Happy New Year 2010!

It's that time of year again. The last day of the year and the welcoming of a new year to arrive in just a few hours. The day we all make resolutions and then stick to them for a couple weeks and then forget what our resolutions were. I don't really make resolutions, but I set small goals for myself that I would like to accomplish each year. 2009 has been a great year for me and my girls. I started out 2009 with no clue what would happen during the year. I am happy to say it's turned out to be a pretty good year. There were hills and valleys like there are in everyday life, but the good news is that it was more on flat ground this year!

Last year was my big year of change in 2008. I learned so much about myself in that year. I have still learned alot about myself in 2009 but in different ways. We all have things we need to experience so that we can learn lessons in life. That goes both ways for good lessons and hard lessons. . I have met some wonderful people this year that have touched my life in so many ways. It can even start as early as January 1 of the new year. And it did. January 1 was a new year, a new beginning for me to experience 365 days of excitement, craziness, good times, sad times, and to learn even more about what direction God wants me to go. Looking back, this year was more leveled out than some others years I've had in life. I'm starting and ending the year the same person I was on December 31, 2008. I have changed a little but not near as much as last year.

Did I mention that time took away the 2 and left me with a 3 for another decade. I can't exactly say the word "thirty" yet. But I'm working on it. Really, I am. But let's not talk about age right now...

This has been a year of fun with the best things that have ever happened to me ~ my girls. They are both growing up so fast. My little one took a mature turn when she started preschool and is much more pleasant to be around most of the time =). Lately she will look at me and say "Mommy, I love you so much" and it almost brings tears to my eyes every time! That brightens my world when I hear that from my baby and makes me forget about everything else at the time. My oldest is also becoming more grown up in her own way too. She is no longer the "little girl" even though she is still my little girl. I do believe the pre-teen thing has hit our house this year and some days I like it, other days I can't stand it. Regardless, she has become a little adult in her own little way and it's nice. I can actually talk to her more than I ever could and she understands more. She is still the same sweet daughter she has always been; that is something she will never loose. She is quite mature for her age and it's nice to be able to sit down and snuggle with my baby who will hit double digits next year.

Reflecting back, it's been a good year. I would like to thank each person who changed my life this year. I am grateful for each and everything that happened to me this year because it made me into a better person and molded me into who I am TODAY. I have been wonderfully blessed in my job, in my family, with my friends, in my life. I cannot thank God enough for all He has done in my life, and my daughters lives. So here is a big welcome to 2010! Thank you 2009 for such a great year, but it's time to move on and allow the next year and the surprises it holds to arrive. I want to wish each and every one a Happy New Year! Be safe, live happy, laugh often, love much, and don't regret anything you ever did because at one point it was exactly what you wanted. Toodles until next year and may you have a blessed new year in 2010!

Merry Late Christmas to You!

Life is busy. It sometimes never seems to slow down. There is always something going on, somewhere to go, something to do, someone that needs something. The bottom line is life is a constant merry go round of excitement, happiness, sadness, and craziness with its ups and downs. But it is also what we make of it too.


There will always be wonderful, good and great times in this world. Cherish those times because they don't come around as often as they should. Or is it that we don't make the time for good times like we should? There are times when we need to take a step back and force ourselves to slow down. Yes, literally force ourselves to take a little break or lift our foot from the accelerator pedal just a bit.


As I always say, along with those good times come the not so good times. Cherish those times as well because those are the times that teach us about life, and we can really learn alot in our down times. Those down times allow us to appreciate the good times we are given. We also need to make time for the not so good times because sometimes we are given those terrible times to make us learn a lesson, or to take a different direction that God wants us to take. Just remember, we must take the good with the bad in all aspects in life.


This time of year is a time for families and friends to gather. A time to appreciate our loved ones and those close friendships we have. Christmas time always brings out the good in people, but it can also bring up sad memories as well. People tend to be a little bit nicer and jollier than they normally would any other time of the year. It's sad that Christmas is only one day out of 365 because if you do the math, that means people are less friendly more days of the year than not. Not everyone falls into this category, but many do. I try to be happy and nice 365 days a year but even I have my moments. Speaking of sad memories around Christmas, sometimes the holidays are something we want to skip because of the loss of a loved one, or because something bad has happened to us that year. I always say to cherish every moment because we never know what will happen from day to day. I found myself looking at the picture of the daughter I lost 6 1/2 years ago for a moment on Christmas Day. Even though we have been 7 Christmases without Mindy Grace, she is always remembered on Christmas. But rather than tear up and be sad, I simply remember she is an angel in Heaven and is no longer in pain.


The holidays have came and will soon be gone but please remember to try to keep the Christmas spirit from this day forward. It's easier said than done and many of us will go back to our normal daily busy lives and fall into our routine once January is here. It's just a simple thought, but a good one at that. Take it for what it's worth, but wouldn't it be nice for people to be happy more often then they are sad? Just remember to pray each day, live life to the fullest, and be the best person you can be for yourself, your family, your friends, and for God. He wants nothing but the best for us, but we have to choose to take the happy path and live it the best way we can. Since I did not get to post before Christmas, Merry Christmas to all, even if it a couple days late! =-)

To Realize the Value...

Maybe you have seen these words before in an email or somewhere else, but they are very true. Too often, we take life for granted. We take the little things we are accustomed to for granted. We take our family and friends for granted because we think they will always be there. Life is too short not to live happy and healthy. We all should take a little time out of each day to thank God for our blessings and hug our loved ones a little tighter. We should speak what is on our mind and let people know we care. So I will start with saying enjoy the words below, and do something different day, something you don't normally do. Call up that friend you haven't talked to in awhile, spend a few minutes with your child or children just talking to them, pay it forward and do something nice for a total stranger. Hope you enjoy these statements and realize the value of how precious life and all that it contains is. Have a wonderful day!


To realize the value of a sister or brother, ask someone who doesn't have one.


To realize the value of ten years, ask a newly divorced couple.


To realize the value of four years, ask a graduate.


To realize the value of one year, ask a student who has failed a final exam.


To realize the value of nine months, ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.


To realize the value of one month, ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.


To realize the value of one week, ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.


To realize the value of one minute, ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane.


To realize the value of one second, ask a person who has survived an accident.


To realize the value of a friend or family member, lose one.


Time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have.

Life is Short

Life is short. We never know what will happen from one day to the next, sometimes even one minute to the next. I always preach to live life to the fullest and grab every opportunity that comes your way. Do you wish you had a crystal ball that could tell you your future? Tell you exactly what was going to happen, when it was going to happen, how it was going to happen? Many in this world would answer Yes to this question. I probably would have wanted to know my future a few years ago, but my answer would be No at this point in my life. Life is full of surprises and we never know what is coming our way, and that's half the fun of life. We all have good times and wonderful moments in life. But we must take the good with the bad and have those moments that aren't so great in our life as well.

I wrote about a lady who inspired me about a year ago. I met this lady a little over a year ago, she has done business in my office a few times. She was diagnosed with cancer but she wasn't going to let it get her down and she was fighting that battle tooth and nail with everything she had. Her husband has been in the office a few times since and I always ask about her because she truly had an impact on me. I came back from lunch today and was informed he had been in while I was gone and heard the tragic news that she has been given two weeks to live. My heart is breaking and I barely know this woman. Her personality reminded me so much of mine and maybe that is why I am so sad over this. This is heartbreaking, but I know from talking to this lady, she has a spot at Heaven's gates waiting for her. She has so much faith in God and has grown with Him since she was diagnosed with cancer. Even though you do not know this woman, I am asking you to please pray for her and her family. She is such a sweetheart and I can almost bet she will be in good positive spirits these last few days the Lord gives her on this earth. But please pray for this family, they are going to need extra comfort especially around the holidays.

We always question why things happen. But there are no answers to those questions. The only answer is to keep moving forward and ask God what the next chapter is in our life. I have always said life is like a book and there are many chapters in the storybook of life. I want to know that I did things to the best of my ability, that I was the best person I could be, and that I lived a full life with no regrets when my time comes one fine day. I wish everyone could have that same attitude, but that can't and will never happen. If I can influence one person to become a better person, or become right with God, or to do more good in their life, then that is worth it all. I want to be a positive rode model for all those that know me, and those that have never even met me. I will never shake my positive attitude about life and everything that happens. I will always be an optimistic person because I choose to be.

I will say it again - life is too short. Do you know how many times I hear that on a weekly basis? You have probably even said it yourself a time or two. This time of year people tend to be a little jollier, a little more upbeat, a little nicer, a little sweeter than the rest of the year. My question is why can't people be like that all year long? People tend to show their nice and giving side this time of year. But if you think about it, if people could be nice and more giving all year long, life would be alot better and easier than it is. Do you agree? There wouldn't be as many fights or as much negativity floating around as there is today. I know I am speaking in a wishful tone, but it is the truth. We just never know what life will throw at us from day to day, so remember to make the most of it and never let an opportunity pass you by. Grab on it and hang on because life has ups and downs everyday. It's the surprise and mystery of life that makes it worth living.

A Story of Two Wolves

TWO WOLVES

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. "

One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather:

"Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Random Things In Our Head

I read the following in an e-mail and found myself laughing at several of these. Most of them are true if we think about it! I know I found myself nodding in agreement to some. Enjoy!




RANDOM THINGS WE ALL THINK IN OUR HEAD, BUT DO NOT SPEAK OUT LOUD:



- More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can't wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that's not only better, but also more directly involves me. (Depends on who is talking!)



- Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong. (OOPS! I will say to my blog readers that I will admit when I'm wrong no matter how difficult it is. That is something most people cannot or will not do.)



- Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk. (This one applies to me walking around the Wal-Mart parking lot looking for my beloved car. And on average, it happens about once a week month. That's why I am nicknamed Blondie!)



- I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger. (Oh Lord yes! I would give my left arm somedays to be allowed to take a nap...)



- Is it just me, or are 80% of the people in the "people you may know" feature on Facebook people that I do know, but I deliberately choose not to be friends with? (Amen to this one)



- Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft. (Today's society is totally different. I miss those old Nintendo games =(. I had alot of late nights with that system. Why do we have to grow up?!?!)



- There is a great need for sarcasm font. (Uh, YA!!!)



- Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it. (Um hmmmm....)



- I think everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the only one who really, really gets it. (I'm not dramatic, but I will run my yapper during my favorite movies to make sure others understand why that part was SO important!)



- How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet? (Very carefully)



- I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in. (I do this every day of my life. With 2 kids, I have to do this. And I am so stubborn that I will make a point to see how few trips I can get the stuff in and then look at all my treasures I piled high to obtain that goal!)



- I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die. (I think we can all agree with this. Or burn that box of stuff that no one should be allowed to find!)



- LOL has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say". (I have encountered this a time or two with men who lack in conversation.)



- I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger. (That is why I have a snack drawer at work and take an M & M break every afternoon!)



- Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart". (Uh, explain this one to the blonde one. Just kidding! My theory is people are either common sense smart or book smart. I used to be more book smart, but over time I have become more common sense smart which is the better smart to be, I think. LOL)



- How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said? (I did this just the other day at Subway when I could not understand the foreign guy. I just looked at my bf and shook my head and rolled my eyes).



- I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent a dick from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers! (That line of cars on the highway that gang up on the jerk. Yep, I want to be right in the middle of that and not the "jerk" that they are being mean to!)



- Every time I have to spell a word over the phone using 'as in' examples, I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete idiot. Today I had to spell my boss's last name to an attorney and said "Yes that's G as in...(10 second lapse)..ummm...Goonies". (D 'as in' dragondaffodilfly, S 'as in' supercalifragilisticexpieledocious. Hee hee!)



- What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other? (If I only had the capital to hire private detectives!)



- While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart. (I can say I have never done this one... yet.)



- I find it hard to believe there are actually people who get in the shower first and THEN turn on the water. (I grew up in an old farmhouse where I had to do this. And I was lucky if I got a shower everyday because of the stupid water. Thank God I don't have that problem today or I would cry. Literally. Cry.)



- Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Trousers? Trousers never get dirty; you can wear them forever. (I don't have to wash any trousers as of right now but I will remember this one in case I ever need it. LOL)



- I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired. (So true when you're a hardworking mom with kids to take care of. If I get home before 6:00 p.m. anymore I am shocked!)



- Bad decisions make good stories. (Oh yes!)



- Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public, I feel like a kid on Christmas morning that just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do! (Never done this one, nope, never!)



- Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from, this shouldn't be a problem... (I always worry I'm gonna forget what I'm supposed to say. Like they give you a list of 3 things to say and sometimes people have to be reminded of what the third thing was. How embarrassing!)



- You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything productive for the rest of the day. (That's a given. Some days are bust butt get 20 hours worth of work done in 10, and others are get 1 hour's worth done in 9. Those days are great.)



- Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection. (I can never keep up with the current "in" right now so update me that happens, k?)



- There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far. (HAHAHA! Oh wait, I'm not laughing. HAHAHA! Karma will get me for laughing at this one.)



- I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to. (Yeah, hate it when that happens)



- "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this ever. (I will add do not dry flannel shirts. I learned this when I was 15. OOPS.)



- I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people watching TV. There's so much pressure. 'I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren't watching this. It's only a matter of time before they all get up and leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?' (This is true because you want to please everyone but as always, you cannot please everyone all the time. The children rule the TV in our house most of the time anyway so I usually just settle for cartoons. Because sometimes Dora is my saving grace and allows me to get some housework done!)



- I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Darn!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away? (When this happens, it plain irritates me. Or what about this one - you have a missed call from a number you don't know? Do you call it back? Do you just let it go? The suspense drives me crazy and I usually call the number back. I just can't stand knowing someone called me and not knowing who the mystery caller was!)



- I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste. (Amen. Or the opposite happens ~ you decide to make it a lazy day and all these visitors show up on your doorstep unannounced. Or an ex husband stops by at 5:00 in the afternoon and you and the kids are still in jammies. Not that that's ever happened or anything! I rarely get these lazy days but they are nice every once in a great while.)



- When I meet a new girl, I'm terrified of mentioning something she hasn't already told me but that I have learned from some light internet stalking. (Have you ever been guilty of internet stalking? Never, right? Why don't I buy that for one minute?? Google has many uses these days!!)



- I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes. (Considering I don't have an ipod and can barely work my daughter's, I can't say this fits me to the T. However, I have made CDs ~ you know those circle shiny disks that play music ~ CDs. I have made some with my fav songs on them and now those songs get on my nerves. I can listen to a CD of 20 songs in like 5 minutes!)



- Why is a school zone 5 mph? That seems like the optimal cruising speed for paedophiles... (Yup. Not to mention how hard is it to drive 5 mph. Not that I'm a speed demon or anything...)



- Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is. (Can't say I do this one. But I will look at my watch 3 times in 2 minutes!)



- I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call. (Enough said!)



- Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, hitting the G-spot, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey, but I'd bet money everyone can find and push the Snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time every time... (This is me every morning when Taylor Swift starts singing to me! What can I say? It's a song loud enough guaranteed to wake me up every time. That is the only time I will cuss my beloved little cell buddy.)



-My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "Dad what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the hell do I respond to that? (My 4 yo daughter asks me the most random things, often times in the car. The other day we were in the drive through of a restaurant behind several cars and she yelled "Oh come on lady. You can't take so long lady." I busted a gut while trying to order!)



- I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit. (I am sure they do. Even if it looks like a police car behind me, I slow down and obey the speed limit. Maybe that is why they drive with their sirens on sometimes, so they can speed too, and it would be legal. Just a thought.)



- I think the freezer deserves a light as well. (Yeah, what's up with that anyway?)



- The other night I ordered take away and when I looked in the bag, saw they had included four sets of plastic cutlery. In other words, someone at the restaurant packed my order, took a second to think about it, and then estimated that there must be at least four people eating to require such a large amount of food. Too bad I was eating by myself. There's nothing like being made to feel like a fat butt before dinner. (Maybe they were trying to be nice and supply your home with extra silverware??)

A Thankful Poem

I Am Thankful For...

For the teenager who is not doing dishes but is watching TV, because that means he is at home and not on the streets.

For the taxes I pay, because it means that I am employed.

For the mess to clean after a party, because it means that I have been surrounded by friends.

For the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means I have enough to eat.

For my shadow that watches me work, because it means I am out in the sunshine.

For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing, because it means I have a home.

For all the complaining I hear about the government, because it means that we have freedom of speech.

For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot, because it means I am capable of walking, and that I have been blessed with transportation.

For my huge heating bill, because it means I am warm.

For the lady behind me in my place of worship when she sings off key, because it means that I can hear.

For the pile of laundry and ironing, because it means I have clothes to wear.

For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means I have been capable of working hard.

For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it means that I am alive.
and finally....

For too much e-mail, because it means I have friends who are thinking of me.

It's Great to Have a Good Laugh!

Laughter is good for the soul. Laughter is good for the mind, body and spirit too. I love to laugh, even when I don't want to laugh sometimes. We all need a good laugh every now and again. Sometimes we laugh at something that happens, our children, things others do, or even laugh at ourselves as well. And there are sometimes we have to contain our laughter for the sake of others. Like when someone slips and falls on the ice or down the stairs, your initial thought should be to make sure that person is ok. Then the thought immediately following is usually the fact that you want to laugh. We are all human, we have all done it. I know I have had to bite my tongue more than once around my kids. But once they leave the room, I can let the laughter erupt. We have all been there, done that, and laughing is a great thing!

Laughter can be a source of therapy sometimes. We can be having the worst day or nothing seems to be going right, and then something happens to make us laugh. It relaxes our minds, releases tension and stress, and makes us feel better after we've had a good laugh. It has the same effect as a good cry does; we always feel better after we've had a crying spell over something. We can equally feel better after having a laughter spell over something. So the next time you are having a rough time or a hard day, think of something funny! Even if you don't want to laugh, find something to laugh about because it will help ease your day and lighten your mood.

We have all had "oops" moments that we want to run and hide under a rock and hide our faces for eternity. We all make mistakes that result in embarrassing ourselves at some point or another. The best thing to do when this happens is to try and forget about what has happened, laugh about it too, and move on. Don't dwell on it, don't even think about it. As time passes, people will forget and it won't be as funny as the moment when it happened. We may do things that people will always remember, but at least we don't have to walk around red-faced forever. Time passes and so will those little embarrassing moments we all have.

Not only do we ourselves have "oops" moments, but it happens to other people all the time. Funny things happen all the time, jokes are spread like wildfire on the internet. There is always something to laugh about if you think about it. How many times have you thought about something that happened to another person in the past and still laugh about it to this day? Most people can recall at least one funny memory like that. But when it happens to others, it's even funnier because it didn't happen to YOU. Think about that statement. If something really embarrassing happens to someone, you have to laugh about it. But then when you think "I'm glad it was them and not me," it makes the scenario even funnier.

I know for me personally, I find more laughter in things that my kids do and say. My little one sure has that ability, she makes me laugh every single day. Her latest overstated phrase of "I got you a question" was hilarious when I first heard it. Now I find myself telling other people "I got you a question!" I really have to watch what I say because I pick up the 4 year old lingo and it sticks. Ever notice how that works? Your kids will say something so many times and it kind of grows on you after awhile. So just beware if you have little ones, sometimes their childlike language becomes a part of your everyday vocabulary. And then you can make others laugh when you use the words of your children in adult conversation!

Have you ever been slap happy? I love that term! Slap happy just sounds funny in itself. Being slap happy doesn't mean you go around happily slapping everyone (and I know a few who would not to mention any names) but it simply means you are giggly and in a happy mood. Not only do I love the term, but I love being slap happy. This usually happens to people when they are low on sleep and really tired but have a burst of energy right before they are going to crash. Sometimes it takes a little bit of alcohol and people get slap happy. It's like being on a cloud and not focusing on reality for a short time. And everything you do while in slap happy mode is funny to you and you think everyone else should laugh about it too. It could be the silliest or dumbest thing, but it's just hysterical. People don't get slap happy too often, but when they do, stand by and watch because you might just get a few good laughs over it!

Some people are happy go lucky and can laugh all the time. Other people are depressed, sad and mope around all the time. And then there are those in between. We all have good and happy days. But we also all have bad and not so good days. We also all have our moods too ~ up, down, happy, sad, focused, scatterbrained, etc. Our mood will determine how much laughter we will release in a day. So if we can stay in a positive and upbeat mode, we will be able to laugh and have more fun in a day then if we down or depressed about something. Even on a bad day, we all need to see the light and be thankful for all of our blessings, and smile! Smiling is contagious and if you smile, you will feel better =-) !

Let's see, what else comes to mind when I think about laughing? Well, the fact that laughing can make us happier in life. We need to forget about all the bad things in life and focus on the positive. So the time to start is now. Put aside all the bad thoughts in your brain and think about the good ones. Think about the funny thing your child said or did, think about something funny that happened at someone else's expense but was funnier then heck, think about one of those "oops" moments you've had and laugh. Laugh about it! It's healthy to let it out. It's good for the heart and soul to laugh. Ok, back to Gigglytown for me. Now I just have to remember the last funny thing my daughter said to me....

Have a good day and laugh, laugh, and laugh some more!!!

A Lesson on Being Nice

One of my biggest pet peeves is people that cannot be nice. Everyone is perfectly capable of being nice, some people just choose to be jerks or rude and snooty to others. We are all created equal when God places us on this earth. But some people gain the attitude that they are better than others and treat others with little or no respect at all. It really saddens me when I see people being mean to others, or belittling their family or friends, or their own children for that matter. It just isn't right.

Have you ever heard the theory about how we are nice to complete strangers but sometimes not so nice to our own family? There was an example in an e-mail one time about how if we bump into a perfect stranger in the store we will say "I'm sorry" and apologize, but if we bump into someone in our household while passing through the hallway or in a room, we yell at the person to "watch out." Sound familiar? Often times people do this and don't even realize it. I make a habit that if I have had a stressful day at work or am upset about something, NOT to take it out on my family or my daughters. Sometimes we have a bad day at work and we come home in a bad mood and are cranky with our spouse, kids, and family. If this happens, the best thing to do is to literally put all the bad stuff outside on the doorstep before you enter the household. Then once you enter the front door, you do not think about work, you do not worry about what you have to accomplish the next day, you just leave it outside your house and can pick it up in the morning on the way out the door. That way you are not cranky and yelling at family members who have nothing to do with the problems from a job or somewhere else. It's not the kids' fault that you had a bad day, so don't take it out on them. Not everyone is this way and thank God not everyone is like this or this world would be in even more trouble. But seriously, if this scenario describes you, take a step back and think about how it reflects on others. If you are grouchy with them for something they have no control over, it just causes friction and angry feelings between family members. And that does not make for a happy household!

Having a stressful day at work is only one scenario. Sometimes people are just grouchy or cranky in general. Only their close friends or family members know how they REALLY are behind closed doors. So many times people put on a happy face so that everyone else will think their life is perfect and that they have no problems. But we all have issues or problems at some point or another. And if we didn't, then we would not be human! So the best thing to do is when you have a problem, find a way to solve it. Do not let it fester and turn you into some kind of wicked monster that no one can stand to be around.


Why is it that some people can be nice to others' faces and then turn around and stab them in the back two seconds later? These people are called Two Face and that is a term I personally cannot stand. If someone is going to be like that around me, then that person will not be around me for very long. I cannot stand those people who are a "fake nice." They pretend to be your friend, and then use what information they can to run your name through the mud. That is another one of my biggest pet peeves. Usually people like this are huge gossipers and stir up drama as much as they possibly can.

Then there are some people that just cannot be happy no matter what happens in life. And not only are they not happy, but they try to drag others down with them. They can't be nice to other people, and they probably aren't nice to themselves either. The ultimate sad truth is that no matter what you do for the person, around the person, or anything you do in life is not good enough, nor will it ever be good enough. You could be a saint in this world, you could live a perfect life, you could discover oil and become rich, you could do alot of things right and it's still not good enough for that person. And when we have to deal with someone like this, it makes life difficult and it hurts. It physically, mentally, and emotionally hurts a person to the point they can only handle so much. And we all have our limits, some more than others. And usually when pushed to the limit, people will react differently. I personally start walking backwards, keep my distance, and push people like this away. I believe life is too short to fight over stupid petty things and if someone wants to dwell on every little detail of life, I feel sorry for them. I feel genuinely sorry for that person because they are missing out alot on life.

It's sad but sometimes it takes something drastic happening to someone to make them step back and look at how they are treating others, how they are taking life and everything for granted, and how they have turned into a person they don't even like or know anymore. Sometimes it takes someone dying, or a car wreck, or a disease, or a job loss, or a divorce, or a major change for that person to see the light. And even sometimes when something drastic happens, that person still doesn't get it. They don't understand what kind of person they have turned into, or the fact that no one wants to be around them because they feast on pessimistic thoughts all the time. It's almost as if the devil has grabbed a hold of them, and really won them over and refuses to let that person go. Sometimes God uses tragic events or the loss of a person on earth to make people realize what they have taken for granted, or uses those events to make people change their lives for the better. We never want to lose anyone near and dear to us, but people go to Heaven when their time arrives, whether we want them to go or not. Sometimes losing a loved one takes more of a toll on people than others realize. Regardless of the tragic event, sometimes it takes something like that to make people see the light and change into a good person that is hidden somewhere deep inside themselves.

Too often times people let things fester for too long and that is a reason they cannot be nice to others. Families feud, friendships break up, couples break up, marriages break up, and the list goes on and on all because someone could not be nice. If we all do our part and have respect for other people, and keep our nose out of everyone else's business, cut down on the gossip all together, and don't stir drama up, this world would have alot more happier people. Some people get their high off of gossipping or stirring up trouble. And I'm sorry to say, but for those people, it's karma that will come back around and bite them in the butt some day.

Just remember close friends and family are really sometimes all you have. Even if you lose everything, your true friends and true family will always be there for you. But if you want to keep true friends and family, you must be a true friend or family member as well. You must respect others the way you want to be respected. You must treat others the way you want to be treated. It's just common sense and common decency to be a good person if you want others to be good to you. Family is family because they are blood related or adopted. Friends are friends because God has brought people into your life for a purpose.

I just wish everyone could be nice in this world. I wish everyone would think more positively and not be so negative all the time. I wish everyone could give respect to others that they expect in return. I wish people would keep their mouth shut and their opinions to themselves when it's going to hurt other people. I wish people would not make judgements about others and how they live their life. I wish people could all get along with bickering and fighting over petty crap. I wish more people could have my attitude and be nice and positive more often. I wish more people would pray to the Lord for guidance and for Him to show them their purpose in this life. I wish people would leave well enough alone and stop trying to drum up drama out of nothing. I wish people would stop gossiping to others and forming their own conclusions when they don't have all the facts. I wish people would stop telling others how they should be living their life. I wish people would wake up in the morning with a cheerful smile, do something good for someone else each day, and go to bed a happy person. I wish I had a genie that could make all this come true but that is wishful thinking.

If you find yourself being mean to others, being judgemental, being hateful, or being rude, why? Why do you want to live your life that way? Have you ever thought your actions and words hurt others to the point that you could lose them for good one day? Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and say that you do not like the person you have become? If so, it's time to make a change and the time is now. Do not wait until it's too late because tomorrow could be too late. The world could end tonight and you would not be guaranteed a spot in Heaven. Something bad could happen to you right now and you would never be able to apologize for the wrong things you have done in this world. Sometimes we need to be harsh on ourselves to make ourselves a better person. The time to do that is now; for tomorrow may be too late. If you are a mean person for too long, you will grow to be a bitter old person. And I pity people like that. I pray for everyone right now who needs to be a better and nicer person starting here and now. I pray that the Lord gives them the tools they need to be a better person for themselves and for the sake of others. Remember life is short, we only get one life to live so why not make the most of it? Enjoy life's simple little pleasures. Take a fresh breath of air and be grateful for the blessings that God has given you. Make a positive difference in this world. That is only the beginning. You must choose to live a nicer and happier life. May God help anyone who needs to be nicer to others. He is there; you just have to ask for His help. God Bless!

Installing Love Conversation

This is an e-mail I received I thought was worth posting. It's talking about installing love into your life. Enjoy the conversation below:


Installing LoveTech Support: Yes, how can I help you?

Customer: Well, after much consideration, I've decided to install Love. Can you guide me through the process?

Tech Support: Yes. I can help you. Are you ready to proceed?

Customer: Well, I'm not very technical, but I think I'm ready. What do I do first?

Tech Support: The first step is to open your Heart. Have you located your Heart?

Customer: Yes, but there are several other programs running now. Is it okay to install Love while they are Running?

Tech Support: What programs are running?

Customer: Let's see, I have Past Hurt, Low Self-Esteem, Grudge and Resentment running right now.

Tech Support: No problem, Love will gradually erase Past Hurt from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory but it will no longer disrupt other programs. Love will eventually override Low Self-Esteem with a module of its own called High Self-Esteem. However, you have to completely turn off Grudge and Resentment. Those programs prevent Love from being properly installed. Can you turn those off?

Customer: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?

Tech Support: With pleasure. Go to your start menu and invoke Forgiveness. Do this as many times as necessary until Grudge and Resentment have been completely erased.

Customer: Okay, done! Love has started installing itself. Is that normal?

Tech Support: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other Hearts in order to get the upgrades.

Customer: Oops! I have an error message already. It says, "Error - Program not run on external components." What should I do?

Tech Support: Don't worry. It means that the Love program is set up to run on Internal Hearts, but has not yet been run on your Heart. In non-technical terms, it simply means you have to Love yourself before you can Love others.

Customer: So, what should I do?

Tech Support: Pull down Self-Acceptance; then click on the following files: Forgive-Self; Realize Your Worth; and Acknowledge your Limitations.

Customer: Okay, done.

Tech Support: Now, copy them to the "My Heart" directory. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching faulty programming. Also, you need to delete Verbose Self-Criticism from all directories and empty your Recycle Bin to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.

Customer: Got it. Hey! My heart is filling up with new files. Smile is playing on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copying themselves all over My Heart. Is this normal?

Tech Support: Sometimes. For others it takes awhile, but eventually everything gets it at the proper time. So Love is installed and running. One more thing before we hang up ~ Love is Freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everyone you meet. They will in turn share it with others and return some cool modules back to you.

Customer: Thank you, God.

Don't Hate Me Because I Am Beautiful

Don't hate me because I am beautiful! I am not referring to myself in this statement saying that you should hate ME because I am beautiful. What I am simply saying is sometimes even the most beautiful people on the outside are not the most beautiful people on the inside. Don't judge a book by it's cover until you read the story inside. In other words, don't make determinations about a person from their looks. There could be so much more to that person if you take the time to get to know them.

We have all been guilty of looking at someone and judging them by their appearance. Now don't get me wrong, sometimes it's obvious that a person is going to be judged by their appearance. For example, if a person wears something they know good and darn well they shouldn't, they are going to get noticed. It might get some positive attention but more than likely it will be negative attention from people pointing and thinking the person should know better. Like the person who knows their clothes are too tight but squeezes in the clothes anyway. Or the person who's midriff is showing and they don't care. Or someone who wears clashing clothes and could care less. So sometimes people ask to be judged from their appearance. But often times people judge others when they don't even know the person.


One of my biggest pet peeves is people that judge others. I will not say I have never judged someone, but I do not make a habit of it. Judging others is actually a sin and we should not do it. But we are all guilty of it or have been in the past. What amazes me is how someone can create an entire profile of a person just from meeting them or seeing them one time. And some people create that profile without even ever talking to the person. That fact is even more amazing if you ask me. Obviously you are not going to learn everything about a person the first time you meet them, but you can usually get a pretty good idea of what type of person they are by their words, their actions, and how they treat others.


Many people are pretty on the outside, but again, it does not mean they are pretty on the inside. And quite the opposite is true as well ~ a person may not be the most attractive on the outside, but have a heart of gold and are beautiful on the inside. So many people these days are fake or put on an appearance on the outside, aka "a show for others." They will tell you what you want to hear, do what you want them to do, but they may have an ulterior motive or be lying to your face just to win you over. Then once you are reeled in by that person, their true colors come out. I have had people in my life like this before - they are all nice in the beginning and then turn out to be one of the most horrible and ugly people I have ever known. I once knew a girl who was drop dead gorgeous on the outside, thin, blonde hair, very pretty. But she was also very devious and conniving and wanted to cause trouble for anyone she could. All of a sudden I didn't see her as a pretty girl anymore, but instead as a mean heartless witch! People comes in all colors, shapes, and sizes but do not be fooled by the exterior of a pretty face.

Everyone has something that they want to hide from the world. It could be something they have done, a secret that they know, something they were involved in, thoughts they have had, and the list goes on and on. Each person in this world has something they are ashamed of and do not want anyone to know about. It doesn't have to be a monumentally terrible thing. It could be a negative thought you had and knew it was wrong. Just because each person has something they aren't proud of does not mean that they are a bad person. It simply means we are all human and things happen, sometimes beyond our control. Most of the time we can keep those deep dark ugly secrets or things hidden from the world. But sometimes those things come to the surface and then the big bad ugly monster comes out.

Have you ever known someone you thought was just great and they could do no wrong? Well, maybe in the beginning you were fooled and then once you really got to know the person, you realized they were not perfect, nor were they even close to perfect. It just proves the point that we should get to know someone before making conclusions about that person. There are all kinds of people in the word and just because they have a pretty face does not mean they have a pretty soul or are the kindest person in the world.

It is wonderful to be beautiful, it is great if you are blessed to have good looks and are beautiful. I believe everyone is beautiful in their own way, even if they do not have the looks of a supermodel. But just remember beauty is only skin deep. Remember to get to know a person before making a judgement of character based on looks only. You will be very fooled if you judge a book by it's cover often times. And also remember that beautiful people are often times the ones who have more trouble and problems than the average person. So do not hate someone because they are beautiful; sometimes those people are the ones who we need to feel sorry for because they are not beautiful on the inside. For those of you who really get to know a person before deciding what kind of person they are, thank you. Maybe you could teach others to do the same! And for those of you who hate people because they are beautiful ~ well, I don't know what to tell you other than you need to change your thinking and stop making assumptions based on little knowledge. I believe everyone should get a fair chance in the beginning. But the sad truth is there are many shallow people out there who only see outer beauty and don't really get to know a person on the inside. And sometimes that will come back to bite us in the rear end. Again, everything that glitters is not gold and beautiful people aren't always beautiful. Don't judge others because what comes around goes around and it will haunt you someday for making judgements. Thanks for reading and have a blessed day!

More Thoughts For the Day

Just thought I would share some thoughts that were passed on to me. Take one or two of them and apply to your life today. You will be glad you did! Enjoy =)

Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

When in doubt, just take the next small step.

Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

Pay off your credit cards every month.

You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

It's OK to let your children see you cry.

Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

Over prepare, then go with the flow.

Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?"

Always choose life.

Forgive everyone for everything.

What other people think of you is none of your business.

Time heals almost everything. Give it time. Time.

However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

Believe in miracles.

God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

Your children only get one childhood.

All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

The best is yet to come.

No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Harvest Time is Here!

Harvest time, harvest time ~ I love this time of year! Fall is my favorite season because of all the pretty colors, the leaves turning, the combines in the fields, the nice cool crisp air, the bonfires at night, the fact we all have to dig out our warm clothes again. I love everything that comes along with fall! My quote I have always loved to say is "I love fall, but not what follows fall." That would be the yucky cold white stuff that falls from the sky, S-N-O-W. Don't get me wrong, I love the first big snowfall, but after that, it could stay gone for the winter and I would be perfectly content with that.

So it's that time of year again ~ fall and harvest season. When I think of harvest, it makes me think of the crops being harvested by the big old monstrous combines, and the tractors driving in the field, and the semis hauling the grain away from the fields. I absolutely love the farming life and all this comes along with it of course. I would rather ride around in the combine on a Saturday night running through the cornfields than go out on the town. I guess that's just the country girl in me, but I love it!

Here's a harvest saying for ya'll to enjoy ~
Take me out to the cornfield honey. I'll kiss ya between the ears.
(I just thought that was the cutest saying ever!) Get it? Lots of ears of corn in the cornfield. Kissing between the ears. Even the blonde in me got that one right off the bat =-)


Here's a couple more cute ones that signify life but refer to harvest season:

Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later.
Judge each day not by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant.


If you think about it, life is similar to planting and harvesting crops. Farmers plant the seeds in the spring, watch the crops grow in the summer, and then harvest them in the fall. In life, we plant or sow seeds, watch them grow and sprout, and then wait to see what the end result will be. Every single thing that happens in life starts as a seed and grows. So good things start out small and bloom and blossom into wonderful times. And bad things start out as a small seed and then turn into hard or tough times the longer it grows. The cycle of life and all situations ~ starts out small and eventually grows. Then once that cycle is over, a new cycle begins...

So let's all enjoy harvest while it is here this year! And enjoy the fall season too! I believe the peak of the season will be this weekend. With any luck I will get to the pumpkin patch with the girls and they can pick our their pumpkins to carve. And hopefully I will get lots of pretty pictures of the trees and beautiful scenery that is only here once a year. Fall won't be here much longer so take advantage now and enjoy the last of the decent weather before the cold settles in for the winter. And before my blogs turn into "I hate winter" blogs LOL. Just a forewarning that will happen! So get out there, take in the fresh crisp cool air, and make memories in the fall of 2009 before the season fades away!

Impossible People

Have you ever had a person in your life that is absolutely impossible to please? No matter what you say or do is good enough for them. These people tend to make life difficult and unpleasant at times. Sometimes this person is someone close to us and sometimes they are not. It might be that customer that comes into the office that nobody wants to offer customer service to because they are unpleasant and rude. It might be the next door neighbor who isn't nice or is always complaining about something. It might be a total stranger in a store that accidentally bumps into you and then turns around and yells at you for it. It could be a close friend that you know very well but is sometimes hard to be friends with. It could be a family member who is always hard on you and feels like you do nothing right in life.

Regardless of who it is, those people are out there. And to put it quite literally, they can make life a living hell at times! These people are usually negative, overbearing, and not someone we typically like to be around. It would be nice to shove these people in a closet or simply ignore them, but that's easier said than done most of the time. If we luck out and it's someone we barely know or rarely have to see, we can usually deal with them for the amount of time required and then be done with them. But if the person is close to us or we have to see them on a regular basis, it's not such an easy situation.

Again, it would be nice to shove a rag in that person's mouth and block out their constant nagging or opinions on everything! With that being said, that theory is not very nice, but it is very true. So the reality is we have to deal with them whether we like it or not. There is more than one way we can handle these types of people. Depending on the type of person you are will determine how you handle this situation when it arises. Some people will take the high road and listen to the person and let it fly over their head, or ignore this behavior to the best of their ability. Other people will crawl in a hole or under a rock and just take the behavior and not fight back which means they consistently deal with the nagging or abuse from the other person. Others will fight back and let their opinion be known and not take crap from anyone. And others will listen at first, and then shut that person out of their life completely. There can be a range of actions but those are just some of the basic ones I can think of. And sometimes we will react with a combination of those options.

Let's talk about the people who learn to ignore constant nagging or negative behavior from others. These people are generally optimistic or the "go with the flow" type. They don't let alot bother them and they accept life how it is and don't rock the boat too much. So rather than dealing with confrontation, they take it all in and then let it leave their brains. This is the theory of "in one ear and out the other." You listen with one side of your head, the information travels through the skull and out the other ear. Basically, you process the information, but you do not retain it.

Then there is the crawl under the rock people. Those people tend to be passive and scared about things. They also do not like confrontation and that is one reason they just take whatever comes at them and do not fight back. This type tends to be quiet and like the little mouse in the corner that you never hear. They will not voice their opinion back because they are too afraid. Sometimes these people have low self esteem and do not know how to make their own decisions or let their opinions be heard. Sometimes this type of person has had an overbearing person in their life, or has been controlled by others in their life. It's sad, but this world is made up of these types of people everywhere. You may be one or know of one. With prayer and God's guidance, this type of person can come out of their shell and live a life they have never even known.

Now let's move on to the "fighters." These people stand up for themselves, what they believe in, and will not back down from a fight. This type is usually pretty stubborn and can be bull headed. It's when you get multiple people with this type of personality together that a problem arises. It's like the theory "too many chiefs and not enough Indians." We all lead at sometimes in life, but then others times we follow. And we should do both depending on what the situation is. Sometimes we have to take charge to teach others, and other times we need to let someone else lead so that we can learn.

Not every person is going to fall directly into one of these categories. Many people will exhibit multiple traits of the different types of personalities. It also depends on the type of person you are and what your current mood is as well. Sometimes someone will say something to us that strikes a nerve, and we react in a way we don't normally. The bottom line is everyone reacts in their own way and each person will react differently given the same situation. But when a person puts up with something for so long, the option of pushing that person out of there life or away usually comes into play. We as an individual can only take so much. We all have our limits that we get pushed to, and depending on what type of person you are, your limit is higher or less than others. But when someone reaches their limit, things tend to turn ugly.

If we put up crap for so long from someone, over time we start to develop resentment, anger, hatred, and bitterness towards that person. And if that person keeps it up and keeps pushing, eventually they are going to push that person out of their life completely. It's like a car on the edge of a cliff. A car is hard to move by one person alone. But if a person pushes that car just a little each day, they won't move it very far. But over time, they will move that car enough to where it falls over the edge and is gone. It might take years to move that car far enough to where it will tip and fall and be gone, but if you move that car half of an inch (1/2") every day, the progress will eventually be made and the car will fall off the cliff for eternity.

If you have never had to deal with someone who is overbearing and nothing is ever good enough for, then you are blessed! Praise God for your blessings, please! Unfortunately most of us have had to deal with at least one person or multiple people in our life that are like this. No matter what we do, no matter where we go, no matter who is in our life, no matter what decisions we make, NOTHING is ever good enough for that particular person. We could strike gold, or discover a miraculous cure for a disease, or be the upmost and outstanding citizen, or be the best person we can possibly be, and our notable actions are still not up to the standards of someone else. They are all out there, and sometimes we have to deal with them each and every single day.

If you have this type of person in your life, know that God loves them just the same. Know that they were put on this earth for a reason and maybe they haven't discovered their purpose yet. Know that even though they are annoying or unpleasant, they were a gift from the Lord and there is some purpose they are here on earth. If you have been blessed (yes there is some sarcasm there) to have someone like this in your life, try to find the good in that person and love them anyway. We are supposed to love our friends and enemies both, but sometimes our friend and enemy can be one person at the same time. Sometimes that person is good and we love them unconditionally, and other times they are like a monster and we do not understand how they could act the way they do.

More often times than not, that person hurts us by their words or actions. They expect so much from us and when we think we deliver our best, it still isn't enough for that person. We must realize that when we truly give our all, that is really all we can do. If we be the best person we know we can be, that is all we can do. If we try and succeed, that is wonderful and all we can do. If we try and fail, we must learn from our mistakes, and that is all we can do. See the pattern here? Be the best you can be, live life the best way you know how, be good to others, be kind to others, and try to follow what God would want you to do in life, and that is ALL YOU CAN DO. The Lord will see your actions and be proud of you. Even if that negative person in your life doesn't see the good in you, God does and that is ultimately what matters in the end. Your kindness and goodness will shine through and will hopefully touch others who appreciate the good you do in this world.

Remember that if you are blessed with one of these people in your life, pray for them. Really, I am dead serious. PRAY FOR THEM! They need it more than you do, so do it. I even pray for people I don't necessarily like because I want the best for them. I always want the best for everyone, even I don't like the person. For those negative birds out there, they won't understand that last statement, but it's true. I never wish any harm or any bad stuff on anyone because that is not a good Christian. I would not want someone else to wish harm or bad on my family or I, so I will not wish bad things on someone else. -> That's the golden rule of life you know! "Do unto others as you wish done unto you." (Or at least that's my version of it!)

I have a theory in life that some people may agree with and some may not. I live my life how I choose to live my life. This means that I make my own decisions whether people agree with them or not. I always make decisions based on what is best for my daughters and myself. If I make a decision that turns out not so great down the road, I learn from it and move on. I do not dwell on the past. In fact, I can't say I have any regrets in life because everything that has happened in my life has made me into the person that I am today. And I am very proud of the progress I have made in my life thus far. It can only get better from this point forward! Don't get me wrong, there will be ups and downs just like we ALL have in this world, but being the optimist I am, I will find good in everything and roll with it day by day.

Life is too short to live unhappy in life. We are only given so much time on earth so make the most of it. If you are always hard on your friends or loved ones, take a step back and look at how you treat others. Would you want to be treated that way? Would you want to deal with negativity and rudeness all the time? Probably not. So treat others how you want to be treated. Instead of finding things to argue about, or petty things to fight about, spend that time telling others how much you appreciate them and how much you love them. Let me ask a couple of questions to my faithful readers: If the world ended tomorrow, would you be happy with the progress you have made thus far in life? Think about it. If you died tomorrow, would you leave a legacy or would you have unfinished business you would regret not taking care of? Would you regret the way you treated others on earth or would you be content in knowing you were good to others? On the flip side, think about this: What if something happened to that person and they were no longer here? Would you care? Would you wonder how things could have been different if you'd been more positive to them? Would you regret the fact you never told them you loved them, but instead told them what they did wrong? Think about it. Those are some heavy questions, but extremely important ones to ask yourself. If you are happy with life and know you are living the way you should and being nice to others as you should be, then congratulations. You are doing all you can do and God is smiling down on you right now. But if not, think about making a change. And not just a temporary change, but a permanent one. Stop being so hard on everyone and start being nice to everyone, even if you do not like the person. Do nice things for others because it weighs on your heart to do them, not because you have to. Love others unconditionally, no matter what accomplishments or mistakes they have made in life. Do not intentionally try to hurt people, or peoples feelings; instead say something positive to them instead of something negative. If you are too mean to people or are negative for so long, you will eventually earn a reputation as being that way. And nobody wants to be known for that. I personally want to be remembered as a good person, a good mom, a good friend, even a good wife (once I get there), a good sister, a good daughter, a good cousin, a good niece, a good worker at my job, a good whatever it is that I do! You get the idea. Start today, don't wait until it's too late. Make the changes you need to make to improve your life for the better, stop dwelling on negative items, and be happy! There is nothing better than being happy and really living life the way God wants us to live. There is no greater feeling, I am living proof! I would love to have feedback or comments on this post if you so desire. We all have someone in our life we wish we could make a more positive or a happier person, so more power to those who need positive energy and prayers from the Lord! Until next time, love much, live happy and laugh often because that is what life is all about! May God bless any person who needs positive spirits and guidance from Above...