Author: briellestreet7

I started writing my first book a year ago. On April 25th my word count was 9,705. I set a goal to complete it on September 1st with a total of 40,000 words. I broke it down to a daily word count minimum of 312 words which I often exceeded, doubling or tripling. I made it more tangible by looking at 312 versus 30,295, which also made it more enjoyable. I wrote my Miracle Equation Affirmation on my bathroom mirror, on a note that I carry in my purse and have it written down with my other daily affirmations. My word count was the first thing I did every day before anything else.

By committing to having unwavering faith and putting forth extraordinary effort I reached my word count goal on June 21st, 71 days ahead of schedule. I have done 2 rounds of verbal read throughs and content edits and am ready to begin my journey of getting my story published. My mission is to provide a tour guide of my personal stories, from the streets I have traveled down and conquered, guiding you from being lost to living your best life, full of smiles.

“Dreams are essential to winning but they gotta come outside of the clouds so they are more tangible and touchable” -Dave Ramsey. Travel on goal street, not only remembering your dreams but set goals, make plans to pull them from the clouds and pull them closer every day. A little bit adds up faster than you think. 

Sometimes in life you just have to push your cart running, jump on the back and smile as you glide through the parking lot with a cute happy face looking back at you. There is so much to enjoy in little things. It is necessary to drive on fast street, get away from all the speed bumps and stop letting the unnecessary slow you down and stop you. It doesn’t matter if she is riding in the car, on a riding toy, being carried or pushed in a cart my daughter always tells me to go fast. I chuckled the other day when I imagined being pulled over and telling the officer that I was speeding because she told me to go fast. My husband has always dreamed of having a son who is a race car driver. I grew up around racing spending many Friday nights in the shops with the guys working on their cars and Saturday nights at the track, making this a fun dream if it were to come true. However, if one of our kids is a race car driver I have a feeling it will be our little girl. It is important to stop and smell the flowers along the way but letting fear prevent you from forward progress is what stops you and gets you stuck. Stop being so cautious and afraid. Kick fear out, go fast, keep your momentum and life will work.

When you meet someone new and you welcome them into your life open your arms because you never know the role they will take on. You never know when you just might end up on Grandpa Street. I still remember the day I met the man my children now call Grandpa and Bapa. It was a sunny early spring afternoon, still snow on the ground here in Minnesota. I was pregnant with my first baby. Happiness sizzled from my mother in law just like the fajitas in front of me as we all got to know each other. Such an amazing feeling to witness when you see 2 people together who you know without a doubt were meant for each other. I knew he was special, though I had no idea how very special he would be to me. While not biologically, he’s my kids grandpa by heart. One who jumps right in and digs in the sandbox with them, watches any kid movie requested and is the only one in this whole world I will allow to call my daughter Chuck. He always gets down to their level to say hello. It truly is the little thoughtful things that count. From joke telling to apple picking he does it all and they always have an excited smile when they see him. He has always lended a helping hand to my family and has always had extra room in his heart for my kids. Gentle, fun, kind soul. I dedicate this to him on a special day. Grandpa Street is special with you on it. Happy Birthday, Grandpa Boyd.

As I lay in bed this morning minutes before my alarm went off I took a moment to remember a dream I had because I felt there was a lesson in it to take with me. As I opened my eyes I found myself on the beginning of Token Street. There was a lady in my dream that had a bag of tokens and a saying “Every day I take with me a token…” She had just collected her 25th token, each one representing a book she had wrote. She told me about how family and friends tried to discourage her from working on her goals. Her goal was to have 30 tokens and while she was proud she hadn’t listened, much, she knew those few times cost her 5 tokens, 5 books. The bag she put them in wasn’t special, it is what is on the inside that counts. The trophy case means nothing if it is empty. Not even a minute later my alarm went off, I was meant to remember this dream. What tokens do you want to collect, how many do you want? Everyday is a journey on Token Street, when you put your feet on the floor in the morning don’t forget to take your token with you and guard it from anyone who tries to take it away. Work for it, reach your goals, fulfill your dreams. Don’t come up 5 short.

Pulling up into the almost empty parking I got out of my car to read the sign on the door, stopping me in my tracks, “No Class Today.” Last week fun Tuesday started out great with delicious cinnamon rolls like always. I went into the day with so much excitement to start an ECFE (early childhood family education) class after missing 2 weeks due to weather cancellation and 1 because of sick kiddos. This was finally the week I had waited nearly 3 years for. So, when my kids started doodling and time started to slip away I let fear in and started getting worked up about being late and missing it all together. Before I knew it our nice peaceful exciting morning had unravelled. While I debated not going at all I knew if I didn’t that I would be teaching my kids a terrible lesson, that it is ok to give up. So, even though we left the house already late I got us all in the car and on our way, soon to discover we were on Delay Street. Collecting myself after discovering there was no class and finding the lesson in it all I got back in the car determined to turn it around and enjoy the day. I took full ownership of our morning going off track, apologized to my kids for being grumpy and explained how it is not worth it. By the time we were back home smiles were restored and a little while later all on his own my son apologized to me. This week marks 3 Years exactly since my son and I were in the middle of an ECFE class that we were unable to finish when I went back to work. I am fortunate to be back home with the opportunity to do so again, and as I sat there in class I smiled as time stood still, it was like we picked up right where we left off. For a day that is very bittersweet I couldn’t have asked for anything more. It is not worth it to get upset when running late for something because you never know what you will come across along the way or what is going to be there when you show up. So many times in life delays or detours are put in our paths for a reason. Next time you find yourself on Delay Street, instead of getting frustrated focusing on your destination enjoy the journey and think of all of the possible places it could be guiding you too.

The ocean, the beach, the hot sun on my face, my favorite place. After all the prepping, extra long hours at the gym, cutting out my beloved pizza and chocolate, tanning to get a base so my strawberry blonde skin wouldn’t burn and plotting and planning all of my bikinis of course ordering a couple new ones from Victoria Secret. Why did they stop making them? My bags were packed, I thought I was ready for Vacation Street when it happened, a last minute trip to Target to get some back up black bikinis. Ladies, I know you know what I am talking about! I could have been upset, avoided the beach and soaked up self pity instead of sunshine. The little things in life are the most powerful and the rest is built upon them. With no idea that 7 years would pass and the memories and pictures from this trip would be the closest thing I would have to the ocean, I am so glad that on top of everything in my suitcase I packed a good attitude. “One minute of anger robs you of 60 seconds of happiness” – Les Brown. I started every day running out to see the sunrise over the ocean, not letting the few extra things I had to put in my beach bag run my day. Because of the extra emphasis on enjoying my time and not letting something so small ruin it I experienced one of if not my best vacations. I lived carefree for a week, fully alive. The next time you are on Vacation Street don’t let something small rob you of happiness. Put your toes in the water, ass in the sand, enjoy it fully and overflow your suitcase with memories to take with you for you never know when you’ll be surrounded by snow and they’ll be the closest thing you’ll have.

The other day while it was probably zero degrees outside I scooped up some ice cream and brought some cold fun inside.   As I watched my daughter take a big bite I was captured in a moment that really made me think and I found myself on Perspective Street.  It didn’t matter to her what kind of cone she had , would have been happy had it been in a bowl and didn’t care that there were no fancy toppings or treats mixed in.  She was just excited for the deliciousness of the ice cream. When do our perspectives change? When is everything still not good enough? You could have the biggest waffle cone, candies galore nestled inside a chocolate shell and still crave more. When do we start hesitating to take a big bite out of life and get caught up in the unnecessary extras that slowly rob you of your happiness.  Dream of greatness and make plans to get whatever that is but don’t turn your nose up to a plain ice cream cone. Go back to the basics, and stop picking toppings to please someone else, enjoy the flavor you like best, enjoy the flavor of your own life.   It doesn’t matter what kind of car you are driving when the whether is perfect, the windows are rolled down and the breeze is blowing on your cheek.  The only thing that matters at that moment is the breeze. The only thing that really matters is the nice cold lick of an ice cream cone.  Clean your windshield, clean your perspective.

“There are only 2 ways to live your life, one is as if nothing is a miracle, the other is as though everything is a miracle” – Albert Einstein. At 18 months when my daughter wasn’t walking and barely able to pull herself up and stand on her own her PT recommended an Orthopedist visit. She was fitted for braces and the day she got them within just moments she stood up, her legs straightened, came together and she started walking. She has gross motor delay or as her PT likes to say “She is just really bendy.” Although delay is one of the describing words I can think of many others that fit her better, the first one that comes to mind is determined. Wearing braces doesn’t hinder her it makes her stronger. She is very good about wearing them and will even initiate wearing them by getting them out of the closet and either bringing them to us or just trying to put them on by herself, full of determination. She wears laced shoes to allow for extra room for the braces, no convenience or ease of velcro for this little girl, as a result I believe she will learn to tie her shoes very early. Just think how much better your life could be if you were bendy not delayed? Instead of being slowed down by something, learn from it and let the knowledge nurture you and help you grow. Just think about while traveling down a windy road there are markers placed along the way to keep you on the right path. So many times obstacles arise in life to keep us on the right path too. Slow down and appreciate these times instead of rushing them and wishing them away and reflect on what you learned. Does it take extra time to get ready and out the door? Sure. Sometimes she has a fit because she wants more than anything to independently complete the task on her own. This morning I switched things up a bit and for the first time I asked my son to help her get her shoes on, with no problem he had a brace on the correct foot fastened perfectly and all the while she sat there patiently working on tying a shoe. I froze, said nothing and just enjoyed the moment. I saw teamwork, patience, kindness and so much love between a brother and sister. Travel down Bendy street, see the miracles at each curve and let them guide you and fill you with determination to live your best life.

Here is to enjoying the next couple months, the cold, the snow and everything experienced on Winter Street. Instead of hiding inside avoiding and complaining about what is outside I’m embracing what I am unable to change. The other day, with potty breaks and doodling it took almost an hour to get myself and my kids bundled up to go outside and the 15 minutes that we ended up being outside for was all made worth it by the two ear to ear innocent smiles looking up at me from the sled as I pulled them around the yard. Eyes that see snowman and snow angels not bad roads and long commutes and the only kind of fight that comes to mind is a snowball fight, certainly not one stemmed from road rage. What changes? When do we put up the walls of resistance, hunch over and complain our way through Winter wishing away a quarter of the year? When does the excitement go away? When I was little you couldn’t get me to come inside. I grew up 2 blocks from St. Olaf College in Northfield, which if you are not aware has an amazing sledding hill. I knew all the jumps, I’d spend hours outside, sometimes until my scarf was practically frozen to my face. So when do we switch and not even want to go outside if we have to consider putting a jacket on? Instead of putting up walls and becoming stressed when things are not the way you want them and are out of your control, work trough the walls and break them down. Minnesota has 4 seasons, some make us enjoy and appreciate others more. The thaw of winter leads to appreciation of spring and the end of a hot summer welcomes back bonfires, sweaters and anything pumpkin spice in the fall. Life too has many seasons, try welcoming and enjoying the challenging ones for they lead you to all the beautiful moments that take your breath away. Now go get bundled up and enjoy life even if it freezes your scarf to your face, stop resisting, it will lead you to the hot chocolate.

She watches my every move, looks up to me to see what I will do next and repeats with much accuracy. My daughter, my little mini me. She carries her babies around like I carried and still carry her, she plays with my makeup when I get ready attempting sometimes to put it on and when I am in the kitchen she demands to be picked up to see exactly what I am doing. The other day while playing in her kitchen I suggested she make a pancake for her baby. A minute later when I peaked around the corner I found her flipping a pancake on her stove and carrying it over to her baby she had placed in her highchair, looking so proud when she saw me. We all at some point end up on Cooking Street. I grew up in a household where the tofu was abundant and the salt was scarce. I escaped next door on tofu nights to have what I considered “normal food” after being told tofu came from rotten soybeans. I never spent much time in the kitchen unless it was to bake something, never being allowed many sweats, however we always had chocolate chips so cookies it was or sneaking away to the candy store 3 blocks away with whatever change I had saved up. My love for baking taught me to follow the directions but I never learned to season a dish to taste or get over my fear of not cooking chicken enough in turn, turning it into a lovely piece of rubber. Until recently I have lived my whole life giving myself the title of “I’m not a good cook” or “I didn’t grow up learning how to cook” feeling extremely lucky when I make a meal that my family and I like, especially my husband, who can throw anything together and make it taste amazing. So many times I would spend hours making dinner only to throw it out and order something in or go out, all boiling down to the fact that I never looked up in the kitchen, never looking up and believing I could create something amazing. Becoming a mom I promised myself that I would get over this belief and create a new one, that I am an amazing cook. Flip from telling yourself the negative to telling yourself the positive and you can open many doors. Now I enjoy planning and making a new dish and am filled with so much joy when my husband cleans his plate and has seconds and even more joy when my daughter demands I hold her on my hip to watch, to look up, to fill herself with the belief that she can do it too. One day she too will be an amazing cook. Whether you are having a hard time on cooking street or a different street in life, look up and believe in yourself.