Creating FUN and HAPPINESS for LIFE while experiencing LIFE's many challenges!
Please feel free to jump in, to swap stories, to share YOU and to receive and to
give encouragement of all kinds!
C'mon on in! (boards are no longer active)
~ scroll down for recent photos and a mini-history ~
Warmest of greetings to any who may come upon this site. Although I no longer regularly update this site, I enjoy touching base here for those who may on occassion drop by. I currently check in at my space - The Rose Within - if you are in the neighborhood, please feel free to stop in and say hello!
As of today, I have completed a book and am committed to self-publishing - this has turned out to be a wonderful and exciting challenge; I look forward to learning even more about this process and to seeing my own publishing company on this book - how exciting is that!!
I wish you ALL a safe and spectaluar Holiday Season! May we each choose to create and surround ourselves with the extraordinary on a daily basis!
Hello once again! So much has happened since March 2006. The children began summer vaction in June and are now back in school. I am no longer caring for my friends four little ones - the four absolutely adorable siblings that can be seen below; instead, after nearly 13 years of being a stay at home mom - which I love(!) - I am now a Starbucks Partner and learning that coffee tasting/brewing/creating is literally an art and a challenge and one of the most fun experiences, as far as a job, that I have ever had up to this date AND I am still able to be with my kids!
I am also completely enjoying the unfolding of my dreams attending school at Living Your Vision: Academy for Coach Training in Bellevue Washington. As far as this site, Creating Fun for Life, I still do not know what I will do. However, I am now ok with not knowing and I am focused on the moment. As a side note: some links will continue to be unavailable or perhaps I should say instead - they are a work in progress. =)
~ and now for a rambling update - a hodge podge of thoughts ~
Did I mention that I AM EXCITED and ever curious! I AM!
My Heroes and Heroines of late are:
Me. My Children. My family. My former husband/friend. My enchanting friend Ms. Kim Westerhoff. Rumi. My dear friends and those few acquaintances/strangers who have come into my life and have left behind the most remarkable of scents.
My Heroes are those who are lighthearted, serious, enchanting, loyal, helpful, effervescent, resourceful, open minded, witty, goofy, elegant, courageous, fearless, not afraid of making a mistake or looking silly, honest, sincere, compassionate.
My Heroes are those who compassionately use their Gifts in a way that support and awaken other Souls, who encourage us to grow forward, who spread fun, love, wealth in the broadest of senses and who bring harmony to all they encounter. (Whew! Let me take a breath before I go on .... ;)
My Heroes are normal everyday extraordinary folks. I especially love those Heroes or Heroines who cause the Hearts of many to smile, who cause the Hearts of many to feel warmed and welcomed AS IS.
Personal Journal thoughts - inspired by conversations with loved ones and new friends:
It is my intention to disappear from the world
as an object of interest in order to be everywhere in hiddenness and compassion."
~ Thomas Merton ~
With and without expectations life happens; it naturally unfolds, yet when I am in sync, it unfolds effortlessly. Personally, this is an area of my life which takes a great deal of practice and concentration for me. Being mindful, gentle, yet purposeful - asking for, listening for and trusting that the answer will come and then receiving that inner guidance or physical manifestation with gratitude and appreciation. To disappear from self, while still remaining fully present and then putting this into practice in my daily goings on with all; with everything. Listening to all things around me and taking part in vs. feeling as if I am somehow not a part of it all or that it is not a part of me. This, I believe, is living in a state of wakefulness … it's a choice; a leap of faith - where I have no attachment to the outcome and yet I welcome and appreciate that I am a part of what is unfolding. These thoughts bring me so much pleasure. I am beginning to see the truth in these words in little and big ways within my own life now. It brings bliss ... it brings abundance of thought and energy. It brings about a different kind of patience and understanding that is so absolutely important and vital if I am to even begin to understand myself, let alone another.
Thoughts and questions I have asked myself lately:
8/25/06 Journal entry/email to a friend: I awoke at 2am this morning, as I often do with feelings of inspiration coursing through my body and mind. I don't always act on them at night. However, as of late I have intended to act on them ... writing down or following through even in the middle of night. What I find happening, is more clarity and feelings of absolute peace; the sureness that I am on the right path. Tonight I awoke and knew I had to act with speed (listening to that inner voice that guidance system, higher power, the many names we have for it, God etc...) and I followed through on an impulse by taking action and then I began writing afterwards. Below is a question I have asked myself in many different ways. Yet not like this; not in this way and early this morning, it resonated... something stuck.
What love affairs do I have/do I engage in, within my life now, that keep me stuck? I have so many! To what am I attached? What keeps me returning to something that brings only temporary satisfaction? What if I have the same kind of love affair with those things that bring health and wholeness? What if I return again and again to those things? What if I view them in an entirely different way as things I want to do vs. have to do?
What if I begin a love affair with those things in my life that bring me the most pleasure?
What are those things?
drinking water
working out
reading
writing
creating a Feng Shui environment with vivid and cheerful colors
heart and mind stretching conversations
creating memories with my children
creating smiles on all
love
joy
inner happiness
music
dancing
What will I attract into my life if I do this?
What will I attract into my life if I don't?
Imagine the possibilities of both...
I do know and believe this ... "As a man thinketh in his heart, so he is."
If you look up love affair in the dictionary there are two definitions in the Webster Dictionary...
1) a romantic attachment or episode between lovers
2) a lively enthusiasm.
If those are truly the desires of my heart, what shall I choose to leave behind so that I am able to begin my love affair with those things that do inspire more clarity of thought and a creative mind; that do inspire wealth (‘wealth' in the broadest of senses). How badly do I want it?
“If you visualize, you will materialize.”
“I believe, if you have been there in the mind, you will go there in the body.” Denis Waitley
Now to kick that up a few gears and to be even more fully present; to visualize each love affair, each episode as a dance between two lovers – living my life as a Salsa(!) … to think on and to enjoy the feelings brought on by those things that bring me the most joy and absolute pleasure ...
What am I attracting into my life as I do this?
I attract my hearts desire.
What are my intentions?
(my below thought was inspired by Thomas Merton's beautiful quote up above. A friend (thank you!) recently shared Thomas Merton's lovely quote with me - I have tweaked it and applied it personally)
It is my intention to become more aware of those objects of interest that hold me back and to begin a love affair with those things that bring me the most pleasure, *in order that I may be everywhere in hiddeness and compassion.*
~ me ~ 8/25/06
The People I draw into my life:
I continually attract the most Extraordinary and amazing people into my life! YOU know who you are and I look forward to meeting YOU if we have not met yet!
"That which I think; that which I see all ready and feel within - I see without, and like a magnet I attract." journal entry 8/25
"Whatever it is you are feeling is a perfect reflection of what is in the process of becoming." Esther Hicks
Wow! Imagine the possibilities! I choose to be ever more mindful of my thoughts and feelings.
THAT my friends, makes me smile in anticipation!
May you each continue to experience limitless possibilities of abundance in all areas of your Life.
May you each continually and habitually attract more pleasure into all areas of your Life!
NOW!
LETS HAVE FUN!
Love from afar, yet near in Heart,
~ The Rose Within ~
Look within...the secret is inside of you.
~ Hui-neng ~
Warmest of greetings to all who happen to stop in. After four months of being away I have finally been able to bring the site back up and it couldn't have been a better month to do so! I feel I must apologize for the sudden departure last fall, yet it was necessary that I prioritize and in this case, I could not afford, nor justify the expence of keeping Creating Fun for Life up and running, nor did I have the time to invest in keeping it active. Boards will remain down and some links will work incorrectly. It rather echo's my life -- perfect imperfection and/or a work in progress. Is that an excuse for not fixing it? No. It's reality and everyday I am challenged and reminded to focus on what I am able to do and do indeed accomplish vs. focusing on those areas I feel I fall short. My plans of what to do with this site, are as of yet, uncertain.
Now to update a wee tiny bit, but first ....
March 12, 2006 marked the 2nd Anniversary for Creating FUN for LIFE!
Once again ...
HaPpY-BiRtHdAY
to
CREATING-FUN- for- LIFE!!
And now onward ...
I am still creating fun and happiness in my life and this, in part, is who and where I am now, today. Oh, the adventures I and my family still continue to have!! Although we may experience similiarities (thank goodness!), we each walk such unique paths. In my case personally: making a decision to separate and then divorce, STILL rebuilding self and family and embracing new challenges, flying in spite of and because of, and of course ... staying with it.
Below are pictures of the most amazing people or Angels in my life. My brother and sister, my four children, myself, my former husband Michael and the four new little people that have entered our lives.
End of December 2005
The next three pictures are of my delightful sister Allison, my silly brother Jay and myself.
Here we celebrate my brother's graduation fromLogan College of Chiropracticin St. Louis, Mo.
Congratulations, once again to Dr. Jay Turnbow!
March 27, 2006 - Joseph's First School Concert Joseph was actually sick, but so badly wanted to attend his school concert that we let him go even though he had been out of school for two days. He was so happy to be at his concert. Bless his heart.
Pictured here in back: Sean and Kevin. Front: Katie, Michael and Joseph.
School Concert for Kevin, November 2005 Joseph 6, Katie 8, Kevin 10 and Sean 12.
Celebrating Joseph's 6th birthday, October 5, 2005 Katie in front. Sean, Kevin and Joseph in back.
Late Summer 2005 Joseph, Katie, Kevin and Sean
In late Spring of last year to current time now, my kids and I welcomed four siblings into our home. Their father, my friend, has entrusted them to my care during the weekdays and our lives have never been the same since. These four adorable little people embraced us into thier lives with as much passion as we have them. It has been my privelege and honor to be called 'Mom' by these four and my kids absolutely enjoy sharing with others that we have 'adopted' a new family into our lives.
February 6, 2006
Kevin's 9th Birthday celebrated at Red Robin with All! Top from left to right: Kevin, Trevor and Sean. Middle: Katie and Hayden.
Bottom: Amber, Kaitlynn and Joseph.
Late Summer Fun 2005 On left top: Amber 3, Kaitlynn 4. On right side: Hayden 6 and Trevor 8.
All together, except my oldest, Sean. We were preparing to go on a Walkabout.
Here we stopped for a picture while munching PB&J sandwiches. Back: Kevin, Trevor & Katie. Front: Kaitlynn, Amber and Hayden.
a.k.a. Shannon - A Mom, a Friend, a Student of LIFE, a Woman who enjoys and looks
forward to Creating FUN and HAPPINESS, a Woman who enjoys hearing about
everyday extraordinary people like YOU! Come share your successes both big and small!
Remember, little steps forward bring us towards extraordinary people and places.
Imagine the effects mentally, spiritually and physically from saying a hearty 'YES' daily.
Saying YES defines our moments and those moments literally add up!
And all it takes is just one step ... just one ... ONE!
May YOU enjoy a day full of creative FUN and HAPPINESS!
May YOU practice and celebrate your 'Yes's'!
Daily, may we each say a resounding, passionate and hearty ...
My wish and encouragement for each of us:
May we each enjoy an enchanting and mischievious August month.
Full of fearless and colorful openings; full of giant leaps,
without fear of where we may land!
This an interactive site ...
yet only as each of us are inspired.
Some people respond by silently observing.
Some respond by following the crowd.
Some respond by actively jumping in.
Each are welcomed.
Balance
It is a process.
At different times, I am a silent observer,
a crowd follower and a Leader!
Words go only so far and then we have to
put all of THIS and THAT into action! And yes, I live and learn from my
above comments … everyday.
Much growth has taken place - mind, body and Soul - since I discovered Body for Life back in May of 2003. New meanings and completely new
directions and continued growth - mine and my family.
-- Normal Everyday Growth --
The simple and profound and at times the embarrassing and silly.
If you are new to this site, I hope you enjoy these words here at Creating FUN for LIFE
as well as, the words found within my journal at The Rose Within.
