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! :)