In solitude the mind gain strength and learns to lean upon itself.
~~ Laurence Sterne ~~
20 Healthy Snacks For a Healthy New Year
7 months ago
Thought of the Day - 8/24/09
Grace
Grace by Richard Paul Evans
"She was my first kiss. My first love. She was a little match girl who could see the future in the flame of a candle. She as a runaway who taught me more about life than anyone has before or since. And when she was gone my innocence left with her.
There are things that become clearer to me as a I grow older. This much I know: too many things were kept secret in those days. Things that never should have been hidden. And things that should have."
This is a story of a young runaway and the boy who hides her from a frightening world too large and unfathomable for him to comprehend. As usual for Mr. Evans, it is a roller-coaster ride of emotions. Get out the tissues.
Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 5
What is Your Mom Blogger Status
I’m curious. Has anyone else seen a trend in the SAME mom bloggers who are being handpicked for special events, conference panels, or incredible business opportunities? With the web overly saturated with so many fabulous mom bloggers, it seems that only a select few are being recognized over and over again. Why is this happening? This observation has me intrigued as to how one determines blogger status, and if that method is fair.
I am not a marketing or PR guru, so I do not know or understand the formula for figuring out one’s status or influence. Maybe it is calculated by Twitter followers or subscribers. Maybe it is based on years of experience, college degrees, or frankly, who you know. I personally have nothing against the “high status” mom bloggers, and I think it is awesome that they get to share in these experiences. My only qualm is why do companies and PR firms want to pick the same groups of bloggers? Would it not be more effective to target a completely different pool of mom bloggers, each time, who have not previously worked with companies A, B, & C, and who do not have current obligations with those companies? Would it not be smarter to tap into a new circle of bloggers that would soak up a special opportunity, and thus, put their heart into it more than, say, a blogger who has already been to 10 events that year?
I have no idea what my mom blogger status is, and I honestly don’t care. What I do care about is building positive, meaningful relationships, whether it be in friendship or business, and not worrying about what may follow monetarily.
Hold Tight
Hold Tight by Harlan Coben
"Tia and Mike Baye never imagined they'd spy on their kids. But their sixteen-year-old son Adam has been unusually distant lately, and after the suicide of his best friend Spencer Hill, they can't help but worry. Within days of installing a sophisticated spy program on Adam's compute, they are jolted by a cryptic message from an unknown correspondent that shakes them to their core: Just stay quiet and all safe.
As if Mike Baye isn't dealing with enough, he also learns that Luca Loriman, the sweet kid who grew up next door, is in urgent need of a kidney transplant. As the boy's doctor, Mike suddenly find himself in possession of an explosive secret that threatens t rip the Loriman family apart at the seams.
Nearby, while browsing through an online memorial for Spence, Betsy Hill discovers a surprising detail about the night of her son's death. Before she can find out more, Adam disappears, taking the truth with him and sending shock waves through the neighborhood.
As the lives of these families collide in tragic, unexpected, and violent ways, long-hidden connection in their small suburb begin to work their way to the surface. And when an unidentified Jane Doe is beaten to death no far away, those connections threaten to turn this quiet community upside down -- and force these desperate parents to decide whether there is any line they won't cross to protect those they love most in the world."
The book raises the question how well do you know your child(ren). Harlan's promise of a thriller falls a little short in this book.
Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 3.5
Thought of the Day - 8/22/09
If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep walking.
~~ Buddhist teaching ~~
Thought of the Day - 8/21/09
Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass . . . it's about learning how to dance in the rain!
Thought of the Day - 8/20/09
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.
~~ Albert Einstein ~~
Just Stay
A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside.
"Your son is here," she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened. Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent.
He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement. The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile. He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients. Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.
Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited. Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.
"Who was that man?" he asked.
The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered.
"No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."
"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?" asked the nurse.
"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell
whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."
The next time someone needs you . . .
just be there.
Stay.
Thought of the Day - 8/19/09
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail
~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~
Thought of the Day - 8/18/09
Sometimes grace can overcome sorrow, a smile can give peace, and a hug can say more than words.
Thought of the Day - Bonus #6
You have to take the good with the bad, smile when your sad, love what you've got and remember what you had. Things go wrong but remember life goes on!
Thought of the Day - 8/16/09
Home . . . a dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest.
~~ James Montgomery ~~
Thought of the Day - 8/15/09
What the world really needs is more love and less paperwork.
~~ Pearl Bailey ~~
Family Minute #55
Are you a thermostat or thermometer?
A thermostat sets the temperature, a thermometer reflects the temperature. Too many parents are thermometers... they reflect their child's mood. If David is nice, they are nice. But if David is nasty... well, you get the picture. Effective parents should be thermostats... setting the climate of the household by how they react, or don't react, to their child's behavior. They choose to be joyful when their child is hurtful. They choose to be calm when their child is out of control. And they choose to love, when their child is unlovable.
Remember your family first.
Thought of the Day - 8/14/09
Everyone is in such a hurry these days. People haven't found meaning in their lives, so they're running all the time looking for it. They think the next car, the next house, the next job. Then they find those things are empty, too, and they keep running.
Once you start running, it is hard to slow yourself down.
Thought of the Day - 8/13/09
There is no experience like having children. There is no substitute for it. If you want the experience of having complete responsibility for another human being, and to learn how to love and bond in the deepest way, then you should have children.
Thought of the Day - 8/12/09
The fact is, there is no foundation, no secure ground, upon which people may stand today if it isn't the family. If you don't have the support and love and caring and concern you get from a family, you don't have much at all. Love is so supremely important.
~~ Morrie from Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom ~~
Thought of the Day - 8/10/09
So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.
~~ Morrie from Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom ~~
Memorial to My Mother
Tomorrow is my mother's funeral and burial. I was asked today to speak at her service. Below is my memorial to my mother.
Be strong. Be intelligent. Smile.
Know that beauty has everything to do with how you feel about yourself and nothing to do with looks or other people's opinions.
Never do anything just because everyone else is if you believe it's wrong.
Always be true to yourself.
Stand up for what you believe in.
Expect the best from life and that's what you'll get.
Learn from your mistakes and failures.
Believe in magic and wish on stars.
Love and trust and be compassionate.
Make faces. Play in mud puddles. Take bubble baths.
Turn off all the lights and watch lightening storms.
Dance, laugh, cry, and sing when you want to.
Read everything you can get your hands on.
Stand up for what is right especially if you stand alone.
Don't allow yourself or people around you to tolerate prejudices of any kind.
Don't be afraid to try something new.
Do something daring at least once a week.
Run through snow drifts.
Spin in circles and roll down hills.
Pet puppies, hold kittens, and talk to/cuddle babies.
Take afternoon naps. Stay up to watch the sunrise.
Never apologize for being a woman or for being yourself.
Never forget that I love you more than any other person in the world, no matter how far apart we are you will always be my daughter.
Her last words to me were, "I've always loved you. I love you forever and always."
Thank you, Mom, for everything you taught me, for loving me no matter what I did.
I love you, Mom.
Thought of the Day - 8/7/09
Accept the past as past, without denying it or discarding it.
~~ Morrie from Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom ~~
Thought of the Day - 8/6/09
Accept what you are able to do and what you are not able to do.
~~ Morrie from Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom ~~
Letter to My Family
In case you haven't heard the sad news, my mother died on Monday, August 3, 2009, after fighting lung cancer for 9 months, 8 days.
Because I did not show up to see my mother as often as others wanted me to, I have been judged by my closest relatives.
Here is my response to the negative posts on Facebook and nasty emails I received:
Just because I was not physically there for my mom as often as you and others does not mean I did not care or that I was ignoring the problem. At least, I admit I cannot/could not handle it. My mom knew why I wasn't around and she accepted it. You can ask Dayna, my sister, about it.
I've been through having a sick parent (open heart surgery, twice) before with my dad and I did it all alone. But for whatever reason that is okay. But I didn't/haven't held it against anyone in the family.
If you would like to know more about my life then ask. So much has happened to me and my mom taught me to be an independent,self-sustaining, self-supporting woman, so there is much my family does not know.
The few times I have asked for help, the answer was no, so I quit asking.
I love my family but I don't show it in the way you want or others want so I get judged. But this is me... this is who I am.
To see the obituary, go to Boylan Funeral Home.
Thought of the Day - 8/4/09
The wise man in the storm prays to God, not for safety from danger, but deliverance from fear.
~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~
Thought of the Day - 8/21/09
A multitude of small delights constitutes happiness.
~~ Charles Baudelaire ~~
QOTW - Purse
Each week (at least, every other week), I post a QOTW (Question of the Week) so you can join in and we can get to know each other better.
This week's question:
What is the one thing you always carry in your purse?
My answer:
Wallet, camera, Tylenol, pen, gum, lipstick. There is a lot more but those are my basics.
May You Be Blessed
Combining soothing music with soul-stirring messages of inspiration, hope, and love, this brief movie will relax your body, rejuvenate your mind, and renew your spirit.
Thought of the Day - 8/2/09
Men have always been afraid that women could get along without them.
~~ Margaret Mead ~~
Thought of the Day - 8/1/09
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be... If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed.
~~ Thomas Jefferson ~~
Thought of the Day - 7/31/09
In honor of my birthday today...
The importance of birthdays is not how many you've had but rather how well you've celebrated.
Birthdays are days for reflection . . . to celebrate who you are and who you will become.
Thought of the Day - 7/30/09
Your confidence is an important tool in life, and it's vital for you to appreciate the value you bring to the world. Cherish who you are, because there is no one else on earth who has your unique blend of sophistication, intelligence, and compassion!
Thought of the Day - 7/29/09
Appreciate the past. Make the most of the present. Live for the future.
~~ Becky Higgins ~~
Thought of the Day - 7/28/09
Each of us is a vital thread in another person's tapestry; our lives are woven together for a reason.
Thought of the Day - 7/27/09
Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so love the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don't, and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.
Thought of the Day - Bonus #5
As long as we can love each other, and remember the feeling of love we had, we can die without ever really going away. All the love you created is still there. All the memories are still there. You live on -- in the hearts of everyone you have touched and nurtured while you were here.
Death ends a life, not a relationship.
Build a Subculture
People are only mean when they're threatened and that's what our culture does. That's what our economy does. Even people who have jobs are threatened because they worry about losing them. When you get threatened, you start looking out only for yourself. You start making money a god. It is all part of our culture.
Build your own little subculture. Don't disregard every rule of your community. Don't go around naked. Don't run through red lights. The little things, like these, can be obeyed. But the big things -- how we think, what we value -- those you must choose yourself. You can't let anyone or any culture or any society determine those for you.
It's the same for women not being thin enough or men not being rich enough. It's what our culture would have you believe. Don't believe it!
Step Away
Step away.
I think about how often this is needed in everyday life. How I feel lonely, sometimes to the point of tears, but I don't let others see those tears come because we are not supposed to cry.
Or how I feel a surge of love for a friend but I don't say anything because I'm frozen with fear of what those words might do to the relationship.
Then at other times my approach is exactly the opposite (especially at night after the children are tucked into bed). Turn on the faucet. Wash myself with the emotion. It will help, I think. If you let the fear inside, then you have to say to yourself, "It's just fear."
Same for loneliness: you let go, let the tears flow, feel it completely, eventually say, "That was my moment of loneliness. Now I'm going to put that loneliness aside and try not to feel afraid of being lonely."
It is getting harder and harder to step away.
Parent's Day
Do you honor your father and mother? Today is Parent's Day... a day established by Congress for the purpose of "recognizing, uplifting, and supporting the role of parents in bringing up their children." If you've had a good relationship with your mom and dad, use this day as an opportunity to thank them for one important thing they did to impact your life in a positive way. If your relationship with them has been more difficult, use it as an opportunity to open up the relational door that's been closed for so long. Find something... be it ever so small...to thank them for. Forgive them if you need to... seek forgiveness if you need to.
Honor your mom and dad for who they are and for what they've done in your life.
Thought of the Day - 7/26/09
To find what you seek in the road of life, the best proverb of all is that which says "Leave no stone unturned."
~~ Author Unknown ~~
Gobble Up
Wherever I went in my life, I have met people wanting to gobble up something new. Gobble up a new car. Gobble up a new piece of property. Gobble up the latest toy. Then they want to tell you all about it.
These people are so hungry for love that they were accepting substitutes. They were embracing material tings and expecting a sort of hug back. You can't substitute material things for love or for gentleness or for tenderness or for a sense of comradeship.
Money is not a substitute for tenderness. Power isn't not a substitute for comradeship. Neither money or power will give you the feeling you're looking for, no matter how much of them you have.
Thought of the Day - 7/25/09
Responsibility can seem an awful lot like a four-letter word. Haven't I done enough? Isn't there someone else who can help pick up the slack? How can I answer these questions as a single mother (financially, emotionally, physically). Sadly -- and fortunately, -- I will have to grit your teeth and simply soldier on through the next new tasks.
Thought of the Day - 7/24/09
The good news is that you can only make the future positive by building on the past, so even if you've resolved to forget it all, the best will stay with you.
Blogging Tips #2 - Badges, Buttons, & Widgets
There's just something about badges, buttons, and widgets that bloggers cannot resist but put them up on their blog.
Pay attention to bumper stickers then think how you can slant it towards your blog.
Always make sure the button links back to your blog.
Keep the widgets related to the topic of your blog. If you blog about pregnancy, create a pregnancy countdown ticker. If you blog about Christmas, create a countdown to Christmas ticker. If you blog about books, create a reading list.
Inkdeath
Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke
Inkdeath is the conclusion of the Inkheart trilogy (Inkheart, Inkspell, Inkdeath).
"Ever since the extraordinary events of Inkspell, when the enchanted book Inkheart drew Meggie and her father, Mo, into its chapters, life in the Inkworld have been more tragic than magical.
The fire-eater Dustfinger is dead, having sacrificed his life for his apprentice Farid. Now, under the rule of the evil Adderhead, the fairy-tale land is in bloody chaos, its characters far beyond the control of Fenoglio, their author. Even Elinor, left behind in the real world believes her family to be lost -- lost between the covers of a book.
Facing the threat of eternal winter, Mo inks a dangerous deal with Death itself. Yet there remains a faint hope of changing the cursed story -- if only he can fill its pages fast enough."
Cornelia's stunning and spellbinding descriptions keep you in suspense and filled with magic. You will feel joy, pain, suspense, anger, hope.
Rating (1, lowest; 5 highest): 4.5
Distribute Cycles
Before I read the book Storm Cycle I did not know about computer cycles.
Does your computer spend most of the day running screensavers or otherwise wasting its computing cycles? Why not use those spare cycles to help solve some huge problems?
Distributed computing is a science which solves a large problem by giving small parts of the problem to many computers to solve and then combining the solutions for the parts into a solution for the problem. Recent distributed computing projects have been designed to use the computers of hundreds of thousands of volunteers all over the world, via the Internet, to look for extra-terrestrial radio signals, to look for prime numbers so large that they have more than ten million digits, and to find more effective drugs to fight cancer and the AIDS virus. These projects are so large, and require so much computing power to solve, that they would be impossible for any one computer or person to solve in a reasonable amount of time.
The concept of distributed computing has been around for more than a decade.
There are currently hundreds of worthwhile projects that pool the resources of personal computers and game consoles all over the world. To find a cause meaningful to you and contribute your cycles to a worthy endeavor go Distribute Computing.
Storm Cycle
Storm Cycle by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen
"Rachel Kirby is a computer genius whose personal life is falling apart. Even as she stands on he brink of a stunning technological breakthrough, her beloved younger sister is plagued by a rare chronic illness that will eventually kill her, laving Rachel all alone.
But thousands of miles away archaeologist/adventurer John Tavek has made a priceless discovery in an Egyptian tomb. A discovery, Rachel realizes, that humankind has been seeking throughout history -- a secret that may save her sister's life and many thousands more. But a powerful organization is also in hot pursuit, led by a man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
Against all odds, Rachel joins forces with the brilliant, enigmatic Tavak in an adventure that will take them across three continents. They have but one piece of a much large puzzle, and it will take all of their wits, instincts, and cutting-edge technology to bring to light an ancient civilization's most amazing legacy."
The details and research and charismatic characters live up to the usual "can't put the book down" writing of Iris Johansen. With her son's help they put together a captivating tale. It is a whirlwind of an adventure and the technological details are gripping.
Rating (1, lowest; 5 highest): 4
Thought of the Day - 7/23/09
You feel pleasure when you want something and you get it. Or when you don't want something and you remove it. Pleasure is always relative. Happiness is absolute. Happiness is the understanding and acceptance of life as it is in this very moment as completely perfect, because every creation of God is perfect. The degree to which you do not accept life in all of the Divine forms is the degree to which you suffer.
Thought of the Day - 7/22/09
We all share the love of peace, but our sons and daughters must learn two lessons men everywhere, and in every time, have had to learn that the price of freedom is dear, but not nearly as costly as the loss of freedom, and that the advance and continuation of civilization depend on those values for which men have always been willing to die for.
~~ Author Unknown ~~
Thought of the Day - 7/21/09
You can motivate by fear. And you can motivate by reward. But both of these methods are only temporary. The only lasting thing is self-motivation.
~~ Homer Rice ~~
Thought of the Day - 7/19/09
Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.
~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~
Thought of the Day - 7/18/09
As I live each day may I do my part, to make a difference and touch one heart.
Each day it is my goal to bring smiles and laughter into a soul.
Thankful Thursday #14
I've been missing from this meme for a long time. Though, I do have several posts about various things I am thankful for.
I am thankful for...
- I am thankful for having a decent house to live in. I have lived in dumps and have lived in the "projects" so this is really nice to have.
- I am thankful my daughter is a bookworm like me.
- I am thankful my son is doing so well at ADHD camp (day camp) this year. He has earned honor roll and other fun camp awards.
- I am thankful for the pharmacist who is trying her hardest today to get the medication I need for my pain.
- I am thankful that I am no longer sick so I can take care of my children instead of my young children taking care of me.
Sadly, Grace Alone is no longer hosting this meme. The co-hosting for Thankful Thursday is being shared. Unfortunately, my fibro fog brain gets easily confused as to where I need to go so lamely I have not been participating as I should. Thanks to the all the co-hostesses.
Share what you are thankful for by going to Spiritually Unequal Marriage.
Thought of the Day - 7/17/09
Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.
~~ Judy Garland ~~
I Am a Victim
More of my private thoughts for the day.
I am a victim. You are a victim. We are all victims from our past due to how we were raised and experiences we have had. I often feel like a failure, but somewhere in my heart I know I am not. I often cannot make others happy, but can only be myself. Being myself cannot be all bad because I am a precious gem from God.
Thought of the Day - 7/16/09
If you're going to be able to look back on something and laugh about it, you might as well laugh about it now.
~~ Marie Osmond ~~
Computer Tips #14 - Top 4 Was To Protect Your Computer
1. Keep your firewall turned on. Learn about firewalls.
2. Keep your operating system up-to-date. Learn about operating system updates.
3. Keep your anti-virus software up to date. Learn about antivirus software.
4. Keep your anti-spyware technology up to date.
Thought of the Day - 7/15/09
You must try to generate happiness within yourself. If you aren't happy in one place, chance are you won't be happy anyplace.
~~ Ernie Banks ~~
Thought of the Day - 7/14/09
Staying on your own path means that you are on the right track. Don't let anyone deter you from that.
~~ Eartha Kitt ~~
Do You Stumble?
Here is my StumbleUpon identification:
http://scrapaddict.stumbleupon.com/.
StumbleUpon helps you discover the best sites on the web. Come stumble and surf with me.
Thought of the Day - 7/13/09
Your regrets aren't what you did, but what you didn't do, so take every opportunity.
Adapted from quote from Cameron Diaz
Thought of the Day - 7/12/09
Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can - there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did.
~~ Sarah Caldwell ~~
Thought of the Day - 7/11/09
A Belief is something you hold onto.
A Conviction is something that holds onto you.
Thought of the Day - 7/10/09
One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon, instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today.
~~ Dale Carnegie ~~
Thought of the Day - 7/9/09
This moment, right here, right now, wherever you are, is all that matters. This is it. Our whole lives have been leading up to every moment. Think about that: every single thing you’ve gone through in life, every high, every low, and everything in between -- it has led you to this moment. Everything that has happened in your life has led to this point.
The Mental Side of Fibromyalgia
Many who suffer from Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome at one time or another find themselves depressed over how they feel, the difficulties in finding effective treatment, lack of energy, the ongoing pain, or how loved ones respond to their illness. For many just being “happy” is a daily task in itself.
The most common question I hear from fellow is ”how to stay positive and deal with depression when you’re always in pain and hurting”?
Here are a few tips:
1. Keep moving.
Many suffering from these conditions find it difficult even to do the simplest of daily tasks, yet lying in bed all day doesn’t seem to help the pain and often leads to even more depression. Staying active is essential! Walking 3-5 minutes a day will keep your body active, even if it’s as simple as walking from one room to another. As you begin to feel better, increase your time slowly to 5-7 minutes and see how simply staying mobile can help with depression.
2. Stay hydrated.
Staying hydrated for even a healthy person is essential, but even more importantly for someone suffering from fibromyalgia. Make sure you drink plenty of water so that your muscles can nourish themselves and not tighten up and cause more discomfort.
3. Reach out for support.
There is a host of wonderful chat rooms and support groups that meet online and in person. Reach out to those groups that are designed specifically to help you, and allow the positive effects of simply sharing with others. You’re not alone, others have, or are experiencing similar feelings so don’t be afraid to lean on a support channel when feeling down.
4. Keep a journal.
We have all heard the power in writing down our feelings and thoughts. Make a point to write down your personal journey… the good and the bad days… and see how simply verbalizing your emotions will help you feel better.
5. Engage your higher power.
Whatever your personal beliefs are, engage your higher power for help in that moment, minute, or day. Ask your higher power for the strength to overcome your feelings of hopelessness and frustration.
6. Get educated.
Educate yourself on the treatment options available to you and get proactive in your recovery. It’s easy for many of us to wallow in the pain, but by educating yourself you will see that these conditions CAN be treated! You don’t have to suffer ongoing, talk with others who have recovered, read testimonials, and make an appointment and a goal to start recovering.
7. Re-evaluate your diet.
Diet and nutrition are key components in treating Fibro. Take a personal inventory of your diet and make sure you have eliminated sugars, white flour, caffeine, and alcohol -- all of which have a negative effect on sufferers.
Here are a few articles and helpful resources available if you would like more tips and information on dealing with depression:
- Happiness 1 - 2- 3! by Dr Jacob Teitelbaum
- Depression and Chronic Pain by WebMD
- Fibro360
- Fibro and Fatigue Blog
Adapted from article from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Centers.
Thought of the Day - 7/8/09
Making a decisions to have a child is momentous -- it is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body.
~~ Elizabeth Stone ~~
Thought of the Day - 7/7/09
Silence is the best language for communication. It helps us understand and realise the eternal truths about the self, God and the world. In silence we are able to comprehend and express sincerely and powerfully the true values of the soul such as peace, love and joy. Silence is not the absence of thoughts but it is a state in which the mind is engaged in pure elevated thoughts that nurture these values within. The power of silence develops all mental and spiritual powers that are needed to tackle various situations successfully.
Make Me Laugh Monday - Reverse Psychology
Join me in the fun and giggles of making Mondays a better day by sharing some laughs. Add your link to your Make Me Laugh Monday post to Mr. Linky below. (All links not leading directly to your post will be deleted.) All posts should be funny in some way. Yes, this is up to interpretation. Ideas include riddles, funny family stories, comic strips, jokes, silly graphics, funny lyrics, hilarious photos, etc. Please don't leave me to snicker all alone. I'm sure YOU have something funny to share.
Thought of the Day - 7/6/09
All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination.
~~ Earl Nightingale ~~
QOTW - Name of Blog
Each week (at least, every other week), I post a QOTW (Question of the Week) so you can join in and we can get to know each other better.
This week's question:
How did you come up with the name of your blog?
My answer:
I have so much to share and God has blessed me with so much. One of my favorite words is cherished.
cher·ish
- care for: be fond of; be attached to
- to treat with affection and tenderness; hold dear
- to keep fondly in mind; entertain, appreciate
- to keep or cultivate with care and affection, nurture
- to entertain or harbor in the mind deeply and resolutely
- to hold or treat as dear; feel love for
- to care for tenderly; nurture
- to cling fondly or inveterately to
- to take good care of; protect
- to cling to the idea or feeling of
In God We Trust
This is a powerful presentation about the roots of the USA. It takes a short 4-5 minutes to watch, so take the time to pause in your busy-ness of the day and view this. Enjoy.
http://www.interviewwithgod.com/patriotic/highband.htm
Aloha Friday #11
In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is a day to take it easy, so Kailani thought that Fridays is a good day to take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.
The question for this week:
Based on my last post, I got to wondering about trust. Who is the one person you trust the most?
My answer:
My friend, Sandy. She tells me the truth no matter what, even if I don't want to hear it. She's not mean about it but matter-of-factly will tell me what needs to be said. Thanks, Sandy, for your honesty and friendship.
If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link at An Island Life. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!
Snopes - Trustworthy or Not?
A group I belong to was discussing the cons of Aspartame this week. One of the members, then replied to a message that said they had checked Snopes to see if there was any validity to the discussion.
After realizing so many people rely on Snopes for their fact checking, and wondering where does Snopes get their information, I did some fact checking of my own. It turns out that Snopes is just a husband and wife team named Barbara and David Mikkelson. Barbara does most of the fact checking herself, but does not list her sources. In other words, the place that most Internet users rely on to check their facts is not as reliable as most of us thought And, sadly, really subject to the biases of only two people. Think about that, they have the power to sway the thinking of a very large number of people on some very important stuff, including health and political issues.
I think Snopes may be a good starting point, but I think i you are looking for information you should dig a little deeper. I know the topic of Aspartame i no closed in my group, but I suggest that anyone interested in the subject go to Google and type "Aspartame dangers" or something similar and read more than one source, then make up your own mind.
I must say, I'm really alarmed by how quickly our society accepts whatever they hear. I'm even more alarmed by how much we hear these days that is either flat out untrue or, at least, skewed to fit someone's agenda. I believe this is partly why our country is in the mess it's in right now. It's unfortunate, but we just can't trust anyone anymore, including our oldest and once most trusted news sources.
Thought of the Day - 7/3/09
Ever walked into a gourmet ice cream store and been excited by the sheer number of flavors available to you? Ever noticed how like that ice cream store, life offers an equally astonishing number of choices? And not just the big, dramatic ones either -- the amount of options you have when it comes down to the moment is truly amazing when you think about it.
Thought of the Day - 7/11/09
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
~~ Dr. Seuss ~~
Thought of the Day - 7/2/09
I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad its seems today, life does go one, and it will be better tomorrow.
I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they are gone from your life.
I've learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life.
I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.
I've learned that whenever I decided something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug or just a friendly pat on the back.
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
~~ Maya Angelou ~~
Thought of the Day - 7/1/09
Accept Yourself
With all the indecision you've been fighting lately, you may lose sight of the clear choices in front of you. The biggest is your choice to be happy. Reject the self-imposed standards you've been struggling with -- frankly, they're too unrealistic -- and choose to accept yourself. There is no such thing as perfection, and aiming for it is almost an insult to what you're right now. Cherish all your faults -- don't change the things you love about life.
Thought of the Day - 6/30/09
You may not think you can reach it.
Climb anyway.
You may not think you'll be heard.
Speak anyway.
You may not think you can change things.
Try anyway.
~~ Maya Angelou ~~
IDEA Fairness Restoration Act
School districts can use tax dollars to employ and pay for psychologists and other technical experts.
Few parents can afford the thousands of dollars needed to pay for expert testimony that is necessary to prevail in IDEA due process hearings and litigation. Parents have fewer resources and yet must bear a greater financial burden.
Please call your Congressional Representative on Thursday, July 9. Ask him or her to co-sponsor the IDEA Fairness Restoration Act, H.R. 2740.
Tuesday Toot #13
I finally took the plunge and joined Facebook. There are so many applications and games available as well as connecting with friends, clients, etc.
If you are a member of Facebook please leave your FB link in the comments section so I can add you as a friend.
For more good news and happy toots, go to Mommy Community.
Family Minute #54
Summer sanity
Are your kids driving you up the wall? Summer can be a challenging time for moms. A house full of bored, cooped up kids can be a recipe for disaster. How do you react when your son crayons the wall or your daughter digs up the flowers you so painstakingly planted? You probably can't help being frustrated... but you can keep your frustration from getting out of control.
In this week's Learn A Latte, Dr. Gary Oliver discusses his own struggle with frustration and shares some ideas about how to get your own frustration under control. Check out Dr. Oliver's article and start becoming a saner, calmer you.
Remember, your family first.
Piggy Paint Pictures
For further explanation of these pictures, go to Piggy Paint Review. If you want a chance to win your own Piggy Paint, go to Piggy Paint Giveaway.
Piggy Paint Giveaway
Did you see the Piggy Paint review?
Would you like to try some Piggy Paint? And have some fun with your daughter?
Piggy Paint is giving one of my lucky readers a $20 Gift Certificate to their store. If you want to be entered for the giveaway, please leave a note in the comments section letting us know what your favorite Piggy Paint color is.
If you can't wait to see if you win, you can purchase some Piggy Paint today with a special coupon code for 15% off anything in the store. The coupon code is CHERISH15L with an expiration date of August 15, 2009. Thanks, Piggy Paint, for providing this special just for my readers.
Piggy Paint Review
Laurie from Piggy Paint send us a small package of goodies. The package contained a bottle of Nail Polish Remover and a bottle of Tea Party for Two nail polish.
Cassandra's, age 7, Review: It didn't stink. Awesome blue color. Easy to use. The nail polish looks nice. I feel all grown up being able to use it myself.
Mom's Review: I love that it is pretty much odorless, both the fingernail polish and the nail polish remover. It is hypoallergenic with no toxic chemicals and made in the USA (hooray!). It doesn't offend your nose or the atmosphere. I like that aloe vera and vitamin E are added as supplements to protect the nails and cuticles. One layer of nail polish is enough for full coverage. I like that it is safe and non-toxic for my daughter to use on her own.
To meet the mother and creator of Piggy Paint, click here to learn about her journey into the world of finger nail polish.
Unconscious Mutterings #9
Free association is described as a "psychoanalytic procedure in which a person is encouraged to give free rein to his or her thoughts and feelings, verbalizing whatever comes into the mind without monitoring its content." Over time, this technique is supposed to help bring forth repressed thoughts and feelings that the person can then work through to gain a better sense of self.
That's an admirable goal, but for the purposes of this exercise, we're just hoping to have a little fun with the technique. Each week ten words are posted to which you can respond to with the first thing that comes to mind.
There are no right or wrong answers. Don't limit yourself to one word responses; just say everything that pops into your head.
Luna says . . . and I think . . .
- Guest :: I love having guests or company over.
- Impact :: You don't realize the impact you have on someone's life, especially your children, until later.
- Unplanned :: Many pregnancies are unplanned. However, my son's conception and birth were planned in advanced.
- Tactic :: Most people do not have the knack for being tactful.
- Delayed :: Don't let a delay disappoint you. Take the time to discover something new.
- Bombastic :: What a fun word.
- Comfort :: I love being in the comfort of my home.
- Trumpet :: Too loud.
- Joe :: Most men I know named Joe (or John) are not good people.
- Budget :: Yes, I have a strict budget.
To see the mutterings of others, go see Luna Nina.
Thought of the Day - 6/29/09
This is called a Pensieve. I sometimes find, and I am sure you know the feeling, that I simply have too many thoughts and memories crammed into my mind.
~~ Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ~~
Make Me Laugh Monday - To Remember
Join me in the fun and giggles of making Mondays a better day by sharing some laughs. Add your link to your Make Me Laugh Monday post to Mr. Linky below. (All links not leading directly to your post will be deleted.) All posts should be funny in some way. Yes, this is up to interpretation. Ideas include riddles, funny family stories, comic strips, jokes, silly graphics, funny lyrics, hilarious photos, etc. Please don't leave me to snicker all alone. I'm sure YOU have something funny to share.
Thought of the Day - 6/28/09
Does the walker choose the path or the path the walker?
~~ Garth Nix, Sabriel ~~
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