honesty

Happy New Year. Reaching for 2014.

December 31, 2013 by Lisa Lehmann

An end? Or a beginning?

I think I will choose to look at it as a fresh start. Something new ahead.

I don’t want to feel as if there are things I didn’t do, words I shouldn’t have spoken, people I didn’t connect with, places I didn’t go, goals I didn’t accomplish, a God I didn’t serve well.

Instead.

What if I view 2013 as a preparation for the new year? A training ground.

Mistakes = lessons learned.

Unfulfilled dreams = something to strive for.

Painful words spoken = tongue training in restraint.

Missed opportunity = a new chance tomorrow.

Not enough hugs = more time to cuddle.

Tears = a balm for my face.

Disappointments = a lesson in flexibility.

But think.

Think of the spontaneous laughter. Moments of surprise. New friends.

The unexpected. The joyous!

Breasts – because all good fashion starts on top

November 19, 2013 by Lisa Lehmann

Let’s face it, we live in a society obsessed with breasts. Boobs. Tatas. “The girls”. Whatever you choose to call them.

We are either covering them, exposing them, enhancing them, or talking about them. But the most important question really is….are we taking care of them?

Are you self checking? Weekly? Monthly?

And what about a mammogram?

Are you getting those regularly yet?

Honestly? I would almost rather go to the dentist then get a mammogram. The squishing…the pulling…the flattening. I don’t know about you…but “my girls” leave little to the imagination. I seriously cringe at the thought of them finding enough {cough} “material” to do the squishing. Oiy.

But today is mammogram day. And I think it is fitting on fashion tip Tuesday that we talk about “the girls”. Because…good fashion starts at the top. The top starts with the boobs. The boobs need to be taken care of. See the connection?

I was only 22. Divorce. Rejection. Forgiveness.

October 7, 2013 by Lisa Lehmann

Where were you?

I was only 22.

Where were you when my crumpled body laid behind a closed lock door?

Where were you when I was told I was worthless?

Where were you when I was given details of escapades and affairs?

Where were you when I looked into the eyes of the man I married and didn’t recognize him at all?

Where were you when I trembled every time I had to walk somewhere alone?

Where were you when I lay in bed screaming in anger and fear?

Where were you when I searched for jobs and insurance and attorneys to help me?

Where were you when I was too scared to tell anyone because I knew I would be shunned?

Where were you when the real story was just too hard to tell?

Where were you when the rejection was so intense that it hurt to breathe?

Where were you when I got let go from my job just because I was going through a divorce?

Where were you when I realized he took everything?

Where were you when I was applying for temp jobs just to make ends meet?

Where were you?

I was only 22.

Being honest. Being real. And reaching out.

October 3, 2013 by Lisa Lehmann

I posted a question on my Facebook page yesterday. Quite simple actually.

what are three words that describe how you feel today?

Instead of leaving it open ending ended and getting all sorts of positive Facebook froufrou, I told you how I was feeling. In all honesty, the only way I know how to be.

INSPIRED. ~ by the conference I attended last weekend ~

OVERWHELEMD. ~ by life, and what is going on for me personally and in the world around me ~

NEEDY. ~ because sometimes you just need to know that people care ~

I really didn’t know what to expect. Facebook is an experiment for me. It’s my way of trying to reach out. It’s hit or miss. You never know who is online, or who will take the time to read, or let alone comment. A crap shoot.

when life gives you more than you can handle

June 11, 2013 by Lisa Lehmann

Life. It often gives us lemons, does it not? Forever we have heard the cliche’…

“when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

It’s a proverbial phrase. It’s purpose is to encourage an “I can do it” sort of mentality when the going gets tough. Finding the sweet in a sour situation.

But what happens when you run out of lemonade?

I spent the weekend with my two oldest girls and a friend at an outdoor country music concert in Michigan. {{ Side note? We had a blast. }} Anyway….at one point I actually laughed out loud, and then hoped none of the 40,000 people around me noticed. After standing in line – not once, but twice – to refill my daughters fresh-squeezed-lemonade we arrived at the front of the line to be told, “I’m sorry, we are out of lemonade.”

To me…THIS was funny.

Why?

Because in the last 9 months we have been pounded by lemons. I’ve been squeezing those things and mixing up batches of lemonade like crazy. If you can make it with a lemon, I’ve done it.

But what happens when you run out of lemonade?

That’s kind of where I am right now.

Last summer our world turned upside down. Mid August we found out we were moving to Indiana. We moved within a couple weeks. We told the kids to pack for three months to live in a tiny rental home until we can find a home of our own.

New school. New friends. New church.

New. New. New. Lemon. Lemon. Lemon.

Ten months later.

We bought a home.

Lemon. We can’t move into the end of July.

Lemon. We have to move out of our rental home this week.

Lemon. NEW rental home has no air conditioning. And no laundry facilities.

Seriously? I’m out of lemonade.

I’ve squeezed and squeezed…but there isn’t a drop of lemon juice. I have nothing. Empty.

Right now nothing seems to matter but getting through these next 8 weeks.

Eight.

Fifty-six days.

One-thousand-three-hundred-and-forty-four hours.

My brain is mush.

So please forgive me if the jewelry and the blogging gets a bit sporadic.

Eight weeks.

Will you stay with me?

Will you support me?

Will you be MY listening ear?

Do I dare ask YOU for encouragement?

And hey, if you have any ideas for dried up lemons I’d be all over it!

In the meantime, I’m going to go mix up the “we-are-on-a-new-adventure-Kool-Aid” for my family.

Because…

I DO believe there is a higher plan.

I DO have so much to be thankful for.

I DO know this is minor in the great scheme.

I don’t even like lemonade any more.

So here is to the Kool-Aid. CHEERS!

love you to pieces,

lisa

honesty

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