All Things Cherished

Thought of the Day - 1/20/11

Don't write because you want to say something. Write because you have something to say.
~~ F. Scott Fitzgerald ~~

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.
If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.
If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
~~ Sun Tzu, Art of War ~~

As rigid and inflexible as rebar, I believed it was your Will I was girded against. My perceived enemy was your defiance, your reckless disregard for authority.

You were not a changeling found lying in your crib, speaking a language we could not understand, while those around you tried to decipher what was swirling through your thoughts. You were older. A man-child consumed by a real boogie man climbing through your window. Your nightmares became my reality. Old enough that my dreams for you, your own dreams, were burnt away as the harsh light of day shone on what was your truth.

Late in this crusade, I recognized it as a battle for your soul. I was pitted against your demons. Demons you could not control, demons I could not conquer. A fight I could not expect you to join, not now, not yet. Waiting for you to grow older, stronger is our greatest advantage, our most powerful weapon.

Not a brutal conflict armed with iron rods and swords, but guerrilla warfare employing stealth, learning the strengths and weaknesses of our mutual adversary. Knowing the enemy, makes me stronger. Gives me a defense to protect you, to loosen the bonds that hold you captive.

Together we are finding how far we can bend without breaking.

For many parents of children labeled ‘special needs,’ that realization, that diagnosis no mother ever wants to hear, often comes while their children are still very young. Many times before they begin formal schooling.

Even as we feel our children grow inside our bodies, we create a future for them. They will be athletes, scholars, politicians, giving of themselves in service of others. Being told that those dreams may never come to fruition is harsh. It is devastating for parents, and my heart aches with them.

Yet, are these small children aware that their lives will not turn out as their parents had hoped? Is it kinder that they know no alternate reality? I am not attempting to minimize these parents’ anguish, I am simply seeking answers. My pain is not greater than theirs, perhaps merely different.

My heartache is compounded in that my child remembers. Remembers how it was BEFORE. Before the diagnosis, before the shattered dreams, before the nightmares.

What I can do to best help him is to know as much as I can about his diagnosis. To arm myself with the weapons necessary to give him his best chance for a happy future.

No matter the foe… know your enemy.

Thought of the Day - 1/10/11

Get healthy.

Thought of the Day - 1/9/11

Above all, love.

Thought of the Day - 1/8/11

Never tell your resolution beforehand, or it's twice as onerous a duty.
~~ John Selden ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/7/11

Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.
~~ Hal Borland ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/6/11

New Year's Day is every man's birthday.
~~ Charles Lamb ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/5/11

No one ever regarded the First of January with indifference. It is that from which all date their time, and count upon what is left. It is the nativity of our common Adam.
~~ Charles Lamb ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/4/11

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.
~~ Benjamin Franklin ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/3/11

A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.
~~ Author Unknown ~~

Thought of the Day - 1/2/11

Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits.
~~ Author Unknown ~~

2011 Goals

If you know me you know I like the word goals better than resolutions.

Goals
1. The purpose toward which an endeavor is directed; an objective.

2. A specified structure or zone into or over which players endeavor to advance a ball or puck.
3. The score awarded for such an act.
4. A noun or noun phrase referring to the place to which something moves.
5. The terminal point of a journey or race.

Resolutions
1. The state or quality of being resolute; firm determination.

2. A resolving to do something.
3. A course of action determined or decided on.
4. A formal statement of a decision or expression of opinion put before or adopted by an assembly such as the U.S. Congress.
5. The act or process of separating or reducing something into its constituent parts: the prismatic resolution of sunlight into its spectral colors.
6. The fineness of detail that can be distinguished in an image, as on a video display terminal.
7. The subsiding or termination of an abnormal condition, such as a fever or an inflammation.
8. A court decision.
9. An explanation, as of a problem or puzzle; a solution.
10. The part of a literary work in which the complications of the plot are resolved or simplified.
11. The progression of a dissonant tone or chord to a consonant tone or chord.
12. The tone or chord to which such a progression is made.
13. The substitution of one metrical unit for another, especially the substitution of two short syllables for one long syllable in quantitative verse.

Goals are attainable . . . every step of the way. Resolutions are not achieved until the completion. I want rewarded (praised, hugged, "me time," ice cream, etc.) for each step, for the ambition, for the effort, for the time, for the conviction, for the destination. If I have these, the hope to meet my goal has a much greater chance of succeeding.

Cameron's Goals"
1. To be more mature.
2. To stop lying.

Cassandra's Goals:
1. To play the trumpet in public for others to enjoy at no cost.
2. To lessen the exaggeration, the embellishing of stories.

Storm's Goals:
To continue my success, my goals are pretty much the same. My emphasis, however, this year is:
1. To trust in God more.
2. Join Ali Edwards in selecting and living by one word.
3. To swear less. When I get stressed or truly frustrated, I swear. My kids hate it. My boyfriend hates it. I don't really like it. Though, it's a great stress-reliever at times. The agreement is I will pay 25 cents for each time I swear.

Smile

Smile
Charlie Chaplin's Theme Music for 'Modern Times'

Lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons, 1954

Smile though your heart is aching,

Smile even though it's breaking,

When there are clouds in the sky

You'll get by,

If you smile

through your fear and sorrow,

Smile and maybe tomorrow,

You'll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness,

Hide every trace of sadness,

Although a tear may be ever so near,

That's the time,

You must keep on trying,

Smile, what's the use of crying,

You'll find that life is still worth-while,

If you just smile.

Thought of the Day - Happy New Year!

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.
~~ Oprah Winfrey ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/31/10

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.
~~ Bill Vaughan ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/30/10

Love came down at Christmas,

Love all lovely, Love Divine;
Love was born at Christmas;
Star and angels gave the sign.
~~ Christina Rossetti ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/29/10

Christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance - a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.
~~ Augusta E. Rundel ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/28/10

It is the most human and kindly of seasons, as fully penetrated and irradiated with the feeling of human brotherhood, which is the essential spirit of Christianity.
~~ George William Curtis ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/27/10

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, - not even a mouse:
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there...
~~ Clement Clarke Moore ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/26/10

Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.
~~ Oren Arnold ~~

Thought of the Day - Merry Christmas!

Christmas in Bethlehem. The ancient dream: a cold, clear night made brilliant by a glorious star, the smell of incense, shepherds and wise men falling to their knees in adoration of the sweet baby, the incarnation of perfect love.
~~ Lucinda Franks ~~

Merry Christmas

Thought of the Day - 12/24/10

Oh! lovely voices of the sky

Which hymned the Saviour's birth,
Are ye not singing still on high,
Ye that sang, "Peace on earth"?
~~ Felicia Hemans ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/23/10

We hear the beating of wings over Bethlehem and a light that is not of the sun or of the stars shines in the midnight sky. Let the beauty of the story take away all narrowness, all thought of formal creeds. Let it be remembered as a story that has happened again and again, to men of many different races, that has been expressed through many religions, that has been called by many different names. Time and space and language lay no limitations upon human brotherhood.
~~ New York Times, 25 December 1937, quoted in Quotations for Special Occasions by Maud van Buren, 1938, published by The H.W. Wilson Company, New York ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/22/10

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
~~ Thomas Edison ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/21/10

The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

Christmas Card

This is the Christmas card my children and I have chosen for this year. I was lucky enough to do a review for Tiny Prints so I got my awesome, beautifully created, personal Christmas cards for FREE. It can't get any better than that.

Isn't this an unique and classy card? I know I love it. :)

Thought of the Day - 12/20/10

If you feel good, it is more likely you will enjoy life.

Thought of the Day - 12/19/10

Life is simple. We insist on making it complicated.

Thought of the Day - 12/18/10

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character give him power.
~~ Abraham Lincoln ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/17/10

Practice what you preach. Better yet, don't preach, just practice.

Thought of the Day - 12/16/10

There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed.
~~ Matamha Gandhi ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/15/10

You are where you are right now because of your best thinking. If you want something different, change your thinking.
~~ Tony Rush ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/14/10

When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.
~~ Francois de La Rochefoucauld ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/13/10

Time you enjoy wasting is not time wasted.
~~ John Lennon ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/12/10

What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.

Thought of the Day - 12/11/10

Always give without remembering
and always receive without forgetting.
~~ Brian Tracy ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/10/10

Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that.

~~ Norman Vincent Peale ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/9/10

It's not what you got, it's what you use that makes a difference.
~~ Zig Ziglar ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/8/10

It is always easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission.
~~ Author Unknown ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/7/10

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies WITHIN us.

Thought of the Day - 12/6/10

The best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer somebody else up.

Thought of the Day - 12/5/10

Give whatever you are doing and whoever you are with the gift of your attention.
~~ Jim Rohn ~~

Christmas Tree for the Desktop

There are 19 trees to choose from. When you click on the tree it tells you how many days are left until Christmas. You have the choice to download the Atomic Alarm Clock if you right-click the tree. Each tree is animated in its own way.

Thought of the Day - 12/4/10

The only difference between those that think they can and those that think they can't, IS what they think.

Thought of the Day - 12/3/10

Live your dreams.

Thought of the Day - 12/2/10

When you give with joy,
joy is your reward.
~~ Ida, Landing, NJ ~~

Thought of the Day - 12/1/10

Build a bridge and get over it!
~~ Susan, White Lake, NY ~~

Thought of the Day - 11/30/10

It does not matter how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get up.
~~ Vince Lombardi ~~

Thought of the Day - 11/29/10

A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks.

Thought of the Day - 11/28/10

Gratitude consists of being more aware of what you have than what you don't.

Thought of the Day - 11/27/10

Be sure to put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.
~~ Abraham Lincoln ~~

Thought of the Day - 11/26/10

Gain control of your time and you will gain control of your life.

Thought of the Day - 11/25/10

Three phases of life . . .
Teenager: time + energy, but no money.
Working Age: energy + money, but no time.
Old age: time + money, but no energy

Thought of the Day - 11/24/10

Lack of money is no obstacle. Lack of an idea is an obstacle.
~~ Ken Hakuta ~~

Thought of the Day - 11/23/10

Today could bring a lovely sense of freedom. Freedom from what? The answer might surprise you. Sometimes, we think we need to be freed from outside constraints: work, social demands, family duties, commuter traffic, and so on. But actually, a sense of inner freedom is a far more powerful thing. Sometimes just realizing that you are, in fact, in control of your life and the choices you make is all the freedom you need.

Thought of the Day - 11/22/10

To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.

Thought of the Day - 11/21/10

When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better.

Thought of the Day - 11/20/10

I would rather have one rose and a kind word from a friend wWhile I'm here, than a whole truck load when I'm gone.

Thought of the Day - 11/19/10

We live in a society where the penalty for lying to a congressman can be up to 30 years in jail, but the penalty for a congressman lying to you is another two years in office.

Isn't there something wrong with that?

Thought of the Day - 11/18/10

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
They just make the most of everything they have.

Thought of the Day - 11/17/10

I Believe...

That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

Thought of the Day - 11/16/10

I Believe...

That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

Thought of the Day - 11/15/10

I Believe...

That even when you think you have no more to give,
When a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

Thought of the Day - 11/14/10

I Believe...

That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

Thought of the Day - 11/13/10

I Believe....

Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

Thought of the Day - 11/12/10

I Believe...

That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret.
It could change your life forever.

Thought of the Day - 11/11/10

I Believe....

That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,
But, we are responsible for who we become.

Thought of the Day - 11/10/10

I Believe...

That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

Disaster Preparedness

Disaster preparedness means being prepared for an emergency of any kind, natural or man-made, and being prepared means having emergency kits on hand, ready to use when they're needed. It's important to prepare in advance for threats to public health such as pandemics of infections disease like the 2009 "swine flu" pandemic.

A pandemic is defined as epidemic of infectious disease that is spreading through human populations across a large region; for instance a continent, or even worldwide. A widespread endemic disease that is stable in terms of how many people are getting sick from it is not a pandemic. Further, flu pandemics exclude seasonal flu. Throughout history there have been a number of pandemics, such as smallpox and tuberculosis. More recent pandemics include the HIV pandemic and the 2009 flu pandemic.

Having emergency kits stocked with enough food for two weeks can limit exposure. Fewer trips out into public could literally spare you and your loved ones from being infected. Emergency kits could provide food for you and your family until things return to a "safe" and normal state, and should be a part of your own pandemic preparedness plan.

Follow these basic steps to develop your family disaster preparedness plan:

1.Gather information about hazards in your area. Find out what types of disasters could occur and how you should respond. Learn your community's warning signals and evacuation plans.

2.Meet with your family to create a disaster preparedness plan and make sure it includes emergency kits for the whole family. Discuss the information you've gathered. Choose a place outside your home to meet in the event of an emergency, such as a fire, and a place away from your neighborhood in case you can't return home. Choose a friend or relative who lives out-of-state as your "family check-in contact."

3.Implement your disaster preparedness plan:
•Post emergency telephone numbers by phones.
•Inspect your home for potential hazards, such as items that can move, fall, break, or catch fire, and correct them.
•Install safety features such as smoke alarms and fire extinguishers and instruct others how to use them properly.
•Teach children how and when to call 911 or your local emergency medical services number.
•Keep emergency kits in your home with enough supplies for each member of your family for two weeks.
•Keep a disaster preparedness response kit with items you may need in case of evacuation. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers, such as backpacks or duffle bags.
•Keep important family documents in a waterproof container.
•Keep a smaller disaster preparedness emergency kit in the trunk of your car.

4.Practice and maintain your plan:
•Ask questions to make sure your family remembers meeting places, phone numbers, and safety rules.
•Make sure everyone knows where to find your family's emergency kits.
•Test your smoke detectors monthly.
•Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s) according to manufacturer's recommendations.
•Replace spare batteries as required.
•Conduct periodic drills to make sure you are prepared in case of an actual emergency.

Don't wait — make and put your disaster preparedness plan into effect before disaster strikes.

Thought of the Day - 11/9/10

I Believe....

That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

Thought of the Day - 11/8/10

I Believe....

That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

Overstock Shopping

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Black Friday Sales
http://www.overstock.com/blackfriday

Cyber Monday Sales
http://www.overstock.com/cyber-monday

Especially for you, my readers, there is a discount -- ?121728? -- for 10% off all Overstock.com products. Happy shopping!

All the ideas and opinions expressed are my own. No monetary compensation was received for doing this post, however, I was provided with a discount code.

Thought of the Day - 11/7/10

I Believe...

That sometimes when I'm angry
I have the right to be angry,
But that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

Thought of the Day - 11/6/10

I Believe....

That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up.

Personalized Ornament Giveaway

Go to 365 Days of Christmas, my Chritmas blog, to enter the Personalized Free Christmas Ornament Giveaway.

Thought of the Day - 11/5/10

I Believe....

That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

Tiny Prints

Tiny Prints has brand new beautiful, classy, elegant Christmas cards this year. You can personalize 100s of cards with your photographs and your words. There are many options, such as color changes and designs for each card.

Go to my Christmas blog, 365 Days of Christmas, to see what I have to say about Tiny Prints.

Thought of the Day - 11/4/10

I Believe...

That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

Thought of the Day - 11/3/10

I Believe...

That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

Let's Thank Our Veterans

The businesses below are honoring Veterans by providing discounts and free items on Veterans Day and
throughout the year. I encourage you to contact a store listed below or a local merchant to see if they
would offer a day in the future where a percentage of the day's sales would go to National Military
Services.

Restaurant Freebies
• Applebee's Restaurant - Free dinners to veterans throughout the day.
• Outback Steakhouse - Free Blooming Onion and beverage.
• Golden Corral - Free buffet dinner from 5-9 p.m. on Nov. 16 to anyone who has ever served in
the U.S. Military.
• Krispy Kreme - One free doughnut of any variety.
• UNO Chicago Grill - Free entree or individual pizza with an entree or pizza purchase of equal or
greater value.

Retail Freebies
• Brides Across America - Provides free wedding gowns to qualified military brides.
• Lowe's & Home Depot - Extra 10% off to active-duty military members, National Guard and
reserve members, retirees, honorable discharged veterans and immediate family members.
• Sam's Club - Over 25,000 Hugo canes will be given away to U.S. veterans in need of mobility
assistance. Membership is not required, but supplies are limited, so check with your local store.
• Amazon.com - Free "Veterans Day Honor" MP3 album download. The album includes 12 songs
by The Bands and Ensembles of the U.S. Armed Forces.
• Cabela's Outdoor Store - Offers their employee discount to all veterans, active-duty military, and
reserves, law enforcement, fire, and EMS personnel Nov. 11-12. Discounts vary from 5% to 50%,
depending on the item.
• Build-A-Bear Workshop - Members of the armed services including the Army, Navy, Marine
Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Reserve Officer Training Corps, will receive a 20% discount
Nov. 11-15 on any one transaction at Build-A-Bear Workshop.
• Dollar General - l0% discount for all veterans, active-duty military, National Guard, and Reserve
and their immediate families.
• Fashion Bug - 20% off all plus-size and misses clothing purchases with a copy of military ID or
spouse's military ID.

Entertainment Freebies
• National parks, forests and monuments - Admission is free to everyone on Veteran's Day.
• Knott's Berry Farm - Free park admission to U.S. armed forces personnel and a guest during
Veteran's Month, November 1-26.
• San Jacinto Museum of History - Free visits to the Observation Deck, theatre, and special
exhibit for veterans, active duty military personnel, and their families.

THANK YOU, Veterans for serving our country! Thank you, families of Veterans, for allowing your children/spouses/loved ones to serve our country.