To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Living Your Passion

Caring… the price we pay is WORTH IT!

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(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

When I was a kid, I could never sleep the night before a new school year. This lasted all the way up until college.

The excitement, the possibilities – both good and bad – all swirled in my head and I tossed my way through the night. At this age, I don’t often stay up all night. In fact, I’m one of those who works best with eight hours, and I covet my sleep. I also don’t believe in worrying, as I’ve learned that it doesn’t add any value.

Much to my surprise, I pulled an “all-nighter” Tuesday. (And it’s not that I didn’t go to sleep at a decent hour, the world was changing, and my body apparently knew it.)

As I was staring at the alarm clock every few minutes, this insight came to mind. Why do I care so much? I’m not alone I know. Most people I interact with care a great deal about a number of topics from finding homes for abandoned animals, to sports, cooking, their career, education, homes, family and friends. Caring is good – even the kind that keeps you up all night. (As long as it’s only one night!) Here’s why I think it’s good wrapped in a simple thought:

Caring is what makes us human. “Caring” ignites our passions that become our “causes,” and this makes the world what it is: awesome, despite who the current president is. 

My friends, I hope that even if you lose some sleep now and then that you continue to CARE DEEPLY. It’s a great privelege to care so much. Take those “CARES” and cast them into ACTION that CREATES a better world.

It’s LAUNCH TIME!

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(Photo Creds:Rodrock Homes)

New seasons of life are fun, exciting and also scary! My family and I just “dug dirt” on a new home last month, and today I am launching my new and improved website. I call it phase 2.0. I think maybe I should call the move something else, something clever. I’m open to ideas! I tell my friends that this is my “big girl” house, complete with a guest bedroom that is actually safe from kid toys, teenage God-knows-what and most importantly, a lovely refuge for those I adore to get a good night’s sleep. It’s definitely a time of “ground breaking” all the way around, and a season that I am really looking forward to seeing where God takes it all (but it is a bit scary… needless to say! But what’s life without a little risk taking?).

If you, or anyone you know is in a season of “ground breaking” — change in any way, shape or form — I have found the following to be helpful when thinking about change:

1. It’s an opportunity for personal growth
If you’ve read my blogs at all you probably know that I am big on this need to constantly learn. I’ve heard it from wise teachers, centurions and respected leaders… That’s enough for me. Personal growth is critical to our happiness and change provides the occasion for us to dive in and grow. The “STRETCH” that happens with change gives us what we need to move toward our potential.

2. It provides a platform for re-evaluating life’s priorities
Whenever you are starting something new, you naturally think through how this aligns with your personal values and priorities. With the blog, well, I knew I wanted to continue to grow in that area so that was fairly easy. With the house, I had to put it to prayer for quite some time before I had discernment. At the end of the day, I want a home that my boys and eventually their families and my grandchildren will find refuge and fun in. I want to entertain and bring in community, to provide a refreshing place for all. (Oh, and I also want my guest room!)

3. Change adds EXCITEMENT
Without a season of planting we wouldn’t have the harvest. I can only imagine how boring the farmer’s market would be without HARVEST. Without change, we’d have a bunch of ugly caterpillars and no beautiful butterflies — you get the picture. One brings the other, and the other is often MORE EXCITING!

As I embark on this new “season” you can rest assured I’ll be focused on both the growth and the “STRETCH” that surely will come. I hope to share words of inspiration and insights along the way that I hope will also expand your personal growth.

I WOULD BE HONORED IF YOU WOULD ENTER YOUR EMAIL ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDE OF THIS POST AND SIGN UP TO RECEIVE THE BLOG ALSO BY EMAIL.  

Some notes about the blog…

I kicked off the website and blog in June of 2015 with the goal of just taking the step to get started. I have known for quite some time that I am meant to write, and blogging gives me an opportunity to do that on a consistent basis. I am also about 70 percent through my first book, To Serve Well.  (I have no specific time that I want to release that but I feel like it will be before my big 50, so I have one year and five months, but who’s counting!)

I hope that the fresh look on this site will not only be more visually appealing, but allow those that land there to find posts and other resources or materials that will enrich their lives. SERVING WELL in this world is so important, and what we are all called to do. Having others come alongside and help us so that we can achieve that is a key of this site. I love it when folks take time to comment and share their thoughts on whatever the topic is so that others can learn and grow from each other.  

I will still be posting three times a week, with Simple Thoughts Sunday being posted on Sunday early evening with the goal of inspiring your week. This posting generally has spiritual content. I also post on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and those are intended to focus on serving well in the community, home and workplace. If you have any ideas for me, I’d love to hear them! If you want to write a guest post, I’d also love that!  

I’d love to give a shout out to my design team, Ruthie Stark, photographer and Andrea Corless, MO Design & Illustration — Both of these ladies are beyond amazing and have made me better through this process. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

A life of Honor, a tribute to Denise Henning

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The world lost one of it’s greatest on Sunday – my dear friend Denise Henning. This blog’s purpose is to talk about “serving well” and how to live a life of excellence, in our everyday lives… in the community, at work or school or at home. Denise’s life was a template for excellence and provides a role model for us all.

In fact, Denise did this so well that it appeared effortless to those of us who knew her. In every circle she quietly served, encouraged and uplifted every chance she could. I learned over the last few days of her life, that it wasn’t effortless for her, in fact, she often doubted her impact. This should not have been a surprise, because Denise lived her life as a HUMBLE SERVANT. This my friends is a well served lesson on being intentional about living out your call to a life of excellence despite the doubts and the human conditions that we face. We have a choice to move forward positively despite enormous challenges that can at times overcome and overtake us if we allow.

As we learn and grow from her legacy, we should truly take time to consider what it can teach us. As the days go by, my prayer is that despite whatever challenges and doubts that you may face, that you keep going, and press forward.

Keep thinking about what you can do “today” to make our world better and brighter…

To make a ripple, and advance the game.
To spend time with those you love,
to humbly & quietly serve,
to share your vulnerabilities with others,
to encourage and spread joy every chance you get,
to fight until the end,
to change the game, to raise the bar,
TO SERVE WELL, AND LIKE DENISE…
LEAVE A LEGACY OF PURE EXCELLENCE

Denise, my friend, it was nothing short of a GREAT HONOR to be your friend.

WELCOME TO PASSION TOWN

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Seriously, what a COOL STATEMENT. At the recent KENNY CHESNEY concert at Arrowhead in Kansas City, he used this phrase to describe our GREAT CITY. I immediately pulled out my phone and put it into my “blog ideas” list. So, he may use this phrase in other cites as well… Heck, maybe he uses it every weekend at his concerts, but you know what, that is awesome if he does!

I hope every person is proud of where they live and recognizes that God put them in that place and that time, in this generation, to LIVE, GROW, and SERVE. This blog is all about becoming people of excellence and about SERVING WELL. I don’t know about you, but I want a PASSION TOWN t-shirt, so I can show off my city and remind myself that I need to show it the PASSION it deserves!

What is so cool about this picture, or a few things to get you thinking:

  1. THE PEOPLE! So, on the stage you have Christa Dubill, Emmy award-winning TV news anchor for channel the local NBC affiliate, who gives so much of her time to this community that it is truly amazing. You also have Gracie Schram, local singer, songwriter and philanthropist who at a very young age began a journey of showing her PASSION. In other words, no matter what your age, JUMP IN. God can and WILL use you! You also have some posters that are showcasing some local executives that stepped up to raise funds for the American Heart Association – how cool is that? They are using their platform in their industry to make a difference. Finally, let’s not forget the volunteers that are flanking the stage. These people give their time, weekends and all,  to make our CITY, well, PASSION TOWN…
  2. THE MESSAGE! This happens to be the AHA Heart Walk, but this is just one of hundreds of great causes that flank our city and that’s what brings out the best in all of us. KC is one of the most generous cities in America!
  3. THE FUN! We make it fun. A little confetti, a little enthusiasm… A Saturday morning that offers the unexpected delight of not only making a difference by raising funds to take care of each other, but the pure JOY of being with friends, new and old and making memories.

These are just the “top of my head” things that make KC PASSION TOWN! I’d love to know if you have others… There are so many! Who’s up for making a shirt?

Time for a SUMMER BREAK!

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It’s July, and I made a recent decision that each year I would take this month off of blogging to rejuvenate, write and put a spark in my creativity!

In fact, I am actually taking a creativity “retreat” at the end of the month  and cannot wait! I struggled with taking this “break” from my blogging, but at the end of the day decided that taking the break in and of itself is an “insight” to my readers that WE ALL NEED A BREAK from our routines. By doing so, we are preparing ourselves to operate at our top capacity and energy levels. I love that idea.

I’m truly going to miss hearing from you all this month, but plan to come back with an even stronger and better writing strategy! I hope you all will take some time to truly check out of your routine as much as you reasonably can during the summer. The warm summer days are fleeting, so capture as much of them as you possibly can!  I’m praying for each of you and cheering you on!

My best always.
– Lori

(Photo credit: Pinterest)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

blog_805194_2920053_1465679255We ALL NEED THIS!

I was searching for the perfect image for my mom’s birthday, which happens to be this very day! I love these ladies, especially the red head who is clearly the life of the party. As a bonus, this quote from Walt Disney was an IMMEDIATE STAND OUT!

I have been “old” at different times in my life and even now I love to hang out on a Friday watching HGTV or Hallmark. I tell folks at work, “I go to bed right after the Lawrence Welk show,” which is my way of saying, no way am I going out after our dinner meeting!

I really DO need to get HAVE A BIT MORE FUN!  How about you?
My mom is seriously a funny gal. I didn’t really know that until the last several years and I consider it a gift from God. She is pretty competitive and hearing her tales of winning the badminton games at the retirement community she lives in cracks me up. It is a gift to LAUGH and SPREAD JOY, and I know she is able to bring a ray of sunshine to her friends. I think she “GETS” this idea that it IS OPTIONAL TO GROW UP!

There’s no better time than summer to grab some popsicles or wave down the ice cream man and act like a child again! Have a terrific week!

(Photo Creds: Pinterest- HOW MUCH FUN IS THIS?)

A Life of Excellence: Lessons from the Farm

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So if you have any experience in farming, you know that while this image looks AMAZING, that it didn’t get that way without a ton of hard work and investment.

Our theme this week started with BOLD FAITH… so much so that you’d “BET THE FARM” so to speak. That got me thinking about a life of excellence and how farmers really are pretty much the best of the best in demonstrating the value that comes from hard work and a few other key practices.

I had the opportunity to grow up around a farm (not directly, but grandparents…) and I can tell you two things:

  1. It is HARD WORK. PERIOD.
  2. Riding on the back of a truck while they are baling hay is not for the faint of heart. Snakes are literally jumping up while the ground gets pulled up and out!  YIKES!  It was obviously a clear memory, so it must have been fun? Not so much! What I know was fun was summer “pool” time in the cow feeding trough! Hey, you gotta do what you can to have fun in Jasper, Missouri!

The lessons on the farm are too many to count, but here are a few that I feel you’ll really be inspired by. I certainly was!  (Thanks to the good words from jeremiekubicek.com)

  • Lesson 1: BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION – Healthy crops come from healthy topsoil. This is true in business and life. YOU MUST HAVE A CLEAR DIRECTION and GROWTH PLAN. If you don’t have one, today’s the day!
  • Lesson 2: POUR INTO THE FIELD – Farmers fertilize their fields and invest in the best products to ensure a healthy outcome. In life, we must “pour” into our children, our calling (work), our friends, etc. We can’t expect friendships to develop, careers to grow, children and grand children to excel, etc. without great fertilization! Are there any key areas you are lacking in “pouring into?”
  • Lesson 3: ELIMINATE THE WEEDS! – I love this one, but truly don’t like to even weed my own flower beds… (Or rock beds if you happen to be my neighbor – LOL). For farmers, weeds choke the life out of the crops and damage the potential harvest. WOW, isn’t this one so true for all of us? We must weed out the negative…thoughts, habits…and sometimes even people from our lives that are holding us back! What do you need to “weed out” today?

Make it a great one! Thursday we talk about LOCAL FARMING! Don’t you just love a good farmer’s market?

(Photo Credit: Pinterest)

How to achieve amazing creativity

blog_796598_2900889_1462993889You might start by asking what does Menlo Park have to do with anything? One of my favorite motivational teachers is a guy by the name of Robin Sharma. He has a series of mastery sessions, and last month he did a great one by a similar title where he shared the story of a PBS special featuring Thomas Edison and how he inspired the world. Please follow the link if you want to listen to the full session, it’s terrific!

In short, Thomas Edison made Menlo Park his laboratory for creating. If you read the Wikipedia insert below, it’s now a museum which is pretty cool. (I had no idea!) As you know, his creation of the first incandescent light bulb is one of the greatest inventions of all time. That and the phonograph were created in the Menlo Park warehouse.

In order to “CREATE” in the best way, we must go about creating an environment that allows our minds to think freely and elaborate on those ideas that pop in and out of our minds throughout our days. I just loved this.

Here are some highlights….

  1. Create a separate space to work on creativity, DISTRACTION FREE. It may be a coffee shop, Cabin in the woods, a space you’ve carved out in your home, or business… No matter what, make sure it inspires you.
  2. Make sure your space is INSPIRATIONAL. What is that to you? Sunlight, comfy chair, white walls and markers? Inspiring quotes? Fresh flowers? Some terrific instrumental music? Make sure it is as clutter free as possible, so there is “free space” to think.
  3. Consider new places! Travel if you can, “A change of space = a change of perspective” (Batterson) is one of my favorite quotes.
  4. Schedule time in your “Menlo Park.” I just did this after being inspired by this video. I already do my writing generally at a local coffee shop on Saturday mornings, but I also scheduled a “creativity” retreat for July which I’m excited about. It is definitely true that what gets scheduled gets done. I am thinking two a year will be a great start.

I’d love to hear your ideas. I hope this inspires you as it did me!

EXTRAS:
– Thomas Edison PBS Special
– Wikipedia page on Menlo Park, an unincorporated community located within Edison Township in Middlesex County, New Jersey.

(Photo Credit: Pinterest)

Cheers to a “long line of friends” today

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Today is my birthday – WOOT WOOT!

A few years back I decided that birthdays are really about celebrating those people in your life that lift us up and become the threads and ultimately the beautiful fabric of our lives.

TODAY, I celebrate ALL OF YOU and the many that have crossed my path and been a part of my story. I cannot even begin to tell you the impact of teachers, grandparents, neighbors, fellow “PTA” and “SOCCER” family, workplace colleagues turned life-long friends, sorority sisters, “fellow” Belton Pirates, WWMB friends and mentors, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and of course my immediate family.

To my lovely sister and handsome brother, Mom, Dad and my incredible boys, a special CHEERS TO YOU! Through, the amazing days, crazy years, and always thrilling and/or education adventures, you are a huge part of who I am today and I AM DEEPLY BLESSED.

I RAISE MY GLASS TO YOU ALL!  Have an amazing week wherever life may have you out making a difference!

Simple thoughts (Oscar) Sunday

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I’ll admit it, I love the Oscars.   I have always loved watching the Oscar speeches, and I’m a huge Meryl Streep fan. (Watch her 2012 Oscar winning speech)

Tonight those who also have this adoration for those gifted with acting skills will watch this year’s nominees shine. My brother Brandon and his gal, Nikki are proud actors living in New York City and trust me, God gifted him with the stage and musical talent in our bloodline. It is amazing to watch him transform an audience and engage their very heart beats into the story.  In fact, that is what I love about the good movies, they transport us into another world and make us laugh and cheer on the underdogs and often teach us a few things about life!  blog_771674_2860372_1456676823

My son Sam and I have until this year tried to take in all of the best picture nominees in order to be somewhat educated about the films.  This year, with Sam in Michigan for college, my mom and I did this, and that was a gift to us both.  I chose this movie and quote because Sam and I both love the movie. It’s downright vintage for Sam, having been born in 1996, but it is one that showcases freedom, leadership and love for our fellow man!  To me, that is truly living.

Have an amazing week, and go out and TRULY LIVE!

By the way, my favorite movies tonight are Brooklyn and Bridge of Spies.  I’d love to hear what you think!

Oh, and I also hope Chris Rock has a fantastic night as host- We could use another repeat of Ellen’s fun performance and audience engagement. (Most retweeted photo ever up there under Mel Gibson… So much fun, and if you remember, she ordered pizza during the show for the audience).