To me nothing recently says hold onto your dreams more than this video.

Susan Boyle prepared. She waited. She got her chance. Reminds me of Abe Lincoln’s words.

You can no longer embedd this video. I guess do to it’s popularity.

As I was typing the titles for my blogs last night into my weekly email; I listened to Peter J Daniels video in the background. Peter Daniels was speaking about focus and life goals. He was mentioning stories of great heroes from the bible and from history. As I was typing my entry about Kenny Perry, I thought about a concept I had read about years ago. I thought about the term magnificent obsession. I had not used this term or pondered it for years. It seemed like the term to use for Kenny Perry’s focus. When you see Kenny Perry’s focus in his eyes, no other phrase seemed to capture it. As I started to type the very two words MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION- I heard them echoed from Peter J Daniels video playing in the background. What a coincidence. How astronomical are the odds that I would type this phrase the very minute that Peter J Daniels would say the term on his speech. I wouldn’t even want to guess. The odds may scare me. Was it coincidence or providence? Do I need to focus on my MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION?

One of our neighbors vehicles was broken into recently. Among the things stolen were golf clubs and a cd player. I guess its standard procedure for the police to leave door hangers in any neighborhood with a recent theft. I’m sure that will be all of our neighborhoods with the recessionary environment were heading into.

Hear are the tips.

Install quality locks and deadbolts.

Lock all doors and windows.

Keep your home well lit at night.

Mark and photograph your property.

Use time sensors and electronics while away from home.

Install/Utilize security and alarm systems.

Report suspicious persons or vehicles.

A few are obvious. A few are practical. A few are not for the faint at heart.

I would add these steps.

Keep your important documents and valuables in a fireproof/waterproof safe.

Organize your garage so you can park in it. This will prevent theft and avoid storm damage.

Know where you wallet, keys and personal belongings are at all times by having a designated home for these items.

Put the dog out back during the warm months.

Prayer for God to put a hedge of protection around your family. They can have the stuff. I’m concerned about my wife and children.

Our children, Samuel and Madison, were playing on our back deck just before our newest addition- Mayson Ann was born. They were playing with water color paints on our deck table. Madison was painting away when her younger brother stormed in to create havoc. Two toddlers at a table with paint colors is a recipe for disaster. As I questioned my wife’s judgement on this decision (ha ha!), we steered them in a different direction. I took away the paint for a later time when Madison, our 3 year old, was alone. At this point my wife and I were sitting on our swing on the deck and we wondered how we could get a moment alone since the kids now had nothing to do. It’s funny how we underestimate children. They have such creative imaginations. Ben Franklin said most adults die at age 25. We stop dreaming and imagining all that could be for our lives.

After a few moments Samuel began to chase his sister around the table in the middle of our deck. They were laughing and screeching as they lapped the table time and again. Then they decided to sit next to one another on the ledge at the backdoor. They rested for a few moments and then they carefully developed a working tag team relationship. They decided to move their kid-sized table and chairs around the deck a little. One would move the chairs and the other the table. They would get them situated and then sit for a while. Then they would start the process over again. This lasted about 30 minutes.

Here we were wondering what they would do without something to occupy their attention. They gave us a little dose of true contentment. They used what they had before them. It’s the simple things in life that bring meaning and joy. Chasing your little brother or your big sisters around the deck.

You think maybe we adults over complicate things a bit?