small heart, big purpose.

When two people decide to have a baby, they envision a purpose for their child- what they will accomplish, the person they will become, and what they will contribute to society. They also envision whose eyes they will have, what color their hair will be, and pray to God they will not have Aunt Gertrude’s wonky second toe.

We form this purpose in our heads for our unborn children, wondering what role in society they will fulfill. Or, maybe, what essential role they will create for themselves in this fast paced world. We wish for them a heart filled with happiness and love, a mind full of knowledge and curiosity. We wonder whether we will have the hands to give them the life they deserve and the love they yearn for. We also wonder what they see through their tiny eyes and what they feel with their tiny heart. Our minds ponder what babies dream about, or more importantly, what on God’s green earth they have experienced to have nightmares about.  

The beautiful baby above fulfills a heart for many people. She is the driving force behind her parents’ lives. She is the light in which her sister walks, and she is God’s gift to this world. She serves a purpose greater than what her tiny mind can fathom- while we all sit, ponder, and wait patiently to find out what purpose she is envisioning for herself.

it’s an outlet. it’s an inspiration. it’s a gift. it’s a purpose

tick, tock.

Why is it we feel as if we must look forward to something in order to get through what we are occupied with at this very moment? It seems as if we must have something to look forward to just to get through the circumstance we find ourselves in now. We constantly proclaim how we cannot wait for the next holiday to happen, weekend to arrive, or song to play. We are always looking for the next; not the now.

Why waste wishes on passing the time quicker when they could be spent on miracles?

One day all those wishes we spent on passing time will be wanted back. Ask your elders what they would do for the time they wished away over all their years, and listen carefully to their response. Every wrinkle they have is a lesson learned, wisdom gained... but that is another post!

Every sixty seconds,

two hundred forty seven babies take their first breath and

one hundred seven people take their last...

Don't waste a breath on anything other than bettering your life and those of the people around you. We all have rainy days, but sometimes we must put our rain boots on and slap a smile on our faces; every moment spent breathing can be spent living.

This may not have been the purpose you've been searching to find, but hopefully it allows you to think. Stop wishing away time and go find a purpose.

tick, tock;  tick, tock

it's an outlet. it's an inspiration. it's a gift. it's a purpose.

brink of a purpose.

It’s inevitable that some have to carry out a purpose through generations. I find it fascinating that although we are among the revolution of technology, some life purposes will never change.

Many live their lives trying to achieve an unattainable purpose that is beyond humanly, or canine-ly, possible.

My mother has always felt the need to begin every dog’s name we have owned with a, “B.” Among the first was Benny. Benny was a cocker spaniel with ears so long we had to tie them up on top of his head with a hair band. Of course, I didn’t. I was a toddler myself who was probably just as messy as the dog. Benny was a kind, loving dog, as many others I’m sure can relate to.

When my parents fell in love with a little chocolate lab puppy, she created a new “B” name, and our family of 7 grew once more. (2 Adults+3 Kids+ 1 Cat+ 2 Dogs... it was an animal farm.)

Boomer earned the nickname “Best Dog in the Land” in a short amount of time. When Benny grew old and senile, Boomer was there to take care of him in his last few days, and carried out the role of protector of all evil, another nickname earned.

So the next chapter of the story leads to this big, hairy, handsome one above. Brinkley, I know this is getting to be too much to handle, was a bit of a hot mess at first. He teetered a bit toward Marley from “Marley & Me,” but eventually learned quickly from Boomer. Boomer taught him the ins and outs of why he was called the “Protector of all Evil,” and when Boomer grew weary, Brinkley took over.

It’s as if each dog has been a product of the wisdom from the dog preceding it. If it weren’t for Benny, Boomer wouldn’t have been the joy he was, and so on.

But isn’t that how it should be with history? Imagine if every person gained the wisdom from the person before them, bettering each as generations pass. Who knows what the world would be like, but I can imagine it would be free from the jealousy, hatred, and lack of understanding we suffer from daily.

Just some dog food for thought.

it's an outlet. it's an inspiration. it's a gift. it's a purpose.

pride and opened eyes.

Sara A.

Pride is a complex thought. It can severely fog our minds with ignorance. But, pride can also fill our hearts up when it is given to us by a loved one. Sara never considered herself close with her grandfather, but always knew he was there for her. Her Grandfather became ill with cancer and she knew she needed to pay him a visit before it became too late. Her Grandfather couldn’t open his eyes much, for the weight of them posed too great a challenge. However, that day, Sara’s presence was the strength he needed to look at her one last time.

Funny how looks can be so powerful. How one glance can spark so much pride. How eyes have the ability to evoke strong emotions in us. For Sara, her grandfather’s eyes taught her the importance of missed opportunities. She learned to never let someone walk through your life without knowing what they can contribute to it. But most importantly, Sara learned the importance of one look, one person, and the ability of the two combined to teach a lesson some go their whole lives never learning.

it's an outlet. it's an inspiration. it's a gift. it's a purpose.

welcome to an idea.

part one: I sat in sociology class as a freshman in college and listened to numerous students share their goals in life. Some replied simply, "become a mom." others replied, "international peace corresondant," and "a survivor of this economy."

The stories revealed identities no one would guess by looking at the appearance of these students. They were in college for a degree to maybe assist them in serving a purpose. Or perhaps their purpose was just to make their parents proud for the first time in their lives.

part two: I was given the gift of an angel on May twenty third, two thousand eleven. It came in the form of my cousin, and it was a gift that kept on giving. I was given his story (you can read about it at http://www.bigefoundation.org/iansstory.html ) and I needed an outlet to share it.

part one plus part two: And then.. an idea.
It hit me like a train... and immediately lit a spark in my mind.
What if there was an outlet for people's stories. stories that revealed their quest for a purpose, the purpose of that month, or even the purpose they already served.

After a few phone calls with a scattered mind and enthusiasm only in children on christmas morning, this blog was born.
 it's an outlet. it's an inspiration. it's a gift. it's a purpose.