The "Should Do" To-Do-List

This came to me as an e-mail to me today. There is a lot of truth to the statements in this list. I am guilty of not doing some of the things on the "should do list." Try to take one thing from the list and apply to your life today and everyday. My personal favorite is #1. Without praying, we can accomplish nothing on our own.

An Angel says, 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.'
1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry an inspirational book and/or the Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good 'Thank you Jesus.'
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36 Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.
GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.
'If God is for us, who can be against us?' (Romans 8:31)

Ole How Sweet It Is

I am in a silly, giggly, giddy, goofy mood today. Not really sure why other than the fact I have a fun weekend planned. I'm going to scrapbook for many hours and maybe get caught up on my daughter's album! I love scrapping but I don't make time like I should for it. It's an addictive hobby I got into 4 years ago that I love to do, just don't get enough time to do it.

So why is it important for me to scrap my pictures? So I can leave my daughters a memory book of what happened in their lives. I want them to know they are loved to the ends of the earth and want them to be able to look at their albums and recapture moments from their childhood.

I admit I am a picture taker freak with my camera. I'm the mom who takes 20 pictures of the same pose because I want to get the "best shot!" The irony of that though is the first picture I took usually ends up being the best. Why is that? Probably because my kids get tired of standing there and get blinded by the flash of my camera. I'm surprised their faces aren't permanently figured with the fake "I don't want to smile" face and that they aren't blind from my bright light!

Take my oldest daughter ~ she is the absolute natural poser. She used to love the camera until I burnt her out on it. But of course she is the quiet one who typically obeys and listens to what she is told to do. Then comes my youngest ~ I am LUCKY to get a smile out of her looking at the camera. She is so energetic and won't take time pose naturally like her sister LOL.

Leaving a photo memory album for my family is important. I met a couple today. They are probably in their 80's and have been married for 65 years. 65 years!!!! Can you imagine being stuck devoted to someone for that long? I think it's pretty crazy amazing myself because you don't find that much in today's world! It makes me realize there are people who can tolerate each others crap truly love each other and stick together no matter what this world throws at them. Honestly, I do admire this couple because it is sweet. Sweet it is, yes, sweet. They looked cute together and as they walked out the door I let out an "AWWWWWW....." as they left.

So wouldn't it be nice for this elderly couple to have pictures of their lives together? The family they created, the places they have been, the things they have accomplished together, the legacy they will leave their family. Again, that is why I scrapbook my photos into albums. So my family can look at photos of the past and remember good times.

Becoming Blonder

As you begin reading this post, keep in mind that everyone has done this at some point in their lives. Whether you want to admit it or not, it has happened to you. And if it hasn't, indulge me and pretend that is has, ok?

So I went in to Wal-Mart today which I can't seem to stay out of these days. Luckily I only needed two things and didn't have an entire cart full of groceries. So I came out and went to the aisle my car was parked at. Hmmm... there was a problem, my car was no where to be found. Ok, so MAYBE just MAYBE I walked down the wrong aisle? Yes, that had to be it. So I headed in the next aisle over and still couldn't find it. Ok, by now I'm beginning to wonder if Candid Camera is playing a joke on me or something because my car was not where I parked it! So I thought more about it and realized MAYBE I went the wrong way from the original direction I thought it was parked. By this time I am hoping no one has spotted me and realized that there was the idiot who couldn't remember where she parked. You know those guys that sit in the car and let their wife do all the shopping while they wait! (Don't even get me started on that subject because I think grocery shopping shouldn't be a wife thing)...

By this point, I'm sure there was someone who saw me but I didn't care. So the problem was I still didn't know where my car was. So I headed back in the original direction, darting in between cars hoping not to be spotted as the parking lot moron, and then I realized something. I now have a keychain with an alarm button on my car that I could set off and find it!

Great idea ~ other than I didn't want to be more of an idiot by setting off my alarm and making a bigger scene. I already felt like the dumb butt who couldn't find her car, so why would I want to draw more attention to myself? So I hit the lock button knowing it would beep. Well as soon as I spotted it and hit the lock button to confirm it was my ride, I heard the horn honk at me.

Yay! My car was greeting me and was happy to be found. I don't know who was happier, me or my car ~ I was no longer the parking lot moron and the car was no longer lost!

My brother told me something today. He referred to my blog as my blonde blog. He could be right, maybe. And you won't hear me say that too often about my brother, HA! So anyway he sent me a text this morning and I wrote him back and asked if he was in class. His response was "what do you think?" Well I assumed he was in class, BUT kids aren't supposed to be texting in class. So what was his excuse? Everyone does it anyway! Hey, he could have been in the hallway or something for all I knew. So there you go brother, put it down in the record books, you're officially in the blog JWH!

Where is Heaven?

Last night I was asked a question that made me think before I answered. My daughter was sitting at the table and said "Mommy, where is heaven?" I thought for a minute. Then I answered that heaven was in the sky and that's where God lives.

Our family dog of 11 years passed away back in July. She has talked about Chewy numerous times since. I have tried to explain to her that Chewy died and we buried her so God could come and take her to heaven. Well, she continues to want to buy Chewy a toy at the store, or little things like that. She told her grandma they needed to dig Chewy up because she is all dirty and we need to clean her up. So trying to explain about heaven and that it is where people and animals go when they die is difficult when it comes to little ones.

Then she asked me about her sister that we lost before she was born. I said baby Mindy is in heaven and she asked why. She is on the "why" stage that little ones pass through at some point. I told her Mindy was in heaven because she was sick when she was born and God took her from this earth when she was 9 days old. She has seen pictures of Mindy and knows that is her sister. She will one day understand when she gets older.

It is a pondering question though: "Where is heaven?" We believe that it is above the clouds and that it is beautiful with golden streets and angels and perfect harmony. Even though my daughter is too young to understand at this point in her life, it does make me think more about where it is and what's it like in heaven.

As I was driving this morning, I took these picture of the sunrise. It was such a beautiful bright orange sun rise this morning. And yes I was driving and taking picture at the same time. I promise there were no cars coming or I wouldn't have been multi-tasking like that. But my point is look at these pictures. Look at the bottom picture. Do you see it? It almost resembles a cross with a light in the middle. Please note I didn't take this picture on purpose for that reason. But that's what I saw after I looked at the pics I had taken. Take a look and see if you agree with me.

Please Say A Prayer

Please add this man and his family to your prayer list. There was a couple en route from New York to Indiana because the man was scheduled to be best man in a wedding today. I do not know details but they had a terrible accident while traveling. The man is in critical condition and his wife was killed in the accident. Please say a prayer for him, his family and his wife's family. It's a sad situation. It goes to show again how we never know what God has planned for us. And when it is our time to come home, he calls us one by one. The pain of dealing with a wreck such as that and the shock of sudden death is very hard and almost unbearable for those closest to the victim.

I cannot say I have been affected directly by a wreck such as that, but I did know a couple with an only child who was killed in the summer of 2000. They were on their way to pick up their daughter and were hit head on by a driver that crossed the center line. The mother was killed instantly and the father died while being life lined to the hospital. Their daughter was 9 years old and didn't fully understand what happened. I wasn't super close the family but I knew the mom and the daughter through my former employer and showing horses. They were sweet people. I will never forget when I heard the name of who had been killed. I was driving to work the next morning and they announced the name and I thought I heard it wrong. Nope, after making a few phone calls, I had heard the name right. And my life has never been the same since. I remember going to the calling hours of this couple. The little girl pointed to the casket on the left and said "there is my mom" and to the casket on the right and said "there is my dad." WOW talk about heart break and fighting back tears.

My life has never been the same since that crash. I became terrified to drive for awhile even though I had to still drive to work and home everyday. I became terrified to let anyone drive with my daughter in their car. I would make them call when they got to their destination. I had the fear of putting her in her carseat in another vehicle and never seeing her again. I have since gotten better about that fear but I can say my worst fear is probably driving. And if I see a wreck or pass by a car that has been wrecked, I freak out for a moment. I cannot look at a wrecked car without my body going into shock for a minute.

Please say a prayer for the man who is in the hospital and for the wife who was called above. And for their family and friends because they are the ones most affected by this tragedy. And take the opportunity to say a prayer for another day on earth and live it to the fullest! You never know when your time will come...

I Believe...

I BELIEVE

I believe... That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I believe... That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I believe... That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I believe... That 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.

I believe... That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I believe... That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I believe... That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I believe... That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I believe... That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I believe... That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I believe... That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

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

I believe... That money is a LOUSY way of keeping score.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

I believe... That life is more precious than money will ever be able to be.

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

I believe... That regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

My Quote List

I am such a quote person. I love to look at a quote and think how I could apply that saying to my life. So here goes a few I think have great meaning:

The key elements of life are patience and that things happen in God's time, not ours.

We must let go of the life we had planned, so as to make room for the life that is waiting for us.

Everything happens for a reason. Live your life the best you possibly can, learn from your mistakes, and challenge yourself to be a better person every day. You can't change the past and there is no reason to stress about the future. What's meant to be will always find a way.

Don't be afraid to let go...you never know who will catch you when your falling!

What's meant to be will always find its way.

Anyone can catch your eyes, but it takes someone special to catch your heart.

If you can't get somebody out of your head, maybe they are meant to be there.

NEVER give up on someone you CAN'T go one day without thinking about.

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

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.

The sun shines brightest after the storm.

If you love something set it free; if it returns its yours forever, if not it was never meant to be.

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

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

The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.

Dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.

It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives.

Everything is okay in the end. If it's not okay, then it's not the end.

Follow your heart for it will lead you true, follow your head to never really know YOU. For the head may lead you to your goal but the heart's journey will lead you to your soul.

If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so that I never have to live without you.

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

Our eyes are placed in front because it is more important to look ahead than to look back.

Don't settle for the one you can live with... wait for the one you can't live without.

LOVE: We think about it, sing about it, dream about it loose sleep worrying about it. When we don't know we have it, we search for it. When we discover it, we don't know what to do with it. When we have it, we fear loosing it. It is the constant source of pleasure and pain. But we don't know which it will be from one moment to the next. It is a short word, easy to spell, difficult to define & IMPOSSIBLE to live without.

It takes the risk of a fall to fall in love.

It's the chances you take, not the choices you make that will determine your destiny.

Situations come to pass, they never come to stay. And when we allow them to pass and disappear into the past like shadows, our vibrant spiritual selves remain, powerful in the present moment. That is the constant, the unchanging, in an ever changing world. Your deepest love will also be your deepest pain. The greatest joy can also be your greatest despair. Protect what is sacred and challenge all opposing forces.

Forget about all the reasons why something may not work. You only need to find one good reason why it will.

The possible and the impossible lie in a person's determination.

The grass is always greener -until you get there!

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is a beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is life, fight for it.

You got to give it all to live it all.

Never regret anything because at one time it was exactly what you wanted!

Love is when you find the one that carries your heart in her heart even if you do not stay together.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Love feels like heaven but it hurts like hell.

Love changes me. The way I think, the way I act, the way I decide. Sometimes I even go against my principle and beliefs in my life. Loving doesn't always mean I'll be happy, sometimes, all it provides me is pain and misery. Yet I am blinded by my strong emotions that I fail to see reality. Sometimes letting go is the only answer, and it hurts like hell. But I realized that its better to the person you love to be happy with someone else, than lonely with me. It's called SACRIFICE...

Love is somehow making choices... its either choosing pain for others happiness... or choosing happiness for others pain...

Love is pain because it isn't the one you hate that will hurt you, its the one you love.

Falling in love is not your choice....it is a game of chance. Falling out of love, however, is your decision to make.

Without love, you feel pain; with love, you end up with pain.

It takes a minute to have a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone - but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.

Nobody is worth your tears, but when you find the one that is, they won't make you cry.

Love is like a book. You have to end one chapter to begin another.

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to let us down probably will. You'll have your heart broken, probably more than once, and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when someone broke yours. You'll fight with your best friend and maybe even fall in love with them. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast and you'll eventually lose someone close to you. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every 60 seconds you spend angry or upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

They say if you love something, you've got to let it go ~ if it comes back it means so much more; if it does not than at least you know it was something you had to go through to GROW!

Life is too short. Too short to hold grudges, too short to hate, too short to regret what could have or should have been done, too short to be upset, too short to deny someone a second chance, too short to deny forgiveness, too short to take things for granted. Too short to take life itself for granted. Live for today and live for yourself, but live a life you will be proud of.

Love starts with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a tear.

Don't cry over anyone who won't cry over you.

Don't frown. You never know who is falling in love with your smile.

When the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us.

The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.

Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they'll love you back! Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart but if it doesn't, be content it grew in yours. It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.

Don't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.

There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real!

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy.

Always put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched, and those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives.

Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss and ends with a tear.

The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past, you can't go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

Sometimes GOD breaks our spirit to save our soul. Sometimes, he breaks our heart to make us whole. Sometimes GOD sends us pain so we can be stronger. Sometimes GOD sends us failure so we can be humble. Sometimes GOD sends us illness so that we can better care ourselves. Sometimes GOD takes everything away from us so we can learn the VALUE of everything he gave us.

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 for that gift.

Don't tell God how big your storm is, tell your storm how big your God is.

If He brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

If God is the DJ, then Life is the dance floor; Love is the rhythm, and You are the music.

Every problem we go through is like a question in a test given by God himself.

I would rather live as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than to live as if there isn't a God and die to find out there isn't.

I'm Such a Blonde!

Yes, I am a blonde. Not a natural blonde though. Ok at least I will admit it. My hair has grown lighter over the last 3 years and I just keep going lighter! So I can blame my ditziness on being a blonde, even though I wasn't born a blonde. Ok so what did I do today that makes me a blonde?

Well we received a shipment from the FedEx man in my office. By the way, this FedEx man is new to our office. He is older and has white hair but he is nice. He isn't the tall blonde lady that brings us packages once a week. She is single with no kids and takes trips to Ireland. Maybe if I was single with no kids, I could take trips to Ireland. Oh wait, I don't know anyone in Ireland so why would I do that? HOLD IT... WAIT just a minute! Wasn't I telling the story about why I'm a blonde? Ok so back to that (sorry us blondes have a short attention span) LOL!

So anyways the nice FedEx man brought us a package. This box was flat as a pancake, but much larger. So as I hand it to my co-worker, I asked "is that our new calendars?" And her response was "yes." Now are you ready for the blonde moment? And NO I am not making this up.

I asked her "are they for next year?" Ok, now this is September so we are nearing the end of the calendar year in 3 months. Then I stood there thinking to myself "what did I just ask?" So then I sold myself out and asked her if she realized what I just said.

We all had a moment's laugh about it including myself. Then I told them we could turn this into a Jeff Foxworthy's "here's your sign" moment. Why in the world would we order new calendars and it not be for the year 2009? I guess I wanted a calendar for 2020, I don't really know! It was a lapse of brain activity and that is my final answer.

Go ahead, laugh because it was funny. You had to be here for the moment but hey, it's still comical. Just so long as you are laughing with me and not at me. Yes I know, you are laughing with me. Everyone always laughs WITH me. Why do I have trouble believing that line? HA!

Signed,

Blondie (my adopted name that my mother gave me)

If You Love Something, Set It Free...

I have always thought the quote went as follows:


"If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it was meant to be." There is another version to the quote that reads as follows:


"If you love something set it free. If it returns, it's yours forever; if not, it was never meant to be."


Both of these phrases mean the same thing. What exactly does this mean? This has been the question on my mind for a few weeks now. First of all I have to ask myself, if I love something, why would I set it free? I don't know the answer to that question today and I may never know the answer to that question. What I do know is that if things are meant to happen, they will find a way to work out. Sometimes it takes "setting something free" to reap the blessings or benefits of whatever it was that was set free. In the long run, things are worth the wait if they are meant to be.


To me the phrase "setting free" means to let go of something. Whether that is a person, an object, an animal, love or something material, that thing must be removed from the current setting or scenario. So once you have let go of whatever it was, then what? The next step is waiting. Yes, waiting. As hard as it is to wait for something, that is part of the process. But without the "waiting" phase, the end result cannot be determined. While in the "waiting phase" take time to reflect on what is was that was let go, why it was let go, and what the purpose of letting that thing go was.


You will find the answer to why it was let go but not always the purpose of why it was let go. Often times we may never know the purpose but that is ok. If God wants us to know the purpose, He will show us the purpose. So what is next? First you let it go and then you wait.


Then it's time to reflect on your life and yourself for a change. Take time to learn who you really are, what is really important in life, and what changes you need to make in your life to make you a better person. Once you discover who you really are, things seem to be clearer than they have in a long time. Once things are clear, then you can ultimately make decisions about your situation without rushing into a decision or jumping into something you will later regret.


Then comes the part of whether that something you let go will come back or not. Again, IF IT IS MEANT TO COME BACK, IT WILL. And if not, it won't. If that something you set free is something you cannot live without, then do what it takes to get that something back. And don't stop until you accomplish your goals. Sometimes you might have to make sacrifices you never thought possible, or make changes you never dreamed of. But again if the something is worth everything to you, then it is worth the sacrifices or changes that have to be made.


If you realize the thing you let go is something you can live without, then move on and be grateful that you did not waste more time or your life away on the thing you set free. Be grateful you have another chance to find the right thing in your life. Be grateful that you didn't make a rash decision that you will live to regret and have to deal with the consequences.


If we love something enough to set it free and it comes back to us, it will better than it ever was because it will be ours. If it doesn't come back, then it was meant for us to have something else and not that particular thing.


It is all already determined for us whether we realize it or not. If we stay true to what direction God sends us, he will show us what is meant to be and what is meant to be set free.

We Will Always Remember

Today is the eve of the terrible day that occurred in this country 7 years ago. That is one day that will go down in history we will remember for the rest of our lives. Not only will we remember the terrible events of the day, but we will remember where we were when he heard that our country was under attack. We will also remember what we did that day. I can remember I was at work at my previous job when I heard on the radio that one of the Twin Towers in New York had been hit by a plane and it would probably be in the news alot that day. Then within 10 minutes the radio stopped broadcasting their normally scheduled program and started in with full blown coverage of this "The United States is under terrorist attack..." I can remember my co-worker went and got a TV so we could watch the news coverage on television. I remember I was in Hallmark that day at lunch and people around me were talking about how terrible it was and if they knew of anyone around that area. There are so many stories and each person could tell their version of September 11, 2001. One e-mail that went around years ago was the one about driving with your headlights turned on all day in remembrance of those who lost their lives on 9/11. That is a tradition I have continued with each year on that particular day. So remember to wear red, white and blue on September 11 and take an extra moment to pray for our troops fighting overseas. When I wake up tomorrow morning, I will again remember what that day was like 7 years ago and I will remember the events of that day. Take a moment of silence during the intervals in the morning when the planes hit the buildings and then the moment the towers collapsed. And always remember to live each day to the fullest because we never know when God will come to call for us...

Life is a Journey...

I just watched a documentary about the the mistaken identity mix up of Laura Van Ryn and Whitney Cerak. It really had me thinking about life and I felt compelled to write my first blog ever. It really brought to light the fact that we all, including myself, are guilty of taking life for granted each day. I don't know the reason these two girls' identities were mixed up for 5 weeks but there was a reason. I don't know the reason bad things happen in this life but there is a reason for everything. I don't know the reason we lost Mindy Grace 5 1/2 years ago but there is a reason. I do know I have learned from every thing that has happened in life. I have learned that every decision I have ever made in life has landed me where I am today. My life is not where I thought it would be 11 years ago but I would not change a thing that has happened in my life. Again everything happens for a reason and I live by that every single day.

I believe life is a journey. Every decision we make in life effects where we are today. There are many curves, twists and turns along the straight road of life. We must live each day to the fullest and know that we gave our all for that day. There are many things in life that people take for granted every day. What ultimately matters in life are the little things. Because in the end, what does it matter how much money you made, or how big of a house you had, or what extravagant trips you took in your life, or how many clothes you had in your closet, or how nice of a car you drove. It brings to my back to my point that life is unknown and we have to live every day as if we don't know what will happen tomorrow. I want to know that at the end of each day I did something to make a difference to someone that day. Whether it be my children, a friend, a family member, or a perfect stranger, I want to know I have made a positive difference in someone's life that day. I believe if things are meant to be, that God will find a way to make things work out regardless of the situation or how glum things seem at the time.

If you are taking the time to read this, please take a moment to reflect on what is truly important in life. Slow down, take a breath and focus on your life for a moment. Are you moving too fast? Are your priorities set to material things versus family and friends or what is really important to you? If you answered yes to either question, take a step back and think about it. I mean REALLY THINK ABOUT IT. I love the line in the song that reads "you ain't never seen a hearse with a luggage rack." Slow down, take time for what is important and focus on that rather than things that will not matter when you are no longer on this earth.

Again, life is a journey we travel but ultimately God decides our destination. We can make choices that effect our destination but it is not up to us to determine where we will end up. Only He knows that and I believe if you ask God for prayer and guidance, you will receive it. Take life one day at a time and realize that the choices you make today effect where you end up tomorrow. Now take a break, go hug your children or friends or family because they are what is most important on this earth!