Keep At It

I was doing yoga today on my Wii and I do the same exercises everyday. Well the last three days that I've been doing it after a, I don't know, seven month break. And as I was doing each pose or exercise I started to notice how much more flexible I was than when I first started. I was improving and it was getting easier. You're probably thinking duh Kelli, that's suppose to happen but how many of us think that when we're trying to get ourselves motivated to exercise or do anything? I know that's not what I was thinking when I kept putting off exercising.

There was one pose in particular that caught my attention and how it was already affecting me and I was sooo excited. This was the motivation I needed to keep doing it. So my point tonight is, do something you're not really wanting to do and it will get easier as you keep doing it. Your hard work will pay off if you keep at it with persistence. The reward will be worth all that sweat, tears and suffering=)

Don't know what to title this???

I am yours, you are mine.

Of this we are certain.

You are lodged in my heart, the small key is lost.

You must stay her forever.

Living is the constant adjustment of thought to life and life to thought in such a way that we are always growing, always experiencing new things in the old and old things in the new.

The compassionate person feels with God's heart.

We have been in God's thought from all eternity, and in His creative love, His attention never leaves us.

In Case You ever Wonder

Hello, you-
the one with that dream in your heart,
that idea on your mind,
that desire that just won't go away.

You wonder...can I do this?

You can do all things. (Philippians. 4:13)

You ask...do I have what it takes?

You've got all you need. (2 Peter 1:3)

You question...is who I am okay?

You're more than okay, you're His. (Psalm 139:14)

So go for it.
Dare to make that difference, take that step, follow that dream. God will go with you, and love will see you through.

Serenity

God created us with an overwhelming desire to soar.....He designed us to be tremendously productive and "to mount up with wings like eagles," realistically dreaming of what He can do with our potential.....Carol Kent

Defining You

I was reading a book tonight and the main character realized that she defined herself by her relationships; she was Tom's wife, Molly's mom, Trudy's daughter and someone's teacher. She lived for everyone else. What was her interests and passions?

Are you the same way? Do you only define yourself as someone's mother, wife, daughter, etc? Can you say something that is just "you?" This is just my opinion but when you have something that is just about you, life seems more fulfilled and purposeful than "I'm Suzie's mother." If you're happy and fulfilled as a "mommy" that's super. I just want to make sure you're not missing out. Women get caught up in taking care of everyone else and not doing things for themselves. For me personally, I don't want to be only known as "Nathan's wife." I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow up but my life won't revolve around being a wife and at some point a mommy. I want to help people; encourage, inspire and support them. That will be about "Kelli."

So today I encourage everyone, how do you define yourself? Do you go after your OWN dreams and goals or do you just take care of everyone else.

Premium Thoughts

Ever find yourself obsessing over something dumb you said in a meeting? Notice how draining it can be to keep those thoughts going? Any idea that's repeated over and over will get trapped in your head sooner or later. But positive messages, unlike negative ones, don't stress you out. So fill your mind with premium thoughts. Premium thoughts are like premium gas; high quality fuel that keeps both your body and mind charging forward instead of spinning in place. Next time you find yourself reciting a negative mental script, put a glass-half-full spin on this situation. Try this example: "Sure, the hotel was a dumb, but we laughed the whole time we were there," or "He broke my heart, but not my spirit. Next!" -Women's Health-

Job 10:12

The older you get, the more you realize that kindness is synonymous with happiness....Lionel Barrymore

"You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in Your providence watched over my spirit"

Visualize

For about the last year now I have been exhausted and lacking energy and so far I haven’t had any luck finding out why. I read this paragraph in one of my exercise magazines and thought it would be useful for everyone. This “idea” can be applied to any part of your life where you need a boost.

“Olympic athletes who visualize themselves outperforming the competition win more medals. What’s their secret? Science shows that imagining that you’re performing an activity fires up the same parts of your brain that work when you’re doing it. Consider this study published in the Journal of Neurophysiology: A group of volunteers worked a finger for a month, while another group only imagined exercising it. The group that visualized actually improved the digit’s strength by 22 percent, while the group that exercised got a 30 percent boost. When you hit a slump, all you need to do is visualize yourself full of energy as you deliver a strong presentation at work, knock out an hour of power yoga, or fly through a huge pile of paperwork.” Women’s Health

Matthew 6:31-33

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength....Corrie Ten Boom

Do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

-Matthew 6:31-33

A LiL Me Time

It becomes so easy to worry about everyone else and forget about yourself. Kids, spouse, family, friends but you're just as important.

The other day I was getting ready for work and I was in a mood to "pamper" myself. Took a nice hot shower and used a sugar scrub that makes me feel so good. Then I wore a cute bra and took the time to put makeup on. It's the little things that we do that make us feel so good. I think we all start rushing around that we just throw whatever on and maybe a little mascara and a quick shower. We don't slow down and think about "me" every once in a while.

I'm mainly talking about women today, as I'm sure you've caught on. One of the things that is a must for me is getting my hair cut every 4-6 wks or whenever it's needed. I get to this point where I can't take it anymore and have to get to the salon. A haircut for me, makes me feel like a new person. It is one of the best things in the world. For some women it's their nails. I love manicures and pedicures but when I have the extra cash. It's not a must for me. Massages are another luxury that I love.

My point today though is to not forget about "me." Take time to pamper yourself and relax. Do things that make you feel good and like a new woman. If you want to continue taking care of everyone else you need to first rejuvenate yourself.

Ill take a shack on the rock Over a castle in the Sand

"American Dream”

All work no play may have made Jack a dull boy
But all work no God has left Jack with a lost soul
But he's moving on full steam
He's chasing the American dream
And he's gonna give his family finer things

“Not this time son I've no time to waste
Maybe tomorrow we'll have time to play”
And then he slips into his new BMW
And drives farther and farther and farther away

Cause he works all day and tries to sleep at night
He says things will get better;
Better in time

[Chorus]
So he works and he builds with his own two hands
And he pours all he has in a castle made with sand
But the wind and the rain are comin' crashing in
Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands
His kingdom stands

Well his American Dream is beginning to seem
More and more like a nightmare
With every passing day
"Daddy, can you come to my game?"
"Oh Baby, please don't work late."
Another wasted weekend
And they are slipping away

'Cause he works all day and lies awake at night
He tells them things are getting better
Just take a little more time

[Chorus]
So he works and he builds with his own two hands
And he pours all he has in a castle made with sand
But the wind and the rain are comin' crashing in
Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands
His kingdom stands

He used to say, "Whoever dies with the most toys wins"
But if he loses his soul, what has he gained in the end
I'll take a shack on the rock
Over a castle in the sand

Now he works all day and cries alone at night
It's not getting any better
Looks like he's running out of time

[Chorus]
'Cause he worked and he built with his own two hands
And he poured all he had in a castle made with sand
But the wind and the rain are coming crashing in
Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands
His kingdom stands

All they really wanted was you
All they really wanted was you
All they really wanted was you

James 1:17

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change

James 1:17

Don't Wait

I got this email the other day and how true is this?

How many flowers end up at the funeral home and how many flowers did the dead person enjoy while they were

alive? Here's an eflower from me! Enjoy your day!

I would rather have one rose and

a kind word from a friend

while I'm here, than a whole

truck load when I'm gone

We shouldn't forget that time is precious and we need to make the most of everyday. You never know when it'll be the last for someone. I don't mean for this to sound depressing but I just had a dear friend pass away suddenly yesterday. Granted she had been ill but I had no idea it would be this soon. I had planned on visiting her in the next couple months and now......I even had this great card I wanted to send her and her husband and I just sent it on Wednesday and she passed on Friday. I had, had this card for quite awhile and just never got around to sitting down and writing to them. Now she'll never see this cute card that I know she'd have loved. It may not seem like it's that big of a deal but it's the little things in life, that make life so wonderful. So don't wait for tomorrow when NOW is the perfect time.

Role Models

*Bryant Browning is a football player at Ohio State University. He lost his mom when he was 12 and his aunt, his mom's only sibling a week later. Bryant's grandma moved in with the boys and took care of them with the rest of the family helping. Bryant's story is one that shows you if you have the right role model, you can go far in life and do well. If he didn't have his older brother Robert leading the way, who knows how he would have handled school, sports and life. It's so important to be good role models for those around you and to hang out with the right influences.*

The Browning boys, even before their own tragedy, said they had never been shielded from the realities of life and their neighborhood, the temptations pointed out by their parents, the wrong choices laid out before them.

"Everything from drugs to hanging out late to not doing your homework to drinking and fighting and things like that, they told us everything," Bryant said. "Growing up in inner-city Cleveland, there are a lot of distractions. You can get distracted quick, you can get a bad name quick, you can get a reputation quick, and I feel we did a great job staying away from those things and having some goals for ourselves."

One of Bryant's primary goals was simple -- never let down those who loved him. The brothers didn't resent the attention, but instead wanted only to live up to it.

"I never wanted anyone to look at me and feel bad or shake their head about something I did," Bryant said.

View full sizePDBrowning was a star football player at Glenville High School in Cleveland, but also was a star student.

Sitting together with their father outside a Columbus restaurant this summer, one thing became apparent about the Browning brothers. As much as their family did for them, the boys would not have made it without each other.

Robert was driven to cut a path through the woods for Bryant, and Bryant was even more determined to follow it. Three years ahead of Bryant in school, Robert graduated third in his class at Glenville High, with Bryant, as a freshman, pledging to better him. Three years later, Bryant was valedictorian.

Robert moved to on to play football at Georgetown University, a right guard wearing No. 70 who entered the starting lineup as a sophomore. He graduated in 2008 with degrees in computer science and sociology and works as a software developer in the Washington, D.C., area.

"I wanted him to be better than me," Robert said. "I figured if I do something right, he'll have to follow me and do the right things.

"When my mother died, I wanted to break down, but my direction was him. I made sure every decision I made, it was going to be because of him. I can't say the heck with life. The fact he decided to follow me and not follow his friends, it's an honor."

Bryant is also a right guard wearing No. 70 who took over as a starter with the Buckeyes as a sophomore. He'll make his 29th career start on Saturday against Ohio University, second-most among the Buckeyes, as a captain and a marketing major with a 3.3 GPA.

"Browning is the truth" Ginn Sr. said. "He's legit academically, he's legit as a football player, he's loyal and he's got his life in order. He is never going to let you down and never going to embarrass you. If you could have your own kid, it would be Browning."

"He's pretty special," Tressel said. "I don't rank [my players], but he's special."

Bryant is that way because he's like his brother.

"When he does things, it opens me up and makes me less fearful of life to think that my brother can do it," Bryant said. "Everything he does, I soak in."

New Bed

I have been waiting for my new memory foam bed for over two weeks and have been sleeping on an air mattress. So when today came, you could say I was ready. We get a phone call that says our bed is ready BUT the dock closes at 4, so we'll have to get it tomorrow. It was 3:45 when this happened. Oh boy was I unhappy. I called back and talked to a sweet lady on the dock and she said no problem come get it, if you have guys that can carry it. Super. My day was back to being good.

But then it decided to rain and not just sprinkle but not quite a downpour either. Nathan was like "Maybe we won't be getting that bed...." Oh boy here we go again. This was becoming a pain in the butt. On the way to work I prayed that the rain would stop and everything would work out just fine for Nathan who was picking up the bed after he dropped me off. If I didn't get this bed today, it was really going to put me in a bad mood. Then I started thinking. What would I say if someone else was in this situation? How would I react to her acting the way I was? We all have choices to make about how we react to situations and problems. We have a choice to be happy and we decide if we will or won't be. In the scheme of life, this wasn't a big deal. Yes, I was really, really wanting this bed but at the same time it wasn't life or death. I had a bed to sleep in and a roof over my head. I had to put things in a different perspective. It's easy for me to look at another person's situation and put things in a different perspective for them but it's not always easy to do that for yourself.

Good news is my prayer was answered. It stopped raining and the sun came out and we got the new bed home. Granted I wouldn't be as happy if we hadn't gotten the bed today but I did recognize and remember that I control my attitude and my happiness and my thoughts. I applied what I tell others to myself. Things don't always work out the way you want them to, but luckily for me it did today.

Life's Joys

I love going to the movies. It is one of my most favorite things to do! I have to get the buttery popcorn, it is a must in my world and the pop freeze/slushy. Then I escape into the dark room and lose myself for about two hours with nothing on my mind but what is going on, on screen. I forget what city I'm in or the weather or what is going on in my life. It is one of the joys in my life that I wouldn't want to give up for anything well most anything. Reading a good book is almost as good as the movies. If I can find one that I can't put down and I want to read all the time till it's done, then life is pretty good for me.

We should all have these "joys" in life. For some it may be cooking, or golfing, or gardening. I'm just thankful that I do have these joys because without them life wouldn't be as enjoyable or peaceful or relaxing. They are my escape that helps me get through tough times.

Sayings....

Happiness is where we find it, but rarely where we seek it.........J. Petit Senn

It was a high counsel that I once heard given to a young person, "Always do what you are afraid to do."......Ralph Waldo Emerson

The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.....Arthur C. Clarke

One joy scatters a hundred griefs....Chinese Proverb

There is only one person who could ever make you happy, and that person is YOU!.....

It is better to fall short of a high mark than to reach a low one......H.C. Payne

Happiness grows at our own firesides, and it not to be picked in strangers' gardens....Douglas Jerrold

The great and glorious masterpiece of man is to know how to live to purpose.....Michael de Montaigne

Peace

Upper tier of Tangle Falls. Jasper National Park, Canadian Rockies, Alberta, Canada

Immersion

We had the most gorgeous, b-e-a-utiful, day today! Just perfect. Had the windows open and the cool breeze blowing in, couldn't have asked for more. I also got baptized today with five other people from church.

As I mentioned before I grew up believing in God but never "practiced" it you could say. It's just been in the last three years that I really got involved by reading the bible, going to church and attending bible studies. I never knew what baptism really was until recently. What I have learned is that it's a public statement showing that you believe and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. Also me being immersed in water identifies me with Jesus, his death, burial and resurrection. When I went under the water my old nature "died" and was buried and I came up a new person, reborn. Sounds pretty good to me.

I can truly say with 100% confidence that I am a much better person because I have Jesus as my Savior. I am a better wife, daughter, sister, friend, employee because of Him. I don't judge as much as I used to, I gossip or talk about people a lot less, I keep secrets, I mind my own business, I have more tolerance and understanding for people and I talk with less sarcasm. I really try to be the bigger person and keep peace. I don't always succeed but I'm in a much better position than I was before. Being baptized was the next step in my journey with God and becoming more like Jesus everyday.

We Have Not Forgotten

Today is September 11, 2010-9 years after the World Trade Center collapse. That was a horrible day that we will never forget BUT I'm thankful for the country I live in the and the rights we have. I'm thankful for our military and their courage. Our country wouldn't be safe without them. We have a lot to be thankful for in the USA. We may not like everything about it but it could be so much worse. Lets show our support for our country and if you don't like something, don't complain and instead help and try to change things for the better.

"Give Me Your Eyes"

Looked down from a broken sky.
Traced out by the city of lights.
My world from a mile high.
Best seat in the house tonight.
Touch down on the cold black-top.
Hold on for the sudden stop.
Breathe in the familiar shock of confusion and chaos.
Are all those people going somewhere? Why have I never cared.

Give me your eyes for just one second,
Give me your eyes so I can see,
Everything that I keep missing,
Give your love for humanity.
Give me your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten.
Give me Your eyes so I can see

Step out on the busy street.
See a girl and our eyes meet.
Does her best to smile at me.
To hide what's underneath.
There's a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie.
Too ashamed to tell his wife he's out of work, he's buyin time.
Are all those people going somewhere? Why have I never cared.

Give me your eyes for just one second,
Give me your eyes so I can see,
Everything that I keep missing,
Give me your love for humanity.
Give me Your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten.
Give me Your eyes so I can see.

I've been there a million times.
A couple of million lives.
Just movin past me by, I swear I never thought that I was wrong.
But I wanna second glance so give me a second chance to see the way you've seen the people all along.

Give me your eyes for just one second,
Give me your eyes so I can see,
Everything that I keep missing,
Give me your love for humanity.
Give me Your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten.
Give me Your eyes so I can see.

Give me your eyes for just one second,
Give me your eyes so I can see,
Everything that I keep missing,
Give me Your love for humanity
Give me Your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten.
Give me Your eyes so I can see.

-Brandon Heath

Cherished Moments

My brother and his girlfriend are visiting for three weeks from FL and we haven't had much time to spend all together but tonight my brother, sister, me and our significant others are hanging out. We're enjoying the cool weather and a fire and just chilling. I think we all take for granted our family so tonight I'm going to make sure that I enjoy the moment and take it all in because before you know it, they'll be back in FL and time will pass us by. That's why I have to stop writing and go.

Random Act of Kindness

On August 11th, 2009, Jenni Ware found herself stranded at the Menlo Park Trader Joe’s checkout line - her wallet was gone. Her already hectic day had just taken a turn for the worse. Carolee Hazard, a complete stranger, approached the distressed Ware and offered to pay the $207 bill. Jenni gratefully accepted and promised to repay her. Once home, Carolee posted on Facebook what had transpired, adding that she was “vacillating between feeling really good and very, very stupid”. Friends reassured her that she had done the right thing and good karma was sure to follow.

The next day a check arrived from Jenni for $300, with a note thanking Carolee for her generosity and trust, and recommending she get a massage with the extra money. After writing, but not yet sending, a check back to Jenni for the $93 “tip”, Carolee turned to her Facebook friends and asked what they would do with the money. Several people suggested giving it to charity, which Carolee decided to do. Touched by Jenni’s honesty, Carolee matched the $93 and turned to Facebook for suggestions on where the $186 should go. One person tossed out Second Harvest Food Bank, since the events had occurred at a grocery store. Another friend, inspired by the story, matched with $93 of his own money. So did another. And another. And another.

Carolee & Jenni reconnected after a week and Jenni learned that the massage money had become $2000 through the spontaneous generosity of Facebook friends. Jenni then posted the story to her Facebook page, her friends began making donations as well. The total donations soon swelled to $10,000. Children donated 93 cents of their allowance. One single mom, working 20 hours a week while in grad school, offered $9.30, because she couldn’t afford $93. The media picked up the story and donations poured in. Many chose to give $93 to their local food banks in Oregon, Massachusetts and other states.

In the months since the chance meeting of Carolee and Jenni, the 93 Dollar Club has raised over $100,000 to benefit Second Harvest Food Banks of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Every dollar becomes 2 meals, so the money raised so far will provide 188,000 meals. With help from posting and re-posting on Facebook, the "pay it forward" story has traveled around the globe and continues to move people to spread goodness and help fight hunger, not only in Silicon Valley, but around the country and world.

Tuvalu

I just can't help but LOVE this crystal blue water and just how amazingly gorgeous this place is. The island is called Tuvalu and is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbors are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls. Its populations of 12, 373 makes it the second-least populous sovereign state in the world, with only Vatican City having fewer inhabitants.

Thankfulness Party....

One of the most important things we can do in life is to look around us and and see how blessed and fortunate we are. We take so many things for granted like, hot water, a roof over our heads, the job we have and the car we drive and I could go on and on. When something big happens like birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and weddings, we take the time to celebrate and break out the champagne. But I have an idea......it may be a little different BUT what if we had a party for the blessings in our life. What if we celebrated all that we have to be thankful for? Toast to the job that is paying our bills and the car that gets us around town and the family that supports us and the roof that keeps us warm and dry and so on. When you look at all the positives and blessings, life doesn't seem so bad.

Surprised

So I just got home from work and I ran my butt off tonight. I had requested the day off for a birthday party for a dear friend but so did half the serving staff so I got to work. I was really bummed that I was going to miss this birthday because I hadn't been home the last two years for Kylie's birth or 1st birthday. Luckily good things happen when you least expect it.

I wasn't suppose to close tonight but the person who was scheduled couldn't so I said I would. I ran my butt off but made great money. It was worth it. I may not have been able to make it to this party but luckily I already have other plans with her and even though I worked I made some mucho dinero. So when you get disappointed about something, who knows it may turn out better than you think? In the long run it was a good thing that I worked.

Promises

1. To care for you…

Matt 6:28-30

"And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing,yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” (NLT)

2. To provide for you…

Matt 6:31-33

“What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.” (MSG)

3. To help you deal with what happens that day…

Matt 6:24

"You can't worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you'll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can't worship God and Money both.” (MSG)

4. To give you rest…

Matt 6:34

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. (MSG)

5. To give you peace…

Phil 4:6-7

“Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” (MSG)

6. To give real treasure

Matt 6:19-21

"Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or — worse! — stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. (MSG)

7. To grow in your faith…

James 1:2-4

“Dear brothers and sisters,when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. (NLT)

8. To give strength whatever the financial situation

Phil 4:12-14

“I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ,* who gives me strength.” (NLT)

9. To lift you up…

1 Peter 5:6-7

“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (NLT)

10. To meet your needs…

Phil 4:19-20

“You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. (MSG)

Heaven Sent

**This story was in the book Living Life as a Thank You and I wanted to share it.

-It happened on the commuter train. I was in the middle of a very difficult time. I had never felt so alone and afraid in my life. I rested my head against the window, wiping away the tears and hoping no one saw me.

Suddenly, someone tapped me on the shoulder and handed me a hand-drawn note.

Scrawled in pen were a rainbow and a sun and the words: "I see you there crying. Know that the sun will come out again, and that you are never alone. You do not know me, but I will pray for you."

I only saw the well-manicured hand of a woman. But I never even saw the women's face. She disappeared almost instantly. But I knew, in that moment, that no matter what happened to me or my children again, we would never be alone. I had witnessed firsthand the power of one person's pray for another at work--big time.

Call them angels or compassionate beings, I do believe they demonstrate the power of the Divine in our lives. St. Paul says: "Some have entertained angels unaware." On that day, one of the saddest days of my life, help came my way. I was blessed and I was not alone.

What I have learned from this is that even our simplest actions--smiling to a stranger walking past us on the street, holding the door for someone at the bookstore, or extending a hand to help an elderly person step down a flight of stairs--make a huge difference. When we reach out with gratitude and kindness, remembering the kindnesses bestowed us, well, there are no words to describe how good we feel. And how we know we are never alone.-

I truly believe that when you need something like a kind word or encouragement, God sends someone to you to help you. You may or may not know them but they are heaven sent.

Awe

There's always pictures that make people stare in awe and amazement and this is one for me. Can you imagine being in that lighthouse and seeing that wave? What a sight. I'm amazed and scared at the ocean and its power.

Thoughts to nibble on....

"The highest point of achievement of yesterday is the starting point of today" -Motto of Paulist Fathers

"Gossip is mischievous, light and easy to raise, but grievous to bear and hard to get rid of. No gossip ever dies away entirely, if many people voice it: it too is kind of divinity" -Hesiod

"It is our less conscious thoughts and our less conscious actions which mainly mold our lives and the lives of those who spring from us" -Samuel Butler

"The greatest obstacle to your success is probably you" -Frank Tyger

"There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it" -Edith Wharton

"We tend to perform at about the same level as those people who are close to us" -David Campbell, Ph.D

"You cannot cash checks on heaven's bank without first making the deposit of belief" -Anonymous

"Clear your mind of Can't!" -Samual Jackson

"There is no calamity greater than lavish desires. There is no greater guilt than discontentment. And there is no greater disaster than greed" -Lao-Tzu