We ALL Have a Voice...

We ALL have a voice in this world...something we stand for...something we stand by...or someone we stand with!  How are you using YOUR voice?  For CHANGE?  For GOOD?  For AWARENESS?  For EQUALITY?  For JUSTICE?  For KINDNESS?  For COMPASSION?  For LOVE?

There's a big difference in how you're using your voice in this world and if you're using it for ignorance, prejudice, arrogance, ego-filling, hate, complaining, whining, blaming, selfishness, demeaning, or bullying then you are wasting your voice and the energy you're taking up in this world.  

USE YOUR voice to make the change you want to see in this world!  USE YOUR voice to promote goodness and understanding!  USE YOUR voice in respect for one another!  USE YOUR voice to provide love and caring!  USE YOUR voice to show your strength and resolve!  USE YOUR voice and VOTE this November!

Yesterday was National Voter Registration Day, so I hope you became a registered citizen because YOUR voice MATTERS in this year's presidential election!  You have until October 11 to register to vote so don't delay!  I know it hasn't been a conventional presidential campaign or with conventional candidates, but this is where we are.  So, please take it seriously, learn the facts (not all the media-spun half-truths), understand the positions of all of the candidates on the issues that matter to YOU most, and then VOTE with conviction!  VOTE so that YOUR VOICE is heard!!  VOTE so that you're an active participant in society and in the issues that affect YOU!  VOTE because we ALL have a voice and we have a duty and a right to exercise it...especially in this election!

Blessings to you in these final days of September!!

Worries...

I have a lot of worries on my mind and in my heart lately.  And, I've asked God to take away my worries time and time again.  I know worrying doesn't do any good and it's just wasted energy, but somehow, someway we've all been conditioned (to some degree or more) to worry...about relationships, money, school, work, our health or someone else's health, violence, war, etc.  The list is never-ending.  I've definitely gotten better over the years about trying to stop in the moment of full-on worry and sending up a prayer to God to take the worry from my heart and from my mind.  Sometimes it works better than other times, but it's a better way to react to all the worry.  Sometimes it can be overwhelming and other times it's self-made.  It's just one of those things that we'll always have to work on over-coming.

Besides all my personal worrying, this week I've been worried about all my friends and family back in Iowa dealing with flooding.  Seeing all the pictures and videos of flooding in my home town is heartbreaking and sad.  I wish I could be there to help.

This morning I found myself shocked and saddened by the death of Miami Marlins pitcher, Jose Fernandez who died overnight in a boating accident.  I had that pit in my stomach of disbelief, sadness and worry for his family, the Marlins organization, the community, etc.  It's just so tragic when someone so young has their life taken away so quickly and unexpected.  It's a hard reminder that life is SO short.

I'm sick and tired of this political election charade that has been going on this year, and I'm extremely worried about the outcome, the repercussions, the political and social divide in this country and the extreme hatefulness that has come from it all.  I'm just ready for it all to be over with so we can move on with our lives and dealing with the REAL issues!

I could go on and on and on about what is worrying me, but it could be an endless list...or at least one longer that I'd like to admit.  So, I'm just going to take a breath, say a little prayer, and move on.  That's all I can really do.  That's all anyone can really do when worry invades our hearts and minds.

So, I hope this coming week is less worrisome than the last and that you can enjoy all the simple joys of life that fill our days.  Seek out the love, light and joy in life!!  Blessings for a worry-free week ahead!!

What Matters Most?

In the world we live in today...the divisive political climate, the racial tensions, the threat of terrorists, the open carry states, the incessant online bullying, etc...it goes on and on and on.  And, we're reminded of what's wrong, what's bad in our world every day we turn on the news programs.  It seems never-ending and depressing at times.

But, it can also highlight and move you to focus on what matters most in your life!  Your little space on this Earth.  What matters to you?  What's most important in your life?  Once you know what that is then you can do what you can to improve that part of your life and in turn your part of the world...your home, your neighborhood, your community, your town, etc.  It just takes a little willpower and a whole lot of passion for what you believe in!  We hear it all the time, "you can make a difference in this world".  When we listen to the news it's hard to believe that sometimes.  But, those with hope and purpose in their hearts can make small steps towards making it a brighter day for someone else.  It could be as simple as a smile.  I know when I leave the gym early in the morning and someone gives me a smile it just starts my day off on a much more positive note.  Just that one small gesture!  We can all flash someone our pearly whites!  

When YOUR passion and motivation in life wells up in your gut, in your soul then you know no matter what you do to grow and shine light on others in that passion will always be right, always be good, always be of good intention, and always be to try and make a difference in this world.  If we just shift our views from what's wrong in the world to what we can do to make it a wonderful world than we've ALL made a difference in this world!  Lets leave our mark!

Blessings to you this week as you cultivate your passions into positive action one tiny step at a time!  Lets be the CHANGE we want to see in this world!!

Grateful Memory

A couple days ago I got a reminder on Facebook of the blog entry I posted after my 1st book signing.  So, I went back to that blog post and read the entire thing (as it's a little longer than my normal ones).  It was fun to remember that very meaningful weekend for me and brought up all the grateful feelings I had.  I'm truly thankful I was able to go back to my hometown for my 1st book signing and I was overwhelmed and humbled by the wonderful support I received...yes, of course from family, but from the rest of the town and complete strangers.  It was so great to see so many familiar faces and I wish we had more time to sit down and talk to everyone.  But, I'm so glad they took the time to stop by and buy my book.

It's another memory of that town and all those people that only adds to my romanticized picture in my head that I've carried with me since we moved away back in the mid-80's.  Sometimes you're not sure if the reality is what you've kept etched in your head, but once again this town and all those people proved that it was.  They proved their loving support and acceptance of me all those years ago still was true that day...and I assume today, too!  As I've written in my book, that made of world of difference in how I grew up and saw the world and how I viewed being adopted.  I was accepted by my friends, family and community and that is such a gift, especially for someone who is adopted, that I will forever be grateful for that.

So, if you missed one of my most fondest posts, here you go...http://kfenneman.blogspot.com/2013/09/my-1st-book-signingtruly-grateful.html

Enjoy!  And have a blessed week ahead!!

Heading into the Holiday Season...

Are you ready?  Are you ready for the holiday season?  It will soon be upon us as the fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas decor, recipes, etc. are in stores now and filling the internet.  Are you getting prepared?  Are you excited?  Are you dreading it?  Are you anxiously awaiting all the festivities and magic of the season?  Or are you ready for it to pass and for the new year to help restart you life anew once again?

Whatever you think of the holiday season it will be here before you know it and whether you're prepared or not for all the parties, presents, decorations, lights, snow, etc. it will either bring you great cheer or great stress.  Is there too much pressure during the holidays?  To host the perfect party, to buy the perfect party dress, to buy the perfect presents, to participate in all the holiday festivities, to build the biggest snowman, to act like the perfect mate, or to bake the best holiday feast?  Is it too much?  Are there too many expectations during the holidays?  Probably.

But, like anything it is what you make of it.  If you want wild and crazy with activities every night then go for it!  If you want calm and quiet with fireplaces, hot chocolate and home videos then go for it!  If you want a mix of both then do that!  It's really up to you to plan your "perfect" holiday.  And yes, it's never too early to start planning, so....

So, enjoy the next few weeks of falling into Fall with a leisurely pace before the madness of the holidays hit!  Enjoy the cooler weather blowing in, enjoy the pumpkin spice everything (lattes, muffins, cookies, bread, etc) that will hit your palate, and enjoy the leaves changing colors that brighten up our landscapes for awhile.  Enjoy Fall!!

Blessings to you as we all prepare for the upcoming holiday season!

In Rememberance....

15 years ago today, we were shocked and horrified by what we were watching on TV or literally living in those moments, we were stunned and numbed by the unthinkable happening right in front of us, and our hearts sank for all the victims as the devastating tragedy of the morning unfolded before us.  We all know where we were on this morning 15 years ago and every year (for some, every day), we remember.

We remember the horror, we remember all the ash, we remember the masses of scared individuals walking away from ground zero, we remember the heroes running toward ground zero, we remember the walls of pictures of loved ones that were missing, we remember the acts of kindness and love that followed, we remember all the flags flying freely from one neighborhood to the next all around the country, and we remember the gut-wrenching pain and sorrow that bound us all together as Americans.  It's part of our history now that many kids only know from a text book or seeing it on TV.  But, for most of us we can recall the details as if it happened yesterday.

It's a day of mourning and remembrance, but it's also a day of strength and survival!  Courage, resilience, hope, and love also reflect what came from this day 15 years ago.  That's what will move us forward, that's what will continue our resolve to fight for justice and defense of our country and that's what will heal us as time goes on.

Blessings to all the victims that we lost on this day 15 years ago, blessings to their families and loved ones, and blessings to all of us who REMEMBER today!  May God's grace fill your heart with peace and hope!

New Shows

If you've been following my blog you know Fall is my favorite season.  And one of the best parts of Fall are when my favorite shows come back with new episodes.  The countdown is on and in a couple weeks there will be new chapters in the lives of all the characters I've come to love...and/or despise.  I watched a clip of the new episode of Grey's Anatomy yesterday and it got me excited about watching the season premiere.  I'm ready to get my DVR going full steam ahead with all the new episodes coming!  

What are some of your favorite shows?  What season premiere are you most excited to view?  Obviously many of the daytime shows premiered this week or will next week, but the good stuff comes at the end of the month.  So, get ready to get comfortable on your couch and delve back into your favorite character's lives!

It's almost time!  So, ignore the re-runs for a couple more weeks and get ready for another part of the Fall fun!  Blessings for a safe and healthy end to you week as we gear up to fully transition into Fall!  Get ready!!

Earthquake?

As I was sitting on my kitchen bar stool chair finishing my breakfast yesterday morning the house started shaking and then I was literally shaking sitting on my bar stool chair.  What is going on?!  Surely it's not an earthquake here in Texas.  I've been in one other earthquake when I lived out in California several years ago.  It was a 5.4 earthquake that was hundreds of miles away, but I definitely felt it.  I was sitting on my couch in my second floor apartment and my sister was in her room.  All of a sudden the floor below my feet began to rumble.  But, that was it...no pictures moving on the walls, nothing fell down...it was quite tame for my first earthquake.

But, the earthquake yesterday morning was much stronger and noticeable.  And it was...it was a 5.6 earthquake, but it was centered 95 miles northeast of Oklahoma City which isn't exactly close.  It's amazing how far the shock-waves could be felt...from here to Kansas to Iowa.  Crazy!  Definitely unexpected, but thankfully my two earthquake experiences have been mild compared to what others have experienced.  And, I'm thankful for my house's structure in holding up to the 15-20 seconds of shaking!

What has shaken you over the past week?  Who has shaken you by something they said to you?  Do you foresee a shake up in your future?  At work?  At home?  At school?  Or what do you want to shake up in your life?  A new job?  A break-up?  A move?  A new hair cut?

Whatever your week ahead has in store I hope you're shaken to the core for a good reason/cause or you simply just shake up your week to put some excitement and/or spontaneity into your life!  Either way, shaking things up can be a good thing!  Blessings for an awakened shaking of joy and possibilities this week!!