Update

Hi Guys,

I went to see the doc last Wednesday as a post-op appointment for my hand and the news was not good. The pins in my finger didn't hold and everything had slipped down and out. It was a mess and I had to go back into surgery Thursday to have it all redone. Maybe that's why it had been so painful. Heather, this likely means the cake for your shower will be store bought and not baked and decorated by me like I'd planned...sorry.

Last time my doctor came in before surgery and asked me if I would like to join him in prayer before he started. I politely declined. In light of the way it turned out, I told him I wanted to join him this second time around. Dr. Christensen laughed and told me God didn't work that way. He then took my hand in his and began to pray, "Dear lord, please keep Patricia safe through this surgical procedure, see that she is held in your love and your light, and see that she finds her way to a speedy recovery. Amen." As he started to let go of my hand I held on and continued, "All that for Kathleen, too." Dr. Christensen held both of my hands and laughing, a little embarrassed said, "Yes! Yes, I meant Kathleen, Patricia was my patient before you."

As it turned out, my finger was more severely broken and had to be reconstructed. So here I am tap, tap, tapping with just one hand and trying to keep the nausea at bay, but feeling a bit better each day. Before I go, let me sing Dave's praises yet again. Dave's been the best through all this; handicapped wife, four, almost five year-old over-the-top-non-stop son, and all the household stuff I usually do. I'm so lucky to have a husband and friend who's genuinely hurting for me, and not making me feel bad for needing so much help. He did buy a good bottle of whiskey, though!

Okay, this is all I can do. Happy Monday and I'll see you next week!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Yes, today is the first day of the fall season and my favorite time of year. It seems that if the law of attraction states that like attracts like and everything we draw to us starts with how we feel, then it stands to reason that most of my successes happen in the fourth quarter of the year. The smells in the air, the changing colors of nature, the early nightfall, and the holidays all make it such a natural time to feel good. When I think about it, the list of momentous times in my life are this time of year. Dave and I started dating in the fall of 2001, we married in the fall of 2002, Mason was born in the fall of 2003, and the list could just keep going. I love the feeling of heavier blankets on the bed and a night chill that makes snuggling up seem like the natural thing to do. Suffice it to say, I love this time of year.

Last week was notable for one more little piece of my vision manifesting into reality. As I move ahead in the development of our glove project, I've been looking for ways to establish relationships with people who can help me promote them. I browse the web sites of national television shows and write in when it seems like I might fit in. About six weeks ago (or less), the producers from the Rachael Ray show in New York called me. They had me send in a tape and not long after, they called to invite me to come tape a show. I went to NY last Tuesday, taped Wednesday morning/afternoon and was on a plane back home Wednesday evening. I don't know when the episode will air but they did say they would send me an e-mail at least a week before so I can let everyone know (I promise, I'll send out a blast even if it's not Monday). The topic has nothing to do with the glove project, but I did what I set out to do; I met and established relationships with the right people who I can pitch my mompreneur show idea to when my gloves are ready to sell. The best part was flying first class (my first time ever) and actually seeing my dreams coming to life. It really is about intention, and even though it doesn't appear to work every time, I absolutely believe it works exactly the way it's suppose to every time.

I'm feeling better but let me tell you, this finger surgery has been the most painful experience of my life! I kid you not, four knee surgeries, a c-section with back burn, and any other trauma I've had in my life don't compare to this kind of intense pain. My recovery has been slower than I'd hoped but I'm still counting my blessings everyday that I wasn't injured more seriously. With that, have a great week, welcome this wonderful season, and make a plan to do something you love this week. See today's motivaotr to help set you on the right path!

Kathy

www.intentionalwinning.blogspot.com/ blog updated 3x weekly

Where You Will Soon Be

A small effort now can make a big difference later. You can dramatically increase the effectiveness of your actions simply by taking them sooner.

As you go through the moments of this day, you are creating many of the circumstances in which you will live tomorrow. A few small, positive actions right now can bring great value as you move forward.

You cannot change where you already are. Yet you can have a significant and dramatic effect on where you will soon be.

Live this moment with joy, with purpose and with passion. And use this moment to inject into your life and your world the kind of substance and value that can last a lifetime.

You cannot instantly change your circumstances. You can, however, instantly change the direction in which you're headed.

Point yourself firmly and resolutely in the direction of your dreams. For where you choose right now to go, is where you will soon be.

Reprinted with permission from The Daily Motivator -- Ralph Marston

Pictures

Isaboo, Rachael's baby
Running in Central Park at sunrise

The gloves fit! ("Yes, I've heard that one before." referring to the OJ jokes)

These are the actual prototypes. Round two has already been ordered and hopefully is being made in nylon like actual snow gloves.

A day in the life of the Partak household.

Mason is so proud to have made his door "just like Shawn's."

Going Back a Spell

It seems like eons ago but Dave, Mason, and I went to the state fair last month. I can't remember if I wrote about it or not, but since I still have a week or so of "may not be able to remember things," I'll just go with it and share.

The theme at the fair was Hollywood. They had some really great displays from so many of our favorite movies. Mason thought the dinosaurs from Jurassic Park were awesome, and I was tickled to be able to see the Delorean from Back to the Future, my favorite movie of all time! I can recite that movie word for word, line for line, scene for scene. Love it!

There was so much more but as usual, the best story of the fair came during a Kodak moment. The last few years Mason was timid around Poppy, the state fair mascot. He would say he wanted to go up and take a picture, but when it was his turn, he would get shy and not go. This year was quite the contrary. Check out the picture of Mason "grabbing hold" of his photo op with Poppy. Uh, yeah, a little too close for comfort. Poppy was looking to me to save him from my clutching son! Dave and I are still laughing. It'll be even funnier in ten years! Stay tuned.

I'm feeling better but at 41, I don't recover as quickly as I used to. My hand is really sore but hopefully everyday will be better and less painful.

One piece of exciting news is that we are supposed to have our actual prototype for our gloves today. Yes, to-day! Next week I'll have even more big news, so until then, make today a great day. How does that great quote go? "It's not how many times life knocks you down, it's how many times you get back up." Something like that, smiling!

State Fair Pictures + One

Mason the "tough guy" with the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park
A corn dog is must have food fare!

"88 Miles Per Hour!" Anyone who knows me knows Back to the Future is my favorite movie of all time. Here I am with the star of that movie (second only to
Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown).

The Flux Capacitor. "...and that's what makes time travel possible."

Finally, my damaged digit before surgery. Ouch!

Thanks for the Get Well Wishes!

Well, I wanted to be the Wonder Woman that so many of you think I am... no such luck. Surgery is what it is, and certainly it's painful. I had my finger fixed on Tuesday. Wednesday was not so bad, but by the end of the day, I was miserable. This morning is okay, but I'm extremely aware of where my finger has been cut, messed with, painfully pinned, and sewn back up. To say it's uncomfortable is an understatement.

Dave has been awesome. His bedside manner has improved dramatically in the last few days, and that makes me soooooo very happy! I've said it before and I'll say it again, he's one of the good ones. Yes, I love my Flower!

Thanks for all the calls and e-mails wishing me well. I want to say for the record, "I did not fall off my horse, I was thrown!" There is a difference. Smiling, weakly, but smiling for sure.

X-Ray

You can see that the break is from the tip down. The broken piece of bone is stuck there in the joint. Crazy, huh? The best part? It's my middle finger! You can imagine what it's going to look like coming out of surgery. Yep, pre-packaged to give everyone the finger! Laughing!

Spills, Not Thrills!

Happy Day!

Well, mostly happy day. I'm writing early because I anticipate that I'm going to be unavailable tomorrow. Today while meeting a lady about our horse, I took a spill. I'm okay but got a pretty good goose egg on my head, some really sore muscles in my low back and hips (bruised kidneys), and I broke my finger. Dave took me to the ER and the CT scan showed my brain looks like "it's never been used" (how exactly is one suppose to take a statement like that?), and my spine is in tact just fine. My finger however is not. I have to see a hand guy first thing tomorrow morning and will likely be having surgery on Tuesday.

With that said, I'm still a little woozy and it's likely that I'll be pretty sore after a nights sleep. More importantly, I may not be so good with my keyboard after the doc gets done messing with my hand. I'll keep you posted but in the meantime, I'm extremely grateful that I'm only sore, with a bump on my head, and a broken finger (my first broken bone ever).

Long-Lazy-Weekend

Hi Friends,

This is one of those Monday's that I don't have much to talk about. This works well with my resolution to talk less, although Dave will snicker at the idea that I've had any level of success with this venture.

In any case, it's been a heavenly-lazy-long weekend. Dave went to his convention while Mason and I didn't do much to talk about. Other than a quick trip to the state fair to, Mason and I had a movie night. We watched Mary Poppins (which we both loved!), and then we camped outside...that is until a wicked wind whipped up and had me hustling us all in the house to our beds.

Today is Labor Day and we're doing more of the same. The highlight of my day today was reading a good book in the backyard and falling asleep in the swing with a freshly bathed Mr. Riley! I love this quote from Martha Beck. What about you, what have you done this Labor Day weekend?

Kathy

"Here's one of the very few generalizations I believe unconditionally: There is not one useful thing we can do that we don't do better when we're relaxed."
Martha Beck