apart. (ummmm…..but 13 years ago I had 3 “littles” in the span of 3 years and I started a home based business, founded a Christian High School and still made time to write Monday Motivation…every Monday! And then I didn’t have “big” girls to help me out.) Excuse #1 out the window
I have nothing to write about. (ummmmm….NOT! Are you kidding me? I have had so much to share – Christiana’s adoption day details, Walking for Life, Our annual Beach Holiday that had almost daily insights, dealing with my “wild” high risk taking boy who managed to knock out another tooth, kidney stones, a surprise visit from my college girl, 7-year-old and sweet 16 birthday celebrations, my upcoming JECHS auction, and of course my opinions on Obamacare and specifically its effect on abortion funding) Nope a “lack of material” excuse will never fly here!
My laptop computer was so slow that I felt like I was living five lifetimes every time I tried to sign on. (ok so this is a truth…but I could have used my desk top…I am just not often actually at my desk) Oh and did I mention I got a new work laptop last month so scratch that excuse.

Ok, enough with the excuses….but I will say that one of the biggest things that keeps me from writing more regularly is the fact that I need to make money to feed my family. The way that I am able to do that while not sacrificing my time with them or having to go out & work 9 to 5 for someone else is by being an “independent contractor”. In other words I am self-employed. Which is another way of saying that every waking moment I feel pressure to be working. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not whining or complaining. I LOVE what I do both with Creative Memories and at JECHS and feel that I am using my unique giftings and am involved in work that I believe in passionately. But honestly if I could create my perfect job (other than being independently wealthy and giving freely of my gifts & talents without any financial remuneration, which I would truly love!) this is what I would do –>

Write
Speak
Lead

If I could simply make a regular income writing, speaking and leading…I would be living my dream!

I have several friends who are constantly “fanning the flame” of my dream. One of those friends recently sent me a link to a conference called She Speaks . As I looked over the link I was almost salivating at the thought of going to a conference that “encourages and equips women as they communicate God’s Word through writing, sharing their testimony, leading a Bible study and speaking from the podium.” It had my name written all over it! I quickly emailed her back and said “Oh what I would give to go to a conference like this. Someday…” To which she replied, “No time like the present” and pointed out that they had a scholarship opportunity knowing that my budget would not allow for an expense of this type.

So, despite the fact that I am “under the gun” with my upcoming large-scale event at JECHS (Annual dinner auction), I am taking a few minutes this morning to enter this contest for a $575 scholarship to the “She Speaks” Conference July 30 – August 1 in North Carolina. Perhaps this will be one of those defining moments that I look back upon in my life and see that it was the beginning of the dream becoming a reality!

“She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” Proverbs 31:26

4 Comments

Filed under Goals & Dreams, Life at the Lambdins

September 1, 2009 · 10:20 am

Celebration, Reflection & Contemplation

47 years ago today….I was born.

17th birthday 023

My Celebration

Today I will celebrate my life! My God given life – my abundantly blessed life – my 47 years on this earth – my health – my family & friends – my faith – my future!

I will celebrate with those I love and I will enjoy all the delights of the day! I will probably continue to celebrate throughout the week as well.

Yes, birthdays are a great time to celebrate life but they are also a time to reflect on the past and contemplate the future.

My Reflection

As I look back on my life, there is much for which to be thankful. Mine is a life truly blessed.

I was blessed to be born to a father & mother who loved life, loved the Lord and loved each other

I was blessed to be born in America – land of the free and home of the brave!
I had the wonderful experience of growing up with two sisters and a brother to play with, fight with, share with (no matter how unwillingly at times) and make memories together!

I moved many times growing up in a military family which produced positive character qualities in my life as well as the awesome friendships that I made throughout the country
I had a very unique and amazing high school experience, especially my senior year and senior class. It was stellar and stands out as a highlight of my youth

As a 16 year old, I encountered the Lord in a very personal way that has clearly affected most of my important decisions since that day in 1979

life 001

I had a life changing summer at Hume Lake in 1981

I experienced and got to be involved in a season of amazing revival at the University of the Pacific through Chi Alpha ministries in the early 80’s

I had the honor & joy of being the youth pastor to the most amazing group of teenagers from every high school in Stockton & Lodi for four years.

After praying for six years, I was given by God the very best man that I could ever imagine to marry and share a life together. I am still in awe of God’s gift to me.

I became passionate about the ministry of Christian education during my early years at Brookside Christian . It was my time at this school that molded me, shaped me and caused me to grow immensely. The students & staff from that era are precious friends and will always hold a prominent place in my heart.

I have been blessed by God with children. Truly there is nothing better in this life than the gift of children. Sometimes I stop and wonder what I did to deserve these wonderful blessings. I look at them in awe and thankfulness….they are my life!

I was “forced” into homeschooling by our life circumstances (as I would have never decided on my own to homeschool) and this has been the single best thing for my children and our relationship. I will never give it up now!

My Creative Memories business has brought a richness to my life that is beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I have gotten to use and improve my gifts & talents, invest in others lives, experience amazing opportunities and make life long friendships in this committed community of consultants.

Jim Elliot Christian High School is a miracle and I got the opportunity to be a part of this one of a kind school. After 11 years this school and the people involved continue to bring me joy, love and inspiration every day! I can only hope and pray that it will never end.

Now in my reflection of the past there are also regrets, sorrows, things I wish I could change and life lessons to be learned:

I regret my indiscretions and poor decisions of my youth as well as the way I often treated my mother & older sister when I was a teenager
I did not fully use the intellect that I have been given to study and learn throughout my high school & college education years
I would offer greater grace and show more compassion to the youth who were put under my charge as a youth pastor and teacher
I would be more humble and vulnerable to those around me
My older children would not have spent anytime in daycare and I would have trusted the Lord for His provision as He always proves Himself faithful.
I would have been more frugal with my finances, especially during the more prosperous years
After years as a high school & college athlete, I would have made healthy eating & daily exercise a life long habit, instead of a “up & down” lifestyle
I lost my father when I was 33 years old…I wish I could have been given more time here on this earth with him
I would have lost my temper less with my children, not “sweat the small stuff” and spent more time praying with them and teaching them the Bible as well as studying and meditating on it myself
I would have held my tongue and attempted to only speak words of encouragement, love and appreciation to my family

My Contemplation

Reflecting on the past is always a good starting point for contemplating the future. Looking at the positive & the negative of your past can help you purpose in your heart to plan a better tomorrow.

The next time your birthday rolls around what do you want your life to look like?

What do you want to do, accomplish and change in the next 5 years, 10 years, 20 years?

What were you born to do? What is your unique and special purpose here on this earth?

When you are at the end of your life (which when you are my age, if you have done the math, you are aware that there are fewer years ahead of you than behind you)…what will you want your life to have looked like? What will be your legacy? What difference will you have made in the lives of your family, friends, church, workplace, city, country or world?

As I do every year around this time, I will once again be contemplating these questions and be purposeful about making needed changes in my life and making a plan to do and be all that God has for me in this life, that He has given me.

When the final day of my life…my “deathday” arrives I want to not only be ready but I want to have lived a life that glorified God and I want to leave a legacy to future generations of Lambdin’s that will inspire them to live a purposeful life fulfilling their destiny.

8 Comments

Filed under Blessings, Goals & Dreams, Life Lessons, Making a Difference

January 16, 2009 · 11:11 pm

The day after

It’s the day after.

Today could have been so very different for us all. Instead of waking up this morning with the good news warming our hearts of the “Miracle on the Hudson” – the incredible crash landing of a US Air commercial plane into the Hudson River in New York – in which everyone survived, we could have been watching horrific videos and looking at photos of a fatal air crash. We could, today have been grieving along with the thousands of friends and family members who had lost loved ones instead of rejoicing as we watched the joyous reunions and grateful passengers who were saved from an untimely death. Instead of having a new national hero in “Sully” the US Air pilot as well as the New York Ferry workers and first responders to admire, appreciate and be in awe & amazement of , we could have had to listen to commentators and experts talk about what went wrong and how the pilot could have possibly avoided a disaster.

hudson_467622a

Yes truly….today could have been a much different day.

As I enjoyed the heartwarming stories, positive reports, words of gratitude to God and heartfelt appreciation that overflowed on the Internet and in the news media today, my thoughts turned towards those 155 people who for a moment yesterday thought that this just might be their last day on this earth. I wondered if today they had a new outlook on life? If they felt like they had been given extra time here for a reason? If their lives from this moment on would change? If they would begin to seize the day?

Yes, I am sure that they will hug their loved ones a little tighter and hold them a bit closer in the upcoming weeks. But will their daily lives change? Will they begin to actually do those things that they have always wanted to do or pursue their passions with new fervor? Will they begin to look for their purpose in life – using their unique God given gifts to do great things? Will they begin to see their life from this point on as a gift from God, a bonus round or exciting tie breaking overtime? Having come so obviously close to death and been spared will they have a new drive to fulfillthier greatest dreams?

Then I thought about my life?

Am I living my life on purpose, using my God given gifts to do great things? Yes, I believe I am. Are you living your life “on purpose” or just wandering through this life without direction? Are you using your unique gifts and talents to do great things?
As far as my seeing each day as a gift from God, bonus round or overtime? No, I don’t think I really do. And yet I should. I have actually been in a “crash landing” of a twin engine 3 passenger Cessna airplane in 1981 – so the past 27 years have been a “bonus” and yet I have not lived them all like that. (I’ll dig up a photo I have of me standing in front of that plane on that fateful day and post it here tomorrow) Perhaps you’ve been spared from cancer, or survived a car accident or lived through a natural disaster and have been given a “bonus round” or second chance at life. But even if we haven’t had a life or death experience we should never take for granted our life or assume we are “owed” 75 years here on this earth. Each day is a gift.
Am I working towards fulfilling my greatest dreams – well, yes…but lately I have been “stalled”. As a believer in setting goals & having dreams I have always written out my dreams and in recent years, since I began my Creative Memories career, I transferred that list into a dream album. My thoughts today on this “Miracle on the Hudson” and the 155 people whose lives were spared caused me to get that dream album off the shelf and do some evaluating as to where I am at in pursuing and fulfilling those dreams. While I can tell you I have accomplished quite a few, yet there are still dozens left to accomplish….and for some…time is running out. What about you? Do you have your dreams and goals written down and are you working regularly to accomplish these things?

So with a renewed vision, fresh perspective and energized drive, I will be getting up in the morning and living my life with purpose while working to pursue my dreams and enjoy the day as my gift from God!

4 Comments

Filed under Attitude, Goals & Dreams, Inspiration, Life Lessons

January 1, 2009 · 10:20 am

A Blessed New Year

My prayer for the year 2009 is that we would all be blessed beyond measure!

The dictionary definition of the word blessed: divinely or supremely favored; fortunate; blissfully happy or contented.

Who wouldn’t want a year full of God’s favor, fortune and to be blissfully happy and vastly contented? Sounds divine, doesn’t it?

But how do we receive these blessings? Is there anything we can do to bring about God’s favor and fortune? Is there a way to live each day in blissful happiness and contentment?

I believe there is and I know where to find the key. The Bible says in Psalm 1 –

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

As a believer I spend time in church each week worshiping and hearing the Word of the Lord. I fellowship regularly with other believers. I listen to Christian messages on the radio, Internet and on CD’s. I read books and devotionals written by Christian authors. However….as I evaluate recent years I have failed to daily delight in and meditate on the Word of God. I have not hungered and thirsted for His Word. I have not loved and longed for His Word. I have simply not made time to read, meditate on and memorize the Bible and make it a top priority in my life.

This year I will be doing just that. No matter what is happening in my life, I will take the time to read the Bible and meditate on its message. Today I will begin a daily reading plan that will result in reading through the entire Bible in one year. (I will be using the daily reading schedule found at Back to the Bible – that gets emailed daily to my in box – but there are lots of great options out there – Crosswalk.com and Walk thru the Bible are two more great resources)

Here’s to a blessed 2009!

new-years-037

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Filed under Blessings, Consistency, Goals & Dreams, Priorities

February 25, 2008 · 9:55 am

And the winner is….

I don’t usually watch the Academy Awards (or any television for that matter), but last night I caught bits and pieces of this grandiose event.

Why is it that I found myself getting misty eyed everytime the award winners got up on stage to accept their award? After all I don’t know these people personally nor have I even seen most of the films honored. (My two personal favorites in 2007 were –

“Amazing Grace” and

“The Ultimate Gift” neither of which received any Oscar nods but are FABULOUS movies that I highly recommend you see on DVD!)

No, my heart was stirred because it is very inspiring and touching to see others earn awards, be honored, or achieve a lifetime dream…..there is something simply magical about it. Perhaps it because we all have dreams and desires in our lives and for a small moment we can imagine accomplishing our goals, winning wonderful awards or achieving a lifetime dream.

Recently I had one of those magical moments where a longtime dream became a reality. One of my passions is Christian education! I believe the impact that a Christian school and faithful Christian educators has on young people can change the world. I have seen the influence first hand as my husband and I have spent over two decades in this life changing ministry. Because of that I have always dreamed of being able to help provide scholarships for students who did not have the financial means to attend Christian schools yet wanted to be there.

The one obstacle to this dream was…..money. You see when you are in Christian education, more often than not your salary is…well let’s just say…”great is your reward in heaven!” 🙂

Just two weeks ago at the Jim Elliot Christian High School Founders Gala, my dream became a reality with the introduction of the Dan and Beth Lambdin Scholarship Fund! I felt just like one of those Academy Award winners as I stood up in front of hundreds of people amidst the glamour and glitz of this fancy affair, dressed to the hilt and received a plaque announcing this fund that I had been dreaming of for years! It was glorious.

Dan and I are beaming after the scholarship fund announcement!

Why is it that many don’t dream at all, others just continue to dream with no results and some actually achieve their greatest dreams and desires? I believe those who dream, believe and achieve have some things in common:

1. They actually have a specific dream.

Those winning Oscars last night had a specific dream of winning that award. They knew that someday they wanted to be taking that coveted Oscar home. I’m sure many of them had actually visualized themselves up there accepting that honor. None of them had vague hopes or fuzzy fantasies. They knew they someday wanted to be at the top of their field and the “proof” of that would be their nomination or winning of an Oscar.

If you are going to achieve your greatest dreams they must be specific and measurable. They can’t be fuzzy or vague. You have to know exactly what you want. Seven years ago at the National convention for my home business (as I was receiving my Senior Directors Chair – another magical moment achieving a dream) we were challenged by the main stage speaker to write down our specific dream. It was at that moment that I wrote down that I wanted to have a scholarship fund for JECHS students.

What is your specific dream? (or dreams – if you are anything like me – you have many!) Take that first step and write them down today.

2. They tell others their dream

One of the single best thing you can do to move your dreams closer to reality is to tell others your dream! While this is so simple, many people do not do it. They keep their dreams to themselves, afraid of failure or of looking foolish to others. Telling people your dreams – propels you into action, holds you accountable and helps solidify your belief in that dream!

I have told hundreds of people over many years my dream of having a scholarship fund.

3. They are committed.

No one achieves great things in life without a rock solid commitment to their dreams & desires. Everyone who won an Oscar was committed to their career. How can you tell what it is you are actually committed to in life? One simple formula:

Time = Commitment

Look a where you spend your time and I promise that is where your commitment lies. There is no way you can expect to have a successful business without putting in time (the same is true for your marriage, parenting or anything else you want to have success in.) It’s not that you can’t do ok or even accomplish a measure of success by just being involved in your career BUT you will never “win an Oscar” by just being involved – you must be committed. (my standard analogy here as to the difference between being “involved” or “committed”….a big yummy bacon & egg breakfast takes two animals…a chicken & a pig…the chicken is involved in making the breakfast, the pig is COMMITTED!)

4. They work hard!

Sorry….there is no way around it. Everyone who has accomplished anything great…..works hard. It takes sacrifice, sweat, shortness of breath, stretching out of your comfort zone and pain while you are working towards your goals & dreams. There is no easy road or short cut to rewards. As the popular saying goes – “no pain, no gain”.

5. They involve others in their dream.

Every one of those receiving Oscars thanked others – the people that helped them get to where they were – friends, family, co-workers, agents. Not one of them attempted to say they did it on their own. And likewise none of us will accomplish our dreams without the help, input, coaching, training and support of others.

The Dan and Beth Lambdin scholarship fund already has over $6,500 in it thanks to the generosity of others who believe in Christian education and believe in us! And the scholarship fund will only continue as others join with us in donating money to help young people attend our school. My personal goal is to provide 10 full scholarships and 20 partial scholarships each year. That translates to $100,000 – which may seem like a lot to you – but if just the folks who read my blog each week decided to contribute something we would be right there! I keep dreaming BIG! 🙂

6. They stick with it.

Quitting is not an option. They are like super glue – holding fast to their dreams despite what is happening around them. No matter what disappointments, discouragement’s, or road blocks they had to endure, they did not quit. This tenacity and perseverance alone is one of the single most important qualities you can develop in your life to ensure your success!

It took seven years from the time I wrote down my dream of a scholarship fund for it to become a reality. There were many roadblocks standing in the way, many discouraging days, many detours and times when I just couldn’t see how it was going to happen but I just kept pressing on, believing and working to make the dream a reality.

Are you ready to begin to make your dreams a reality?

Can’t you picture it? Wouldn’t it be great? Your time to shine & sparkle like the stars!

Decide today what your dream is. Write it down, tell someone (I would love to hear your dream!) – then make the commitment, work hard, involve others & don’t quit! And soon you too will be hearing –

“And the winner is…YOU!”

PS – If you would like join me and contribute to to the new Dan and Beth Lambdin Scholarship Fund to help students attend a fabulous Christian High School and have their lives influenced to go out and positively impact the world – you would bless me beyond measure! Just click here to donate to this fund! Or you can send a check to (please specify it is for the Lambdin Scholarship Fund):

Jim Elliot Christian High School

2695 West Vine St

Lodi, CA 95242

You will receive a tax deductible receipt.

It’s a wonderful life

How many of you watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” during the holidays? (if you are like my family, it is a tradition!) At one point during that movie George Bailey says – “Aren’t you tired of just dreaming about things?” I think about that line a lot during the holiday season. It seems that many people are just going through life – day by day – doing what they need to do to get by, but not really living the life that they dream of living and not really ever doing the things they sincerely want to do. Let me share with you how I stopped just “dreaming about things” several years ago during the Christmas season.

One of my dreams – “someday” – was to have dear darling Dan and I renew our wedding vows. The year previously we had attended the “I Still Do” conference (now called “Weekend to Remember” put on by Family Life Ministries – I highly recommend it) where we received a beautiful marriage covenant certificate that we brought home and put high up on a shelf in its plastic covering to do “something” with at a later date. Well on December 16 that year, I looked up at that certificate and said to Dan – “Let’s renew our vows for our 15th anniversary” (which was just four short days away). To which he smiled and replied “Do you want me to rent a tux?” (gotta love that guy!)

And that is exactly what we did – four days later we had a meaningful ceremony here in our home with our closest friends. The girls all dressed up in their red velvet Christmas dresses and carried candles and flowers. I bought a new dress, shoes & had my hair done up & Dan rented the tux. We even had music, flowers, a cake and toasted with a bottle of Martinelli’s to many more years of blessings from the Lord. (We are getting ready to celebrate 21 years later this month!) It was an awesome and memorable moment. It was a highlight of our marriage and the girls were impacted greatly about the importance of finding a godly, loving & kind husband to spend their lives with. I am filled with joy just reliving it again as I share it here with you.

And the beautiful marriage covenant certificate hangs prominatly in our living room today for everyone to see our covenant to one another and to the Lord.

But do you know how easy it would have been to NOT have renewed our vows – just to have continued on to say – “someday” we’ll do that. We could have easily talked ourselves out of it by saying – Yes, but…

....maybe we should wait until our 25th anniversary?

…we only have four days to plan it – how can we pull it off? …our friend, Donnie, who married us has a Christmas dinner to go to that night and can’t come..…we aren’t giving our friends enough notice. …I don’t have anything to wear

…I have so much to do this week

…we really shouldn’t be spending the extra money (we decided to use our anniversary trip fund to pay for it…so the girls put together their money and treated us to dinner & a movie and then when we came home they had a sign on the door that said “The Robinhood Hotel” and they had cleaned our room spotless – put sparkling cider & candles in the room & acted like they were innkeepers – too cute!)

The “yes….but” list could go on & on. We chose not to listen to that voice but to begin living our dreams and doing what we really want to do in this life – right now! It is now a priceless memory that we will cherish forever!

Are you tired of just dreaming about things? Are you ready to begin living the life you want to live this year? I see so many people around me waiting to really live, waiting to fulfill their dreams. We’ll do that –

after…we get married
after…we have kids
after…the kids get older
after…we’ve moved to a new house
after…we have more money
after…I get that degree
after…the house is clean
after…the laundry is done
after…(fill in the blank)

OR we are constantly saying I’ll do that –

next week
next month
next year
or if its a diet…next Monday 🙂

Its time to stop waiting & stop putting off living the life we dream of and its time to begin to “start doing” the things we really want to do. Put away the excuses, destroy your “yes…but” list and begin today to live that “wonderful life”.

Some things we must wait to do because we lack the finances but many of our dreams -things we want to do, or see, or experience – we could do now or at least in the foreseeable future (enough to start planning, working and saving for), if we really wanted to.

What are your dreams?

What is the life you want to be living?

What are you doing to make it happen this year?

Take some time here during this “most wonderful time of the year” and right before we turn over the calendar to 2008 and really reflect on your life and the changes or rearranges you want to make happen. What would your “wonderful life” look like? What do you want to see come to pass this year?

As you read this weeks motivation….don’t just “save it as new” or put it in your filing cabinet as something to get to later. Take some time today and sit down with your pad of paper & a pen and make that dream list. Write out what your “wonderful life” will look like this year. Include your personal goals & dreams, your family life, your marriage, and even your career. Then begin to set things in motion to have those dreams become realities!

We only get one wonderful life – lets stop just “dreaming about things” and start living it today!

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Filed under Determination, Goals & Dreams, Inspiration, Monday Motivations

November 5, 2007 · 6:10 am

You have to want it!

Greetings to you all on this lovely crisp, clear, cool autumn morning! What a beautiful day.

I had a wonderful weekend celebrating my daughter Rebekah’s Honor Star crowning. After three years of very hard work & determination she completed a rigorous program that included earning 27 badges, memorizing countless scriptures & the books of the Bible, reading the entire New Testament, completing many service projects and much more! She is one of only four girls from our local church and a hundred girls from the Northern California/Nevada district that achieved this accomplishment. I was so very proud of her.

It got me to thinking…of the thousands of girls who start out and participate in this program….what is it that makes only a small percentage of them achieve this honor? Everything is available for them to be successful:

The program is hard but the plan is all laid out and easy to follow.
There are teachers and sponsors available to encourage, assist and keep the girls on task.
There are weekly meetings to help them complete their assignments.
There are even fabulous incentives — what young girl do you know who would not want to wear a long beautiful white dress, be crowned with a sparkling jewel laden tiara, be given flowers and escorted by her handsome prince of a father while being recognized on a local & district level?
And of course there is the wonderful feeling 0f pride for accomplishing a goal.

And yet even with all that, only a few who begin the program end up being crowned.

So what is it exactly that makes some “go for it” and others pass it by or quit in the middle??? I am sure that there are many reasons but one stood out crystal clear to me this weekend. All the girls receiving their rewards…..

Wanted it desperately!

There is a lot involved in achieving any accomplishment but it can often come down to sheer determination and will. Do you really want to achieve your goals in life? Whether they are business goals, personal goals, financial goals, physical goals, or family goals – do you really want to accomplish them?

As a high school field hockey player (on a very competitive team)…..we use to say this cheer before every game…. “You’ve got to want it to win it & we want it more! S — C — O — R — E…..score team score!”

I grew up with a Mom who use to say on a regular basis…. “Where there’s a will…there’s a way!”

And as a high school teacher when counseling a young person who was frustrated that life was not going the way they wanted it to I would often say…. “Make it happen!”

A lot of what we achieve or do not achieve in life boils down to this:

Do we really want it?

Are we willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen?

What do you really want in your life? What do you really want to do, have or accomplish? (staying home with your kids, private school tuition, losing those extra pounds, stopping that bad habit, having a fulfilling marriage, starting your own business, working at your “dream job”, getting a degree, traveling, additional income to “make ends meet” or for some “extras” in life….the list goes on & on!)

If you really want it…..you need to put your determination and will into making it happen!

Start today! I know you can!

2 Comments

Filed under Determination, Goals & Dreams, Home Business, Monday Motivations

October 1, 2007 · 4:31 pm

It’s a brand new day!

It is a Monday. It is the 1st day of October. It is the beginning of fall.

As I turn the calendar over to a brand new day, week, month & season…..I can’t help but feel that in a small way today is a new beginning, a fresh start, a chance to do new things in a new way, a blank slate with no mistakes on it. One of the things I loved about being raised in a military family & moving every few years growing up, was the ongoing opportunity to start over & begin again. As we pulled into our new city, I remember thinking that I could be & do anything I desired. I had no reputation to live up to or to try to change or overcome. No one knew my personality or preferences, my strengths or weaknesses, my failures or successes. No one even knew my name. I could start completely over and become anyone that I wanted to be.

Now the bottom line is that no matter where we go, our basic God given personality does not change and we still operate in our areas of strength and still have weaknesses to deal with. But….within those areas there is still a great deal of room for personal growth & change and we can always work on our character flaws as well as trying new and different things. As I sat in the back of our latest station wagon (you rember the ones with the wood laminate paneling & the back seat that faced the rear…oh the memories!) driving across the country I had lots of time to think about my life and what I wanted it to look like. I remember consciously deciding to be more friendly & outgoing with one move, to be a better student with another and to overcome negative peer pressure and be a leader rather than a follower after moving in high school. I even changed my name several times, as is evidenced by school work my mother saved for me. (When you are named Virginia Elizabeth & your parents called you Beth…I had many options to go by new names….my real first name, my formal middle name or variations of either…Ginny,Gin, Liz, Lizzy, Betty, Betsy etc…. It was quite amusing when those first friends would come to the door & ask for “Ginny” and no one in my house had any idea who that was!)

Who is it that you want to be today? What do you want to change about your life?

Are you tired of that extra 20, 30 or 40 pounds hanging around your waistline and want to change your physical appearance, become healthier or fit into the closet full of “skinny clothes”? You can begin a healthier lifestyle today – eating less, exercising more. (darn it! It really is that simple…what are we waiting for?) Forget your past failures…it is a new day!

Do you want to finally get that home business up & going and accomplish your personal goals? It is a new week! Start making those phone calls, marketing your services, brush up on your skills, make a business plan and begin to work that plan now.

Is there something about your character that you want to change? Do you want to stop gossiping, complaining, worrying, being negative, mean spirited, crass or condescending? Are you arrogant, argumentative, short tempered, stubborn, selfish, a perfectionist, always playing the victim, dishonest or lazy? (ouch! That’s an overwhelming list that I find myself “guilty as charged” in many areas.) We can begin now to improve our character. Pick something that you want to work on and ask for assistance from family or friends who can point out to you when you fall back into this sin. I have found one of the best ways to overcome character flaws is to actively do the exact opposite. For example – instead of gossiping say something complimentary about the person you were about to talk about, instead of complaining look for & talk about the good & positive things in life, instead of being a perfectionist let things go on purpose, when you feel like being lazy force yourself up off the couch and get going on a project.

Are you wanting to be a better wife and mother? Do you want to be purposeful about having a “dream marriage” and raising children who will grow up confident knowing they are loved, valuable and have a great purpose to make a difference in their corner of the world? Today is the day! Text message your dear darling hubby at work & tell him you love & appreciate him and you can’t wait for him to come home. Hug your kids, pray for them and begin planning how you can help shape their lives through training, teaching & role modeling the qualities you want them to have.

Do you desire to know the Lord more intimately? Do you want to develop a daily discipline of prayer & reading the Bible? This is a lifetime quest and battle for everyone who loves the Lord and wants to know Him. The amazing thing is that God Himself is just waiting to love us, speak to us, teach us & help us with each & every new day! Read Lamentations 3:22-26 The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.

Yes, it is a bright new day! A sparkling new week! A brand new month! A fresh new season! Take some time today to think about what you want your life to look like and what you need to begin to do to accomplish that. Put aside the past with all its mistakes and failures and begin a fresh new life today full of hope for the future that it will be all that you dream & desire.

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Filed under Attitude, Goals & Dreams, Home Business, Monday Motivations

September 17, 2007 · 10:11 am

After this day

In honor of the bright, talented, goal setting, driven, intense, persuasive, strong willed, lovely, going to change the world #4 Lambdin lady – Rebekah – who is turning 12 years old tomorrow, I am posting an updated Monday Motivation that I wrote seven years ago shortly after her 5th birthday. It is very timely in my own life as I am currently saying “after this day” in a couple areas of my own life. Here it is from October 2000.

This morning I was snuggling in bed with my 5 year old, Rebekah, who wants to break her life long habit of…sucking her thumb!

While we were laying there talking she put her head down on the pillow & popped her thumb in her mouth. I gently reminded her that she had made a commitment to stop sucking her thumb on her birthday a few weeks back. She pulled her thumb out of her mouth, smiled wryly at me and said with confidence “Oh Momma…I will stop sucking my thumb…..after this day“, and then promptly put that thumb right back in her mouth. After quizzing her about why she was putting it off, why she didn’t just stop today and then going over all the compelling reasons as to why she should stop, she finally said with exasperation “it’s toooooo hard, Momma!”

Hmmmm, now doesn’t that sound familiar? Isn’t that pretty much what we all do when something is just to hard or will take to much time, effort & energy? We tell ourselves we will do it – “after this day”. What types of things are you putting off doing? Do any of these hit home with you?

going on that diet or exercising regularly & eating healthy
starting that home based business (or really beginning to actually work at the one you’ve already started)
getting on a budget or having a financial plan and sticking to it
doing something with our precious photographs (you know the ones that you say are so important that they are first thing you’d save in a fire or flood?)
finally quitting smoking, drinking, gossiping, overeating, complaining (or whatever your bad habit or vice is…we all have them)
getting together with, writing a letter or calling that old dear friend of ours who we have not connected with recently
writing those long overdue thank you notes
beginning to work toward achieving that personal dream you have in your heart
volunteering your time or giving your money to that organization you really believe in
going to church, joining that Bible study or spending consistent time in the Word and prayer
being bold and opening my mouth and sharing my faith with those who need the Lord
mending that broken relationship or asking forgiveness
being purposeful about creating a meaningful family life & raising children who have your values, morals & faith
_______________________________ (list what you are putting off until “after this day”)

But unfortunately, too often for many of us “after this day” never comes. Saying or thinking we will do things “after this day” just helps us to justify the fact that we are not doing what we say we want or need to do! It gives us a false hope that perhaps someday we really will. Telling ourselves “after this day” pacifies us just like Rebekah’s thumb pacifies her.

Our “after this day” often sounds like this –

after….this crazy, busy, out of control week (month, season or even year)
after….my kids start school (go back to school, get out of school, graduate from school or leave home)
after….I get organized (settled down, clean my house or office desk)
after….I have this baby (the next baby or the last baby)
after….the holidays (my birthday, vacation or that special event)
after….I get that job (quit that job, finish that assignment or retire)
after…everything is perfect! (“when the moon is in the seventh house & Jupiter aligns with Mars” to quote a popular 70’s song that often makes me laugh at myself & others when we make crazy excuses that we are waiting for just the right time!)
after…..____________________(fill in the blank with your favorite reason to put off something)

Of course occasionally it is appropriate to wait or put off something until a better time but more often than not it is simply just an excuse to not do something or at least get started in that direction. Let’s get honest with ourselves today and first decide what is it that you REALLY want to do.

Do you really want to lose that weight & live a healthier life? Do you really want to make extra income, have less stress and be able to enjoy some financial freedom that owning/working a business, budgeting or planning can bring you? Would you love to have your photos and memories organized, preserved and available to be easily enjoyed regularly? Are you tired of bad habits, character flaws or unhealthy lifestyles controlling you? Do you long to have restored relationships with loved ones? Do you want to have the personal fulfillment & blessing of giving of your time, talent or treasure to a worthy cause? Do you need to be in a growing relationship with God? Do you want to live a meaningful life and pass on your values, morals & faith to your children? Do you have a dream or goal that often wells up in your heart and mind that you would love to see become a reality?

What is it that you want to do that you keep putting off until another time? Perhaps it is time to STOP saying “after this day” and start saying TODAY IS THE DAY! Forget the past failures, present hardships and put away the many excuses. Begin this very day to do the things you need to do to move you closer to accomplishing your life goals & your dreams!

Here’s to starting….TODAY!

2007 update: Rebekah did eventually stop sucking her thumb but not until she was forced to by the orthodontist who put a palate expander in the roof of her mouth. She was nine years old by that time and had to suffer the pain & problems of extensive dental work in part because of her “after this day” decision. There is almost always some type of consequence to putting off important things in our lives until “after this day”. A life lesson that has hopefully been learned well so she can avoid in the future having an “after this day” mentality.

She is now a twelve year old and a tenacious “go getter”! She is all about planning, working & accomplishing her goals & dreams. And her attitude is always….Let’s do it NOW. Here is her current “short list” of things she wants to do and/or accomplish –

Start her own business this year (actually 2 different businesses – a “Moms morning out” and a trash can cleaning business)
Make lots of money (she wants to buy a high quality digital camera, travel, add to her beauty product collection, give money to missions and save.)
Travel to Hawaii & Texas in 2008
Glorify God by being kind & compassionate to others
To consistently help the homeless & hungry by having fast food gift cards & water in the car ready to pass out at any given time.

Rebekah – You go girl! Happy Birthday

Photo by Sallee Photography

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Filed under Goals & Dreams, Home Business, Monday Motivations, Time Management

September 10, 2007 · 6:03 am

Live, Love & Laugh

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind

from Casting Crowns song – “Who am I?”

I have spent the past few days pouring over photos of a mans life in preparation for a slide presentation for his memorial service today. He lived 64 years and from what I can tell thru those photos he packed a lot of living, loving & laughing into those years.

The photographs depicted a man who loved & stayed committed to the wife of his youth, a man who was actively involved in his childrens lives bringing him joy and fulfillment, a man who had children that adored him, a man who had stayed close with his extended family, a man who enjoyed fishing, photography & the outdoors, a hard working man who once proudly served his country in the military and a man who smiled a lot, laughed and enjoyed life.

To some he lived a long & fulfilling life, to others his life was cut short. To me……he lived a lifetime. His lifetime happened to be 64 years. His appointed time covered 768 months or 3,328 weeks, or 23,296 days. Each and everyone of us has been given our own lifetime to live. We do not know is how long that appointed time will be. It could come to an end just around the next bend or it could be next week, next month, next year or in the next decade or beyond. We could have thousands of weeks or days left to live or we could have just a few months or years. We just do not know. (and in this world of “knowing” and being in control of almost everything…this really bugs some of us!) All we do know for sure is that one day all of our lives will come to an end. (as my dear darling hubby tells his Junior/Senior world view class – “Here is an accurate statistic for you – 10 out of 10 people die”)

At the end of my appointed lifetime ….what do I want the photographs of my life to depict?

I want people to see someone who lived –

I strive to live my life with compelling purpose & with passion. I hope to make a difference in the lives of those around me. I live to glorify God! I want to have energy, enthusiasm & excitement. I desire to live a fulfilling life and to have very few regrets.

I want people to see someone who loved –

I love the Lord my God. I love my dear darling hubby. I love my wonderful children. I love my large extended fabulous family. I love my dearest life long friends. I love my former students and their families. I love my co-workers & clients. I love my large circle of friends from different seasons of life & different parts of the country.

I want to love those who are hard to love – the destitute, the outcast, the unlovable. I want to love those who see me as their adversary or who make my life difficult. I want to love with an unconditional love.

I want people to see someone who laughed –

I want my life to be joyful & filled with memorable moments. I want to smile a lot. (as my daughter reminds me often… “Smile Mom! It releases endorphins!”) I want to be less intense and more relaxed (ie: stop sweating the small stuff) I want to laugh a lot!

When your appointed lifetime comes to an end….what do you want the photographs of your life to depict?

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Filed under Attitude, Goals & Dreams, Monday Motivations

August 27, 2007 · 5:53 am

Lesson plan for life

Can someone please tell me when the month of August ceased being summertime?

Isn’t August still a time for “floatin’ fools in the swimming pools”, mouthwatering backyard barbecues with friends, carnivals & state fairs, baseball games, enjoying ice coffee & conversation on the patio in the cool of the evening after a sweltering day. (Ok, ok…so I live in California…my apologies to those of you who live in the weather ravaged parts of the world where its still HOT & HUMID at 9pm), late night ice cream sundaes in front of a newly rented movie and sleeping in as late as you want in the morning! It is truly the best of the “dog days of summer” …no schedules, no agenda…just enjoying the easy living of summer!

These days summer seems to come to a screeching halt by the end of July as more & more schools are choosing early start dates instead of the traditional day after Labor Day….1st day of school. My life has been affected by this evolution….with dear darling hubby working at an educational institution that began mid August & # 2 daughter attending there, the charter school I homeschool thru following suit, soccer practices already in full swing for the fall season & even the local neighborhood pool cutting back their hours to weekends & “after school” (even though its 98 degrees outside!). It has even dampened my September 1st birthday celebration that use to always be the last week of summer vacation with no worries, no school, no homework! (and I didn’t care about missing out on cupcakes in the classroom…I’d take a vacation time birthday party over that anytime!) Yes, in my world …it is & should still be summer with all its many wonderful diversions!

So since I refuse to conform to this “new” definition of August…for me today begins the final week of summertime before school starts. It is a time to continue to enjoy the lazy days of summer while beginning to form a plan for the upcoming school year.

Next week when we officially begin lessons (as a homeschooling family our philosophy is “life is school” but we do complete lessons!) we will all be up a bit earlier in the morning, getting supplies together, and making sure the kids are properly dressed…before getting out the camera for the first day of school pictures. (the rest of the year they can do their school work in their PJ’s for all I care…but have to have those pictures!)

Having personally been entrenched in education for over 21 years (11 as a high school teacher & administrator and the past 10 years as a home school teacher)… I always see this time of year as a new beginning. A fresh start to a brand new school year that I can make into whatever I want it to be. The past school year (with all its failures, mistakes as well as successes) is over and gone, only to be remembered through report cards, school records and the scrapbook or yearbook.

I always loved that feeling! I had an empty lesson planner and a school year calendar sitting blank in front of me and I would create whatever type of year I wanted. I could continue to fine tune & develop the things that were successful and make them even better. I could try brand new, perhaps even “risky” ideas in hopes of inspiring my students in their quest of learning. As I sat there with my yearly calendar, my goals & objectives and my weekly lesson plans…the sky was the limit as to what I could do & accomplish that new school year. BUT one thing was always certain….I never started a new school year without a “plan”. None of us would accept our children’s teacher telling us that they had no specific plan for the year…no goals or objectives….that they were just going to see what happened. We would leave that classroom (in shock!) and head to the principals office demanding a new teacher!

YET…that is exactly what many of us do with our lives. We just “let it happen” without any goals & objectives and with very little planning and then we wonder why its “not working” for us? I want to challenge you today, during this week before new beginnings(like the start of a new school year, even if your kids started weeks ago!) to begin to make a plan for your year. Forget the past…and make today a fresh new start.

Begin with the end in mind!

Well, maybe not the very end (although that’s an excellent way to live….thinking about what you want your life to have looked like when you are on your death bed!) Let’s start with this – Next August what do you want your life to look like? What personal or family habits do you want to cultivate? What new traditions do you want to establish or new ways to celebrate life? What do you want to teach your children? What do you want for your marriage and/or family relationships? Do you have any new skills you want to acquire or talents you want to improve upon or use? Where do you want to be spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally & financially?

After you write out your dreams, goals, objectives…..take each of them and make a list of what needs to happen to accomplish them. Then “calendar” those things into your year & write out your life’s lesson plans.

Here is one example –

Goal: To get caught up & stay current on my family photo albums

Ways to accomplish this: weekly time set aside to journal, monthly workshops, yearly retreats

What to put on the life lesson plan & calendar: Journaling time every Sunday afternoon for 1 hour (during baby’s nap), First Friday of the month attend a 4 hour workshop to complete albums, Every August go on a scrapbooking weekend retreat with friends.

Here is a “heavier” example

Goal: The family to mature spiritually over the next year.

What to put on the life lesson plan & calendar: Calendar in weekly church attendance,yearly mission trip or other local outreach opportunity (like working at a local soup kitchen or passing out blankets to the homeless). Decide on best time for family prayer & devotions and make it happen. (even if you begin with once a week rather than daily) Pick a verse to begin memorizing and post it around the house (bathroom mirrors, fridge, car dash board etc..) – practice together daily at a family meal or while driving to school. Research making holidays meaningful & implement one thing to each holiday this year. Provide a “quiet time” at home (even if it is just 15 minutes) for cultivating a relationship with God thru the word & personal prayer & meditation.

So as the summer winds down & the new school year begins – Write out your dreams & goals for this year, make a life’s lesson plan & then put that plan into action! Don’t continue to just let life “happen” BUT rather “MAKE IT HAPPEN”. You will reap great rewards for your efforts.

Here’s to next August as you are enjoying the “dog days of summer” basking in the sun by the pool, you’ll also enjoy looking back at your many accomplishments of the past year & basking in the glory of a life well lived.

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Filed under Goals & Dreams, Monday Motivations, Time Management

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