tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87453571112290217542024-02-19T21:00:26.505-08:00Searching for beauty, peace, miracles...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745357111229021754.post-36367258466611894702013-08-23T15:39:00.001-07:002013-08-23T15:39:52.909-07:00Life is Good<h1>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">"There are only two
ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as
though everything is a miracle.”</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"> </span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="background: white;">―<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9810.Albert_Einstein"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #666600; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none;">Albert
Einstein</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />I survived another day. There were 1000 ways it could have gone wrong. Car accident. Caffeine overdose. Rabid dog attack. Building collapse. Elevator malfunction. Lightning strike. Heart attack. And so many other ways I can’t even imagine. <br /><br /> </span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">And because I made it another day, I should appreciate the good things. Why is life so good? In spite of everything, war, crime, politics, death, and taxes, life is good.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: large;">100 Things to be Happy About</span></div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Laughing so hard milk shoots out of your nose</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Drinking a little too much Firefly, but somehow not feeling
hung over the next morning</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">The Internet</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Video Games</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">New books that make you laugh</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">New books that make you cry</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Paychecks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Tax Refunds</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Used books with notes in the margins</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">New car smell</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">New baby smell</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Petting a cat</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Petting a dog</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Playing with a puppy</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Chicken soup when you have a cold</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Sleeping</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Napping</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Long windy roads when you are not in a hurry</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Top Gear UK</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">James Altucher</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Zenhabits</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Where the Sidewalk Ends</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">The sound of rain when you are trying to fall asleep</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">A good ghost story</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Movie theatre popcorn</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">A movie that you have to see three times</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Seeing an amazing movie three times with your best friend</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Losing a few pounds</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Good hair days</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Friday at 5:00</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Federal Holidays</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Museums</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Wikipedia</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Netflix</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Your favorite cereal on sale</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Warm fuzzy socks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Giving the perfect gift for someone</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Playing the perfect prank</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Knowing exactly what to say at the right time instead of a
day later</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Meeting an inspirational person</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Reading a great biography</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Realizing you’re lucky to be alive</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Praying and receiving an unexpected answer</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Finding money tucked in your pants pocket</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Finding money tucked in the pages of a book you read years
ago</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Making a new friend</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">The smell of clean laundry</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">The beach</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">The city</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">The country</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">The mountains</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">The first snow of the year</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Falling in love</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Realizing it’s okay not to be perfect</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Realizing that no one is perfect</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Realizing everyone else is just as messed up as you</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Getting back up when you fall</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">A really good sneeze</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Laughing so hard you pee a little bit</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Great service anywhere</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Being pleasantly surprised</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Dark chocolate</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Warm chocolate chip cookies</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Hot fresh donuts</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Hot Krispy Kreme Donuts</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Girl Scout Cookies</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Samoas</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Samosas</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Mamosas</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Fireworks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Firetrucks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">A great magic trick</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Cirque du Soleil</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Carnivals</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Silly cat videos</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Libraries</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Laughing so hard your face hurts</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">When justice is really served</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">When a police officer lets you off with a warning</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Your favorite song comes on the radio while you hit all
green lights</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Singing at the top of your lungs when your favorite song
comes on</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Singing at the top of your lungs with a good friend</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Dancing even though you have no rhythm</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Lightning Bugs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">The night sky in the mountains</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Funny cat videos</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Facebook</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Butterfly Circus</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Being glad you came</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Being glad you didn’t give up</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Being grateful</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Missing teeth on a 5-year-old</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Snails in the garden</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Canoeing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Knowing that everything will be okay</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Donating old things to Good Will</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">The perfect Halloween costume</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Seeing kids double back to your house on Halloween because
you give out the good candy</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Ted Talks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Babies</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
</h1>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745357111229021754.post-43675262985490320982013-02-18T08:31:00.001-08:002013-02-18T08:31:36.873-08:00Elder Financial Abuse (Sign this White House Petition!)<br />
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American Senior Citizens are our fastest growing
demographic. They are also the group of Americans who hold the vast majority of
the wealth in our country. Many of them are also very vulnerable. </div>
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<b>One in ten
Senior Citizens in the country experiences elder abuse every year. </b></div>
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Huffington
Post reported that<b> financial abuse</b> robbed almost $3 billion from elder
Americans just last year. Who are these elder Americans? They are old soldiers
who gave years of their lives to protect our country. They are the humble and brave
mothers who cared for their families while their husbands were at war. They are
our parents’ teachers. They are the carpenters who built our grandparents’
homes. They are our spiritual leaders… retired fire fighters… businessmen…
nurses… police officers… librarians. They are the thrifty people who remember
the great depression. They are the people who marched with Martin Luther King,
Jr. They are the ones who wept at his assassination. They are the same ones who
wept at John F. Kennedy’s assassination, and the wondering eyes who watched in
awe as men walked on the moon. They are my grandmother who never answered the
door without heels on. They are gentlemen like my grandfather who never walked
outside without wearing a tie and hat. They are our national treasures. However,
they are also the people who are most likely to be intimidated by someone in
their family and lose their hard-earned financial legacies; 78% of elder
financial exploitation cases are perpetuated by senior citizens’ relatives. </div>
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One
of the first people who recognize this abuse is often a bank teller who sees
money patterns changing and funds disappearing from an elder’s account. They
are the call center representative who fields a call from a sobbing grandmother
who does not know where her money went, and she does not even remember calling
in and speaking with someone on the phone because she is in the early stages of
dementia. What can these tellers and service representatives do? There are a
few states with robust state programs that require financial institutions to
contact local social services (See Maryland State’s Project SAFE: http://www.aging.maryland.gov/programs.html);
those few amazing state laws give financial institutions safe harbor from
Federal privacy laws with regard to reporting elder financial exploitation. However,
most states do not have this. In fact, most financial institutions in this
country have their hands tied with regard to <b>Elder Financial Exploitation</b>. They cannot do
much because of federal privacy laws. There are a couple avenues built into the
Bank Secrecy Act, but none is robust enough really to protect our senior
citizens. Not when their physical safety, their financial legacies, are on the
line. </div>
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All it takes is a few wires, a password, some intimidation, and someone
can rob a vulnerable senior citizen of everything they have… leaving them with
no money for their mortgage, their groceries, their electricity, anything. The
results can be devastating. </div>
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We the people demand a Federal law be enacted that
gives safe harbor to financial institutions who report elder financial
exploitation and any kind of elder abuse directly to local law enforcement and
local social services. We the people demand a Federal law be enacted demanding
that elder abuse of any kind be reported to local law enforcement and social
services within one week of a financial institution suspecting abuse. We the
people demand that our government protect these national treasures… our Senior
Citizens. Please sign this White House Petition: <a href="http://wh.gov/vl3v" style="font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%;" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts"><span style="background: white; color: #2797da; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 5.0pt;"><span id="lw_1361200336_0">http://wh.gov/vl3v</span></span></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745357111229021754.post-39818953016184593852012-08-30T14:53:00.000-07:002012-09-12T16:32:14.435-07:00It’s 2012: Election Time Again?! WTFC (What the Fried Chicken!?)<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Obama ~ Biden 2012<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Romney ~ Paul 2012<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Oprah ~ Gale 2012<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Yoda ~ Obi Wan 2012<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Chunk ~ Sloth 2012<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Katniss ~ Peeta 2012<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Snooki ~ Jwoww 2012<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sookie ~ Bill Eric 2012<br />
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It doesn’t matter which way you are leaning, because like
it or not it’s election time again! </div>
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These times fire us up! They get us thinking about all
those issues that we hold so dear to our hearts! Things that we stand behind…
and also those things we stand against. They rile up our blood and show us our
greatness and also our flaws. These times shine a light on how we can stand
together and unite as Americans… one nation… under God… but they also shine a
light on our shortsightedness… on our prejudices and our bigotry. It’s
interesting to watch unfold. It’s beautiful and horrible. It can make you proud
to be an American in one moment and in the next, it can take your breath away
with our hatefulness. </div>
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We are a beautiful mess.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But that is what makes us great. That people from all
over the world, that speak many languages, that have many faiths, can come
together under a single flag… </div>
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We belong to all sorts of parties:</div>
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<br />
<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Republican Party<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Democratic Party<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Libertarian Party<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Green Party<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Socialist Party<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Constitution Party<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tea Party<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cocktail Party<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dinner Party<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Keg Party (my husband’s favorite)<br />
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</div>
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We bicker, we create, we grow, we fight, we vote, and we
love this beautiful mess that is us. </div>
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It’s an amazing dream. The dream of our country’s
founders, the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr., the dream we have for our
future.</div>
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<b>“We hold these
truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”</b> – Declaration of Independence</div>
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<b>“And when this
happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and
every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that
day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles,
Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of
the old Negro spiritual: Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are
free at last!”</b> – Martin Luther King, Jr.</div>
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And we are free! And we are amazing… as messed up as we
sometimes seem, remember that even with all our wrinkles, our arguments, our
craziness, we are still awesome because we were made, and continue to be made,
by all the amazing cultures, religions, races, languages, beliefs, creeds,
philosophies the world over.</div>
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It almost makes you want to jump up and down… okay… go do
it… jump and dance… sometimes it overwhelms me. The wonder of it… the wonder of
America. It is no wonder so many people come here every year. My mother from
England in the 70s. My husband from Guatemala in the 80s. </div>
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Go ahead and own it… this crazy beautiful mess… is
awesome.</div>
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Peace,</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">True<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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If you get a chance, check out my new novel: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Faith-True-Stillwater/dp/1469926849/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346359991&sr=8-1&keywords=finding+faith+true+stillwater" target="_blank">Finding Faith</a>. It’s available at online bookstores like Amazon, and Barnes and Nobles
now. It is an expression of my love for this beautiful crazy mess… America.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745357111229021754.post-77072172816265243862012-08-13T14:18:00.002-07:002012-08-13T14:18:39.706-07:00But for the grace of God...<br />
Some days... some weeks... months... years... are hard.<br />
<br />
Just pray... and know that you are not alone. I love this poem... sometimes it helps just to read it...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND<br />
<br />
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.<br />
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.<br />
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.<br />
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints.<br />
Other times there were one set of footprints.<br />
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life<br />
When I was suffering from anguish, sorrow, or defeat,<br />
I could see only one set of footprints.<br />
So I said to the Lord, "You promised me, Lord,<br />
That if I followed you, you would walk with me always.<br />
But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life<br />
There have only been one set of prints in the sand.<br />
Why, When I have needed you most, you have not been there for me?"<br />
The Lord replied,<br />
"The times when you have seen only one set of footprints<br />
Is when I carried you." - Mary Stevenson<br />
<br />
<br />
Whatever you might be going through... hang in there.<br />
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<b><i>True</i></b><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745357111229021754.post-79858433022895764512012-04-14T04:21:00.002-07:002012-04-14T04:21:23.356-07:00An Answered Prayer<div class="MsoNoSpacing">I was having an awful morning. I had just dropped little A off at school and got back into my car to head down to Fairfax to go to work. I laid my head on the steering wheel. It was all too much. Too many responsibilities. Too many bills. Fixing the house. Worrying about family. My grandmothers were both desperately ill. Thinking about all I have to do to sell the house and buy a new one this summer. We got audited by the IRS… worrying about work and how two analysts can possibly do the work of four people and not end up a puddle of catatonic goo. Having to sit next to and regularly work with people who I think channel the anti-christ on a daily basis. It was just too much stress. I felt depressed. I honestly… wanted to give up. Crawl under a blanket, cry, and just disappear.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">But that is not an option. I closed my eyes and I prayed. “Dear God. Please… PLEASE... I feel terrible today. Help me see the light. Please. I’m begging you. Help. Help me see the light.”</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I turned on the car, turned down Centreville Road. And right in front of me was a car with the following license plate:</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Vi La Luz<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Or translated…. See the light.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">A simple answered prayer. Nothing changed. I still had too much work, too much stress, but God had given me a shout out and reminded me that I’m not in this alone. See the light. </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">There is light. He is the light.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">God bless.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">True<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745357111229021754.post-17220703904819441842012-04-13T15:33:00.007-07:002012-05-07T01:57:06.076-07:00Fear, Faith, and the Good Fight<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They say <b>let go, let God</b>. But somehow that doesn’t get rid of the squeezing pain in my chest. I believe the loving hand of God is watching and guiding us, but that doesn’t stop the blood from rushing to my head when panic sets in. I believe there are angels and spirits around us every day and everywhere looking out for us, but that doesn’t cure the nervous stomachs and stress headaches I have every day.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>I fear everything! Everything!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>I fear I’m going to get fired because the new guy is really great…</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>I fear my husband’s new employer will go out of business…</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>I fear my son will hate me when he grows up…</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>I fear my husband will cheat on me…</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>I fear that he will leave me…</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>I fear I’ll never save enough to retire…</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>I fear that cancer will take me from my son before he’s old enough to be on his own… </div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>I fear everything.</div>
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I want to <b><i>never be afraid again</i></b>. I want to <b><i>be fearless</i></b>. I want to <b>stop panic attacks</b> and <b>end anxiety attacks</b> in their tracks! I want to forget what worry feels like.</div>
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<b>How do you fight fear? How do you stop a panic attack? How do you end worry?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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There are so many ways. There are things you can do to prevent fears and stop worries. And there are things you can do when you are in the harsh grip of fear. Here are some things that I have found do work. No one thing works every time, but when one bullet doesn’t kill the serial killing night stalker chasing you… USE EVERY SHELL, EMPTY THE ENTIRE MAGAZINE, AND RELOAD! And if he’s still coming… NEVER EVER GIVE UP… you just keep on running. He’ll give up and you’ll be the last one standing. I promise.</div>
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<b><i><u>Thirty-five ways to fight fear, stop worries, and end anxiety!<o:p></o:p></u></i></b></div>
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1.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Pray. Pray hard. Pray until you fall asleep or pass out. Scream at God if you think he’s not listening. He is. And he can totally take it.</div>
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2.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Take a break… step away from whatever madness you’re in the middle of for 5 minutes or 30. Count to 100. The issues will still be there, but maybe you’ll be more able to handle them.</div>
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3.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Face your fear. Imagine that what you fear is definitely going to happen. Work out how you would deal with it. And ask yourself, “So what?” If I get fired so what? My husband is working right now, so maybe we’d lose the house. So what? We’d rent a tiny apartment. So what? We would still be together. We would still love one another. We would still be able to eat. We would still be able to live. So what?</div>
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4.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Tell yourself that everything is going to work out perfectly. Even if you don’t believe it, it will confuse your subconscious worry-machine and invite your angels to help make it happen.</div>
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5.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Make sure you get enough sleep. Anything less than 6 hours is not enough.</div>
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6.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Use positive words and think positive thoughts. If you try hard enough, you are in 100% control of you mind. It takes an effort to replace the negative thought patterns created by years of mental programming, but it’s worth it. And if you do it long enough, you can reprogram yourself. Make your mind your Matrix and you are Neo!</div>
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7.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Surround yourself with positive people.</div>
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8.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Count your blessings and even write down all the awesome things about yourself. Write down your accomplishments. There are many. Each one is worth a lot. You are worth more than you know.</div>
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9.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Do one thing. Know you don’t have to solve all your problems in one night. Just try doing one thing to move you in a more positive direction… maybe it’s brushing up your resume, or exercising, or apologizing. But just do one. Tomorrow you can work on number two.</div>
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10.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Exercise. It helps if the exercise involves punching, kicking, and screaming, but if that’s not your bag of candy, try something else.</div>
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11.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Think about a time when you had the same or a similar fear. Did your worry happen? What are the chances that what you fear will actually happen? If it did occur, how did you deal with it? How do other people deal with it? Someone, somewhere, definitely has. Look it up. Be inspired.</div>
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12.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Get busy working on something. Be so busy your mind cannot be bothered with fear. If your mind is 100% engaged in repairing drywall or de-cluttering your spare room, you won’t have a second to worry about that thing that’s been eating away at your stomach lining.</div>
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13.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Phone home…. Call mom, dad, a friend, a grandparent, your parole officer, whoever…. God’s always listening.</div>
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14.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>If your fears have anything to do with keeping up with the Joneses… remember that they are cheating on each other, they are compulsive liars, their children smoke crack, they are selfish and evil, they worship Satan, and they wear those expensive clothes to cover up their stinking puss-filled souls. Or whatever disgusting thing helps you feel just an inch taller. But truly know that they have their own bag of problems. Their path is different from yours. Your path was chosen by God. Trust Him.</div>
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15.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Execute plan Z – a glass or two of wine at night does not a drunkard make. </div>
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16.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Execute plan D - Talk to a doctor. If shrinks are not your thing, any regular general practitioner can prescribe some Valium.</div>
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17.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Learn to meditate. Repeat a peaceful mantra when everything is quiet and still. Shut down the other voices in your head.</div>
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18.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Get creative… dance… sculpt… program… color… write… paint… sing… even if you sound like a blender choking on too much ice for a daiquiri! It doesn’t have to be perfect. </div>
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19.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Know our imperfections just mean you’re human… typos are meeningless. Everyone knows what you were tryin' 2 sae enyweigh....</div>
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20.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Know we all make mistakes… you are still AWESOME!</div>
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21.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Play with your pet. They love you… warts and all.</div>
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22.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Take a bath or a shower. Brush your teeth. Slap on some deodorant. Know that even if everything else stinks… you smell FABULOUS!</div>
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23.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Look your best… it will make you stand a little taller and feel a little better. Who’s that good looking person in the mirror? That’s right… it’s you!</div>
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24.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>No matter what is going on, know that things could be harder. Read about someone who has been through the circle of fire and come out shining on the other end… Read about someone who has had to struggle and their fight was the fire that turned them in to a hero… read about Nick Vujicic, or Don Piper, or Dan Caro… or insert your own hero. My grandfather abandoned my grandma and their four small children in the 50s. She not only survived… she thrived. She fought, and prayed, and turned into a beautiful and strong rose who worked like crazy, but managed to trust again, fall in love again, and had four more children.</div>
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25.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Stop whatever you are doing and just relax your whole body. Imagine a cat curled in a warm summer window. Purr. Stretch. Lick your paws if that helps.</div>
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26.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Live beneath your means. Live simply. Jesus did not have a TV, DVR, a cell phone, a LAN line, a PC, a McMansion, two cars, and a laptop… do you really need all these things? </div>
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27.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Simplify your belongings. When your house stops looking like a hoarder's playground, go further. Maybe pretend you’re Amish. </div>
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28.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Simplify your responsibilities. Don’t let a cluttered schedule overwhelm you. Do you really have to do all those things on your to-do list? If something doesn’t get done… so what? Seriously.</div>
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29.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Breathe slowly and deeply. Empty your lungs as much as you can and then fill them completely.</div>
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30.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Change the pace. If you’ve been sitting for a while, stand up. Go for a walk. If you’ve been working non-stop, sit. Be still.</div>
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31.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Know that it’s okay to be afraid and that everything is temporary. This too shall pass. Sometimes you just have to wait it out. The rain always stops eventually.</div>
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32.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Help someone. Sometimes helping other people with their problems can put our own in perspective or even just distract us long enough to feel a little better.</div>
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33.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>If you have a husband or wife… maybe a little boom boom would help you feel a little cheerier. Or at the very least, maybe they’ll make you a cup of tea or give you a nice massage.</div>
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34.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>If you don’t have a love… go get a cup of tea, indulge yourself in something that makes you smile.</div>
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35.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Just smile… if you don’t feel a smile anywhere inside… just fake it. Just the act of smiling will often help lift your mood.</div>
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Tomorrow is going to be better. If not tomorrow… then the next day definitely. Hang in there little pilgrim. We’re all in this together!</div>
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And sometimes fear will bring you alive. Let it light your passions on fire… let it ignite your inner Spartan warrior!<br />
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Are you only here if God ensures blue skies and a perfect harvest? Or are you all in for whatever is in store?<br />
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If yes… and the fear still grips you… Scream into the storm now… face the hail, lightening, thunder, tsunami, and tornadoes… scream to God that you are ready and willing to fight the good Fight. Scream into the wind…. BRING IT ON! GIVE ME YOUR WORST! </div>
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Put on your boots… apply your SPF30… layer on the war paint... pray… and hike up your kilt and yell to the fates: I will never quit! I WILL NEVER GIVE UP! I WILL NEVER SURRENDER!</div>
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<b>How Did You Die<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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by Edmund Vance Cooke<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Did you tackle that trouble that came your way<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>With a resolute heart and cheerful?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Or hide your face from the light of day<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>With a craven soul and fearful?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Oh, a trouble's a ton, or a trouble's an ounce,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Or a trouble is what you make it,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>But only how did you take it? You are beaten to earth?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Well, well, what's that!<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Come up with a smiling face.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>It's nothing against you to fall down flat,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>But to lie there--that's disgrace.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>The harder you're thrown, why the higher you bounce<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Be proud of your blackened eye!<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>It isn't the fact that you're licked that counts;<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>It's how did you fight--and why?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>And though you be done to the death, what then?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>If you battled the best you could,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>If you played your part in the world of men,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Why, the Critic will call it good.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>And whether he's slow or spry,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>It isn't the fact that you're dead that counts,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>But only how did you die?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b><i>Keep up the good fight… my friend.<o:p></o:p></i></b><br />
<b><i>Hugs...</i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #943634; font-size: 16pt;">True<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745357111229021754.post-85490033810365196422012-02-01T16:56:00.001-08:002012-02-01T16:56:33.688-08:00Global Warming or God?<div class="MsoNoSpacing">My son made a good friend in Kindergarten: John. He’s the sweetest little thing. Always building something with Legos. Always friendly and fun. His floppy blond hair is always falling in his face. They were in the same class last year. This year they are in the same after school program. I always find them playing together when I pick up little Alex. John said something to Alex and Alex passed it on to me one day after school last week and it broke my heart.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">John said he wished he had never been born.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Oh sweet, Jesus… my heart breaks. What 6 year old has thoughts like that? What sadness is in his life that he could say such a thing? I had no idea. John and Alex have been asking to have a play date recently… so I sent a note to school to John’s mom. We had met before, but I didn’t even know her name. We got together last Saturday and the boys played together all day. And Kay and I talked over coffee and I found out why John thinks those too sad and too mature thoughts. They have been abandoned by John’s father. After eighteen years of marriage he left his wife.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">No…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">After 18 years, and 3 children… he left his family.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">No…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">After 18 years, 3 children, dragging his loving family all over the world and uprooting them every few years and forcing them to start over in new schools, with new friends… he abandoned his family with nothing.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">He met his high school sweetheart on a social networking site and left the woman who had been there for him… taken vows of faithfulness to him… torn her body apart to bring his children into this world… sacrificed developing herself professionally to support his career and dreams… and now he’s gone.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Disappeared…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">No child support…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">No alimony…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">No contact…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">And now… just after Christmas… they live in a small apartment… John’s mom works her fingers to the bone at the only job she can find… and they have no electricity… in the dead of winter.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Some people think this unseasonably warm winter is evidence of global climate change. I think it’s evidence of God. Right now… little children and families have no electricity… and God has let this winter be warm. Right now… small babies are living in tents less than 20 minutes from my home because their families… EVEN WITH JOBS… cannot afford a place to live… and sometimes food… and God made this winter warm…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">My heart breaks for little John… and I feel a love of God for this warm winter… today it was 70 degrees in Washington DC… I thank God for this weather… but, part of me wishes I could find little John’s father… break his legs with a lead pipe and then drop him off, and his awful high school sweetheart, in front of the police station and have them both locked up in prison where they belong.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Lord forgive me… </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">But, I don’t think this is global climate change. This is God looking out for the weak and the humble in these rough economic times… pray for John and Kay… </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">If you happen to have a Nintendo DS that you’re not using, I know a little 6 year old with a birthday at the end of March that could use a little happy play time… shoot me an email… </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="mailto:truestillwater@yahoo.com">truestillwater@yahoo.com</a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Pray and listen carefully… you can hear the angels singing…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Luv and hugs,</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size: large;">True</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">P.S. Sorry about the typos… this just got me so upset… </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745357111229021754.post-71953525926552875242011-12-12T01:59:00.002-08:002012-04-14T04:08:43.701-07:00So Far So Good… So Why Do I Feel Like Crying<div class="MsoSubtitle">Nothing changed. The mass is steady and there’s a 50/50 chance it’s not cancer. Great… right? Still alive and kicking… still have insurance… still have a job… still have a wonderful husband and a bright son… so why do I feel like crying?</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I think I’ve been so overwhelmed with emotional situations lately that I may be exploding… not brains on the wall… but emotional meltdown… and I think it’s probably 100% normal. My friend Karn’s mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Karn has been strong and supportive… through the mastectomy and now through the chemotherapy. She’s been the perfect daughter. All while losing a cat, having a car break down, working for a horrible boss, and being lonely having not found love… etc… etc… and she has stayed strong…. A tough outer layer… but I’ve seen cracks. Every once in a while her eyes turn red, and her voice cracks.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">We all crack. </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">My cracking points…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">The mass in my breast…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">House full of mold…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Neighbor damaging my property because he isn’t maintaining his plumbing…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">One sister is struggling financially at a job where the boss treats her horribly and there’s nothing I can do about it…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">One sister has her dream job… but she has no faith... she's made selfish choices… and she is sucking every penny out of my parents’ bank account… their retirement money. </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">We all crack. I’m cracking… The trick is to use a strong and reliable adhesive to put those cracks back together. Faith and prayer can keep you from coming completely apart… give it to God and keep on walking.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I met this beautiful girl and Walmart yesterday. I firmly believe that Walmart must only hire saints and sages because I run into the most amazing people there. She was young… maybe 28… maybe… she had 6 kids. SIX KIDS! Dear patient Mary, 6…. I can’t even imagine. Her husband left her. It’s two weeks till Christmas. I told her that I thought she was an inspiration and I didn’t know how she could do it. She said she just prays on it and keeps on walking.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">That’s all any of us can do I guess. Pray on it and keep on walking. There’s so much in this world that is beyond us. 7 billion people in the world and many of them living worse than animals and there is nothing we can do about it except give our little, pray on it, and keep on walking.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> </o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape alt="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRpmjnShjhMnPPoPGwUp_Y_72Mofs6jUCnk3wRoyOIQ0r5MIjpVZg" id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 108pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 142.5pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata cropbottom="14674f" cropleft="13062f" cropright="6424f" o:title="ANd9GcRpmjnShjhMnPPoPGwUp_Y_72Mofs6jUCnk3wRoyOIQ0r5MIjpVZg" src="file:///C:\Users\Tiffany\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"> </v:imagedata></v:shape></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Their parents selling their children into slavery and there is nothing we can do about it except pray, and keep on walking.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Two people die every second, and there is nothing you can do about it. Except pray. Keep on walking.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">But have faith. There is immense power in prayer. </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Jesus tells us, "…I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20). </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">2 Corinthians 10:4-5 tells us, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">The Bible urges us, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18).</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Whatever hardships you face, whatever sorrow you see, for whatever joy and blessings you receive. Pray. Prayers are heard, and answered in ways we cannot conceive.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">When you reach your cracking point and the pain and sorry seems more than you can handle, pray. And keep on walking. Because you are not alone. None of us is. We are here together with angels, spirits, and God who really do care about each one of us. </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Pray to Jesus, to God, to Mary, just pray. The words can come from your heart, or perhaps the words come from prayers that are older than you… it doesn’t matter. Just pray. And keep on walking:</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Hail Mary, full of grace.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Our Lord is with you.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Blessed are you among women,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">and blessed is the fruit of your womb,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Jesus.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Holy Mary, Mother of God,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">pray for us sinners,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">now and at the hour of our death.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Amen.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Have a blessed Monday.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">True</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745357111229021754.post-80794296101156316652011-12-06T13:42:00.000-08:002011-12-06T13:42:08.347-08:00A Different Way - A Spiritual Journey - Blog CarnivalI love reading beautiful blogs on spiritual thoughts and ideas. I would love to share your blog with my readers. Please submit your spiritual blog post to blogcarnival.com if you would like me to showcase your writings on my upcoming Carnival. My Blog Carnival, A Different Way - A Spiritual Journey is listed on blogcarnival.com under religion and philosophy.<br />
<br />
I look forward to reading your blog!<br />
<br />
TrueUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745357111229021754.post-40374420756167896212011-12-06T01:36:00.000-08:002011-12-06T01:36:09.912-08:00How to Want What You Have By Doing Happy!<h1><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Being Happy Versus Doing Happy<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>“Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling.” – Margaret Lee Runbeck<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">There are millions of books and quotes that tell people how to be happy. To Be Happy semantically illustrates a state of existence. Operating like being happy is something to be achieved may actually be stopping many people from feeling long-term happiness. Happiness is also too vague. It almost seems to be generally the absence of pain, the absence of loss, the absence of fear, the absence of loneliness, etc. But if we can only be happy, no one in the world would be happy. We all hurt. We all mourn. Sometimes we’re all afraid. At times, we are all lonely.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">The trick is to learn to be happy in spite of it all!</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">The only way to be happy in spite of it all is to relinquish all your expectations. If you have no expectations you cannot be disappointed. If you have come to terms with the worst that can happen, your fear has no power to steal even an ounce of joy from you. Our expectations stand in the way of us fully accepting God’s plan.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">You may expect that if you work hard for a steady company, stay late, network, that you’ll be promoted, have security, and eventually collect a comfortable pension. God’s plan might be that you are meant to be an entrepreneur with courage to strike out on your own. God’s plan might be that you find something that you are so passionate about that you never retire or collect a pension. Perhaps you work until the day you die. </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>“Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open.”<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"> Alexander Graham Bell</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">You might expect to be married with three kids by the time you are twenty-eight. You might expect that you’ll live in a single family home, with a picket fenced lawn, a dog, and be a stay at home mom. These expectations can make you bitter if God’s gifts to you, his plan for your life, include being a mom to one child in a flat in New York, while working at a job that provides more money than fulfillment.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Our expectations make us unhappy. But if we came to life like students, like beginners, even like beggars, who would not be able to appreciate the gifts they were given. </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"> <i>“Happiness is not having what you want. It is wanting what you have.”</i> Rabbi Hyman Schachtel </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">We may recognize our blessings and even be somewhat grateful for them, but if we have different expectations we take our blessings for granted and feel kind of disappointed, and what a sin that is. It is a sin to God for not giving sincere praise for the wonderful things we have in our life, and it is a sin against that wonderful thing or person or situation that we are lucky enough to have.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">How do we begin to get rid of our expectations? How do you want what you have? Here are just a few ways to learn to want what you have:</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->Watch less TV. Television shows are action-packed with unrealistic visions of life. How can we hope to have a real life compete with one that has been surgically enhanced, has a full-time nanny, has the benefit of inherited wealth, etc.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->Recogize things for what they are and not how nice they seem. Your co-worker with the 3500 square foot home, the Lexus, and the SUV looks like he’s on top of the world. He actually is on top of a lot of debt and probably doesn’t have the freedom you do, or as much savings.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">That super fit gym rat looks like he must be happy and probably in a long-term relationship and is adored by her. In actually, he has to watch every little thing he eats, he spends so much time in the gym, that he neglects his relationships, his spirit, and his mind.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->Read fewer magazines. The images are often more unrealistic than those on television.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->Count your blessings.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">Realize that each one of them is temporary and can be taken away in an instant. Name them one by one and realize each moment you have with your child, parent, sibling, spouse, friend is a gift. At any moment God could call them home.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->Read biographies. Our struggles connect us.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->Use what you have. Too many people have blessings stored away in their lives that they never use. Books gathering dust in closets or attics that haven’t been read in years. When is the last time you read Moby Dick, something by Napoleon Hill, or your favorite spiritual literature? Pull it out. Be inspired! Many people have creative skills that they haven’t used in years. Do you paint or draw, or are you a beautiful writer? Write! Do you have a blender, or miter saw, or dance shoes that are gathering dust? Do you have a beautiful voice? Make a smoothie! Hang some drywall! Dance! Sing! </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->Read the world section of the newspaper. Seeing how little others have can help you appreciate the huge things you take for granted every day: libraries, public schools, grocery stores, clean water, the right to vote, the right to drive, religious freedom…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->Give thanks for your life. Every second 1 or 2 people dies are taking their last breath. (<a href="http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/greatc.html">http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/greatc.html</a>)</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->Give thanks for your legs, your arms, your mouth, whatever blessings you have. Somewhere there are many people who would love to have your gifts.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->Smile. Your face is a reflection of how disappointed or happy you are with what you have. When you are feeling grateful for something, show it!</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->11.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->Hug someone and tell them how happy and how lucky you are that you have them. Tell them often. If you are too far for a hug, tell them in an email or over the phone, on twitter, on facebook, wherever. Just tell them.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Being grateful is a habit. It is one we have to cultivate and encourage in our spirits. Practice taking nothing for granted. NOTHING! Your gratefulness for the little things (which are not actually little at all) is a prayer of thanks… why not do this every day, all day, and forever? The world will look different to you… you’ll recognize so much beauty that was always there. Put on your rosy colored glasses!</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Today I’m going for another mammogram. The doctor says that no matter what it looks like, he’s probably going to recommend that I see a surgeon. I’m a little freaked out. Just when I thought I could take a breath… relax about this mass in my chest… but I’m grateful I have a doctor who is cautious with my health. I’m grateful that I have health insurance. I’m grateful I live in a country where there are so many great radiologists, oncologists, and surgeons. I’m grateful I have a friend who will come with me and hold my hand at the surgeon’s office.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">And right now… I’m grateful for my boobs. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> And if one has to go, I’ll be grateful for my new one!</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">So today… be grateful. Really grateful. Love yourself, your friends, this moment…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Love,</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">True</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I’d be truly grateful for any prayers you send my way …</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745357111229021754.post-43811099002604150042011-11-06T04:02:00.001-08:002011-11-06T04:02:53.595-08:00How To Be Happy Right Now<h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">“Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.” - ?</span></h1><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Everyone wants to be happy, but for many it is an elusive goal. We struggle, we do what’s right, we make the wise choices, but somehow, it’s not enough to be happy. Some of us struggle through days, weeks, months, and sometimes sad years wanting to be happy. With millions of self-help books on the shelves there should be no secrets left. We should all be ecstatic right? So what gives? Why do we still struggle? What is it?</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoQuote">“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” - Frederick Keonig</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>What is the secret to happiness?<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">You don’t have to go searching for happiness. The secret is that you have everything you need already right now. Happiness is your God-given right. The secret is even told in the Lord’s prayer:</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. for ever and ever. Amen”<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">The secret is to live in the moment. Let your thoughts not think about yesterday’s bread, or tomorrow’s bread, or your neighbor’s bread, but enjoy today’s bread that is right in front of you. In this moment, in this second, the world is probably not so scary.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">If I think about the plumber who’s coming later, the contractor who has to look at the mold growing on the drywall, a possible leak in the roof, the lump in my breast, my son wanting a brother or sister that we can’t give him, saving for his college, work being a beast, the economy, the… the… I’m overwhelmed to the point of breaking down, crying, and giving up hope. But…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">But… if… I think about this moment. If I let my thoughts linger on my cinnamon spice coffee, the feel of the keys under my typing fingers, the quiet while my husband and son sleep, the world is not so scary. It’s actually peaceful and beautiful. So one secret to being happy… it to take this moment that God has given you… and linger in it… love it… be grateful for it.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">There are many things you can do to be happy right now, and let this be the first one. </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Eleven ways to be happy right now!<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->Be in the moment. Be mindful. Pay attention to every sense and every detail of each second. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Be here. Be now.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->Fill your life with music. Everything is a little better which a rocking soundtrack. So the next time you have to do a dreaded chore, put on your favorite tune. Maybe sing along. Maybe even dance.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->Make sure you do at least one thing every day that is just to make you happy. Fifteen minutes,<b> </b>just for you. Whatever it may be, it has to be a completely selfish thing – a bubble bath, reading a comic book, watching the sun rise, enjoying your favorite tea all alone before everyone else wakes up.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->Give yourself small, achievable goals, and really congratulate yourself as you accomplish them. We take ourselves for granted too much. When was the last time you really patted yourself on the back for cleaning the kitchen beautifully, or finishing the laundry, or being a great friend, parent, sibling, whatever. Don’t take yourself for granted. Really talk yourself up when you do all those things that seem tedious but they make life good. Heck, if you woke up this morning, didn’t cheat on your significant other, smoke crack, beat your kid, worship the devil, and bury the bodies in the back yard, you definitely have several things to pat yourself on the back for.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->Don’t take all your blessings for granted. Think about all the things you have to be grateful for, and list them one by one and really thank God for them.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->Choose to be happy. </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span class="QuoteChar">“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” - Abraham Lincoln</span><span class="QuoteChar"><b><span style="color: windowtext;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">Know that you have the ability to say I’m going to be happy today, and you can make it so. You have the power to choose how you will react to events and people. You can control your thoughts entirely. Direct your sails, and your ship will take you where you want. But you have to make the choice or else old habits, old programming, not of your choosing, will take over. </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b>7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><!--[endif]-->Turn off the TV. It is full of unrealistic, dark, hedonistic, and scary images. The news obviously could depress anyone. They primarily only tell you the bad things that are happening in the world. But the bad things actually are far outweighed by the good. Even comedies and sitcoms are depressing. They show you unrealistic visions of young people with more money than sense who can afford large families, large homes, they have no student loans, they have no debt, they are either independently wealthy or only one parent works, etc. etc. Who lives like this? Maybe 1% of the population. Watching this kind of life, makes you on a subconscious and sometimes even on a conscious level doubt your own beautiful life. Working parents, shuttling around kids, pets, paying bills, cleaning up cat puke, repairing pipes, handing out Halloween candy etc. <b><o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b>8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><!--[endif]-->Appreciate the simple things. The simple life is magical and beautiful. Don’t be a perfectionist. Perfectionism makes the wonderfully simple and ordinary dull… but the simple things are truly blessed. Appreciate fall leaves, smile lines, dust on old furniture, cluttered books filled with beautiful stories…<b><o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b>9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><!--[endif]-->Recognize that all the blues you have in your life are not that bad relatively speaking. Give to a child living in poverty, or donate to a charity, and really be grateful that you have even a little to give when some have almost nothing. Search for Children’s Hospitals on Amazon.com’s wishlists… buy something for a sick child. You can send something that costs as little as a dollar. <b><o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b>10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><!--[endif]-->Get physical. Exercise. Garden. Dance. Make love. Hug someone. Go for a walk. Walk the dog. Tickle your child. Do some deep breathing. Stretch. Whatever. Use the body that God gave you.<b><o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b>11.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><!--[endif]-->Have a motto, a philosophy, a worthy purpose, and follow it. Know that everything you do, is in line with that purpose. Know that you have a calling. What is God calling you to do?<b><o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">If you are suffering from depression… go see a doctor. Get medicine. Seek therapy. Visit your spiritual guide, whatever yours may be… priest, pastor, minister, rabbi, whatever. You deserve to be happy.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><i>“One must never look for happiness: one meets it by the way” - Isabelle Eberhardt<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><i>“Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” Helen Keller (1880 - 1968)<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><i>“The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet.” - James Oppenheim<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><i>“At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities.” - Jean Houston<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>I hope you have a beautiful day!<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Go… be… happy!<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="color: #5f497a; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">True<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745357111229021754.post-52666208146588692632011-11-03T01:29:00.000-07:002011-11-03T01:29:00.476-07:00SmileThis story is one I received in a chain email yesterday.... a perfectly timed message from God... unknown author... simply beautiful. I hope you like it.<br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">Breakfast at McDonald's <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the end! (After the story, there are some very interesting facts!): <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">The last class I had to take was Sociology. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Her last project of the term was called, 'Smile.' <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions.. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">literally. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">even my husband did. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I did not move an inch... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">As I turned around I smelled a horrible 'dirty body' smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was 'smiling' <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance...... <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">He said, 'Good day' as he counted the few coins he had been clutching.. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I held my tears as I stood there with them. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">He said, 'Coffee is all Miss' because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm). <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">That is when I noticed all eyes in the <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">restaurant were set on me, judging <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">my every action. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, 'Thank you.' <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, 'I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope.' <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son... When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, 'That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope..' <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give.. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">We are not church goers, but we are believers. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I turned in 'my project' and the instructor read it. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Then she looked up at me and said, 'Can I share this?' <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my son, the instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">There is an Angel sent to watch over you. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">In order for her to work, you must pass this on to the people you want watched over.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">An Angel wrote: <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">To handle yourself, use your head... <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">To handle others, use your heart. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">God Gives every bird it's food, but He does not throw it into its nest. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">With a secret inside <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">that has never been told <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">This box is priceless <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">but as I see <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">The treasure inside is <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">precious to me <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Today I share this <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">treasure with thee <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">It's the treasure of <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">friendship you've <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">given me. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I hope you have a blessed day!</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Keep smiling!</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">True </span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745357111229021754.post-4505730547921070942011-11-02T02:09:00.000-07:002011-11-13T03:38:13.428-08:00What Are You Grateful For?<div class="MsoNoSpacing">Today, like many days, I had to stop at Target (aka Tar-shay) before going home. My six year old goes through socks like seasonal allergy sufferers go through tissues. It was just another ordinary afternoon in the suburbs between working in a cubicle for the man and picking up the munchkin after school, etc. I saw something today that stopped me in my tracks. There was a sweet cashier at the customer service desk; she has helped us before. She is someone you don’t easily forget. She’s always struck me as someone who clearly shows me how lucky I am without meaning to. For a long time she was missing several of her front teeth. And yet she would smile. Of course, her smile was shy and humble. I could always tell she tried not to show her teeth. She smiled the same way I did when I was a child and my family was too poor to pay for braces for my unfortunate grill. I smiled with my lips pulled over my teeth, because I never wanted anyone to see how crooked they were.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Today, I noticed she had had her teeth fixed. Her smile looked great. And yet, there was still something about her. There was something so nervous and jittery. She almost seemed frightened. I can’t really describe it. I couldn’t imagine what she would be nervous about. But she was still so friendly chatting with me while taking care of our purchases. All the time, her hands shook as she helped me. <i>Maybe she’s had too much coffee,</i> I thought to myself. <i>But that would have to be a heck of a lot of coffee. Maybe something stronger than coffee? </i>While she helped us, she told us about her pets. She has 13 cats and a pet possum that lets himself in and out of the house through a doggy door. Apparently, the possum used the doggie door to come into the kitchen, eat the cats’ food and then head back out again. She’s got such a giving heart. She seems the type of person who would give a stranger the shirt off her back if it was in need. </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">And her shirt, or rather, what I saw beneath it, took my breath away. Sorry for the cliché. While we were chatting, I noticed an earwig race from one side of her shirt collar, across her chest and then down the other side of her chest. My heart almost stopped. But, I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t. How do you tell someone that they have a bug crawling in their clothes? If it was an ant at a picnic I would have brushed it off, no problem. If it was a lady bug in a park, I would have picked it up and made a wish. But this was an earwig. She had bugs crawling on her. She made me think of the poor children in countries far away shown in videos and pictures with flies buzzing around their faces.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">She reminded me of what it was like to be a child with poor parents and the only food we had was covered in ants. She reminded me of a time not so long ago when life wasn’t so sweet. She reminded me that I have so much to be grateful for in this moment. And it is a wonderful thing to name those things one by one. Halloween, the celebration of candy and door-to-door mischief is over, and now Thanksgiving is on the way. For this holiday, no… for this month… maybe forever, we should all remember how lucky we are. We should number all those things that we take for granted because they aren’t perfect. We really have to remember that even if our lives aren’t perfect, there are people in the world that would give anything to have what we have. So what are you thankful for? What do you acknowledge as a blessing? Even the not so perfect things… here are some of mine:</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">My job… the department may be understaffed and overworked, but heck, it’s better than unemployment.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">My home… it may be wall-to-wall clutter, and in various states of disrepair, but it’s our home and there is plenty of love here.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">My parents… they are far from perfect, but they gave me life.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">My cat… he may pee and puke all over the house, but he always seems to know when I need a cuddle at the end of a hard day.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">My health… although at times it’s frightening, but right now, the biopsies and scans appear normal. “Probably not cancer” is better than the alternative.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">2012 Race for the Presidency… at times it seems utterly ridiculous and fairly short of common sense and humanity, but it is a blessing to live in a country where I get to vote and drive a car.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">There is so much to be grateful for… my hands to type… my feet to dance… my mind to day dream… my soul to love my son and husband… my faith…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>“Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart.”</i>- Seneca (Roman philosopher, mid-1st century AD)</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>“No longer forward nor behind, I look in hope or fear; But grateful take the good I find, The best of now and here.”</i> - John Greenleaf Whittier (American Writer, 1807-1892)</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>“Happiness is itself a kind of gratitude.”</i> - Joseph Wood Krutch (American Naturalist and Writer, 1893-1970)</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>What are you grateful for today?</b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Have a good one!</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="color: #5f497a; font-family: 'Arial Black', sans-serif;">True<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745357111229021754.post-47344278082271794162011-10-26T15:48:00.000-07:002011-10-26T16:10:55.249-07:00Letter to my god daughter<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: 10pt;">Dearest Little T,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">It’s just before your baptism into the Catholic faith. You’re just a tiny little thing and there is probably no way you will remember it, so I want to tell you all about it. Of course, it hasn’t happened, yet, but I already know with 100% certainty what will occur. It will be a beautiful fall day in Northern Virginia. The church will be filled with people who love you to pieces: your mom and dad, all your grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends. There will be an intimate family gathering after where everyone will want to hold you and hug you because you are a little shiny piece of heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">You are brand new. You remind us, of how sweet life is. We’re all going to eat a little too much and all the hugging and kissing will make you a little cranky and then you’ll need a nap. Badly. We’ll all need a nap. It will be a perfect day. Just like you. And we are blessed to be part of your life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">As your Godparents, your mom and dad asked us to send you a letter. We write this letter to you now, with the expectation that you’ll receive it when you are old enough to read it, and with God’s help, lots of prayers, bunches of love, it will have some nugget of truth and helpfulness that you take with you as a touchstone into life. God gave us Ten Commandments, and so we’re going to follow his almighty template and give you the God Parents’ Ten Amendments. In addition to God’s perfect commandments we humbly and with just a tiny bit a humor give you these:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">v<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Thou shalt be awesome!<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Be awesome… wake up and resolve to give 100%. It’s tiring to be awesome… and there will be times when you won’t be. Maybe you can’t be awesome until you’ve had your coffee and egg and bacon sandwich. So have it… play the theme song to Indiana Jones in your head and go out and do more than you think you can. Give more than expected. Go longer and farther than imagined. Because the alternative is just ordinary. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Choose to be awesome. Choose whole wheat bread, egg whites, and turkey bacon. Choose to be amazing in every moment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">v<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Thou shalt have New Day’s Resolutions!<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">New Year’s resolutions are fun. Primarily because it’s always fun to guess how long you’ll stick to it. I think the average is probably forty-eight hours. But that’s okay. Resolutions… when you resolve to do something or to be someone or somehow… should not be an annual event. It should be a daily event. And sometimes hourly if necessary. When you wake up in the morning… after you’ve washed your face and done something about your morning breath, look at yourself in the mirror and remind yourself about your resolutions. Who do you, at that quiet moment before rest of the world is awake, resolve to be? What do you resolve to do? What do you resolve to appreciate? Remind yourself of all the things you have to be grateful for: your health, your job, your education, that you live in a free country, the right to vote, that you can read and write, your hands and feet, that at this moment more people than you imagine love and respect you, the ability to walk, time enough to make a difference, chocolate, soap, your mother, father, sister, music, whatever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">v<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Thou shalt drink water!<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Drink a lot of water. Bunches. Oodles. Most people walk around in a constant state of dehydration. Dehydration decreases your mental sharpness. It impairs your immune system. It can wrinkle your skin. It can’t make you moody, confused, and dizzy. It can give you bad breath. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">v<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">There are some things you must do every day. Breathe. Floss. Pray. <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">And it’s okay to pray while you floss. God loves good oral hygiene. Pray. Know that God is everywhere and He hears all prayers and always answers. You just must be ready to receive the answer. You must believe. The answer to your prayer may not be exactly what you expected, or on a timeline that you would have liked, but you will get exactly what was meant for you. It will be exactly what is needed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">v<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Thou shalt shake what your mama gave you!<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Dance. Get crazy. Dancing isn’t about looking good or having rhythm. It’s about enjoying music and your body. It’s about letting your mind, body, and spirit be free for a few minutes. It’s about forgetting all that is wrong with the world and enjoying the moment. In times of war, we have always closed the doors and danced. When bullets fly and bombs drop, the children close the doors and turn the music up over the noise and dance. When the market turns bearish, and there is nothing that can be done. Dance. When the doctor says you’ve got to lose weight, put down the pastry and dance really fast. When you are sad, dance. When you are happy, dance. When you hold a crying newborn, slow dance. Dance at red lights in the car. Spin, jump, slide. In the rain, through joy and pain, just dance. Dance every day. Preferably, naked, and slightly inebriated. Just close the blinds so you don’t freak out the neighbors.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">v<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Thou must be awake to truly experience life! Wake up!<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Kill your autopilot. He steals life. Be present. Don’t know what your autopilot is? If you find you have driven several minutes to the store, work, or school, and can’t remember the scenery…. Your were on autopilot. You should notice the sky, the flowers on the median, the trees, and at the very least, the street signs. Notice life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">v<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Thou must use nice words!<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. If you don’t have anything nice to think, focus on something that makes you feel good. Repeat the name of that thing like a mantra until you are in a more positive mental space. It doesn’t matter what that thing is, just repeat it. Don’t worry that this makes you crazy. Just do it. Try it now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: 'Curlz MT'; font-size: 14pt;">Extra sharp cheddar cheese…. Extra sharp cheddar cheese… extra sharp cheddar cheese.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">I don’t know about you, but right now I feel like… eating some really delicious extra sharp cheddar cheese. There is a real reason for this. Words are powerful. Words carry connotations with them. Different words may carry different connotations for different people. That particular connotation defines the emotion that the word will cause when said, heard, or thought by a particular individual. Emotions are the results of the hormones our brain produce as a result of a specific connotation. These hormones can trigger very real physiological reactions. Loving, kind, peaceful words create calm, and confidence, and positive chemicals that boost our immunities, lower blood pressure, make digestion, respiration, and even reproductivity more efficient. (I don’t think reproductivity is a word – but, it should be.) On the other hand, negative words that evoke anger, jealousy, sadness, despair, and fear can produce chemicals that evoke the fight or flight response, raise blood pressure, impair the immune system allowing viruses to harm the body, and if habitually felt, these emotions can damage blood cells, cause cancer cells to grow, and shave years off of your life. So the moment you feel yourself habitually cursing traffic, your boss, or anything, think of something that makes you feel good. Try it now. As an experiment hold the following words in your mind for a minute or two, and see how they make you feel emotionally and physically.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><br />
<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Bubbles</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Chuckle</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Balloons</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Puppies</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Orphans</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Abandoned</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Poverty</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Lonely</span></span></li>
</ul></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">How did they make you feel? The autonomic nervous system is that part of your nervous system that controls bodily functions beneath your consciousness. You don’t have to make your heart beat; your autonomic nervous system does it. You don’t have to make your stomach digest food; your autonomic nervous system does that. Many people operate as if their thoughts are part of that autonomic nervous system; they think they cannot control their thoughts. But your thoughts are not part of the autonomic nervous system. The thoughts that feel like they are not under your control are simply being controlled by habits you have formed. If those thoughts are positive, and are serving you, then continue the habits that create them. But if there is anything in your life that you do not like, know that your thoughts have manifested them. Whatever you think about the most, the nature of those thoughts, is what you draw into your life. It is what you become. It is what you attract. If you want new results, think new thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5d2e29; font-size: x-small;"><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">v<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Your habits and your thoughts are your destiny!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Choose differently. Choose again and again until you have new habits. Your habits, are you. Your habits create your destiny. We are all just a little nuts. We are more than bi-polar. We are multi-polar. We are not in touch with reality, because, what is reality? Isn’t it different depending upon your perspective. We all have multiple personalities. The secret is, to choose our best self. Every single person is afraid of something and in love with something. One person is gentle and harsh, cowardly and courageous, introverted and outgoing, lazy and hardworking at different times and in different places. The secret is to choose your best self, your highest self more often than not. Everything we do, think, and say is a choice. Choose to be awesome in every moment. Your choices have made you who you are in this moment. Who do you choose to be tonight, tomorrow, or five years from now. Choose awesomeness.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">v<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Thou shalt make mistakes!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">But if you stumble, and we all do, forgive yourself. Everything has a purpose, even our mistakes. They teach. They give us resilience. Everyone makes mistakes. Typos alwys hAppen. You don’t have to be perfect. So you think you made a mistake. Don’t worry about it; learn from it. Move on. Don’t doubt yourself. Don’t regret. Mistakes are simply the universe’s way of keeping us on the path that was meant for us. Every mistake brings you closer to where and who you are supposed to be. Had Ruth Wakefield not mistakenly run out of baker’s chocolate, she never would have invented the chocolate chip cookie. What a sad world that would be! Don’t question the mistake; God knows what He’s doing. If He didn’t want you to make that mistake, He wouldn’t have let it happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">v<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">Thou shalt be loved more than you will ever know!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">We accept the responsibility and privilege of being your godparents because God has willed it. And when God says jump, you do it. We are so lucky to have you. You are our little girl. We couldn’t love you more if you were our flesh and blood. We are one part Catholic, one part Baptist/Universal Unitarian, and all parts Christian, and we will pray for you always. To Jesus, to Mary, to saints and angels. We will always be here for you. If you have questions, need an ear, a shoulder to cry on, or even bail money. You are loved more than you will ever know.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Eras Light ITC', sans-serif;">With hugs, kisses, and love forever,<o:p></o:p></span></div></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">True & Al</span></i></b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745357111229021754.post-84908837335069770662011-10-24T02:10:00.000-07:002011-10-24T02:10:15.866-07:00Do You Believe in the Devil?<div class="MsoNoSpacing">Do you believe in the devil? Do you believe in God? There have been so many miracles and answered prayers in my life that they leave no room for any doubt in my mind about the existence of God. But the belief in heaven and God, does not necessarily and naturally lead to the belief in the devil and a hell. I do not like to think of that much. But, at times there seems to be a pervasive evil spirit in the world. A spirit that permits and even facilitates acts of pure darkness. There is so much evidence of this evil’s existence: Adolf Hitler, Jozef Stalin, Moammar Gaddafi, Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, John Wayne Gacy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Irma Grese, and Katherine Knight to name a few. Evil exists.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Personally, I have seen evil. I can think back into my memory and recall with perfect clarity the cold lightless look from the eyes of tall silent man possessed by an evil soul. It was horrifying. It filled me with fear; I have no idea where this man is now. I pray that he is in custody somewhere in a place where he cannot harm anyone else. Have you ever met someone and you instantly knew that that particular person was trouble? Have your instincts sent off internal alarms warning you to get away quickly? To not engage? This is definitely your soul’s reaction to an evil spirit, if not the devil himself. But do not fear evil… because nothing can exist unless God allows it. And if God allowed it, know it has a purpose. So what can we do when we see such horror and evil in the world? Take that evil in whatever form it takes and learn from it what you can. </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">In the presence of selfishness learn charity and patience. </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">In the presence of greed learn generosity, kindness, bravery, and brotherhood.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">In the presence of intimidation and fear learn courage.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">In the presence of lies learn honesty.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">In the presence of conceit learn humility.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">In the presence of sadness learn to lean on your faith in God and hope.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">In the presence of hate learn love.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Dig deep. There is a well of hope in the world. When we rise from the ashes, whether big or small, international or local, we are amazing. </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Arab Spring</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/mar/22/middle-east-protest-interactive-timeline">http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/mar/22/middle-east-protest-interactive-timeline</a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Sixth-Grade Scout Saves a Life</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/pennridge/sixth-grade-scout-saves-a-life/article_9663b240-13de-5119-9ccd-7c8593903ea1.html">http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/pennridge/sixth-grade-scout-saves-a-life/article_9663b240-13de-5119-9ccd-7c8593903ea1.html</a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Nick Headrick: Rescued in the nick of time</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/16085743/article-Nick-Headrick--Rescued-in-the-nick-of-time?instance=most_recommended">http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/16085743/article-Nick-Headrick--Rescued-in-the-nick-of-time?instance=most_recommended</a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Story of Never Giving Up On Life: Aron Lee Ralston</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aron_Ralston">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aron_Ralston</a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Evil doesn’t just go after certain people. It tempts and haunts everyone. In almost any situation you can feel the tenticles of an evil soul intruding on your thoughts. Telling you to take the easy way out. Convincing you to be lazy or selfish. Telling you to give up. Telling you there is no hope. There is a way to defeat this evil. </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Mindfulness is the key. Cultivate organized thinking and purposeful meditation versus simply replaying old negative and useless thought patterns. Each thought can be a prayer. </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">There can be no void in your thoughts for a significant amount of time – fill the empty spaces with prayer, faith, hope, love, courage, passion, friendship, and gentleness toward yourself and the world.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Every minute of every day, insist on living in an awareness of God’s omnipresence, the good things in your life, your hopes and dreams, beautiful memories.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">If you fill your life with faith, there is no room for the devil and he can have no dominion over you. Fill your heart with God’s love, and know that no matter what trials you face, you can overcome them without succumbing to dark and fearful thoughts.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">No matter what…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">In your light you can face any dark and say, “Do your worst”</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">“Bring it on”</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">“In your face”</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">“Is that all you got?”</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">My faith is bigger than these tumors!</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">My faith is stronger than this chronic illness!</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">My God is more powerful than this company that beats me down!</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">The love of God and my faith in Him is richer than Wall Street!</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Whatever breaks your heart, let your faith mend it.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Hold fast… stay the course. Pray. Reach out to family, brothers, and sisters in faith, whatever faith that may be, and know that the universe is God’s domain. God is love. </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>All the world is full of suffering. </i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>It is also full of overcoming.</i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">-Helen Keller</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Keep in mind, at all times,</i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>that we grow the most </i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>from our greatest suffering. </i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>As we go through it, it hurts. </i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>But as we move through it, it also heals. </i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>When a jug of water falls </i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>to the floor and cracks, </i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>what was hidden within begins to pour out. </i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>When life sends you one of its curves, </i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>remember that it has come </i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>to help crack you open </i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>so that all the love, power and potential </i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>that have been slumbering within you </i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>can be poured into the world outside you. </i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And, like a fractured bone, </i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>we do become stronger in the broken places.</i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">-Robin Sharma</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">To Homer</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">BY JOHN KEATS</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Standing aloof in giant ignorance,</i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span> </span>Of thee I hear and of the Cyclades,</i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>As one who sits ashore and longs perchance</i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span> </span>To visit dolphin-coral in deep seas.</i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>So thou wast blind;—but then the veil was rent,</i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span> </span>For Jove uncurtain'd Heaven to let thee live,</i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>And Neptune made for thee a spumy tent,</i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span> </span>And Pan made sing for thee his forest-hive;</i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Aye on the shores of darkness there is light,</i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span> </span>And precipices show untrodden green,</i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>There is a budding morrow in midnight,</i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span> </span>There is a triple sight in blindness keen;</i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Such seeing hadst thou, as it once befel</i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>To Dian, Queen of Earth, and Heaven, and Hell.</i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Have an awesome Monday!</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span><span>-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->True</span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745357111229021754.post-41518713702259842642011-10-10T03:15:00.000-07:002011-10-10T03:15:10.375-07:00Unanswered Prayers<div class="MsoNoSpacing">I think I have probably had more unanswered prayers than answered. Or maybe the answer just wasn’t what I expected, or it wasn’t answered in the time that I had envisioned. But I know that they were all heard. My brother is working on his PhD in psychology. He’s incredibly smart: always thinking, always working on an answer to some problem. He says he’s an agnostic.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I spoke to him recently about the miracles I have seen. About my answered prayers. His answer to that was to tell me that our minds search for answers that it can make sense of. It seems he’s more of an atheist than an agnostic. He has no spiritual faith. My guess is that he doesn’t pray. My prayers always affirm my faith. When life is shaky and everything is falling apart, the answers to my prayers always tell me to keep the faith…keep believing… know that I’m not alone. When I send up a prayer with all my soul, and the answer comes to me so perfectly, it leaves no room for doubt that we are not alone. I wish he could have that same experience. To know God’s love, God’s sense of humor, His mercy, and kindness…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I just don’t have those kinds of conversations with my brother anymore. But I’ll pray for him. I’ll pray that one day he sees the truth and it fills him with joy.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>“Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.”<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>- Garth Brooks<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>"Prayer means that the total you is praying. Your whole being reaches out to God, and God reaches down to you." - E. Stanley Jones<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>"Some people think that prayer just means asking for things, and if they fail to receive exactly what they asked for, they think the whole thing is a fraud." - Gerald Vann</i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Just a few of my answered prayers…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">My son…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">My husband…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I received an email from God when I thought I was going to lose my job…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">1,000 signs that God was with me when I felt so alone…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I’m still here… </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">The tumors aren’t malignant…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>"A faith is a necessity to a man. Woe to him who believes in nothing." - Victor Hugo <o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>"A man of courage is also full of faith." - Marcus Tullius Cicero <o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>"All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired." - Martin Luther<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">If you have a story about an answered prayer or a miracle you have witnessed and you would like me to share it here, shoot me an email at <a href="mailto:truestillwater@yahoo.com">truestillwater@yahoo.com</a>. I would love to share your story.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Trust that if a prayer has gone unanswered, it was only so something more magnificent than you could even imagine is manifesting. Sometimes are prayers are not big enough for God. Sometimes our imaginations are too limited. But don’t worry… His imagination is more boundless than the stars…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Have an awesome day!</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">True</span></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745357111229021754.post-35157167687750423902011-10-08T04:39:00.000-07:002011-10-08T04:39:04.226-07:00Be Confident ... You are AwesomeYesterday was one of those days... I was just feeling kinda off. For many reasons. Siblings and parents sometimes make me nuts. Work is a ball of constant frustration. I ordered something from Amazon and I got ripped off. Randomness. So I prayed. I prayed that God could make me feel a little better. I prayed and asked God to show me the way. I asked Him to show me what I need to do, what's next, and what he would have of me. He sent me a message that I don't completely understand, and I don't even know if it is for me or someone else... but here it is:<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">You are a beautiful and amazing creature. You are more powerful and strong than you know. You are much bigger than these things that plague you. Do not lay down and suffer them. Stand above them. Do not allow people to look down on you and take you for granted. Do not remain in places where you are abused. Let your strength show. Do not hide your power. Do not be shy. Be bold. Run if you have to... but, let your magnificence shine. Be brave. You are something special. You are not here to be someone's doormat. You are here to be wonderful... be... you.</span></b><br />
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What a wonderful thing to meditate on today...<br />
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<i>“The courage of very ordinary people is all that stands between us and the dark.” - Pam Brown</i><br />
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<i>“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” - Nelson Mandela</i><br />
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<i>“Ye fearful saints fresh courage take, The clouds you so much dread Are big with mercy and shall break, With blessings on your head.” - William Cowper</i><br />
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Be brave. Have courage. Uncover the self-confidence you have forgotten. You are worthy! You are awesome and amazing! Go be redonkulously fabulous! Let the world see it! Let the world know!<br />
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God bless you,<br />
Have an awesome day!<br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">True</span></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745357111229021754.post-56425644938812424642011-10-06T01:31:00.000-07:002011-10-06T01:31:04.384-07:00RenewalSometimes it's so simple. God is always present... but we don't always notice. And sometimes if we're not careful, in the midst of frustrations and sadness, we forget. Last night the message was perfectly clear. A prayer answered in less than a blink of an eye. I had kind of a rotten day. Work was typical. Then after that there were more chores than one person could handle. I felt drained, unappreciated, burnt out, and disappointed. While running errands after picking up Alex from school, I prayed in the car: <i>what do you want me to know or do?</i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><b>Renew your spirit.</b></span><br />
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That was it. A simple, quiet message. And just what I needed.<br />
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So cheers to renewing our spirits.<br />
Have an awesome day!<br />
TrueUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0