The Hood

You may have noticed that I have been suspiciously quiet in the blogosphere. It's mostly because we have been without internet for several weeks (the horror!). We got it up and running today so I look forward to ramping up the blog posting! For now I just wanted to say that life is looking up. I am loving our new place, loving the new neighborhood, loving the summertime and loving having responsible tenants in our house (except for the part where our garage door comes crashing down on them about once a month, but I digress...).

I was out garage saleing the other morning and saw this sign taped to a street sign at the top of our street.

And I kind of had to laugh.

Really hard.


And here it is several weeks later and the sign is still there. I wonder what DVD it is...and more importantly, where it's at!

And I quote....

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

-Nelson Mandela

"Strength isn't something that you have, it's something that you find"

- Emma Smith (at least it is in the Emma Smith movie)

Now these are quotable quotes. I can see people putting these quotes on vinyl and slapping them on their wall. I can imagine them cross stitched and lovingly framed in the entryway to a home, put on a plaque, embossed on a pillow...whatever. They inspire, they are memorable, and so on.

I hope to say something quotable one day. Something that people will remember and recite and feel inspired by.

Bob Harper (the trainer on my weight loss video) had a similar dream to me. The only difference though is that he has the authority and popularity to make his dream a reality. And the quote that he has printed and framed in size ten billion font? The quote that he shows at the beginning of his video to inspire and motivate?

Can you see it? It's "Are you ready? You bet you are!" - Bob . Really? Really? I mean it's not even really a statement, more of a question really.

I've felt inspired though and have, since seeing Bob's quote, made some plaques of my own around the house.

In the bathroom : "Are you ready to remember to flush the toilet? You bet you are!" -Mom

And the kitchen : "Are you ready to eat all your broccoli? You bet you are!" -Mother

The Family Room: "Are you ready to put away all your stinking tiny sharp toys so I don't step on them anymore? You bet you are!" -Mom

Thanks for the inspiration Bob!