My Favorite Color is Blue ... What's Yours?

I hang up the phone from yet another political survey and wrinkle my nose with annoyance as I try to remember what I had been doing before the phone rang.  It is nobody's business but my own who I plan to vote for next week ... and my thoughts wander ...

Everyone is unique and has a variety of differences ... differences in appearance, talents, personality, heredity, experiences, etc., and with that, everyone also is entitled to their own opinion!  We each have an opinion on little things such as our favorite color and our preferences in food.  We also each have our own values and ideas and ways we view the world.  We have our own views on what it means to be a good parent, a good child, a good teacher, employee, supervisor, community member, community leader, and even the President of the United States.  There are many more people in the world than I can count, but I know for a fact, it is absolutely impossible to agree with them all!

We may have some opinions of which we are not very convicted ... we may choose blue for some things, but brown for others ... and we may feel like eating pickles one day and cupcakes the next.  But on other issues, we might hold much stronger convictions ... such as on the subjects of parenting, religion or politics.  We may hold strongly to making it to every game or recital for our children or making time for family meals ... we may feel it is mandatory to make it to church every Sunday morning ... and we may be a staunch Republican or Democrat...

Of course, we probably believe our own opinions and decisions are correct or we wouldn't feel so strongly about them.  However, it is important to remember to respect the different decisions and opinions of others as well.  Again, we are all unique and are entitled to our own opinions.

For that matter ... imagine if everyone in the world had the same opinions ... there would be no variety, creativity, conversation or debate.  There would be no new ideas, change, moments to learn from or opportunities for growth ...

My thoughts go on and on and I suddenly remember what I had been doing when the phone rang ...  I proceed to dial the number for Don Jose's Mexican Restaurant and await an answer on the other end of the phone.  "Yes, I'd like to place an order" I reply when my call is answered.  I order a taco salad, an avocado tostada and two burgers with fries ... although my family agrees on fitting in our family meals, we don't all agree on the same types of food ... but that's okay ... we probably won't discuss the election either!
 

It's HERE!!! Check it out!!

I am so excited (that is all I can say right now)  Check it out ... I am definitely "Happy Today!" :)

I'd Give You My Life - Kendra Kleve : AuthorHouse

It will also be available soon at "Happiness Is" in Decorah, Iowa.  (Watch for more information ... you could even get a signed copy!)

Also, please check out my facebook page titled "I'd Give You My Life (A Mother's Wish For Her Children) By Kendra Kleve" and be sure to "Like" my page!!

Good Things Come To Those Who Wait

A crisp, autumn breeze greets me as I head out the door for my daily walk and I instinctively hug my shoulders to stay warm.  The quiet of the morning fills my soul as I am surrounded by the gentle pitter patter of falling leaves.  Bright orange and yellow maple leaves are my favorite part of autumn … I long to dive into the nearest pile, but manage to contain myself … I only wish my children would not have outgrown our annual leaf-diving rituals!!  (Maybe I can still try to convince them to join me later today.)  As I head around the corner, I am blinded by the rising sun reminding me that the afternoon should be a little warmer once the sun has fully risen.  Through the quiet of the morning, I hear the hum of a far off tractor and my thoughts go out to my husband.  Although today is Sunday and routinely a day for quality, family bonding, the kids and I will have to find other ways to spend the day since Shawn will be confined to the field once again.  It seems like forever since I have actually spent time with him during waking hours!  Although in many respects, autumn is my favorite season, being a “harvest widow” can be very challenging on my patience!!  

They have always said that “patience is a virtue” but no one ever said it would be easy!  Although waiting is often the hardest part, many things are truly worth waiting for.  Often we wait … we wait for prayers to be answered, wait on nature to take its course, wait for our hard work to show fruits of our labor.  We wait on babies to be conceived, and to be delivered … we wait for our children to learn and grow to become successful men and women.  We may even have to wait for our niece or daughter or friend to write another blog post.    :-)

But an important thing to note, is that patience is not to be confused with procrastination ... waiting til the time is right, til tomorrow, til next spring, til next year, or “someday” … til the kids have grown, til we  lose 5 pounds, til our inbox is empty … (These are all excuses!)  Patience is meant for things that are beyond our control!  

Now, as I sit in my living room surrounded by piles of unfolded laundry (oh damn, that’s procrastination), I am startled by the ringing of the phone.  It is my husband calling to say that he may make it home for supper tonight.  I head into the kitchen, take some meat out to thaw and open the refrigerator to find that we are out of milk.  With a smile on my face and a spring in my step, I head out the door to get a gallon of milk from the Mini Mart up the street.  On the way, I swing into the post office to see if the first printing of my book has arrived yet from the publishers.  

To my readers (you know who you are), I leave you with this … “Good things come to those who wait!”