Here's to the new year!

It appears I am going to be extremely busy and away from my computer tomorrow, so I wanted to go ahead and write this post today. I didn't want to skip it. I have already started making (actually started in November) some plans for change in the new year for my life. I've learned some invaluable lessons this past year (and the years before that) and hope to be able to put some of them to good use in 2013. One thing that I have learned I would like to share with all of you. If it resonates with you, grab it and go. If it doesn't resonate with you, please put it on your back shelf and take it out and re-evaluate it once in awhile. Maybe someday it will seem worthwhile to you.

When I was in massage school, our instructor said one day, "be aware that people's bodies will believe whatever their mind tells them". Ok. I had no clue what he meant, kinda chalked it up to the fact that I was in California and you know what kind of "woo-woo" is considered acceptable there (sorry to my friends who reside there-no disrespect intended but you have to admit, it's a little different than the corn fields of Illinois!). Now, some 9 years later, I understand exactly what he meant. And I have two stories to share with you that are true, and exemplify what he meant. Whatever you really, truly, deep in your subconscious heart of hearts believe to be true, is truth to you, and therefore, your body and your emotions will work to accomplish what you've told them is true. Alot of this goes on beneath the surface - we sometimes don't even realize it's happening. So take time to examine, as best you can, at the entry to this new year, what you really believe, and what you want to have be truth for your body, your emotions, and your life. "Change your thinking, change your life". Here's to a prosperous, healthy new year! And now, my two true stories. I hope they challenge your thinking, as they have mine. I will, of course, paraphrase because I can be quite a long and detailed storyteller and I don't want you to get bored. I'll try to keep it in check, and only give you the pertinent details. Ponder.

There was a man who worked at the railroad. At the end of a particular day, he was accidentally locked in one of the refrigeration cars. All the other staff had left for the day to attend a party for one of the other workers, so this man found himself alone and unable to escape this railroad car. He found a scrap piece of paper and wrote some periodic notes for his family, saying things like, it's getting colder in here, I'm starting to freeze, I know I'll be frozen to death by morning. True to his beliefs, he was found dead the next morning in the railroad car. An autopsy was performed and it was confirmed that the man had frozen to death. Only problem was, the refrigeration unit in the car was broken, and it never got cold enough to freeze in the car that night. His body froze to death because he told it to.

A 40 year old woman was undergoing heart surgery. As I guess is customary in heart surgeries, the surgeon clamped off her artery and a machine made her heart "pump" while the surgeon was doing his work. Apparently when the surgery is done, the warm blood returning to the heart after the clamp is removed is usually enough to start the heart pumping again - if it doesn't, there are drugs that can be injected into the heart to cause it to start pumping again. This particular woman's heart did not automatically start pumping, so the surgeon administered the med. Still nothing, he tried another med. Still nothing. After he had tried all the meds he knew of, he leaned over the woman's body and said very gently in her ear, Mary, it's your doctor. I've done all I can-the surgery's done and the repairs are made. Now I need you to tell your heart to start beating again. By this time the surgeon was quite unsettled and just stepped back from the operating table a moment to re-group when he heard the monitor make the steady, familiar sound of her heart beating. Her heart started beating again because she told it to.

What will you tell your body is true in 2013?

Post Christmas, Pre New Year!

Here's a few pics from the Christmas season at my house. I say a few because literally, I didn't take hardly any pictures, much to my own disappointment.  I had plans, oh yes, I did, but you know...best laid plans...etc., etc. But suffice it to say there was fun, food, games, resting, and oh - of course, it wouldn't be a Moldenhauer Christmas without at least one nutcracker!

Here's my tree with just the lights on it. 

Here's my 5 billion (slight exaggeration) ornaments competing

for a spot on the tree.

Some ended up in a basket with lights.

Others, just hanging around.

Here's a new nutcracker to join our crowd of nutcrackers. 

Some nativity scenes.

A few of my grandma Gardner's Christmas balls.

Some hanging decorations.

Vicky with a new "First Christmas" sleeper for Spencer. 

My tree with lights, decorations, and some of the presents. 

Ashley and Spencer. 

Spencer getting some help opening from dad.

Spencer on his new riding toy from Aunti B and Uncle B.

Spencer crashed partway through the day. 

The squirrel nutcracker.

The squirrel nutcracker.

The kids playing Uno with Amanda.

 The kids playing Uno with Amanda.

The kids playing Uno with Amanda.

I have no pictures of Ellie because she was either sleeping, eating or I had her squished up on my lap for some loving time!

Fly by December!

I feel like we just did a quick "fly by" December....and now it's almost gone. Christmas is a time filled with love, laughter, disappointment, sadness, even grief for some. It seems the emotions of the season are usually amplified. Although it has gone by so fast, and things were very different for me this year (and probably will be from here on out), it was a wonderful season of celebrating life, our loved ones, and, of course, the gift of life that is the reason we celebrate at all. I hope to post a couple pictures here soon - I actually was so busy at both of my gatherings this year that, unfortunately, I didn't snap pictures much. Suffice it to say, everyone loved their presents, I always enjoy being with those that I love, I got a chance to secretly bless a couple friends, and see our church's Christmas production. I hope to yet drive through the East Peoria lights this week and celebrate New Year's Eve with some friends and New Year's Day with my kids and grandkids. The holiday season will then be complete, and we'll be looking on to what the new year holds. For now, I hope you had a fabulous Christmas season - that you were blessed and you got a chance to bless someone else. And most of all, I hope you had time to thank God for sending Jesus to this earth for us. That, after all, is at the center of our celebration.

Fun at lunch time!

Today I had the distinct pleasure of babysitting Spencer for part of the afternoon while his mom attended a work meeting, his dad worked, and his uncle Tan man (who would normally be watching him) also worked. Here's some photos (and my commentary) on what was happening just before uncle Tan man left for work, as I was trying to finish up feeding Spencer his lunch. Enjoy!

Tanner: I have to go to work, buddy - give me high fives.

Spencer (implied): no, I think I'll play with this bat you gave me.

(against my grandma's suggestion, by the way!)

Tanner: c'mon, buddy, give me high fives.

Spencer (implied): no, I said leave me alone, I'm playing with this bat!

Spencer (implied): ask me again and I'm gonna hit you with this bat -

you know, the one grandma said not to give me!

Tanner: hey there, buddy! 

Spencer (implied): what? I told you I was gonna hit you!

Tanner: ok then, let's make your eyes squinty!

Service

Sometimes, especially around the holidays it seems, we have an opportunity to serve others. It's such an honor and so rewarding to do so, and I personally try to rise to each one of those occasions if I can. Last night was one of those times for me. Family Core was hosting a Christmas party for their clients, including dinner, prizes, drawings, chair massages, manicures, reflexology, make up and even a trip to East Peoria to the Festival of Lights. These women were very appreciative of all that they received and it was quite an honor to be a part of giving to them an experience they would not have otherwise been able to have. Isn't that, after all, what celebrating the holidays should be about?Helping and serving others? Here's some photo documentation so you can experience it with me!

 Here's Karen, my cousin, with the tree. Sorry it's so dark. P.S. She works at Family Core and was a planner and coordinator for this event!

 Here's the beautifully decorated tables we all ate dinner at!

Here's Ashley, ready to do manicures in the butterfly room!

 Here's Tracey, waiting for her first reflexology patient!

Oh yeah - Ashley and I had to swing by and see baby Spencer on our way home - he's way cute, eh?

Next year!

Are you pondering 2013 yet? I have been...off and on! It's been so crazy busy! Each and every year I promise myself this upcoming holiday season is going to be relaxing and laid back - no rushing, deadlines, etc., Ha! This year is not any different than last year - it seems like time goes by faster and faster, yet I get less and less accomplished! Oh well. At any rate, I have been thinking about the new year in between all the fun and festivities of this Christmas season, and have identified a few things I'd like to see be different in the new year. I am trying to take full responsibility for the changing of some of these things, realizing that in order to change my world, I must change my thinking and thereby change my actions. Easier said than done sometimes! But I am planning to continue to evaluate and journal those things I want to see change and include the steps I must take to help facilitate said changes. No worries - you'll still recognize me - I'll still be me, just hopefully with an improved life and lifestyle.

Christmas Party!

Last night some of my friends and I held our annual, traditional Christmas get together. Annual in that we do it every year at this time. Traditional in that we drove to look at the Kibler's house in Bloomington (or is it Normal? I always get that confused) where all those kazillions of lights on their house blink and change in time with music that you tune into on your car radio. (To learn more about them go to www.kiblersdazzlinglights.com). We always enjoy seeing the show - it is a little different each year - and, of course, it's fun to see how our fellow humans act in such situations from shining their bright lights in your face, to leaving their car like they're in a drive-in movie theatre and standing in front of everyone's view - lol! This year we also drove past what appeared to be the tackiest holiday display ever. I couldn't begin to count the plastic stand up Santas and snowmen and penguins - all standing shoulder to shoulder (literally) inside a fenced in yard. It gave the appearance that all these figures were confined in a prison yard and was actually rather creepy. Hmmm...one questions the thinking behind that one. Traditional in that we  pulled some English crackers, then wore our crowns for the evening's festivities. Traditional in that we enjoyed a great meal together and opened the presents we brought for each other. It's especially fun as we realize again that over the years we have come to know each other so well, and that is reflected most obviously in our gift choices for one another.

Here's a few pictures to document lest you think I conjured the whole event up in my head!

Kibler's

Kibler's

Kibler's

Kibler's

Creepy house - look! They're even on the roof!

I think they want out! How do they all plug in?

Judy wearing her crown and Tracey getting ready to pull a cracker!

Tracey seeing what was in hers!

Marilea and Susan preparing to pull!

Marilea and Susan pulling!

Karen modeling her crown!

Tracey modeling her crown!

Marilea in her crown, opening a gift!

Judy Green squealing with excitement at her Illinois Wesleyan shirt!

Gifts!

Of course, this time of year, most conversations you hear are buzzing with the word gift - in one form or another! This is the gift I want, this year I'm buying less gifts, I can't find the gifts I want to buy, I'm so far behind in purchasing gifts, and on and on and on. My friend and I were just discussing gifts yesterday, as I mailed her birthday gift to her one week after her birthday (I had good intentions - even bought the gifts early - but, alas didn't get around to going to the post office!). Anyway, we were saying how wonderfully fun it is to receive and give gifts. That when you absolutely LOVE a gift you receive, it's usually not because it's so rare, or so expensive, or so exquisite (although often gifts are), it's because the person who's giving the gift to you has purchased something that is so you - you know - it's something that personifies who you are or what you like. It's a statement about that friendship or relationship - it's reflective of the fact that you know that person so well. For example, my friend collects marbles. I love stones and found some stone marbles at a rock show. Probably about .75 to $1.00 a piece -  not real expensive. But she adored them. It spoke volumes of comfort and familiarity to her, having received something from me that reminded her of how well I know her. One of my customers just gave me a bead that is a penguin! She hit the jackpot there, since I make jewelry as a hobby, and I adore penguins! In fact, her comment to me was, "when I saw this, I just couldn't pass it up!" That's because she knows me so well, and this little bead reminded her of me. So this holiday season, I encourage us all, to not worry so much about spending a bunch of money or impressing all the others with our gifts at our get togethers, but rather to spend more time thinking about and appreciating the qualities about that person that make it fun to be in relationship with them in the first place - then purchase (or make) something that symbolizes that relationship and makes you think fondly of that person. 

Tis the season

Tis the season for...many things. I'm thinking lately not about your usual reason for saying that. I love Christmas and the holidays for soooooo many reasons, but right now I'm thinking about another season. In November we experienced the smallest full moon of 2012. On December 21st, we will experience the winter solstice (shortest day of sunlight of 2012). In the period between those two events, some people say we are advised  to be doing some reflection, if you will. Some preparation for a new year in our journey here on Earth. It has been suggested that this be a time of thinking and evaluating procedures and habits in your life - seeing if just because you've "always done it that way" is still the best way for you now. Are you doing anything just by force of habit that could be done a more efficient way? Or are you carrying some things with you along your journey that really don't serve you very well anymore? Well, I've been doing some evaluating myself during this period of time and I find that I, indeed, have been carrying some subconscious thought patterns and habits that no longer serve who I want to be in this new year. So I am making preparations to discard those things and let them fall by the wayside. Not that those ways of doing things haven't protected or served me well in the past - now it's just time to move on in another direction and those things would serve to hold me back, not encourage me on. Tis the season for .....so much! Take charge of who you are and where you want to go in the new year. Take a minute and reflect - remember, change your thinking, change your world!

11 Years!

A week or so ago marked 11 years for me in business as a massage therapist. Amazing! Time has flown by, and much has changed....and stayed the same. As I sit here, printing more Christmas gift certificates and brochures (and folding them), laundering sheets, checking my e-mails for any updates on appointments from patients, and thinking about my next facebook post to hopefully boost some activity, I realize I still do all the legwork (grunt work I call it) myself - just me and my printer and my old laptop - no fancy big printing company; my phone - no intricate phone system (no "press one to make an appointment"); passing the word about my business or specials via my mouth, my friends' and patients' mouths or a snail mail mailing - no bright and bold advertising or billboards announcing my information; and on and on. Eleven years later it's still basically me serving others because I love and believe in massage so completely. And that's kinda how I prefer it. Before you think I'm crazy, just let me say, I do realize the world has changed around me in the last 11 years. I do know there's internet and paper advertising available; I do know there's people who manage other people's businesses; I do know there's internet programs that allow the patient to schedule their own massages - I know advancement in procedure is out there and available for a price. However, I feel like massage is such a personal service and to incorporate some of those features would cause me to lose some one on one contact with my people. Isn't that, afterall, what "small business" is all about?

As I look back over the past 11 years, I am very thankful and feel much gratitude to be able to do work that I enjoy so much. Not everyone gets that opportunity in their lifetime and I feel very fortunate to be one who does. So Happy Anniversary, Soothing Moments Massage! Here's to many more years of success in assisting others on their journey to healthiness!

... because sometimes life makes you frazzled!

Tan man's birthday!

Today is my youngest son's birthday. He turned 26 years old today. I wish I had more time and knowledge and was more electronically savvy so I could show you cute pictures of him when he was little. Suffice it to say that I, like most mothers I know, cannot actually embrace the fact that my youngest child is really no longer a child, but a grown man with a beard and everything! What does that make me? An old woman? But I digress and refuse to go there tonight. Let me just spend these few minutes telling you some things about my Tan man (as we have called him affectionately for years) that are very special and make me especially fond of him. Tan man is very sensitive. He cares about people and their feelings. So much so that he went to great links for 17 years to ensure that I didn't find out that he really didn't like nutcrackers - that the whole thing had been a misunderstanding and the boxes and boxes of nutcrackers that had been collected over the years for him actually held no value for him and could be discarded. Loaded with a great sense of humor, he brings calmness to many situations. He's always loved to read and loves books, currently devouring Crossroads, the newest book penned by favorite author, William Paul Young. He is a wonderful massage therapist and one of the smartest people I know. Great with kids, I know he will make a wonderful father some day. When he was young, he was very quiet, conversing with literally almost no one. He didn't speak to his kindergarten teacher until well into the second semester that year, not even telling her he was left handed when she tried to make him write with his right hand. He hoodwinked me into taking a lawyer to dinner (for his 6th birthday), tried to force me to buy Rogaine for him (at age 6), and cheated at Uno every time he got the chance. He has brought so much joy and laughter to my life and the lives of his siblings. Our lives are much enriched because you are in them, Tan man, and we are very thankful to God for giving you to us. May this next year be your best one yet.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Yep! It happened. Despite the debockery (sp??) of the day after Thanksgiving where Mother Nature froze out our annual tree picking out adventure, yesterday Tanner and Amanda came by and took me to Talbot's to get my tree. Now if you've ever gone on one of these tree finding adventures with Tanner (or if you know Tanner or even remotely know anything about Tanner), you know we were gone 4 minutes longer than it takes to drive from my house to Talbot's Tree Farm and back. Plus 1 minute to throw it in the back of my car! lol! Tanner's very decisive when it comes to Christmas trees. May I say, my living room smells fantabulous, as my tree awaits it's destiny of being decorated. It's very crooked. However, Tanner assures me he can create the illusion of straightness once the branches have relaxed, by manipulating the way the tree trunk is situated in the tree stand. Time will tell. Here's a couple of pictures to photo document that this happened. On a side note, one of my customers told me recently that she was talking with her granddaughter about baking Christmas cookies with her when she was young. The granddaughter (now a grown woman in her 30's) vehemently proclaimed that she didn't remember ever baking cookies with the grandma. The grandma hates to bake, but did so to make memories with the granddaughter. The moral of the story? Always photo document what you do as one day you may need proof that you did it! ha!