You Calm Me

When a tornado storms
through my work day and
my desk is the aftermath
When my brain is frazzled and
I’m ready for a bubble bath
I may hesitate when the phone rings
because there’s so much to do
but when I hear your voice
I know I’ll pull through

Lauren Scott © 2015
🙂 ♥

Warmth and Wise Words from Tuesdays

As a piggyback to my previous post, everyone has their struggles, moments when they feel defeated, when they need to cry. (Because of the situation, our moments will be ongoing until..well, we don’t know. We only know what we know right now, which entails a lot of gray area.) But after the moments, they get up, they move forward, and they smile again.  One day at a time and all is good…thanks again to all of you who offered prayers, hugs and support…

This weekend, my daughter and I did some Christmas shopping (avoiding black Friday madness), and it was a great mom/daughter time. Santa brought me an early gift, something I needed, adding some fun (and warmth) to life…

Red slippers-001

“Behind every successful woman is a fabulous pair of shoes”  🙂

 

 

 

 

To those of you in the U.S., I hope your Thanksgiving was peaceful and special. And for everyone visiting here, I hope your weekend was the same!

I’m re-reading Tuesdays with Morrie, written by Mitch Albom. Long story short, Morrie was Mitch’s old college professor, who was dying from ALS. Most of us has someone special in our lives who made a heartfelt impact. For Mitch that person was Morrie. Mitch met with Morrie each Tuesday for Morrie’s last class. The subject was The Meaning of Life, taught from experience. Although Morrie was dying, he kept a positive attitude. Through his genuine, loving, and heart-tugging manners, he taught all who knew him “how to die so they could learn to live.”

I’m ending with advice from Morrie (so much profoundness in this book). It will change your perspective on life…

Mitch asked Morrie, “do you ever feel sorry for yourself?”
“Sometimes, in the mornings. That’s when I mourn. I feel around my body, I move my fingers and my hands-whatever I can still move-and I mourn what I’ve lost. I mourn the slow, insidious way in which I’m dying. But then I stop mourning.”
“Just like that?” Mitch asked again.
“I give myself a good cry if I need it. But then I concentrate on all the good things still in my life. On the people who are coming to see me. On the stories I’m going to hear. On you-if it’s Tuesday. Because we’re Tuesday people.”

My wish is that when you leave here, you take away something positive that will benefit you in your life, in whatever you’re going through…

Much love,
Lauren

 

Finding a Balance when life throws a curve ball

Dear Friends,

I’m adding another plug for my latest book Finding a Balance. To purchase a copy, paperback or e-book, any of the links below will direct you to the right place depending on the preferred site. All you need to do is click specifically on the words Xlibris, Amazon or Barnes and Noble and you’ll be on that site.

BOOK COVER FINAL 1.26.15This collection of poetry is a compilation that speaks often of my emotions and spirit after finding out about my daughter’s illness three years ago. But in contrast to this sadness, I possess a romantic soul and am blessed to have celebrated close to twenty-seven wonderful years of marriage to my husband and best friend. So from darkness to light, through faith and romance, I find strength to move forward. This book takes the reader on a ride of different emotions evoked from life and love.

My Publisher, Xlibris: http://bookstore.xlibris.com/Products/SKU-000756814/Finding-a-Balance.aspx

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Balance-Lauren-Scott/dp/1503528006/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1445952378&sr=8-1&keywords=finding+a+balance+by+lauren+scott

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/finding-a-balance-lauren-scott/1121084225?ean=9781503528000

All proceeds go to The Chris Klug Foundation in honor of my daughter. Chris had the same disease in his twenties, underwent a liver transplant, then became the first transplantee to win in the Olympics (2002). He is a professional snow boarder and lives in Aspen, Colorado, now in his early forties. Please also feel free to share this post with others who you think might be interested in helping with this cause and who enjoys poetry.

chris klug foundation

 

 

 

 

http://chrisklugfoundation.org/
His mission is to spread the vital importance of becoming an organ donor; offering second chances. Please visit his site for more information.

I sincerely hope you’ll help with this cause, as the only reward I’m receiving is the knowledge that others are becoming organ donors. Some day my daughter may need a second chance…Thank you so much and if you do purchase a copy, I hope you enjoy its contents, Lauren ♥

“This isn’t a post for sympathy, but a request to help with a cause important to my family. My daughter is fine now, with occasional symptom flare-ups, but the disease is slow progressing and there is no certain timeline showing when things will get worse. Of course, we continue to pray for a healing miracle.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The End and the Beginning

How can we part this way
after all the things you said?
Your words were gold and shiny,
now our love is but a thread
of loneliness and heartache
and all sad words we know,
I gave everything of me
to you; my love was bestowed

Isn’t it mysterious how relationships end when we believe all is wonderful? Whether they’re made of romance or friendship, the outcome is the same. Our emotions are activated in heart-tugging manners, questions form, and our minds are baffled. We tried our best to contribute fairly in all that is required to keep a relationship stable. We felt comfortable enough to remove the mask and be ourselves without fear of judgment.

Many factors contribute to broken relationships as J.K. Rowling points out: “Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike.” We need to show up, we have to participate, and we must communicate. So what happens then when two people part? Where do they go emotionally? Is it just as hard when two friends separate than when two lovers do? More is invested into a romantic relationship because of the physical connection; however, in both cases, there is loss, which is difficult regardless of the details.

One can wade in self pity, spend many moments crying, wondering what went wrong, and all of this is fine. Yet, how much time should be spent on over analyzing? Each break up is different because of its content, but as long as we don’t strive to swim a marathon in those tears, a little bit of emotional cleansing is healthy. Then it’s time to move forward; Steve Maraboli says it well: “Cry. Forgive. Learn. Move on. Let your tears water the seeds of your future happiness.”

When these events arrive in our lives, they are another step in the growing up phase, and age bears no relevance. Let us be aware, give in to the hurt, and then carry on into a new beginning.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about past relationships, after reuniting with a girlfriend from many years ago. It was interesting to write on this topic and if any of you are experiencing a break-up, romantic or friendship, I hope my words are inspirational for your future. I also wish you much happiness, with few tears and heartaches, and I’m always grateful for your visits! Sending virtual hugs and love! Lauren ♥

Lauren Scott © 2015

Rocking Back to the Past ~ Five Photos/Five Stories 5

 

 

rocking chair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When my Mom was five years old, her father built this rocking chair; it was the year of 1926. Freshly painted bright white with animal decals were the final touches. I can only imagine the expression on her little face when “Daddy” presented this to her. It has traveled from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Mom was born, far west to the sunny state of California. All of her daughters in their youth (my sisters and I) have shared the joy of this piece of history.

This priceless heirloom has lived in my sister’s homes for their children to use and appreciate. Then when our son and daughter were born, the charm of this gift touched them, as well. Over the years and more often than not, the thought of refinishing this mini rocker had drifted in and out of our minds. Although for some reason, it never happened.  Maybe we were afraid of erasing history. Nonetheless, it will remain as you see it in this photo and our hope is that in the far future our grandchildren will have the chance to rock too.

Sometimes memories are all we have of years gone by, at times photographs evoke past moments spent, and now and then, a piece of handcrafted furniture takes us back to people we love and have lost. It’s been over three years now. We miss you, Mom. ♥

I’d like to thank Jean at https://socialbridge.wordpress.com/ for tagging me in this fun photo challenge.

Here are the rules for the “Five Photos Five Stories” challenge: “Post a photo each day for five consecutive days and attach a story to the photo. It can be fiction or non-fiction, a poem or a short paragraph and each day nominate another blogger for the challenge.

For my fifth and final nomination, I am tagging Michelle at http://michelleclementsjames.com/ (Book Chat) and I look forward to her contributions if she can find the time in between her wonderful book reviews.

Lauren Scott © 2015