Greetings,
One of my favorite sci-fi movies is “Number 5 Alive." I recommend it, I am Alive! Thanks especially to my two young friends, Teague and Jake—out of the mouths of babes, a little child shall lead them.
I was released at 12:30 PM after having the dialysis lines and central lines removed.
Though I had to arrive at the executive meetings still in PJs, I greeted the Heritage Makers staff at 1:30 with a brief overview of my situation, my resolve, and a reminder of the incredible privilege and responsibility we have working together. We spoke of our commitment and excitement to step the pace of service to our consultant and client base. We spoke to the cause of heritage, mothers in homes, and children with a clear understanding of their importance and potential.
Then the executive moved into strategic discussions about further advances in Heritage Studio, products and simplifying the story booking and heritage making process. It was wonderful to be back, although I was weak and tired quickly. Oh there are exciting things ahead for all of us as we continue to work more on the breath of life into HM. Yes, it too is “ALIVE."
Tonight I sleep in my own bed with no pricks, prods, IVs and urinals… Hallelujah! I look forward to sweet dreams and further insights into the goodness of God, life, and my wonderful Heritage Makers family. I anticipate dreams of the many new Heritage Makers that will be joining you, us, in the weeks and the months ahead. The adventure is alive, and so am I. Thank you, once again, for your continuing love, support, faith and dedication. Until tomorrow's post, onward and upward!
Love,
Doug
8 comments:
Ohh Doug! I am soo excited for you! It was great talking to you on Saturday afternoon (on Chris Lee's phone). It was the perfect ending to a perfect AZ Regional's! We are so excited to hear you are back on the mountain and back in your HOME! You will get better twice as fast by being at the cabin and hearing the wonderful spring/summer coming to life around you! We love you and cant wait to see you get better and better with each day. I am creating a wonderful recovery for you and a long happy life with your family and Heritage Makers. It is created now - you can live it! Love always, Lisa Freudenburg, Mesa, AZ - Livin' the DREAM!
Doug,
So thankful to you for your insights and uplifting messages each day to those of us who are in constant need. I am thrilled beyond words to know that you are home where the mountain man belongs. I pray for your recovery daily and that your health will be on the up and up! You have a special place in my heart and in my prayers each day!
May God bless you and your family during this time!
Much love,
Jen Carpenter
Doug,
I check your blog-site often each day to find out how you are and what wonderful insights you are sharing. I am very grateful that you are headed home and inspired by your commitment to HM by stopping for a meeting on your way home from the hospital. Thank you for sharing your recovery and path, you inspire us all. Shirley Lee, Filer, ID
Yeah! It has been a long couple of weeks for you and your family. You have given us much to think about and caused us to contemplate life and its purposes. We are thankful that you and your family are part of our lives. Keep getting well and stronger!
--Renae Harward
Home sweet home!!! That's such wonderful news. Your words are so comforting to read. I know I'm not the only one who checks your blog throughout the day to see if a new one has been posted. Our prayers and love are continually with you and your family, Philip & Joey Orocio
So glad to hear you are back where you belong--take me home, country roads!
Thinking alot about your special place up there as the 1 year anniversary of our Dream Team comes up. Trying to recapture the spirit that Judy brought as we walked in the mornings; the concentration of will and purpose that we all came with.
Put you and your family on the prayer roll at the Raleigh temple this morning. We're not done with you yet!
Love to you all,
KathyG
Dad,
Oh yes, I read every blog and every comment. It's like reading an exceptionally good book--you just can't put it down and you tingle with the excitement of "what's on the next page".
These past couple of days at work--seeing you there despite your slowly returning strength--is what keeps my optimism high and my resolve firm--despite the long hold times and mountainous emails. I know that many may not get the chance to tell you at work because of the intense focus on growing and improving internally and externally, but I know that just having you walk by inspires and eases the lament of the extra weight on all our shoulders.
With the simple words of Jake and Teague it was clear to me that as a child, life is uncomplicated and answers are straight forward. Children don't miss the small joys and miracles--they absorb it and are awed by it. Finding a frog in a small pond or a lizard on a fence post is like finding buried treasure and it makes the whole day bright and exciting. As adults we tend to forget how much these little joys mean and the impact they can have in our lives.
The other day Luke came up to me and was so excited because he had found an old lego robot figurine. It appeared to me as a dirty, germy piece of junk--missing a limb and a painted face that was no longer discernible that instinctively I told him to throw it away--which he didn't as he stashed it with his other treasures of bottle caps, old pennies, bolts, paper clips, interesting rocks and other bits of odd-shaped metals and plastics. To him, this was his treasure--discovered and revered by him.. I had forgotten what it was like as a child to have found something so insignificant, but be so impressed. When did I stop seeing the world as exciting, imaginative and wondrous and start seeing it as stressful, plain and predictable.
Truly the biggest challenge we all face as an adult is overlooking the small and simple opportunities that provide moments to smile more, love deeper and live happier.
It's so easy to become focused on getting to the top of the mountain in the hike of life that we miss the purpose and the joy along the way.
We start the hike in awe of everything around us--taking in the majesty of the trail and diversity of the scenery. We see the rocks along the path as magnificent gems and precious minerals and place them carefully in our pack. We add wildflowers--which seem rare and beautiful with exotic fragrances, acorns--mesmerizing puzzles and pine cones--priceless pieces of art.
Somewhere along the trail, we stop noticing the precious little things and start viewing the hike as a chore. Rocks are no longer gems but hunks of dirt that impede our progress and instead of picking them up, we kick them aside.
The trail becomes just a means to get from point a to point b. We no longer take in every moment and focus on "just getting to the top".
The scenery begins to look dull, pointless and unproductive. Pine cones and acorns appear as just common dead-fall, flowers--just weeds and rocks--just rocks. The trail becomes a burden so to make it more bearable we empty our pack of the "useless junk" from our childhood.
After much effort we finally reach the top of the trail and conquer the mountain--one of few who have, but when we look at the view we are unimpressed because we lost the love and beauty during the climb.
We wonder if we've missed something along the way and striving to find significance in the hike of life we open our pack only to find an empty void of small and precious moments we passed up along the way.
Life is too precious, too short and too wonderful to miss opportunities to appreciate the small moments. I pray that the Lord will give me more patience, love, understanding and joy in the blessings he's poured out to me and that I might have strength to reach the top of the mountain with a view full of beauty and wonder and a pack full of precious memories and moments that I didn't pass up along the way.
Love always,
Marshyl
You wrote:
"Tonight I sleep in my own bed with no pricks, prods, IV’s and urinals… Hallelujah!"
Hallelujah, indeed!
I smiled just thinking that you were home and comfortable.
Home, Sweet, Home, ... I am glad you are there.
All our love to you and your wonderful family who have the amazing opportunity to show you exactly how much you mean to them, and visa versa I'm sure. ;0)
Delanae & Bjorn Lindstrom
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