A word for the year...and a few scraps of wood!

I have always been creative.  

And I have always loved to make things.  

Whether it's starting with a blank page and having written a beautiful song a few hours later, or taking a few scrap pieces of wood and other materials and seeing what I can come up with....I love the challenge of making "something" out of "nothing".

I never thought my obsession with making things was all that exciting.  But over the last few months, everyone that has come over to my house has "scolded" me for not blogging about the things I make.  

So.  Here I go.  :-) 

At the beginning of each year, I loooooooove to reflect on the previous year and dream about what is to come in the new year.  I pray about a "word" the Lord wants me to focus on for that new year and I get SO excited when I finally feel like I land on something.  The only problem is, by about January 15th of each year, I've already forgotten my word.  

I'm not kidding.  

I usually have to write it down and refer back to it like a hundred times.

As 2014 was winding down, I began praying about my 2015 word fully expecting the same cycle to continue.  But this year was different.  In no time at all, and as clear as day, the word "Faithful" came to me.  I felt like the Lord said, "Karyn, be faithful in everything -- the big things, the small things, the things you don't think matter and the things that the entire world will see.  Just be faithful in everything you do, and trust Me."  

For the 9 weeks of 2015 so far, I have not been able to get this word off my mind.  When it's cold outside and I don't feel like getting dressed to go to Yoga, I hear "Be faithful in your exercise."  When I think about calling or texting friends to see how they are, but start to get distracted, I hear "Be faithful in your friendships."  When I face career frustrations (and don't we all!), I hear "Be faithful with what I've called you to do."  When I sit down to pay bills now, I stop and say, "Lord thank You for being faithful."

FAITHFUL

It sounds like such a simple word, yet it can be applied to every area of our lives.

Anyway....back to making things out of scrap wood.  :-)

I made a wooden headboard for my guest room last year (I may blog about that next!) and I had some pieces of wood left over.  I also had these white letters from Hobby Lobby that I just use for random things here and there.  

So, I got it all out and decided to make myself a sign that says, "Faithful."

This is everything I used:  

A piece of scrap wood

Wood stain (whatever color you want)

Hammer

Letters from Hobby Lobby (or if you have really good handwriting, you could paint your word!)

A picture hanger for the back of the wood

And my trusty glue gun

(All in all, it's hard to nail down a price because most of this was stuff I already had.  But the letters from Hobby Lobby are around $5 bucks)

This was as easy as it gets -- all I did was stain the piece of wood.  Wait for that to dry, and then glue my letters on and add a picture hanger on the back!  I thought about adding something to the sides, but I liked the simplicity of just having the word on there.  

Then with a little help from my tall husband figuring out where it should go.....  :-) 

I was done!!!

I chose to hang this right above the door in my home office.  When I'm off the road, I have days when work in there ALL day getting caught up....so I love having this there right in front of me as a reminder every day to BE faithful in everything I'm doing, and that God IS faithful no matter what.

So there ya go!  My first blog about my crazy crafty side.

Go ahead, make you one!  Pick a word you want to focus on for the rest of this year and make one of these!  And then post it and tag me so I can see it!!!!

SIDE NOTE:

I've been busy in the studio working on a new record, and one of my favorite songs on this record is a song I co-wrote called "Nothing Less (Great Is Thy Faithfulness)"   

Here's the chorus:

We will say of You oh Lord when it seems there's nothing left

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

You've been our strong and steady Rock and nothing less

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Coincidence?  I think not.  :-) 

Great article written by Adam Witty that I wanted to share!

Pat Williams, owner of the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA), speaker, author, health advocate and marathon runner, lives a "never say never" approach to life. This past February, Pat was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare blood/bone cancer. In typical Pat Williams fashion, he is not giving this disease the upper hand, as associate and publisher Adam Witty outlines below. The five keys Adam identifies mesh with The Daniel Plan principles.

By Adam Witty
Published by Author Advantage Magazine, Advantage Media

Recently I had dinner with Advantage author Pat Williams. Many of you know of Pat for his incredible accomplishments: as the Founder of the NBA’s Orlando Magic, as the author of over 65 books, as a motivational speaker, renowned sports executive, and, gulp, the father of 19 kids! Pat has spoken at our Marketing Summit, has graced the cover of this magazine, and has been an inspiration to many.

I first met Pat when I was in college at Clemson, some 12 years ago. Pat agreed, much to my pleasant surprise, to mentor me. He accepted a seat on the Board of the company I was running at the time, TicketAdvantage. A sports fanatic, my dream was to run an NBA basketball team. Why not learn from the guy that brought NBA basketball to Central Florida? Over the years, Pat and I have had hundreds of meetings, phone calls, e-mails, and voice messages. Aside from my own father, I can think of no other person that has taught me more about business and leadership. I owe a great deal to Pat.

In February, Pat was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer, Multiple Myeloma.  I remember speaking with Pat two days after the diagnosis. I said “Pat, if anyone can beat this, it is you. Second, you are going to beat this.” As we had dinner, I asked how treatment was going and what his doctors were saying.

“My doctor says I have 5 big advantages in fighting this disease” said Pat. I knew it was time to get out my notepad.

1. Family. The doctors say that having a loving family is the first critical ingredient to overcoming a serious health challenge. With 19 kids and a loving wife, Pat certainly gets a big check mark on that one!
2. Faith. Believing in someone bigger than yourself cannot be underestimated. Having a relationship with God gives patients peace, equanimity, and solid footing. Being comfortable with any outcome actually gives the body energy to recover. A devoted Christian, Pat is a Sunday school teacher, and openly talks about his faith.
3. Attitude. As Pat Williams told me many years ago, “Attitudes come in two flavors, Positive and Negative. You choose the quality of your life by choosing what attitude you have when the going gets tough.” Pat is Mr. Positive, from his 65 motivational books, to the famous motivational quotes on his voice mail, Pat “drinks the positive kool aid” 24/7!
4. Fitness. A former college baseball player, Pat has always been a fitness buff. He has run in over 50 marathons, he exercises at least 1 hour every single day. When I traveled with him to Detroit to launch our book on Coach Chuck Daly, Pat was doing wind sprints in the hallway of the hotel. Seriously. Pat has always eaten a sensible diet. His overall state of good health gives him a huge advantage when fighting cancer.
5. Professional Network. Just as having strong support from your family is important, so is having strong support from colleagues and business associates. There are few organizations as fine as the Orlando Magic. The level of support Pat has received from co-workers and the current owner of the club, Rich DeVos, is unparalleled.

As Pat shared all of this with me, I thought, “Gee, it would sure be nice to be Pat Williams if you ever got sick.” But as I reflected further, I realized that these five so called “advantages” that Pat has are purely of his own creation. He has worked his tail off over a lifetime to prepare for this day. Pat’s hard work has been a giant insurance policy. Upon further reflection, I realize that you don’t have to be the author of 65 books, the father or 19 kids, or a renowned sports executive to have the exact same insurance policy for your own life. All it takes is hard work.

Although it is still too early to tell the exact progress of Pat’s treatment, I can tell you this, you would never think the man had cancer. He was upbeat, full of energy, and executing on all aspects of his life, without missing a beat.

When I was in boy scouts, we had a motto, “be prepared.” What are you doing today, to prepare yourself for tomorrow? If cancer, or any other challenge strikes, are you giving yourself the best fighting chance to win? A good question or all of us.

Words of support can be sent to Pat at pwilliams@orlandomagic.com or by mail: Pat Williams, c/o Orlando Magic, 8701 Maitland Summit Blvd., Orlando, FL 32810.

Get Up, Suit Up, Show Up.....

So I called my dad the other day and asked, "How are you feeling?"  His response:  "Doesn't matter."  I said, "Pardon me?"  And he responded with the same enthusiasm that I've come to expect.  He said, "It doesn't matter how I feel.  Some days I'm great, full of energy, some days I'm pretty exhausted.  But it doesn't matter, I get up and do what I have to do."  Wow....I think somebody forgot to tell him that he's battling an incurable cancer.

My sister-in-law sent me this article that was written about him in which my dad says he feels like this next chapter of his life is going to be his most important.  This cancer "adventure" as he's calling it has given him a new platform from which to speak.  And speaking out is what he does best.  His latest piece of wisdom is for men -- don't neglect your yearly physical.  I would have never viewed cancer as a new adventure before seeing my dad's gut-wrenching determination to tackle it with everything he's got.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/15365964/in-williams-wondrous-life-cancer-a-means-to-another-beginning

I'm a lucky girl to have had this kind of enthusiasm and positive outlook instilled in me since the minute I was born.  My dad has poured everything he's got into the lives of his children, and we consider ourselves extremely blessed.  Now it's our turn to encourage him through this "adventure" called multiple myeloma.  It's certainly not what we would have chosen, but there are small blessings along the way that we'll miss if we become focused on the negative.  There is still a lot to celebrate, and there is so much to be thankful for.

Just wanted to share the article, hope you enjoy.

Until next time....Dare to Live!!

Karyn