A Wednesday Word: making wednesday worthwhile

en·cour·age·ment [en-kur-ij-muhnt, -kuhr-] –noun
1. the act of encouraging.
2. the state of being encouraged.
3. something that encourages: Praise is the greatest encouragement.

My bestie did a cheer for me over GChat. I am addicted to COKE (as in Coca-Cola) and I'm having great withdrawals. And it makes me really sad that I can't and shouldn't have something that tastes so GOOD because it's SOOOO BAD for me. I wanted to share it with you because it makes me laugh and honestly provides encouragement without being preachy.

So - here it is.

GIVE ME A "W"
GIVE ME A "A"
GIVE ME A "T"
GIVE ME A "E"
GIVE ME A "R"
WHAT DOES THAT SPELL?
WATER!
WATER! He's our man. If he can't do it, NO ONE CAN!
WATER!
YEAH GET SOME TODAY
GET SOME it's FREE!
Great for your wallet
Great for your skin
Great for your butt
Great for your C-H-O-L-E-S-T-E-R-O-L

Oh man, was that the "C" word? Yes, that's right. That's the OTHER problem that I'm addressing. It sucks.

oh and my 9.5 stress level. I'm working on that too!

:o(

A Wednesday Word: making wednesday worthwhile

re·demp·tion [ri-demp-shuhn] –noun

1. an act of redeeming or the state of being redeemed.
2. deliverance; rescue.
3. Theology. deliverance from sin; salvation.
4. atonement for guilt.
5. repurchase, as of something sold.
6. paying off, as of a mortgage, bond, or note.
7. recovery by payment, as of something pledged.

I mentioned having gone to a leadership conference a couple weeks ago. I can’t tell you what a deep impact it’s had in my life. I think the only way to explain it is basically to get of my bum and do something that REALLY matters. I’ve set some goals and have a sense of urgency that the time is NOW or NEVER.

Okay, so I would like to introduce you to Catherine Rohr. She is the Founder and CEO of the Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP). She was one of the speakers at this conference and I can’t seem to stop talking about this AMAZING program she started. Seriously – it’s redemptions story at its best. Catherine Rohr’s story has given, for me, a new meaning to 1 Peter 2:9. It says:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

He (God) didn’t just pull us out of darkness for the sake of taking us out of darkness but to bring others with us! She proclaims the excellencies of Jesus – and it’s evident in these men that she’s shared with them LIGHT!!

Enough talking from me. Please, Please, Please watch the videos!

It's official!

UGH! I'm sooooo FRUSTATED WITH THE GYMNASTICS SCORING!!!

IT'S CRAP!!! That's official!

And I'm just now finding this out?

Last weekend, we got the family together from near and far to celebrate my grandmother's 80^th birthday. We had a little "program" which means one of my aunts put together some history and had people give speeches. The History is what intrigues me most and really I'm SHOCKED that I've been oblivious to my grandparent's story.

My grandparents met when they were really young and very good-looking. (If I had some scanned images I'd share. Perhaps I'll update the post with pictures. ) They sent letters to each other naively through my grandfather's brother, Tio Pepe, rather than using the Post Office. Tio Pepe of course took advantage of the opportunity and read every single one of the letters he got his hands on. I have no doubt he teased them half to death because he would!!

When my grandmother was 19 years old, my grandfather asked her father for her hand in marriage. Her father adamantly said NO! There was no way that his sweet daughter would benefit from this marriage and so the answer was no and would remain NO! They continued dating – I guess that wasn't prohibited. My grandmother has always been "put together" and still will not leave the house until she feels she's reached near perfection. My grampa knowing that about her showed his love for her by spending a LOT of money to give her the most expensive powder and lipstick on the Mexican Market. One day, they were given permission to go to the movie theatre with her sisters as chaperones. They purposefully sat 2 rows behind my grandmother's sisters and guess what they did!? They sneaked out in the middle of it and ELOPED!

Plans were made way before the movie theatre outing and they took their merry little selves to Saltillo and stayed for who knows how long. They eventually came back – married!!! To date, she has no idea what movie they went to see!

I still don't know how growing up I never knew this story. I'm intrigued to know more. If you would like to see pictures of the party click on the picture below.

Superb week

Talk about an inspiring week. For the longest time I've waited for the invitation to a leadership conference in Chicago, IL. Little did I know that there are satellite locations in Houston! I was finally invited and I went happily (Thurs. & Fri.) and came out blessed beyond measure. Now my question is what to do with what I've learned. I'm curiously praying!

Then after the conference I came home to watch the most SPECTACULAR olympics ceremony! Amazing!!! Did you guys watch?

Tonight we celebrate my grandmother's 80th birthday. It is going to be a PARTY! I'm so excited about it.

There was some sad news in the middle of it. My great uncle, Pepe, died Wednesday morning. He had been sick. Tio Pepe was my grandfathers brother and was probably the funniest man I have ever met. After his death, we talked about the crazy stories he told and I came to the conclusion that the Valdez are amazingly engaging story tellers! He will be missed.

The Art of Communication

Speak Properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly; for the end of speech is not ostentation, but to be understood.

William Penn

Many of us can learn from this, no?