Monday Musings

Well, its Monday again! We had yet more snow over the weekend, but thank goodness it didnt stick around. The Cosmos seeds that my son, Noah and I planted in a pot outside are probably done for, as I thought the last frost was over-- it is Spring right??? :LOL

The carpet installation was surprisingly finished by 4PM on Friday. It only took a days work instead of the 2 days like we had thought. The new carpet looks and smells wonderful. I love the softness in my feet & what a change after having poor quality carpet that was already installed when we bought our townhouse!!

We spent the weekend putting the house back together. I put everything in place in my son, Jeremy's old bedroom & staged it into a guest bedroom & it looks great (except it still needs to be painted in a couple weeks)

Our upstairs loft looks great since we thought we'd give it a more staged look & placed the furniture to look more appealing.
The closets still need to be organized, and we still have more de-cluttering to do, but one step at a time!

The end of a 2o year era came for me over the weekend. My 18 year old son, Jeremy finally moved out on Friday-- just 3 months early than we had originally planned. I was doing okay until last night. It finally hit me and I started crying. Even though I am happy for him to finish his education in Bremerton (He is 3 credits short of not graduating here in our school district) I have to admit that I am feeling sad about not seeing him go to his Senior prom and have a formal graduation.

Although, He will have a informal graduation ceremony in Bremerton that we can attend instead-- it just will be without the traditional cap and gown. I remind myself that Jeremy receiving his High School diploma is much more important anyway! On the bright side, I am saving $$$, with no cap/gown, invitations, etc to purchase. Well, for another 13 years anyway-- when our 6 year old, Noah graduates from high school! :LOL

I am happy to know that Jeremy is in good hands right now as he is staying with a good friend and his family until he moves (yet again) to share his first apartment with a couple of friends sometime this Summer.

My hubby, Joel has yet more phone interviews regarding the Austin position either today or tommorrow afternoon. More team members want to talk with him. Nothing is set in stone yet until they invite him for a in person interview though. I am praying that God is in control of the situation, knows whats best for us and will either open the door of opportunity or close it. :)

I will remain in prayer, cause this definately is a time of change right now. Although exciting & bittersweet at the same time; I feel like we are going into uncharted waters & need the Lord to keep me focused. In the natural, things look so overwhelming right now!

Forgiveness

Forgive the Hurts



"Forgiveness will never fail to free you"...
-- Jerrold Mundis

How do we forgive when we’re angry and hurt?
As a first step, we can be willing to truly feel our anger and hurt. Honoring our feelings by being fully present with them helps to release the feelings themselves.


And it helps to remember that people only hurt others when they themselves are in pain. When we can recognize the other person’s suffering, our heart can open in compassion. We can also remember that at some time or another, we too have hurt someone through our own unskilful action.


Only love can heal the rifts caused by a hurtful deed. Forgiveness holds immense power because it mends separation. It moves us towards the unity and love that lie at the core of our being. It is a fundamental part of the healing process.



"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future"...
-- Paul Boese

"God has a big eraser"...
-- Billy Zeoli


~ The Inner Journey ~

Random thoughts on Simplicity

We are getting ready to get our new carpet installed this coming Friday-Saturday. Just one of many steps to get our 4 year old townhouse ready to be put on the market in May. One of the other tasks besides basic maintaince of little nigglys that need to be fixed around our home, is the task of de-cluttering. Ive studied articles on HGTV.com & one of the tips of selling a home is to get rid of half of the homeowners belongings, so that the buyer can see the house instead of excess clutter laying around.

Im sure they mean that "getting rid of half of ones stuff" means putting it away in boxes; but Joel & I were talking about wanting to make this move a step towards simplicity. So--- that means donating and/or purging belongings that just take up space--which the extra benefit is that there will be no extra stuff to pack, load and unload again!

For those of us "Seasoned Movers", you know what I mean, right???LOL! Personally; I've moved 7 times over the last 10 years-- you would think I would have learned this concept by now?? LOL!

As I contiplated more into this idea; indeed we have accumulated a lot of "stuff" in our 8 years of married life together. I can clearly remember living in my apartment with my two boys before Joel and I got married and clearly it wasnt even close to what Joel and I own now. Whoa... we've aquired lots of "nick nacks and paddy whacks" (aka.. "stuff") over the last 8 years!!!!! I figured at least one third (or more) of the items in our home can be donated!!!

Thinking of moving to Texas has put a new attitude on how we want to live our lives. Basically, our relocation will be a time of new beginnings in our lives and a fresh start. Down sizing sounds refreshing to me, actually. To much stuff actually stresses me out and relocating will now motivate me even more to get more organized! :)

I am currently reading the book "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle, and the more that I read; Ive come to a reality check that " less is more" and what we own and/or possess doesnt define "who" we really are! That realization was quite an epiphany-- a real eye opener that spoke to my spirit!

I pondered what living the simple life means, so I researched it on Wikipedia.com:

Simple living
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Simple living (or voluntary simplicity) is a lifestyle individuals choose to minimize the 'more-is-better' pursuit of wealth and consumption.

Adherents choose simple living for a variety of reasons, such as spirituality, health, increase in 'quality time' for family and friends, stress reduction, conservation, social justice or anti-consumerism, while others choose for personal taste or personal economy.

Simple living as a concept is distinguished from those living in forced poverty, as it is a voluntary lifestyle choice. Although asceticism may resemble voluntary simplicity, proponents of simple living are not all ascetics.

The term "downshifting" is often used to describe the act of moving from a lifestyle of greater consumption towards a lifestyle based on voluntary simplicity.

Joel and I have made some short term and long term goals:

1. That Joel lands a permanent position in a job that he loves
2. Home ownership with no mortgage.
3. Becoming debt free (as it says in the Holy Bible that "we should owe no man , but to love one another". Romans 13:7-8)
4. Gift of Giving & being a blessing to others (To keep giving to others who are in need, such as: our home church, World Vision, various ministries and charities)

Currently, we own both our cars, own pre-paid cell phones & refuse to keep up with the Joneses. I think we are off to a good start, actually!

(I'll just need to keep my love for Home decor, clothes and scrapbooking in check and I think I'll be smooth sailing.. LOL)

Five Things That Happy People Do

I really liked this article. To many of us spend valuable time in our lives in the "What if" and "I'll be happy when.." syndrome.

Five Things Happy People Do
By Gabrielle LeBlanc
From O, The Oprah Magazine, March 2008

Sages going back to Socrates have offered advice on how to be happy, but only now are scientists beginning to address this question with systematic, controlled research. Although many of the new studies reaffirm time-honored wisdom ("Do what you love," "To thine own self be true"), they also add a number of fresh twists and insights. We canvassed the leading experts on what happy people have in common—and why it's worth trying to become one of them:

find their most golden self.

Picture happiness. What do you see? A peaceful soul sitting in a field of daisies appreciating the moment? That kind of passive, pleasure-oriented—hedonic—contentment is definitely a component of overall happiness. But researchers now believe that eudaimonic well-being may be more important. Cobbled from the Greek eu ("good") and daimon ("spirit" or "deity"), eudaimonia means striving toward excellence based on one's unique talents and potential—Aristotle considered it to be the noblest goal in life. In his time, the Greeks believed that each child was blessed at birth with a personal daimon embodying the highest possible expression of his or her nature. One way they envisioned the daimon was as a golden figurine that would be revealed by cracking away an outer layer of cheap pottery (the person's base exterior). The effort to know and realize one's most golden self—"personal growth," in today's lingo—is now the central concept of eudaimonia, which has also come to include continually taking on new challenges and fulfilling one's sense of purpose in life.

"Eudaimonic well-being is much more robust and satisfying than hedonic happiness, and it engages different parts of the brain," says Richard J. Davidson, PhD, of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "The positive emotion accompanying thoughts that are directed toward meaningful goals is one of the most enduring components of well-being." Eudaimonia is also good for the body. Women who scored high on psychological tests for it (they were purposefully engaged in life, pursued self-development) weighed less, slept better, and had fewer stress hormones and markers for heart disease than others—including those reporting hedonic happiness—according to a study led by Carol Ryff, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

They design their lives to bring in joy.

It may seem obvious, but "people don't devote enough time to thinking seriously about how they spend their life and how much of it they actually enjoy," says David Schkade, PhD, a psychologist and professor of management at the University of California, San Diego. In a recent study, Schkade and colleagues asked more than 900 working women to write down everything they'd done the day before. Afterward, they reviewed their diaries and evaluated how they felt at each point. When the women saw how much time they spent on activities they didn't like, "some people had tears in their eyes," Schkade says. "They didn't realize their happiness was something they could design and have control over."

Analyzing one's life isn't necessarily easy and may require questioning long-held assumptions. A high-powered career might, in fact, turn out to be unfulfilling; a committed relationship once longed for could end up being irritating with all the compromising that comes with having a partner. Dreams can be hard to abandon, even when they've turned sour.

Fortunately, changes don't have to be big ones to tip the joy in your favor. Schkade says that if you transfer even an hour of your day from an activity you hate (commuting, scrubbing the bathroom) to one you like (reading, spending time with friends), you should see a significant improvement in your overall happiness. Taking action is key. Another recent study, at the University of Missouri, compared college students who made intentional changes (joining a club, upgrading their study habits) with others who passively experienced positive turns in their circumstances (receiving a scholarship, being relieved of a bad roommate). All the students were happier in the short term, but only the group who made deliberate changes stayed that way.

They avoid "if only" fantasies.

If only I get a better job…find a man…lose the weight…life will be perfect. Happy people don't buy into this kind of thinking.
The latest research shows that we're surprisingly bad at predicting what will make us happy. People also tend to misjudge their contentment when zeroing in on a single aspect of their lives—it's called the focusing illusion. In one study, single subjects were asked, "How happy are you with your life in general?" and "How many dates did you have last month?" When the dating question was asked first, their romantic lives weighed more heavily into how they rated their overall happiness than when the questions were reversed.
The other argument against "if only" fantasies has to do with "hedonic adaptation"—the brain's natural dimming effect, which guarantees that a new house won't generate the same pleasure a year after its purchase and the thrill of having a boyfriend will ebb as you get used to being part of a couple. Happy people are wise to this, which is why they keep their lives full of novelty, even if it's just trying a new activity (diving, yoga) or putting a new spin on an old favorite (kundalini instead of vinyasa).

They put best friends first.

It's no surprise that social engagement is one of the most important contributors to happiness. What's news is that the nature of the relationship counts. Compared with dashing around chatting with acquaintances, you get more joy from spending longer periods of time with a close friend, according to research by Meliksah Demir, PhD, assistant professor of psychology at Northern Arizona University. And the best-friend benefit doesn't necessarily come from delving into heavy discussions. One of the most essential pleasures of close friendship, Demir found, is simple companionship, "just hanging out," as he says, hitting the mall or going to the movies together and eating popcorn in the dark.

They allow themselves to be happy.

As much as we all think we want it, many of us are convinced, deep down, that it's wrong to be happy (or too happy). Whether the belief comes from religion, culture, or the family you were raised in, it usually leaves you feeling guilty if you're having fun.

"Some people would say you shouldn't strive for personal happiness until you've taken care of everyone in the world who is starving or doesn't have adequate medical care," says Howard Cutler, MD, who co-authored The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World with the Dalai Lama. "The Dalai Lama believes you should pursue both simultaneously. For one thing, there is clear research showing that happy people tend to be more open to helping others. They also make better spouses and parents." And in one famous study, nuns whose autobiographies expressed positive emotions (such as gratitude and optimism) lived seven to 10-and-a-half years longer than other nuns. So, for any die-hard pessimist who still needs persuading, just think of how much more you can help the world if you allow a little happiness into your life.

Happy Easter!

Myspace Graphics at WishAFriend.com

Dealing with Offenses

"It is often better not to see an insult than to avenge it".
- Lucius Annaeus Seneca

When someone wrongs you, it's easy to go to that place in your mind and conjure up ways to get back at them. Our lives are in a constant state of change, and yet our hearts hold on to hurtful memories with a tight grip.

Remember the girl that was mean to you in high school? She could have evolved into a very pleasant, kind woman, but your mind is fixated on what she did. Truly, the idea of revenge is bittersweet and foolish.

Don't waste your time and energy stewing. Inevitably you will come across someone who is flat out mean and inconsiderate, but the best approach it to simply let it go and move on.

Focus on the positive things about yourself or rethink the person's motivations. Maybe he is the one who is hurt or insecure, trying to deflect his own bad experiences onto someone else. Try your best to forget about it.




~ Healthy Reflections ~

Two Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, 'My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all.

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

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

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: 'Which wolf wins?'The old Cherokee simply replied, 'The one you feed.'

Why Are You Doing That?

Why Are You Doing That?



"What we see depends mainly on what we look for.

"
-- Sir John Lubbock

Throughout the day, continually ask yourself about your underlying motivation.

Why are you doing what you are doing?
Is it for selfish, manipulative or fearful reasons? Is it for honest service with integrity? Maybe you’ll discover you don’t know. Perhaps you will see that much of your activity lacks purpose.



This is a great way to become more conscious. Your intention and motives are fundamental to the results you will receive. Set high intentions and your life will blossom.



"The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.

"
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes


~ The Inner Journey ~

Josh Groban "Panda Love"

I nearly spit out my coffee at the computer screen when I saw this one!

Don't Leave It On The Desk

Don't Leave It On The Desk

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States. Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution.

Every student was required to take this course their freshman year, regardless of his or her major. Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery.

Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously. This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary for the ministry.

Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.

One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. "How many push-ups can you do?" Steve said, "I do about 200 every night." "200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?" Steve replied, "I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time." "Do you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson. "Well, I can try," said Steve. "Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor. Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it." Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind."

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?" Cynthia said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?" "Sure!"

Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk. Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do you want a donut?" Joe said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?"

Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut. Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship.

When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?" Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own push-ups?" Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them." Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then." Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"

With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups. Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!" Dr. Christianson said, "Look! This is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk. Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.

Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?" Sternly, Jenny said, "No."

Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?" Steve did ten. Jenny got a donut. By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room.

The students were beginning to say, "No!" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push-ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push-ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.

Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set. Steve asked Dr. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"

Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your push-ups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want." And Dr. Christianson went on. A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!"

Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come." Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups for him?" Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut."

Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?" Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he said, "give me a donut." "Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?"

Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down. Dr Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity.

By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room. The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?" Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."

Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?" Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda. Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?"

Dr Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone; I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade.

Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push-ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes." "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?"

As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said, "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'Into thy hands I commend my spirit. With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten.

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile. "Well done, good and faithful servant," said the professor, adding, "Not all sermons are preached in words."

Turning to his class, the professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

He spared not only His Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid." "Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?"

Spitzer Should have Learned from Bill Clinton....

...... that sex and politics is costly!

A costly date for Spitzer, but not so surprising, scientists say
By Faye Flam
Inquirer Staff Writer

Why would someone as rich and powerful as Eliot Spitzer put his family, his job and his promising future on the line for an alleged $4,000 date with a prostitute?

Is this pathological or inherent in human nature?

Scientists says it's more likely to be the latter. They attribute this kind of behavior to natural promiscuity combined with opportunity - along with a risk-taking personality common to men like Bill Clinton and John F Kennedy. It's what makes them seek office and what makes us want to vote for them.

Psychologist Christopher Ryan, author of "Sex in Prehistory," says the desire for sex with more than one person has always been there - for leaders and followers alike. "The desire is not a function of status or power - it's a question of availability."

What's relatively new to the human race, he said, is the ability to exercise power and the connection between power and sex.

That's because, for most of human existence, there was only so far a man could coerce others when food was essentially free and hard to hoard. And until relatively recently, sex with multiple partners was the norm. "It would have been very unusual 100,000 years ago for a person to have one sexual partner for 30 years," said Ryan in an interview from Barcelona.

We don't know this for sure, because prehistoric sexual behavior doesn't fossilize, but there's much we can infer from studying how people in foraging cultures live today, he said. Such cultures tend to be relatively egalitarian and promiscuous, at least by American standards, he said. But prostitution is rare, as he believes it was for most of our past.

"There would be no need for prostitutes because there would be very few sexually frustrated men," he said.

So in other words, if Spitzer had been born in 40,000 B.C., he would never have gotten into this fix.

While Ryan argues that men and women are both naturally promiscuous and power simply gives men the opportunity to follow that nature, psychiatrist Gabriela Cort takes a more open view of the human male. Alpha males - leaders - are often indeed full of pent-up sexual energy, but they don't always use it to get in trouble, said Cort, author of the upcoming book, "Leading Under Pressure."

"Some alpha males do whatever they want for their own purposes but others can be very loyal." Alpha males often have excess sexual energy, but instead of cheating or visiting high-priced call girls, she said, many channel it into other pursuits. "Some people create things - or do things for the public good."

Temple University psychologist Frank Farley suggests that while we're busy shaking our heads at Spitzer, we could stand to look back at ourselves and question why we vote for men like him. Risk-taking personalities are attracted to the uncertain world of politics, he said, and at the same time voters are attracted to them.

"We want our leaders to show some qualities of innovation," he said. "We want bold men willing to push their ideas."
We don't choose people riddled with anxieties to run our government or our corporations, though such people may act in a thoughtful, conscientious way. We loved John Kennedy for standing up to the Soviets during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

"We don't want shrinking violets in these kinds of roles," Farley said.
Along with that package you get personal risk-taking - the affairs, the dabbling in solicitation and sometimes other crimes. "It's hard to get rid of it in politics," he said.

The other question that left many of us puzzled: Why pay for it when a man like Spitzer could probably get women for free?

"Men such as those in Spitzer's position do not so much pay for women to have sex with them; they pay for women to go away AFTER having sex with them," said evolutionary psychologist David Buss of the University of Texas. "It's one strategy some men use for minimizing the costs, although obviously it did not work for Spitzer."

Pros vs Cons of Relocating

Joel & I are both on the same page about the strong possibility of our family moving to Texas. Frankly, I first fell in love with Texas when we traveled to Houston in 2004, when we participating in the Century 21 Home Run Derby. Then, Noah & I found ourselves traveling back to Texas in 2005, for my sister-in-law, Lynette's wedding nuptials. :) :)

I am originally from Southern California, so the warmer weather is definately something I could get used to again & say goodbye to the cold & rainy weather of the Northwest.

I brainstormed the Pros & Cons of moving:

First the Cons.... (which the list is very small)

Saying goodbye to friends & family: (this is a tough one) Even though its bittersweet, friends & family could always visit. We aren't disowning anyone... LOL. We can stay in contact by phone, email, and holiday visits.

The unknown & unexpected: Of course, this is difficult, but how will we ever know if we dont break out the box & out of our comfort zone??? Life is about growing! :)

The Pros:

Joel securing permanent employment (after several years of facing unemployment after a job contract ends) We first faced this back in 2004, when he was laid of from Symetra. Symetra bought Safeco (Joel's original employer) Life and Investments-- the dept where Joel was employed as a financial analyst.

Selling our town home & then purchasing our home cash in hand (no more refinance payments! So very exciting!)

Our goal of being debt free (with no mortgage, we could pay off our debt) Joel and I have discovered that we have the gift of giving, so it would be nice to be able to help more people in need.

Great schools: (this is always a perk. Ive heard that there are great resources for childen who have developmental disabilities as well)

Warmer weather: (bring on the sunshine!)

A New beginning with new contacts, friends, etc.

Great church to get planted in (very much looking forward to this)

Friendly people (I found that in Texas, the people are very friendly & social compared to WA)

Government Concludes Vaccines Caused Autism

Government Concludes Vaccines Caused Autism

Nixa, MO – It was announced that the US Court of Federal Claims and the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program ruled in favor of a child who regressed into autism as a result of vaccinations, several of which contained the mercury-based preservative thimerosal.

Case documents state that the vaccines administered to the claimant significantly aggravated an underlying condition that ultimately led to regressive encephalopathy and symptoms of autism.

According to official court documents, the child was developing normally until given the vaccines, and shortly after the shots, regressed into full autism. The child was diagnosed by nationally recognized autism medical specialists.

For more than a decade, thousands of parents have come forward with reports of sharp regression in their children following immunizations. The cases of autism have dramatically spiked in the past 15 years to as many as 1 in 150 children, making it the leading childhood developmental disorder today.

The National Autism Association (NAA) sees the ruling as confirmation of what so many parents have been saying for years. "This case echoes the stories of thousands of children across the country. With almost 5,000 similar cases pending in vaccine court, we are confident that this is just the first of many that will confirm what we have believed for so long, vaccines can and do cause children to regress into autism," says Wendy Fournier, parent and president of NAA. "We call on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to acknowledge that the current vaccine schedule is not safe for every child and as with the administration of any medicine, individual risks and susceptibilities must be considered for each patient."

While thimerosal has been phased out of many pediatric vaccines, it is still used in flu shots recommended for pregnant women and children. At a meeting of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices held yesterday at the CDC, the committee voted to recommend annual flu shots for all children up to the age of 18, and to date has refused to state a preference for mercury-free vaccines.

To learn more about autism, please visit http://www.nationalautism.org/.

Light vs Darkness

A university professor challenged his class: “Did God create everything?”

A student replied, “Yes.” The professor continued: “If God created everything, then He created evil too. And since our works define who we are, then God is evil.”

The class became silent. Suddenly another student raised his hand and asked, “Professor, does darkness exist?” The professor responded, “Yes.” The student replied, “No, sir, darkness does not exist. Darkness is just the absence of light. Light, we can study, but not darkness.

In fact we can use Newton’s prism to break the white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color. But you cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is?

You measure the amount of light present. Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present.”

Then the young man asked, “Sir, does evil exist?” Now uncertain, the professor responded, “Of course.”

To this the student replied, “No, evil does not exist, sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. It is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness, a word that man has created to describe the absence of light. God did not create evil. It is the result of what happens when man does not have God’s love present in his heart. Evil is like the cold that comes when there is no heat, or the darkness that comes when there is no light.”

The professor sat down.

The young man’s name was Albert Einstein.

How to Adjust to Relocation

Now that my husband and I are seriously thinking about relocating out of state; I ran across this article. I guess its normal to have bittersweet emotions. Just when I am totally excited about the possible move; the next minute I feel all sentimental about leaving friends/family behind. I can't image how frustrated my husband is. He was laid off from his company back in 2004 & has worked contract after contract ever since. He is ready for something permanent & so am I!

Its been over 32 years since I moved to WA. I originally moved to WA when I was 10 years old when my Mom remarried. Now that my 2nd oldest son (18) is leaving the nest soon, I am more than ready for new adventures/change of scenery. I love the fact that the state where we are considering, the housing market is awesome compared to the prices here in the Northwest. We could actually sell our 3.5 year old town house, pay off our refinance and own a home in Texas outright (Think 200K+ & under compared to the value of a 500+K here in WA)

Plus-- we already know of an awesome church to get planted in, so that is something wonderful to look forward to as well :) Ive heard it said that the Number "8" is the year of New Beginnings (link below) which is definately something to smile about!
(http://www.biblewheel.com/wheel/Spokes/Chet_Eight.asp)

How to Adjust to Relocation

by eHow Personal Finance Editor

Introduction
Relocation is stressful. Much of your identity connects to your home, where you live, your friends and what you do. When you move, none of that goes with you when you start over. The weather, the landscape, shops and restaurants and even dialects change. Coping with relocation means managing the change in almost everything that identifies you, and re-establishing yourself in a new city.
Instructions
Difficulty: Challenging
Steps
1
Step One
Talk to at least five people in your new community. Go beyond your real estate agent and seek out people who resemble you.
2
Step Two
Think temporary. Consider renting for at least six months before you commit to buy a home. This will give you time to get a feel for various neighborhoods so that you can choose one that is a good fit.
3
Step Three
Be patient. It takes about two years to make new friends. The people you meet within the first three months are likely to be out of your life by the end of the first year.
4
Step Four
Keep busy by focusing on yourself. Start an exercise program or a creative project. Explore the sights of your new city. Focus on growth and self-fulfillment.
5
Step Five
Invite family and friends to come visit. Share your new city with them.
6
Step Six
Consider the school year and move children as close to that time as possible. They'll be immersed in a new routine right away. Remember that younger children, the more flexible about a move.
Tips & Warnings
Don't spend a great deal of time complaining to friends and family how things are not the same. Their lives have gone on and eventually, so will yours.
Don't throw yourself into activities in order to "make friends." Allow that process to develop at its own pace.
Avoid long-term commitments for the first year. Take one course instead of a full load. Volunteer for one event or one committee instead of throwing yourself headlong into everything.
Resources
* Articles on relocation.