One of My Favorite things too!

Here is the video of Josh Groban performing "Silent Night" on Oprah's Favorite things show. I don't know about the other items, but I sure am enjoying Josh's new CD "Noel-- my little splurge for the Holiday Season, since music is one of my all time favorite things about Christmas! :):)

The Christmas Pageant

A friend sent me this. Enjoy! :)


The Christmas Pageant


My husband and I had been happily married (most of the time) for five years but hadn't been blessed with a baby. I decided to do some serious praying and promised God that if he would give us a child, I would be a perfect mother, love it with all my heart and raise it with His word as my guide.

God answered my prayers and blessed us with a son. The next year God blessed us with another son. The following year, He blessed us with yet another son. The year after that we were blessed with a daughter. My husband thought we'd been blessed right into poverty. We now had four children,and the oldest was only four years old.

I learned never to ask God for anything unless I meant it. As a minister once told me,"If you pray for rain, make sure you carry an umbrella."I began reading a few verses of the Bible to the children each day as they lay in their cribs. I was off to a good start. God had entrusted me with four children and I didn't want to disappoint Him.

I tried to be patient the day the children smashed two dozen eggs on the kitchen floor searching for baby chicks.

I tried to be understanding...

...when they started a hotel for homeless frogs in the spare bedroom, although it took me nearly two hours to catch all twenty-three frogs.

.....When my daughter poured ketchup all over herself and rolled up in a blanket to see how it felt to be a hot dog, I tried to see the humor rather than the mess.

In spite of changing over twenty-five thousand diapers, never eating a hot meal and never sleeping for more than thirty minutes at a time,I still thank God daily for my children.

While I couldn't keep my promise to be a perfect mother -I didn't even come close...I did keep my promiseto raise them in the Word of God. I knew I was missing the mark just a little when I told my daughter we were going to church! to worship God, and she wanted to bring a bar of soap along to"wash up" Jesus, too.

Something was lostin the translation whenI explained that God gave us everlasting life, and my son thought it was generous of God to give us his "last wife."My proudest moment came during the children's Christmas pageant.

My daughter was playing Mary, two of my sons were shepherds and my youngest son was a wise man. This was their moment to shine. My five-year-old shepherd had practiced his line,"We found the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes." But he was nervous and said, "The baby was wrapped in wrinkled clothes." My four-year-old "Mary" said,"That's not 'wrinkled clothes,' silly. That's dirty, rotten clothes."

A wrestling match broke out between Mary and the shepherdand was stopped by an angel,who bent her halo and lost her left wing I slouched a little lowerin my seat when Mary dropped the doll representing Baby Jesus, and it bounced down the aisle crying, "Mama-mama."

Mary grabbed the doll, wrapped it back up and held it tightly asthe wise men arrived. My other son stepped forward wearing a bathrobe and a paper crown, knelt at the manger and announced,"We are the three wise men,and we are bringing gifts of gold, common sense and fur."

The congregationd issolved into laughter,and the pageantgot a standing ovation. "I've never enjoyed a Christmas program as much as this one,"laughed the pastor, wiping tears from his eyes.

"For the rest of my life, I'll never hear theChristmas story without thinking of gold, common sense and fur.

""My children are my pride and my joy and my greatestblessing," I said as I dug through my purse for an aspirin.

Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.

Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher .

Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.

Had no army, yet kings feared Him.

He won no military battles,yet He conquered the world.

He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.

He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.

Feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us .

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!

What Is Holy

Who is to say what is holy? The Tsalagi (Cherokee), believe that whatever the Great Spirit made is holy. A mountain, a tree, the whispering stream is holy. So much has been lost in the translation that we are inclined to pick apart what another thinks is holy and good. Our limitless connection to all that is holy can give us a great comprehension of peace and health and all that is needed. If we follow the much-trodden path, believing that to be holy we must be poverty-stricken, downcast, and victims of an angry God, we are fooled. The idea that we can earn our way overburdens us. When we put it all down and turn toward the Light, sweet grace is poured upon us.



---From A Cherokee Feast of Days by Joyce Sequichie Hifler

A New Meaning to the Twelve Days Of Christmas Song

A New Meaning to the Twelve Days of Christmas Song

Day 1 A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE -- Jesus, The Son of God

Day 2 2 TURTLE DOVES -- The Old and New Testament

Day 3 THREE FRENCH HENS-- The Virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity

Day 4 FOUR CALLING BIRDS-- The Four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

Day 5 FIVE GOLDEN RINGS -- The Pentateuch or first five books of the Old Testament

Day 6 SIX GEESE A LAYING-- The six days of creation

Day 7 SEVEN SWANS A SWIMMING-- The Seven Sacraments

Day 8 EIGHT MAIDS A MILKING The Eight Beatitudes

Day 9 NINE LADIES DANCING-- The nine fruits of the Holy Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

Day 10 TEN LORDS A LEAPING-- The Ten Commandments

Day 11 ELEVEN LORDS A LEAPING-- The eleven faithful apostles (excludes Judas)

Day 12 TWELVE DRUMMERS DRUMMING-- The Twelve points of doctrine found in the Apostles Creed.

1 I Believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of Heaven and earth

2 I Believe in Jesus Christ the Only Son of the Father

3 He was born of the Virgin Mary

4 He became man

5 He Suffered under Pontius Pilot

6 He Was Crucified, Died and was buried

7 On the Third day he rose again.

8 He ascended into heaven

9 He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

10 I believe in the Holy Spirit

11 I believe in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church

12 I acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sin.

Awesome Ron Paul Video on Youtube

This video gives me goosebumps! :)It really makes you stop and think where America is headed.

Life Is What You Make of It

Life is What You Make of it
Bishop E. Earl Jenkins

"Always full of the joy of the Lord, and always thankful." Colossians 1:11-12 TLB

Once there was an old and very wise man. Every day he and his granddaughter would sit outside a gas station in his rocking chair, waiting to greet tourists as they passed through his small town. One day a tall man who surely had to be a tourist, began looking around as if he were checking out the area for a place to live. "So what kind of town is this?" he asked. The old man replied, "Well, what kind of town are you from?" The tourist said, "One where everyone is very critical of each other. It's a real negative place to live." The old man said "You know, that's just how this town is."

Later, a family passing through also stopped for gas. The father stepped out and asked the old man, "Is this town a good place to live?" "Well, what about the town you're from? The father said, "In the town I'm from everyone is very close and always willing to lend a helping hand. I really hate to leave it." The old man smiled and said, "You know, that's a lot like this small town."

After the family had left the granddaughter looked up and asked, "Grandpa, how come when the first man came you told him this was a terrible place to live, yet when that family came you told them it was a wonderful place to live?" The old man looked down into his granddaughter's wondering blue eyes and said, "No matter where you go, you take your attitude with you. And that's what makes it terrible or wonderful."

Yes, life is what you make it!

Happy Birthday Jeremy!

(Jeremy and his girlfriend, Meghan dressed up for Homecoming)

My son, Jeremy just turned 18 today. I can't believe how fast time flew by. He will be graduating from high school next June. It just doesnt seem possible that he will be getting his drivers license and driving his first car in a matter of weeks. Even though we've had our typical Mother-son issues over the years, I am so proud of him. He always has a way of making me laugh, a quick wit about him & I really think he will go far in life!

He wrote the following in his recent blog that I would love to share with you all. I am delighted to know that just when I thought he wasnt paying attention to what I say-- Im finding that our personal belief system & values, although sometimes conflict, actually parallel one another at times. That really means a lot to me & Im so proud to be his Mom :)

"In 6 days, I'll be 18. One year older, 365.25 days wiser, more calloused from pain, more open minded, smarter, more experienced in life. It doesn't happen over night. Experience is what makes us who we are. You aren't your age, you aren't your friends, you aren't your family. You are the choices, deeds, thoughts, and ideas you manifest into the world. Leave your mark, leave little bits of yourself. Bodies decay, money gets spent, material objects get broken and lost. Ideas, dreams, and memories can last forever. Sometimes, that is all you have. Life is a chaotic and confusing experience. Live through it. Impact all the people around you. Leave pieces yourself in this world. Stop looking at all the minute details, and look at the bigger picture. Live everyday as if it were you last. Regret only what you didn't learn from. The meaning of life is however you interpret it." ---Jeremy Pearson.

"I Can't Keep Up"

Im so glad that I ran across this article today. I guess you can say that it pretty much sums up what Ive been feeling ever since all the After thanksgiving store advertisements started. I am puzzled by all those people who line up overnight just to get into the store when it opens for some latest gadget. Where is the focus & the true reason for this season these days??? Christmas is not getting the latest gizmo or gadget. For me, Christmas is giving from the heart to others, which means so much more than you could ever buy in a store. Just like the author of the article below; I have trouble every year when relatives ask me what I want for Christmas, cause my main focus is so concentrated on giving not receiving.

Since Christ is the reason for the season & the ultimate gift--- I get so much more joy by giving--especially to loved ones & others in need. Im pretty simple, really. I enjoy making special memories for my family, rather than receiving the latest trinket.

Heck, even both our our tv's and even our kid's Nintendo 64 is second hand!!! In fact--We even have a television upstairs that I inherited that I used to watch cartoons on while I was still in elementary school. (We most likely wont buy other one until it is mandatory to switch to HDTV or the tv finally quits on us!) Quite honestly, Memories and Giving stay fresh in my memory long after the last gift has been opened on Christmas Day anyway :)

I guess you can say (in the words from my favorite Charlie Brown cartoon) "Im not going to let all this commercialism spoil my Christmas"! LOL! While the other people are shopping 'til they drop, I think I will hang out at home, decorate the house, decorate our tree this weekend & try to stay as far away from the Mall as I can. Besides-- if I have to shop--Shopping online in my jammies sounds much more appealing anyway. :) Wink!


I Can't Keep Up!
By Elliott Ryan
Guest Writer
CBN.com –

It started a couple weeks ago. Relatives began inquiring early. "What do you want for Christmas? Give me a list." I replied to one of them that I couldn't think of anything I needed. That was the truth. I really couldn't come up with anything. I am by no means wealthy. But my needs are met. There are some DVDs and CDs that I wouldn't mind having. I suppose I could always use more clothes and shoes. Or a banana hanger. I don't have one of those. But I have been blessed so much that I can't think of anything that I really need.Yet even though my needs are met, I still often find myself falling into the trap. Maybe you know of the trap I am talking about. It is a trap that tempts many in our society. It is the consumer trap. It calls out to us saying, "You need more. You need better."

It is the trap that makes me want a flat screen plasma TV like my friend has, even though there is nothing wrong with my TV. It is what leads some people to run up huge credit card bills and live above their means to keep up with their neighbors. It is what tempts some people to buy bigger houses than they need and can afford rendering them house-poor just so they can appear to be affluent.

Of course, I am not against having nice things, but so much of our way of life seems tied up in acquiring more. In fact, this article is being published on the day after Thanksgiving. Historically, this is the biggest shopping day of the year. Malls are counting on us to be interested in acquiring more stuff -- for ourselves and for our loved ones.It is ironic that this big shopping day comes directly after Thanksgiving, a day set aside to thank God for His provision.

That day has become more about eating a big meal and watching football and parades. There seems to be a general thanklessness in our society. I think a major reason for this is a lack of contentment.See, when we always want more, it is difficult to be thankful for what we already have. The Bible says, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." (1 Timothy 6:6-10)When we want the newest and best of everything, we lose our contentment with food and clothing.

Many people in the world are without food and clothing, while many of us have houses, cars, cable TV, computers, and a lot of stuff we rarely use. Still many of us are not content. The church promotes the practicing of many different spiritual disciplines such as daily devotions, prayer, and tithing. But there is one spiritual discipline that does not get mentioned much in many churches. It is a discipline called simplicity. One of the major teachings of the church used to be that we should live simply. We should not become consumers obsessed with keeping up with the Joneses.

Instead, believers are to be consumed only by our Lord and His love. When that is our focus, our lives become simpler. We become content.Contentment leads to true thanksgiving and to a simpler life. But it also leads to charity. When I am content with what I have, I am more likely to help those around me who need it most. I am reminded to give generously so that others can have their needs met also. I am reminded to tithe so my church and other ministries I feel led to support can continue their ministry. I am more open to sharing the possessions I do have with others who may need them also. Contentment. Thanksgiving. Simplicity. Charity. This holiday season, I will concentrate on these traits of Godliness. The Joneses will have one less person competing with them.

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want" (Philippians 4:11-12).

Beyond Counting Blessings

Beyond Counting Blessings
Being Truly Thankful



Often when we practice being thankful, we go through the process of counting our blessings, acknowledging the wonderful people, things and places that make up our reality. While it is fine to be grateful for the good fortune we have accumulated, true thankfulness stems from a powerful comprehension of the gift of simply being alive, and when we feel it, we feel it regardless of our circumstances. In this deep state of gratitude, we recognize the purity of the experience of being, in and of itself, and our thankfulness is part and parcel of our awareness that we are one with this great mystery that is life.

It is difficult for most of us to access this level of consciousness as we are very caught up in the ups and downs of our individual experiences in the world. The thing to remember about the world, though, is that it ebbs and flows, expands and contracts, gives and takes, and is by its very nature somewhat unreliable. If we only feel gratitude when it serves our desires, this is not true thankfulness. No one is exempt from the twists and turns of fate, which may, at any time, take the possessions, situations, and people we love away from us. Ironically, it is sometimes this kind of loss that awakens us to a thankfulness that goes deeper than just being grateful when things go our way. Illness and near-miss accidents can also serve as wake-up calls to the deeper realization that we are truly lucky to be alive.

We do not have to wait to be shaken to experience this state of being truly thankful for our lives. Tuning in to our breath and making an effort to be fully present for a set period of time each day can do wonders for our ability to connect with true gratitude. We can also awaken ourselves with the intention to be more aware of the unconditional generosity of the life force that flows through us regardless of our circumstances.




~ Daily OM ~

Obituary

(A friend sent me this. Click on the picture to see it in full)

Sow The Seeds

Sow the Seeds



God said:

Be attached to nothing. Be not attached to anything. Be not attached to trains running on time, your computer working... Anything that is manmade, you are not to be attached to. The sun will rise every day, but all your appliances and contrivances may not. They don't have to! What is it exactly that you think depends upon everything working as you expect it to?

Trees will grow leaves, and they will drop their leaves. Apple trees will blossom and bear fruit. Grass will grow. I am in Heaven, and everything that matters is on time, beloveds. These can be counted on.

Only, everything is not in your time.

This is really funny when you consider that time does not exist.

It exists for you, of course. It exists for you the same way trouble exists for you. You conceive it, and as you conceive, you believe.

What if the concept of trouble or on time did not exist? What then? Would you have troubles? Would you ever be late or early?

The Earth is ever rolling along, while the sun is still.

Stars are twinkling all day and all night long. It's just you don't see them during the day.

If My children did not conceive of trouble, Earth would rise to Heaven at this present moment of non-time.

What if everything that happens or does not happen is just right? What if there is nothing wrong?

Do you begin to see now how you have been attached to trouble? You have kept your eye out for it. In that sense, you have sought trouble more than you have sought happiness.

Now be on the look-out for happiness. Scout for happiness. Sow the seeds for happiness simply by nurturing it in your mind.

In the relative world, everything is relative. If you are having a picnic, and it rains, you call that bad. If you are a farmer, and the soil is dry, you call the rain good. Yet rain is just rain. Consider it your friend regardless of your plans. Let the sun shine in your heart always, which means right now.

Right now in this moment of stillness, all is well. Everything is in place, even though there is no such a thing as space for place to be, and yet all is well. Life triumphs. Even in death, life triumphs. Life is mighty. Give yourself over to life, and nothing will have to be but what it is. And what life is is your interpretation. You translate life, as it were. You mistranslate light. When you are fraught, you have misinterpreted life. You held it to certain standards that are not yours to impose.

Would you get off life's back for a while and just let it be? Not try to forcibly change it nor grouse about it even one more time? Will you begin to appreciate this life you have been given. Your purpose is to serve life, and not to fix it. Love life, and you will serve it, and life will change right before your eyes. It will change because you changed. Life and you are definitely reciprocal.

Everything in the world is relative. You desire designer shoes. If you had no shoes, then you would simply desire shoes.

You can have designer shoes, and still put life into perspective.

If you are not happy, you have not put life into perspective. Perceive differently. Appreciate more. Appreciate every inch, every ounce of life more. Life deserves to be appreciated. The more you appreciate life, the more you appreciate yourself and your role in life. You do have a part to play, beloveds. You are here for a reason, and you can be sure that the reason is not to complain.



~ Heavenletters ~

Top 10 Terrific Traits of People with Autism

I loved this list and it put a smile on my face. I love how our 6 year old son just seems to live in the moment like there is no care in the world. Sometimes I wish I could do the same. I admire that in my little boy. He is super intelligent, has a fantastic memory and quite nitche for details. Especially cars! He has almost every make and model down pat. That truly amazes me for a boy his age!

In fact, I had a conference with his teacher the other day & He is in the top half of his kindergarten class when it comes to reading; despite the day to day challenges that he faces in his body. One day, he is going to do something terrific with his life!!! He already has another trait that I wish that other people had. Our Noah loves people that are in his life unconditionally and that is such a beautiful thing! :) :)

Top 10 Terrific Traits of People with Autism

If you're sick of hearing about all the "deficits" challenging people on the autism spectrum, join the club! But for every down side to autism, there seems to be a positive -- an unusual trait that rarely appears among the "typical" community, but shines out among autistic folk. These plusses are well worth celebrating.

1) Autistic People Rarely Lie
We all claim to value the truth, but almost all of us tell little white lies. All, that is, except people on the autism spectrum. To them, truth is truth -- and a good word from a person on the spectrum is the real deal.

2) People on the Autism Spectrum Live in the Moment
How often do typical people fail to notice what's in front of their eyes because they're distracted by social cues or random chitchat? People on the autism spectrum truly attend to the sensory input that surrounds them. Many have achieved the ideal of mindfulness.

3) People with Autism Rarely Judge Others
Who's fatter? Richer? Smarter? For people on the autism spectrum, these distinctions hold much less importance than for typical folks. In fact, people on the spectrum often see through such surface appearances to discover the real person.

4) People with Autism are Passionate
Of course, not all autistic people are alike. But many are truly passionate about the things, ideas and people in their lives. How many "typical" people can say the same?

5) People with Autism Are Not Tied to Social Expectations
If you've ever bought a car, played a game or joined a club to fit in, you know how hard it is to be true to yourself. But for people with autism, social expectations can be honestly irrelevant. What matters is true liking, interest and passion -- not keeping up with the Jones's.

6) People with Autism Have Terrific Memories
How often do typical people forget directions, or fail to take note of colors, names, and other details? People on the autism spectrum are often much more tuned in to details. They may have a much better memory than their typical peers for all kind of critical details.

7) Autistic People Are Less Materialistic
Of course, this is not universally true -- but in general, people with autism are far less concerned with outward appearance than their typical peers. As a result, they worry less about brand names, hairstyles and other expensive but unimportant externals than most people do.

8) Autistic People Play Fewer Head Games
Who was that woman, and why were you looking at her? I know I TOLD you I didn't mind if you went out, but why did you believe me? Most autistic people don't play games like these -- and they assume that you won't either. It's a refreshing and wonderful change from the Peyton Place emotional roller coaster that mars too many typical relationships!

9) Autistic People Have Fewer Hidden Agendas
Most of the time, if a person on the autism spectrum tells you what he wants -- he is telling you what he wants. No need to beat around the bush, second guess, and hope you're reading between the lines!

10) People with Autism Open New Doors for Neurotypicals
For some of us neurotypicals, having an autistic person in our lives has had a profound positive impact on our perceptions, beliefs and expectations. For me, at least, being the mom of a son on the autism spectrum has released me from a lifetime of "should" -- and offered me a new world of "is."

The Face of Autism

This is such an awesome video about how children with Autism see our world. The little boy in the video reminds me so much of my 6 year old son, Noah. Autism is just a label. It doesnt define the child, cause 2 children who have Autism won't have the same challenges as the other one does. It is simply a Spectrum disorder. They just learn different from us, but they still learn, are learning & are beautiful in every way inside and out! :)

Awesome Ron Paul ad

(Click on the picture to see a partial view of the ad)

RON PAUL SUPPORTERS RUN FULL PG AD IN USA TODAY

Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - FreeMarketNews.comOn either November 20, or 21, USA

Today will be running a full-page, black and white ad in support of the campaign of presidential candidate Ron Paul (R-Tex), currently titled "An Open Letter to the American People." The ad will be paid for by a wealthy Ron Paul supporter in Massachusetts who will be placing the ad on his own behalf and is not associated with the official campaign. The graphic design work is being provided out of NH, and the ad concept is the brain work of the team at www.ronpaulforums.com, sources said.

The black and white ad will emphasize the constitutional nature of the Ron Paul campaign and the foundations of his small-government, anti-tax and anti-foreign entanglements perspective.

There's A Work Going On In You

I love it when a good article like this one comes across my path. Sometimes when God doesnt make any sense to me, He really is making perfect sense... through circumstances, people & issues that we face. Today, I am so grateful for realizing this. It really spoke to my spirit that God is taking me though a process & molding me into the person that God created me to be! :) :)

There's A Work Going On In You

Bishop E. Earl Jenkins

"Grace wherein we stand, and tribulation [that] worketh patience." Romans 5:2-3

We're too impatient! If God doesn't speak to us in the first 5 minutes of our prayer time we get up, shrug it off and decide "He isn't talking today." Where's the tenacity of our spiritual forefathers who would take hold of God in prayer and refuse to let go until they received "a sure word" from Him? (See 2Pe 1:19).

There are 2 things you can count on as you walk with God: trouble that works for you, and grace to stand while you're going through it. Have you been praying for patience? Get ready for trouble! There's no other way to get it. Patience grows in the soil of adversity. How do you test the strength of an anchor? Expose it to the fury of a storm.

Understand this: some of the people you can't stand right now are the very ones who'll mature you! Our problem is - we pray for things but don't recognize the answer when it comes. God has a purpose in all things, He also has a process. As you get to know Him better you begin to recognize both.

Here's how it works: you ask God for strength and He allows you to go through times of testing. You ask for wisdom and you get to deal with problems that require solutions. You ask for success and He gives you the ability to work - not necessarily harder, but smarter. You ask for favor and He gives you responsibility. Salvation is a gift, but patience is a reward for overcoming. So stay where God has you today and learn the lessons He wants to teach you; tomorrow you'll be glad

Heartwarming!

While singing the National Anthem, a young man with Autism gets the giggles. Watch what the crowd does next... its heartwarming & will make you smile. :)

Live According to Your True Values

Live According To Your True Values



I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts.
- John Locke, philosopher

The best intentions matter little if your daily life doesn't reflect those values. How can you make sure that your thoughts and actions match? Good or bad, your values are shaped by your actions just as much as they do the shaping. Actions that are true to your values build a stronger personal foundation that others can see. Why are the memories of our greatest personal and public heroes so powerful and timeless, long after they're gone? They stood for something. They were living, breathing examples of the values they prized. It takes courage, a belief in yourself and strong determination. But it can be done. Do one thing today that shows the world what you believe. Do one thing that you know is right. Do one thing that would make your hero smile.


~ Healthy Reflections ~

Power of Gratitude

I've heard it said that whenever someone feels discouraged in their life's circumstances, they should sit down and write out a Gratitude list. Its a simply an inventory of our blessings in our lives of things that are going well, and even things that we lose sight over.

As a Mother of a child with special needs; Im finding this to be especially true on the challenging days. But you know what? Through my son's life, I am finding more and more about God's unlimited mercy & grace. Lord knows that I am human, make mistakes, but I can face each new day just knowing that His mercy and grace is fresh each and every morning!

I pray for Him to continue to guide my footsteps, or I would be so lost. In fact, my husband & I often find ourselves practicing humility (more often these days it seems) with a prayer of "Help us God.. We dont know what to do"

That would be my number one thing to be thankful for. To turn things over to the Lord through prayer & watch Him work in our lives. Recently, I was asked by a friend how I stayed so positive (even though the rough times) My answer was to turn circumstances over to God and completely trust in Him (Proverbs 3:5)

They say when we count our blessings, they always outnumber our problems. Giving thanks is even good for our health. I really find the mind/body connection an awesome thing as it does reflect what I believe in through my faith in God. :)

The Power of Gratitude...

Sharpens.... Naturally grateful people are more focused mentally and less vulnerable to Clinical Depression.

Calms.... A Grateful mind induces a physicological state thats associated with lowering our blood pressure and heart rate.

Defends... Spend 15 minutes a day thinking of things youre grateful for will significantly increase your body's natural antibodies.

Strengthens.... Caring for others is draining. But grateful caregivers are healthier and more capable than less grateful ones.

Heals.... Recipients of donated organs who have the most grateful attitudes heal faster.

Finally, no matter what our circumstances, we should offer up a Prayer of Thanksgiving. I found this little prayer in one of my devotional mailings by one of my favorite Pastors & I loved it so much that I put it by my nightstand, so I can see it when I wake up and before I fall asleep every night.

Prayer Of Thanksgiving

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for all that You've given me.... I am Blessed!
I am grateful for loving relationships, for your daily provision and most of all, for Your hand of mercy and grace over my life.
I know that I am worthy of all these bountiful blessings, not because of what Ive done, but because of who YOU are and what Jesus had done on Your behalf.
I am eternally thankful for Your presence in my life.
My prayer is to grow closer to You than ever before.

AMEN.

I hope it encourages you as much as it has me! :)

Renew America: One Pastors Appeal on Ron Paul

Appeal to My Fellow Pastors
By Chuck Baldwin

http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/baldwin/071106


Recently, Iowa pastors gathered to hear my presentation in Des Moines on behalf of Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul. After listening to me, they then heard ten-term Republican Texas Congressman Ron Paul himself.


Consider how Congressman Paul's message impacted Pastor Jim Hartman of the Assembly of God church in Conrad, Iowa. "I've been supporting Mike Huckabee, but I would say I'm leaning real strong toward Ron Paul." Hartman supported President Bush four years ago and explained, "Up until the last six months I had not allowed myself to imagine that we'd been let down by Bush." As for Iraq, he said, "I don't think we were prepared to understand that culture and to work with that culture." He said he now feels "humble and I feel kind of bad that I haven't done a better job of being faithful to Ron Paul's kind of integrity." [Source: MSNBC, Oct. 30, 2007]

Integrity: that is the issue drawing millions to Ron Paul, including young people. The night before I spoke, nearly 700 students gathered at Iowa State University in Ames to hear Dr. Paul. One of those students wrote me recently. His name is Nathan Rockman. He wrote, "As a columnist for the Iowa State Daily here on campus, I have seen first hand what can be described as Ron Paul fever. Since Dr. Paul visited this past Friday, his message of freedom and liberty has been spreading through campus like wildfire . . .

"Ron Paul doesn't recruit artisan spin writers and bloggers to wear down those who might question his past dealings. He doesn't need to. There are no missing hard-drives, ethics violations, and taxpayer funds used for personal use that need to be spun away. He still refuses to participate in the lucrative Congressional pension fund and returns a portion of his Congressional office budget back to the U.S. Treasury each year.

This kind of integrity moved Pastor Hartman, the students at Iowa State University, and many more like them.Ron Paul has been fighting for the right to life from the beginning of his public career. Dr. Paul is rock-solid on pro-life. After all, he has helped over 4,000 women deliver their babies into the world in his obstetrics practice in Lake Jackson, Texas. He proposed the "Sanctity of Life Act of 2005" (and 2007), which would require that "human life shall be deemed to exist from conception, without regard to race, sex, age, health, defect, or condition of dependency."

Has he recently discovered these pro-life convictions? Not at all. Congressman Paul introduced the Human Life Amendment in Congress in his very first term of Congress, a couple of years after Roe v. Wade was first handed down.Is Ron Paul a libertarian, as some use in a throw-away line, often intended to move the listener to discard him without thought? Yes, on areas of fiscal, economic and judicial liberty, he is. But, he is also a social conservative and a

Constitutionalist.

Ron Paul's priorities are right with marriage. He and his wife, Carol, have been married for more than fifty years. He believes marriage should be between a man and a woman and defends that principle with his vote, where and when he has the Constitutional authority to do so. For example, Dr. Paul strongly supports the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Candidly, though, Ron Paul does not believe (and neither do I) that the U.S. Government needs to be defining that which God has already defined in His Word.Where pastors often become confused about Ron Paul is that when he is resisting the unconstitutional centralization of our federal government, he is often perceived as being anti-family.

Many in these pro-family movements themselves have been co-opted into believing that the solutions to our family problems come in the form of more unconstitutional federal legislation and programs. And when one does not agree with these unconstitutional remedies, they conclude that he or she is "anti-family." Such people mean well but are confused.America would be much better off if we Christian pastors taught the need for Christ-honoring resistance — at the local level — to anti-family federal intrusions. We should call on our congregations to vote out of office any judge who passes rulings designed to pervert the Biblical family. That doesn't take a Constitutional amendment.

It just takes courageous pastors and people who understand that judges, too, must respect the Constitution and our Christian heritage. In fact, adherence to the Constitution protects our freedom of speech and assembly; our freedom of worship; our right to keep and bear arms; our right to a trial by jury; the right to be secure in our own homes against police overreach; our right to witness for Christ in public, as a Christian; the right to own property; the right to not be deprived of life or property without due process of law; the right to face our accusers, and the right to keep government local and limited.Keeping government local and limited is the cornerstone doctrine of American government.

Ron Paul understands this more than any other candidate running today.Most of the problems that we are now dealing with socially, culturally, financially, etc., stem from America abandoning the basic founding principle that "the government that governs least governs best."Accordingly, America's commitment to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness has been (and is being) systematically stripped from us — not by State legislatures, but mostly by agencies of the federal government.

Consider how it has been federal courts that have banned prayer in school, and legalized abortion and homosexual marriage. Even in the liberal State of Massachusetts it was the courts (along with a compliant liberal governor, Mitt Romney), that forced acceptance of homosexual marriage upon the people.The solutions to these problems do not reside in more federal legislation. All that does is strengthen the scope and power of the federal judiciary.

The only ones who have anything to fear from Ron Paul are those who believe in Big Government.You see, Ron Paul is actually calling on us pastors and Christians to stop seeing the federal government as one "in whom we live and move and have our being."

Jesus Christ is our Savior and Lord, not the federal government. Have we not, in a material way, set up the federal government as our functional Lord and Savior? When we look to the federal government to solve our moral and spiritual problems, that is exactly what we are doing.When it comes to the war in Iraq, I firmly believe that Christian conservatives have been duped by the neocons.

Dr. Paul — an Air Force veteran and proponent of a strong national defense — opposed the unprovoked and pre-emptive invasion of Iraq, and rightly so. Time has certainly vindicated Dr. Paul's principled position. There was a much better way to deal with al-Qaeda.Soon after 9/11, Congressman Paul introduced H.R. 3076, the September 11 Marque and Reprisal Act of 2001.

According to Paul, "A letter of marque and reprisal is a constitutional tool specifically designed to give the president the authority to respond with appropriate force to those non-state actors who wage war against the United States while limiting his authority to only those responsible for the atrocities of that day. Such a limited authorization is consistent with the doctrine of just war and the practical aim of keeping Americans safe while minimizing the costs in blood and treasure of waging such an operation.

"This is precisely what President Thomas Jefferson did when America's ships were confronted with Barbary pirates on the high seas.If the United States government had listened to Ron Paul, we would not have lost nearly 4,000 American soldiers and Marines, spent over $1 trillion, and gotten bogged down in an endless civil war from which there is no equitable extraction.

Furthermore, had we listened to Dr. Paul, Osama bin Laden would no doubt be dead, as would most of his al-Qaeda operatives, and we would be less vulnerable to future terrorist attacks, instead of being more vulnerable, which is the case today. One thing that Pastor Hartman brought up in our meeting in Iowa was the sentiment of many Christians and pastors to defend Israel.

Dr. Paul stated that he did not believe that we do Israel any favors and we actually weaken Israel by our constant meddling and intervention. I agree. Ron Paul is not Israel's enemy. And neither is he the enemy to Christian liberty and constitutional government.Ron Paul's non-interventionist and constitutional foreign policy approach would help, not hurt, Israel to resolve tensions with their neighbors. Remember, Israel has more nuclear missiles to defend themselves than all of the Middle East nations combined. Believe me, Israel knows how to defend itself.

And know this: America's constant meddling curses Israel more than it blesses. Also consider this: according to published reports such as this one in the Houston Chronicle http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/5223477.html , Ron Paul is receiving more donations from military personnel than any other Presidential candidate in either party. Think seriously about this. Our active duty and retired military personnel clearly endorse with their own contributions Ron Paul's non-interventionist position above all others.

In the end, if the candidate is a sincere Christian, he will all the more readily obey his or her oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. After all, does not our Lord tell us that our yea is to be yea and our nay is to be nay?

In other words, genuine believers are to be true to their word. How, then, could a true Christian make a promise before God and the American people to preserve, protect, and defend the U.S. Constitution and then turn around and ignore that promise?Ron Paul lives his Christian faith and takes his oath to the Constitution seriously. What more could we ask for in a Presidential candidate?

Every Christian pastor should seriously consider Congressman Ron Paul. Here is his website: http://ronpaul2008.com/

Chuck Baldwin is Founder-Pastor of Crossroads Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida. In 1985, the church was recognized by President Ronald Reagan for its unusual growth and influence.

Ron Paul Raises More than 4 Million in One Day

I thought this would be an appropriate article to post on this Election day. Btw-- Yup... Hubby & I contributed to the Ron Paul campaign yesterday.

Ron Paul Raises More Than $4 Million in One Day
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK

Historians and British schoolchildren remember Guy Fawkes as the Roman Catholic, anti-Protestant rebel who on Nov. 5, 1605, tried to assassinate King James I by blowing up the Parliament. Supporters of the Republican primary campaign of the libertarian Representative Ron Paul may remember Fawkes as a wildly successful fund-raising gimmick.

On Monday, a group of Paul supporters helped raised more than $4.07 million in one day — approaching what the campaign raised in the entire last quarter — through a Web site called ThisNovember5th.com, a reference to the day the British commemorate the thwarted bombing.
Many fans of Mr. Paul know of the day primarily through a movie based on the futuristic graphic novel “V for Vendetta,” by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, in which a terrorist modeled after Fawkes battles a fascist government that has taken over Britain.

The Paul campaign has raised more than $6.84 million in the first five weeks of this quarter, more than the $5 million it raised from July 1 to Oct. 1. Many of the contributions appeared to come through the independent Fawkes effort, but how much was unclear.

On Monday alone, the campaign signed up more than 21,000 new donors, said Jesse Benton, a campaign spokesman.

Among 2008 presidential candidates, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York holds the record for raising the most in a single day: $6.2 million on June 30. But Mr. Paul has surpassed the best day of Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, who raised $3.14 million on Jan. 8.

ThisNovember5th.com includes video clips and the text of a speech by Mr. Paul, a 10-term Texas congressman. In it, Mr. Paul declares, “The true patriot challenges the state when the state embarks on enhancing its power at the expense of the individual.”
Mr. Paul has stood out from the Republican field for his opposition to the war in Iraq. In the speech he argues that the fight against terrorism is threatening American democracy.

“The American Republic is in remnant status,” he says. “The stage is set for our country eventually devolving into military dictatorship, and few seem to care.”

Mr. Benton clarified that Mr. Paul did not support blowing up government buildings. “He wants to demolish things like the Department of Education,” Mr. Benton said, “but we can do that very peacefully, in a constructive manner.”

The Power Of a Mere Word

The Power of a Mere Word



It doesn't cost anything to have loving speech. - Vietnamese Saying

Once a master was called to heal a sick child with a few words of prayer. A skeptic in the crowd observed it all and expressed doubts about such a superficial way of healing. The master turned to him and said, "You know nothing of these matters; you are an ignorant fool!" The skeptic became very upset. He turned red and shook with anger. Before he could gather himself to reply, however, the master spoke again, asking, "When one word ["fool"] has the power to make you hot and angry, why should not another word have the power to heal?"

Our speech is powerful. It can be destructive and enlightening, idle gossip or compassionate communication. We are asked to be mindful and let our speech come from the heart. When we speak what is true and helpful, people are attracted to us. To be mindful and honest makes our minds quieter and more open, our hearts happier and more peaceful.

Feds Won't Warn Parents about Vaccine

Feds won't warn parents about vaccine

Contains mercury eliminated from other shots due to health concerns

WorldNetDaily.com

The government has decided not to warn parents a mercury-laced preservative virtually eliminated from other vaccines because of health concerns will be included in flu shots given to hundreds of thousands of infants and toddlers this fall.

The decision by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to recommend the shots with the preservative thimerosal – despite the pleas of parent activist groups – apparently conflicts with recent federal heath warnings about exposure to mercury, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Thimerosal is about 50 percent ethyl Mercury, a potent neurotoxin that has been removed from other childhood vaccines.
The CDC has added flu shots to its list of recommended vaccines for all young children.
Mercury-free flu vaccines will be available, for about $4 more per shot, but if the CDC were to warn parents, it might create a shortage resulting in some children not being immunized, the Times said.

The agency asserts, "The available scientific evidence has not shown thimerosal-containing vaccines to be harmful."
Nevertheless, the CDC has ordered up to 2 million doses of thimerosal-free vaccine to make sure it meets the demand by health departments.

CDC senior scientist Roger Bernier explained, though, that stating a preference for thimerosal-free vaccines "would drive the demand even more aggressively."
That isn't necessary, he said, because there is no proof of harm – an assessment backed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

But parent advocates are fuming, according to the L.A. paper.

Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder of the National Vaccine Information Center, charges that by not advising parents, the government is "violating the precautionary principle which reminds doctors that, when in doubt, take an action which minimizes the risk of harm."
Rep. David Weldon, R-Fla., said the CDC's actions constitute "medical malpractice."

The congressman, a physician, plans to introduce a bill to ban thimerosal in childhood vaccines.
Weldon said he would not allow his son to have the shot with mercury, the Times said, which is used to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi in vaccines.
Thimerosal was the preservative of choice until 1999, when the U.S. Public Health Service and the academy of pediatrics called on drug firms to voluntarily remove it as a precaution.

Some parent groups and researchers believe thimerosal has contributed to a sharp increase in reported rates of autism and other neurological disorders in children.

Many scientists and vaccine makers insist, however, exposures are too low to have an effect and ethyl mercury can be more easily eliminated from the body than methyl mercury, which is produced by industrial emissions.

But Boyd E. Haley, chairman of the department of chemistry at the University of Kentucky, believes it is "preposterous and ridiculous" for the government to warn about methyl mercury in fish but sanction injecting ethyl mercury into children.

The CDC decision, which will be officially published later this month, is "unconscionable," Haley said, according to the Times. "If it were my grandson or my granddaughter, there's no way in hell you'd give them a vaccine containing thimerosal."
Dr. Neal Halsey, director of the Institute for Vaccine Safety at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told the Times "it would make life much easier for everybody if there wasn't the thimerosal in the vaccines."

But he added: "I personally am not concerned."

Halsey, who sounded the alarm about thimerosal in 1999, contends the situation now is different. The 1999 appeal referred to immunizations of infants, up to 6 months old, while flu shots with thimerosal would deliver only a 25-microgram dose to children 6 months and older.

So the exposure would be lower "in terms of the amount that's given and the size of the child," he told the Times.

Back to You... :)

Back To You



Always act as if what you do will come back to you. Because in one way or another, it will.

Freely give your love, kindness, compassion, value and understanding to life. All those good things will grow in depth and magnitude, and then they will return to you.

You may think at times that no one is watching, and that no one cares one way or another what you do. Yet even when no one is watching, especially when no one is watching, you are making a difference in the world.

And as time goes on, the gifts you give to life become magnified. They spread far beyond you.

Eventually, they spread so far that they cannot help but come back to you. So be sure to start each influence on its journey in the best, most positive way.

Live each moment as if the words you speak, the thoughts you think, and the actions you undertake will come back to you. For they will surely do so, bigger than you could ever imagine.



-- Ralph Marston

Bush to Veto Childrens Healthcare Bill??? Absurd!

This makes no sense to me. We are spending all these dollars for a war in Iraq, but why should families with children who have no medical insurance have to suffer??? Absurd!

Bush to veto children's healthcare bill

After Democrats and Republicans reach a compromise, the president says it could lay the groundwork for national health coverage.

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar,

Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTON -- -- For years it has been one of the few issues that liberals and conservatives in Congress could agree on -- continuing and expanding a state-federal partnership to provide health insurance for kids, mainly the children of the working poor.So when senators of both parties reached a compromise this summer and then beat back efforts by House Democrats to triple the program's budget, its many Republican backers thought they had a political victory that President Bush could embrace.Instead, the issue has become an ideological flash point and Bush is threatening to cast what may become the year's most controversial veto. In the process, he could create new intraparty turmoil for fellow Republicans who have looked to passage of the bill to brighten an otherwise grim political outlook.

The question will come to the floor of Congress this week, days before the old program is set to expire Sept. 30. At that point, 6 million children -- including about 800,000 in California -- could lose coverage.One snag is cost. Even the final compromise, far less open-handed than the House wanted, calls for more money. And the White House is trying to draw a tighter line on domestic spending. The bigger stumbling block has turned out to be ideological. After 10 years of sailing along as a feel-good idea that just about everyone supported, the children's medical insurance program has been drawn into the contentious debate about healthcare in general.Bush has attacked the compromise bill because it would expand coverage to some middle-class families instead of retaining the plan's original focus on those with low incomes.

The bill could lay the groundwork for government-run national healthcare, he has said. In his Saturday radio address, the president said Democrats were at fault: "Instead of working with my administration to enact this funding increase for children's health, Democrats in Congress have decided to pass a bill they know will be vetoed."In effect, the White House says, Democrats see the bill as a way to begin doing for children what Medicare does for the elderly: make healthcare a national entitlement.Democrats and Republicans supporting the expansion -- including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger -- answer that their concern is with economic reality.

With the average cost of family coverage about $12,000 a year, some parents with middle-class incomes can't afford it if their employers don't help shoulder the cost. And when uninsured children get seriously ill, supporters say, the burden falls on society as a whole.Known nationally as the State Children's Health Insurance Program -- in California as Healthy Families -- the plan started as an attempt to salvage something positive from the rancorous collapse of the 1990s national healthcare reform debate. States got generous federal matching funds and flexibility to design their own coverage.At first, the program was aimed at uninsured children whose parents earned too much to qualify for coverage under Medicaid but too little to afford private coverage.

The goal was to reach families earning up to twice the federal poverty level, now about $41,000 for a family of four. The vast majority of children covered by the program are still in that category.However, as healthcare costs soared, states began to grapple with knowing that many families -- especially in urban areas where the cost of living is higher than average -- had trouble paying for private insurance even though they earned more than twice the poverty level.Fourteen states now have higher eligibility cutoffs.

The pending bill would allow states to go to three times the poverty level, about $60,000 for a family of four.Conservative Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), one of the creators of the original program, said that was well short of providing what the White House said it feared: government-financed healthcare for the middle class.He joined forces with liberal senators such as Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and John D. "Jay" Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) to push the compromise."The administration [is] making it clear they do not want it to be morphed into one-size-fits-all government healthcare, but to be honest with you, this bill doesn't do that," Hatch said. "I believe the president has had bad advice on this, but I understand the president's desire to keep spending under control."Health economist Len Nichols of the nonpartisan New America Foundation said he thought a lot of Republicans were "perplexed by the White House stand on this issue."

Funding for the program has cost about $5 billion a year. Bush wants to increase it by an average of $1 billion a year over the next five years. Independent analysts say that's not enough to sustain the current caseload.Congress wants to add $35 billion over five years by raising tobacco taxes. That would sustain the current caseload and cover 3 million to 4 million more children. About 9 million are currently uninsured nationwide.

Ron Paul on Jay Leno :)

I've never been much of a political person, but thanks to my husband-- I am starting to warm up to the idea & take notice of what Ron Paul has to say. He appears to me as honest & Lord knows we need honesty!!!!

I really like his ideas of bringing our troops home, going back to the Constitutional values & his views on our Economy. ( BTW-- My husband majored in Economics, so I think this is why he is so drawn to this guy!)

Here he is on the Tonight show:

The Sandpiper

The Sandpiper
by Robert Peterson

She was six years old when I first met her on the beach near where I live.
I drive to this beach, a distance of three or four miles, whenever the world begins to close in on me. She was building a sand castle or something and looked up, her eyes as blue as the sea.
"Hello," she said.

I answered with a nod, not really in the mood to bother with a small child.

"I'm building," she said.

"I see that. What is it?" I asked, not really caring.

"Oh, I don't know, I just like the feel of sand."

That sounds good, I thought, and slipped off my shoes.

A sandpiper glided by.

"That's a joy," the child said.

"It's a what?"

"It's a joy. My mama says sandpipers come to bring us joy."

The bird went gliding down the beach. Good-bye joy, I muttered to myself,
hello pain, and turned to walk on. I was depressed, my life seemed
completely out of balance.

"What's your name?" She wouldn't give up.

"Robert," I answered. "I'm Robert Peterson."

"Mine's Wendy... I'm six."

"Hi, Wendy."

She giggled. "You're funny," she said.

In spite of my gloom, I laughed too and walked on.
Her musical giggle followed me.

"Come again, Mr. P," she called. "We'll have another happy day."

The next few days consisted of a group of unruly Boy Scouts, PTA meetings,
and an ailing mother. The sun was shining one morning as I took my hands out
of the dishwater. I need a sandpiper, I said to myself, gathering up my coat.

The ever-changing balm of the seashore awaited me. The breeze was
chilly but I strode along, trying to recapture the serenity I needed.
"Hello, Mr. P," she said. "Do you want to play?"

"What did you have in mind?" I asked, with a twinge of annoyance.

"I don't know. You say."

"How about charades?" I asked sarcastically.

The tinkling laughter burst forth again. "I don't know what that is."

"Then let's just walk."

Looking at her, I noticed the delicate fairness of her face.
"Where do you live?" I asked.

"Over there." She pointed toward a row of summer cottages.

Strange, I thought, in winter.

"Where do you go to school?"

"I don't go to school. Mommy says we're on vacation."

She chattered little girl talk as we strolled up the beach, but my mind was
on other things. When I left for home, Wendy said it had been a happy day. Feeling surprisingly better, I smiled at her and agreed.
Three weeks later, I rushed to my beach in a state of near panic. I was in no
mood to even greet Wendy. I thought I saw her mother on the porch and felt
like demanding she keep her child at home.

"Look, if you don't mind," I said crossly when Wendy caught up with me, "I'd
rather be alone today." She seemed unusually pale and out of breath.
"Why?" she asked.

I turned to her and shouted, "Because my mother died!" and thought,
My God, why was I saying this to a little child?
"Oh," she said quietly, "then this is a bad day."

"Yes," I said, "and yesterday and the day before and -- oh, go away!"

"Did it hurt?" she inquired.

"Did what hurt?" I was exasperated with her, with myself.

"When she died?"

"Of course it hurt!" I snapped, misunderstanding,
wrapped up in myself. I strode off.
A month or so after that, when I next went to the beach, she wasn't there.
Feeling guilty, ashamed, and admitting to myself I missed her, I went up
to the cottage after my walk and knocked at the door. A drawn looking
young woman with honey-colored hair opened the door

"Hello," I said, "I'm Robert Peterson. I missed your little girl today
and wondered where she was."
"Oh yes, Mr. Peterson, please come in. Wendy spoke of you so much.
I'm afraid I allowed her to bother you. If she was a nuisance,
please, accept my apologies."

"Not at all -- she's a delightful child." I said, suddenly realizing
that I meant what I had just said.
"Wendy died last week, Mr. Peterson. She had leukemia.
Maybe she didn't tell you."

Struck dumb, I groped for a chair. I had to catch my breath.

"She loved this beach, so when she asked to come, we couldn't say no.
She seemed so much better here and had a lot of what she called happy days.
But the last few weeks, she declined rapidly..." Her voice faltered, "She left
something for you, if only I can find it. Could you wait a moment while I look?"

I nodded stupidly, my mind racing for something to say to this lovely young
woman. She handed me a smeared envelope with "MR. P" printed in bold childish letters. Inside was a drawing in bright crayon hues -- a yellow beach, a blue sea, and a brown bird. Underneath was carefully printed:

A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and a heart that had almost forgotten to love
opened wide. I took Wendy's mother in my arms. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," I uttered over and over, and we wept together. The precious little picture is framed now and hangs in my study. Six words -- one for each year of her life -- that speak to me of harmony, courage, and undemanding love.
A gift from a child with sea blue eyes and hair the color of sand
-- who taught me the gift of love.

NOTE: This is a true story sent out by Robert Peterson. It happened over 20
years ago and the incident changed his life forever. It serves as a reminder
to all of us that we need to take time to enjoy living and life and each other.
The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself less.

Life is so complicated, the hustle and bustle of everyday traumas
can make us lose focus about what is truly important or what is only a momentary setback or crisis.
This week, be sure to give your loved ones an extra hug, and by all means,
take a moment... even if it is only ten seconds, to stop and smell the roses.

This comes from someone's heart, and is read by many
and now I share it with you...
May God Bless everyone who receives this! There are NO coincidences!

Everything that happens to us happens for a reason. Never brush aside
anyone as insignificant. Who knows what they can teach us?

I wish for you, a sandpiper.