All Things Cherished

Thought of the Day - 4/23/10

When the first baby laughed for the first time
the laugh broke into a thousand pieces
and they all went skipping about
and that was the beginning of fairies.

~~ J. M. Barrie ~~

To Be Loved

Now gently rock me in your arms, and I know that I am loved.
Now teach me all life's golden rules, and I know that I am loved.
Now the world is calling, let me go, and I know that I am loved.

~~ Author Unknown ~~

Thought of the Day - 4/21/10

God made a world of his dreams,
Of magic mountains, oceans, and streams,
Prairies and plains and wooded land,
Then paused and said, "I need someone to stand...
On top of the mountains, to conquer the seas,
Explore the plains and climb the trees.
Someone to start out small and grow
Sturdy, strong, like a tree" and so
He created boys, full of spirit and fun.

~~ Author Unknown ~~

Thought of the Day - 4/20/10

I wish I could give you all that I see . . .
The gold of the sunrise, the emerald of trees,
The diamonds of stars, the perfume of the breeze,
A world full of peace, where people are free,
Love, faith, friends, and hope -- to help you to be
A strong, loving person -- the "you" that I see.

But all I can give is a gift that is free --
All the love in my heart, for you, from me.

Thought of the Day - 4/19/10

How great is the love the father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God.
1 John 3:1a

Thought of the Day - 4/18/10

If I had my life to live over, instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

~~ Erma Bombeck ~~

Freebie - Got a Latte Do Today Printable

There is just something about printables that many moms and business owners love. If you are always on the look out for to-do lists, you just have to see this one. You’ll find it especially cute if latte is on the top of your favorites list. Cindy,over at SkipToMyLou, shares a unique to-do list that you can print and even turn into a refrigerator magnet.

Thought of the Day - 4/17/10

When someone shares something of value with you, and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others.
~~ Chinese Proverb ~~

Freebie - One Year Subscription

"FREE one year subscription to EContent Magazine. EContent is a valuable industry resource that focuses exclusively on content. Content is the engine that drives commerce, collaboration, and community. EContent covers the people, products, and services that make content happen. Regular subscription is $119 annually" but you may sign up for a FREE subscription here.
EContent magazine is a print magazine that focuses exclusively on content, in particular, digital content. Here are some of the topics that they cover:

News and analysis of what's happening in the content industry (product announcements, technology trends, metrics, etc.).
Feature articles covering the latest trends and issues.
Content creation, acquisition, organization, and distribution.

Submit a request and they'll tell you right away if you will be receiving a subscription.

Thought of the Day - 4/16/10

Half the things you worry about will never happen, and the other half are gonna happen anyway.

Freebie - Cloud Nine Handmade Body Lotion

If you’ve been fighting cold weather and dry skin, it’s time to pamper yourself. Like most people, you would probably rather have that natural glow to your skin. When that is just not happening, you can use natural ingredients to help you along. To do that, you may want to pick up a sample of Cloud Nine’s Handmade Body Lotion.

Embrace Life

This is the best seatbelt advocacy commercial I have EVER seen!

Thought of the Day - 4/15/10

Remember, you're stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and braver than you believe.

Thought of the Day - 4/14/10

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going, so be patient.

Ambient Sounds

YouTube has a variety of relaxing and soothing ambient sounds that can help you block outside noises. There are a variety of ambient sounds to choose from. Check it out here and here.

Works really simple, just go to YouTube, search for "ambient relaxing sounds," adjust volume and relax. No need to signup for anything.

Freebie - HotPrints

HotPrints aims to offer FREE print and FREE shipping for everyone for all our products. We love print so much that we want to bring the love of sharing prints with everyone for FREE.

Is Your Child Safe at School?

Bullying in school is on the rise. The U.S. Department of Justice reports that one in four students is bullied by another student or group of students. Bullying can take many forms: from malicious teasing, name-calling, making threats, spreading rumors, sending nasty notes or text messages, to pushing, shoving, and fighting.

If your child is a victim, join forces with his teacher, school administrators, and other parents to raise awareness and put at stop to the abuse. Talk to your child about what’s happening, how he feels about it, and let him know you’re in his corner.

Why is the USA Bankrupt?

Why is the USA bankrupt? I have been doing some research about this topic (in my spare time -- Ha ha ha). I hope you find this article informative.

You think the war in Iraq is costing us too much? You'll change your mind after you read this.

I have included the URL's for verification of all the following facts.

1. $11 billion to $22 billion is spent on Wwelfare that is given to illegal aliens each year by state governments. $90 billion dollars a year is spent on illegal aliens for Welfare & social services by the American taxpayers.

2. $2.2 billion dollars a year is spent on food assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school lunches for illegal aliens.

3.  $2.5 billion dollars a year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens.

4.  $12 billion dollars a year is spent on primary and secondary school education for children here illegally and they cannot speak a word of English.

5.  $17 billion dollars a year is spent for education for the American-born children of illegal aliens, known as anchor babies.

6.  $3 million Dollars a day is spent to incarcerate illegal aliens.  30% percent of all federal prison inmates are illegal aliens.

8.  $200 billion dollars a year in suppressed American wages are caused by the illegal aliens.

9.   The National Policy Institute estimated that the total cost of mass deportation would be between $206 and $230 billion or an average cost of between $41 and $46 billion annually over a five year period.

Resources:

I wrote this article in response to a false report that is floating around the Internet.

I support legal immigration. If you come over here the" right" way to become a citizen of the United States I’m okay with that. When you just storm across our borders, then you are an invader, and I'm not okay with that.

Where I've Been

Thought of the Day - 4/13/10

When you forgive...you heal. When you let go...you grow. When you cry out to God...you surrender. When you love unconditionally...you show others Christ's love.

Thought of the Day - 4/12/10

People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent.
~~ Bob Dylan ~~

The Ultimate Blog Party 2010

Shamefully, I'm really late for the party. However, I have good excuses. Instead of taking the time to introduce myself (yes, I'm breaking the rules) I'm going to introduce my two wonderful children: Cameron and Cassandra.

I will admit one thing . . . I hate Mondays. I have always hated Mondays. Now I know why.

Last Monday, my daughter woke from a two-hour nap (we didn't sleep most of the night because she was complaining of stomach pain and she was throwing up) screaming and doubled over in pain. She pointed to her right side of her abdomen and that got me worried enough that we went to the local hospital. We spent 8 hours waiting to be seen and getting tests (CAT scan, x-rays, and ultrasound) done. The doctor sad it could be appendicitis but she has a cyst. We were then transferred to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh by ambulance. After some time in the emergency room there, they admitted her because of the cyst. The cyst was a dermoid cyst and they would need to operate the next day. Dermoid cysts don't usually occur in girls as young as 8, like my daughter, but usually of women of child bearing age. It turns out the cyst was partially "human" and it was determined that it was her sibling. While removing the cyst from her right ovary the doctors discovered that there was no right ovary and that part of the fallopian tube was rotted & dead. As they remove the cyst and part of the fallopian tube, a tumor was found. What started as a laproscopic surgery has now moved to a surgery similar to a hysterectomy. They didn't want to break the cyst or tumor while they were within my daughter so the tiny incision in her belly button has now moved to a 5 inch incision closer to the pubic area.

Thanks by the grace of God, my daughter is healing nicely.

Today, my son woke up screaming and crying. He said his foot hurt. Yesterday while at a friend's Easter Egg Hunt (having it the week after Easter saves a LOT of money), my son had a major fit and ran head first into a tree. Somehow is head is fine (go figure) but his foot got twisted when he fell from the blow to the head; hence, the broken foot. We spent 3 hours at the hospital getting x-rays done and being fitted with partial cast & crutches. Tomorrow we see an orthopedic specialist.

I'm not getting out of bed next Monday. Unless someone gives me chocolate. :)

As you can see, I need a break from the every day shenanigans, from the shroud of being a single mother. I am ready to party.

My Blogs

365 Days of Christmas -- http://365-days-of-christmas.blogspot.com/
365 Days of Memories -- http://365-days-of-memories.blogspot.com/
365 Days of Organization -- http://365-days-of-organization.blogspot.com/
365 Days of Photos -- http://365-days-of-photographs.blogspot.com/
All Things Cherished -- http://allthingscherished.blogspot.com/

My Shared Blogs

Cherished Memories is written with one of my best friends, Teresa -- http://cherishedmemories4u.blogspot.com/
Cherished Treasures is written with my boyfriend, Alan -- http://cherished-treasures.blogspot.com/
Free Music is written with my boyfriend, Alan -- http://alanfreemusic.blogspot.com/

Descriptions of Blogs

365 Days of Christmas
I want that special feeling to last all year long and that is the inspiration for this blog. I believe in Santa and the Christmas spirit. I love the excitement of decorating and the anticipation of waiting for Santa to arrive. I love the kinder hearts of people who are more generous and more forgiving during this time of year. I love the dazzle of the lights and the twinkle in the children's eyes. I love the merriment of parties and friendships. I love Christmas.

365 Days of Memories
365 Days of Memories is about cherishing our family and loved ones and getting those memories on paper. 365 Days of Memories is all about scrapbooking but also about wonderful friends. Scrapbooking is the focus but other paper crafts, journaling, and altered art will be shared as well.

365 Days of Organization
Get organized now! So much stuff, so little room. Stuff you need, such as food and toiletries. Stuff you collect, such as cookbooks and figurines. Stuff that seems to multiply overnight, such as bills and recyclables. Fortunately, there are plenty of solutions to help you store your stuff. Check out the blog for ideas, concepts, and tips to get you organized. YOU can get organized now!

365 Days of Photos
Follow my life via photographs . . . the good, the bad, the ugly, the ordinary, and the extraordinary . . . photographs of little things and important things . . . photographs of people important to me, photographs of my life.

All Things Cherished
I share my daily living and struggles as a single mother. I share a part of me and my family. I share my children, motherhood, being single in my 40s, Christianity, fibromyalgia & other health issues, advocacy, my passions, my hobbies, my love of reading, and my love of Christmas. I share what all is cherished in my life.

Cherished Memories
CHERISHED MEMORIES is about CHERISHing our family and loved ones and getting those MEMORIES on paper. CHERISHED MEMORIES is all about scrapbooking and paper crafting. CHERISHED MEMORIES is about loving family and wonderful friends. We also learn new and re-visit old techniques, share layouts, cards, and more.

Cherished Treasures
Our trash is your treasure! Come check out our online rummage sale. Jewelry, appliances, books, and so much more.

Free Music
Contemporary Christian Music by Alan Free.

There are a few other blogs too but I won't mention them here.

My Facebook profile can be found here.

Prizes will be announced throughout this week. I apologize for not being better prepared.

Life or Living

Would you rather have a life or a living?

Mother Teresa lived her life in a little room and with a vow of poverty yet impacted millions of lives. My friend, Wendy, went to Haiti to rescue restaveks (child slaves). My girlfriend, Jennifer, donates a huge chunk of her time to Beaded Hope, an organization that employs women affected by AIDS in South Africa by selling their jewelry and returning the profits to their AIDS Hospice.

Each one of these women, and so many more, are making a life by giving. They give their time, their energy, and their lives to make others' lives better.

Personally, I think this is a great girlfriend lesson. It's not about how much money our paycheck says or the title on our business card . . . what matters is what we give.

Thought of the Day - 4/11/10

Presence is so much more appreciated than presents!

Thought of the Day - 4/10/10

People judge what they don't understand..

Thought of the Day - 4/9/10

If you work 8 hours a day, and sleep 8 hours... HONESTLY, what do you do with the other 8 hours? Hard to think about how much time we waste!

Thought of the Day - 4/8/10

The true definition of a mother . . . the person who holds their children's lives together when her own is falling apart.

Thought of the Day - 4/7/10

Love is only as true as the one's heart who holds it.

Thought of the Day - 4/6/10

The moment we let love in is the moment we lose all control!

Thought of the Day - 4/5/10

But we are living in a skeptical and, if I may use the phrase, a thought-tormented age; and sometimes I fear that this new generation, educated or hyper educated as it is, will lack those qualities of humanity, of hospitality, of kindly humor which belonged to an older day.
~~ James Joyce ~~

Times were certainly simpler just a few generations ago. As technology reaches new peaks and our life becomes over-simplified, it seems as though waves of distrust have spread throughout humankind. Technology and science has done such wonderful things for the world, but have also produced means of devastating destruction. With new superfluous things and the availability of harmful power, I can’t help but think the world has developed a bit more greed and distrust and our priorities are in different places than they once were.

Thought of the Day - 4/4/10

Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

Thought of the Day - 4/3/10

Teaching is more than imparting knowledge, it is inspiring change.

Learning is more than absorbing facts, it is acquiring understanding.
~~ William Arthur Ward ~~

Thought of the Day - 4/2/10

Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.
~~ Ann Landers ~~

Simply Healthy #6

Power Nap

If you have time to weigh a big decision, sleep on it. This clears the brain so your true feelings can surface. As soon as you wake up, listen to what your gut tells you.

Thought of the Day - 4/1/10

Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self control to be understanding and forgiving.
~~ Dale Carnegie ~~

Thought of the Day - 3/31/10

When I say, "I love you," it's not because I want you or because I can't have you. It has nothing to do with me. I love what you are, what you do, how you try. I've seen your kindness and your strength. I've seen the best and the worst of you. And I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are. You're a hell of a man.

Thought of the Day - 3/30/10

I found out what the secret to life is: friends, best friends.

Thought of the Day - 3/29/10

Food for the Soul
A
Avoid negative sources, people, places, things, and habits.

B
Believe in yourself.

C
Consider things from every angle.

D
Don’t give up and don’t give in.

E
Enjoy life today.

F
Family and friends are hidden treasures.

G
Give more than you planned to.

H
Hang on to your dreams.

I
Ignore those who try to discourage you.

J
Just do it.

K
Keep trying no matter how hard it seems.

L
Love yourself second. Love God first.

M
Make it happen.

N
Never lie, cheat, or steal; always strike a fair deal.

O
Open your eyes and see things as they really are.

P
Practice makes perfect.

Q
Quitters never win and winners never quit.

R
Read, study, and learn about everything important in your life.

S
Stop procrastinating.

T
Take control of your own destiny.

U
Understand yourself to better understand others.

V
Visualize it!

W
Want it more than anything.

X
e Xcellerate your efforts.

Y
You are unique.

Z
Zero in on your target.

Thought of the Day - 3/28/10

Sometimes you struggle so hard to feed your family one way, you forget to feed them the other way, with spiritual nourishment. Everybody needs that.
~~ James Brown ~~

Thought of the Day - 3/27/10

Thought of the Day - 3/26/10

Don't try so hard, the best things come when you least expect them to.

I Know This Much is True

I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb

The book is about twins, one twin is schizophrenic, one twin feels cheated and angered. One father missing, one step-father close by. Friendships gained and lost. Life twisted, explored, and affirmed.

This is the second book from Wally Lamb that I have read in as many months. Being a new author to me makes me very critical so I was pleasantly surprised at how well I like the writings of Lamb.

Twice as thoughtful and twice as heart-wrenching . . . soul-bearing . . . gratifying . . . it is a roller coaster ride of emotions. I felt the pain and sadness of the characters. I could relate to the characters which is big feat to accomplish (one of the big reasons Lamb was rated at a 5).

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 5

I was not compensated in any way for this review. I picked this book out of my children's school's community library.

Thought of the Day - 3/25/10

There's always going to be people that hurt you so what you have to do is keep on trusting and just be more careful about who you trust next time around.

Thought of the Day - 3/24/10

Don't cry because it is over,
smile because it happened.

Thought of the Day - 3/23/10

Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one, so that when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful.

Thought of the Day - 3/22/10

To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.

Thought of the Day - 3/21/10

The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing you cannott have them.

Thought of the Day - 3/20/10

A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand & touches your heart.

Thought of the Day - 3/19/10

No man or woman is worth your tears, and the one who is, won't make you cry.

Thought of the Day - 3/18/10

Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

Thought of the Day - 3/17/10

If kisses were water, I'd give you a sea.

If hugs were leaves, I'd give you a tree.
If life was a planet, I'd give you a galaxy.
If friendship was life, I'd give you mine.

Thought of the Day - 3/16/10

Happiness keeps you sweet,

Trials keep you strong,
Sorrows keep you human,
Failures keep you humble,
Success keeps you glowing,
Only Friends . . . keep you going.

Thought of the Day - 3/15/10

Thought of the Day - 3/14/10

Positivity is the key to success. Surround yourself with positivity, and your life will improve.

Thought of the Day - 3/13/10

If you never did, you should,
These things are fun and fun is good!
~~ Dr. Seuss ~~

Did You Know?

Did you know that a single two-second distraction can cost you 15 minutes of your day? When your concentration is interrupted, it takes up to 15 minutes to get your focus back.

I need some graphics done for my various blogs so I am looking for someone who is willing to help me. The graphics are easy, just photos or clip art with words/phrases. If you can help please contact me. Thanks. :)

Thought of the Day - 3/12/10

You can't base your life on other people's expectations.

~~ Stevie Wonder ~~

Thought of the Day - 3/11/10

The one thing we can never get enough of is love. And the one thing we never give enough of is love.
~~ Henry Miller ~~

Thought of the Day - 3/10/10

Contrary to popular opinion, confrontation can be good for the soul.

Thought of the Day - 3/9/10

Recipe for a Good Start

As Moms, we all have our own recipes for giving our kids the best possible childhood and a great start in life. Whether those ingredients include encouraging our kids to try their hardest or promoting their imagination and creativity, our hope is that our children will grow up to be happy and well-adjusted adults. Family time is an undoubtedly important part of that recipe, and making sure the family sits together at the dinner table at least once a week is a great, but challenging way to fit it in.

Ragu offers moms hundreds of nutritious, convenient, delicious, and affordable meal ideas - perfect for busy families on the go. From making sure the kids get their vegetables (Ragu red sauces contain more than a full serving of veggetables in every half cup of sauce) to skip-a-step recipes like No Boiling Lasagna and No Frying Chicken Parmesan, Ragu understands your hectic lifestyle and desire to feed your family quality meals at a great value.

Now, Ragu is teaming up with actress and mom Molly Ringwald to promote the Recipe for a Good Start Contest asking moms to share their recipes for a chance to win a $5,000 college scholarship.

Thought of the Day - 3/8/10

Thought of the Day - 3/7/10

Guilt and Resentment

Guilt and resentment are states of mind that destroy love and create suffering. They seem to be caused by what happened but they're not. They are caused by how you relate to what happened.

Fortunately, since you created them, you can also release them.

Guilt

When you have guilt, you reinforce the feelings of being not okay. You lose your confidence and self-respect. You feel undeserving and you hold yourself back.

The key to releasing guilt is to recognize that we all go through life doing the very best we can with the limited skills and awareness that we have at the time.

Unfortunately, the awareness that we have is seldom enough. As a result we make mistakes. Sometimes we make big ones.

Making mistakes is part of the human process. This is how we learn. Every time you make a mistake you learn a little more about life. You then become wiser and more aware.

Five years from now you will be much wiser than you are today, but the wisdom you will have five years from now doesn't do you any good today. This is true because today, you don't have it.

Likewise the wisdom that you have today didn't do you any good back when you made your mistake. This is true because back then, you didn't know what you know today. You only knew what you knew.

To see this in your life, go back in time to the moment you made your mistake. Notice that at the time, you had a very particular state of mind and a very particular way of seeing life. Notice that you acted totally consistent with "where you were" at the moment.

If you knew then what you know today, you could have acted very differently, but you didn't. Even if you thought you knew better, you didn't know the consequences like you do today.

So here is the big question: Are you willing to forgive yourself for not knowing? Are you willing to forgive yourself for not being wiser and more aware? You might as well. If you look, you did the very best you could with "where you were" at the time.

Forgive yourself. Forgive yourself for not being wiser and more aware. Forgive yourself for acting consistent with your limited awareness and forgive yourself for the damage that you caused as a result of your not knowing.

Allow yourself to be human.

Resentment

When you have a resentment, a major part of you closes down. You become bitter and less able to express your love. You lose your aliveness and your joy for life. You put up walls of protection and you make your life more difficult.

Letting go of a resentment is not for the benefit of the other person. Letting go of a resentment is for you.

When you resent someone, you are saying very forcefully, that the other person is the problem, the cause and the fault. Not you. You forcefully blame the other person so you don't have to look at yourself.

If you looked at yourself, you would have to experience all the hurt from what happened. You would have to feel all the hurt of being not good enough, not worth loving, or some other form of not okay. To avoid this hurt, you resent.

The first step in releasing a resentment is to be willing to feel this hurt. Look under the resentment and find the hurt. Find the feelings of being not good enough or not worth loving that you are avoiding. Then be willing to experience them. Cry if you can. Once you are willing to feel this hurt, you no longer need the resentment.

The next step is to notice that the person you resent has a very particular state of mind and a very particular way of seeing life. Notice that this person has a very limited awareness and acts totally consistent with his or her limited skills and ability.

Now notice that if this person was wiser and more aware, then he or she would be able to act very differently, but the person isn't wiser and more aware. This person only has the limited awareness that he or she has.

Notice that this person is doing the very best he or she can with his or her ability. Notice how much this person suffers as a result of his or her limited equipment.

Now ask yourself: Are you willing to forgive this person for not being wiser and more aware? Are you willing to forgive this person for acting consistent with his or her limited ability? Are you willing for forgive this person for the damage that was caused?

Remember that forgiveness is for you, not the other person. Forgiveness is a choice. Let go of your resentment and get on with your life.

Becoming Blind to the Beauty of Life

My biggest regret ever is being blind to the world. Getting caught up in my problems, and my life, and not seeing the true beauty of life. I regret trying to take my own life, and ruining my friendships. I regret hurting people that way, when they watched me suffer, and not letting them help. I regret losing God in my life, and losing focus of what life is really like. I regret shutting my eyes to hope.

Thankfully, God continued to love me and bring friends into my life who cared. I now see the beauty of life. I now have hope. I now focus on God.

Thought of the Day - 3/6/10

Thought of the Day - 3/5/10

A smile makes everything better.

Job Chart

Now, more than ever, it's crucial for us to teach our children the importance of a strong work ethic and the value of a dollar. However, sometimes real life gets in the way, and we don't reinforce these values as much as we'd like. What Mom hasn't washed the dishes herself so that they would be done sooner (and cleaner) rather than enlisting the efforts of little helpers? And with the lure of video games, online sites, and interactive toys from the next room, it can be nearly impossible to engage the interest of our children.

Luckily, I was just introduced to a service that helps carrying out our best intentions easier. My Job Chart is a FREE online Chore Chart that teaches kids to work in a fun and productive way. Using an easy and fun online system, My Job Chart inspires kids to do their chores on time. An interactive point system tracks your child's progress, creating excitement and enthusiasm among kids. And the fully customizable chore chart allows you and your child to decide upon mutually determined rewards, fostering communication and developing responsibility. You even get an email or text message when your kids finish their chores or they earn a reward.

Thought of the Day - 3/4/10

It's not what you look at that matters. It's what you see.
~~ Henry David Thoreau ~

Thought of the Day - 3/3/10

Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.
~~ Jonathan Swift, Author ~~

God's Rules

1. Wake Up! Decide to have a good day. Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart. I Samuel 16:7

3 . Shut Up! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. He who guards his lips guards his soul. Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up! For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything. Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good. Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up! To the Lord. I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up! For something higher. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path. Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up! Your Prayers. Do not worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Philippians 4:6

Thought of the Day - 3/2/10

One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.
~~ Henry Miller ~~

5 Items Every Woman Should Have

A signature perfume.
A bra that actually fits.
A power drill.
A great go-to recipe.
A copy of Maya Angelou's Phenomenal Woman.

Thought of the Day - 3/1/10

When you are through changing, you are through.
~~ Bruce Barton ~~

Scrapbooking Again

Whoo hoo! I am been in such an uncreative, funky mood for a while now that I was scared that I'd never get back to scrapbooking. This month I created four fanciful bookmarks for my (boy)friend as a Valentine's gift. I also created a beautiful mini album for my daughter. Check out the What I Love About Cassandra album over at my 365 Days of Memories blog.

Thought of the Day - 2/28/10

If you can't change your fate, change your attitude.
~~ Amy Tan ~~

Thought of the Day - 2/27/10

Angels are never too shy to tell you that they love you.

Thought of the Day - 2/26/10

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
~~ Franklin D. Roosevelt ~~

Thought of the Day - 2/25/10

A powerful agent is the right word.
~~ Mark Twain ~~

Invisible

You don’t know me. I live in the house next door.  I’m the one who never turns the music on too loud. You like that, but it’s one of those things you don’t notice. Like your heart. You don’t notice your heart until it malfunctions, until it seizes up trying to find the next beat, shoots pain through your body like an electric current. Or until it breaks. You notice your heart when it breaks.

You don’t know me because I am invisible. I look like everyone else who is invisible. Not like the homeless woman who sleeps under the tarp out back of the local church.  She’s not invisible. She’s homeless. You see her and look away. She makes you uncomfortable. She makes you wonder how it feels to sleep on a sidewalk under a tarp in the February snow. Or else she makes you frantic, eager to fill your mind with other thoughts (like your to-do list, your meeting tomorrow, your kid’s soccer game on Saturday).

Either way, looking at her, or looking away, you see her, the homeless woman. She’s not invisible.

But I’m not out there on the street. Invisible people live in houses and apartment buildings. We have beds and refrigerators and windows with blinds on them. We have mailboxes close enough to yours that every now and then you get our mail by mistake. Flipping through your stack, you come to an electric bill for me and what registers for you is not my name, but only how the letters don’t arrange themselves into yours.

You don’t know me. You don’t know that my car’s in the shop so I’ve been walking.  You pass me every morning on your way to get your morning coffee.

I wanted to tell you about my car. Because we’re neighbors, and because it turns out I don’t really mind walking -- when the weather isn't too hot or too cold -- so I’m thinking I’ll do it even after my car gets fixed. I think you’d like that. You seem like someone who cares about the planet.

You’d say, "Wow, that’s great," and you’d mean it. Maybe we’d hug. People hug a lot now. I like it when that happens, spontaneous public affection. But when you’re invisible, certain things are hard, like saying, "Hey, I’m your neighbor," to the person in front of you at grocery store.

You don’t know me. I live in the house next door.  I walk quietly, read, eat, listen to the television quietly. Every now and then, I feel an urge to break the quiet wide open. Turn up the music impossibly loud, dance, stomp, cry, scream. I imagine you next door.  Surprised. Suddenly aware of your neighbor.

"What the heck?" you’d say, and maybe you’d knock on the door, but I wouldn’t hear it because I’m doing so much banging, splashing through my house that’s filling up with my tears and the words I never say, and me. Me.

And when the water started to leak through the front door, you’d pound on my door to be heard. I’d open the door and you’d start to speak, "What the?" but the words would get stuck in your throat because there’d I’d be, breathless, hoarse, wet, reborn.

You’d recognize me. You’d see me. You’d know me then.

Originally published in Making Me (magazine).

Thought of the Day - 2/24/10

Count your blessings, not your crosses,
Count your gains, not your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes,
Count your friends instead of your foes.

Thought of the Day - 2/23/10

Cherish each smile, each laugh, and each tear.
You blink your eyes and one day becomes a year.

Thought of the Day - 2/22/10

The love of a child makes you change
And become all that they will aspire to.
The blessing of a child makes you appreciate life.
~~ Lisa Billings ~~

Thought of the Day - 2/21/10

Freedom is my greatest asset.

Thought of the Day - 2/20/10

A child is the greatest poem ever known.
~~ Christopher Morley ~~

Thought of the Day - 2/19/10

The most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.
~~ Helen Keller ~~

Thought of the Day - 2/18/10

Hope is a good thing,
maybe the best of things,
and no good thing ever dies.
~~ Stephen King ~~

Thought of the Day - 2/17/10

When I see you
smiling
ear to ear
I look at the world
in a whole new way . . .
and the important things in life
become clearer.

Thought of the Day - 2/16/10

To the world you may be one person,
but to one peson you may be the world.

Thought of the Day - 2/15/10

The way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas. So think first, judge later.
~~ Norman Vincent Peale ~~

Thought of the Day - 2/14/10

I love you, and because I love you, I would sooner have you hate me for telling you the truth than adore me for telling you lies.
~~ Piero Aretino ~~

Happy Valentine's Day

The Awakening

A time comes in your life when you finally get it -- when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out -- ENOUGH. Enough fighting and crying and blaming and struggling to hold on. Then, like a child quieting down after a tantrum, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes.

This is your awakening.

You realize it’s time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change, or for happiness, safety, and security to magically appear over the next horizon.

You realize that in the real world there aren’t always fairy tale endings, and that any guarantee of “happily ever after” must begin with you . . . and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate, or approve of who or what you are and that’s OK. Others are entitled to their own views and opinions.

You learn the importance of loving and championing yourself, and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval.

Your stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you -- or didn’t do for you -- and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.

You learn that people don’t always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and everything isn’t always about you.

So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself, and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.

You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties, and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. You begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.

You learn the difference between wanting and needing, and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you’ve outgrown or should never have 'bought' into to begin with.

You learn that there is power and glory in creating and contributing, and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a 'consumer' looking for you next fix.

You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don’t know everything, it’s not your job to save the world. You learn the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You learn that alone does not mean lonely.

You stop trying to control people, situations, and outcomes. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say "no."

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over, and ignoring your needs.

You learn that your body really is your temple. You begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a balanced diet, drinking more water, and take more time to exercise.

You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest. Just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you deserve, and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen.

More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline, and perseverance. You learn that no one can do it all alone, and that it’s OK to risk asking for help.

You learn the only thing you must truly fear is fear itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to giving in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms.

You learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom.

You learn that life isn’t always fair, you don’t always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people, and you lean not to always take it personally.

You learn that nobody’s punishing you and everything isn’t always somebody’s fault. It’s just life happening. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.

You lean that negative feelings such as anger, envy, and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you.

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted -- things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about -- a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, and a long hot shower.

Then, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart’s desire.

You make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.

You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind.

Finally, with courage in you heart, you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can.

Thought of the Day - 2/13/10

Don't let any obstacle stop you. Always remember that you have the spiritual and mental qualities within you that can overcome even the seemingly impossible.
~~ Norman Vincent Peale ~~

Thought of the Day - 2/12/10

Faith power in the mind,
like adrenaline in the body,
can release amazing powers within you in crises.
~~ Norman Vincent Peale ~~

Different Sides of Me

This barely counts as a post. My apologies. No real reason. No life shattering drama, just a rough day in the life of this Mom. My world isn't so different from yours. It's not more difficult. It's not busier. It's just life, and life today -- and the past several days -- was hard.

I was not a great Mom today, and it was one of those tough days where I didn't care . . . at least, not at the time. Now I feel the pangs of guilt, the sting of my tone, and pray for the hope of short memories. I am sorry for them and to you. But there it is.

Let me just ask you this ---> Are you friends with those in your own home? Are you friends with your family?

Today I would have to say "no".

I have a bad habit of being too real with the sweet people who share my immediate space.

On more than one occasion my friend has said, "You don't talk to others this way."

She is right. I am not confrontational. I am regretfully happy. I am not so easily angered. I don't get my feelings hurt very often. I love my friends, and I want them to love me.

At home, I AM different than my public persona. Maybe more real, but certainly less long-suffering.

Thought of the Day - 2/11/10

Set aside a few minutes every day to say aloud such words as "exciting, dynamic, marvelous, fabulous, terrific."
~~ Norman Vincent Peale ~~

PLR

PLR Gift and How to Use It

Private label rights content, better known as PLR, is the best go between for days you just don’t want to write up full blog posts on your own but you don’t want to publish "copy and paste" stuff or use other people’s work either. You can get PLR pretty inexpensively from various places on a variety of topics. Sometimes, you get sweet deals like the FREE PLR below.

Computer Buying Tips
This is a report which you can break up into smaller chunks to make a blog series or add to your freebie list.

It is best you read the can and cannots by the PLR provider before you use them. Generally, they are pretty liberal with the terms. Some suggestions on using the above PLR:

Break it up into chunks to make a nice week-long series of posts.
Break it up into chunks to feed into your email autoresponder as a mini-ecourse.
Use is as a freebie download with or without subscribing to your email list.
Send it to your customers or list subscribers as a bonus or thank you.
Make an audio or video recording based on the reports.
You could do more than one of the above. Don't limit yourself.