Thursday, January 31, 2008

Blake put up our photo wall!



This just looks amazing, Blake! Thank you for spending literally hours figuring out the math and hanging this wall of family photos! It makes our whole living room come to life.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Mission statement

My mom is on the road again, which means I feel a need to keep her in touch with the happenings at Paine Central. So, hopefully, this will mean more blogging for poor, Poor White (neglected) Oprah.

It is interesting reading the heading for this blog and comparing it with some recent work I have done with defining my "mission statement". They are pretty similar in a lot of ways.

Here is what I have for my new mission statement:

My mission is to connect with the hearts of others and bring to light their true identity, walking with them as their burden is lifted.

connect=embrace
bring to light=illuminate
walking with them=burden bearer

It is so wonderful to have a simple mission statement that I can use as a measuring stick to decide if the activities that consume my time help me to accomplish my mission or keep me from it. It is a prioritizer. A mother of 5 needs a prioritizer.

When do I feel absolutely on top of the world?

* When my house if filled with people.

* When I connect with someone and they open up to me their greatest joys or hurts

* When my children love on me.

* When my husband is kind to me.

* When I am in a corporate worship time and God is EVERYWHERE!

* When I know that someone is blessed by something I personally did or said.

* When I can see my hopes for myself and others realized.

* When I can make someone laugh.

* When someone takes the time to call me, stop by, cross a room to talk to me, or remember the details of my life.

* When I drink an El Parisio Sunset Margaretta.

* When I come home to a clean house.

* When a bride or mom cries at the photos I took.

* When I see amazing art, hear amazing musicians, watch amazing athletes perform, when I notice beauty in the abilities of others.