DeeDee Lake's Blog, page 2
November 11, 2020
Veteran’s Day Stay Strong!
Today we set aside as Veteran’s Day to honor our veterans. Thank you for your service is appropriate to say to these soldiers and appreciated. I wonder if the average American understands the sacrifices the soldiers and their families endure. I wonder if they would stay strong!
There is constant upheaval in military life. If your sponsor (the service member) is not about to be deployed it is probably because they have just returned from a remote assignment or your whole family will be PCSing (Permanent Change of Station). Sometimes you know six months in advance about the up-upcoming move. Often, it is time to move but have no certainty where you will be moving.
The service member is given orders to report to a duty station on a certain day. In the military, orders can be rescinded up to the time you arrive at your new place.
Once your household goods arrive you typically are locked into staying put for a year. However, that doesn’t mean the sponsor won’t be deployed, sent away for months to schools to prepare for being deployed.
One time we were in Panama, got orders to Fort Rucker, AL. We were so excited because my family lived in the area. We took a quick trip up to Alabama and put a bid on a home. It was the home I had prayed about for years. The bid was accepted.
A few months later, we arrived with suitcases, three-year old and a basset hound. We signed for the house and waited for the movers to bring our household goods. My husband, the military service member, left to run an errand and the phone rang. I thought it might be the second set of movers trying to get directions. They were due to arrive any moment.
I hate to leave you hanging, but…this blog seems to be going a bit long. So, I’ll post the rest next time! Enjoy celebrating and remembering your veteran and all the veterans that sacrifice for our freedom!
https://deedeelake.com/my-blogs #ConnectionExpert #NextStepDevo #MilitaryLife
November 10, 2020
How Many?
I am an extreme extrovert. My philosophy is, “the more the merrier”. My husband is an introvert. With years of exposure to my extroverted larger-than-life ways, he has developed his own pseudo-extrovert coping strategies.
Before getting married, I had an inkling that he wasn’t an extrovert. However, being an extreme extrovert, I didn’t slow down long enough to notice more than myself. The truth revealed itself only too soon.
A couple months into our marriage, we talked about having a few people over for dinner. I was excited to make new friends in Atlanta and couldn’t wait for everyone to come over. He went to work, and I started making plans and lists. Our first official dinner party as a married couple, I knew this was going to be fun.
Party!
The night of the dinner party came, and we were ready. The doorbell chimed. My husband answered the door and ushered in our guests. He thought he had brought everyone in until he heard the doorbell chime again.
He went to the door and greeted the new guests. He brought them into the living room. This happened about five more times. He studied the growing number of guests and must have wondered where and how we were all going to fit in our small apartment. We lived in an old Victorian home that was split into three apartments. The ceilings may have been tall, but the square footage was not as grand.
Meanwhile, I was busy in the kitchen putting the final touches on dinner using my very limited cooking skills. I could make sweet tea because I was a southern gal after all. I learned to make lasagna in Home EC and that was the extent of my culinary skills. This was way before Google or Siri.
My overwhelmed husband made his way through the throng of guests and quietly ask me, “I thought we were having a few people?”
Surprised, I looked around our tiny apartment and without missing a beat said, “Why honey, this is a few people.”
We knew then we had to have more conversations to define exactly what we meant.
A few to him, the introvert, was two or three. To me, the extreme extrovert, a few were between fifteen and twenty. The party was fun for everyone, including my hubby, once he got over the shock. He had no idea of the fun that would be to come living with an extremely extroverted wife.
You may have someone in your life that is your complete opposite. I’m sorry to tell you that person is likely in your life to make you a better you. Sigh! I know.
The Good News
If you are willing to grow your life will be so much richer with all types of people in it – even us extreme extroverts.
November 6, 2020
Thanks for joining the Giveaway
Congrats to Stephen Susina, Jamie Painter, and Sandra Smith. You'll be receiving your books very soon!
Please feel free to visit me on my website at deedeelake.com to purchase the book or on amazon.com/author/deedeelake
Hope you have an amazing weekend before all the craziness of the holidays begins! And may all the books you read be fabulous!
d2
One Bite At a Time
Ordinary to Extraordinary Series –
I’ve got a secret to share. I know how to change your relationship from the ordinary, regular ol’ expected connection to extraordinary.
Willingness to Change
It isn’t grand gestures, although, those are nice occasionally too. Extraordinary relationships are like an ant eating an elephant. One tiny bite at a time, one small change at a time until extraordinary becomes your normal.
You must be willing to do something different to reach new and greater levels of intimacy in your relationship. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. If you don’t like where your connection is with your mate then do something, anything different. You’ve got to be the one to suggest change. Don’t wait on your partner. I hear you groaning. Just stop for a minute and think about the results. Simply by reading this article you’ve already taken a step forward to change.
It is worth the time and effort it takes to grow a relationship to extraordinary levels to achieve a new level of closeness, fun, and understanding. There is no mistaking a fantastic relationship is work. Nothing in this life comes easy especially the extraordinary. I’m fairly sure no one wakes up beside their loved one and thinks, “How can I make myself and my partner miserable today?”.
Small Changes you can make:
Kiss and hug each other hello and goodbye. I know it sounds a bit corny, but you will be amazed how it can change your day and your relationship when you have given and received warm greetings and goodbyes throughout your day. If this has not been your normal don’t be discouraged if at first your mate is surprised and doesn’t reciprocate. Give it time and be sure to let your loved one know you would like the same in return.
Never get off the phone without saying you love each other. You never know when it might be the last opportunity to express your love. Although, once this becomes your habit try to always say it with emotion.
Life is hard and challenging. Look for opportunities to find the funny in something and share it with each other. Laugh every day! I promise you even in the darkest times of your life you will be glad you found humor in something and shared it with each other.
Give it time!
Doctors practice. Athletes practice. Relationships need practice too. Don’t expect excellence on your first day of trying to change your ordinary relationship to extraordinary. Give it time. Like the little ant eating an elephant do it one bite at a time, one change at a time, one interaction at a time. You can do this if you truly want the extraordinary.
Don’t worry if at first you aren’t comfortable with the changes you make. As you continue to greet each other warmly, say you love one another, and laugh every day it will get easier and feel more normal.
My Advice:
Take a chance. Make small changes to move your relationship from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Be willing to do something different.
November 5, 2020
The books arrived!!
I did!! Especially, when the box is filled with my first published book, straight from the printers - Royal Palm. They did a beautiful job!
Hope you like the video of this book-nerd having fun!
https://youtu.be/KSpk6Z0FG4M
November 4, 2020
Books Arriving Today!
I hope you will share this teen devotional with a teen girl, mentor, or parent.
Everyone needs someone to be their guide, yet, not everyone has one. I didn't have a mentor until ten years after I was saved. This book is a great resource and tool to help girls find their identity.
It seems these days people are struggling with identity issues, how to make great choices, and how to live for God. In the book, I guide the teen through these steps.
I've included links to five videos I created for the reader because I truly want her to feel I'm right beside her all the way!DeeDee Lake
Daydreams
Do you remember when you were little what you wanted to be when you grew up? I do. Admiral of the entire Navy.
Daydream
Daydreaming should be encouraged more. It seems these days a lot of teens are forced to make decisions – real life choices before they’ve had time to dream about what they want to be before someone puts the kibosh on their dream.
I say, let’s be a community of dream builders not dream crushers. Without imagination very little would have been invented. We definitely need inventors.
Without really smart people we would never cure diseases.
Without mechanical people we would never have built a rocket to the moon or even left the ground and soared with Wilbur Wright and his brother.
Let’s not forget organizers … we all need a plan even if we don’t believe we do.
Without dreamers we would have no art, no song, no stories …
Be You
It doesn’t matter what you are, it matters that you are you! Every generation need all kinds of people to love, flourish, invent, save, cure, create, and much more.
As a young girl, I liked the idea of bossing people around. My dream to be admiral did not come to fruition, I’m still bossy, or as I like to say, assertive. I daydreamed big dreams, and although I never joined the Navy, I’ve created, loved, organized, imagined, built, and I’ve soared!
My Advice
Lay under a tree and watch clouds go by and do a little daydreaming. Be the you, you were created to be!
#ConnectionExpert #NextStepDevo #daydream
November 3, 2020
Live in Peace
Today is one of the days history will report as life-changing. Our country is deciding to either be conservative or lean far left.
I have strong convictions (I’m sure you do too.) in the way I want the presidential election results to turn out. However, no matter who wins, my love and respect for people with the opposite opinion of mine will still have my love and respect.
Please remember, we live in a country where it is perfectly acceptable to have opposing opinions and still live in peace – it is democracy at its core. I’ve lived all over the world and I know with all our struggles the USA is still the very best place to live.
My advice: take a moment, take a breath, and give peace to all those around you. God bless America!
If you are tired of political ads, you can go purchase my book on Amazon or my website: https://deedeelake.com. It will get your mind on things closer to home – your teen! That’s my best advice! lol
Purchase “Next Step. You’ve Accepted Jesus … Now What?” at https://amazon.com/author/deedeelake
#ConnectionExpert, #TeenGirls, #ParentingTeens
Live in Peace
I have strong convictions (I'm sure you do too.) in the way I want the presidential election results to turn out. However, no matter who wins, my love and respect for people with the opposite opinion of mine will still have my love and respect.
Please remember, we live in a country where it is perfectly acceptable to have opposing opinions and still live in peace - it is democracy at its core. I've lived all over the world and I know with all our struggles the USA is still the very best place to live.
My advice: take a moment, take a breath, and give peace to all those around you. God bless America!
Oh yeah, if you are tired of political ads, you can go purchase my book on Amazon or my website: https://deedeelake.com. It will get your mind on things closer to home - your teen! That's my best advice! lol
October 26, 2020
Win my new book!
The details are below how to win a free copy of my debut book. The book includes links to videos and a private FB group just for the readers of Next Step!
I appreciate your support!
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Every girl needs one – a devotional written for teen girls!Next Step. You’ve Accepted Jesus…Now What?
by DeeDee Lake
Giveaway ends November 04, 2020.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter Giveaway
