Taking a Walk

     "We gain insight when we listen to those who have gone before and who know more than we do- insight we miss when our pride stands in the way. We're able to learn from others when we humble ourselves and acknowledge how little we know. Willingness to learn is a mark of those who are truly wise."~David H. Roper

     I read this quote today, and found it an appropriate reminder as I come off of the 'high' of completing the first leg of my journey back to college. As you may know, on Sunday my youngest daughter and I walked the commencement stage together and received our Associate of Arts degrees. We are both now heading to separate universities to continue our studies, with the goal of earning our bachelor's and master's degrees.

     Following a 32 year 'break' from the classroom, I have discovered that I love being in school. I look forward to my classes.. yes, even math. I enjoy the mental calisthenics my brain is encouraged to undertake; the give-and-take with the younger students renews my enthusiasm for life; and the interaction with the instructors who may-- or may not be-- my generational peers, reminds me of just how much there is to learn during my walk on this planet we call Earth.

     When I took the plunge and returned to school last summer, I vowed to to make every day's walk a learning experience.. to spend every day learning SOMETHING I did not know before. In addition, every week I try to DO something I've never done before. 

     That's a lot of learning and doing in 12 months... and the walk has been awesome. I highly recommend it.

     A structured classroom setting may not be your cup of tea. But, there are are so many ways to add to your learning experience- with books, concerts, art exhibits, church services and small groups, workshops, lectures, simple conversations with people you know, and people you don't .. and if all else fails...there's always Google!

     Re-reading the quote at the beginning of the blog entry leads me to promise to never become too old, stubborn or unwilling to learn, but rather to embrace what I "don't" know... to study and learn...and most importantly, to share what I learn with others in order to help with their journey through life.

     Wanna' walk with me?

Chasing Dreams

I'm not who said it, but I am happy to pass this great quote along: "Don't follow your dreams... chase them!"

I'm putting on my best running shoes.

How about you?

What Should I Do Today?

Photo by Jim Vail Photos

     A friend posted this on her Facebook page. It's a quote that was spotted on a sign in Grayton Beach, FL. I'm not sure who first said, or wrote, it.. but it strikes to the heart of the question, "What should I do today?"

     This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it, or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever. In its place is something you left behind. Let it be something good.

     Indeed.

Bloopers

     Oops.

     Kind of makes me glad that Facebook, Blogger, and all of the other social networking sites were not around when I was an anchor and reporter.

     I certainly made my share of boo-boos. I don't believe I was ever guilty of the one in this photo, but I did refer to President Clinton's presidency as President Clinton's "pregnancy"; I mispronounced "Merlot" (I don't drink it and had no idea at the time how to pronounce it); and got caught running a microphone cable up my skirt on live TV. And, as a good friend and former co-worker recently reminded me, I also had a devil of a time trying to say "Shalikashvili"...as in John Shalikashvili, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I might have suggested (on air) that perhaps the man was going to have to change his name, if I was going to be responsible for reading stories that contained his name. I might have.  

     My favorite blooper happened when I was on location at Lion Country Safari near West Palm Beach, FL taping a segment for a show I co-hosted, called PM Magazine. I was standing in front of a baby elephant. I felt a tickle at my backside. I thought it was my co-host, trying to get me to laugh while I was delivering my lines.

     It was not.

     About 5 seconds later, I felt an agressive lunge over my waistband and INSIDE my slacks! The baby elephant's trunk was slithering down my backside, in search of the wireless microphone receiver, which was tucked away out of everybody's sight... but his!

     Composure gone. Lines blown. Take 2.

     Ahhhh.... the blooper reel. Safely tucked away from the prying eyes of social networking!

     Then again... where DID I put that reel?

     Stay tuned.

     So, what do I do in my college classes? Sometimes, I take a math test.

     Sometimes, I get to do something more creative.. like put together a

video/audio slideshow on alligators for my media technology class.

     As someone who has worked with MOVING pictures since I was 19 years

old, shooting and working with still photography was a challenge. Working

within a 3:00 time constraint... even more so. (I only snapped 200

PICTURES! Really, Drexel?)  Working with a new, unfamiliar

editing system... ouch.

     I finished it, though. And, here it is. Take a look. It's titled "Gator Tale."

     Hope I get an A.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRJc4b4-exE&feature=youtu.be

Wearily, wearily, I say unto you...

This morning, the time changed. We did the “spring forward’ thing. All I could think, as I struggled to get out of bed at my 5 a.m. wakeup call (which was actually 4 a.m. to my body clock) was “I am so tired. I am so tired. This worn-out body does NOT have the strength to get up and do what I need to do today.”

I made my way (eventually) out of bed, brewed a very strong pot of coffee, and sat down for my morning devotional time with the “Jesus Calling” devotional book, a recent gift from a new friend. Today’s words read in part, “When I gave you My Spirit, I empowered you to live beyond your natural ability and strength. That’s why it’s wrong to measure your energy level against the challenges ahead of you. The issue is not your strength, but Mine… which is limitless.”

Well, alrighty, then. Coincidence that this was today’s reading? I think not.

Philippians 4:13.

Now… on with the day.

Dream Big... Work Hard...

Lately, I’ve been dropping hints about a new adventure I’ve embarked upon. It began more than four years ago. Like most dreams, it didn't come true overnight, or easily. It’s taken hard work, sleepless nights, and the support, encouragement and faith of a small circle of incredibly talented friends (you'll hear more about them in future posts!)

Four years ago, I spoke with a young mom who was stretched so tightly with work, household responsibilities, etc., that she was having trouble even finding time to “read to my children.” I thought back to the days when I had two small children, worked long hours at the TV station, met myself coming and going. I had been that mom. Right then I realized, I had to do something to help.

          I considered how to help her stay connected with her children, when time and distance kept her away. I thought about grandparents who are separated from their grandchildren by distance, or health concerns. I thought.. and I prayed….and I prayed some more. The result is “I Love It When You Read To Me™” personalized reading videos.

          In a nutshell, we publish high-quality, beautifully illustrated children’s books that stretch a child’s vocabulary, stimulate their imagination, and exercise their creativity.

     We offer parents and grandparents (really, anyone who wants to create an incredible memory) the opportunity to read our books before our cameras. Our professional team then edits the recording with music, graphics and special effects into an entertaining, child-pleasing video that puts Mom, Dad, Granddad or Grandmom on their special  child’s TV or computer screen.

     It’s not a substitution for time with the child in your life. It’s a bridge, to help fill the gap when you have to be away.

          There was a flurry of guesses when I posted this picture on Facebook, described as “what it looks like when a dream starts to come true.” It is a stack of paper. THE stack of paper used to print our first books. I was at the printer’s when it was delivered.

 Subsequent photos depict behind the scenes work:

late night of editing videos

shooting commercials

and designing a website.

And, this is where it has all led.

          We take our mobile recording facility on site to locations where parents and grandparents gather— pre-schools, elementary schools, festivals, and more.

     We are a family-oriented group seeking to make this easy for you. We don’t want this to become another item on your too-long ‘to do’ list.

     We book recording events daily. If you do not live near an event, we will soon offer the option of uploading your own video of you reading one- or more- of our books.

          Watching parents and grandparents read for  their children has been awesome. Just this week, a sweet daddy reading to his young son moved me to tears.

          After spending 30 years as a TV reporter writing about car crashes, drug busts and politics, I never dreamed I would write and publish children’s books and use cameras to record precious memories, instead of news events. God is good. He has led me to some amazing people who have helped this project come to life. We are all excited to be on this new journey that only He could have imagined, designed, and put into action.

https://www.iloveitwhenyoureadtome.net. Stop by for a visit.