March 24th - Visit #3

WOW!! What an incredible weekend!  My first visit with family was an overwhelming time of learning, growing and understanding.  My aunt and uncle are amazing people who love God and family.  Their lives are such an inspiration to me.  My uncle, who I have always thought was almost perfect, allowed me see to his inner thoughts and feelings.  He spent time sharing what he knows of my family for the past 3 generations and how that has shaped us. We are probably a pretty typical family with skeletons in closets, crazy stories, failed relationships and people trying to make their way in this thing called life. 

He shared his perception of why things are the way they are in our family. He helped me to understand my inner drive, work ethic, how I relate to people and my insecurities. Both sides of my family have a very strong sense of drive which can be mentally and physically overwhelming at times. He shared how he has handled this over the course of his life. My cousin Justin even chimed in and shared some of his journey. Justin’s insights were amazing and almost eerily correct. It is interesting to me, how even though we aren’t connected on a daily basis, being from the same family creates many of the same issues (good and bad).

My aunt, who I also hold in high esteem, talked about how we have a choice to let our circumstances and backgrounds dictate who we are or we can choose to rise above anything and experience joy. She has “joy” signs all over her house to be a constant reminder of this. I think this is a great idea and plan to do the same around my house and office. It is so easy for me to get caught up in the everyday things of life and not remember this. Max is a mentor teacher in her school district so we had a lot of education “stuff” to visit about as well.

When I left their house, I stopped on my way home and climbed Enchanted Rock.  It was a very peaceful time of reflection and beauty. I was able to spend several hours reflecting on my journey so far. As I have said before, this journey has been about connecting with people in my life who have inspired me and meant a tremendous amount to me.  I am thrilled to be spending this year with the people I love the most and learning great things in the process. I truly think that this is becoming a life changing journey. Can’t wait for next month!!

March 16th - Visit #3 Planned

My March visit will be my first with actual family. I will be traveling to Boerne, Texas to visit and receive wisdom from my Uncle Fred and Aunt Max. My Uncle is number five of six kids on my moms side of the family. My mom is number two. Fred has obviously know me since I was born and known my mom since he was born. He has great insight into my extended family and I am looking forward to him sharing some of this insight. He has always been a Quiet Rock in my eyes. He thinks a lot, takes it all in and is very reserved in his sharing of thoughts. Kind of reminds me of me. :)
I was quite excited when Fred decided to bring Aunt Max into the family. I remember helping my Uncle wrap a gift (a cross necklace) for my soon to be Aunt. The wrapping job looked great except one end was wrapped up and the other end was wrapped down. I guess it didn't matter to her because she soon joined our crazy family. Aunt Max is from Valentine, Texas. When you are from Valentine, you are FUN! You have to be because there is nothing to do in Valentine. Max and I created our own fun on many occasions. Spending many a New Years Eve in Marathon, Texas requires the invention of fun. Coconuts, meat cleavers and ice picks were included one year. Memories were made!! Fred and Max have always been a stable force in my life. We don't talk much but when we do, I always come away feeling better about myself, my family and life in general. I really look forward to our visit.

February 27 - Visit #2

For my #2 visit on my 49 year journey, I spent the night visiting with Mary Carole Strother.  MC has been an incredible inspiration in my career and life. She has encouraged me to challenge and stretch myself beyond what I ever thought I could. She has given me tremendous career advice and has helped me think through my next move on several occasions. We have presented together, learned together and collaborated on many a project. I always look forward with anticipation to a call with a new idea that involves a new technology that we must figure out for the next project or presentation. These calls often happen late at night - long after my creative brain has gone to sleep but MC is still up, dreaming up the next idea. She is one of the most energetic, creative, hard working people I know. She stays up on the latest technology integration and inspires many of us to do the same. She is always willing to share the spotlight if you will only step up and learn. 

We spent time talking about work - what is the next "thing" on the horizon, our families - we both have two great boys and husbands, retirement, spiritual matters... I think she felt a little like she needed to say something spectacular because she knew I was going to write about it but that is not the point. Spending time with my amazing, inspirational people is all I am looking for. She continually challenges and inspires me to be my best me.

MC asked me what was the biggest thing I had learned so far on this journey.  I have learned that people and relationships are what life is all about. The destination on this journey is Jan. 1, 2014 when I turn 50, but the journey I am on is the people along the way that I can visit with, enjoy and learn from. This past month I have had a long dinner with Chris, enjoyed dinner with a former student, scheduled lunch with teachers on my campus and just concentrated on listening with intent to others. People are what life is about!! I am thrilled that God put Mary Carole in my life to be one of the people who share my journey with me. 

February 24 - Visit #2 Planned

Visit number two of my 49th year is set up. I will be visiting with my friend and mentor Mary Carole Strother. I met Mary Carole six years ago when I was looking for someone to do my practicum in order to complete my Masters in Library Science. She came very highly recommended and I started my library journey with her. I learned more from her in the 60 hours I was following her around than I learned in my entire Masters degree. Since then, she has encouraged me, listened to me, pushed me, and taken me on some amazing trips. We have laughed together, plotted together and learned an amazing amount together. Through our passion for learning and sharing with others, we have become great friends and spend much time talking about the next project or presentation. She is an amazing ball of energy and continues to inspire me to reach for great things. I look forward to our visit!

January 28th - Visit #1

Spent my evening visiting with my friend and confidant, Billy Faye Curtis. Interesting spending time with someone who is not part of your "family" but has known you since before you were born. BF knows my history - the good and the bad. We have kept in touch all of my 49 years. When I began this 49 year adventure, I knew immediately that BF would be one of my "peeps."
Early on, she was my mom's friend and the mother of one of my good friends. She helped me open my first checking account and baked me a birthday cake in the shape of a check on my 15th
birthday. We took several trips together - my favorite being the jumping trip to Houston. My brother and her son jumped everything that trip and had several near death experiences because of it. Memories are often made in the strangest of ways.
Over the years, she has become my friend, mentor and confidant. I can tell her things I would tell no one else because she knows my history. She understands me because she has lived my life along side of me. We don't talk often but when we do it's as if we were never apart. We share our thoughts, dreams, struggles, victories and concerns. After 49 years, there have been many thoughts, dreams, struggles, victories and concerns in both of our lives.  It is an amazing thing to have people who are willing to live life with you. One thing I learned tonight is that I must be willing to slow down enough to enjoy these people and the wonderful things they bring to my life.
BF helped me remember the perspective that God is in control, even in the struggles and we must be willing to "Be still and know that He is." Things are going to happen in life. Everything is much easier to deal with when you have something to fall back on. She also listened a lot and helped me think through situations and things which have become patterns in my life. She offered some advice but mainly just offered her life and her experiences with faith, family, friends and living.
This is going to be an amazing journey visiting with the influential people of my life. As is in life - it's more about the journey and not the destination.  I had a wonderful time reconnecting with BF.  She is an amazing woman who has inspired and touched many lives in her path. I hope to live my life in such a way that others look to me, as I look to her.

January 13 - Updating

Just set up my January meeting with long time friend, Billy Faye Curtis.  She lived down the street from my family on the day I was born and has known me and been a great influence, ever since. I even named my pet hamster "Billy Faye".  I spent time with her family growing up, attended her church, and learned many great things from her and her husband, Harold.  Some of my favorite memories growing up are the times I spent going on vacations, attending ballgames, hanging out at her house and as I got older sharing my hopes, dreams, fears and pains with her. I look forward to hearing her amazing insights on life. More to come after our meeting...

January 1 - Birthday

When January 1st is your birthday, you tend to be very reflective about "things." This, being my 49th year on earth, I am even more philosophical.  I have decided to spend the year contemplating what has been and what lies ahead. To accomplish this, I have selected 12 people who have inspired me, loved me, put up with me, and known me better than others to spend time with this year.  The plan is to visit one of these people each month and pick their brain for wisdom on my next chapter in life.  I look forward to learning, growing and having a great time, spending time with some of the greatest people I know.  The plan is to share insights that I learn along the way on this blog.  I hope you will consider following my journey.