Tough, tough day!

Today started out early when I went to a friend's house for an Estate Sale. I have been to Estate Sales before...only one or two. But never to an Estate Sales of a dear friend, it was tough to watch everyone just go through their things...as if they were just junk! I caught myself wanting to buy it all... so that  their stuff didn't go to strangers but by someone who knew and loved them.

After that I went to my friend's funeral. It was truly a celebration of her life and to hear from her children and grandchildren through a song...was inspiring and touching to say the least.
Here are some of the notes that I took as her children talked, so many of us left the funeral...inspired and wanting to be a better person. That is the life of an amazing person!

First her 3 daughters spoke they said...
...Our Mother had a life of abuse but she broke the cycle and created her home to be a Safe Haven for them. And she also raised a family of children who loved the Lord and knew how to keep covenants to the Lord.
...She was determined to go to college and graduate, she was the first in her family.
...She became an attorney and was one who was adamant on protecting children.
...She taught us to always focus on finding the good in people.
...She was all about service to others!
...She shared with us her love and testimony of the Savior, which was evident in her everyday life.
...She made us who we are...because of her love.
...She was the greatest example to us!

Her son who spoke near the end said that he had a dream over a year ago...where his Mother died. He woke up crying and said it really shook him to the core... to think that anything would happen to his Mom. So he decided to write down 10 Principles and Lessons that his Mom taught him. 
1.HOW TO WRITE...He said when other kids got in trouble they probably got put in time out or got spanked. But in their case, his Mother made them write a paper about whatever it was that they did. He said he remember well writing a 3 page letter on Honesty...but couldn't remember what he did :) He said that his Mom said "it was their OPPORTUNITY " to learn from the mistake they made. And why they shouldn't do it again!
2. RESPECT, CHARITY, GRATITUDE and SERVICE...she made us write Thank You notes for everything and to everyone. Teaching us how important every type of service was.
3. HOW TO COOK... she always took the opportunity to let us cook with her. Dinner time was valuable to her.
4.WHAT CONVERSION REALLY MEANS..she shared how she became to know about the church and what that meant to her. She always told us how grateful she was for the knowlege that she recieved. She also shared her testimony of Forever Families with them.
5.HOW TO SET A TABLE... Mom was particular about how to do that, and through that I learned alot about how important it is to pay attention to detail. Plus, that crossed over to details about being OBEDIENT.
6. HOW TO ARGUE...she was stubborn, but that made her an effective Attorney. It has benefited many children throughout her life.
7. HOW TO TREAT YOUR SPOUSE...because of the hard life she had lived as a child, she was determined not to ever marry. But when she met and fell in love with my Dad, she said it was her greatest gift. She always told us how blessed she was... to be married to him. Their love for each other was a great example to us! In her wedding band Dad had it engraved with the words "You are the perfect one for me "
8. HOW TO FORGIVE..You would have to know the life my Mother before.. to truly understand how teaching us to forgive was such a big deal. But to talk about her life isn't appropriate here... but let me tell you, she taught us all how to overcome things and to forgive not matter what.
9. CHARITY...it was evident in everything she did. She always taught us to serve and give to Others. She taught us by example! She was a Christlike Example to us and others.
10. ALWAYS AND FOREVER... It was a children's book she always read to us, about a Mother's love. And she always ended all of our conversations or her letters or cards to us by saying she loved us always and forever. This principle taught us that she knew we could be a Forever Family if we live a righteous and obedient life. My Mother knew there was life after this, she bore that testimony to us always.
And because of her and my Dad, I know she will ALWAYS AND FOREVER, be my MOM!

One of the hymns we love to hear is... I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES because the words are a testament of our chance to live again too!

"To all who have lost loved ones, we would turn Job’s question to an answer: If a man die, he shall live again. We know, for we have the light of revealed truth. “I am the resurrection, and the life,” spoke the Master. “He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” ²⁰

Through tears and trials, through fears and sorrows, through the heartache and loneliness of losing loved ones, there is assurance that life is everlasting. Our Lord and Savior is the living witness that such is so.

With all my heart and the fervency of my soul, I lift up my voice in testimony as a special witness and declare that God does live. Jesus is His Son, the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. He is our Redeemer; He is our Mediator with the Father. He it was who died on the cross to atone for our sins. He became the firstfruits of the Resurrection. Because He died, all shall live again. “Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives!’” ²¹ May the whole world know it and live by that knowledge..."  ~Thomas S. Monson

I left this sweet friend's funeral with a determination to
... write more letters to my children so that always know that I love them and what I hope for them
... to take more photos with them ( so that we have memories saved together )
...to send more gifts to my chidren and grandchildren ( so that they will have something as a reminder of how much I love them ) a tangable gift of my love!
...to be more forgiving
...to look more for the good in others
...and to tell Jeff and my kids and grandkids more often...just how much I love them!
...and to be a better Mother,Grandmother, Wife, Sister and Friend!

So you can imagine now why my day was so tough. I haven't really accomplised anything and everything makes me cry. It hits too close to home for me, and it makes life seem even more precious.

Good night dear friends! I truly love and appreciate each of you!

Making a Difference, no matter what!

What an incredible example of Making a Difference No Matter What!

Woman behind 'An Ordinary Hero' inspires students across the state!

 

                                

  

One woman stood in the face of extreme danger to fight for what she believed in — a world of equality.

“It's a very moving film. It told a piece of the civil rights story that a lot of us hadn't heard. And it was made by a local filmmaker.”

Diena Simmons

Just a few months ago, proud Southerner Joan Trumpauer Mulholland returned to her alma mater, Tougaloo College in Jackson, Miss., a historically all-black school.
Mulholland and her son, Lehi resident and filmmaker Loki Mulholland, were on location filming a documentary titled "An Ordinary Hero," which features the life and heroism of one ordinary woman who risked everything to stand up for what she believed in: equality.
Now, Joan and Loki are traveling throughout Utah, sharing the story of one woman's journey of courage.
Recently, the Mulhollands attended a Sept. 10 screening and reception of their February-release documentary at Brigham Young University. There was a 30-minute screening of the film, followed by a question-and-answer panel with Joan and Loki.
Diena Simmons, station manager for KBYU-TV, said there were several reasons this film came to BYU.
"It's a very moving film. It told a piece of the civil rights story that a lot of us hadn't heard. And it was made by a local filmmaker."
Simmons said the station, which will air "An Ordinary Hero" on Sept. 15 at 9 p.m. and again on Sept. 23 at 8 p.m., likes to encourage the art and storytelling of all local filmmakers.
"(Loki) made a beautiful film about something that is universally important. Something that's just as important as it was 50 years ago."
And it was with an air of reverence that a nearly full house viewed the inspiring events that defined Joan's early life.
The year was 1960, and the civil rights movement was generating steam. But for 19-year-old Joan, the decision to join the fight for equal rights was made years before.
As a 10-year-old girl in Sunday School, Joan memorized Bible verses that taught her a golden rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Another factor was an internalization of the Declaration of Independence, which Joan was required to memorize in school.
"'We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights,'" she quoted. "You take that literally. As a Christian or as an American, you are an absolute hypocrite if you are empowering segregation."
Joan said this realization came to her in grade school. That, combined with a desire as a Southerner to make her beloved South the best it could be, Joan decided to give her all to make a change.
"I'll join the group, because it really takes a group to make a change," she said.
While attending Duke University in Durham, N.C., Joan became involved in early sit-in protests. She later dropped out of Duke to dedicate her time more fully to the movement.
After participating in the first Freedom Ride in 1961, Joan joined her friends in Mississippi and continued the Freedom Rides. The group was later arrested, landing Joan two months in prison.
Joan later enrolled at Tougaloo College and became the first white woman accepted at an all-black college.
During the infamous sit-in at the Woolworth lunch counter in Greensboro, N.C., in 1963, she and other activists endured the taunting of the crowd, which swelled in intensity and began dumping ice cream and other condiments onto the protesters.
Joan recalls in the documentary that she didn't think she and her friends would make it out of that demonstration alive. Yet, she remained strong.

One woman stood in the face of extreme danger to fight for what she believed in — a world of equality.

“It's a very moving film. It told a piece of the civil rights story that a lot of us hadn't heard. And it was made by a local filmmaker.”

Diena Simmons

"I was not terrified," Joan said. "I might have been cautious; I might have been super-aware of my surroundings. But if you give way to fear, if you let fear move you, you destroy your ability to do what you need to do in the situation. The worst thing they could do was kill you, and we believed there was something better to come."
Joan remained an active supporter of the civil rights movement until the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964.
When she is in her hometown of Washington, D.C., Joan visits Arlington National Cemetery and the grave of fellow civil rights activist Medgar Evers, who was the first field officer of the NAACP. She also makes other occasional visits — like when Barack Obama was elected president in 2008.
Joan explained in the film that the Ku Klux Klan had a list of the people most dangerous to the civil rights cause. Once a dangerous person was killed, their face was crossed out, she said.
"Medgar's face was X-ed out, but mine never was," Joan said in the documentary.
While this film has inspired countless viewers, perhaps no one has been more affected by its story than Joan's son, who wrote and directed the film.
"It's pretty cool when your mom has a mug shot," Loki said. "She was on the Klan's most wanted list. She was dangerous. That's cool."
But it's the example that Joan set that has left the greatest impression on Loki.
"I have two daughters. The example of this woman — a young lady who chose to follow her heart and not take the route of Miley Cyrus — we need those examples."
In the end, both mother and son agree, it's all about making a stand — no matter who you are.
"Most importantly, (this film) shows that ordinary people can do something. That you don't need a civil rights movement to make things happen, you just need the courage of your conviction," Loki told the Deseret News after the screening. "You just need to say, 'It's going to be me. I'm going to do something. That's where it starts.'"
Joan said it's important to understand that real people can make a difference — not just icons like Dr. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks.
"Now us old folks are getting a little weak in the knees and maybe in the brain, so it's time for you young folks to step forward and carry it on," Joan told the students in attendance at the panel.
The final comment of the panel was from a mother and her young daughter. The mother thanked Joan for her courage and her example.
In response, Joan looked at the girl.
"Now you've got to go out and make a difference in the world. OK? Promise?"
She promised.

I found the story HERE:

What an incredible story!

I read this story and thought what a survivor this girl is! But even after all she has accomplished, she still has huge challenges coming at her. I love her spirit, I love her determination and her resolve not to become bitter because of circumstances that happen beyond her control! What a great lesson for all of us! Read it and see!
Good night dear friends!

Paralympic swimmer banned from competition because of hope she could walk again

.

Summary

Victoria Arlen is a paralympic gold medalist, but this week the International Paralympic Committee told her she is no longer allowed to compete in the organization.

“Everything does happen for a reason and sometimes these reasons are hard to fathom and explain. I continue to have the utmost respect for the Paralympic movement and the IPC and hope that this will not happen to anyone else. Nobody should have to go through this.”

Victoria Arlen

Victoria Arlen is a paralympic gold medalist, but this week the International Paralympic Committee told her she is no longer allowed to compete in the organization.
The 18-year-old champion swimmer has been paralyzed from her waist down since she was 11 and diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder that attacks nerves in the spine.
According to statements released by the International Paralympic Committee, Arlen was disqualified because her condition is no longer viewed as permanent as medical experts found there may be hope for the teen to walk again.
Although her limitations initially came as a shock, for the past seven years Arlen hasn't let it hold her back. The young athlete took to the pool and has since won four medals, including gold, and broke her own record at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.
That's why it was a surprise to Arlen and her family this week when the IPC said she is not eligible to compete in the Paralympic World Swimming Championships, after she had traveled to Montreal for the event.
"I'm so heartbroken with what has happened. I feel numb and completely shocked with the turn of events," Arlen wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday. "To have trained so hard this past year and come so far only to be humiliated and targeted by the IPC for reasons unknown baffles me. Being penalized for maybe having a glimmer of hope of one day being able to walk again is beyond sad."
The National Post reported that Arlen's eligibility had been cleared in years past, but after the 2012 London Paralympics the IPC requested a more in-depth medical report. IPC spokesman Craig Spence announced that Arlen's medical records had been reviewed by five medical experts who all separately stated her condition could not be referred to as permanent.
Arlen is known for being positive about her circumstances, running a campaign called "Rock your disability." But the news that she could no longer compete has been devastating for the young athlete.
"To be told I'm ineligible only days before World Championships is beyond ridiculous," she wrote online. "Being up in Montreal only to have to head home is devastating. The definite reasons given to make the ineligible decision come to pass were not clear and do not seem fair."
While Arlen is uncertain about the details of the decision, she concluded her statement with gratitude for what she has been able to do and hope that things will work out.
"Although there is not much I can do, I just pray for answers and a reason for all of this," Arlen wrote. "Everything does happen for a reason and sometimes these reasons are hard to fathom and explain. I continue to have the utmost respect for the Paralympic movement and the IPC and hope that this will not happen to anyone else. Nobody should have to go through this."
Others have rallied together for Arlen, including some New Hampshire politicians such as Gov. Maggie Hassan.
"Denying Victoria the opportunity to compete in an event for which she has trained diligently, and at the last possible moment, is unconscionable and patently unfair," Hassan wrote in a letter to the IPC.
"Moreover, the basis for ruling Victoria ineligible — the possibility that she might one day be able to resume use of her legs — is nothing short of disgraceful, undermining the very values of courage, inspiration, determination and equality that the International Paralympic Committee aims to promote."

What an inspiring story!

As a cancer survivor myself, I am always drawn to the survivors who touch so many lives in a positive way, and only hope that I can do that for others too in some small ways. This story as told by Jason Wright was one of those kinds of stories

 As a Mother, I can only imagine how grateful these parents were for a whole football team who rallied  around their son, giving him more reasons to live, and thrive! This is such an inspiring story, hope you enjoy it!                         

Good night dear friends.

If you watched the BCS championship game last week between Alabama and Notre Dame, you may have caught an ESPN feature on the adoption of 14-year-old Sam Grewe of Middlebury, Ind., by the Notre Dame football program. And, if you saw it, you’re more likely to remember his inspiring story than the game itself.

Especially if you’re a fan of the Fighting Irish.

But isn’t that how it should be? During the 2012 season, Notre Dame's coaches and players won something much more valuable and lasting than a crystal trophy and championship rings.

They won a brother.

Like millions of viewers around the country, I was awed that such a storied football program would adopt the young cancer patient. Why add anything else to the white-hot hype and expectations that bloom like Indiana’s perennial purple coneflowers?

For Sam, the story began when he was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, an aggressive cancer in the bone. It often appears in the leg and can lead to amputation. But when presented with options, the athletic and competitive Sam convinced his parents to permit a rare Van Ness rotationplasty. The procedure involves removing the femur and knee joint. With the tumor gone, the foot and ankle are pulled up, rotated and reattached.

It may look like something from a sci-fi movie, but the reversed foot actually becomes the knee and the stump provides better mobility and a receptive joint for attaching a prosthetic leg. Doctors explained to Sam and his family that the unusual procedure — it’s estimated there are just 20 such surgeries each year in the U.S. — was his best shot at ever playing sports again.

That’s all he needed to hear.

Meanwhile, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly had approached South Bend Memorial Hospital, asking if they had a cancer patient the hospital could recommend to be adopted for the season by the team.

Did they ever.

Just two days before his surgery, the football team gathered for an adoption ceremony. It’s a sweet gesture, right? Give him a T-shirt, maybe a few jerseys and pose for pictures while the cameras roll. Make him an honorary member of the team and then get back to spring practice; you’ve got a title to chase, after all.

That might have been the easy way, but that wasn’t the Notre Dame way. He didn’t become just a friend, assistant or booster. He truly became a brother.

A few days ago I spoke with Sam Grewe’s mother, Michelle. I wondered, "Is this genuinely how it worked? How real was this? How much was about optics, public relations or some obligatory service program required of the players?"

“Jason,” she said calmly, “Sam had opportunities with that team that would make grown men cry.”

Not only was Sam and his family given tickets to each home game, he was invited two hours early to the stadium to spend time in the locker room. At kickoff he watched the game with his parents before joining the team on the sidelines during the fourth quarter. After the final whistle, he could often be seen back in the locker room enjoying the postgame celebration and sharing his favorite highlights.

And he didn’t miss a game.

Even when carrying 10 pounds of IV fluid on his back, even when rushing out to vomit in the parking lot, he wasn’t about to abandon his brothers on game day.

But it didn’t start and end with home games. Before away games the players would often visit him on their way out of town, taking time from training and prep to visit him in the hospital on some of the more than 140 nights he’s spent hospitalized over the past year.

It didn't even end with the regular season. Who flew on the charter jet to the bowl game in Miami? Sam and his entire family.

Notre Dame defensive end Grant Patton spoke of the players' commitment to ESPN. “We all made a promise to him that he would be our brother. And I believe, at least for me, it goes beyond football, and it goes beyond this season. It’s not a ‘this year’ thing. It’s not a ‘next year’ thing. It’s not a ‘while I’m in college’ thing. It’s a ‘forever thing.’”

Sam’s road to forever is a long one. He has two more rounds of chemotherapy and a lifetime of battling "scanxiety" with his family, a term used by Sam's mom to describe the fear of the recurring CT and MRI scans to ensure he remains cancer free.

No doubt it will be easier to manage that fear, and anything else life might throw at him, with the support of both a loving family at home and an army of Fighting Irish brothers spread across Indiana, eventually the NFL and many other professions. Can't you picture Notre Dame’s Manti Te'o, one of college football's most high-profile players in history, texting Sam during his rookie year in the NFL after his first interception for a touchdown? “You catch that pick 6, Sam?”

Of course he will. That’s what brothers do.

I asked Sam to pick a favorite moment from his time so far as a member of the Notre Dame football team. “It’s hard to choose because there were so many. The Wake Forest game had the most cool moments because I walked out with coach (Brian) Kelly; was in the front row singing the alma mater; and led the victory cheer in the locker room."

Like his mother said, some of his opportunities would make grown men cry.

The Elias Sports Bureau, ESPN and die-hard fans of both teams will record and remember that Alabama won the BCS title for the 2012 season.

But those most closely associated with the program will record and remember that the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame won something much more valuable over the last year.

They won a brother.

Notre Dame's special player and adopted brother

This feature from ESPN shared about 14-year-old Sam Grewe and Even though he isn't on the roster, how Sam has been an inspiration for the Notre Dame football team this season.

Watch this video about how the Notre Dame team  felt about Same here:

Read more of Jason's articles here;

Kathi Goertzen...an inspiration!

 

This week I saw in the news, that Kathi Goertzen has lost her battle with brain cancer. I was amazed at the fighter and survivor she has been doing that long battle. People like her are an inspiration to me! I love to see people who continue to live and give, right up till the end. I love to see survivors that aren't afraid to talk about their faith and beliefs, that get them through some of the toughest trials. I pray that her legacy for the family (who is left to go on with their lives without her), will be to carry that same type of enthusiasm for life, love for others and a smile not matter what life throws at them. It is a great example to us all!

Thank you Kathi for your example, may we all enjoy each moment of life that we get!

Good night dear friends!

Beloved anchor Kathi Goertzen dies

This undated photo provided by KOMO-TV shows longtime Seattle television news anchor Kathi Goertzen, who died Monday, Aug. 13, 2012, in Seattle. Goertzen had fought a lengthy battle with brain tumors. (AP Photo/Courtesy KOMO-TV)

zoo

Iconic KOMO News anchor Kathi Goertzen has died after a long battle with brain tumors. "Our co-worker, our angel, our precious friend, Kathi Goertzen, died today, surrounded by her loving family," wrote KOMO News Director Holly Gauntt.
"The long fight against the tumors that have ravaged her brain is over. She is at peace now, comfortable and surrounded by all that is good."
Goertzen grew up in Seattle and graduated from Queen Anne High School before attending Washington State University. She'd planned to be a veterinarian before shifting her focus to journalism.
Goertzen joined KOMO TV in 1980, becoming a weekend anchor in 1982 before moving to weekday anchor in 1984. She was the first local news anchor to report live from the Brandenburg Gate during the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Goertzen became one of the best known celebrity's in the Northwest and worked for a number of charitable organizations.
In 1998 she was first diagnosed with a non-cancerous tumor that damaged the nerves controlling her speech and swallowing.
Among her many contributions was leading a $43 million capital campaign for the YWCA of Seattle, King and Snohomish counties as board president for the organization.
She had surgery and returned to work within a month, but the tumor re-grew in 2005. A series of surgeries left her unable to anchor.
>>>Donate to the Kathi Goertzen Foundation here
"It's been a rough road, as you know. I was diagnosed with this, atypical meningioma, more than 10 years ago and I've had several surgeries and radiation and tried lots of different drugs and I've lost cranial nerve that controls my face and my hearing and my voice and my balance," she said in a recent KOMO story.
"There is no more pain and suffering. We hope you find comfort in the words she spoke when talking about this day," Gauntt wrote.
"I'm not afraid to die. I have a great belief, a great faith there's more. There's more to me, there's more to this life," Goertzen said prior to her death.
"She was one of the sweetest, most impressive people I've ever known," said KIRO's Dori Monson.
KIRO's Ursula Reutin profiled Goertzen in a recent feature.
"I just kept telling her 'Kathi, do you realize what an inspiration you are to so many?'" says Reutin.
Goertzen won five Emmy Awards and one Edward R. Murrow award, priding herself on her ability to carry a breaking-news broadcast without a script, according to the Seattle Times.
Goertzen is survived by her husband, Rick Jewett, two daughters, Alexa Jarvis and Andrea Jewett, and her mother and father, Irma and Don Goertzen, all of Seattle. She was 54.
"My heart is with the family, friends and colleagues of Kathi Goertzen. She had countless fans, not just in Seattle, but around the globe, and was one of the finest people I knew. She was a terrific journalist because she cared deeply about her work and the people it touched. She had passion and it showed. She put her heart and soul into every story, and was a warm and welcome presence at the anchor desk every evening, said Governor Christine Gregoire in a statement.
"As her fight against brain tumors waged on, we saw yet another side of Kathi. She was courageous, fearless and inspirational. Not afraid to share her own story, she remained strong, with that beautiful smile, to the end.
 Found this story Here:

 "What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us."
-Henry David Thoreau

Pretty sore!

Today I was rear ended today while driving home from the quilt shop. I got whiplash, and so I am in a lot of pain. But lucky for me, my daughter sent me this very motivational Youtube video so... if you want a bit of inspiration tonight, and something that will leave you smiling, then check it out here:
 Good night dear friends!
 

"I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances."
- Martha Washington
 “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

The Power of a Quote!

I found this article today…loved it!  Enjoy yourself!

 

What is it about a short quotation that carries so much power? Anyone who has ever been moved by "I have a dream" or "I think, therefore I am" knows that a single, simple quote can change a day, a life, a world.

For those who suffer from depression, words of uplift and inspiration are always welcome. Explore these quotations and see if a few simple words might change your day, your life, or your world.

 

"Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them -- every day begin the task anew."

"A pearl is a beautiful thing that is produced by an injured life. It is the tear [that results] from the injury of the oyster. The treasure of our being in this world is also produced by an injured life. If we had not been wounded, if we had not been injured, then we will not produce the pearl."

"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy."

Thich Nhat Hanh

"Good humor is a tonic for mind and body. It is the best antidote for anxiety and depression. It is a business asset. It attracts and keep friends. It lightens human burdens. It is the direct route to serenity and contentment."

Greenville Kleisser

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."

Helen Keller

"Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world."

C.S. Lewis

"The greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being."

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama

"What you thought before has led to every choice you have made, and this adds up to you at this moment. If you want to change who you are physically, mentally, and spiritually, you will have to change what you think."

Dr. Patrick Gentempo

"Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime,
Therefore, we are saved by hope.
Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history;
Therefore, we are saved by faith.
Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone.
Therefore, we are saved by love.
No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own;
Therefore, we are saved by the final form of love, which is forgiveness."

Reinhold Niebuhr

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

Leo Buscaglia

Inspiration!

 

"NIGHT NEVER HAD THE LAST WORD. THE DAWN IS ALWAYS INVINCIBLE."  ~ Hugh B. Brown

I have a young friend of mine that has had some real struggles in her life. Understanding to some degree how hard life can be at that age, I searched for a quote that I might put in a card for her and I think I found the perfect one, this one at the top.

I wished that I could have shared a lesson that I heard from a speaker in church which was directed to the Young Women, it was truly inspirational. Here is part of it, just in case she is reading my blog.

"Over the years I have been exposed to many beautiful languages--each of them is fascinating and remarkable; each has its particular charm. But as different  as these languages can be, they often have things in common. For example, in most languages there exists a  phrase as magical and full of promise as perhaps any in the world. That phrase is "Once upon a time."

Aren't those wonderful words to begin a story? "Once upon a time" promises something: a story of adventure and romance, a story of everlasting love. In many of these stories, nice overcomes mean and good overcomes evil. But perhaps most of all, I love it when we turn to the last page and our eyes reach the final lines and we see the enchanting words "And they lived happily ever after."

Isn't that what we all desire: to be the heroes and heroines of our own stories; to triumph over adversity; to experience life in all it's beauty; and, in the end, to live happily ever after?

For a moment, think back about your favorite fairy tale. In that story the main character may be a princess or a peasant; she might be a mermaid or a milkmaid, a ruler or a servant. You will find one thing all have in common: they must overcome adversity. Cinderella had to endure her wicked stepmother and evil stepsisters. She is compelled to suffer long hours of servitude and ridicule. "Beauty and the Beast," Belle becomes a captive to a frightful-looking beast in order to save her father. She sacrifices her home and family, all she holds dear, to spend several months in the beast's castle.

In each of these stories, Cinderella, Belle and the miller's daughter have to experience sadness and trial before they can reach their "happily ever after." Think about it. Has there ever been a person who did not have to go through his or her own dark valley of temptation, trial, and sorrow?

Sandwiched between their "once upon a time" and "happily ever after," they all had to experience great adversity. Why must all experience sadness and tragedy? Why could we not simply live in bliss and peace, each day filled with wonder, joy and love?

The scriptures tell us there must be opposition in all things, for without it we could not discern the sweet from the bitter.

In stories, as in life, adversity teaches us things we cannot learn otherwise. Adversity helps to develop a depth of character that comes in no other way. Our loving Heavenly Father had set us in a world filled with challenges and trials so that we, through opposition, can  learn wisdom, become stronger, and experience joy."                         ~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf May 2010

I read this quote the other day..."IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER"

So I believe that is just exactly what we need to strive for each day and happiness and peace that only comes from truly understanding our worth and our purpose here on earth. Yes, I pray my young friend will come to know this for herself and that I myself will remember it on the tough days!

A Little Princess

The other night Jeff and I watched the movie A LITTLE PRINCESS by Warner Bros. On the back of the cover it reads... From the beloved classic by the author of The Secret Garden, A Little Princess has storytelling magic to unlock imaginations and inspire dreams. Sara Crewe (Leisel Matthews) shares a life of wonder in exotic India with her devoted father ( Liam Cunningham). But war draws Sara's father into the military and Sara is sent to a New York boarding school run by the strict Miss Minchin ( Eleanor Bron ), to whom exuberant Sara is a troublemaker. But with courage, imagination and kindness, Sara overcomes her hardships-- and changes her life and the fortunes of those around her. Experience this "jewel of a movie" ( Leonard Maltin ) for anyone who ever wishes or dreams.

If you haven't seen this movie, you ought to take time out to get it and watch it for yourselves. I think it is one of my favorite movies, the most moving line in the whole movie for me, was when she said this...

"I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny old attics. Even if they dress in rags. Even if they aren't pretty, or smart, or young. They’re still princesses. All of us."  ~ Sara Crew

Plus, I love the fact that her Dad is the one that taught that to her, and he was also her HERO...isn't that really what a Dad should be?

Well, it is late and Lee is still very sick. Last night there wasn't much sleeping going on, because he was coughing so much, I hope tonight he can get some rest.

Good night dear friends and don't forget to remember who you really are, I truly think that can make all the difference in what we accomplish in our lives!

"Little girls are the nicest things that happen to people. They are born with a little bit of angel-shine about them, and though it wears thin sometimes there is always enough left to lasso your heart." ~ Alan Beck

"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today."  ~Stacia Tauscher

"While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about." ~ Angela Schwindt

My Book !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I belong to a book swap, and today I received in the mail Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul. I was excited to get it because my daughter-in-law and I are already making great progress toward my book. I thought getting that book would help give me even more inspiration and desire to keep going toward this dream. How important it is to dream!

During my cancer surgery and treatments, I lost that desire to dream. Who could even think about the future?How did I even know for sure, I would have one? That is a hard and sad place to be... a place where you don't dream or have goals or something to look forward to. Surviving is really what occupies most of your time. So I am very grateful to be hoping, planning and dreaming again. I say that is real progress!

I will mail out my first draft of my book next week so that my daughter-in-law can edit it. Yes, I am on my way!  If any of you are interested in my book, just send me your email address and I will let you know as soon as it is available. Once again, thanks for believing in me and encouraging to go forth with my dreams. It is a wonderful feeling!

"Writing became such a process of discovery that I couldn't wait to get to work in the morning:  I wanted to know what I was going to say."  ~Sharon O'Brien

"Write down the thoughts of the moment.  Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable."  ~Francis Bacon

"Think BIG. There are unseen forces ready to support your dreams." 
- Cheryl Richardson

There are many angels among us

Today I was a bit discouraged to say the least. I am struggling with cold symptoms AGAIN and my breathing is labored AGAIN. It is interesting to me, that when I can't get any air like today, my whole body is so tired and weak that I literally have to force myself to get dressed, eat or do almost anything. Jeff and my granddaughter came down with bad colds on Monday night. I didn't get as sick as they did but, I could definitely tell that I was re-exposed to something. I went to PT yesterday because I need to get my knees back in shape. I haven't done anything physical for almost a month because of my  pneumonia. Physical Therapy was a grueling to say the least!I kept telling myself to just push THROUGH THE WALL and keep going ( I do realize that doing that actually isn't a good idea ). I kept telling myself that I will not be sick again. I haven't even been well full week yet. But I realized by last night when I was up and down coughing so much, that I was in trouble again. So today was one of those BIGGER THAN ME days. I kept asking myself "will my immune system ever be strong again?" How much more of life will I have to miss?  Jeff is really sick and so I am trying to keep my complaining and whining to myself, poor guy...he doesn't need to hear that his wife is sick yet AGAIN!

So I did a lot of reading today, that doesn't take too much energy. I read a story from the book A 2nd Helping of CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL, the story was by a woman named  Dottie Walters and it was called Angels Never Say "Hello!" here is the link if you want to read it.

http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com/storiesfolder/angels.html

I loved this story for a couple of reasons, one is that I do believe there are many angels among us. My worry is that we are so busy, rushed or worried that we miss them. Another thing that touched me about this story... is Dottie was talking about something her grandmother had taught her, that stayed with her all her life. I too learned many lessons from my grandmother and now that I am a grandmother, I realized the importance of my role in my grandchildren's lives. The story is about her grandmother, herself and her daughter. As I looked up more about the author and the daughter, I was amazed (but not surprised) that she too was an incredible lady and has gone on to be an inspiration to many. What a neat legacy each of them has received and now passed down from generation to generation.

I wanted to share with you their story because it was so inspirational and yet again, someone else's story gave me the boost that I needed to get up and stop feeling sorry for myself. I hope that you read more about Dottie and her daughter Lilly, two more real live angels who are making a difference!

This is the quote that was written at the beginning of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book, how appropriate.

"The stories people tell have a way of taking care of them. If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive. That is why we put these stories in each other's memory. This is how people care for themselves."               ~ Barry Lopez

I love stories, maybe because I love to read about other's lives and their experiences. I love the parables in the scriptures too because they, like any other stories ...tend to be simple and very profound. So if you have a minute, read this sweet one that gave me the shot in the arm that I needed today!

“Live your life from your heart. Share from your heart. And your story will touch and heal people's souls.”             ~ Melody Beattie