Yes, two days of the week down - As the work week falls anyway. I have found a great deal of trouble in getting on board with the week this time around. I nearly feel as if the first week of day light savings time hit me this week, though it has been several weeks since the time change.

I would be inclined to turn the alarm clock off and roll over for another few hours, at least! However, the reality is this idea is not an option. As most mothers are well aware, so it is as a foster mother too! Rain, snow, sleet or flu, we have to drag ourselves out of bed and roll into the day rather we want to or not.

Yet, I admit there are times with the kids all in school that I can sneak back under the covers for a little extra day dreaming time. Shhhh... You didn't hear that from me - okay?
There are some things that we need to keep between ourselves here! I'm sure you agree!

I have received the "that sucks about the house" sympathetic concern already. However, I surely don't want anyone to see it that way. I'm interpreting it a bit differently than this. I see it as one answer that gives us renewed direction. What was a bit frustrating was the time in wait that we were experiencing prior. However, a response one way or the other is always a good thing really.

It isn't a “no”, it's a “yes” to a different path and if we truly trust that God is in the process, as I do; then it's all good!

I'm not all together sure where this is all leading too, and I suppose ultimately I don't have to know. What I do know is this. Many new ideas and pursuits are replacing a mind set of being put on hold for well over a month now. These are new ideas that hold great promise and are anything but negative in themselves. I knew there were many things about a move that I was not looking forward to. In addition, there were also many things about our current home and location that I truly don't cherish the idea of giving up. The fact of the matter that we looked at, considered and even moved forward on another property for a time gave me a new perspective and interpretation of what we should be doing with the vast and wasted format of our current home. Therefore, if you look at it from that point of view, it truly is all good!

I have to ask myself if I would be seeing the potential that I now see here, had I not first had to visualize that of which we not only would have wanted to do, but would have been forced to do to make the other house on the hill suitable for our needs. If such a pursuit increased my vision, than how can that be bad? It simply can't!

Therefore, I'm looking forward to the upcoming input and plans that can be completed and shown to us in the near future. First of all, I believe we will see about fixing the electrical matters with the tax return. With that done, we should be able to see about getting the hot tub going and useable as well. This in itself will be a huge perk! I've been given a couple varied ideas on future plans and I have to say that I am open to all ideas and perspectives and then we can go with the best or generally the most serviceable ideas.

Therefore, don't stop dreaming or believing if something doesn't turn out quite the way you visualized it! If it offered a new insight and increased your vision, which it will if you allow it too, it will have been well worth the journey.

I am closing for now - and hope you are all visualizing and moving closer to your ultimate goals even as you read here now!

God Bless!
Sher-Bear

It's Monday, another week filled with renewed promise! Promise of what the future holds in store.

I spent a good part of the afternoon getting reacquainted with the web site of the publishing company of my up-coming book. It was a pleasant matter to see the book in their on-line book store collection - respectively found under the author name - Sherry Lynn Lipari which did not acknowledge my name without the Lynn included.

I was reading on promotions and book signing and all that good stuff and felt suddenly overwhelmed with the whole process! Yet, it's still rewarding, I feel as though I have made it this far in many of the endeavors in my life.... And surely, I don't take these successes lightly or for granted. However, I want to see it go beyond this point and that is where the overwhelming emotions come into play.

The devil really likes to take advantage of such emotions and to cause us to stall out, spin our tires without forward motion, if you know what I mean. I am digging in my heels and determined to fight back this time. I also know I have to get buy with writing and creating again. One book published and one movie script in promotions stages hardly constitutes me as a successful writer, at least in my way of looking at it. The bar is raised once more and it is up to me to meet and exceed it.

As for "The Big House on the Hill".... With the time passed with the one bank who was dragging on and on but resulted in learning that there were far too many outstanding bad loans on the books to lend on this one. As for the back up source, it didn't fly either. So, I am to assume God has us right where he wants us until something so blatantly obvious knocks us up along side the head that we have to dead to not notice... That means I can begin to get serious about doing some major renovation this summer. We have to tear out the current lean-too shelters for the horses and get them rebuilt over the summer months; since Chad currently has the excavation business we need to get our water lines taken care of, replacing and putting in some new lines which will ultimately make life much easier all the way around next winter. I want to talk to the owner and see about locking in at least part of the property here and see what it will cost to renovate and remodel the house, adding some much needed living space, and putting a floor in the attic to make it a useable room for the future. I know it's hot and cold up there, but once a floor is in, we can address insulating the ceiling, putting in an attic fan and/or window fans for summer and a wall heater or free standing electric stove for winter.

As you can see, I have been making back up plans all along and never gave up the idea that we may be right where God wants us. Then again, I'd be a liar if I said that I'm sure of that as well. I had the strangest thought today. It was before knowing about the loan so it wasn't a result of that at all. However, it was as if the still small voice inside of me that has generally been deciphered the past as what I consider the whisperings of the Lord's Holy Spirit. It had to do with Ron's work moving us and being prepared to follow through.

Now, considering Ron has never said a word of such matters and to my knowledge this is not a likely possibility, I'm not sure where it came from or why. However, I will file it into the memory banks and be prepared to act on it if something should come to pass in such areas. It still appeared to be a rather peculiar thought regardless.

So, for now... I'm going to focus my on-going energy into doing what needs to be done around here and being thankful for what we have been blessed with.

If I were to get a huge movie offer tomorrow... Would I go buy "The Big House on the Hill"? I'm not sure... I suppose I would have to pray on that one! I tend to believe that many times in our lives doors close for a reason... Perhaps that is the case with this house as I have shared some valid concerns in the past. However, don't get me wrong.... I still think it is an awesome house! Nonetheless, all things work to good for those who serve the Lord, and I have to believe this is the case in the house situation as well. Many times we struggle to see the grace and the good in very unfortunate situations, but over time, if we allow the process to unfold as it is meant to and trust God to guide the way; we generally find cause and effect in time.

Remembering yet one more time... "God is in the process, therefore trust the process."

I think I will call it a night here pretty quick. I'm still attempting to recoop from the weekend of racing. As much as I enjoyed the two day extreme - I admit, I told Ron that I didn't think I wanted to do the two day thing any too often... Between riding and horse stuff on Saturday afternoon; racing Saturday night; not getting home until after mid-night; going to Jackson to get the other season passes on Sunday A.M.; and racing again from noon to 6:30 on Sunday; dinner and then an hour ride home... I'm pooped and apparently so is everyone else! Oh well... It was still fun!

Okay - I think I'm out of here for tonight. Hope you are all still hanging in there and inspired to make tomorrow the best tomorrow yet! After all, tomorrow is the first day of the rest of our lives!

Be blessed, pray for rain - (at least for us!), and sleep well!

God Bless and Good Night World!

Sorry... But yesterday found us outside with the kids and horses and last night Ron surprised us with an unannounced trip to Colorado National Speedway. WOO HOO!!!! Besides a few drunkards in the crowd, it was a great night of spring time racing in Colorado!

Of course, we had already planned for the past two weeks to attend the ice breaker - first race of the season at I-76 in Ft. Morgan today...

So, as the saying goes for fishermen...... "Gone Fishing"

So it goes for racers and race fans....

GONE RACING!

Be back to you tomorrow, God willing!

Isn't it absolutely amazing how incredibly thick we can be when it comes to reinventing our thought process? Oh sure, you think you're the exception. You’re the one that when you set your mind to something you just do it.

Yep, me too! And then I come across this silly little article or test that I submit myself to reading and participating of my own accord. After all, I'm so sure that I am in control of my new destiny, that of course I’m going to check it out!

Yes, I'm speaking of "The Secret" indirectly, but "The Secret" nonetheless! Okay... What was the little test or article you ask?

I suppose I can repeat it as I don't believe it was patented and I can switch it up a bit to share it here.

You're going to have to humor me and go with it for a few minutes here....

First of all you need to visualize... Visualize the way you've been learning and practicing the principles of visualization... When asked to call something to mind can you do it? Think of a green field full of daisies. Okay, now imagine the ocean with a gentle tide approaching the white sandy shores. Doing okay so far? We’re still at the ocean; visualize bodies lying on the beach taking in the sun rays. Do you have it in your mind now? Those were just some warm ups for you to practice before we get to the meat and potatoes. Are you ready now for the real deal?

Okay, here we go!

Think of someone you see as the definition of successful. Can you see them? Okay, now think of another person who you see as highly successful. You should easily be able to call up to your mind an image of these two people at the same time, standing side by side. Got it? Okay, now visualize still one more person you see as highly successful.

You have now visualized three individuals who are all highly successful in your mind and way of thinking, right? Can you see all of them standing next to one another in your mind? What characteristics do these three individuals all share in common? What separates them from one another? Can you define what it is about each of them that you can connect to in some way? Now the ultimate question..... Was one of these three people yourself? And if not, why not? After all, haven't we been preaching visualizing yourself as successful, wealthy, having your hearts desire?

Okay, you got the point. Wasn’t' that a dirty trick? Like a pop quiz in school that you were not prepared for, but know when it's all said and done you should have had aced. Yep, I blew it too! I did not see myself in the three visualized successful people and immediately got the point when I read "WHY NOT?" I could have kicked myself in the bottom side realizing how obvious that should have been and I missed it!

Therefore, today has to be the day, the day I truly get a grip on how this is truly going to work out. I have to stop seeing myself as someone waiting to make it and realize I've already made it. There is more than one reason for this! Something that we often miss in life is the journey. Yes, I mention it often in my blogs, the journey that is. However, what I haven't really elaborated on is the value of the journey.

We spend so much of our time thinking about what it is going to be like when life is what we dream it to be that all too often we miss the answered dreams along the way. We have to realize we are there; we've already made it every step of the way as each step in the journey is in itself a successful element of our journey. It also serves to motivate, inspire and encourage us in what is yet to come.

We have to embrace today and see ourselves exactly as we wish to or strive to be. If we see ourselves as anything less than we do the disservice of creating a negative image of failure. In an image of failure is a self limiting belief that sets the stage for our tomorrows! Instead, the stage should be a platform established on the un-limited belief system that we have been and are still right where we are meant to be and that we have already made it.

It's like my movie script in which the agency is currently promoting and attempting to sell to a viable producer. I use this example for my visualizing comparisons. I can say I have a movie placed with an agency and that all sounds great and good. However, I would be better to visualize that the offer on my script is being established and prepared within hours and in a matter of time such famous actors and actresses, perhaps even the likes you'd never imagine will not only be reading but portraying the characters in my script on the big screen. At first I thought to myself that it is probably no more than a made for TV movie script. But I realize that is a self limiting belief theory. Now I say it's going to be on the big screen! And why shouldn't I believe that? I should and I do, I am visualizing big name actors and actresses and the beginning of my incredible career as a writer. The only thing I'm wondering most sincerely about is why it took me so long to get off dead center and put myself out there. Out in the world of publishers, movies, books, and in general "THE UNIVERSE"?

No time to spend with regrets or looking backward as there is far too much to do today and tomorrow that will bridge today to next month, next year and the rest of my life!

And by the way....I do know what my purpose in life is! My purpose is to go to Heaven to be with my creator and Lord and take as many others with me along the way as I possibly can. Yes, I borrowed the concept from someone else... However, if the person I borrowed if from feels the way I do, they will hope that many others will be borrowing the very same life purpose as well. I acknowledge the more successful I see myself the more apt I am to demonstrate leadership qualities that will help in paving a clear path for many to find their way to Heaven's Eternity too!

So, on that note, I hope you visualized yourself as one of those three successful people here tonight... But if you didn't you can start right now! Put your name and your face into the fourth position and rank them in order with yourself number one! It's a perfect time to start and a great illustration to drive home the process! Remember - God is in the Process - therefore... You got it - trust the process!

God Bless and Happy Visualizing!

Thank you for reminding me of how blessed we are to be here in Colorado! The thought of counting the sunshine days on one hand reminds me of this fact!

However, we here in Colorado regions hold our breath and say a lot of extra prayers when we are awaiting moisture. Our terrain counts on it and without it we face wind erosion, drought, and perhaps the worst of all is fire. I know we surely don't have an exclusive on these matters as there are plenty of other areas in the news suffering from the woes of Mother Nature as well.

It isn't that we don't appreciate the sun filled, crystal clear, blue skies dramatically emphasized by the back drop of the awe inspiring, God reminding Rocky Mountains! I simply can't ever get enough of that... But the moisture keeps what should be green, green... The lakes that should be full, filled... The skies that should be blue, blue instead of crimson orange from the fires that burn miles and miles away... And so on!

Therefore, in our region specifically we are praying for moisture at the time. We are faced with a beautiful weekend and surely can't complain about that, but that doesn't stop our requests for moisture come Monday maybe, or Tuesday would be okay too.


Speaking of the weekend, I think we will go take in the first race of the season at I-76 Speedway on Sunday. I believe it's called the ice-breaker, for obvious reasons. However, in this particular year I think they could have held it a month earlier with the early spring that has arrived. It will be fun for all since at least two or three of our foster sons have never been there and in some cases never been to the car races regardless.

I found myself embracing the sport when Chad, our biological son raced on the local tracks. At first I wanted to kill his father for getting him going on racing. I was terrified that something bad was going to happen to him, as we had faced life threatening situations with him so many times over the years. I was curious if Ron was just seeing how far he could push his luck in gambling on Chad's life... But in the end, it's true I became the families biggest race fan... That is with only one other exception, my Mother who also held her breath when we watched our pride driving frantically on the round tracks!

I suppose it's like anything, you get around something long enough, become familiar with the in's and outs and before you know it, it has your interest as well. I imagine some day in the future, when finances afford the possibility, Chad may very well find himself behind the wheel again. The next time however, I tend to believe he will be driving in the IMCA division, unless I miss my guess. And of course, you can count on his biggest fans (Mom, Dad, Nano and of course his newest and no doubt biggest fan his wife, Kelly) all along side the track hooting and hollering for the world to hear; except maybe Chad himself who can't hear us yelling over the sound of the engines running.

It's a day out of school today and I just got the boys started on their self starting work on learning to ride or at least ride properly. It's always a bit of a challenge to work with the boys when they are first starting out and you never know for sure who is going to and who isn't going to maintain an interest in any of it. The first Palomino/Buckskin show of the season is May 3rd, a fair distance from home, so I suppose I will shuttle them over to have their first experience in the world of horse shows. In the past the boys have been incorporated into helping with the show, by opening and closing gates, grounds clean up, helping in the show office with entries and such. They have done a great job, so good in fact that we received a plaque and special recognition for our assistance at the Buckskin year end awards dinner, plus dinner too boot! It was a nice surprise!

So, with that much stated, I suppose it's time to go monitor them at a distance, giving them enough room to start to learn on their own, but close enough to save them from themselves or the horses from them in the process. Horses and youth.... It's a great thing you know!

Have a great Friday afternoon and/or evening and a wonderful weekend too!