The Glenn Williamson Story - One of My Dad's BEST EVER!!

Take A Break!!

This is an absolutely incredible tidbit of information for anyone who works in an office.  Check it out and take that break, I say!!

Take A Break

Well Now ~ My Niece Has Become A Young Woman!

Who knew??  After her family moved from our small Alaska island town, my beautiful niece Sierra grew up! And here she is, performing at the Acoustic Cafe in Rexburg, Idaho!  So proud of you, Sweet Sierra!

Sierra Chapman sings during the Acoustic Cafe on Sept. 29.

She sang an original work entitled "Superglued."

MARIAH HALVERSON | Scroll Photography

Theme Song from "Dead Zone"

Some days feel like this song.  That is, music in my soul - at given times it may start out with some minor trepidation. . .but then it evolves into something big and beautiful and hopeful.  I like to think music such as this can be considered a contemporary classic piece.

A Place In Time -

Sometimes these TV show theme songs just hit me as my own personal theme song for the moment....this was very strongly a part of my life nearly a decade ago during a particularly difficult time.  And it still hits home.  Other songs will follow, with or without commentary, many of which were a strong part of my healing.

My Monday Hero ~ Splendid Cynthia

For someone so fun and funny and full of life, there are precious few photos of Splendid Cynthia! The smile she shares here is just a smidgen of her humor, with a quick wit accompanying her kind words. 


Cynthia is one of those rare finds ~ the woman who remembers the small things in life. Altho' she has been to my home on only a few occasions, she will randomly hand a small gift to me which is either totally my interior decorating style or something boasting my favorite color! While many of us never realize the value of "intermittent rewards" (a behavioral modification term), Cynthia practices it regularly. By providing kind deeds, words, gifts, and thoughts in a seemingly random manner, Cynthia prompts others to do their best in friendships and in life.


With an opera-star voice, Cynthia could shatter the finest windows in the most abundant cathedrals. She can easily reach those ultra-high notes on the scale that I have to think about just to be able to read them on sheet music! And she sings them with clarity and vigor. Incredible, indeed!


Cynthia, you are my hero. . .my "angelic-voiced" friend. Were it so that I could have a portion of your natural musical ability!

My Monday Hero - Stunning Susan!

Just look at her ~ isn't she beautiful? My entire life I have admired the natural beauty my cousin Susan carries with her. It is an inherent outpouring of her equally-stunning spirit. 


As an adolescent, when my family visited the Idaho farmland area where my parents were raised, Susan and her family often provided a place for us to stay. This included not only food and lodging but also rides on the tractors, on the horses, the opportunity to help herd and milk cows. I even learned how to drive a motorcycle at the age of 14 while staying with Susan! 


Years later, when I was living and going to college in Idaho, I watched as Susan and her husband worked toward adopting children. This was quite an inspiration to me later in my life when I learned I was only able to bear one child. Altho' it was not in my personal life's cards to adopt, the inspiring strength and fortitude exhibited in their endeavors toward this end remained then ~ and remains now ~ in my mind and my heart.

Susan continues to inspire. She is the "woman's entrepreneur," boldly tackling business ventures, overcoming obstacles, and reaching goals which are both temporal and spiritual in nature. When I think of Susan, I am consistently inspired to reach for things I may otherwise have thought unattainable.


Dear cousin Susan ~ I admire you, I appreciate you, I honor you. You are my hero and I am oh-so-grateful to be related to you!

My Monday Hero - Gentle Ginger

I first got to know Ginger when she asked for my assistance in successfully accomplishing tasks assigned in her psychology course ~ several seasons ago! Yet what I learned from just that initial contact is precious to me. 


Although I must have known it before, Ginger re-taught me the value of curiosity and learning, of seeking knowledge, of gathering information to better oneself. She taught me just how invaluable it is, to one's inner self, to continuously grow in knowledge, awareness, learning. . .thereby increasing one's wisdom in the process.  


Ginger is a joy to be around ~ indeed, she can chat with almost anyone about almost anything! And when she is with her daughter, you cannot help but find joy in their presence! For anyone who knows Ginger's daughter, I am sure you can determine that she is certainly what Ginger was at that age, right? Full of life, laughter, love for her surroundings, all mixed in with a bit of mischievousness!


Ginger, you are a light in a tunnel of gray, a glowing beacon for anyone who simply needs a friend. You are a seeker of truth, of honesty, of tact and dependability. You are my hero, dear friend, and I am grateful that God has allowed you to cross my path!

Seriously REAL Women!

Did Someone Say "Slumber Party?"

Real Women ~ Next Generation!

What??  You're having a BABY?

Real Women Becoming

Gorgeous Cousins!

Four of Eight And Still Going Strong!

The Wheeler Girls ~ 2009

How Much Taller Can We Get???

Up & Coming Generations

Chapman

August is National Family FUN Month!

August is National Family Fun Month and because August 1st fell on a Monday this year, I have chosen to highlight FAMILIES in all their varieties! Stay tuned for some very fun, sometimes funny, and always awesome family photos. . .starting with these few of my family ~ first, the kids:

Seriously ~ were we ever this young?

Second, some of the (more grown up) kids with Mom & Dad:

And. . .only a small portion of the extended family!

My Monday Hero ~ Terrific, Tremendous Tracy!

Tracy, an absolute every day hero, is my cousin and I am thrilled to be related to her! Throughout her life she has had the ability to make me laugh to the point of tears, cry so hard I start laughing, and always. . .always helps me better understand the humanity around me.


This woman has lived more lifetimes in her one than most of us can imagine. She carries with her the tenderest of hearts, and at the same time she is tenacious, determined, and persevering when tackling a problem which needs solving. A natural performer with an incredible voice, she has overcome so much ~ most recently a serious cancer scare ~ doing so truly with the effervescence and love of life you see in her photos! 

There was one particularly difficult time in my life while living in the Rocky Mountains when I was traveling south and north on Interstate 15 several times a month for professional reasons. While on the freeway, I would pass the exit which would take me directly to Tracy's home; I would sometimes stop to visit her and her sister, Cristi. 


While I did not see her as often as I would have liked, and despite Tracy not being aware of the seeming insurmountable trials I was facing, I felt an unbelievable sense of acceptance and well-being just knowing she was there. As I think about that now, tears filter to the surface, as this was one of the great blessings during a bleak episode in my life. 


No matter the problem, no matter the anxiety, no matter the battle, Tracy has always, consistently, regularly been there with pure love, unconditional acceptance, and needed reassurance. She never required details, she only had to know that I needed her. No questions, no demands, no expectations.


Tracy, dearest friend and cousin, you are and have been my lifetime hero. You are a beacon of light and hope and dreams. You instill within me a desire to be more like our Savior, Jesus Christ. Your example is one which women throughout the world would do well to emulate. I love you, I treasure our friendship, I cherish the person you are, and I am ever so grateful to be related to you ~ you are a true hero!

My Monday Hero - Charismatic, Incredible Kiki!

It's already been several years since I had the privilege of meeting this always-happy, constantly helpful, totally accepting woman named Kiki. She was a vendor at a local arts & crafts show, selling her totally unique and creative one-of-a-kind jewelry. While this small Alaska town is very artsy, Kiki brought a new flair and twist to the typically-seen fare.


I quickly learned that "Kiki" was not her given name. Rather, this was a screen name that had become so commonplace that keeping it just seemed to fit. I liked that, and I immediately liked her. She is not a woman with whom I go out to lunch or to the movies. She is a friend who I run into now and again at yard sales, in the store, at arts & crafts shows. With Kiki, I can share the goings-on in my life and know she will appreciate whatever it is, as well as feel the empathy and compassion needed at that time. 


She is also the person who cares for and about individuals of all types. When I meet her in a random place in town, she regularly introduces me to a new friend of hers ~ many times this new friend is someone she has befriended who needs that special type of care only Kiki can give. She is the quintessential "no respecter of persons" who completely loves and accepts anyone who crosses her path. What a rare but precious gift she has!

She is a self-made woman who bought a live-aboard boat and proceeded to learn how to live aboard it! Who does that?? Incredible! And her jewelry just continues to inspire and beautify the necks, wrists, ears, and fingers of many, many women. 


I love you dearly and admire you greatly, Kiki my friend. I appreciate all you do and have done for me over the years. You are a one-of-a-kind hero, and hold the highest honor in my book!

My Monday Hero ~ Lovely Lori

Although difficult to admit, when I first met Lori I was not exactly sure how I would feel about her. However, I did fully realize that this came from the emotional place I was in at the time; it had absolutely no direct relation to the woman Lori is. Rather, my psyche decided to be judgmental based on where she was from, not who she was. Truly, my bad!

Once I was able to put that aside, I began to realize just what a sensational woman I was finally befriending. Learning that we had much in common, I started to see Lori as not only a colleague but also as a friend. And to me, the word "friend" has the deepest of meanings; I do not use it randomly.


Lori has the empathy of a Christ-like woman. She is no respecter of persons; she treats all who cross her path as she would treat her closest and dearest friend. She recognizes the good in people as a whole and as individuals. The strength she possesses in this manner is beyond what I hope to achieve in this life, yet I hold it as a beacon for becoming.


Through trials and difficulties, Lori remains steadfast, holding her head high, even barreling through with the knowledge that "this too shall pass." With such a daily demeanor, she moves gracefully through one challenge and readily accepts the next, knowing that her character and spirit will only grow stronger.


Lori, you are my hero ~ thank you for teaching me. Thank you for loving me despite my crazy "friend" idiosyncrasies! I respect what you have shown me and I am indebted to you for the support and care you share! 

My Monday Hero - Incredible, Captivating KC!

Not only is she beautiful, but KC has the effervescent, magnetic personality to match. She is one of those women we look at and ~ before we even meet her ~ we wonder:  Is she really as nice as she is gorgeous? And then we are introduced and we discover that she is! Indeed, one year, while living in Alaska, KC was the first runner-up in the Mrs. Alaska contest ~ what an awesome honor!


As a U.S. Coast Guard spouse, KC has the unique opportunity to experience many parts of the country every three to four years, exposing her two terrific children to a variety of people, cultures, cities and towns, foods, and all manner of assorted and diverse life experiences. 


And speaking of her children, they are the epitome of cute! They exhibit the looks and traits of both parents, neatly wrapped in packages of fun and mischievousness (just check out their photo!). Just like their parents.

I realized fully how much KC meant to me when she knocked on my door one day several years ago. She had noticed when she saw me earlier in the day that I was not all that happy; she just came by to see what she could do. 


As that was a very difficult time period, I really was almost unbearable to be around. Yet KC had the internal fortitude to talk with me when most everyone else was happily avoiding me. Not only did she go out of her way to check and see how I was and how she could help, she also was not intimidated by my intensity and the questions I felt I needed to ask her. Rather than shrink away and hope I would soon emerge from my nearly vehement mood (as others had done), KC responded with love and compassion and empathy, letting me know just how important I was to her and that she felt nothing but love for me. 


Truthfully, that was the best thing she could have done, and it certainly softened my heart. This small gesture helped pull me from the depression into which I felt myself spiraling. Further, KC's tenderness and love reaffirmed my faith in humanity and instilled a desire to rid myself of the intense anger I had allowed to govern my life for several weeks. 


KC, you are my hero ~ I hold you in high esteem and I admire the good works you do. You have imprinted yourself on my heart. I will always love you and respect you. You represent womanhood well ~ both publicly and privately ~ and for that I will be forever grateful!

My Monday Hero - Amazing Angie!

Honestly, from the first day I met her, I have held Angie in high esteem and had great admiration for her. She is not only a beautiful young mother, but she is also one of the most consistent individuals I know. And in my book, consistency is what shouts out to me as the character trait I am most likely to unequivocally trust.


I am thinking it has to be about four or so years since Angie and her husband of (then) ten years moved to Southeast Alaska from the bone-chilling, seemingly cryogenic arctic northern part of the state where 60° below zero is not uncommon, even on the warm days! Both she and her husband are school teachers by profession and they taught school to Native Alaskans for several years. In that time, I believe they somehow became part Native Alaskan themselves. . .or at the very least, they have successfully adopted many of the customs and traditions of these incredible people of the north. 

And now, a couple of years later, they have the cutest precocious little tow-headed guy running around their house. . .and probably anywhere else he can get to! He is a handful; yet I see Angie ~ in her consistency and patience ~ showing forth the greatest love for her charge. She has a ready smile and radiant eyes. In fact, those eyes speak volumes. Although still a young woman (at least by my estimation), she has experienced portions and remnants and snippets of life which would seem quite foreign to most of us. And from that, Angie exhibits wisdom and a sense of life well beyond the capacity I would attribute to most human beings. She is, in a word, phenomenal.


Not only do I hold Angie in high esteem, but I have had the privilege to observe multiple interactions between her and her husband. In so doing, I see the light in his eyes when he is near her, I see the admiration he has for her when she is in the spotlight ~ such as presenting in front of a group ~ and I see the depth of devotion he has for this woman who agreed to marry him over a decade ago. To me, the opportunity to quietly listen and watch this couple has been a treat and a blessing. 


Angie, you are my hero. I love you, I admire you, I commend your successes in this life and this world. You are one of those rare "unsung heroes" we hear about so often, and secretly wish we could be. Thank you for blessing my life!

My Monday Hero - Sensational Sabra!

My cousin Sabra (who used to spell it Sabre'!), is one of my very favorite people in the world! She is a one-woman show, truly. I have literally known her all of my life, and we've been buds the entire time. Consider that I've pushed past the half-century range. . .that's a very long time ~ in people years! 


I recall visiting Sabra and her family when we were children and hearing her father wish her and her sisters a good-night over the radio where he deejay-ed. Radio was a natural element for this family, as they are the ultimate talent when it comes to music and singing. All they have to do is stand all together and begin a song, a cappella, and the most glorious harmonies appear out of nowhere! Including biology and half-siblings, Sabra's family boasts seven girls and two boys. What an incredibly awesome choir to behold!


Yet, as this week's Monday Hero, Sabra tops the list not because of her melodious forte, but because of her phenomenal strength, leadership, charity, and intense love for her family. Recently Sabra posted on her facebook page that she has found the "language of love; it is Alzheimer's." This simple statement brought tears to my eyes and a deep outpouring of love for this extraordinary cousin. 

Sabra ~ who owns and runs her own mortgage business ~ has taken her mother, diagnosed with Alzheimer's only a few short years ago, into her home to care for her day and night. Somehow she has created the capacity to stretch time and space into whatever is needed. With so many siblings, Sabra certainly has help, yet the most compelling thing. . .she would do the same whether she had siblings or not! 


A comedian, a singer, a businesswoman, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a cousin, and more ~ Sabra is and always will be at the top of my Hero List! She cracks me up without even trying, while at the same time showing forth a tenderness and kindliness beyond compare. She is energy and might and strength in one package who loves deeply and cares fiercely. 

Sabra, you are my family and you are my friend. Having a cousin who has so profoundly become a best friend ~ what a glorious blessing! I adore you, I love you beyond compare, and I strive to become what you exemplify with the strength of character you exhibit. You are my hero!




06.07.2011 - CLARIFICATION:
After posting yesterday, my dear cousin Sabra clarified that her Mom does not actually live with her in her home. In Sabra's words: 


"Mom, thanks to her pension, social security, and part of Ted's pension, lives in a memory care center called Legacy Village. It is five minutes from my house and work. It is about two blocks away from Aunt Fern, and when Ted lived with his son, Donny, it was about five minutes away for him......centrally located, Mom has visits from your sister, Aunt Lucile, Elma Leta and Linda Anne, and Cristi's work is just down the street. So we have been fortunate to find a spot where everyone can visit when they want." 


Thank you for assuring my information is accurate; doing so speaks even more fully to the honorable and extraordinary woman you are! That being said, Sabra, you are and will always remain my hero for the many and multiple things I have listed above. You are awesome, incredible, and wonderful. If I could put you on a plane to Alaska once a month, I would do so, just to get my "Sabra-hit," which is all too rare these days!