How did he DO It?

I was curious!  I mean, weren't  you?   Stories of excellence, and courage and triumph always encourage and inspire me!  So I turned to Google for my answers!

As DAVID FACEY in Maryland reports for the Scottish Sun, this is how Rory McIlroy won the US Open
yesterday; the youngest man ever!


Says McIlroy:

I pretended I was Tiger when I was a kid... that taught me how to win

RORY McILROY says having the 'eye of the Tiger' helped him pummel his US Open rivals into submission to win his first Major trophy.

Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/3649064/I-pretended-I-was-Tiger-when-I-was-a-kid-that-taught-me-how-to-win.html#ixzz1Prac2WnX

I keep digging but I am curious how this young man has come so far so fast.  I think he has something to offer all of us and something to encourage us in our own paths and quest for excellence!  I am sure there are some ingredients here like a) he likes what he does b) he works REALLY hard at it c) he never gives us  d) he can laugh at himself  e) he picks himself up off the ground and gets after it again f) he tries and pursues excellence every day.  

What I can gather so far:

1) He had a mentor, someone to look up to and follow

2) He had the eye of the Tiger.....what does THAT mean?

To quote the famous song:  on Survivor, the Eye of the Tiger, here are the lyrics:

Risin' up, back on the street
Did my time, took my chances
Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet
Just a man and his will to survive

So many times, it happens too fast
You change your passion for glory
Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive

Chorus:
It's the eye of the tiger, it's the cream of the fight
Risin' up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he's watchin' us all in the eye of the tiger

Face to face, out in the heat
Hangin' tough, stayin' hungry
They stack the odds 'til we take to the street
For we kill with the skill to survive

chorus

Risin' up, straight to the top
Have the guts, got the glory
Went the distance, now I'm not gonna stop
Just a man and his will to survive 

Duh Duh Duh Duh!!!!  Can't you just hear the music?

Other than the old payphone scenes and tight blue jeans, I really liked that song!  
I hope you do too.


I take heart from these words, don't you?
Let's get the Eye of the Tiger, shall we?
I needed to hear that today, my friend,
and so, 
probably
did you.


Sleep well
DREAM BIG!
Love you!

Spotlight Interview: Joy Charde from The Art of Joy

Hi Ladies!  Welcome to Friday Spotlight Interview.

I had so much fun doing this post, now I am really psychedabout getting to know each one of The Busy Moms of Etsy!  These interview are dedicated especially to women, mothers, busy and yet industrious.   That's the way we should be, right?

Is she a rock star?  

 

Addicted to sweets just a tad, maybe?

 

She describes a perfect evening as....

a good book, mug of hot chocolate on one hand and a glazed donut on the other...

Clearly the love of her life and constant sidekick! aka "The Munchkin"...

 

Working with Mommy.....awwww!

She loves to spend time with the family camping

 

Her home studio in the kitchen! 

Wow. She does commissioned art too! 

Oh, Me, Oh My, I Love Pie!

Some of you might think that I'm being partial to our fearless leader,

but that is not the case!  I had sent this interview to her 2 months ago, and 

just decided to use it first.

Let's get down to it, shall we?  Grab a cup of coffee, and maybe even a doughnut LOL.

Meet our Fearless Leader.....Joy Charde of TheArtofJoy  

Kelly:  Hello, Joy! Thank you for interviewing with us!  Tell us, how young are you? 

Joy:  I am 33 years old.
 
Kelly:  What is the name of your business?  

 

Joy:  The Art Of Joy on Etsy   http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheArtofJoy

Kelly: When did you begin?

Joy: I started the business on July 31, 2009

 
Kelly:  Do you have any background in business and/or art? 

Joy:  I don't formally have a background in art, but I have always doodled, etc. ever since I can remember!  I was also a teacher for 10 years and taught art then.  Currently, I'm the business manager for our public library... so I guess, that counts as experience?

 
Kelly:  What motivated you to start The Art of Joy  ?

Joy:  I really needed to find an alternative for using toxic paints since I just recently had a baby.  I decided to go back to paper and doodling  What inspires you to create?  Things that I see around me.  
 

Kelly: What is your favorite product?  

Joy:   Fun 2010 Write In Calendar - 12 months and 40 mini stickers

Kelly:  What are the Features? 

 Joy:  Here are the specs:

Calendar with stickers

12 write in months - Approximately 5.25 x 8.5"

40 trim and stick stickers (10 of each: Fun Time, Day Off, Don't Forget, Special Day)

* Some of the US holidays are printed on the calendar (New Years, Valentines, St. Patrick's, Mom's Day, Dad Day, Easter, Independence, Veterans, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas)

Illustration: printed with my original design 110 lb. bright white cardstock and the sticker are printed on adhesive paper

For your personal use, gift giving, and more...

I also love to make these stickers!  Here is the link to the stickers section: 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheArtOfJoy?section_id=6523448

Kelly:  What are your business goals this year? 

Joy:  To just have fun with the whole creating aspect.  The business side is a bonus.
 
Kelly:  How do you get traffic to your website? 

Joy:  I participate in teams and forums

 
Kelly:  How do you juggle work/life balance?  For instance, you have a day job and a small infant boy. How do you “do” all that you “do”?!?  

Joy:  It's a definite balancing act.  My day job is really a night job :).  I work from 1pm - 8pm.  Fortunately, my baby loves to nap, so I can get some stuff done at home. 

 
Kelly:  Can you share some of your frustrations?  

Joy:  Finding time to do everything!  I clearly need more than 24 hours.

 
Kelly:  What is the most valuable lesson you have learned? 

Joy:  To try to be patient about the whole selling business.  I really can't control what people like or want to buy from me... I just need to put relevant products out there. 

 
Kelly:  What word of encouragement can you give a person who wants to also start their own business? 

Joy:  Try to list things as often as you can, and be patient.  

 
Kelly:  Any other thing you would like to share with us?  

Joy:  I think that's all I have for now...

 Kelly:   That concludes our interview!   I want to thank you Joy, for all you do to promote our Busy Moms of Etsy team and the hard work and effort you put forth.  We all wish you much much success!  I like to use your Thank You stickers on my package and in notes to customers to thank them for their purchase!   Why don't some of us go on over to Joy shop and get some of her fabulous cards, sticker and art?   You'll be glad you did!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28647334

Or, how about these:  http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34000800

 Clearly delightful!  And oh so joyful!

Au revoir, mes amis!

Shine, Grow, Reach, Flower, Fruit, Shine.......

Marnin' all! It is glorious here in south-eastern Texas, with a promise for Rain later today and scattered rain for the rest of the week. I was just on my front porch, talking to my husband, reading, considering, praying, reading, walking.... Such a wonderful wonderful time to be alive!

I wanted to share my thoughts and musings on this glorious morning. In the photos you can see two basic things: A) I am not a good photographer :) although I aspire to be, and B) I love plants and God's creation.

You know, they speak to me! Yes, they do. In fact, Psalm 19 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God and the expanse shows His handiwork. Day to day utters speech and night to night reveals knowledge." I love this! because it is true in my life. For me there is nothing better than to sit, quietly, and just look at nature which in this case would either be my front yard, my back yard, or wherever I happen to be driving at any given moment.

Today I was strolling my 12 x 40 front porch considering what I just read in Matthew 16 where Jesus so powerfully spoke to Peter who had just declared, "You are the Christ, the Son of God", and Jesus (who I am sure was filled with joy at Peter's declaration of faith), said to Peter...... "And on this rock (Myself) I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail". In the next sentence He then said, "And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven".

I sat there, reading, meditating, and had to get up and process. So much truth in such a few words. Worthy, my friend of meditating on! We are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus and I feel like the Church is only dimly and distantly aware of this.

I looked up and saw the lowly trumpet vine, an indigenous plant here in Texas. I have viewed it as an invasive weed in that it is everywhere....and just will not die. If I ever can find the root, it is hard to both discover and pull out.

But I keep it around for a couple of reasons: A) I at this time have not the inclination to do the work necessary, and B) when it blooms, the flower is such a beautiful orange, that I think, OK, well, there is beauty in this creation of God.

Today I observed it's tenacity; ever reach, ever climing, ever pushing towards the light which causes it to bloom. It never is content with the lower atmosphere; it seek the heights and the light and will not stop until it gets to the top. From there it blooms, flowers, and then the flowers fall to the earth far below and only then we look up and see how far it has come!

Her name is the Trumpet Vine, and lowly she be, yet tenacious, invasive, and would be ever filling this earth! We are called to be the same, my friend. Trumpeting the sound of the kingdom of God filling this earth realm, "On earth as it is in heaven". Let us take her example to heart.

Also notice my little tomato plants. I found a spot in my 1 acre kingdom, where the sun is strong enough, the duration is long enough, and the plants get what they need in that duration to flower, fruit and give me the delights of their produce.

The seed thought is this. Find a place where you will receive the light; long enough, strong enough, and of a duration where YOU will flower, blossom and then fruit. Be NOT content with the lowly estate of others around you; climb for the heights you were destined to attain! From there, flower, blossom, fruit and let your light so shine that others will also aspire to the light that you have beheld.

Finally, there is my lone hibiscus plant that bears these lovely colors. She is stationed at the northeastern corner of my front porch; a northern exposure. Separated from all others, she stands and puts forth the most exquisite colors and blossoms to delight me; her only admirer. In the winter she never freezes. In the summer she beholds her peers who are in a kinder location than she. She is spindly, with only 5 or 6 branches. She flowers according to the light that she has received. I will create a soap or a candle or something to emulate the beauty she has shown me! How could you ever get any more beautiful than something the Creator has made?

Today, my friend I want to encourage you to look for the things around you that edify, beautify, and endure in the midst of trial. Take them for examples as you reach for the light that your soul needs to flourish in these times.

Be blessed!

OK, technorati, this one is for you! bmcr6gsy24