Good news... What a dynamic choice of words! Considering what one may perceive as the news of a lifetime might in fact be someone else’s nightmares come to pass.

So it was this morning as I awoke to the morning light. Visualize Sherry... Just visualize! But today, for the first time a little cloud or maybe it was ray of light revealing the truth beyond the dream...

The thought continued to run through my mind... "Buyer Beware”; as well as the famed quote that I have so, so, so many times repeated to my kids, family and friends over the years. "Beware of what you want, you just may get it!"

Ah ha, a revelation in itself if you ask me! I am actually heeding or at least repeating in my mind, my own words of advice... Not a common denominator in most of my follies... And as much as I may hate to admit to it, there have been more than my share.

Can I at least blame some of them in part of my co-conspirators? The biggest partner in crime is no doubt my Mother... But there have been a few others to add to the list.. Such as my lovely sister-in-law Amy, My beautiful adopted daughter Sharell to name only a couple of those along life’s highway!

One of those follies that most recently sticks in my mind is Mom's and my big plans to go into the nursery business... Not universally speaking, just trees. And not all trees, but just one type. It was supposed to be so easy you guessed it "A cave man could do it!" Will, I have to tell you; those cave men are surely smarter than us. I have my thoughts on why they all died and she has her ideas, but the fact remains they did in fact all die long before anything good came of it or even looked like it might.


What in God's green earth does that have to do with the Big, Old, Victorian house on the hill? Not much of anything, other than the questions that were raised when my beloved husband pointed out that one of the old toilets in the house was cracked.

Now keep in mind, we currently live in an old farm house and we know cracked toilets don't necessarily denote frozen water lines... But we have also been around the block a time or two and know there is no rhyme or reason in signing all these waivers releasing the bank in an "AS IS" real estate deal without at the very least knowing when the winterization took place!

Thank you Jesus, we didn't just fall off the turnip truck after all.... But of course, my beloved would surely take all the credit for this realization. After all, I went to check the outside line water pressure and only surmised that all the water (inside and out) was shut off for the winter. In my own defense…this in itself is not an unreasonable consideration.

The house on the hill can be someone else’s home if they don't give us a winterization date that coincides with dates prior the first freeze of the fall! That would be the money pit/funny farm that would drive us all to drink or the grave for sure...


So, here I am this morning, attempting to visualize and realizing the reality of the vision could be something much different than what I have conjured into my thoughts the past few days.

I'm still excited to find out the facts...But more excited to find them out before signing on the dotted line than one might have originally thought.

In addition, in light of all of this, a beloved family member was quick to remind me of my over optimism some twenty plus years ago when we were looking at a "SO CALLED" ranch in Chugwater Wyoming. What everyone else seen as poop, including their darling eight year old daughter, I seen as possibility. So what that the house had no windows, missing floors and the roof was falling in.... What can I say besides, old memories die hard but it sure made me laugh!

So, back to the hurry up and wait game! The holding bank hasn't called back with the dates it was winterized and our bank hasn't called back with the go ahead yet. All I can say is after three days of not really wanting to turn the whole project over to God... For fear that he might tell me no - sound familiar? I did in fact tell him it was over my head and I was leaving it up to him once more.

I suppose there is a lot of peace in this as I now have someone new to blame if the follies of the Big House on the Hill turns into yet another of my personal disasters in this journey we call life. Let me state however, even the disasters have not been without purpose!

I'm still visualizing but realistically this time. And when it happens I will know that I know, just as I thought that I knew to begin with!

Let me surmise the day this way: In process.... And attempting to trust it as I go! But loving life regardless! After all, sometimes it's fun to laugh at our past experiences!

Wishing Love and Laughter to all!

Just a FYI and seemingly appropriate to the message on waiting in todays blog -

My book "A LOVE BEYOND TIME" published by Publish America, by little old me - Sherry Lipari, is now past the lay out stage. We should only be a matter of a couple months if that away from it being available for sale or at least available to order at book stores and on line!!!! I'm so excited!
Just wanted to share the big news! And one more thing... I will be sharing about the book and a few scenes when we get closer to the big release! I hope everyone who reads it enjoys it even half as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Bye for now!

Tuesday/Wednesday March 11&12 2008

Sure, we've all been there! Waiting and waiting, only to wait some more…we wait at red stop lights that sometimes feel as though they last a half hour each... But the reality is they really only last a couple minutes at the longest.

Still, even knowing this or watching the clock to actually time the reality of the wait, we feel the blood start to rise. I'm sure it is safe to say that every single one of us has at sometime been anxious for something of which we were forced to wait on.

You may say, "No, not me, I don't drive." But I bet there is some area of your life that you have anxiously awaited at some time.

It starts out so young and so innocent, awaiting a diaper change or a bottle. Then we begin waiting to be old enough to go outside by ourselves. This is followed by the wait to get to go to school.

Once underway in elementary school we can scarcely restrain ourselves from thinking about high school. High school finds us eager to be top dog again and wanting to be seniors. Once we make it that far, we want nothing more than to be done with our high school experience.

I know this is true 99.9% of the time, as I was there myself. But more over, I have raised countless other youth in the same stage of development with the very same considerations.

And so it continues all through out our life... Some can hardly wait for their big wedding day. Then when we plan to start a family, anxiously awaiting the test strip to tell us we hit pay dirt and the baby is on the way... all this for what? To only find ourselves once more impatiently awaiting (sometimes sick too boot) the new arrival.

The baby comes and fills our hearts with renewed joy and we forget the wait! That is until they hit the terrible two's and guess what? You got it; we look forward to the magical three's for a reprieve from the daily reality dealt by a two year old!

I'm sure you have the idea I'm getting at by now. Let's face it; we truly are by nature, an impatient sort of creature! With all this considered, I would simply have to guess God made us that way... Or maybe it's just more Satan poop. lol

But whatever the case may be, I am waiting... and waiting.... and waiting...

Yes, I'm awaiting the letter from the bank to make the offer on the property that we have visited now two days out of three.

I know what you must be thinking, but please!!!! Of course we had a reason to return the very next day and enjoy sitting in the sun on that wonderful deck once more!

We needed to check the well water production... Unfortunately, we were unable to do that as all the water on the property is shut off for the time of year we are in. Drats!

However, water aside; it just didn't make much sense for my sister-in-law to drive all the way back the other direction to our current home to pick up her children that we were watching. It made a lot more sense to await her there on the deck and enjoy the sunshine for one more day in my make believe world.

Incidentally, the dogs barked once again at her arrival... Hee hee hee...

However, shortly after her arriving and my showing her the yard and pointing out what room was behind each window - (like she was really interested regardless), a car invaded our privacy! Can you believe that? Just driving right up our drive and sitting in her car without so much as identifying herself.

No, I'm not losing my mind, but it was rather amusing. All I can say in reality is, I'm glad it's such a long driveway to allow us ample time to put the dogs in the car before the other realtor was all the way up to the house.

I explained to her that we were there to check the water out put (unsuccessfully I added) and stated our realtors name.

Of course, she was preparing to show the home herself to another potential buyer... I wanted to tell her we already had a contract submitted, but that would have been a lie, and one she could to easily verify. Tee hee hee...

Therefore, instead we loaded up and assured her that we would get out of her way so she could proceed with her showing. The other potential buyer had not shown up by the time we left, but no doubt they were well on their way.

Of course, we all know the sales psychology of how that whole "everyone wants it and only one is gonna get it" works.... Apparently, we are not different in this area of reactive responsive behaviors.

You guessed it, we jumped on the phone quickly attempting to firm up the questions we had and attempting to contact the banker for the letter he has to issue for our offer to even be entertained.

He's a busy man as well, and yes, you guessed it again! We're still waiting! We should have the letter maybe tonight but hopefully no later than tomorrow.

Than we get to sign our lives away on bank releases that lock us into a "Buy at your own risk deal", that could turn out to be our own personal version of "The Funny Farm" (a movie with Chevy Chase as a writer... How coincidental is that?).

If you have ever seen the "Funny Farm" movie then you have some idea of what I'm saying here. And if you haven't seen it, I would recommend it for a family appropriate movie that offers a ton of laughs!

Needless to say, my adoring son has already told me I do not need to put any more little yard ponds in at this house should we get it. My family has long since been annoyed at the additional mosquitoes and other issues that my water features have encouraged at our current home and the one prior to it, so many years ago.

However, when the thought of the movie came up, the pre-conceived idea of a future conversation between my son and I went something like this:

Chad - "You just had to put in another darn pond didn't you Mom?"

My response - "How was I supposed to know Grandpa was buried there?"

I bet you think I have one sick and twisted imagination by now - but if you watch the movie - you will get the gist of the thoughts! LOL

Okay, on that note, I have to toodle doo to town for errands!

Stay tuned for the next spell binding episode of "How My Life Turns".

Thinking positive, enjoying the journey and still trusting the process!

God Bless!

Monday - March 10, 2008

Speaking of forwarded emails....

Yes, I admit I am one of those that on occassion figure I can't afford any more bad karma or bad luck than what has inadvertantly found me as it is. Though, I have to state right here and now, I don't truly believe any of that stuff! Unless of course, I think it.. Remember - earlier on "As A man thinks, so is he..."

So, when the thought crosses my mind, if I truly believe that old proverb - then it is more than likely a good idea to send those on-going forwarded emails on to the next party. Even though I know many if not most of my email buddies probably delete them without even reading through.

Quite frankly, I'm perfectly okay with that too. I once more (a bit red faced to admit to it) have been guilty of deleting a few here and there along the way. On those occassions when the email box is so over loaded with unread "STUFF", sometimes it truly appears to be the only solution.

On the ohter hand, I do try to read most of what I get from friends and family... They took the time to share it with me, which in my mind counts for something.... Therefore, if at all possible, I need to attempt to read it, even if I don't duplicate the process and send it on again.

I have deleted emails and can assure you, something bad has not happened to me because of it! Nothing bad, other than I might be thinking "That may have been a message that someone really needed to hear today..." Then again, God is infinite and I'm quite sure is capable of reaching others with a message with my assistance or not. After all, no one, and I do mean no one, is indispensable in this old world... This reminds me, the one guarantee we have in life is death...

No, I'm not being morbid! Remember, I am a big time fan and believer in the concept of the here after. Me for one, plan to be with the Lord in eternity past this life. On the other hand, perhaps we are not guaranteed death at all??? If the rapture occurs in advance of dying, then so be it! I'm okay with that too.

Geeze, did I ever get off the subject there! I was referring to one of those stupid emails that promises a wish come true if you'd send it on. It was an easy one to do with a short, pleasant message that I felt would be encouraging to a few of my dear ones today.

After all, it did promise a wish come true - something I had long hoped for. I was optimistic as I await a good word on my movie script and/or the cover of my book.... However, I have to say it was neither of these things that came to pass to brighten an otherwise off schedule Monday.

However, in all fairness, for a Monday it wasn't all bad. Those beautiful Colorado blue skies and looming mountain peaks at the distance were still beckoning me outside. Hence, where the good fortune finally caught up with me.

My Mom and I headed out to run a few errands and go by a property for sale on the way. In case I didn't mention it before, that is something we have toyed with (moving that is) for sometime now. We had found a place we liked fairly well a few weeks ago and as we began the process, it was sold in a cash deal right out from under us. Don't feel to bad about it though... I wasn't 100% sold on the location anyway and they say God knows best.

So, after locating the property that we had been misguided to on the Saturday before, our anticipation begins to mount. We not only drove by, but stopped by. Not to worry, the property is currently empty and no police showed up to check us out.

Walking the surrounding acres, we were even actually able to let the two dogs out with us while awaiting my son's arrival. We found ourselves lost in the views and surroundings as we made ourselves comfortable on the redwood deck around the back side of the house. No doubt we were ready to move in... Okay, maybe that is a bit over zealous, but at the very least we were ready to see the rest of the house. The funniest part was when my son pulled up the driveway and the dogs started barking as if they were at home.

We discovered the home had only been on the market for a short time with ample interest too date... Therefore, if possible we wanted to see it tonight. Hence, it worked out and we got to walk through it.

Have you ever walked into a place and just knew that you knew; not sure what exactly you knew, but you knew nonetheless? Well then, if you have, you udnerstand the feeling and emotions that I was experiencing in walking through this very old in years, old fashioned Victorian, large (VERY LARGE) home. Keep in mind we do foster care and have a large number of occupants in our home at any one time.

There are some trade offs for us with this property over some of the other properties we've considered... But truthfully, not enough to even ponder. It was as if it were made for us and our current needs.

Best of all, it is surrounded by undeveloped farm land, sitting off the road a safe distance for the kids, animals and life in general! The old part, combined with the Victorian style is fitting of my personality to a tee. And of course, the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree - so my Mom loved it too!

Was it the encouraging message that found us visitng a place of destiny or just another forward to bug those who I persisted in sending it too? I don't personally think the email had a darn thing to do with it, but I do think my positive thinking may have. And I was believing for something good to come down the pike!

I don't know what is going to happen, but I know we were all in agreement and ready to check out the building codes and such to make this dream a reality. I'll keep you posted! But for tonight I will go to sleep not with visions of sugar plums dancing in my head... But rather visions of our family gathering together and how it will look when we move in.

I want you to know, saying something so positive has been a matter I have had to work on. It does't come naturally! In fact, I said the words I am attempting to break myself of earlier today. I found my excitement growing uncontrolably and then began attempting to brace against the unwanted... I said I didn't want to get my hopes up to high; knowing I will be terribly disappointed if it doesn't happen. But really, that is no more than a negative thought that creates that misaligned destiny for our futures. So, I'm stepping up to the plate and believing for a homerun! I'm thinking positive... And what will be, will be.

For a Monday, it was fun. Consider if I died tomorrow, I died with a wonderful dream and vision of what could be, and thinking positive of what will be!

It's almost as if I were living like I'm going to live forever which looks an awful lot the same as living like I were dying after all. Sort of a strange twist there... But in reality, the message is clear: this truly is how we should be living!

So, put on a happy face, live life as if tomorrow may never come; and believe that every dream you have ever had is coming true in the meantime! What a wonderful concept!

Trusting the process....

Love to all!

Good Sunday Morning to one and all! March 9, 2008

It is once more a most beautiful day in North Eastern Colorado. Looking outside at the incredible, blue skies in contrast to the awe inspiring Rocky Mountains, I am once more reminded “God has been, is and will always remain in my process!!!”

I have told this story many times over and will more than likely tell it countless more times before I leave this great earth, so bear with me if you hear it more than once… But days like this remind me of my son when he was in kindergarten so many years ago.

We were on our way home, as I had to drive him back and forth to his class after we moved in the middle of the year several miles away. For whatever reason, it was a later than normal return home and the sun was setting behind those incredible mountain peaks once more.

This particular day the clouds and sun rays were grouped in a fashion that rendered the sunset to be absolutely breathtaking. Commenting on the view before us as we drove he agreed with me to the splendor of the scene in only the way a five year old would. But then I asked him what it made him think of.

His answer was more than profound and has remained with me ever since. It has reminded me not only of God’s infinite splendor in all that surrounds me, but it also the splendor in the in explainable blessing of a child and the purity of their untainted thoughts.

His words were without intent to impress, but rather having been impressed. He simply stated, “It makes me wish I could paint like God.”

I wish I could too…. :)

Okay, onto the news of the day. I’m sorry I’ve been missing in action for the past week, more or less that is. You know it…good old Hughes Net. So how am I here now you may be asking?

I am using a new means of communicating with the outside world via wireless internet access through Verizon on my daughter-in-law’s access! I’m so impressed that I am ready to sign on the dotted line to have my own access. So, the house is equipped with a rather large and somewhat unattractive satellite dish that is absolutely useless. But that’s okay if I can get back to work.

I still remember a day, not so long ago, when I had one phone and it was a land line. I didn’t have voice messaging, caller I.D., call waiting and I actually had to dial the number I was calling. There was no text messaging or email and Internet was for the most part, unknown to me. Cell phones were something that no one really wanted unless they absolutely had to, as carrying around the small suitcase sized bag phones was more than inconvenient, but down right uncomfortable!

So I wonder now how it has gone from that to this. We now have two land lines in the house; between the household members there are five cell phones, and two different Internet services (soon to be only one). Due to our location in the midst of the country setting, our land lines do not have any extras, other than an external voice messaging machine, which most people apparently don’t much like to talk to regardless.

My question remains: How did we make it for so many years without all these contraptions? But more over, how much damage are we really doing to ourselves by using them so often? Not just technologically speaking, but there are no doubt other factors as well.

Really, thinking back on it… We didn’t entertain ourselves as kids by video games, texting or emailing. No sir, I was raised in a mountain community and if I wanted to go sledding or otherwise play with a friend, generally my mom would call ahead to the friends parents and either I would walk to their home or likewise they would walk to mine. It was not next door in the sense of the word we know of neighborhoods, but rather a good couple miles. Funny though, we didn’t measure it that way! No, instead we’d end up going for more walks, to the fishing hole, a picnic in the neighboring forest by a small, babbling brook, or any other number of destinations we would find and consider our secret places.

What were the benefits of such a lifestyle lost to the technology? For one was the benefit of fitness, which is the most obvious benefit, but there are more!

We learned to play and interact with others in a far more productive manner. We had to share, listen and be willing to give something in turn for our friendship and play time.

We would often help each other with chores and responsibilities to insure we had more time to play, as we discovered the tasks could be done twice as fast if we joined forces and did them together. We didn’t do it because we had to, but because we wanted to share the burden. Yet, we didn’t even know that is what we were doing in reality.

We also had a deep sense of community, though we sure didn’t know that was what it was called. Only now do we know the meaning of such words due to the fact it has been long since lost in our busy society, seemingly never to be found again.

Trust me when I say, we had community fun! I recall one that sticks in my mind; Huck Finn and Becky Thatcher Day…. Yes, I admit I won the Becky Thatcher contest one year… It wasn’t about winning or losing though, it was about all the fun we had! The neighbor boy, with his jeans rolled up and a stick fishing pole, barefoot with a tattered old hat to shield his face. Then there was me in one of my square dancing dresses (very full skirt) with a lighter slip than what I actually danced in, lacy bloomers, knee socks and slipper shoes. The lacy little umbrella and the long blonde curls didn’t hurt… But as I said, it was really about the fun we had!

I could go on and on forever, and perhaps the reason this all even comes to mind today was from one of our boys saying something that was fun in his opinion and my raising an eye brow to it… Then he asked what fun was in my youth. I didn’t rush into a judgmental explanation, but it sure made me think. I suppose he wouldn’t have understood anyway; “I guess you had to be there….”

However, in some fashion, God blessed our one biological son with at least a taste of this sweet past. Due to some varying learning styles back in his elementary years, home schooling quickly became the only reasonable option in my mind back so many years ago. There were times I swore I would never do it again if I had it to do over. But in hind sight, the price was worth the prize.

I make no excuses for the fact that Chad grew up in a somewhat sheltered life, which was no doubt a good thing. Consider that he was exposed to some of the most radical of stories, kids and situations with the foster youth who lived with us as well. You might say not your average only child lifestyle.

Looking back on how the times of old touched his life in some small way, I only have to reminisce on those home schooling days. His recess time was spent with his best friend back then, her name was Cookie. His priceless paint mare that grew up with him, watching over him as his recess attendant, exploring uncharted territory in our small pastures, conquering windmills like Don Quiote and loving with the most unconditional form of love I have ever witnessed.

Was it worth it? Oh, most definitely!

Much like me, he wasn’t involved in soccer practice all days of the week, and games on the weekends, or any other number of things that today’s world has replaced family and parenting time with… No, he was discovering the world in an old fashioned way, meeting neighbors in our small rural community by approaching them and getting to know them, much the same as I did back in my youth. He was spending the weekends with us, his family, doing family things.

Don’t get me wrong; when he wanted to play football in high school, we thought it was great. When he wanted to race cars at the local speedways, we sat by nervously watching as he went round after round; and many other sectors of his youth fulfilling moments…

But there was more than just a hurried schedule of going here and getting there, with never enough time to even notice the roses, let alone stopping to smell them.

You can knock the old way of life, but when it’s all said and done at the end of the day, I’m not so sure we have it so much better after all.

So, on that note… Take the time today to see the roses, the blue skies (or the purity of a snow laden ground in other areas) and the beauty that surrounds each of us, if we will just take the time to see it. And if at all possible, do yourself a favor and do more than just see it! Live it, breathe it, and love all that life has to offer – most of all your family. Remember, children grow up fast and you can’t have those precious years back! I am certain; the best gifts come from God in the form of our families!

As for me you ask? I’ll be enjoying the day, praising the Lord and taking in the beauty of the moment…

And as a well known song would say…. “Don’t Worry – Be Happy!”

P.S.
I should be back on track now with daily blogs – so do be sure to check back soon!