Changing the Generosity Index

 Ps 112:5: "Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely").

We live in a want want want world with a spend spend spend mentality. Now that Black Friday is over I wanted to give you a few facts to think about.

           The United States Charitable Index is only 1.38% of our personal income.  That means that if you add  all the individual tax returns and divide that by the itemized charitable deductions (all donations) Americans only give 1.38% of their income. Christians on average only give 2.3% of their income according to the 2010 figures!  The facts even get more depressing when you realize that people that earn $20,000 a year or less are twice as generous as people who earn $100,000 or more!

          Let’s change those figures. Let’s be a nation that helps others. I understand that many of us do not have extra money to give away at the end of the day.  You can give with your time and kindness too. Debbie Macomber wrote a lovely book called “One Simple Act, Discovering the Power of Generosity” this is a poem from that book.

“Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.”

― Debbie Macomber

         The widow in Mark 12:41-44 is the perfect example of giving with a pure heart. She was a poor widow but still gave what she had with a pure heart and with no expectations for her personal benefit. Pastor Matt Anderson of McDowell Mountain Community Church said, "Generosity isn't about money, it is about our hearts." In The Simple Truths, Kent Nerburn states: "Giving is a miracle that can transform the heaviest of hearts. Two people, who moments before lived in separate worlds of private concerns, suddenly meet each other over a simple act of sharing."

Let's start giving generously today!

Appreciate What You Do Have

Harry and I, recently, had a wonderful dinner with our Costa Rican (Tico) friends Jose Pina and Neida Galindo. Harry lived with Jose and Neida 14 years ago while he was taking Spanish lessons from Neida at a Spanish immersion school in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. Jose and Neida had built a new home since Harry was there and repeatedly warned us how small it was. They picked us up in their very first car (Jose still hasn't learned to drive so Neidia does all the driving) at our hotel and drove us to their home. Many of the roads in Costa Rica are dirt, rutted by rainstorms, and passable only by a four wheel drive vehicle. Theirs was this kind of road (we would call it a jeep trail). We were so surprised to see their beautiful little two bedroom home with an unfinished loft. They had new tile on the floors and teak paneling on one wall. They explained to us that a lot of their choices were to help keep the house cooler. It had a beautiful garden and was overall a wonderful home. Most importantly, it was full of love and happiness. Jose has been a pastry chef  in Tamarindo for 13 years, but his expertise does not stop there, he is a wonderful cook. Jose then got busy in the kitchen cooking the red snapper and making a wonderful sauce to compliment the fish, rice, and vegetables. What a special treat!

Later that night, Harry and I were talking about how we all need to be thankful for all that has been given to us no matter how small. Our friends have a small home (by American standards) in Costa Rica but it is full of love, happiness and contentment. Many people in this world do not have the same comforts that many of us enjoy, but they are still happy. I took a picture of a barrio (low income subdivision) outside of San Jose, Costa Rica that shows you the diversity of living conditions in this world.

No matter if you live in a one room shack in the barrio or a castle on the mountaintop, remember that the Lord has given you love and friendships and so much more.  Just don't forget to be thankful every day.

Diversity is a gift from God.

I love traveling to different countries to see new cultures, food, experiences, and adventures. Today we are in Costa Rica in the small town of Jaco. We flew into San Jose last night and immediately got into a taxi to take us to the beach town of Jaco. San Jose's elevation is about 4,000 feet and we drove to sea level in an hour and a half! Yes, it was pretty much straight down! I am telling you this because Harry is competing in a mountain bike race in two days called La Ruta that is a three day stage race from Jaco to Limon over the mountains with 25,000 total elevation change. Yes, he is crazy, an animal, and very exciting to share a life with.

Our hotel today and tomorrow is one of those hotels that everything is all inclusive so we are laying by the pool and making sure we get our three free meals. Funny how we are acting like we have never had three meals a day; especially when someone else is cooking and we don't have to pay at the end of the meal. At the pool today I was watching a young family with their little girl in the pool. While watching them having fun splashing in the pool, I was thinking how amazing God is for making the world so large but that families are all the same everywhere. These people had darker skin than me, spoke a different language, lived in a house made differently than mine, and probably had a different life style but they were also on vacation with me, enjoying their family, laughing, and having fun right beside me. God is great!

Costa Rica is one of our favorite countries to travel to because of the diversity of the country and fun things to do here. I wanted to take a picture of the store fronts in Jaco to show you it's Spanish flavor but also it is a surfing town. It has very lush jungle like vegetation. This is a picture of a East West palm the grows about 10 feet tall in Key West and is 18 feet tall here! Needless to say it rains here and this is the rainy month but it has only rained in the mountains since we have been here. Yes, that means Harry will be riding his bike in a lot of mud! I hope to share some really muddy photos if I can find a good internet connection.

this week. More adventures to follow.

My quote will be this for this week:


“Never judge someone
By the way he looks
Or a book by the way it's covered;
For inside those tattered pages,
There's a lot to be discovered”
― Stephen Cosgrove

Diane, Girlfriend, and Gamma

Appreciate the Moments.

Hi Everyone,

I am back in Montana and fall has arrived in Bozeman. Fall is my favorite time of year because of the beautiful oranges, yellows, and reds everywhere. Fall is also one of the busiest times of the year around our house. I like to have the garden completely cleaned out and ready for spring, the pond must have the cat tails and lily pads removed, all the bushes must be trimmed, hoses detached from the house, horse paddocks cleaned, porch furniture brought in, and the fall decorations arranged at the door. Harry and I have been working on all these projects every morning all week. This has given me lots of time to think about all my blessings and I have thought a lot about my two wonderful daughters this week. 

Heidi and Kristin are both adults now with beautiful families of their own. They both live in the same town with me. But I still miss them. I know that sounds like a controlling mother and I am not.  I am a mother that was so busy during the child raising years that I didn't stop and appreciate each moment. And those moments go by so fast... We were and still are a very close family. Harry and I took the girls everywhere with us. We climbed on McKinley glacier, climbed Kilimanjaro in Africa, and climbed Aconcagua in Argentina, traveled to the Galapagos, Japan, Mexico, and Europe. Rode tandem bicycles across the United States when they were 11 and 13.  Harry even took Kristin to Antarctica! The girls understood first hand at a very young age that not all children were as privileged as they were. But, all those travels and adventures meant that Harry and I had to work very hard while we were home to be able afford the next adventure. It was during the time that I was working hard for the next adventure that I didn't stop and enjoy the simple moments. 

I am living a wonderful adventurous life, thanks to my husband Harry who never stops dreaming. But the point I want to make is that if you and your family are outside working together to get the fall chores done, or mowing the lawn together, watching a sporting event that the children are participating in, or just reading a story to the children at night; take a second and appreciate the time together.

I was looking through a drawer and found a card that my mother had given me the said this:

When I first held you in my arms, I wanted so much to be a perfect parent. You were already a perfect daughter...In the years since, then, I've learned that nobody needs to be perfect as long as there's plenty of love-and we have that. I've found out that my dreams for you aren't always the same as your own, but we can have trust in each other. I've watched you grow and become far more than I could ever have imagined when I first held you in my arms. My pride in you keeps growing too. And today I just wanted you to know that you've made being a parent life's greatest reward.

Being a parent is life's greatest reward. Appreciate the moments of your reward.

Please enjoy your fall.  Diane

"Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure."
                                                                                                     Oprah Winfrey

Change your life and step out of your comfort zone!

Harry and I have never really learned to country dance. When we decided to join our cousins on a trail ride that included dancing at night by the fire; we were very nervous about the dancing. We watched u-tube videos on different dancing techniques, we bought an instruction video, and we tried to practice. I have to admit I have two left feet and I am insecure about looking stupid on the dance floor.

 For the last few months we have been planning on joining our cousins at the Mesquite Trail Ride in Sonoita Arizona. We mailed our horse riding clothes to Arizona, we rented a motor home, and attempted to practice our dancing. I hadn't taken the time to ride a horse in two years. Harry had never gone on a trail ride in his life. Just days before we were scheduled to go, I told Harry that I really didn't want to go. I didn't want to change my routine or step out of my "comfortable" box. Harry still wanted to attend and didn't want to disappoint our cousins, so we drove to Sonoita. Sonoita is a high desert with high grass, rolling hills, and spectacular views. We had a spectacular time riding horses with our family and new friends. We had catered dinners outside under the stars, bonfires every night, live music and dancing. I found out that no one cared if I could dance and no one was watching. We have so many good memories from our time there.

Many people do the same thing day after day. Change is scary and sometimes hard. If I hadn't gone to the trail ride I would have missed out on a wonderful memory and the feeling of accomplishment that I rode my horse for ten hours! Don't let fear of change cause you to miss out on life. “Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.” –Jim Rohn -

Life Always Has Treasures to Find!

I had another wonderful week! It wasn't quite as busy but the treasures were multiple. This week I exercised everyday, went snorkeling with a six foot reef shark, had dinner with friends three times (love not cooking!), and flew to Arizona to check on our winter retreat house only to find an all day job of plant trimming. Today I rode my mountain bike in the desert. 

While walking/running this week I wanted to pay attention to what was going on around me and not just stare at the bike trail. Iguanas are very prolific in Key West and a lot of people think they are a nuisance but I think they are fascinating! They are all different shades of green and yellow and so many sizes from two inches to about three feet long. They scurry into either the bushes or the water away from you if you are tromping down the bike trail, they are so afraid of humans.

Yes, the reef shark made my heart beat a little faster and my breathing increase but isn't that what makes the adventure more exciting? Sorry, no pictures cause our water proof camera needed charging and the shark was actually on a fishing mission and didn't stick around for the photo opportunity! 

The best part of the week was visiting with new and old friends. I love meeting new friends because you get to listen to their adventures with "life"; I already know about my adventures and it is just more fun to compare notes. Another friend that I have in Key West has lived a completely different life adventure than I have. His life choices were not always the easiest paths to follow. Listening to his "life history" in the past two years since our last dinner; makes me so proud of God for being patient with him and I am proud of him for wanting to change his life now. I am reading a wonderful book titled "Love Does" written by Bob Goff. Mr Goff says, "Jesus seemed to say that all we would need to do is to scrape together the pieces of our lives that had fallen on the ground, bring those pieces to Him, and He would start using them" (p.57). I think my friend is willing to "scrape the fallen pieces" finally. 

Here is a pretty picture of one of the many beautiful sunsets in Key West. Harry always makes me stop and look at the sun setting. Sometimes I let myself get frustrated because I am usually in the middle of making dinner, but it is a good habit to stop for the sunset and thank God for the opportunity.

I was going to give you pictures of the beautiful cactus in bloom in our front yard but I got my phone wet so now I am without a phone and the ability to email pictures! What an eye opener as to how dependent on that stupid phone I am and it wasn't even an Iphone! I had insurance so there will be pictures next week because we are going on a multiple night horse back trail ride in the Sonora desert. That should be a good story to tell.....

Lets get started with the first day of exhaustion!

I just retired from a great accounting job working with a very fast growing church at the age of 57. I still have a lot of time to share "what I know" to anyone that wants to listen. The most important thing I want to share with everyone is to shout from the rooftop "live with no regrets".  Life is so fast and short here on earth.

My husband and I have lived very full lives together. We have raised two girls while traveling the world, climbed mountains on multiple continents, ran marathons, scuba dived in multiple countries, rode our tandem bikes across American (with our girls), and ride our road bikes, mountain bikes, motorcycles, and our horses! The day is not complete unless you put your head down on your pillow exhausted from living the day!

Just this week I flew to Key West, walked 20 miles along the ocean front, ran multiple miles, kayaked 7 miles, finished knitting a hat for my grand daughter, made a quilted bag and Christmas present for another grand daughter, fished and help catch four beautiful lobsters for dinner, went out to dinner with friends, and spent quality time with my husband discussing our next adventures. Life is full.

Join me in encouraging each other to continue our pursuit in making sure that you finish this life with "no regrets".

Diane