Cheryl Mendoza

Right time, right place.

Today was a day of encouragement. Some of it I gave, and some of it I received. The events were nothing spectacular, but it is typically the small things that can have the most impact. This morning, I went to the grocery store, and by the time I came out, my car was in the shade. It was a simple thing, but in the heat of the Central Valley, it provided welcome relief even from this morning’s heat.

When I came home, I had to hurry and get cleaned up, as I had a massage appointment to get to. It was only twenty minutes, but after the stress that I put myself through this week, it was like a little slice of heaven. This week my regular therapist was back from a maternity sabbatical, and I was happy to see her. After my massage, we sat and talked for a few minutes. First she gave me the update about the new baby and the challenges of being a new mom. I told her some of my experiences with the boys, and encouraged her to use her own good sense to make decisions. I advised her to not worry about what other people say she should do, but to take the advice and use her best judgement. I then told her that I had quit my job, and that I was working at blogging and trying to “reinvent” myself. It was then that she was able to give some encouraging words to me. It was a great conversation, and I left feeling better in both body and spirit. Continue reading “Right time, right place.” →

July 17, 2016 0

Tap dance as life.

Viva La Revolution!! And I do not mean some kind of violent upheaval, I mean the spinning around till you get back to the start. That is where I am today, back to getting some tapping done. I am trying to be mindful of everything that is going on in the world, but life goes on. And isn’t that why we continue to address the same issues? Life must go on. I have to work, pay bills, care for my family, exercise, eat right and try to encourage/instruct my children. (still!!)

I was tapping this morning (yikes) and I found that one step was really hard for me, because of one little problem. I was having a hard time with my weight on my heel and bringing my other foot off the floor. It was all a matter of balance. I felt awkward and terribly clumsy, but kept working on it. After thinking it through, watching the video and practicing that one part repeatedly it finally felt better. It probably did not look perfect, but it did feel a little more natural. Continue reading “Tap dance as life.” →

July 13, 2016 1

My Response? Seek Wisdom

So I was thinking this morning, what is my response?

Last week was a rough one for our nation. We started out strong with the celebration of Independence Day, and ended with police and civilians hurt and dying on our streets. During this week, we also saw athletes of all makes and models competing to represent our country in the upcoming Olympic games. So, the highs and lows of being an American were out in force. It is crazy to me sometimes that things like this, the best and worst, can hit right at the same time.

So what is my response? Continue reading “My Response? Seek Wisdom” →

July 12, 2016 0

Where is justice?

So today as I watch the news and watch officer involved shootings, I am…? I am not even sure. I am angry and upset. I am so sad that families will be going through the emotional roller coaster, that is now their new normal. I am tired of seeing the same bad decision making, incident after incident.

I called my son, because I knew he would be angry. As I spoke with him, I tried to work through what I was thinking, while giving him what I hoped would be wisdom. So I told my son that the best way we can do something at this point would be personal. (At this point, I had a whole paragraph of some of the things that I think need to be addressed, but trying to keep opinion out and see what God teaches me through this.) Continue reading “Where is justice?” →

July 7, 2016 3

Happy that no one is watching

So today I am going back to the start. I said that I have typically 20 things going on in my head at one time, so I am trying to clear everything else out and focus on one thing. I have my tap board ready, my shoes and a video of simple instructions. I have to get practicing if I am going to be ready for next year’s National Tap Dance Day.

It has been a couple of weeks since building my board, and trying it out for a fe keep-calm-and-tap-dance-48 w minutes. Why haven’t I stepped back on you ask? Well, this morning I was asking myself the same thing. I thought back over the past couple of weeks, and wondered what happened? What took my excitement away? Where did the drive go to accomplish something new ? I know the whole tap dancing thing seems a little trivial, but it really is a means to deal with other things that are truly not so trivial. Insecurities, health, doubt, fear, fitness and choosing the freedom to live life joyfully.

I look back on the last few weeks, and I see doubt and fear raising their ugly heads. These two monsters have been attacking me with a vengeance. The avenues of attack? It has been finances, writing, back pain and even discouragement. So where is my defense? I got a kick star 280px-Gossamer_restored t from reading the bible, making props for storytelling, helping my husband and reading some Max Lucado. That is all just to stay afloat. I also listened to an author/speaker named John Maxwell, and he was talking about one of his books, “Today Matters”. There was a lot in it, but my quick take away was if you put something off until tomorrow, it is more than likely it will never get done.

I have been legitimately busy, but I noticed that this was the only thing that I kept putting off day after day. That caught my attention. I always put off doing what I don’t like, is hardest or most uncomfortable for me. It is a pattern. So when I see this, I know I have to attack it. So here I am, ready to wage war on my fear and insecurity through the art of dance. OK, I use the word art and dance very loosely. You have heard the saying, “Dance like no one is watching.” Well I can tell you, I have never been more thankful that no one is watching.

June 24, 2016 3

Weekly Discover Challenge: The story behind the door

As I closed the door to the office, I wondered if it was a message to me. I had gone there to pitch myself for a job. It was almost exactly two years ago, and I was feeling a pull for something else. What was that something else, I wasn’t sure? So when you feel that pull, where do you go? To your pastor. Or your BFF, your therapist, the dog or maybe even the local bartender. I am a God kind of girl, so I went to the pastor first. I don’t have a dog, nor a therapist and I was keeping the bartender for the end as my method of last resort. They had plans, a new vision. So as I spoke to one and then another, I asked the question to myself, do their plans include me? It was on that second visit that I remember the door.

I was leaving their office, which is located in a converted home. Being the somewhat timid person I am, I turned around and quietly shut the door, as to not make a loud exit. It was then that the door caught my attention. It closed, as doors tend to do. It was then I thought, is this my answer? Even though we had an excellent meeting, the door closing made an impression. We always pray for a door to be closed to help us make decisions. Our problem is when we see it closed, we then try to slide in through the mail slot.

I think of that door often, when I get frustrated. I have a picture in my mind of that day, as I stood there watching it close. I guess that was not the way for me. So here I am sitting, writing and trying in my own way to open my own door.

June 22, 2016 0

Someone else’s box.

So I really love to write, and I typically have 20 things going through my head at one time, so I always feel like it should come freely and with ease. The only problem is, most time it doesn’t. By the end, it feels more like child birth than anything else. Times of struggle, gasping for each new line. Then at times there is rest and a moment where new insight is revealed. So for me, it is not always easy.

This morning though, I was really inspired and wanted to just sit and get my thoughts down on paper. It all started when I read a blog, “Fcuk Pretty.” Well the title had me interested, and when I went to read it, the post had me hooked. I enjoyed the writing and honesty, but most of all I loved the commonality. In my own life, I could relate to some of the feelings and statements that she was relaying in the post. What is the best part though? It was her. I looked at some of the information about her, and I knew that I would not naturally be a part of her circle of friends. (influence?) To me though, that is exciting.

Again, we find so many ways to separate ourselves from each other, and I am done with that. It is boring. I want to risk meeting people who are different than me, the ones that I am not “supposed” to talk to. I want to know their story, and how it may have hurt them or brought them strength. I want to hear about the things that separate us, because when I look at them through the lens of eternity, those things become meaningless.

What do you think? Are you tired of being labeled and put in someone else’s box?

Here is the link to the original post: https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/33316213/posts/1045939154

Seems the link may be having issues. Where is my IT guy? Please cut and paste…it will get you there. Sorry for the difficulties….but I do recommend reading it. Thanks!!

June 21, 2016 0

Time for another Adventure

Dinner is almost done and I am exhausted. It is going to be a couple of long weeks as we are getting ready for VBA. I am sure you see signs where you live about VBS, or Vacation Bible School. Here though, we do Vacation Bible Adventure. Both our Senior and Youth Pastors have daughters that work at Disneyland, so that should give you the indication what the place starts to look like. Sets are going up all over the campus in anticipation of the 1,000 or so kids who will attend. During the week, I tell stories Version 2 to preschoolers. Today I went and started to get our sets “built”, more like taped together, for the stories. I was happy to have one of our students come out and help me today. I had a picture from Pinterest of what I was looking for, but after showing her that, I gave her free reign to create. I think she did a fantastic job. It is a really cute whale….my pic is not so good though.
This whole undertaking is HUGE! It takes so many people, using so many different talents to put these great environments together. It is always exhausting, but always amazing to be a part of such a wonderful group of people. Are you having your own Vacation Bible School? Or Adventure? If you are, leave a comment about what encourages you the most about being involved in this kind of event.

So I kind of cut her out of the picture because she is a young lady, and I try to be aware of any parental concern.

June 21, 2016 2

Kindness of strangers.

I was in the grocery store this morning picking up some items for lunch, and when I had my canvas bag filled, I went to the lines to check out. There were two lines that had just one person in them, and in a glance I took in the situation and weighed my options. Line one had a young woman who was using WIC vouchers, so I knew it would take a few more minutes. The second line had just one person, but I would have had to cut off an older gentleman to get into the line ahead of him. Not wanting to be so rude, I decided to go to line one.

I was not in a rush, so it was not a big deal if it took a little longer. They young lady in front of me had her items separated and the corresponding voucher ready. The transaction started off well enough, but one of the vouchers was not valid yet, so it threw her whole system off. She apologized to me, and I brushed it off. I gave her a smile, and told her not to worry at all. By this time I did have a few more patrons behind me, but it really was not taking that long. I guess it felt long to her. She was going to pay some with cash, but it came down at one point where she was short just some change. Before I could even think of how to help, the checker quickly brushed it off and told her to not worry about it. She said that people leave change all the time. By this time the young lady was shedding some tears. I reached out and touched her arm, and told her that it was OK. She kept quietly apologizing all the while tearing up. The checker was so sweet, as she reassured this yo
ung woman and spoke kindly to her. When she was done, she quickly and quietly left. The checker quickly rang me up, and I told her to keep the change.

I was glad that I got into the line behind the young woman. In this day and age, we are all so busy trying to just make life work, that we seem to not have time to just be nice. I was glad to be a witness of the interaction between the two women. As I left the store I could feel tears welling up, as I thought of the young woman. I am not sure what all were the feelings that made her cry this morning, but my hope is
that the rest of the day will be filled with the kindness shown to her by a stranger.

June 19, 2016 0