Category: Discussion

How are You?

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Discussion, Poetry36 Comments

Dear Family and Friends,

It’s been a week since my last post featuring my Dad and that was a fun write-up. Other than that, inspiration since my holiday poems has been scarce. In addition, I’ve been sick since January 1st, which hasn’t helped. Luckily, the first three days when I was in bed happened to be the end of my holiday vacation, so I didn’t miss any work and I managed to enjoy the last part of my family’s visit.

I’ve been able to work since last weekend, but am still not 100%. I’m plugging along. From the flu, to a cold, then one and now both eyes infected, I haven’t been online all that much. A little of reading blogs and a little on facebook, but I still have low energy. I’m not asking for sympathy, either, just my way of saying “hello” and letting you know what’s going on in my world and wanting to know how you all are doing! 🙂

So, Happy New Year, once again, and now that the new year has commenced, what are your thoughts on resolutions?

snowman1

Have you set new goals for 2014?

Do you view resolutions as new challenges or added disappointments?

goals

Well, my first goal is to get well! 🙂 But I think I have to let it run it’s course and keep my spirits up.

My second goal is to continue on the marketing of my 2013 book, “New Day, New Dreams” with my first poetry reading being a great opportunity on March 31st.
One of our local libraries has been very nice to work with me and I am excited, along with being very nervous. However, I have wonderful tips and advice from my good friend, Julie at http://juliecatherinevigna.wordpress.com. So I believe if I follow her words of wisdom, there is a smaller chance I’ll fall flat on my face. 🙂

funny-puppy-upside-down-cute

My third goal is to get in better shape by shedding ten pounds I found last year. Once I’m feeling up to it again, Copper and I will continue to do our power walks so we’ll both be happy. (Thanks to my family for keeping him happy while I’ve been ill.)

Copper 1

I’ve also heard many great things about Yoga, so maybe I’ll incorporate that into my routine, too. Any Yoga thoughts out there? 

kid-yoga-5d6e8961f35ef766c48716c3ec1c27a1e066554e-s6-c30

I’m turning 53 this year and as I get older, I want to challenge myself. I’m not a fitness guru, like my good friend, Renee, http://positiveboomer.net, as she continues to amaze me with her energy and devotion to treating her body right with exercise each day. Not to mention how fabulous she looks! However, I do want to stay active for my health and personal well being.

And later in the year, I’ll be working on my second collection of poetry. Other than these, I hope to continue writing poetry that you enjoy and also to try some new forms (out of my comfort zone).

A big event I’d like to share is the 25th wedding anniversary for my hubby and I, coming up on January 21st. We can’t believe 25 years have gone by; 26 of being together. Although, since I’ve been sick, our vacation plans might have to be postponed and that’s okay. Every day is a celebration, as long as we’re together. ♥

Our wedding 4

In closing, I’ll leave you with some words to ponder…
finding humor in tough situations tends to relax our brains and bodies.

Getting a cold in the nose
is okay, I suppose
but a cold in the eye
is not okay (sigh)
Dealing with the flu
isn’t  fun to do
being chilled in the house
isn’t good for the spouse
But these germs will go
this I know
so let’s focus on Friday
make it great in every way
May your weekend be blessed
with very little stress

I hope you enjoyed this “little bit” of humor
and I wish you all great health and a Happy Weekend!

Lauren 🙂 ♥

Note: All photos, except our wedding photo were found on Google images.

Rock ‘n’ Roll, Snow & Irish Cream ♥

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Discussion52 Comments

 

mt baldy lodge

Today, my hubby and I celebrate our 26th First Date Anniversary! 🙂 Yep, we remember these silly dates and though it sounds cliche, it still feels like yesterday. He was 27; I was 26. We lived in so. Calif. at the time and he took me to the Sycamore Inn for a very nice dinner, then dancing at Mt. Baldy Lodge & Restaurant! An awesome setting in the mountains! He chose this same place 6 months later when he proposed (after a ski lift ride to the top)…We then spent 3 New Year’s Eves here, dancing our socks off with a bunch of friends! I remember drinking Irish Cream Coffees (yum) and cooling off on the deck overlooking the snowy view, after dancing! Truly romantic and magical. ♥

irish cream coffee

Next month, we’ll celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary. I don’t think either of us can believe the time we’ve spent together is now wrapped up in photographs and not so current. Our relationship hasn’t been perfect. As far as I know, no relationship is…along with the laughs, we’ve shed tears for different reasons. However, we’ve managed to, instead of stumbling over the bumps, step over them and move forward…

I know of several couples who have divorced after 20 some years of marriage and it breaks my heart. I don’t want to be a statistic and so I have a vision of us rocking together on the front porch when we’re older, watching our grandchildren play.  Since our kids aren’t “there” yet, for having children, our vision is “way” into the future! This vision, though, will remain our anchor and strength to persevere anything thrown in our path that is not welcomed! God willing, we’ll have the chance to rock ‘n” roll in rocking chairs! 🙂

Living together for many, many years, married or not, takes work. It’s not a piece of cake. Well, sometimes, it is, but other times, it’s not so sweet. Fortunately, Matt and I are both talkers…we have no trouble communicating, which I think is the key. Holding things in only gives trouble fuel to smolder.

So after almost 25 years of marriage, our kids aren’t little and precious anymore. They’re both in college and luckily, responsible young adults. Whether they like it or not, they’ll always be our “precious babies!” I don’t know what we’ve done right, but we must have done something because we are so blessed. And I mean this with all sincerity and the least bit of boasting…

photo 5 (2)

A dark (health) cloud still insists on looming over us (one of the bumps), but with and through our lasting love for each other and our son and daughter, we’ll get through it, no matter what!

matt and lauren for blog

Doran Beach with the family - Mem. Day '09 072

So…Happy “First Date” Anniversary, Honey!
You were my best friend in the late 80’s when we met.
You still are to this day and always will be.

I Love You.

L xo ♥

Half Empty Nest

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Discussion60 Comments

Life sure tugs at our hearts, doesn’t it? I’m thinking as I type and don’t have time to edit, so please bear with anything that may not make sense. 

Some changes are good, positive events that push us in a better direction. They help us grow. Some aren’t so good, in fact, they’re tragic and very painful. Fortunately, right now, the change about to take place on Saturday is a great one. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t tug, though.

I just feel like talking and I hope not to bore you. Many of you have experienced this already and many will in the near or distant future…Our daughter is moving out for the first time, as a Junior transfer student in her new university. It’s awesome; we jumped for joy when she was accepted. And now that time is no longer down the road a few months…it’s here. Very surreal in so many ways. The good thing is she’ll only be less than two hours away. She won’t be across the country or in another country (I’m consoling myself), so this is good. 

Sibling support

With her bro at her Community College Graduation.

Our living room is full of her boxes. Her belongings because she’ll be in an apartment and not a dorm room. We have had fun shopping for new stuff; that’s always a joy, especially spending time with her…my son has even teased her about having more room in the bathroom, once she leaves and wanting to turn her bedroom into whatever! He keeps this whole thing light-hearted! Well, she’s not out completely; the apartment is furnished, so her furniture will remain with us and she is welcome home anytime. Even after she graduates, who knows if she’ll need to come back home to live. We leave that option open, always. So we won’t make any drastic changes in her room, just yet. But, someday, it will make a great office! Just sayin’! 🙂

It’s our job as parents to raise our children in the best way we know..to lay the foundation, a solid one from where they can grow. My husband and I have done that. And now it’s her job to begin a new chapter, make her own path and continue growing into a beautiful, responsible adult.

Now we have a new job; to let go. I’ve had a few nights this week where I’ve become teary right when my head hits the pillow (thus, my prior post to this one). Yes, it’ll be sad to not have her here with us, in our house. But I tend to worry; we just want her to be safe. (I know, move on, right?) That’s the tough part of letting go because events like this are out of our control. But the tears also fall for joy and excitement for her. We’re so happy for the opportunities she’ll have, the people she’ll meet, as well as, her accomplishments when she graduates.

In a nutshell, LIFE IS GOOD! (but keep the tissue handy) 

Steph COM Graduation May 2013 2
Our Graduate.

  I will end with a little something I wrote:

“We have prepared for this moment,
it would come we have known.
It’s time now for her
to chase dreams of her own.”

I apologize for “talking your ear off”
but I thank you for taking the time to “listen”
and if you have any reassuring feedback,
I would love to read it!
Hugs, Lauren ♥

“Walking the Talk”

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Discussion52 Comments

Have you ever “talked” about “doing” something, but never did it? I have, so I’ve chosen this year “for doing” and I’m excited to say that my first poetry book is in the production process. I am publishing it through Xlibris and they have been really great to work with. It is expected to be released in October.

Most importantly, I’m dedicating the book to my parents, In Loving Memory of Mom. I wish I had committed to it before she passed away, but I can only move forward now and do it for Dad. Anyway, I just thought of sharing some exciting news and am proud of myself for finally “walking the talk!” 🙂

I also know several other friends who are publishing books, so this truly is the year “for doing!” I’m excited to read them all! ♥

Thanks for visiting and I wish you
a wonderful weekend ahead
and encourage you to…

MAKE THINGS HAPPEN!

doing
♥

Photo: Google Images

The Here and Now

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Discussion40 Comments

living in the here and now

I won’t be sharing a poem in this post, something a little different for me. Instead, I felt like sharing some thoughts. I hope you enjoy and feel free to chime in, too! ♥

It’s so easy to let our minds wander into the future, worrying about what could happen. It’s not difficult, at all, to let anticipation of something negative impact our daily thinking. Anything is easy, as long as it’s the antonym of optimism. Would you rather think the worst to prevent disappointment, instead of thinking positively and probably having a good day?

I confess. I’ve had these moments. Then there comes a time when we have a choice to make. We can wear a frown, stay miserable, ruining not only our day, but days for those around us. Or we can turn the frown upside down, hope for the best and have a little faith that all will work out.

Yes, very cliche. I’ve experienced, though, truth in these words. If I carry a positive attitude throughout my daily routine, I find that things do work out in the end. Have I been disappointed? Of course I have. In fact, our family is still in the midst of catching a curve ball thrown to us last fall. I’d love to throw it back! Instead, we’re trying to dodge it to the best of our ability.

Last year, after researching what we’re dealing with, on the internet one night, I cried so hard I created a twitch in my right cheek. It lasted for about a week. Boy, did I really work those face muscles! Crying is not a weakness, but a cleansing of the soul. However, too much of it can cause havoc! Needless to say, worrying about something that hasn’t happened, that could happen, probably will, but we’re really not sure, is just not worth any more hairs to highlight!

So I’m learning to live in the HERE AND NOW even more than I did before. We have today. We have today only. We have no idea what tomorrow will bring or ten years from now, but we can be happy this very moment and carry a lighter load. We can make the best of the gift of life for us, individually, for our loved ones and for our friends. 

Someone very special once said, “It’s all about the Here and Now. I’m living my life for today.”

So I encourage you to Make Each Moment Matter, Each Day Count and Together, Lets Live In the Here and Now!

With love and smiles,
Lauren

FINAL EDIT