ROYAL Blue Monday, November 2

WoooHooo from Camp Sunnyside!!! Confession time: I haven't always been a Royals fan. Yes, I am a fair weather fan. But Don't be upset with me. 1) I have been a HUGE fan since last year to make up for it. 2)  I'm not from here originally. I grew up in a small town in the middle of Iowa. However, I have lived here more years than I lived there. So Kansas City is HOME!! And this Team, more than any other team, has been Amazing, Lovable and its Contagious!! 

One thing about growing up in a small town is that I learned how to be a cheerleader and support our Hometown Team. We all got to play sports just by showing up, there were no try outs. Being a part of the team is Magical!! It creates a supportive community around you that rallies when make an error and high fives you for your great job. But when your team goes all the way and WINS the BIG GAME...The celebration is undescribable!! You hug your team, you hug those around you and you feel this event has wrapped your entire community into one big embrace that unites every single person!! This feeling is EUPHORIC!! There is no sleep. Fireworks, texts, tweets, calls, bells and whistles are constantly going off all night. Then in the morning after dreaming about that annoying announcer's voice, you realize, it wasn't a dream!! This Happened!! They WON!! We WON!! We may not have been on the field, and yet, we have been believing, praying and biting our nails while watching every single moment, not wanting to miss anything. We stayed up late to watch the last seconds of each and every game. At the end, there is a FULL BLOWN Celebration!! Screaming, people jumping and noise makers all going crazy. And the parade is coming!!  This is, comprehensible, one of the greatest moments that we will remember forever. We will tell the next generations where we were when this happened. Enjoy this moment. Take it all in. Breathe. This is bigger than you and bigger than you can comprehend.

What if we applied this approach to all areas of our life? Our Business is our home and our co workers are our team.  When we believe in each other and cheer each other on, one person will win, which means we All Win! Celebrate together! The same can be applied with our family, instead of holding a grudge, when someone has a victory, we all celebrate. How different would our lives look if we lived life like we do when we play on a team??

The moral of this story...Surround yourself with a positive team. Believe in them and cheer them on in everything that they do. Celebrate when a member of your teams wins. And then they will believe in you, cheer you on and celebrate with you!! 

And For those of you who think Kansas City is just a "fly over city", it's Time you stopped in, looked around and stayed awhile. You'll find that we are much more than what you would expect. The Kansas City Royals just proved that. 

Thankful Thursday August 13

Good Morning Sunshine!! It's #ThankfulThursday What are you thankful for today?? I'm thankful that We wake up every morning and get a New Day to have a New Opportunity for something Awesome to Happen!!

 Ever been in a Tough time in Life and it seems like nothing good comes your way?? It happens to All of Us!! And When we Awaken Every Morning, we get Another Chance to Try Again, to Find Another Opportunity!! We don't know how many days we get, so when we get another day. We owe it to ourselves to make the Best of It!! We can't always get what we want in life, however,  We Do get to choose how we perceive it!  Yesterday,  something may have been heavy and dragging us down. Today,  we can shake it off and be positive that all will work out for the best!! When we worry too much about tomorrow, we miss out on the Awesome Stuff in front of us today. With that said,  Look for the New Ways to Make a Difference in Another Person's Life and you'll Be surprised how that tough time turns around. May your day be filled New Opportunities Each Day for you to Be Positive, to Be Thankful  and to Make a Difference in Another Person's Life!! Happy Thankful Thursday!! 

Thankful Thursday August 20

Good Morning Campers!! It's
ThankfulThursday What are you thankful for today?? I'm thankful for My Brother who made me this Amazing life-like tree sculpture!! I Love it!! He's so Creative and I'm beyond excited to have a piece of his Talent!! I will treasure it forever!!

This reminds of a poem by Bonnie Mohr... 'Life is not a race - but indeed a journey. Be Honest. Work Hard. Be Choosy. Say 'thank you', and 'great job' to someone each day. Go to church, take time for prayer. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper. Love your life and what you've been given, it is not accidental ~ search for your purpose and do it as best you can. Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become that which you inspire to be. Laugh often. Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them. Some of the best things really are free. Do not worry, less wrinkles are more becoming. Forgive, it frees the soul. Take time for yourself ~ Plan for longevity. Recognize the special people you've been blessed to know. Live for today, enjoy the moment.

May you find a Treasure in your Life today and Share your Talents with Others.  It may Empower them to Share their Own Talents and Create something that someone else can Treasure!! Happy Thankful Thursday!!

Processing Sunday August 9

Good Morning Campers!! What are you thankful for today?? I'm thankful for the way we Process new stuff in our life. There is always a thought process of when we receive something from someone new. We think, this can't be trusted. Then we move onto, we need to protect ourselves. Then we try to logically make sense of it. Finally, we give in to our heart's desire and give it a try. As we settle in and get more comfortable, we start to believe and have Faith that everything is going to be Alright!!

Then there are some of us who jump right immediately to the believing and having faith. I am more cautious about life.  While I have Have Faith that everything is going to work out the way it's supposed to, I go through the motions and anxiety of first three steps.


The same process goes when receiving Bad News. We think it's Impossible, then onto the other stages.  What would our lives look like if we first have Faith and believed in ourselves and the other person first?? Would we make Wise Decisions or would we just Learn a Life Lesson and Move Forward?? Giving you a little something to think about. May your day be filled with Faith and Believe that Everything will be Alright!! Happy Sunday!!

Thankful Thursday July 23

Good Morning Campers!! 

 It's Thankful Thursday What are you thankful for today??  In Honor of my Mom's Birthday on Sunday, I'm thankful for This Woman who is my Mom.  She made me Who I am. She has listened to me whenever I needed her to.  She always had home made cookies ready for anyone who stopped by for a cup of coffee.  She makes everyone laugh with witty unfiltered comments. She may have been stern at times and that taught me to be strong. She is tougher than nails. And yet has a very distinct soft spot for people. She gives more than her fair share and has overcome more than most. She is Beautiful inside and out. I am blessed to have her as long as I have and see her as often as I can. She is full of life even when she is sick. She is a fighter. She is full of Grace. Even when she is mad, she still loves us.

If you haven't spoken to your mother in awhile, reach out to her and tell you love her. She Gave you life so Give her grace. May you still have your mother by your side to love on. May you be able to visit her often. May you understand how much she loves you.  Happy Thankful Thursday!!  

Happy 4th of July 2015

Good Morning from Camp Sunnyside!! Happy 4th of July!! May your weekend be filled with Independence,  Freedom and Sparkly Fireworks!! May you enjoy Good Food, Great Family and Friends!! May you Love on each other,  Share some Memories and Make new ones!! May your weekend be full of Laughter and Fun and Play Safe!! Have a Wonderful 4th of July Weekend!!

Thankful Thursday June 25

Good Morning Campers!! It's ThankfulThursday What are you thankful for today?? I'm thankful that for the last 6 months I've been writing this and have gotten Amazing feedback!! I started writing this coming from a place in my life when I was going through tough painful times.  Literally, I had a cyst growing in my body and I was worn out! And every day I woke up and made a choice to ask myself OK what can I be thankful for today?? And I found it!!

  So I started thinking how I could use this as blog to empower other people who are going through unbearable times, to take a moment and look for something, anything to be thankful for and focus on that instead of the negative. As I did this on a daily basis, my life started to change.  People I know were calling me Sunshine and saying that they are Happy Campers!! What the what...this is actually working in other people's lives??!!! Look, Life is Short!! Times will Suck!! Bad things happen to Good People every single day.  Sometimes, there are no words to describe how painful life Can be. And yet,  we have a choice, even if it's for a brief moment,  Look for something to be Thankful for!! We opened our eyes. We are loved by the people around us. We have a choice between positive and negative. The one we focus on is the one that grows, so choose wisely!! And when you see someone else focused on the negative,  reach out and ask what are they thankful for today??

So Thank You to All of You who took a moment to read this and thought about what to be thankful for today!! May your day be filled with Awesome Stuff, Amazing People and Fantastic Opportunities to Be Thankful for today and everyday!! Happy Thankful Thursday!!

Happy Father's Day Sunday June 21

Good Morning Campers!!

What are you thankful for today?? I'm thankful for my Dad He Rocks!! Over the years, we have butted heads, yelled at each other and Laughed together!! We may not see eye to eye on things, however he will always love me!! Parents make mistakes just like us, the children make.  It's not easy to see that, get over that and forgive them for it.  Although,  once we can let go of the past,  we will love our parents for who are they are and not for who we expect them to be.

Anyone can parent a child,  but it takes a Special Person to Raise a child!! Dads and Single Moms make Sacrifices for us that we will never comprehend.  They try to do what's best for us!! They may not make the best choices, and yet, their hearts was in the right place.  I know Single Dads and Single Moms who pull Double Duty making up for the other MIA parent. It is not easy!! This Day is for you!! As you should be celebrated Every Day!! This is your Pat on the Back saying Good Job Dad or Mom!! Thank you for your Sacrifices!! Thank you for your Support!! Thank you for your Wisdom!! Thank you for your Tough Love!! We Celebrate You!!

And if you find yourself today wishing you had made amends with your Dad or Father Figure, Call Him!! It may be that he's been waiting to hear from you!! You never know, it could change your life.

 May All the Dads, Uncles, Grandfathers,  Single Moms and Father Figures out there have An Amazing day spent with a child who loves you!! May your Heart be Overflowing with Love from the children in your Life!! Happy Father's Day!!

Never Stop Learning May 19

Good Morning Sunshine!! What are you thankful for today?? I'm thankful that I have Never stopped Learning!! As an ‪‎entrepreneur‬ if we want to continue to grow our business and our selves, we have to keep stretching and learning!! When we feel that we have learned it all, we become a disservice for our clients. When we seek out ways to learn more, we become more!! This is concept goes across the board... From business, to fitness and even our spiritual journey. Learn, read and meet new people. Expand your horizons and you just might learn something new about yourself that will propel you into the phase of life!! May your day be filled with new opportunities to Grow!! Happy Tuesday!!

Thankful Thursday May 28

Good Morning Campers!! It's ‪Thankful Thursday‬!! What are you thankful for today?? I'm thankful to have learned to not Measure My Life by looking at someone else's. It was a hard lesson to learn, as we all make our lives Appear wonderful! Truthfully, we all have Something we are going through. Your Something is different than my Something. In the past, I would think everyone has a better life than me. Everyone else's life seems so much Easier than mine... Boy was I Wrong!! You have Stuff and I have stuff that just really stinks going through!! It can be relationships, physical, financial...anything really. And when we talk to other people, we start realize there is Always someone who has is worse than us. But when we isolate ourselves, we tend to think we are the only ones going through tough times. And we start to Measure our own life, achievements and failures against what we perceive as "other people's lives". In reality, if you had a choice, you would Not want their problems either. So instead of thinking, my life sucks right now, I have too many bad things happen to me... Start by saying Thank Goodness you only have this on your plate. Don't Measure your life to Someone else's life. Measure your Life to who you were yesterday, an hour ago or even five minutes ago. With each ticking minute, we grow stronger, wiser and learn from our experiences. We are All here to help each other out, not to evaluate or determine who has a better life. So the next time, you hear someone wishing their life to be like someone elses, encourage them to only compare themselves to who they were yesterday. And how much they accomplished in just one day. May your day be blessed with Amazing Support to help you through your Stuff!! May you Measure your Growth, Talents, Skills and Knowledge to who you were yesterday and not to another person!! May you be Thankful for today!! Happy Thankful Thursday!!

Graduated May 31

Good Morning Campers!! What are you thankful for today?? I'm thankful to have Graduated from high school on this day several years ago!! As we say Hello to the next month, let's look at the many ways we've Graduated!! We grow older, we grow Stronger, we Hope to grow Wiser...Did you? We all set out in Life to have Expectations of how our life is going to look from the day we graduate from high school. My goal back then was to get my PhD in Computer Science and then move to Japan. That didn't happen. Which is one way my Life Graduated into Finding what I'm Passionate about and Love to do and then go do that. So that's what I did, and that's what I still do. It's okay that Our Plans Change!! It's okay to Change Our Direction!! It's okay to Redirect Our Priorities!! When we graduate from high school, we only have 17-18 years experience, that's not enough to make Life Impacting Decisions!! So if you did not become what you set out to do from the day you graduated high school, know that You Graduated into Something Even Better!! And we Have to continue to Graduate forward to Our Next Level, then we can reach back and Empower the next person to so the same!! May your day be filled with Aspiring Dreams, Inspiring People and Hope to Graduate to the Next Level!! Happy Sunday!! ‪

Rock Bottom June 2

Good Morning Sunshine!! What are you thankful for today?? I'm thankful for the Understanding of What My Rock Bottom was and Knowing that I could Focus on Looking Up!! We have All been through some tough times. Your Rock Bottom doesn't look like Your Friends, or Siblings or Parents. It looks like when you are finally sick and tired of being sick and tired. When you realize you are Worth More Than the life you've lead. Its when you Decide to wash your hands of your past choices and Decide that Going Forward, your Going to make Better Ones!! That's Rock Bottom!! It can feel like Hell!! And it can feel you've dug a hole back up, only to have the dirt fall back into your face. Sometimes, this is Life. However, It is Temporary. How you feel today is not how you'll feel six months from now. It Will get Better!! Look Up, don't look back and dwell on how you wished it had been different. It will not change anything. Look Up to Focus on Brighter Future!! Look Up to be Inspired to Keep Moving Forward!! Look Up to Pray!! Look Up to Life Getting Better, not back to normal!! Then you can reach out and empower someone else to Look Up when they hit their Rock Bottom!! May your day be filled with Looking Forward, Looking Up and Moving Ahead in Your Life!! Happy Tuesday!!

Thankful Thursday June 4

Good Morning Sunshine!! It's Thankful Thursday!! 

What are you thankful for today?? I'm thankful for Like Minded People in my Life!! Sometimes, we meet a person and think, I want to know more about that person. They have a story. Guess what, we All have a Story!! The real question is, Does Their Story Align with My Story?? How are we Like Minded?? How can we Help Boost each other and Propel us Both into the Next Level?? How are We on the Same Path coming from a Different Direction?? How can We Help Carry each other's Backpack?? There is always Talk of Paving our Own Way. And yet, we were Not meant to do it Alone!! If we Look at the people we think are successful, whether it's business, fitness or spiritually, They each have a Team to Help them. They have surrounded themselves with Like Minded People!! It may take months, year and even decades to meet these people. And when we do and we put all of Our Collective Knowledge, Strengths and Wisdom on the table, there is No Stopping US!! Its more like... This is going to be something so Instrumentally Huge, that it is Beyond where Our Imaginations can even fathom!! Hang in there, the right people are waiting to meet you too!! Don't give up, as it will come to fruition further than you have ever experienced or expected!! Then, one you become accustomed to working as a Team, then you can reach back and Empower others to Search and Wait for Their Like Minded People!! May your day be filled with People who you have been looking for and didn't even know you were looking!! May Your Minds Collaborate Unimaginable Greatness Together!! Happy Thankful Thursday!!

Wake Up Sunday June 14

Good Morning from  Camp Sunnyside!!

What are you thankful for today?? I'm thankful for Hot Caffeinated Beverages that help me Wake Up!! Lately,  I switched over to Green Tea instead of Coffee.  Which anyone who knows me, knows I 💙 me some coffee!! I thought the switch would be healthier. So today I decided to treat myself to coffee and to see if I notice any difference between the two.  Which got me to thinking...

How many times do we get stuck in a rut?? We don't notice it's a rut, until something or someone throws a wrench into it and makes us change.  If we drive the same way to work every day, we become comfortable and drive almost on autopilot.  But when there's an accident and have to take a detour around it, we Wake Up to what's new. The same goes for our taste buds.  When we are forced to try new things, we "Wake Up" our senses!! So this theory also applies to all areas of our lives. We become comfortable in our "role" that we play in life.  And then we Wake Up and Change the Structure that we have become, what we've become accustomed to. If we have always been a Follower and then one day we have to step in as the Leader,  we may learn that we have Leadership Skills that we didn't know we had!! Don't let the roles you put on yourself define who you are!! When we have to Step Out of Our Comfort Zone, we Wake Up ourselves to become something much more than we had thought we can be.  So maybe it's time to Take a Detour, Find some New Friends or Change the Food we eat to change how we perceive ourselves!! Then we can reach out and Empower others Change it Up!! May your day be filled with Opportunities to Wake Up to who you thought you were and try something new in order to see that you are so much more!! Happy Sunday!!

Thankful Thursday June 11

Good Evening Campers!! It's Thankful Thursday What are you thankful for today?? I'm thankful for the People who Truly care about me!! They reach out just when the time is right!! They make me feel better just by being them!! They make me laugh when I didn't think I could even smile!! When we have People like this in our Lives, we are able to let go of our worries and trust that someone else will help carry our stuff. Time is too short to be negative and sometimes we just need a place to rest before we head onward and upward!! May your Life be filled with Amazing People who can  Cheer You Up,  Help You Out and Let You Chill when needed!! Happy Thursday!!

Solitude Sunday May 17

Good Morning Campers from Camp Sunnyside!!

What are you thankful for today??  I'm thankful for the Solitude that I can take!! Some people call it "Me Time". Others call it "Retreat for One". There is a difference between taking a moment for yourself and isolating yourself. Solitude will refresh, renew and rejuvenate you.  Isolation will hurt, destroy and break down your Spirit. Do we go through times where we want to isolate ourselves from our friends and family?? Absolutely!! Its in those times, that we beat ourselves up, focus on the negative aspects and go through a deep dark depression.  And its in those times that we believe that we are worthless, unloved and unhappy!  We end up in a situation where we hear that Negative inner voice so much that we start to believe it!! Do Not Believe it!! That is where we can kill our spirit. 

Knowing the difference between these two will Empower you to focus on just taking a moment in Solitude to rest and recover. Then you see the first signs that you are isolating yourself, you can reach out before its too late!! As we learn what our early signs are, we can will learn how to redirect those times to make it our "Retreat for One" time!! We can cultivate time into our busy schedules to have down time, reflect, have some fun, wrap our arms around the people that we love, relax and enjoy just the simplest of things. In this time of Reflection, we have to breath in the moment and appreciate everything that we have. Give Glory. Pamper yourself. Be Mindful of your accomplishments, big and small. Then when the time is up and we have to join the rest of the world again, we will be Brighter, Happier and have More Energy!! Likewise, when you see someone else going through their isolation time, you can reach out and empower them to focus on the positive!

May you use your time of Solitude to ReFuel, Rejuvenate and Renew your Soul so you can accomplish what's coming next!! Happy Solitude Sunday!!

Armed Forces Saturday May 16

Thank you!! There are not enough words to describe how thankful we are for you!! #ArmedForces 

Time Heals Friday May 15

Good Morning Campers!!

 What are thankful for today?? I'm thankful that Time Does and Will Heal Almost  Everything!! Let's face it, we All go through difficult times!! And those times can be so agonizing to get through!  However, a year  or ten years from that time, You will Be Better!! Nothing is Permanent! Hard times are Temporary!! It might not seem like it at the time but they are.  Do you have a goal in mind?? You Project what it will be like achieving that goal...in Time increments. In one year,  Five years and so on. So think about the tough times the same way.  Yeah right now it may be the worst thing you've ever experienced... And in a year from now or five years from now.... You'll have gotten through it!  Don't Give Up!! I can speak from experience! Six years ago today, my life had an  unexpected event that Changed My Life forever!! It was one of the most difficult things I have ever gone through... And now I am Beyond relieved that it happened!! Now on the other hand,  today is the Graduation ceremony for a friend's son who passed away recently.  It will be a difficult day for them and I pray that Time will heal them.
May you look at your circumstances a little different and think about where you'll be in the upcoming years.  I have surpassed anything my imagination thought I would be from where I was. May your Goals Surpass Your Wildest Imagination!! Happy Friday!!

Thankful Thursday May 14

Good Afternoon from Camp Sunnyside!! It's Thankful Thursday!! What are you thankful for today?? I'm thankful to be Home!! I Love, Love, Love to travel and I Love coming home after a trip!! It makes me appreciate all of my stuff... Like my comfy bed and nice shower!! There truly is No other Place like Our Home!! We can travel for fun and for work but being home after a trip is the best!  Hopefully, you have created your own Oasis in Your Home to Appreciate!! May your Home be filled with Love, Laughter and Joy!! Happy Thankful Thursday!!

Happy Mother's Day Sunday May 10

Good Morning Campers!! What are you thankful for today?? I'm thankful for My Mother!! **Happy Mother's Day to All the Mothers!!** A mother is the one who loves you unconditionally, even though she might not like you at the moment. A mother stays awake worrying cause she cares for you more than you'll ever know. A mother will nurture you in a way that only she knows how. A mother will put a band aid on your ouchie, cook dinner for you,  help you with homework... all while talking on the phone!! She is the Original Multi Tasker!! There are many people who fill these shoes... Even a Non-Mom will be a Mother Figure to someone else. And maybe you have been blessed by having many Mothers!! So this goes out to All the Mothers, StepMothers, Aunts, GrandMothers, NonMoms and the Fathers who are like a Mom... May your day be filled Love, Laughter, Peace and Happiness!! Enjoy your day and Every day Loving on your kids!! Happy Mother's Day!!