20 years ago today!

April 28, 1991

I can tell you what I was doing!
20 years ago today, I was experiencing the birth of our 3rd daughter.
Leisha Danae Burrus born to 12:16pm, weighing 8 lbs. 10 oz, measuring 20 1/2 inches long.
We announced her as the Major 3rd of the Burrus girls trio!

She was born on a Sunday- that just happened to be the Dedication Sunday of Calvary church's new auditorium. Her daddy was in charge of the worship team that morning- but had to leave before the service began to be present at her birth. As the people were closing the service by having a dedication of a next generation of children that will grow up in this new facility- Leisha was making her presence known to us.

Ren and I were just out there this month for a speaking engagement. We went by that church, and the hospital where Leisha & Brielle were both born. We spent time with friends that were part of our lives then and my sister and her family. When I booked that opportunity, I didn't even think about the fact that the Lord was taking me back to that place where she was born 20 years to the month earlier. I'm so grateful He knew I would need to be there- to remember- to celebrate and to grieve.

This August, it will be 5 years since she ran into heaven. As Ren said this morning, in some ways, it seems to get harder the longer it is. Our grief is more 'managable', but maybe that's part of the hard part. It seems to be every bit as strong.

But today is about celebrating her life! Because her life made a huge difference in our lives. I would love to hear if her life impacted yours! Make a comment to this blog, or send me an email.

My life was changed because since she was very young, she was clear on what she wanted. And even if it meant losing another privilege, she would do what was most important to her. For instance, she didn't like vegetable soup. We learned later that it was because all of the vegetables were touching. If we allowed her to pick out the vegetables, and seperate them on a plate- then she would eat them. But we didn't know that when she was three. She wouldn't eat it, and had already been at the kitchen counter long after the others had gone. Finally her dad, trying to teach her the importance of eating her vegetables, and partly because we ran out of options, told her he would have to spank her if she didn't finish her soup. She sat there quite a while longer, then finally got up and headed up stairs. Ren said, "Where are you going?" She calmly replied, "Upstairs to get ready for my spanking, cause I'm not going to eat that!" Ren just looked at me and said, "Now what!" I just smiled and reminded him that he made the deal. I don't think he ever used that with her again.

But I've been struck by several pictures recently. Ever since we redid her room, each of us have taken on some 'new' thing. Ren's grown his business, Cait & Brie both left for a semester abroad, and I started some course work to become certified as a life coach. Little did I know, within 4 four months, I would quit my part time job at the church and prepare to launch my own coaching practice. Ren, Caitlin and Brielle have been very support of my next step. They have been part of designing logo's & brochures and reading manuscripts, etc. But I have, from the very beginning of this venture, sensed that Leisha was part of it with me.

I'm sure I've told that story before, but she came running in one morning after worship team practice and said, "I just found out that my favorite color means my favorite word". Unsure of even her favorite color I asked what she meant. "Green means hope!" So often in the last 5 years I have grabbed up everything green I can find. I have green pens & highlighters, and calenders & mugs. I wear green alot now- never used to wear green at all. I even have a green Bible now. Haven't found the right handbag yet- but when I do, you can bet I'll be getting it. So it was quite natural for me to name my new practice, Green Hope Coaching.

This week, a coach I am working with, asked me what was pushing me to reach my dreams in my new business. I knew right away! It was Leisha's last reminder to me. That afternoon she died I was teasing her that she was so impatient to get her driver's license because she wanted 'power'. I could tell the wheels were turning behind those eyes as she pondered that. Then she said, "You know Mom, I don't want power. I want to influence. I want to say to people, 'I'm going! Come with me!" As I have pondered those words, I realize that I want to influence too! And you can't say to people, 'Come with me' if you aren't going. Not only were her words a huge push for me now in my business, but they were a dynamic influence in walking through my grief of losing her presence in my life.

Her life and her passion continue to speaks into mine. So together we move forward!

Leisha, I celebrate the day you were born! Thank you for living so intensely, so out loud!

I love you!

Mom

Launching Green HOPE Coaching

The New Year has begun! January is near the end! If you are like most people, your new year's resolutions are already a distant memory.

Well, I'd like to introduce myself. I am Kathy- the Green HOPE Coach!
Let me explain...

Years ago, I became aware of an increasing desire to be part of helping people take their 'next steps'. Whether that is to find their vision for their life, clarify the values they want to be known for, deepen relationships or work through a dark place, I wanted to come alongside and assist others to live out their uniqueness.

Then life took some unexpected, core shaking turns- most specifically, the death of our daughter, Leisha. Everything I had ever believed about life; my roles, my relationships, my purpose, even my belief in God and His character were brought into question. But in my laborious struggle through that deep, dark tunnel of mud called grief, I learned some valuable lessons.

1. It really DOES matter what you build into your life when things are going well. That's the stuff you have to trust when tragedy strikes. My knowledge of who God says He is, my study of who He made me to be, even the words of scripture or my own words of my vision statement were part of what gave me strength to take next steps when I could barely stand.
What would you like to build into your life now?

2. It really DOES matter the quality of relationships that you are growing in your life. When life hits-it is most often those people- ordinary people- that walk with you through it. Ordinary people doing ordinary (to them) things have an extraordinary impact on the lives of people in our world- mine especially.
Who are the people in your world? What kind of relationship do you have with them? What can you do this week/ month to deepen those relationships?

The afternoon Leisha died, I was teasing her about her impatience to get her driver's permit. "You just want power," I quipped. I could sense she was thinking hard about that statement, when she replied, "Mom I don't need power. I want to INFLUENCE! I want to say to people, 'I'm going! Come with me'!"

I realized, over the course of the last four years since her death, that I too want to influence! I want to be part of opening the eyes of men and women to see Hope! As Leisha would say "My favorite color means my favorite word- Green means HOPE!" I want to influence others to see Green, life giving Hope in the middle of their sometimes very brown worlds.

So...(drum roll please)!!!
Introducing my new practice called Green HOPE Coaching!

To 25 plus years of ministry experience, I've added a program for life coach certification.

A life coach is not a counselor, nor a consultant. My role is to help coach you to an awareness of your vision and relationships and next steps. I ask the questions to guide you to who and what you truly value in life. Along the way, we identify the potential obstacles and clarify goals and actions to reach your dream. Or maybe you've lost sight of that dream completely. It's not to late to peel back the layers that keep it from view.

Sound interesting? Call me! I offer a free strategy session to consider if our partnering would be of benefit to you- or perhaps a friend. Most of my coaching is done over the phone- so whether you are near or far away, I'm available to work with you. We'll design a program that works for you depending on your desired outcome.

I'm also continuing to develop messages that speak hope with your church or organization. If you would like more information on topics that I speak on, give me a call.

For coaching or speaking, you can contact me at 419-306-8311 or kathy@greenhopecoaching.com.
You can even check out the 'still being designed' website at www.greenhopecoaching.com

Make a conscious choice this year to SEE HOPE / to PLANT HOPE! I'd love to walk that journey with you!

May the God of Green HOPE fill you up with peace, fill you up with joy, so that your believing lives, filled with the life giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with HOPE!
(Romans 15:13, the message)

Kathy, the Green HOPE Coach
kathy@greenhopecoaching.com