Simply Saturday: The Little things Matter

In the course of a week of work, we strive to get to the weekend and exhale from all of the days work.  This ritual of winding down, and relaxing has been at the core of my life from childhood.  I watched my parents work hard all week long, and then relax and unwind Saturday mornings, by reading the newspaper, cover to cover, enjoying a cup of coffee, watching mindless tv, or just hanging out around the house with the family.

We will be starting a weekly series, Simply Saturdays in February to highlight the ritual of slowing down, taking it easy, enjoying life, and exhaling.


The Simply Saturday series is about making time for the little things, and taking time to pause and reflect.  In our busy hustle and bustle, we often get overwhelmed by all the things that compete for our time and attention.

I have been fortunate to spend my days, with young children and families, who remind me that time moves fast, and that it's the moments that matter.  To capture moments we taken pictures, we tell stories, and we share our experiences.  In those stories what we are really talking about are simple things that make us smile, and treasure everyday life.  That's what Simply Saturday is about.

We will tell of simple stories, share pictures of moments, and share our experiences.  This month the focus is on acts of kindness, and displays of love.  So here we go......

February 7, 2015
This week I fulfilled a Pay it Forward challenge, by mailing a care package to a friend, Kali Schofell. As a mom, I remember the difference a day makes, and how knowing that others care and understand, got me through the day.  I had as much fun shopping for the items, and filling the custom box, as Kali had receiving it.
Simple Lesson:
Take time to share joy and honor friendships both near and far.

Live Simply, Live fully, Live Life

Kelly Ramsey

Saying goodbye to 2014....... and Hello to 2015!

It's that time of the year again.  Reflecting on the year that has passed, and embracing the year ahead.  My year has been full of travel and fun, and most of all  the most important people of all, my family.  As I reviewed my year on Facebook today, I was pleasantly surprised that My Year Newspaper, showed how I spent my time.  Loving on my family, taking care of my health by eating right and exercising and serving others.  This occured because of my intentions for each day, were to do just that.


My one little word (OLW) for 2014 was FOCUS.  I made some intentional steps to enlarge my circle of friends and accountability partners.  Thanks to Webster Ramsey, Sr. ( Hubby), Latara Bussey, Valerie Vaughn, Susan Boxie Rex,  Charmaine Sims, Linda Sanders ( Mom), D'Andrea Thomas ( BFF), Bilal Konte, Trenna Grayson, Kelly (Mugsie) Larsen, Cheryl Butler Adams, Deb Curtis, and many others for connecting with me throughout the year.  My life is richer because of each of you, and forever changed.

In review, here's how I spent my days in 2014:

• Creating new family rituals - morning devotions with the boys, movie nights at home and at the theatre, game nights at home, hot chocolate parties for the holidays, and Advent gift-giving in December, 
• 3rd annual art booth at Destiny Christian School for Alaya Enterprise artwork and Kelly's Kreations crafts.  Thanks Alicia Wade for organizing the event each year.  Watch for Ramsey's inspirational art all around Oklahoma City this year, in a gallery exhibit near you. ( Speak it and it will happen, so watch for it.)
• Travel - travel - travel for Educare OKC.  Maine, Chicago, Denver, Berkley, CA, and San Antonio, TX,
• Appointed as NAEYC Affiliate Representative for Early Childhood Association of Oklahoma (ECAO) 
• Swap-Bot ( This is the greatest community of crafters, writers, quilters, and the likes).  I even spread the joy, with Trenna Grayson, and now she's hooked.
• New logo for Developing People, Inc.  created by Paula McDade. 
• Increased writing on blog, short story, and invited to write for educational journal in 2015
• NAEYC presenter with Ruth Ann Ball.... embarking on national platform for early childhood profession.
• Appointed to Educare Learning Network, advisory board.  national platform informing policy in the early childhood field.
• Whew!  What a year.  

Forever humbled by God's plan for my life, and so grateful I get to share it with all of you.  

Get ready for 2015!  My OLW word for the year is POSSIBILITIES....  I can't wait to see what it unfolds.  Can you?

Kelly Ramsey

Streams of Life: Creating Order in an out of Balance world. = The CHURCH

November 29 - December 3, 2014  December 30, 2014
Streams of Life:  Creating Order in an out of Balance world.  = The CHURCH

This is the last post for this series, and will complete the streams of life.  Although we are late posting, it's key to complete processes, so we want to honor the work and followers by doing such.  This stream is my life source, and it is why I continue to have balance in my life.  The purpose of the church is to equip the believers to be light in the world.  The church is created for fellowship with other likeminded believers.  The church is not just mortar and bricks and walls to separate.  It is a living organism that is transformed by the people in it. 

I was honored and blessed to be a part of a ministry that understood, the churches function and purpose.  As a leader, I served my leaders Apostles Ricky and D'andrea Thomas from the conception of the ministry over 15 years ago. We labored together, to meet the heart of God and serve the people.  The stream of G. A P. R. T. still continues to water my everyday life, of my family and my home.  One thing is evident, we exist today because of each stream that watered us at every phase of our lives.  To remove any phase, is to negate that all of the streams of our lives have made us who we are today.  Thank you Lord, for each person who watered my life and flowed through the streams. 

My love for the ministry of the church runs deep, because it's the place where healing and restoration came for me.  After being a Christian, and growing up in a family that served God, I experienced brokenness, devastation, and depression.  The church restored my hope in Christ, and kept my heart open to love others.  I can see every face of every person, who greeted me weekly, smiled inspite of y response or face, loved on me when I turned away from their love, fed me, clothed me, chastised me, and guided me.   

As the body of Christ heals and is restored in society, we must keep in mind that the people are the integral part of the healing.  It takes all members of the body of Christ to create order and restore balance in the world.  I thank God for the fresh word of God, he ministers at our local congregation under the leadership of Prophet Brandon Fleming, at New Divine Destiny Christian Center.  At Destiny City in Edmond, we create streams of life through anointed worship, ministering of the word of God, and showing the love of Christ among the brethren.  I count an honor, to be a part of the work God is doing and continue to serve as a minister of God reaching the masses with the simple message, that Jesus saves and is here to be light in darkness.   


Questions to Ponder:

• Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as Your personal savior?
• Are you connected to a church home, that ministers restoration to your soul?
• How are you serving in your local church?
• How is your local church serving the community?
• Are you connected with others, in bible study, group studies, or fellowship?

Streams of Life: Creating Order in an out of Balance world. - The COMMUNITY

November 22 - 28, 2014 December 29, 2014
Streams of Life:  Creating Order in an out of Balance world.  - The COMMUNITY

When I think of community, I think of the elders who created safe places for youth to grow, learn, and be taught.  In Oklahoma City, I experienced community in a new way, as a Possibilities Innovation Program (PIP) participant in 2011.  To read my story, and the impact the program made on my life, click here.  The program provided me with insight into the communities in Oklahoma, and showed me that every person matters.  Every walk of life, every person's offering as a youth, young adult, elder or senior adult is a necessary part of community.  If you have never been apart of a group, that fosters hope and possibilities, make it a goal this year to connect with Possibilities, Inc. 

A staple in my home are books about culture, community, and elders.  Clifton Taulbert speaks of community in his book, Eight habits of the hearts, as he shares his childhood growing up in Mississippi and how he took the habits the elders showed him, left the community and shared their stories with millions of others.  They are simple habits, that establish foundation for the community.  The eight habits are: 

• Nurturing Attitude
• Dependability
• Responsibility
• Friendship
• Brotherhood
• High Expectations
• Courage Hope

Questions to Ponder:

• How has community influenced you today?
• In what ways, has your community shaped your work?
• How have you given back to your community, or honored the work of the community?
• What will you create in 2015 to foster community?
• Are the eight habits of the heart evident in your daily life and work?

Final post:

November 29 - December 3, 2014  December 30, 2014
Streams of Life:  Creating Order in an out of Balance world.  = The CHURCH

Streams of Life: Creating Order in an out of Balance world. - The WORKPLACE

We are an extension of our home, to the world when we enter our workplaces on a daily basis.  In just a short amount of time, we create a family in the workplace by our ability to build cohesive teams, navigate crisis,and create systems that meet the needs of the programs we serve in.  As we look to the workplace, it is also an extension of our call to serve others, be a light in the world and to build programs of integrity that meet the needs of the clients we serve.

In my work in the field of early childhood education, I have been blessed to work in programs, and to create programs that keep the client at the center of the work. Our clients in my work, are the most vulnerable , our children.  I am priveleged to be joined in the work by intelligent, creative, innovative, and risk-taking colleagues, teachers, early childhood leaders, and parents.  Each of us bring a new aspect to the work, based on our families of orgin, our cultural beliefs, our approaches to life.  The more time I spend figuring out the workplace, I learn more about myself   through watching others.

This is the reflective piece of the work, that causes me to examine, critique, question, and redefine what's working and what needs to reconfigured.  This week I was blessed to be a part of the Educare Learning Network Policy Institute in Denver, CO.  This is a gatherinng of leaders throughout the United States that have developed programs that are creating a new picture of what the true cost of early childhood education is.  The workplaces where the leaders reside, continued to move forward, serve families, and reach the community with their open doors, and willingness to extend their heart and hands.

Our workplaces can be transformative in their work when we:

• Value the work, by valuing the workers who give everyday
• Come together in true spirit of collaboration, where everyone's voice is represented at the table ( teacher, principal, parent, child, community leader)
• Make meaning of everyday experiences by documenting our journey 
• Tell the story in compelling ways too continue to build programs that transform the lives of those they serve

Questions to Ponder?

How will you return to your workplace tomorrow?

What change will you make in your daily work?

How will you show value for your colleague? Student? Leadership?

What have you documented about your experiences in your work?

Have you shared your story? 

Next post:

November 22 - 28, 2014
Streams of Life:  Creating Order in an out of Balance world.  - The COMMUNITY

November 29 - December 3, 2014
Streams of Life:  Creating Order in an out of Balance world.  = The CHURCH

Streams of Life: Creating Order in an out of Balance world - The HOME

When I think of how my home has grown with love, family, and activity over the past 8 years, I smile.  In the moment of everyday, everything does not cause a smile, but it does cause me to reflect on how did we get to where we are.

In my previous post, I mentioned that order in our lives is established when we return to the purpose for which we were created.  Order is created, when we establish the purpose of a thing, and without order, balance can never be achieved.


Here are the key questions to examine when creating order in the home: 

Am I creating a model of home that fits my family in this moment?

• Am I trying to remain in a stage of family or development that has changed? 
• Do I have to make some adjustments to create order? 
• Have I been creating my family order, from someone else's blueprint? 
• The first institution established by God was family.  How does your family emulate the original order God created?

This series is meant to cause us to reflect on our lives, and to determine how we want to move our lives forward and create more productive lives. 

Next post:

November 15 - 21, 2014
Streams of Life:  Creating Order in an out of Balance world.  - The WORKPLACE

November 22 - 28, 2014
Streams of Life:  Creating Order in an out of Balance world.  - The COMMUNITY

November 29 - December 3, 2014
Streams of Life:  Creating Order in an out of Balance world.  = The CHURCH

Living Life Fully and Alive! Remembering Lisa Miller-Baldwin

As I sit and reflect today, on the life  of my friend and mentee Lisa Miller-Baldwin, my heart is heavy, but I am grateful for the opportunities to tell of the impact of her life in the earth.   

Too often we wait for moments like this to ponder what we should have done or said sooner.  When we lose someone close or dear, it causes us to reflect on the person and their impact, but even greater on our own lives.  Lisa was many things to many people, her reach touched people's lives, and her story will forever change how we address real life issues like homelessness, domestic violence, parenting, early childhood education and advocacy.  Her approach was hands-on and she put forth maximized efforts for every work she was connected with.  Her work went beyond meeting her own needs, because often she sacrificed her own needs for the work she committed to. 

She was daughter of God, first and foremost she loved God, and he was at the center of everything she did.  She was a mother, grandmother, sister-friend, business entrepreneur, visionary, passion-filled lover of the most high God, a worshipper who touched heaven with her voice.  She was my friend. 

I can remember our mentee sessions together, as she shared her power-packed vision, and well thought out plans.  She inspired me to be better and to reach higher.  Our sessions often left me convicted, because I would thinks that was great advice, but when are you going to begin your work.  She not only had the vision, but she carried momentum that was fierce enough to blaze a trail behind her to draw people to the work.  The work she wrought in me, is what causes me to write today.  Our work and stories can only be made evident and clear when we tell them.  When we stop our excuses and get to the work. 

So the questions remain for me, the momentum has been set, so who will carry the work forward.  The board members of Wonderfully Made Foundation have the task to figure out how to make the legacy come alive and continue to ignite.  The many business entities that Lisa met with to solicit on-going support for the work, have the opportunity to grant her request by creating philanthropic seeds that honor her work. 

Each of us reading this post, have a part in this work.  What's your part?  Begin it today.   If not, now, when?  If not here, where?  Make a choice to support the continue work and effort by honoring the work

• Support the family during this time of remembrance as they prepare for the celebration of a life lived for God.  Go to:  http://www.gofundme.com/fzc0i0
• Annual donation to the work
• Wonderfully Made Foundation
• Entrepreneur of Faith
• Homeless Homes
• Create homes for the families currently housed
• Provide education and resource building for families to maintain their homes
• Resources for the families well-being
• Carry the vision of Lisa Miller Baldwin forward in your work
• Bring awareness to the issue of Domestic Violence
• Bring awareness to the issue of Homelessness
• Live a life for Christ on Purpose, Out loud for the entire world to see
• Stop making excuses and start today!