Thursday, January 29, 2009

Strengths Finder

A couple of months ago I was given the opportunity to take an online talent assessment called Strengths Finder. Along with the assessment, I attended a training with my peers and received a copy the 2.0 version book. I thought I would share with you my results and over the course of the next few posts I will share with you what I have come to learn.

My top 5 Strengths were:

Communication--People strong in the Communication theme generally find it easy to put their thoughts into words. They are good conversationalists and presenters.

Woo--People strong in the Woo theme love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over. They derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection with another person.
Positivity--People strong in the Positivity theme have an enthusiasm that is contagious. They are upbeat and can get others excited about what they are going to do.

Strategic--People strong in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.

Futuristic--People strong in the Futuristic theme are inspired by the future and what could be. They inspire others with their visions of the future.

Have you ever taken the Strengths Finder assessment and if so what were your themes?

Saturday, January 24, 2009

What will she climb up next...

On Friday we were cleaning the house and we needed the ladder for a couple of high spots in our house. After setting up the ladder, we turned around to grab the cleaner. Upon returning to the ladder – guess what we found…

Immediately Benjamin was accused. After a session of denial and a talk about telling the truth we turned around again and to our surprise we see the following in action.


Benjamin, we are sorry – Abby, what are we going to do with you???

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath – The Inauguration.

I wanted to share some of my favorite parts of President Obama’s speech. I have to admit, and I have always said this – Obama is an amazing speaker. Obama is very captivating and delivers his message very clear with poise and accuracy. I have always enjoyed listening to him speak. It is a nice change. With that being said, he was not my first pick, but then neither was the other candidate. Obama’s party and liberal views worry me at times – but he is our President, now we need to stand together and make the changes our country so desperately needs. I just hope they are the right ones. Below are my top 5 favorite statements of his first message as the President of the United States of America.


“Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.” I appreciate the reality and determination of this message and the way he delivered it.

“Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished.” What insight, what vision, what reality! This is so true.

“Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.” Again, well said with conviction.

“We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.” These are very powerful statements – especially coming from him. This caught me off guard and I hope and pray Obama follows through on these statements.

“Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history.” Obama, you are one man; we as Americans need to stand together to make these statements come true. We all want to see America succeed.

One last thing to add about the inauguration ceremony – Aretha Franklin was amazing! Our Queen of Soul!

Sunday, January 18, 2009

From one generation to the next…

This weekend Gpa and Gma B were down visiting us. Along with them came a dress that was crochet for Gma B by her mother over 50 years ago. Of course we needed pictures of Abby in the dress.


Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Abigail’s Official 1 Year-old Pictures!

We decided to have Abigail's 1 year-old pictures taken after Christmas as we knew grandma's, grandpa's, and aunt’s could not resist purchasing the first grandbaby girl on each side some clothing for Christmas. And we were right…

So here they are – Abigail’s 1 year old pictures!


We had to have the two together in one of them!


Saturday, January 3, 2009