Never settle for anything less than the best. This has been my motto in the last year. This motto could apply to alot of things in life. In my particular case, I would never settle for less than I deserve because I know my self worth. Along with this motto came my sense of independence. I am more independent than I have ever been and it is good to be that way. People who are independent tend to have a bit more self confidence than people who depend on others for everything. And when people rely on others and forget who they really are, it is bound to come to a painful crash landing eventually. I have been on both ends of the spectrum and neither way is good or fair for that matter.
So, never settle. Plain and simple ~ don't do it. Because if you settle for something, you will always be searching for more. You will always be looking for something you do not have or wondering what else more is out there to explore. So with any decision you make in life, make sure you are 110% concrete sure that whatever it is you have decided is what you want. Decisions are like concrete ~ once they are made, you cannot go back and undo what has already been done. You can break up the concrete or change your mind about the decision, but there is damage that cannot be undone. There is nothing worse than making a decision when your brain is still not settled on what it truly wants, and then realizing you made a mistake and wish you could take that decision back.
After the many changes I've had to roll through in life, I will never settle again. I might make choices or compromises, but I will never sacrifice who I am or what I am to please someone else. And if you find yourself leaning on something or someone so much that your world would crumble if they disappeared in a second's notice or if you make sacrifices you cannot live with in the long run, then you, my friend, are settling. And what happens when you settle? It will come back to haunt you in the long run. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, maybe not even next year, but it will come back to bite you in the rear end at some point in time.
I love the song "Settlin" by Sugarland. This song refers to a girl who will not settle for anything less than everything. She's had enough "so-so" for the rest of life. I found this song very powerful last year when I was going through some major changes in life. If you know it, listen to the lyrics again and really think about it. And if you have never heard it, this would be a wonderful time to listen to it! Never again will I settle, and neither should you!
So if you have read this so far and are pondering if you are "settling" for something or someone, that should open your eyes. If the question "am I settling?" is weighing on your mind, then it sounds like you probably are. Your current scenario may be great to pass the time and pacify yourself, but if you settle for anything less than the best, you will regret it later on down the road. And when you reach the point that you can answer truthfully that you are not "settling," you are right where you should be. Stay there, be content and explore what more life has to offer! For when we are happy and not "settling" that is where we are meant to be at that moment in time.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Changes in the Path of Life
It happens all the time. We are headed down a certain path in life and then all of a sudden we hit a road block in the middle of the trail that stops us. Often times we are blindsided by the road block and want to go around it but we cannot go around it. We must work to move the road block which means we have to stop skipping along life's path, make a CHANGE and develop a power strong enough to move the road block. When we become strong enough to move the road block, it's then that we can continue down the path of life and see what more or new exciting things that God has in store for us.
So many times we receive signs from God that point us in a certain direction. The key word to that statement is a "certain" direction. Often times we think we know what the end result will be when we choose to follow a certain path. But what we must realize is that just because we follow a certain direction, sometimes the rainbow at the end of the trail might be something totally different than we thought we would receive when we reach the pot of gold. Sometimes God takes us down a certain path in life to make us see things we never saw or make us realize things we never knew before. God will never mislead us, but we must follow His direction and we will then see what He has in store for us.
God brings every person into our life for a REASON of some kind. Sometimes it is to make us see the light about a situation, or the truth about another person. Everything happens for a reason, and there is something we learn about life through every obstacle we overcome and every person that crosses out path. Remember that things happen in God's time, not ours. We must continue to pray for guidance on a daily basis to arrive to our destination in life.
So if you hit a road block in life or are afraid to make CHANGES in life, remember to ROLL WITH THE CHANGES. Sometimes people get hurt in the midst of the situation, and other times people find out exactly where they are meant to be in life. God will never intentionally hurt us, but we must go through trials and tribulations to make ourselves stronger so that we know when we reach the place in life we are supposed to be. God will only bless us as long as we ask for guidance from Him above. And if we think we are where we are supposed to be and then thunder strikes BAM, that is NOT where we are supposed to be. We must keep moving forward and take lessons learned from the past and apply them to our current scenario so that we can reach our future destination.
I am amazed at some of the paths God has taken me down in life. One minute I think I know exactly where I'm headed and have everything figured out, and then lightning strikes. The lightning is never a bad thing because if lightning strikes, it means we are supposed to change direction or take another path than we were heading. And when I have made changes down the path I am headed, I have been blessed so abundantly I can't even describe it. I know now that I am exactly where I am meant to be, and who is supposed to be in my life for a reason, who is supposed to be in my life for a season, and who is supposed to be in my life for longer than a season.
God works in mysterious ways. He uses people to send us messages whether they are good or bad. He will never steer us wrong if we listen to Him. He also uses people to show us when we need to make a change in the direction we are going. Thank you God for all the blessings you have given to me. I cannot begin to imagine my life any other way than it is now. As I always say, live and love happy because life is short and we never know what can happen from day to day...
So many times we receive signs from God that point us in a certain direction. The key word to that statement is a "certain" direction. Often times we think we know what the end result will be when we choose to follow a certain path. But what we must realize is that just because we follow a certain direction, sometimes the rainbow at the end of the trail might be something totally different than we thought we would receive when we reach the pot of gold. Sometimes God takes us down a certain path in life to make us see things we never saw or make us realize things we never knew before. God will never mislead us, but we must follow His direction and we will then see what He has in store for us.
God brings every person into our life for a REASON of some kind. Sometimes it is to make us see the light about a situation, or the truth about another person. Everything happens for a reason, and there is something we learn about life through every obstacle we overcome and every person that crosses out path. Remember that things happen in God's time, not ours. We must continue to pray for guidance on a daily basis to arrive to our destination in life.
So if you hit a road block in life or are afraid to make CHANGES in life, remember to ROLL WITH THE CHANGES. Sometimes people get hurt in the midst of the situation, and other times people find out exactly where they are meant to be in life. God will never intentionally hurt us, but we must go through trials and tribulations to make ourselves stronger so that we know when we reach the place in life we are supposed to be. God will only bless us as long as we ask for guidance from Him above. And if we think we are where we are supposed to be and then thunder strikes BAM, that is NOT where we are supposed to be. We must keep moving forward and take lessons learned from the past and apply them to our current scenario so that we can reach our future destination.
I am amazed at some of the paths God has taken me down in life. One minute I think I know exactly where I'm headed and have everything figured out, and then lightning strikes. The lightning is never a bad thing because if lightning strikes, it means we are supposed to change direction or take another path than we were heading. And when I have made changes down the path I am headed, I have been blessed so abundantly I can't even describe it. I know now that I am exactly where I am meant to be, and who is supposed to be in my life for a reason, who is supposed to be in my life for a season, and who is supposed to be in my life for longer than a season.
God works in mysterious ways. He uses people to send us messages whether they are good or bad. He will never steer us wrong if we listen to Him. He also uses people to show us when we need to make a change in the direction we are going. Thank you God for all the blessings you have given to me. I cannot begin to imagine my life any other way than it is now. As I always say, live and love happy because life is short and we never know what can happen from day to day...
Friday, April 17, 2009
We All Need Some Inspiration Each Day
I thought I would share some more inspirational quotes I received in an e-mail this morning.
You may not realize this, but the following is 100% true. Think about some part of it daily.
There are at least 2 people in this world who you would die for. And at least 15 people in this world who love you in some way. ~ And if you think about it, there are probably many more people who you give your life for, and that love you in return. And I love 'em every one!
The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you. ~ Now that is so and completely true. If someone is envious of you, or wants what you have, it is only natural for that person to develop feelings of hatred towards you. I personally never use the word "hate." I substitute "strongly dislike" because "hate" is a strong word in my opinion. So if someone "hates" you, the best thing you can do is be nice to that person and pray they find what they are looking for. You never know, maybe one day you could help that person in some way that once "hated" you.
A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone even if they do not like you. ~ I love the phrase "smile, it looks pretty on you." Try it sometime. I know I have been smiling to the fullest extent lately and what a difference it has made in my world. Whether it's because of someone or a reference to an inside joke (cute fella), smiling releases negative energy and brightens the day, even if just a little.
Every night, someone thinks about you. You mean the world to someone. ~ True. Each night, at least one person thinks about you, or more if you are lucky. I know I mean the world to someone and others mean the world to me.
You are special and unique. Someone you don't even know - loves you. ~ Often times we come into contact with new people that will have a dramatic impact on our life. God has a plan and a reason for each and every person we meet. Lord knows I am discovering that lately!
When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it. ~ AMEN! Sometimes our biggest mistakes lead us to blessings we would have never even discovered if we hadn't make the mistakes we have in the past. I am living proof of that because I am right where I need to be right now.
When you think the world has turned it's back on you... take another look. ~ When you feel all the world is against you, it's normally quite the opposite. It is you that has turned your back on the world.
Always remember the compliments that you received. Forget about the rude remarks. ~ I deal with negative remarks all the time and the best thing I can do is blow them off. Normally people say things in the heat of the moment, and then later regret it. Thank God I have enough compliments that come my way to outweigh the negative words my ears hear.
Always remember... when life hands you a lemon ~ ask for sugar. ~ I love this one! When life throws a curve ball or things at us we don't want to handle, pray for some sweetness from God above. Eventually all lemons turn into blessings at some point in time. It may not be right away, but things happen when the time is right.
Good friends are like stars, you don't always see them but you know they are there. ~ Very true. I also have friends I have never even met that I have relied on to get me through certain scenarios. Thank you =-)
I would rather have one rose and a kind word from a friend while I am there - than a whole truckload when I am gone. ~ Say what you need to say, and do what you need to do while you have the chance. Don't wait until it's too late if there is something you have been holding back on saying to someone or a chore you need to do. It's better to living knowing you took care of your to do list, then living with regret that you never accomplished something you should have.
Happiness keeps you sweet.
Trials keep you strong.
Sorrow keeps you human.
Life keeps you humble. ~ Again, true. I know that when I am happy in life, I am in a fabulous mood and not alot can bring me down. During my trials and hard times in life, I found myself closer to God and came out stronger because of what I went through. We all must have a little bit of sorrow and sadness to balance out the good times in life so that we can appreciate our blessings and not take them for granted.
Success keeps you glowing, but only friends keep you going. ~ It's wonderful to be successful at something, and yes, when things are good, I do have that glow about life. But in the good and bad times, my friends have always held me up through them all. And I am so grateful to have the friends I do!
Have a wonderful Friday and remember to apply one (or more) of these ideas to your life each day!
You may not realize this, but the following is 100% true. Think about some part of it daily.
There are at least 2 people in this world who you would die for. And at least 15 people in this world who love you in some way. ~ And if you think about it, there are probably many more people who you give your life for, and that love you in return. And I love 'em every one!
The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you. ~ Now that is so and completely true. If someone is envious of you, or wants what you have, it is only natural for that person to develop feelings of hatred towards you. I personally never use the word "hate." I substitute "strongly dislike" because "hate" is a strong word in my opinion. So if someone "hates" you, the best thing you can do is be nice to that person and pray they find what they are looking for. You never know, maybe one day you could help that person in some way that once "hated" you.
A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone even if they do not like you. ~ I love the phrase "smile, it looks pretty on you." Try it sometime. I know I have been smiling to the fullest extent lately and what a difference it has made in my world. Whether it's because of someone or a reference to an inside joke (cute fella), smiling releases negative energy and brightens the day, even if just a little.
Every night, someone thinks about you. You mean the world to someone. ~ True. Each night, at least one person thinks about you, or more if you are lucky. I know I mean the world to someone and others mean the world to me.
You are special and unique. Someone you don't even know - loves you. ~ Often times we come into contact with new people that will have a dramatic impact on our life. God has a plan and a reason for each and every person we meet. Lord knows I am discovering that lately!
When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it. ~ AMEN! Sometimes our biggest mistakes lead us to blessings we would have never even discovered if we hadn't make the mistakes we have in the past. I am living proof of that because I am right where I need to be right now.
When you think the world has turned it's back on you... take another look. ~ When you feel all the world is against you, it's normally quite the opposite. It is you that has turned your back on the world.
Always remember the compliments that you received. Forget about the rude remarks. ~ I deal with negative remarks all the time and the best thing I can do is blow them off. Normally people say things in the heat of the moment, and then later regret it. Thank God I have enough compliments that come my way to outweigh the negative words my ears hear.
Always remember... when life hands you a lemon ~ ask for sugar. ~ I love this one! When life throws a curve ball or things at us we don't want to handle, pray for some sweetness from God above. Eventually all lemons turn into blessings at some point in time. It may not be right away, but things happen when the time is right.
Good friends are like stars, you don't always see them but you know they are there. ~ Very true. I also have friends I have never even met that I have relied on to get me through certain scenarios. Thank you =-)
I would rather have one rose and a kind word from a friend while I am there - than a whole truckload when I am gone. ~ Say what you need to say, and do what you need to do while you have the chance. Don't wait until it's too late if there is something you have been holding back on saying to someone or a chore you need to do. It's better to living knowing you took care of your to do list, then living with regret that you never accomplished something you should have.
Happiness keeps you sweet.
Trials keep you strong.
Sorrow keeps you human.
Life keeps you humble. ~ Again, true. I know that when I am happy in life, I am in a fabulous mood and not alot can bring me down. During my trials and hard times in life, I found myself closer to God and came out stronger because of what I went through. We all must have a little bit of sorrow and sadness to balance out the good times in life so that we can appreciate our blessings and not take them for granted.
Success keeps you glowing, but only friends keep you going. ~ It's wonderful to be successful at something, and yes, when things are good, I do have that glow about life. But in the good and bad times, my friends have always held me up through them all. And I am so grateful to have the friends I do!
Have a wonderful Friday and remember to apply one (or more) of these ideas to your life each day!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Jelly Bean Prayer
In observation of Easter this coming weekend, I found this spiritual prayer referring to the colors in a bag of jelly beans and how they can relate to the Lord and the gifts he has given us in this life. Enjoy!
Jelly Bean Prayer
Red is for the blood he gave
Green is for the grass he made
Yellow is for the sun so bright
Orange is for the edge of night
Black is for the sins we made
White is for the Grace he gave
Purple is for His Hour of sorrow
Pink is for our new tomorrow!
Have a safe and happy Easter!
Jelly Bean Prayer
Red is for the blood he gave
Green is for the grass he made
Yellow is for the sun so bright
Orange is for the edge of night
Black is for the sins we made
White is for the Grace he gave
Purple is for His Hour of sorrow
Pink is for our new tomorrow!
Have a safe and happy Easter!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Are You "Fireproof?"
Are You "Fireproof?"
The recent movie release of "Fireproof" has stirred alot of talk and emotion in this world full of people. This is a movie targeted for couples who have been married for a few years and are either on the verge of divorce or are at a point they take each other for granted. Even though this no longer fits my current life scenario, I was still really drawn to the movie and bought it the first day it came out on DVD. I have watched this movie twice now and WOW what a movie it is!
I could relate to the wife character in the movie because I was once in her shoes when I was married. It amazes me how the movie was based on a story; however the scenes of the movie are so real and do tell the normal story of a couple who has been married for a few years. Not only does the couple portray the average "married for a few years" couple but it also has many lessons that can be learned in the movie as well.
What I truly like about the movie is that it is Christian based. This does not mean you have to be a Christian to relate, but it shows how important it is to have a connection to God. It also portrays that when you have a strong connection to the Lord, your life will be better than ever as long as you pray and remain on the right path in life. Only He is the one who knows the plan for each and every person in this world. I think we all have moments where we slip away from our connection and relationship we are supposed to have with the Lord. We all get caught up in our busy lives and our "to do list" of things we have to accomplish each day. Even though we don't intentionally mean to, we sometimes take our family and loved ones for granted and don't take the time to slow down and spend with them as we should. We sometimes put tasks and work in front of what is truly important in our world.
The recent movie release of "Fireproof" has stirred alot of talk and emotion in this world full of people. This is a movie targeted for couples who have been married for a few years and are either on the verge of divorce or are at a point they take each other for granted. Even though this no longer fits my current life scenario, I was still really drawn to the movie and bought it the first day it came out on DVD. I have watched this movie twice now and WOW what a movie it is!
I could relate to the wife character in the movie because I was once in her shoes when I was married. It amazes me how the movie was based on a story; however the scenes of the movie are so real and do tell the normal story of a couple who has been married for a few years. Not only does the couple portray the average "married for a few years" couple but it also has many lessons that can be learned in the movie as well.
One of my favorite parts of the movie is how the husband is skeptical of the Lord in the beginning of the movie, and then about halfway through he realizes he has pushed God aside most of his life and never really fully let the Lord into his heart. He has an "AHA" moment when he is having a conversation with his father about how Jesus should be the most significant part of our lives. He is a good person because he is a fireman who saves lives, he his faithful and honest so in the husband's eyes, he is right with God because he is a "good person." His dad begins to question him why he is so frustrated with his wife. The husband claims the wife is stubborn, makes everything difficult, is ungrateful and is constantly griping about something. He does nice things for her, has tried hard to please her, taken her insults and sarcasm, and in his eyes, has done everything he could to demonstrate that he cares about her. And after all his effort, all she does is spat in his face. Then he asks the ultimate question that I believe is the most important line in the entire movie ~ "How am i supposed to show love to somebody over and over and over who constantly rejects me?"
God loves us unconditionally even though sometimes we do not deserve it. Even though we have rejected Him and spat in his face, God sent Jesus to die on the cross and take punishment for our sins because He loves us unconditionally. When we finally come to Jesus Christ, it is then we truly began to love others and realize how much we need Him and His forgiveness.
When the husband realized he had never really accepted Jesus Christ into his heart and broke down, his life took a turn and the movie begins to show how he changed as a person after he accepted Christ. His heart began to soften and he went from being a resentful person to a lighthearted easygoing soul. His wife eventually asked him what had changed in him and then he was later able to lead her to the cross as well.
What I truly like about the movie is that it is Christian based. This does not mean you have to be a Christian to relate, but it shows how important it is to have a connection to God. It also portrays that when you have a strong connection to the Lord, your life will be better than ever as long as you pray and remain on the right path in life. Only He is the one who knows the plan for each and every person in this world. I think we all have moments where we slip away from our connection and relationship we are supposed to have with the Lord. We all get caught up in our busy lives and our "to do list" of things we have to accomplish each day. Even though we don't intentionally mean to, we sometimes take our family and loved ones for granted and don't take the time to slow down and spend with them as we should. We sometimes put tasks and work in front of what is truly important in our world.
"Fireproof" brought me back to reality and made me see the light about some things in life. After watching this movie the first time, I felt God pulling me back into his grasp with such a pull that it had an effect on me. And when I watched it the second time, that feeling was reaffirmed just as strong the next time around. Things finally make sense to me for the first time in months and it's a wonderful, refreshing and relaxing feeling. I finally have a sense of direction to where He wants me to be and what He wants me to do in this world. I have realized that there really are people who love me for me and who I am, and who will not try to change me into someone I am not. I have been hugely blessed by God in these recent few weeks and am so grateful that I am on the right path for my destination in life.
If you have not had the opportunity to watch this movie, regardless of your status (married, single, divorced, in a relationship, etc.), I highly recommend grabbing a hold of this story and watching it in the near future. I promise it is worth the couple hours it takes to see this heart wrenching story that has changed the future for lots of couples and people as well.
One of my favorite lines in the movie is as follows: "Fireproof doesn't mean that fire will never come. It just means that when it comes, you will be able to withstand it." In other words, we all have situations or circumstances that get us down and attack us in life. But when those times come, we have to be strong enough to endure the hardships and rough adventures in life. And when we come through those hard times with our head held high, we have then proved we are able to tackle what life throws at us and come out stronger than ever. Remember this is all with God's help, not taking on the world by yourself all alone.
So I will ask the question again - Are YOU "Fireproof?" If you are, good for you! Keep on living, keep on praying, and keep following the word the Lord gives you. If not, I pray for you right now that you will be able to accept Christ into your life and start living right and do the things God would want you to do. For when you do this, you will be "fireproof" to withstand the flames of life and the flames of hell as well.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
When the Wind Blows - Story
Here is another wonderful e-mail I received and wanted to share on this blog.
Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. "Are you a good farm hand?" the farmer asked him.
"Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man. Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him.
The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming!
Tie things down before they blow away!"
The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows." Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm.
To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.
Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. "Are you a good farm hand?" the farmer asked him.
"Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man. Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him.
The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming!
Tie things down before they blow away!"
The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows." Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm.
To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.
When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically, you have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when the wind blows through your life? The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm. We secure ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves in the Word of God. We don't need to understand, we just need to hold His hand to have peace in the middle of storms.
I hope you enjoy your day and you sleep well at night!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Where Will Your Path Lead You?
God has a path for everyone in this life. The question is how do we know if we are on that path he has paved for us or if we have ventured off the trail? There is one good answer to that question ~ pray about it, and then wait for an answer. The waiting period is unknown often times. It could be right away or it might take some time to receive the answer you have been searching for. One thing I have learned though ~ the longer it takes to receive an answer to the direction God wants us all to follow in our lives, the more we encounter and the more we learn from all experiences life throws at us. The trying and difficult times makes us stronger because we can learn from our weak moments. The storm will always pass eventually, we just have to have patience and faith through the raindrops that fall down on us. I have been so blessed in this life. I thank God every day for each and every blessing he has given our family on this earth. It's when I stop to listen and really focus on where He wants me to be, that is when I typically receive an answer as to what path he has carved for me. I do not want to make my own path through the woods of life, and neither does God want that for any person in this world. God will always come through for us no matter what choices we have made in the past. One other lesson of life I have learned is that when I truly listen to God's word, He will show me which direction to follow. And when I follow the direction He wants me to, the blessings are so abundant that I cannot begin to describe them. There have been times in my life where I was on top of the world and thought I had it all, but little did I know that was not where God intended for me to be. When I have been struck by lightning, it was hard to endure the effects of the storm, but it is so worth going through life's experiences and pain I have endured to get where I am today. I would not trade where I am today for anything. I am right where I am supposed to be at this very moment and I believe God will only continue to direct me as long as I stay true to His word and what plans he has for me. Just by chance the song Hallelujah is playing in the background at my house right this instant. Just another sign from God that I am where I need to be and I need to keep up the faith.
Where will your path lead you in this lifetime? Ask God that question and you will receive an answer when the time is right. Continue to pray for guidance even when you have no idea what He wants you to do or where He wants you to be. Again, you will not always know the answer to your path of life immediately. It takes time and patience to reach your destination. We can learn something each and every day. Take life one day at a time and you will receive the answer when you are meant to. I will leave you with this quote that I created over a year ago when I was going through the roughest time of my life:
"The key elements of life are patience and that things happen in God's time, not ours." <- When we learn patience, we learn a very important characteristic of how God wants us to be in this life. And when we remember that things will happen when the time is right, which is God's time, then we will walk further down our path of life. For when we make our own path, we are not listening to God and will not receive the blessings He has in store for until if we take the time to listen. I pray that each person reading these words takes time to slow down, pray and listen to the plan He has for your life. It could make a big difference if you stay on the right path rather than venture off into the hills or valleys of life!
Where will your path lead you in this lifetime? Ask God that question and you will receive an answer when the time is right. Continue to pray for guidance even when you have no idea what He wants you to do or where He wants you to be. Again, you will not always know the answer to your path of life immediately. It takes time and patience to reach your destination. We can learn something each and every day. Take life one day at a time and you will receive the answer when you are meant to. I will leave you with this quote that I created over a year ago when I was going through the roughest time of my life:
"The key elements of life are patience and that things happen in God's time, not ours." <- When we learn patience, we learn a very important characteristic of how God wants us to be in this life. And when we remember that things will happen when the time is right, which is God's time, then we will walk further down our path of life. For when we make our own path, we are not listening to God and will not receive the blessings He has in store for until if we take the time to listen. I pray that each person reading these words takes time to slow down, pray and listen to the plan He has for your life. It could make a big difference if you stay on the right path rather than venture off into the hills or valleys of life!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Spring is Here!!!!
Yes, it is the time of year we have all been waiting for... SPRING! After a long dreary snowful winter, it is time to transition to warm sunny days, birds singing and green grass again! There is something about the feeling of spring that is refreshing and gives me a warm glow about life. And with the entrance of spring comes the anticipation of something greater that follows the season... summertime!
So what's not to like about spring? Maybe the fact the grass shoots up a foot tall even when you mow it once a week, or the fact we no longer have an excuse to sit around and be lazy inside since it's no longer cold outside. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. I personally love to go outside and take a nice walk. That is my favorite exercise; I could walk everyday for miles and enjoy every moment of it. And the smell of fresh cut grass is a nice change for the old nose as well.
Spring has this power trip that seems to lighten up the world and put people in a cheery lighthearted mood. The days seem brighter with the glowing sun and the world seems to be a little bit less stressful. There are so many more options to choose from ~ playing outside, getting those bikes out that have been trapped up all winter, jumping on the motorcycle, and the plain fact that we can be outside and not freeze to death! That is enough right there to put anyone in a good mood. The days aren't as hot as they soon will be, and they aren't as cold as we've been used to dealing with the past 5 months; they are just right. And there is only one time a year where the weather is so enjoyable we could stand it year round. At least that is the way Indiana weather is. It's nothing for it to be 65 degrees on a given day and then down to 10 degrees the next day. I have been known to switch from heat to air conditioning back to heat all within a 14 hour period in one day! So depending on where you live in this world, spring temps might be great or not so good, but to me, they are the best temps of the year!
Have you ever thought about this? We usually have 50-60-70 degree weather a couple times a year ~ spring and fall. In the spring when it's 60 degrees out, everyone is running around in short sleeves or yanking out their flip flops as if summer is already here. Then summer comes and we complain about out hot it is and that we are ready for a cool down. Then September rolls around and we get the cooldown of the same 50-60-70 degree weather we had in the spring. But in the fall everyone is running around in sweatshirts and yanks out their winter shoes or boots. So the same temp, two times a year, but the dress code is completely different! Funny how that works out...
Here is a warm welcome to spring! It won't be long until the girls can play outside again, I can take my daily walk in the hayfield, and warm temps will be here to stay for a few months! I absolutely love cruising in my ride with the windows rolled down, radio blasted and soaking in the golden sun. There is nothing better than that fresh spring air! Oh, and not to mention that those good ole truck and tractor pulls will be starting soon. Just not soon enough! My little one and I could hit a tractor pull every weekend and be happy as larks (I do believe that saying is permanently stuck on the inside of my brain). So spring into action, take time to enjoy that lovely spring air, and remember it's only here for a little while! Now off the girls and I go to get some delicious ice cream to kick spring off with a yummy start...
So what's not to like about spring? Maybe the fact the grass shoots up a foot tall even when you mow it once a week, or the fact we no longer have an excuse to sit around and be lazy inside since it's no longer cold outside. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. I personally love to go outside and take a nice walk. That is my favorite exercise; I could walk everyday for miles and enjoy every moment of it. And the smell of fresh cut grass is a nice change for the old nose as well.
Spring has this power trip that seems to lighten up the world and put people in a cheery lighthearted mood. The days seem brighter with the glowing sun and the world seems to be a little bit less stressful. There are so many more options to choose from ~ playing outside, getting those bikes out that have been trapped up all winter, jumping on the motorcycle, and the plain fact that we can be outside and not freeze to death! That is enough right there to put anyone in a good mood. The days aren't as hot as they soon will be, and they aren't as cold as we've been used to dealing with the past 5 months; they are just right. And there is only one time a year where the weather is so enjoyable we could stand it year round. At least that is the way Indiana weather is. It's nothing for it to be 65 degrees on a given day and then down to 10 degrees the next day. I have been known to switch from heat to air conditioning back to heat all within a 14 hour period in one day! So depending on where you live in this world, spring temps might be great or not so good, but to me, they are the best temps of the year!
Have you ever thought about this? We usually have 50-60-70 degree weather a couple times a year ~ spring and fall. In the spring when it's 60 degrees out, everyone is running around in short sleeves or yanking out their flip flops as if summer is already here. Then summer comes and we complain about out hot it is and that we are ready for a cool down. Then September rolls around and we get the cooldown of the same 50-60-70 degree weather we had in the spring. But in the fall everyone is running around in sweatshirts and yanks out their winter shoes or boots. So the same temp, two times a year, but the dress code is completely different! Funny how that works out...
Here is a warm welcome to spring! It won't be long until the girls can play outside again, I can take my daily walk in the hayfield, and warm temps will be here to stay for a few months! I absolutely love cruising in my ride with the windows rolled down, radio blasted and soaking in the golden sun. There is nothing better than that fresh spring air! Oh, and not to mention that those good ole truck and tractor pulls will be starting soon. Just not soon enough! My little one and I could hit a tractor pull every weekend and be happy as larks (I do believe that saying is permanently stuck on the inside of my brain). So spring into action, take time to enjoy that lovely spring air, and remember it's only here for a little while! Now off the girls and I go to get some delicious ice cream to kick spring off with a yummy start...
Thursday, March 19, 2009
This Post is For Ladies!
This e-mail came to me today and I absolutely loved the poem. It's so completely true. I have some old and new girlfriends who have helped me through alot in life and listened to me rant, rave, and blab on and on about the same darn thing over and over and over again. I suppose this poem should be dedicated to not just my close friends, but to all the women that make the world go around =-)
God doesn't give you the people you want, He gives you the people you NEED. To help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you into the person you were meant to be. <-- WOW, I need to remember this phrase! And for those friends who have listened to me for hours on end lately, you know EXACTLY what I am talking about...
One Flaw In Women
Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer
when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about
a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies..
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they
think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what
makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideas.
They give moral support to their
family and friends.
Women have vital things to say
and everything to give.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN, IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.
I actually have a dear friend who reminds me of that last phrase on a daily basis. He claims I am too hard on myself and he is actually right. I take on way too much and I'm always on the go. It's not that I want to be, it just kinda happens that way. I have a bad habit of "sure I'll do this, sure I'll do that" and before I know it, I'm bogged down! So this poem was a fresh breath of air for me today and was a small reminder to slow down, even if just a little.
God doesn't give you the people you want, He gives you the people you NEED. To help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you into the person you were meant to be. <-- WOW, I need to remember this phrase! And for those friends who have listened to me for hours on end lately, you know EXACTLY what I am talking about...
One Flaw In Women
Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer
when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about
a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies..
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they
think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what
makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideas.
They give moral support to their
family and friends.
Women have vital things to say
and everything to give.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN, IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.
I actually have a dear friend who reminds me of that last phrase on a daily basis. He claims I am too hard on myself and he is actually right. I take on way too much and I'm always on the go. It's not that I want to be, it just kinda happens that way. I have a bad habit of "sure I'll do this, sure I'll do that" and before I know it, I'm bogged down! So this poem was a fresh breath of air for me today and was a small reminder to slow down, even if just a little.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Down the Road We Go
Have you ever been at a crossroad in your life and not really sure which direction to follow? I think we all have at one point in time or another. And often times we are at many crossroads at the same time with different options to choose. I choose to live life one day at a time and not worry about tomorrow until it is here. We all often wonder what our future holds or where we will be down the road.
There is a new Kenny Chesney song out titled "Down the Road." I have found this song to be very inspirational and I think this tune relates to real life in numerous ways. It talks about seeing what life is going to hold down the road. And it also talks about the importance of being right with God so that you will be successful down the road. I do think it is important to plan for the future. But I also think it's even more important to be open minded to know that the future you have planned could sometimes be different from what your actual future will be.
The one certain thing on this earth is that God knows our future. God knows everything about our life ~ past, present and future. We cannot hide anything from Him because he know all things. He knows the good things we have accomplished in life. He knows the good things we have done for others. He knows the sins we have committed. He knows all the wrong things we have done in this lifetime. God also knows what is in store for our life down the road even when we do not.
When we reach a crossroad in life, we must take time to think about the different choices we have to make. We must take into consideration the outcome our choices could lead us to down the road. If we make rash or hasty decisions, we might end up at another crossroads in the future because we did not take the time to think things through clearly. We must evaluate our options and weigh out the bad with the good. And hopefully we will make the right choice so that in the long run, we can look back and know our decision led us to where God wanted us to be. But most importantly when at a crossroad in life, remember to pray! Pray for what direction God wants you to be and then follow the path you believe the Lord wants you to follow.
It is important to follow the road we think God is pointing us towards because sometimes it is the opposite direction of the road we want to follow. We often want to be in charge of our life and make our own decisions that we believe will benefit us down the road. And there are many times we must make a decision but are still unclear about which road to follow. Or there are other times we come to a stopping point and refuse to make a decision because we do not know the best choice to make. Sometimes when we wait too long to make a decision, we take a chance on losing what we could have. It is extremely important to make decisions while at a crossroads in life, but be sure that you take the time to evaluate choices, but not so long that we miss out on an opportunity.
Our crossroads we have been at in the past and the decisions we make about which direction to follow determine what our future crossroads will be. We can look back at past decisions about which path we followed and determine whether those decisions were good or not. When making decisions and taking into consideration what God wants us to do, I believe we will travel further down the road if we follow His word. We can make any decisions we choose but without guidance at any crossroads, the end result may not always end up where we had hoped it would be.
So remember if you are unclear about which path to take in life, the most important thing to do is pray about it. Make choices that you think are pleasing to the Lord and you will travel farther down the road of life. Live your life so that you are happy and do not worry about what others around you think. You are the one who makes all the decisions about your life, what you do, where you go, who you meet and so forth. God has a direction for all of us if we take the time to listen. In the most quiet times, that is when we learn the most. When we stop carving our own path and LISTEN to Him, we will be shown which direction to go. So start today ~ pray, sit tight and listen. When you feel as God is speaking to you, He probably is. Listen to what He has to say and you just might be surprised. Sometimes what we think is best for us is not what God has in mind for us. So be open minded, lend a listening ear and you WILL find out the plan for your life down the road...
There is a new Kenny Chesney song out titled "Down the Road." I have found this song to be very inspirational and I think this tune relates to real life in numerous ways. It talks about seeing what life is going to hold down the road. And it also talks about the importance of being right with God so that you will be successful down the road. I do think it is important to plan for the future. But I also think it's even more important to be open minded to know that the future you have planned could sometimes be different from what your actual future will be.
The one certain thing on this earth is that God knows our future. God knows everything about our life ~ past, present and future. We cannot hide anything from Him because he know all things. He knows the good things we have accomplished in life. He knows the good things we have done for others. He knows the sins we have committed. He knows all the wrong things we have done in this lifetime. God also knows what is in store for our life down the road even when we do not.
When we reach a crossroad in life, we must take time to think about the different choices we have to make. We must take into consideration the outcome our choices could lead us to down the road. If we make rash or hasty decisions, we might end up at another crossroads in the future because we did not take the time to think things through clearly. We must evaluate our options and weigh out the bad with the good. And hopefully we will make the right choice so that in the long run, we can look back and know our decision led us to where God wanted us to be. But most importantly when at a crossroad in life, remember to pray! Pray for what direction God wants you to be and then follow the path you believe the Lord wants you to follow.
It is important to follow the road we think God is pointing us towards because sometimes it is the opposite direction of the road we want to follow. We often want to be in charge of our life and make our own decisions that we believe will benefit us down the road. And there are many times we must make a decision but are still unclear about which road to follow. Or there are other times we come to a stopping point and refuse to make a decision because we do not know the best choice to make. Sometimes when we wait too long to make a decision, we take a chance on losing what we could have. It is extremely important to make decisions while at a crossroads in life, but be sure that you take the time to evaluate choices, but not so long that we miss out on an opportunity.
Our crossroads we have been at in the past and the decisions we make about which direction to follow determine what our future crossroads will be. We can look back at past decisions about which path we followed and determine whether those decisions were good or not. When making decisions and taking into consideration what God wants us to do, I believe we will travel further down the road if we follow His word. We can make any decisions we choose but without guidance at any crossroads, the end result may not always end up where we had hoped it would be.
So remember if you are unclear about which path to take in life, the most important thing to do is pray about it. Make choices that you think are pleasing to the Lord and you will travel farther down the road of life. Live your life so that you are happy and do not worry about what others around you think. You are the one who makes all the decisions about your life, what you do, where you go, who you meet and so forth. God has a direction for all of us if we take the time to listen. In the most quiet times, that is when we learn the most. When we stop carving our own path and LISTEN to Him, we will be shown which direction to go. So start today ~ pray, sit tight and listen. When you feel as God is speaking to you, He probably is. Listen to what He has to say and you just might be surprised. Sometimes what we think is best for us is not what God has in mind for us. So be open minded, lend a listening ear and you WILL find out the plan for your life down the road...
Thursday, March 12, 2009
KEEP GOING
Keep Going. Two simple words, but when put together these two simple words give a powerful meaning to a simple statement ~ KEEP GOING. I recently saw this inspiring phrase on a good friend's cell phone. I was looking at pictures on his phone and I noticed the headline said "Keep Going." I asked why he had that on there and he said he put that on his phone one day when he was having a bad day to remind him to keep going no matter what the circumstances. He has been through alot of similar life experiences that I have so I completely understood what the phrase "keep going" symbolized. Of course I was immediately drawn to those two little words and realized that we can all benefit from the phrase.
We all must live life day to day whether we want to or not. We all have circumstances or situations we have had to deal with in the past or are currently dealing with that we wish we could avoid. Life isn't always beautiful, but it can be a beautiful ride. The moments of darkness and weakness seem to be treacherous and unbearable at the very moment we encounter those times. But all situations come to pass in time. We must keep moving forward or "keep going" to get through those tough times and move on to the future. We often times do not know what the future will hold or what will happen tomorrow but we can be certain that if we keep going, the light will shine at the end of the tunnel. The sun shines brightest after the storm ~ that is one of my favorite quotes. I remember seeing that on a sign while driving to work one morning when I was going through a really difficult time in life. That saying hit me like a ton of bricks and I have never forgotten it since. But if we really think about it, that is so true. We have to go forward, move on and live life or we will be stuck in the same rut until we decide to lift ourselves out of that rut onto higher ground.
Here is a prime example ~ Have you ever taken a truck or 4-wheeler mudding? The country girl in me thinks that is fun as long as the vehicle is in forward motion. I would hate to be on a 4-wheeler running through deep mud for the all terrain vehicle to break down and then I'd be stuck sinking in the mud. I like to cruise through mud but not stand directly in it! Think about that for just a moment. That is a good comparison to life and what we go through. We all want to be happy and life to be easy and perfect all the time, and at times that can be the case, but eventually the thrill of life will hit its peak and then we start sliding downhill again. Reality is that we all have ups and downs, valleys and peaks, but if we KEEP GOING through the mud that life throws at us, we will eventually get to dry ground and to where we need to be. We have to encounter some messy situations from time to time in order for us to come out stronger and learn from the "mud" thrown at us in life. And always remember, during the muddy times in your life, that is when God wants to clean you up and refresh your body and soul. With God's help and self determination, we can make it through ANY situation in life. We can overcome any obstacle thrown our way with the right attitude and the will to keep going. Keep moving forward and do not look back. For when you look back, you miss what is currently in front of your eyes or what could be in the future.
So if you are having a bad day or going through storms in life right now, remember those two little words. Keep Going. And when you keep going, you will eventually reach your destination. Life is a everchanging continuous battle but it doesn't have to be. Life is what we make of it and if we choose to keep going through the mud and the storms that pass, that is the best decision we can make. Our choices effect our outcome of where we will end up in this world so if we stay focused and keep going, we can have a brighter future.
I have chosen to remember these two little words and believe it or not, it has really helped me a few times when I have been down or wanted to give up hope or crawl under a rock and not deal with a certain scenario. I have always lived by that philosophy but just to hear or read those two words together makes a world of difference. It has reminded me that no matter what lemons are thrown at me in life, it's all part of the big plan that I often times do not understand. There is a reason for everything that happens, a reason for every person I have ever met, and a reason that some things work out in our favor and some do not. I have found that usually when something does not turn out the way we expected, it was normally a blessing in disguise. Don't get me wrong, there are still some situations I have questioned the outcome or do not understand why something happened the way it did. But I also do not have the ability to see the big picture; only God has that authority. And I have to trust in that even though sometimes it has been difficult. There will be storms of life throughout our entire time here on earth; but there will also be wonderful moments that we cherish forever. But if we KEEP GOING throughout everything in life, we will find out God's plan for our life sooner than later.
Along with this Keep Going theory often comes a word most people are strongly against.... CHANGE. Things change, people change, circumstances change, I change, you change, friends change, family changes, you get the idea? Everything changes at some time or another. And we can either go with the changes and make life flow easier or we can fight the changes and stay in the same rut we landed ourselves in. Again it comes down to this - only you can decide if change is necessary or if you want to keep yourself in the same place you have been struggling and fighting. Change is scary (I know firsthand) but through all changes, I have kept going! And looking back, I wouldn't change a thing because everything that has happened in my life has made me who I am today. And I can honestly say I'm proud of who I have become. I have faults just like every other human being on this earth, but I made the decision to KEEP GOING through it all. And I learned from those mistakes or faults and have become a much better person because of it.
To sum it up, if you remember nothing else, plant those two little words in your brain somewhere. Through the good, bad, fabulous, rough, wonderful or trying times in life, KEEP GOING. Keep going through all of it, keep your head up and moving through everything thrown at you in life and you will become a stronger and better person in the long run. I am grateful for all that I have been through, even the hard times. Because after the smoke has cleared, the blessings have been abundant. I look back and see things now that I couldn't see then at the time. I will keep going and I pray that each and every person in this world keeps going. That is the best choice we can make for ourselves and for those around us. Because when we keep going, we are doing exactly what God wants us to do. We are living and moving forward just like we should be. When we keep going, there is no greater pleasure to God. He will be pleased with our attitude and our will to push forward. And we can also be an inspiration to others when we keep going. In fact, the creator of the KEEP GOING phrase tells me all the time he keeps going because I have inspired him. But I was so inspired by this phrase that I have made changes in my life because I have been reminded to keep going even when I didn't want to. So hold your head up high no matter what you are going through in life, and always remember to get the best results in life's journey, KEEP GOING no matter what the circumstances.
We all must live life day to day whether we want to or not. We all have circumstances or situations we have had to deal with in the past or are currently dealing with that we wish we could avoid. Life isn't always beautiful, but it can be a beautiful ride. The moments of darkness and weakness seem to be treacherous and unbearable at the very moment we encounter those times. But all situations come to pass in time. We must keep moving forward or "keep going" to get through those tough times and move on to the future. We often times do not know what the future will hold or what will happen tomorrow but we can be certain that if we keep going, the light will shine at the end of the tunnel. The sun shines brightest after the storm ~ that is one of my favorite quotes. I remember seeing that on a sign while driving to work one morning when I was going through a really difficult time in life. That saying hit me like a ton of bricks and I have never forgotten it since. But if we really think about it, that is so true. We have to go forward, move on and live life or we will be stuck in the same rut until we decide to lift ourselves out of that rut onto higher ground.
Here is a prime example ~ Have you ever taken a truck or 4-wheeler mudding? The country girl in me thinks that is fun as long as the vehicle is in forward motion. I would hate to be on a 4-wheeler running through deep mud for the all terrain vehicle to break down and then I'd be stuck sinking in the mud. I like to cruise through mud but not stand directly in it! Think about that for just a moment. That is a good comparison to life and what we go through. We all want to be happy and life to be easy and perfect all the time, and at times that can be the case, but eventually the thrill of life will hit its peak and then we start sliding downhill again. Reality is that we all have ups and downs, valleys and peaks, but if we KEEP GOING through the mud that life throws at us, we will eventually get to dry ground and to where we need to be. We have to encounter some messy situations from time to time in order for us to come out stronger and learn from the "mud" thrown at us in life. And always remember, during the muddy times in your life, that is when God wants to clean you up and refresh your body and soul. With God's help and self determination, we can make it through ANY situation in life. We can overcome any obstacle thrown our way with the right attitude and the will to keep going. Keep moving forward and do not look back. For when you look back, you miss what is currently in front of your eyes or what could be in the future.
So if you are having a bad day or going through storms in life right now, remember those two little words. Keep Going. And when you keep going, you will eventually reach your destination. Life is a everchanging continuous battle but it doesn't have to be. Life is what we make of it and if we choose to keep going through the mud and the storms that pass, that is the best decision we can make. Our choices effect our outcome of where we will end up in this world so if we stay focused and keep going, we can have a brighter future.
I have chosen to remember these two little words and believe it or not, it has really helped me a few times when I have been down or wanted to give up hope or crawl under a rock and not deal with a certain scenario. I have always lived by that philosophy but just to hear or read those two words together makes a world of difference. It has reminded me that no matter what lemons are thrown at me in life, it's all part of the big plan that I often times do not understand. There is a reason for everything that happens, a reason for every person I have ever met, and a reason that some things work out in our favor and some do not. I have found that usually when something does not turn out the way we expected, it was normally a blessing in disguise. Don't get me wrong, there are still some situations I have questioned the outcome or do not understand why something happened the way it did. But I also do not have the ability to see the big picture; only God has that authority. And I have to trust in that even though sometimes it has been difficult. There will be storms of life throughout our entire time here on earth; but there will also be wonderful moments that we cherish forever. But if we KEEP GOING throughout everything in life, we will find out God's plan for our life sooner than later.
Along with this Keep Going theory often comes a word most people are strongly against.... CHANGE. Things change, people change, circumstances change, I change, you change, friends change, family changes, you get the idea? Everything changes at some time or another. And we can either go with the changes and make life flow easier or we can fight the changes and stay in the same rut we landed ourselves in. Again it comes down to this - only you can decide if change is necessary or if you want to keep yourself in the same place you have been struggling and fighting. Change is scary (I know firsthand) but through all changes, I have kept going! And looking back, I wouldn't change a thing because everything that has happened in my life has made me who I am today. And I can honestly say I'm proud of who I have become. I have faults just like every other human being on this earth, but I made the decision to KEEP GOING through it all. And I learned from those mistakes or faults and have become a much better person because of it.
To sum it up, if you remember nothing else, plant those two little words in your brain somewhere. Through the good, bad, fabulous, rough, wonderful or trying times in life, KEEP GOING. Keep going through all of it, keep your head up and moving through everything thrown at you in life and you will become a stronger and better person in the long run. I am grateful for all that I have been through, even the hard times. Because after the smoke has cleared, the blessings have been abundant. I look back and see things now that I couldn't see then at the time. I will keep going and I pray that each and every person in this world keeps going. That is the best choice we can make for ourselves and for those around us. Because when we keep going, we are doing exactly what God wants us to do. We are living and moving forward just like we should be. When we keep going, there is no greater pleasure to God. He will be pleased with our attitude and our will to push forward. And we can also be an inspiration to others when we keep going. In fact, the creator of the KEEP GOING phrase tells me all the time he keeps going because I have inspired him. But I was so inspired by this phrase that I have made changes in my life because I have been reminded to keep going even when I didn't want to. So hold your head up high no matter what you are going through in life, and always remember to get the best results in life's journey, KEEP GOING no matter what the circumstances.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
My Baby is Growing Up!
Today was a very exciting day. My "baby" turned 4 years old on this lovely day. So immediately after waking me up bright and early she began asking when her friends were coming to her house. So after deciding that she wasn't going to allow me to sleep in I should jump up and get the day rolling since it was such a special day, I did just that. A few minutes later she opened the front door and told me she was watching for her friends to arrive. I told her she still had a few hours before her party excitement would be in action, but she was convinced that her party guests were going to come right then, bright and early with the sun rising. So she propped herself down at the front door and sat at the entrance watching for her birthday guests! After refusing to listen to her sister and I sitting there for a few moments, she finally decided sitting and waiting was boring. She didn't even want to leave her permanent sitting place to eat breakfast because she was so convinced her party needed to start right then!
So after finally deciding to eat some breakfast, and passing the time til lunch came the famous questiontwenty four thousand times a few or more times "WHEN IS MY PARTY GOING TO START?" I tell ya if I had a penny for every time that child asked me that today, I wouldn't need to go to work this week! The first few times I answered her literally ~ 6 hours, 5 hours and 59 minutes, 5 hours and 43 minutes, 5 hours and 12 minutes, 4 hours and 23 minutes... I finally decided my little one didn't get the concept of hours and minutes! So I decided to try a different approach and told her the party would be here in awhile or in a bit! That kept her content for a minute or two... until she would ask me when the party would begin 2 minutes later!
So the time came to get dressed and ready for the big extravaganza. She is on a dress kick lately so she chose her new pretty party dress she got for her birthday. So after the excitement died down that it was warm enough to wear a dress for the big day, it was time to fix her hair. I decided we need to change it up just a bit and thought she would be adorablejust like her mommy =-) in pigtails. So amazingly enough she cooperated for me to fix her hair. Then I decided I would make her cuter by adding some curls to the piggie tails. Well that was fine and dandy until her hair touched her neck after being released from the curling iron. Being the drama queen that she learned from her big sister that she can be at times, she started screaming "HOT, HOT, HOT!" Well that was enough to give big sis and I a laugh because she was not hurt in any way shape or form, just felt a tad bit of the heat once the hair was released from the curling iron. Then the little drama queen proceeded to grab a towel claiming she needed water on it. And Little Miss Stubborn and yes she gets it honest was not going to accept the fact she didn't need water to cool her "hot" hair down. But once reminded that her party was nearing, she forgot all about cooling down her "hot" hair with water and was once again in party mode!
Then came the big anticipated moment after months of waiting. Yes, we hear about her birthday party months in advance. In fact, later in the evening, she asked me when her next birthday party was going to be. I don't know why it is kiddos want to grow up so fast!
Granny arrived with her cake, and this wasn't just any cake... it was a Dora cake. And not just a Dora cake... a Dora cake with pink icing! Yippee yi yay, how exciting!!! She received lots of pretty new gifts, and even a couple new dresses to satisfy her dress habit for now. She went from the birthday party girl, to a cheerleader, then to a princess, then back to birthday party girl all within 15 minutes. Tons of excitement for the little birthday princess!
So after finally deciding to eat some breakfast, and passing the time til lunch came the famous question
So the time came to get dressed and ready for the big extravaganza. She is on a dress kick lately so she chose her new pretty party dress she got for her birthday. So after the excitement died down that it was warm enough to wear a dress for the big day, it was time to fix her hair. I decided we need to change it up just a bit and thought she would be adorable
Then came the big anticipated moment after months of waiting. Yes, we hear about her birthday party months in advance. In fact, later in the evening, she asked me when her next birthday party was going to be. I don't know why it is kiddos want to grow up so fast!
Granny arrived with her cake, and this wasn't just any cake... it was a Dora cake. And not just a Dora cake... a Dora cake with pink icing! Yippee yi yay, how exciting!!! She received lots of pretty new gifts, and even a couple new dresses to satisfy her dress habit for now. She went from the birthday party girl, to a cheerleader, then to a princess, then back to birthday party girl all within 15 minutes. Tons of excitement for the little birthday princess!
Anyway, her party was a huge success and she was so excited it almost brought tears to my eyes. I don't recall seeing her happier than she was on her 4th birthday. It just reminded me how fast she really is growing up and that my "baby" is really no longer a baby! *Pout, sniff, pout, cry* =-( But that is ok because she is more comical and loveable each day that passes.
So after a couple hours of birthday jubilee, the little princess decided she was extremely tired. She grabbed her new Dora sleepy doll and pillow and curled up with both of them to take a nap. It was peaceful and quiet once, for a bit anyways! Then after a bit of a nap, little birthday girl woke up but decided that her doll was not ready to get up yet. The Dora sleepy doll was still taking a nap all curled up snug and cute in the birthday girl's bed. But the best part of all the fact she went around to each and every person in the house and told them they had to be quiet or they would wake up the baby. So when Granny yelled to big sis that "everyone was to be quiet," the birthday girl scolded her grandma! "You are going to wake up the baby" she exclaimed. It was certainly a priceless moment!
I guess I have another year until birthday time rolls around again. The sad thing is it will be here before I know it. I guess the next big step will be preschool this fall. Then kindergarten. Then 1st grade. Then middle school. Then high school. Then college... Oh my I need to slow down and remember to enjoy my day to day as I have been living my life lately! So Happy Birthday to my little 4 year old Princess. Time sure flies... I remember the day I brought her home from the hospital. It's crazy how quickly the days roll by and before we know it, the days turn into years. So enjoy each day to the fullest and don't rush the future. It will come quickly enough, and too quickly at that!
Friday, March 6, 2009
It's a Beautiful Day!
Yes, the day is just full of beauty today! For some reason I woke up this morning as happy as a lark (I love that phrase lately LOL) and ready to tackle the word today. I even woke up early and got some extra things done around the house this morning before jetting like a plane driving to work on this jolly day. I don't know if it's the fact that it is Friday, or that it's the end of a long busy week, but I am just chipper as a birdie today. It made me think (this certainly has been a "thought"ful week) that everyday should be like today. Wouldn't it be wonderful to wake up every morning with happy thoughts and no negativity? I think that would be fabulous but reality kicks in and unfortunately some people don't have my positive outlook on life.
But then again, here is a well known fact: YOU choose your outlook on your life, your day, and everything going on in your world. YOU are in charge of deciding if you want to see the positive or negative side of the coin. So Heads Up, Tails Down! Remember those 4 words together and maybe that will help give you some positive energy. It really comes down to a 50/50 chance. You can be happy and roll with the flow or you can choose to be pessimistic and negative. It's your choice, and solely your choice. No one is going to tell you to be happy or unhappy ~ only YOU have the power to make that choice!
I choose to live and love happy because what's the fun in living and loving unhappy? I know from experience it's not worth the battle! And when I choose to be positive, I produce some glowing energy that I hope floats to others around me. Have you ever smiled at someone just out of the blue, just smiled at some stranger for no reason? The majority of the time if you do that, that person will smile back. Maybe they have had a bad day and it lightens their mood just a little to see someone else happily smiling. So if you've never tried that, try that simple little gesture. You might be surprised at the reaction you get!
So remember to see the good in all situations, be a positive influence on others, live happy even when the odds are against you and you will overcome many obstacles in life! Be optimistic rather than pessimistic. Do not plan every second of the future; let life happen day by day. It's alot more fun rolling down that road with an open mind! Take my advice; try it and you just might enjoy life a little bit more!
But then again, here is a well known fact: YOU choose your outlook on your life, your day, and everything going on in your world. YOU are in charge of deciding if you want to see the positive or negative side of the coin. So Heads Up, Tails Down! Remember those 4 words together and maybe that will help give you some positive energy. It really comes down to a 50/50 chance. You can be happy and roll with the flow or you can choose to be pessimistic and negative. It's your choice, and solely your choice. No one is going to tell you to be happy or unhappy ~ only YOU have the power to make that choice!
I choose to live and love happy because what's the fun in living and loving unhappy? I know from experience it's not worth the battle! And when I choose to be positive, I produce some glowing energy that I hope floats to others around me. Have you ever smiled at someone just out of the blue, just smiled at some stranger for no reason? The majority of the time if you do that, that person will smile back. Maybe they have had a bad day and it lightens their mood just a little to see someone else happily smiling. So if you've never tried that, try that simple little gesture. You might be surprised at the reaction you get!
So remember to see the good in all situations, be a positive influence on others, live happy even when the odds are against you and you will overcome many obstacles in life! Be optimistic rather than pessimistic. Do not plan every second of the future; let life happen day by day. It's alot more fun rolling down that road with an open mind! Take my advice; try it and you just might enjoy life a little bit more!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Mantyhose... made just for men!
I have never in my life heard the word "mantyhose" until this morning when my local radio station made it publicly aware that there is such a thing. I believe the exact phrase was "mantyhouse... pantyhose for men." Of course that caught my attention because #1) was this a joke? and #2) who in the world came up with such an invention and #3) was such a product actually a success? So after listening to some testimonials written by construction workers and men that work in offices, there were some phone calls from local listeners that began rolling in. One lady told about how her boss used to wear womens' pantyhose under his polyester pants 30 years ago to keep warm. Wow, he must have been very proud of that to let that little secret out of the bag! So after hearing about mantyhose, I had to do some research for myself and get the scoop on this unbelievable product. If you are so inclined, go ahead and do that. Right now, go to google and search "mantyhose." But beware ~ you might do a search on this product and fall in love with the product so much that you will have order yourself a set of those within the hour. In fact, I'd love for someone to order a pair and write a testimonial about them. And the first person writes their testimonial wins... wins... um... let me think about this one... how about a date with me? HA HA HA! Let's just say if you are so inclined to order yourself a pair of those, you aren't the type I date!
Now I am sure this might be a practical product for some young lad out there who works outside or is like me and freezes all the time. I read a couple of the google links and it sounds like mantyhose might come in handy if you think long johns (which if you think about that word, why in the world are they called "long johns" anyway... but I will get off that kick since this blog is about mantyhose and not where words come from), anyway if you think long johns are too thick or uncomfortable. Me, myself and I personally think long johns are hugely uncomfortable and I am not one to wear them. I'd rather throw on my thick insulated carrhart bibs than wear a layer of clothes under my shirt and jeans! But I guess there are those select manly few who think mantyhose is the way to go!
From a woman's perspective, I do wear pantyhose on occasion. Lately I have worn them a few times with my knee high boots when I feel the desire to dress it up just a bit. I love my knee highs but I'd sure love to kick them to the curb for winter and move the spring sandals in their place! Anyway, I am not a big fan of pantyhose at all. They are the most uncomfortable pieces of stretchy fabric on this planet! And it doesn't seem to matter what I do, it never fails that EVERY time I put on a pair of pantyhose, I end up with a run in them before the day is over. Why is it that I ruin every pair of pantyhose that I touch? I have no clue, but pantyhose runs run in my history of pantyhose! I am fortunate in the fact I do not have to wear pantyhose to work everyday. Then I would have a reason to dread coming to work! So I guess if I only ruin 1 pair of month, that is better than 30 a month. But then again, as soon as the weather breaks and spring is here (which seems like that will never happen), I won't have a reason to wear pantyhose. I can enjoy sporting my bare legs for 6 months of the year! And for us women, that is something to cheer about.
So whoever invented mantyhose, congrats! You have given me blog material and something for the world to think about. I am sure the person has been successful and hats off to them! So men, next time you are a bit chilly, maybe you should consider this new gadget. You never know, it might just warm your hairy legs up! Then you can recommend them to your buddies. Better yet, maybe I should make a flier and start handing out to my farmer buddies. I'm sure that would go over real well. I can see it now... good old farm boys wearing mantyhose while combining corn this fall. Now that would be a sight...
Now I am sure this might be a practical product for some young lad out there who works outside or is like me and freezes all the time. I read a couple of the google links and it sounds like mantyhose might come in handy if you think long johns (which if you think about that word, why in the world are they called "long johns" anyway... but I will get off that kick since this blog is about mantyhose and not where words come from), anyway if you think long johns are too thick or uncomfortable. Me, myself and I personally think long johns are hugely uncomfortable and I am not one to wear them. I'd rather throw on my thick insulated carrhart bibs than wear a layer of clothes under my shirt and jeans! But I guess there are those select manly few who think mantyhose is the way to go!
From a woman's perspective, I do wear pantyhose on occasion. Lately I have worn them a few times with my knee high boots when I feel the desire to dress it up just a bit. I love my knee highs but I'd sure love to kick them to the curb for winter and move the spring sandals in their place! Anyway, I am not a big fan of pantyhose at all. They are the most uncomfortable pieces of stretchy fabric on this planet! And it doesn't seem to matter what I do, it never fails that EVERY time I put on a pair of pantyhose, I end up with a run in them before the day is over. Why is it that I ruin every pair of pantyhose that I touch? I have no clue, but pantyhose runs run in my history of pantyhose! I am fortunate in the fact I do not have to wear pantyhose to work everyday. Then I would have a reason to dread coming to work! So I guess if I only ruin 1 pair of month, that is better than 30 a month. But then again, as soon as the weather breaks and spring is here (which seems like that will never happen), I won't have a reason to wear pantyhose. I can enjoy sporting my bare legs for 6 months of the year! And for us women, that is something to cheer about.
So whoever invented mantyhose, congrats! You have given me blog material and something for the world to think about. I am sure the person has been successful and hats off to them! So men, next time you are a bit chilly, maybe you should consider this new gadget. You never know, it might just warm your hairy legs up! Then you can recommend them to your buddies. Better yet, maybe I should make a flier and start handing out to my farmer buddies. I'm sure that would go over real well. I can see it now... good old farm boys wearing mantyhose while combining corn this fall. Now that would be a sight...
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Farewell to Our GP (Guinea Pig)
Let's begin this story February 10, 2003 (yes I am a freak about remembering dates!) I was pregnant with Mindy Grace and we were in Indianapolis for 2 different doctor appointments and a scheduled visit to the hospital as well. Well in between all the doctor appointments that day, we had a 3 hour span to kill in the afternoon. At that moment in time, I had been wanting a tri-colored guinea pig. And for those of you that don't know me well, I normally get what I want when I put my mind to something! Well, we so happened to stop by the pet store and guess what the pet store had that day? None other than a tri-colored female guinea pig!!! Well after some begging and pleading with my now ex-husband, he agreed to let me take her home. So $80+ and a cart full of supplies later, I was on my merry way with a 7 week old guinea pig, a new cage, bedding, food, a bottle, some treats, and whatever else the little GP needed to be spoiled at her new home. The only problem that day was that she had to ride around in the tiny with no room to breath temporary home the pet store sends their pets away in lovely cardboard box the remainder of the day until we were back home that evening. So we took her out a few times while in transit and I can remember how adorable she was. At least she was cute until she pooped on my ex's shirt and then that was the end of that. He made her ride home in the cardboard box the rest of the trip!
So then after a long and exhausting day, we finally arrived home with our new bundle of joy. Ok, so MAYBE that's exaggerating a tad, but it was a new addition to the family and the center of attention for awhile. So after beingwollered to death handled by my daughter who was 3 at the time, she became pretty tame. She would run around the living room while we "guinea-pig sat" her. We would put up a "guinea pig gate" of pillows and block her entrance to the kitchen so she had access to the living room area only. Well that was a great idea until one day she ran behind the couch and the cat was in hot pursuit of her. It took 3 people to detain the feline and rescue the poor little GP but we saved her!
Have you ever seen those plastic balls that hamsters like to roll around in? Well I had a GREAT idea one day when I found a guinea pig ball in the store! It was just like the hamster ball but of much larger capacity built just for guinea pigs. That was the best invention of the day when I found that GP toy! So of course I had to purchase our GP a new toy. So I took it home all excited with visions of her running rapidly through the house in her new toy. That way she could be loose and not worry about the ole mean fat cat trying to eat her! Well to my disappointment, the GP just sat in the ball and would not move. I even tried to demonstrate to her how to use it (ok so I didn't crawl in the ball and try it out myself) but I did give her a little push thinking she'd pick up on it. Nope, not a chance. She wouldn't have anything to do with walking around our house in the GP designed travel ball. So my great idea plummeted when I gave her ball away a few months later!
Now I don't know what the average time that a GP is supposed to live. I think I had one for 7 years as a child, but on the average I believe their life span is anywhere from 2-4 years. So as time has passed over the years, our GP began to show her age and I always wondered when the day would come... She had a little plastic house she hid under most of the time so I would always wiggle the cage and say her name to make sure she was still moving!
Well.. the day came. Yesterday. I came home and my normal routine is to feed the cats and the GP right when I get home. So I looked down in the cage and did a double take. Yes, her time had come and she was called home on March 3, 2009. 6 years and 3 weeks to the day after we got her to be exact. She had a long and good life but she was old in GP years.
Another weakness of mine ~ I have a fear or anything dead. I don't know why that is, but there is something about a person or animal laying lifeless that scares the jeebies out of me. It's some phobia I've had since I was a child and I will probably never outgrow it. Well maybe I will outgrow it one day when I am there too but hopefully that's far far away! So in order not to scare my kids with our passed on GP still in the house, I grabbed my phone and dialed up none other than the person than can handle dead pets... my mother. Or allow me to introduce her new given name... "the guinea pig mortician" otherwise known as the "GPM."
So after feeding the rest of her clan of alive animals, the GPM came over to retrieve what GPM's take with them... the lifeless body of our tri-colored 6 year old GP. The GPM did a marvelous job of removing the GP, cage and all from our house. I also told the GPM she was in charge of taking care of all the burial arrangements as well. She was up for the challenge and told me she would take care of it. No worries for me since the GPM can handle matters such as this that I cannot bear to handle.
I guess I should also mention that the GPM not only handled her job well, but she brought a friend with her. Now this is no ordinary friend. This friend was black and white and fat and furry. Or should I say FAT is an understatement. This cute little critter was prego and ready to pop out baby GP's at any moment! The GPM thought that since we lost our precious GP, we needed an immediate replacement that was going to have babies to boot. I told the GPM thanks, but no thanks. No more pet GP(s) for awhile. Maybe someday, but not today. So away she went with our beloved GP, and the alive GP with alive baby GP's in her belly...
Thanks GPM! You did a fabulous job and I couldn't handle dead pets without you GPM. Now this makes me wonder what initials GPM will change to the next go around... GM (goat mortician), SM (sheep mortician), DM (dog mortician), CM (cat mortician) or HM (horse mortician) Hope not!
So then after a long and exhausting day, we finally arrived home with our new bundle of joy. Ok, so MAYBE that's exaggerating a tad, but it was a new addition to the family and the center of attention for awhile. So after being
Have you ever seen those plastic balls that hamsters like to roll around in? Well I had a GREAT idea one day when I found a guinea pig ball in the store! It was just like the hamster ball but of much larger capacity built just for guinea pigs. That was the best invention of the day when I found that GP toy! So of course I had to purchase our GP a new toy. So I took it home all excited with visions of her running rapidly through the house in her new toy. That way she could be loose and not worry about the ole mean fat cat trying to eat her! Well to my disappointment, the GP just sat in the ball and would not move. I even tried to demonstrate to her how to use it (ok so I didn't crawl in the ball and try it out myself) but I did give her a little push thinking she'd pick up on it. Nope, not a chance. She wouldn't have anything to do with walking around our house in the GP designed travel ball. So my great idea plummeted when I gave her ball away a few months later!
Now I don't know what the average time that a GP is supposed to live. I think I had one for 7 years as a child, but on the average I believe their life span is anywhere from 2-4 years. So as time has passed over the years, our GP began to show her age and I always wondered when the day would come... She had a little plastic house she hid under most of the time so I would always wiggle the cage and say her name to make sure she was still moving!
Well.. the day came. Yesterday. I came home and my normal routine is to feed the cats and the GP right when I get home. So I looked down in the cage and did a double take. Yes, her time had come and she was called home on March 3, 2009. 6 years and 3 weeks to the day after we got her to be exact. She had a long and good life but she was old in GP years.
Another weakness of mine ~ I have a fear or anything dead. I don't know why that is, but there is something about a person or animal laying lifeless that scares the jeebies out of me. It's some phobia I've had since I was a child and I will probably never outgrow it. Well maybe I will outgrow it one day when I am there too but hopefully that's far far away! So in order not to scare my kids with our passed on GP still in the house, I grabbed my phone and dialed up none other than the person than can handle dead pets... my mother. Or allow me to introduce her new given name... "the guinea pig mortician" otherwise known as the "GPM."
So after feeding the rest of her clan of alive animals, the GPM came over to retrieve what GPM's take with them... the lifeless body of our tri-colored 6 year old GP. The GPM did a marvelous job of removing the GP, cage and all from our house. I also told the GPM she was in charge of taking care of all the burial arrangements as well. She was up for the challenge and told me she would take care of it. No worries for me since the GPM can handle matters such as this that I cannot bear to handle.
I guess I should also mention that the GPM not only handled her job well, but she brought a friend with her. Now this is no ordinary friend. This friend was black and white and fat and furry. Or should I say FAT is an understatement. This cute little critter was prego and ready to pop out baby GP's at any moment! The GPM thought that since we lost our precious GP, we needed an immediate replacement that was going to have babies to boot. I told the GPM thanks, but no thanks. No more pet GP(s) for awhile. Maybe someday, but not today. So away she went with our beloved GP, and the alive GP with alive baby GP's in her belly...
Thanks GPM! You did a fabulous job and I couldn't handle dead pets without you GPM. Now this makes me wonder what initials GPM will change to the next go around... GM (goat mortician), SM (sheep mortician), DM (dog mortician), CM (cat mortician) or HM (horse mortician) Hope not!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Happy as a Lark?
I am in thought mode for the moment and thought I would ask the question have you heard the phrase "happy as a lark?" Think about that for a moment. Honestly, what does that really mean? And what is a lark anyway? Maybe I should go look it up on www.dictionary.com which this blonde girl my daughter uses sometimes. Actually the truth is I don't have time at the moment to look it up because I am buried in paperwork, paperwork, and more paperwork. I just thought I would you search down deep in your brain for a moment to see if you could define what it meant. If you are so inclined to share with the rest of the world what "happy is a lark" means, please feel free to comment and tell me what it is. You know I once heard the phrase that a woman was "happy as a lark" and guess where it was? It was in the divorce class that parents have to attend. Yes, the woman was happy as a lark to be getting a divorce. I thought it was rather funny then. I have caught myself lately using the same expression lately and told others that I am happy as a lark. I guess I've heard it so many times, it just entered my daily language. But when I stopped to think about it, I realized I didn't even know what a "lark" was. Now my thought on the matter is that it means someone who is happy, go lucky and skips through life with a smile on their face each day. Now this would describe me on most given days. Don't get me wrong; there are some days I am not "happy as a lark" but rather "sappy as a shark." Ok, so that just made absolutely no sense but it sounded good anyways! So are you happy as a lark? I hope you are happy, and not just happy, but I hope you are happy as a lark. Now have a good day and go comment on what this phrase means!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
We Must Be Responsible Now
When we are born into this world, we are all tiny little helpless babies who rely on our parents or caretakers to give us what we need. And as we grow, we still rely on adults to supply our needs and give us the care we require while sprouting up into adulthood. And then as time passes by, which happens all too fast, we eventually grow up to be 18, get out of school, and get out into the real world. Then reality really sets in when we are all grown and responsible for ourselves in life. When we are young and small, we can't wait to grow up and be adults so we can do what we want when we want. But then it's ironic how often times once we grow up, we wish to be young again and not have the full responsibility load that comes with being an adult.
I have to admit I have always been responsible, even when I was young and didn't know then what I know now. I have always had a good head on my shoulders and knew right from wrong. And I am proud to say I have walked the straight and narrow most of my life. I have been told by others that they are proud of the kind of person I am and the way I choose to live. I have been called an inspiration by some which is completely flattering to me because in my eyes, I am just me. Just a good simple country girl who lives life to the fullest each day. I will say I find the best in every situation, no matter what the circumstances are. Each and every person can learn something from every scenario in life if they would just open their eyes and learn to listen. But with every thing I have been through in life, good or bad, it had made me into the responsible person that I am today.
Choosing to be responsible does not come easily to some. There are those in this world who seem to never grow up, no matter how old they are. They live on the edge, don't take responsibility for things that they should, and are often referred to as self centered individuals. It is sad, but that's the way some people choose to live life. They go through life as though time will pass at a slow pace, and do not realize what they are missing out on as time is currently passing. I personally feel pity for those who choose to be irresponsible and the only thing I can do is pray for those who fall into this category. Because I truly believe one day, irresponsible people will look back and wonder where the time went. Life is short and time is too precious to live as if tomorrow will be here forever.
I have learned that being a parent makes someone responsible whether they want to be or not. It's a completely different world when you become a parent and another person relies completely on you for care and nourishment. Not only does another person rely on you, but that little person will come to depend on you as they grow and mature. Being a mom is by far the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life. And since I grew up being responsible, it was easy to follow that trait and take care of my babies to the best of my ability. My girls are my world and I would not be the person who I am today without them. They keep me going each and everyday and are always there for me no matter what. So that in essence is why I am a responsible person, or should I say the two reasons I make responsibility a priority.
I do think most of today's people in the world are responsible. Or at least they would like to think they are. Being responsible is in the choice of the beholder. They can choose to be a good upstanding citizen and take responsibility for their actions or creations, or they can take the wrong path and ignore their responsibilities and later live to regret it at some point in time. Really, there is only two directions to go on the matter - responsible or irresponsible. There is no middle ground on the subject of responsibility. Either people can rely on you or they figure out they must rely on themselves to accomplish tasks.
Have you pondered the subject of responsibility lately? Do you consider yourself to be a responsible individual? If you answered yes to the last question, wonderful! Keep on being dependable and taking care of your responsibilities. If you had to stop and think about it for a minute, maybe that should tell you something. If you could not confirm with a clear "yes" in a quick second, then maybe you need to make some changes in your life. Maybe you need to become more responsible for something you are slacking on. If each person took responsibility for their actions or was a responsible person in general, this world would be a much better place. I know I cannot change the world, but I can make a difference by being a good person and responsible adult. I can be an influence to others by taking care of my responsibilities and setting a good example. And maybe just maybe, my actions will inspire others to be more responsible in this world. So if you need to take responsibility for something in your life, start today! The change should come sooner than later, so why not begin right now and try to make a difference? You never know... maybe your actions will make someone else be more responsible in this world.
I have to admit I have always been responsible, even when I was young and didn't know then what I know now. I have always had a good head on my shoulders and knew right from wrong. And I am proud to say I have walked the straight and narrow most of my life. I have been told by others that they are proud of the kind of person I am and the way I choose to live. I have been called an inspiration by some which is completely flattering to me because in my eyes, I am just me. Just a good simple country girl who lives life to the fullest each day. I will say I find the best in every situation, no matter what the circumstances are. Each and every person can learn something from every scenario in life if they would just open their eyes and learn to listen. But with every thing I have been through in life, good or bad, it had made me into the responsible person that I am today.
Choosing to be responsible does not come easily to some. There are those in this world who seem to never grow up, no matter how old they are. They live on the edge, don't take responsibility for things that they should, and are often referred to as self centered individuals. It is sad, but that's the way some people choose to live life. They go through life as though time will pass at a slow pace, and do not realize what they are missing out on as time is currently passing. I personally feel pity for those who choose to be irresponsible and the only thing I can do is pray for those who fall into this category. Because I truly believe one day, irresponsible people will look back and wonder where the time went. Life is short and time is too precious to live as if tomorrow will be here forever.
I have learned that being a parent makes someone responsible whether they want to be or not. It's a completely different world when you become a parent and another person relies completely on you for care and nourishment. Not only does another person rely on you, but that little person will come to depend on you as they grow and mature. Being a mom is by far the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life. And since I grew up being responsible, it was easy to follow that trait and take care of my babies to the best of my ability. My girls are my world and I would not be the person who I am today without them. They keep me going each and everyday and are always there for me no matter what. So that in essence is why I am a responsible person, or should I say the two reasons I make responsibility a priority.
I do think most of today's people in the world are responsible. Or at least they would like to think they are. Being responsible is in the choice of the beholder. They can choose to be a good upstanding citizen and take responsibility for their actions or creations, or they can take the wrong path and ignore their responsibilities and later live to regret it at some point in time. Really, there is only two directions to go on the matter - responsible or irresponsible. There is no middle ground on the subject of responsibility. Either people can rely on you or they figure out they must rely on themselves to accomplish tasks.
Have you pondered the subject of responsibility lately? Do you consider yourself to be a responsible individual? If you answered yes to the last question, wonderful! Keep on being dependable and taking care of your responsibilities. If you had to stop and think about it for a minute, maybe that should tell you something. If you could not confirm with a clear "yes" in a quick second, then maybe you need to make some changes in your life. Maybe you need to become more responsible for something you are slacking on. If each person took responsibility for their actions or was a responsible person in general, this world would be a much better place. I know I cannot change the world, but I can make a difference by being a good person and responsible adult. I can be an influence to others by taking care of my responsibilities and setting a good example. And maybe just maybe, my actions will inspire others to be more responsible in this world. So if you need to take responsibility for something in your life, start today! The change should come sooner than later, so why not begin right now and try to make a difference? You never know... maybe your actions will make someone else be more responsible in this world.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Honesty is the Best Policy
As the title reads, honesty is truly the best policy. A big pet peeve of mine is people who are conniving, dishonest, hide the truth or just plain lie! The majority of today's society gets caught up in this peeve of mine. If everyone in the world would just be honest and truthful, the world would not be in the state of turmoil it is today. The economy would not be as weak, people would not hate each other as they do in today's world, we would not have the crime rate we do today, and so on and so forth if people would just be HONEST and truthful 24/7. So maybe that last statement describes wishful thinking, and yes it would be a dream if the whole world was honest, but unfortunately that is not the case.
I have learned to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God. I also treat others the way I would want to be treated because that's just the golden rule. I am always honest up front with my friends, family, and people that cross my path in this life. Sometimes the truth is not always what we want to hear, or presents a situation we would care not to face. But the truth also sets us free both when we are honest with others and when we receive honesty from others.
As much as we don't want to admit it, we have all told a lie at one point in time or another. Sometimes it's a little white lie, and other times it's a lie of such great magnitude that could do great damage to others. Sometimes when we lie about something small, we don't think that it's a big deal. Or we may think we are doing someone else a favor by not telling them the entire truth. I strongly disagree that people should tell any lie, even a small teensy weensy little tiny one. Because eventually the lie will catch up to us, maybe not right away, but down the road it will come back to bite us in the butt in some way. So next time the thought of being dishonest crosses your mind, think about this...
How did you feel when someone lied to you in the past? It was probably a terrible feeling. Maybe you have been lied to about something that wasn't of great importance, but you still felt betrayed. Or maybe you have been lied to about something that completely changed your life or your world. Any lie is a lie, regardless of the size of the dishonest words. And the longer that a person lies, the bigger the lie becomes which only creates more hurt or damage when the truth is finally revealed. It absolutely amazes me how many people are dishonest in today's society. They cross our path everyday and sometimes we don't even realize it. But I believe that all lies eventually come to a halt and at some point, the truth will come out. Sometimes we find out the truth from the person who deceived us, other times we find out the truth from a friend who knew the truth all along.
So here is my challenge to you if you are reading this post and have been guilty of being dishonest in the past. First and foremost, be honest with yourself. Until you are honest with yourself about whatever situation you are dealing with, you cannot be honest with others. YOU must face reality first and realize what the truth is before involving anyone else. Then once you are honest with yourself, you are then ready to be honest with the rest of the world. At that point, do what the last phrase says and be honest with others. It is completely unfair to both parties when the truth is hidden. I believe when you are honest with others, you will earn more respect from people than if you lie or hide the truth.
I have been in situations where I was lied to and it burned some bridges with people. I have also had people be honest and up front with me and you know what? I actually respect them more for their honest words and not lying about the situation. Therefore I will allow that person to remain in my life and tend to admire that person for being truthful with me. I always treat others how I would want to be treated because I also believe what goes around comes around. And if you are lying to someone about something, it will come back full circle one of these days and then you will be on the receiving end. And then you will be the one who gets betrayed for the lies you told to others.
Ok, now for a bit of humor for the male readers out there...
You know when your wife or girlfriend asks you a question and you don't exactly know what to say? NEVER lie to your significant other; just agree with her. Even if you don't completely agree with what she says, do it anyway. That way you are not technically lying, just agreeing. So for example if she asks if you like her hair and you really don't, DO NOT tell her that. That is just the start of a place you don't even want to go. So heed my advice, just agree with her because women are usually right you know!
So I will leave you with this thought... Remember honesty is the best route to take, even when the truth isn't what someone else wants to hear. Honesty will set you and others free and spare hard feelings in the end. Always be honest with yourself, and be honest with others. You will have a more clear conscience when you are truthful about situations in life. You will have no reason to feel guilty if you are honest because there will be no lies that come back to haunt you down the road. Treat others how you would want to be treated because that is what life is all about. Be good, be true, and be honest and you will be happiest in life!
I have learned to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God. I also treat others the way I would want to be treated because that's just the golden rule. I am always honest up front with my friends, family, and people that cross my path in this life. Sometimes the truth is not always what we want to hear, or presents a situation we would care not to face. But the truth also sets us free both when we are honest with others and when we receive honesty from others.
As much as we don't want to admit it, we have all told a lie at one point in time or another. Sometimes it's a little white lie, and other times it's a lie of such great magnitude that could do great damage to others. Sometimes when we lie about something small, we don't think that it's a big deal. Or we may think we are doing someone else a favor by not telling them the entire truth. I strongly disagree that people should tell any lie, even a small teensy weensy little tiny one. Because eventually the lie will catch up to us, maybe not right away, but down the road it will come back to bite us in the butt in some way. So next time the thought of being dishonest crosses your mind, think about this...
How did you feel when someone lied to you in the past? It was probably a terrible feeling. Maybe you have been lied to about something that wasn't of great importance, but you still felt betrayed. Or maybe you have been lied to about something that completely changed your life or your world. Any lie is a lie, regardless of the size of the dishonest words. And the longer that a person lies, the bigger the lie becomes which only creates more hurt or damage when the truth is finally revealed. It absolutely amazes me how many people are dishonest in today's society. They cross our path everyday and sometimes we don't even realize it. But I believe that all lies eventually come to a halt and at some point, the truth will come out. Sometimes we find out the truth from the person who deceived us, other times we find out the truth from a friend who knew the truth all along.
So here is my challenge to you if you are reading this post and have been guilty of being dishonest in the past. First and foremost, be honest with yourself. Until you are honest with yourself about whatever situation you are dealing with, you cannot be honest with others. YOU must face reality first and realize what the truth is before involving anyone else. Then once you are honest with yourself, you are then ready to be honest with the rest of the world. At that point, do what the last phrase says and be honest with others. It is completely unfair to both parties when the truth is hidden. I believe when you are honest with others, you will earn more respect from people than if you lie or hide the truth.
I have been in situations where I was lied to and it burned some bridges with people. I have also had people be honest and up front with me and you know what? I actually respect them more for their honest words and not lying about the situation. Therefore I will allow that person to remain in my life and tend to admire that person for being truthful with me. I always treat others how I would want to be treated because I also believe what goes around comes around. And if you are lying to someone about something, it will come back full circle one of these days and then you will be on the receiving end. And then you will be the one who gets betrayed for the lies you told to others.
Ok, now for a bit of humor for the male readers out there...
You know when your wife or girlfriend asks you a question and you don't exactly know what to say? NEVER lie to your significant other; just agree with her. Even if you don't completely agree with what she says, do it anyway. That way you are not technically lying, just agreeing. So for example if she asks if you like her hair and you really don't, DO NOT tell her that. That is just the start of a place you don't even want to go. So heed my advice, just agree with her because women are usually right you know!
So I will leave you with this thought... Remember honesty is the best route to take, even when the truth isn't what someone else wants to hear. Honesty will set you and others free and spare hard feelings in the end. Always be honest with yourself, and be honest with others. You will have a more clear conscience when you are truthful about situations in life. You will have no reason to feel guilty if you are honest because there will be no lies that come back to haunt you down the road. Treat others how you would want to be treated because that is what life is all about. Be good, be true, and be honest and you will be happiest in life!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Too Good to Be True?!?!
Have you ever heard the phrase "if something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is?" More than likely you have heard that phrase and chances are you have probably dealt with a situation in life where that statement was true. This can apply to many different scenarios in life. There are situations that something seems like the greatest thing in the world and then it turns out not to be as good as you originally thought. There are people in this world who we put on a pedestal and or we idolize and then that person lets us down in the long run or turns out to be someone totally different than we originally thought. I think each person in this world has been guilty of falling in the "too good to be true" trap a time or two.
It goes along the line with the saying of "the grass is always greener on the other side." I have seen the follow-up statement to that as "until you get there." So yes the grass does always seem greener on the other side... until we take the plunge and get to the other side... then we realize it wasn't as green as we saw in the beginning. Often times we portray an image in our mind of what something would be like. Today's society seems to always want what they can't have. Or often times people in this world are not satisfied with what they currently have and always want more. We often think if things were different than the current scenario, then our lives would be better and more fulfilled.
In conclusion, yes there are some things that are too good to be true. There are people who inspire us that turn out to let us down. There will be situations in life where we want something we cannot have. There will always be something that seems better than what we currently have. But we must remember to keep our guard up just a bit, keep our eyes and ears open, and not fall into the trap. We must not be led by false shows people put on in the beginning or an image envisioned in our head of the way life could be. We must be smart in making decisions and not get lost so much in a situation or someone that we forget who we are. I believe the more independent of a person you are, the better you are able to read into situations or figure out a person in the beginning. We will all fall into the trap at some point in time and it's ok. Just remember if you were misled about something in life and you later realize it, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and go on. LEARN FROM IT, apply it to your life and do not forget the lessons learned in the incident. If something is too good to be true, it probably is. But remember our weaknesses only make us stronger in life!
It goes along the line with the saying of "the grass is always greener on the other side." I have seen the follow-up statement to that as "until you get there." So yes the grass does always seem greener on the other side... until we take the plunge and get to the other side... then we realize it wasn't as green as we saw in the beginning. Often times we portray an image in our mind of what something would be like. Today's society seems to always want what they can't have. Or often times people in this world are not satisfied with what they currently have and always want more. We often think if things were different than the current scenario, then our lives would be better and more fulfilled.
As hard as it is, we as a society need to be content with what we are blessed with in this world. We need to stop thinking about what we don't have, and reaching for the "this" or "that" we believe would make our life better. This does not mean we can't have dreams and goals in life. We do need to reach for the stars at times if the goal is realistic and obtainable.
We all have dreams we want to come true. And we must take action to make our dreams come true. I strongly believe we can achieve our goals and dreams in life, but we must be honest to ourselves in the process. If we truly believe a goal can be achieved, then we should do no matter what it takes in order for us to get there and accomplish that goal or dream. But always remember, do not lose sight of who you are as a person in the process. Do not compromise or forget your morals and beliefs. Do not make sacrifices you don't believe you can live with in the long run. Because once you reach the goal or dream you achieved so hard to reach, you need to be able to look back and smile on the journey and not regret the decisions made along the way.
At times the other side of the fence is better for us in the long run. This does not mean we will be granted an easy ride; there are obstacles to overcome in order to get to where we need to be in life. But the one guaranteed promise in this world is that if something is meant to happen, it will happen when the time is right.
There are also people we meet along the road of life who turn out to be someone totally different than we thought they were in the beginning. People change. In fact, we ALL change over time. But often times a person will put on a bright front in the beginning, and then over time the REAL person comes out. I have learned to be myself completely all the time, no exceptions. If a person does not like me for who I truly am, then that person does not need to be in my life. I am not one of those people who could be labeled "too good to be true." I am who I am. Some may interpret that as a bit conceited and if that's the case, then so be it. I have strong beliefs about certain things in life and I won't compromise my morals about some things. But with that stated, it is also important to remember life is about change and therefore we must be willing to bend. Bending does not mean making a total flip-flop in life, but be willing to make changes and compromise that will benefit your future and your life.
In conclusion, yes there are some things that are too good to be true. There are people who inspire us that turn out to let us down. There will be situations in life where we want something we cannot have. There will always be something that seems better than what we currently have. But we must remember to keep our guard up just a bit, keep our eyes and ears open, and not fall into the trap. We must not be led by false shows people put on in the beginning or an image envisioned in our head of the way life could be. We must be smart in making decisions and not get lost so much in a situation or someone that we forget who we are. I believe the more independent of a person you are, the better you are able to read into situations or figure out a person in the beginning. We will all fall into the trap at some point in time and it's ok. Just remember if you were misled about something in life and you later realize it, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and go on. LEARN FROM IT, apply it to your life and do not forget the lessons learned in the incident. If something is too good to be true, it probably is. But remember our weaknesses only make us stronger in life!
My Mini Comedian
Do you have kids that like to be funny or do things that you can't help but laugh about? Well I must say there is never a dull moment around our house. My little one has become the entertainment on several occasions. You just really never know quite what she will do or say next. So a few nights ago she informed me that her toothpaste was "taking a bath." I thought what in the world is she talking about?!?!
So then my brain had a flashback to this time last year. She accidentally dropped the cap of her toothpaste down into the sink and it fit just perfectly into the drain to where I could not get it out. The cap was such a perfect fit that no matter what I used to try and pry it out or what I did, the cap became wedged down farther into the drain the more I tried to retrieve it! So finally after multiple tries and using different objects to try and fish out the cap, I gave up and decided to call for back-up assistance. So I dialed up my mom's husband, otherwise known as my Mr. Fix-it who came up with the remedy to solve the problem. He jabbed a sharp knife way down into the plastic and carefully wiggled the stuck cap back up to the surface! So we had a tube of toothpaste that had this lovely knife hole in the cap until it was all used up.
So the other night when my little one informed me that her "toothpaste was taking a bath." I said NOOOOO and knew exactly what that meant! So I ran into the bathroom and sure enough ~ an exact repeat a year later! She once again had the toothpaste cap wedged down into the drain and the sink was half full of water. Only this time her toothpaste was floating in the water "taking a bath." So I dialed up Mr. Fix It and he came over to fix the problem once again. I had a talk with my little one about how the toothpaste doesn't need to take a bath, just people. So a few days later she came up to me again and told me her toothpaste was taking another bath... (But luckily Mr. Fix It was at my house this time so no need to make another phone call LOL)
Then a couple days later I said the words "diaper bag" in conversation with my little comedian. She then informed me that it was an "underwear bag." Well I was puzzled for a few seconds until I realized oh yes, she has been potty trained for awhile. So she corrected me that her "diaper bag" must now be called an "underwear bag" for future reference! So I'm trying to remember to use the correct term but I have been corrected a few times since. I will give her credit and say she does have a very valid point!
No matter what, all kids say the darndest things at some point in time. Sometimes they are embarrassing, sometimes their words can be cute, but what is most important is that we take the time to laugh about their funny sayings. Kids are only little once and might be funny or embarrass us a few times in our lives, but those memories will stick with us a lifetime and become some of the best moments to reflect back upon as they grow older. As I always say, life is short so laugh, love and live happy!
So then my brain had a flashback to this time last year. She accidentally dropped the cap of her toothpaste down into the sink and it fit just perfectly into the drain to where I could not get it out. The cap was such a perfect fit that no matter what I used to try and pry it out or what I did, the cap became wedged down farther into the drain the more I tried to retrieve it! So finally after multiple tries and using different objects to try and fish out the cap, I gave up and decided to call for back-up assistance. So I dialed up my mom's husband, otherwise known as my Mr. Fix-it who came up with the remedy to solve the problem. He jabbed a sharp knife way down into the plastic and carefully wiggled the stuck cap back up to the surface! So we had a tube of toothpaste that had this lovely knife hole in the cap until it was all used up.
So the other night when my little one informed me that her "toothpaste was taking a bath." I said NOOOOO and knew exactly what that meant! So I ran into the bathroom and sure enough ~ an exact repeat a year later! She once again had the toothpaste cap wedged down into the drain and the sink was half full of water. Only this time her toothpaste was floating in the water "taking a bath." So I dialed up Mr. Fix It and he came over to fix the problem once again. I had a talk with my little one about how the toothpaste doesn't need to take a bath, just people. So a few days later she came up to me again and told me her toothpaste was taking another bath... (But luckily Mr. Fix It was at my house this time so no need to make another phone call LOL)
Then a couple days later I said the words "diaper bag" in conversation with my little comedian. She then informed me that it was an "underwear bag." Well I was puzzled for a few seconds until I realized oh yes, she has been potty trained for awhile. So she corrected me that her "diaper bag" must now be called an "underwear bag" for future reference! So I'm trying to remember to use the correct term but I have been corrected a few times since. I will give her credit and say she does have a very valid point!
No matter what, all kids say the darndest things at some point in time. Sometimes they are embarrassing, sometimes their words can be cute, but what is most important is that we take the time to laugh about their funny sayings. Kids are only little once and might be funny or embarrass us a few times in our lives, but those memories will stick with us a lifetime and become some of the best moments to reflect back upon as they grow older. As I always say, life is short so laugh, love and live happy!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Sad News about Wagonteamster
As I sit here typing this post, I am on the verge of tears as I share this awful news. I just received a phone call from my mother informing me that Bob Skelding from www.wagonteamster.com was involved in a horrific accident yesterday afternoon in Macon, Mississippi. I do not know many details at this point, just heard about the accident and that Bob was in surgery and had been seriously injured. Here is a link to a news article that briefly talks about the accident and shows a picture of the destroyed wagon:
http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/39397497.html
Even sadder news ~ two of his horses, Dolly and Deedee were killed in the accident. Now anyone who has owned a pet can understand the sadness and loss felt after an animal has died. I have lost cats, dogs, and even horses during my life. When an animal passes on, often times it feels as though we have lost a best friend. Doc and Dolly will live on to become a legend in this world. They will live on in the hearts of thousands of people whose lives were touched by this story.
Even though I never met Bob, I was so drawn to the story when I first heard about it. For a refresher click HERE. I must admit I became hooked on this story and would check the "Where's Bob" link every morning to see where his travels took him the previous day. I even loaded the page on my favorites so I had quick access to my daily link.
My heart is absolutely breaking over this tragic accident. I feel as though I grew to know Bob and his team of horses just from reading the daily blog and stories he wrote on his website. In fact, just this morning when I logged on to his site and didn't see an update from the previous day, I had a funny feeling come over me. Then I received the phone call a few minutes later. The phone call that made my heart sink to the floor and the urge to break down bawling my eyes out at that very moment. A moment of panic swept through my heart and I think the first words out of my mouth were "NO that can't be." But then reality set in and I had to check out the news story for myself. I had to click on the picture of the wagon that was demolished into thousands of pieces. The very wagon that rolled across 1700+ miles of ground. The wagon that no longer had the horses hitched to it cruising down the highway. The wagon that will no longer exists because of the tanker semi that crashed into the wagonteamster ride. And then reality sets in even more when I see the picture of the demolished wagon with no horses hitched to it. Half of the team from wagonteamster is no longer here and the other half has been injured tremendously. Not to mention that wagonteamster's driver is laying in a hospital somewhere.
I have a quote on my e-mail signature that reads "everything happens for a reason." I happened to look at this quote shortly after receiving this tragic news. It made me ask the question "why did this happen?" Obviously no one knows the answer to that exact question. That is one of those phrases that we ask ourselves every time something bad happens or something goes wrong. I have no idea why this happened; nor can I begin to fathom why it did happen. But there has to be some type of reason that Bob lost half of his team and nearly his life.
Bob is such an inspiration to me and all others who have followed his story. He has touched my heart and my life in so many ways. I regret that I never had the opportunity to meet Bob or see the team on the road. However, I have learned so much from following Bob's journey these past few months. He is truly a hero for taking the leap of faith and venturing on the journey that tragically ended on February 10, 2009.
Please keep Bob and his horses in your prayers. Hopefully he will recover fully and his horses Joyce and Doc will be ok. I do not know the extent of their injuries, but the outlook cannot be good from looking at the picture of destruction. Please please pray for the remaining members of wagonteamster. I hope and pray something good will come to light in the midst of this awful tragedy. I do know Bob was writing a book about his life experiences. I pray that someday that his book will hit the shelves of bookstores and be a powerful tool to help others in their life's journey.
Please not only pray for Bob, but remember that life is short and you NEVER know what will happen from day to day. As I always say, live life to the fullest each day and never take one moment for granted. Each day given to us is a blessing from God. Live, laugh and love and be happy for every moment in your life. Things can change in the blink of an eye. Bob & the wagonteamster are living proof of that...
http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/39397497.html
Even sadder news ~ two of his horses, Dolly and Deedee were killed in the accident. Now anyone who has owned a pet can understand the sadness and loss felt after an animal has died. I have lost cats, dogs, and even horses during my life. When an animal passes on, often times it feels as though we have lost a best friend. Doc and Dolly will live on to become a legend in this world. They will live on in the hearts of thousands of people whose lives were touched by this story.
Even though I never met Bob, I was so drawn to the story when I first heard about it. For a refresher click HERE. I must admit I became hooked on this story and would check the "Where's Bob" link every morning to see where his travels took him the previous day. I even loaded the page on my favorites so I had quick access to my daily link.
My heart is absolutely breaking over this tragic accident. I feel as though I grew to know Bob and his team of horses just from reading the daily blog and stories he wrote on his website. In fact, just this morning when I logged on to his site and didn't see an update from the previous day, I had a funny feeling come over me. Then I received the phone call a few minutes later. The phone call that made my heart sink to the floor and the urge to break down bawling my eyes out at that very moment. A moment of panic swept through my heart and I think the first words out of my mouth were "NO that can't be." But then reality set in and I had to check out the news story for myself. I had to click on the picture of the wagon that was demolished into thousands of pieces. The very wagon that rolled across 1700+ miles of ground. The wagon that no longer had the horses hitched to it cruising down the highway. The wagon that will no longer exists because of the tanker semi that crashed into the wagonteamster ride. And then reality sets in even more when I see the picture of the demolished wagon with no horses hitched to it. Half of the team from wagonteamster is no longer here and the other half has been injured tremendously. Not to mention that wagonteamster's driver is laying in a hospital somewhere.
I have a quote on my e-mail signature that reads "everything happens for a reason." I happened to look at this quote shortly after receiving this tragic news. It made me ask the question "why did this happen?" Obviously no one knows the answer to that exact question. That is one of those phrases that we ask ourselves every time something bad happens or something goes wrong. I have no idea why this happened; nor can I begin to fathom why it did happen. But there has to be some type of reason that Bob lost half of his team and nearly his life.
Bob is such an inspiration to me and all others who have followed his story. He has touched my heart and my life in so many ways. I regret that I never had the opportunity to meet Bob or see the team on the road. However, I have learned so much from following Bob's journey these past few months. He is truly a hero for taking the leap of faith and venturing on the journey that tragically ended on February 10, 2009.
Please keep Bob and his horses in your prayers. Hopefully he will recover fully and his horses Joyce and Doc will be ok. I do not know the extent of their injuries, but the outlook cannot be good from looking at the picture of destruction. Please please pray for the remaining members of wagonteamster. I hope and pray something good will come to light in the midst of this awful tragedy. I do know Bob was writing a book about his life experiences. I pray that someday that his book will hit the shelves of bookstores and be a powerful tool to help others in their life's journey.
Please not only pray for Bob, but remember that life is short and you NEVER know what will happen from day to day. As I always say, live life to the fullest each day and never take one moment for granted. Each day given to us is a blessing from God. Live, laugh and love and be happy for every moment in your life. Things can change in the blink of an eye. Bob & the wagonteamster are living proof of that...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)