What Do You Collect?

When I was younger, I remember going into my Grandma's sewing room where she had souvenir plates from states that she and my Grandpa had visited displayed on shelves on the wall.  And any gift you gave her, she would put a piece of tape with your name on it on the bottom or back of whatever it was so that you could get it back after she passed.  As for those souvenir plates, on one visit to her house as an adult she asked which one of those plates I wanted.  All of the grandchildren could pick a plate and she would put our name on the back.  I chose the one from Maine since it always seemed so far away I never knew if I'd make it up that way.  I still haven't made it to Maine, but I have that plate displayed in Grandma's china cabinet that is now in my dining room.

As I got older and started traveling I decided to start collecting something, but thought plates were too big.  So, I chose shot glasses.  They were small and easy to pack.  I figured I would take a page from my Grandma and collect shot glasses from everywhere I visited.  I don't know how many I have, but I have a lot...especially when I was traveling every other week when I managed events for IBM.  I have some from my international trips, but I think I forgot to get a few from some of the countries I visited.  I guess I'll have to go back!

I haven't picked up a shot glass in what seems like a decade now.  My new collection obsession has been recipes.  I'm completely obsessed and don't know how to stop!  Seriously!  I see SO many good recipes online every day that I want to make that I've printed out WAY TOO many to count.  Other than to say, I have close to 20 binders filled with recipes I've printed and put into sheet protectors, so you do the math!  Gulp.  I keep thinking that I won't even live long enough to make all the recipes I've printed more less from the 10+ cookbooks I have, too.  Sheesh!

What do you collect?  Are you obsessed with it?  Baseball cards, dolls, stamps, coins...whatever it is does it make you happy or crazy?  I think I'm on the verge of crazy so I'm going to have to figure out how to stop at some point.  I hope!

Blessings to you this final full week of July!  Stay cool out there! 

Reset? Re-do?

We're halfway through the year and there's only about 25 weeks left.  Are you feeling like, "Where has the time gone?" or time is dragging and it's only going to feel longer through the 'dog days of summer'?  I think I'm in the former wondering how we're already into the middle of July already!  How did that happen?  It just seems like yesterday everyone was making their new year's resolutions...again.  The same ones from the year before...you know the ones.

So, at the mid-point of the year do you reassess, reanalyze your yearly goals?  Are you crushing your goals or did they fade away before the calendar flipped to February?  Is it time to reset?  Are you ready for a re-do?  A mulligan?  I am!  I'm ready to start again...reset my goals, my mindset and just try to be more consistent.  I'm good for awhile, but then I hit a speed bump and get off track.  But, I always dust myself off and keep going.  Try again.  Get back up...again and again and again.  That's just life.

So, good luck in reaching all your goals as you continue or reset them.  May you overcome the bumpy roads and keep on going until you reach your end goal...and then set some new goals.  Inspire.  Motivate.  Persevere.

May blessings find you this week and may you be a blessing to someone who needs it! 

Back-to-Back Champs!!

I believe that we will win!  I believe that we will win!  We WON!!!

Congratulations to the United States Women's National Soccer Team for repeating as World Cup Champions!!! ⚽🏆

Fantastic tournament.  A lot of heart, determination and grit.  Teamwork makes the dream work.  Believe.  World domination.  Confidence.  World champs!!!

These ladies PROVED they deserve equal pay!  Make it right.  Make it happen!

SO, SO proud of these athletes, these warriors, these women!!

May you be inspired by the performance of our World Cup Champions to rise to the occasion and do great things in your own life!  Blessings to you in reaching for your goals through hard work, determination and commitment.

World Cup Excitement!

Just like the Olympics, every 4 years it's time to cheer on your country!  The Women's World Cup is down to the semi-finals and it's definitely getting good now.  The USA vs. France match was great!  Yes, a little nerve-wracking in the 2nd half, but our ladies pulled out a gutsy win.  Now onto England on Tuesday.  

This is really the only time I ever watch soccer...during the World Cup.  I'm not a big follower even though my local professional soccer team's stadium is right down the road from me.  And now, along with the National Soccer Hall of Fame that just opened last year it's definitely an attraction...but, I still haven't been.  The only time I've been in the stadium is when I ran a 5K that went through the concourse part of the stadium.  One of these days I'll make it to an actual game, and actually I think there was a women's USA friendly match there a few years ago.  So, if that ever happens again I think I'll definitely go.

But, World Cup action is more exciting, more intriguing to me.  Plus, several years ago I was traveling in Italy during the World Cup that was held in Germany.  The pubs were packed and there was cheering all throughout the streets on game days.  It was exciting and fun to be in that kind of environment where soccer is a bit more popular than it is here in the States.  So, I'd love to travel through another European country during a World Cup in the future.  The atmosphere is just so fun!

So, come on ladies!  I know you can pull off another win on Tuesday and go to the finals!  You've got this!  Let's do it!

Blessings to you on this first week of July!  And, Happy 4th of July (for those in the States)!!

So This Is Instagram...

Yes, I finally joined Instagram!  I've had it on my back burner for awhile...a long while obviously.  But, over the past several months I've been following some celebrities on the platform and just decided to join so I could directly follow them.  

I've realized over the past several days, "normal" people like me just join to follow people, too, and don't really post anything on their pages.  I've posted a few things, nothing too exciting, but at least I'm engaging in the platform.  After mindlessly scrolling through people's pages the first couple nights, I realized why millennials are SO addicted to this form of social media!  It's crazy addictive, a huge time sucker, and my neck and shoulder hurt after the second day!  So, I've tried to set some limits for myself, as I refuse to be sucked down by the up-to-the-minute intrigue of it all, along with holding the screen at eye level at all times as I'm scrolling.

So, with that said...what's your favorite Instagram feed?! :-)  You can follow me at kim.fenneman.

May your last full week of June be filled with bountiful blessings!

D-Day Remembrance

This past week many around the world paused to remember D-Day and the sacrifices of so many soldiers from World War II.  For all those that lost their lives, we owe you more than our thanks and remembrance.  For those that survived, but carried a heavy burden of guilt and/or PTSD for all these years we should stop and recognize you in our communities with a handshake, a sincere thank you for your service, and a promise to uphold the freedoms you so bravely fought for back then.  We should honor you not only on holidays or special anniversaries, but every day!

I'm glad those that were able to go to France to attend the 75th D-Day Anniversary were recognized and respected with the dignity and honor they all deserve.  I hope they found some closure, some solace in walking the former grounds of battle.  For those that weren't able to go back, I hope they felt from their families, friends and communities the profound gratitude we all share as Americans for their service.  And, for those 90+ year old veterans that skydived in honor of the 75th anniversary, bravo!  Cheers to you and to all the World War II veterans around the world!!

Don't let just one day be a day of remembrance for our veterans, especially those from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.  These veterans didn't get the "fanfare" that veterans from the 90's on have received.  They didn't receive the care, compassion or post-war services that so many of them earned, needed and deserved.  Lets honor, respect and care for these veterans for ALL their sacrifices...for defending our freedoms, protecting our homeland, and serving with pride.  Find a way to serve in your communities in honor of our veterans and all fallen veterans.  They served for us, now it's our turn!

May blessings flow upon all veterans around the world that have stood up and fought the good fight, who have pledged their allegiance to their country and defended it with honor and bravery.  May they know and feel the gratitude of a nation and in their communities.  God bless our veterans!!

Another Hot One....

Yesterday we had our annual Holt International DFW picnic and was hoping that holding it in early June (vs. the end of June) would be less hot.  Who were we kidding?!  It's Texas and it's definitely summertime!  It was, of course, the hottest day of the year so far this year!  Let the sweating commence!

Other than the heat, it was another great picnic that brought out returning families, a few prospective parents looking to adopt, and many first time attendees.  That's the great thing about this area, we always get a good mix of families.  So, just as in previous years I try to meet and greet everyone and my parents usually end of talking to everyone, as well.  My sister takes candid pics and a group photo of everyone, and all my nieces and nephews came, too.  It's always a family affair with us and I'm always so grateful they all come...not just to support me, but all the families that attend!

From the young family that just received their daughter this time last year (now 2 years old) who was so stinkin' cute, to the returning families that we get to check-in with every year to see how their families are doing, to the families/couples that attend who are just looking into adopting and want to know about the process, to the adult adoptees who are looking to reconnect with their cultures/birth families/local adoptees...it's always a fun, productive, informative, enlightening, inspiring, and hot time of fellowship and connection!  I'm thankful that I and my family get to participate and experience it every year (at least for the past 5 years now).

May blessings fill your days this first full week of June!!