Everyone's life has a purpose and a mission!

I am always interested in seeing people who find their purpose in life, and then how they share that passion with those around them to make the world a better place.
The other night Jeff and I watched a program about Alexander Graham Bell. I thought it interesting that his Mother and his wife were both deaf...so that is what profoundly influenced his life.
Isn't that true about all of us, if we find our purpose and then move in the direction to make a difference in the world is truly the way to find and spread happiness. Isn't that what life is all about? Making a difference?
Good Night dear friends!

Alexander Graham Bell

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alexander Graham Bell
Portrait photo taken between 1914–19.
Born	March 3, 1847 Edinburgh, Scotland
Died	August 2, 1922 (aged 75) Beinn Bhreagh, Nova Scotia,Canada
Cause of death	Complications from diabetes [1]
Residence	United Kingdom Canada United States
Citizenship	birth–1882    British 1870–71     in Canada [N 1] 1882–death  American
Alma mater	University of Edinburgh University College London
Occupation	Inventor Scientist Engineer Professor a Teacher of the deaf [N 2]
Known for	Invention of the telephone b
Spouse(s)	Mabel Hubbard (m. 1877–1922)
Children	four c
Parent(s)	Alexander Melville Bell Eliza Grace Symonds Bell

Alexander Graham Bell (March 3, 1847 – August 2, 1922)^[4] was a Scottish-born scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone.^{[N 3]}

Bell's father, grandfather, and brother had all been associated with work on elocution and speech, and both his mother and wife were deaf, profoundly influencing Bell's life's work.^[7] His research on hearing and speech further led him to experiment with hearing devices which eventually culminated in Bell being awarded the first U.S. patent for the telephone in 1876.^{[N 4]} Bell considered his most famous invention an intrusion on his real work as a scientist and refused to have a telephone in his study.^{[8][N 5]}

Many other inventions marked Bell's later life, including groundbreaking work in optical telecommunications, hydrofoils andaeronautics. In 1888, Bell became one of the founding members of the National Geographic Society.^[10]

Happiness is an INSIDE job!

I think that all of us struggle with being Happy every now and then. It only takes one look at the news to truly have something or another to worry about. But I think this quote was enlightening..

"True happiness is about purpose and meaning and connection and contribution,"

So true, if you know your purpose in life, then that knowledge gives your life meaning. When you has meaning, then you tend to want to connect with others in the world ( since it's not all about us anyway ). That connection with Other's gets stronger and you have a natural desire to contribute something to the world and ...make a difference! I would say that spells Happiness in a nutshell. :)

I found the quoteHERE:

Living a Life of Peace, Joy and Purpose!

I read this article today and it really made me stop and think. Yes, who doesn't want a life of Peace, Joy and Purpose? I do!
I gave you the link at the end. This is just bits and pieces of the article that I wanted to share.
Good night dear friends!

Living a Life of Peace, Joy and Purpose

This world is in serious trouble. The fundamental values of the United States and other Western nations are being undermined. There is a continual crumbling of principle, virtue, integrity, and religious values—the foundation stones of civilization and definitive ingredients of peace and happiness. I will share with you as simply and as clearly as I am able a pattern for success and happiness in life despite these conditions.

God has given you the capacity to exercise faith so that you may find peace, joy, and purpose in life. However, to employ its power, that faith must be rooted in something secure. There is no more solid foundation than faith in the love Heavenly Father has for you, faith in His plan of happiness, and faith in the willingness and power of Jesus Christ to fulfill all His promises.

Some of the principles upon which faith is based include:

…Trust in God and in His desire to provide help when needed, no matter how challenging the circumstance.

…Obedience to His commandments and a life that demonstrates that He can trust you.

…Sensitivity to the quiet promptings of the Spirit and courageous implementation of the resulting impressions.

…Patience and understanding when God lets you struggle to grow and when answers come a piece at a time over an extended period.

It will be helpful to you to understand and use the power of the interaction of faith and character. God uses your faith to mold your character. Character is woven patiently from threads of doctrine, principle, and obedience. Character is the manifestation of what you are becoming. Your character will be the yardstick that God will use to determine how well you have used your mortal life. Strong moral character results from consistent correct choices in the trials and testing of life. Such choices are made with trust in things that are believed and, when acted upon, will be confirmed as true.

Worthy Character

As you walk to the boundary of your understanding into the twilight of uncertainty while exercising faith, you will be led to find solutions to the challenges of life you would not obtain otherwise. The bedrock of character is integrity.

Making Decisions Based on Eternal Truths

There are two patterns for making decisions in life: (1) decisions based upon circumstance and (2) decisions based upon eternal truth. Satan encourages choices to be made according to the circumstances: What are others doing? What seems to be socially or politically acceptable? What will bring the quickest, most satisfying response? That pattern gives Lucifer the broadest opportunity to tempt an individual to make decisions that will be harmful and destructive even though they may appear most appealing when a decision is made.

With this approach there is no underlying set of values or standards to consistently guide decisions. Each decision is made for what appears to be the most attractive choice at the moment. One who chooses this path cannot expect the help of the Lord but is left to his or her own strength and that of others who want to help. Sadly, most of God’s children make decisions this way. That is why the world is in such turmoil.

The pattern of the Lord is for His children to make decisions based upon eternal truth. This requires that your life continue to be centered in the commandments of God. Thus, decisions are made in accordance with unchanging truths aided by prayer and the guidance of the Holy Ghost. In addition to your own strength and capacity, you will enjoy divine inspiration and power when needed. Your actions will be predictable and bless the lives of all in the circle of your influence. You will have a meaningful life of purpose, peace, and happiness.

Keeping Your Resolve

How can you keep your resolve to live worthily? How can you be sure that determination in your heart will not be eroded by the pressures around you? If you are blessed to be married, rejoice in that companionship with your spouse and your children. Let there be absolutely no secrets kept from each other. That will provide powerful insurance for continuing righteousness and happiness. Decide issues together.

Keep the gospel light burning brightly in your home through scripture study, prayer, and the other things you know how to do. Drink deeply from the fountain of the revealed word of God. Hold fast to His word. Keep the Sabbath day holy.

There is an urgent need for more men and women like you who will stand for principles against the growing pressures to compromise those very principles. Men and women are needed who will act nobly and courageously for what the Lord has defined as right—not for what is politically correct or socially acceptable. We need individuals who have the spiritual, righteous influence that will motivate others to live honorably. We need statesmen with integrity, businessmen who are honest and morally clean, attorneys who defend justice and the legal system, and government officials who preserve principle because it is right. Above all, we need mothers and fathers who will preserve the sanctity and safety of the home and the integrity of the family in which faith in God and obedience to His commandments are taught as the foundation of a productive life.

Success in Following the Plan

Establish a set of principles by which you will guide every aspect of your life—in your home, in your Church service, in your profession, in your community. Many people try to compartmentalize their life and have a standard for Church and another standard for what they do in business and in other aspects of their life.

Second, don’t make exceptions to your standards. Never compromise them. One of the ways the Lord protects us is to give us guidance in life. One of the ways Satan tries to destroy us is to subtly lead us away from what we know is centrally important in our life.

Third, be loyal. Be loyal to your parents and your loved ones. Above all, be loyal to Jesus Christ, the Savior. Success comes when your actions are consistent with the teachings of the Lord. When you seek work, find something that challenges you, that raises you to higher levels of performance. It may be harder, but you will grow, develop better, and contribute more good. You really have no idea yet who you are and what you can accomplish in life. You have great potential far beyond what you can imagine today.

Fourth, live so that the Lord can guide you to where He wants you to be and to serve. He can do that if you live His commandments worthily and strive in every way to be obedient to His teachings.

Fifth, serve others. Sharing what you know with others will bring you happiness and bless their lives.

Sixth, smile. I don’t mean that you need to be cracking jokes every day, but a good joke now and then is an escape valve. Life is not all that bad. You will soon learn that everybody has problems and nobody wants to hear about yours. Put those things aside and smile. Have a good sense of humor

Seventh, don’t complain. Life isn’t always fair. That’s a fact. But it’s always charged with marvelous opportunities if you know how to find them..

Tenth, use the Savior Jesus Christ as your example for life. Use His teachings as your handbook for life. Never make exceptions to them.

Resolve that each moment of your life will reflect your determination to humbly be an example of righteousness, integrity, and conviction. With such a life you will surely succeed in the purpose for which you came to earth. 

You can read the whole article by Richard G. Scott  Here:

Finding our purpose!

I have always known that part of my purpose here on earth... is to use and develop my creative talents. Use them to teach, to make my home more lovely, to use as gifts to show my love and appreciation to others or just to serve someone else. I am grateful for that talent. Speaking of that talent....that is all that I did today, and it felt great. Well, I am a bit tired and my back is hurting but... it feels good to be back in my room ( opps Studio: ) creating again!
Good night dear friends!

A dream come true!

Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved to do things with my hands. Any type of arts and crafts, sewing, painting, drawing, crocheting, needlework and etc. Some things you learn because that is what your Mom does, but my Mom didn’t like to do any of those things. She was a cook and a fabulous one at that. I really never saw the value in spending hours making and cooking something, just to watch your family devour it in minutes…that never appealed to me ( still doesn’t really ). But as I got older, I realized that I would need someone to teach me so that I could learn more and more. My girlfriend’s Mom used to make her clothes and I really envied her. So one day when I was at her house, I asked her Mom if she would teach me how to sew my own clothes. That is exactly what she did, we got a pattern, materials and some needed supplies… and then we went back to her house to sew. But before I was even able to cut out my material, she showed me how to read a pattern, she also said that clothes look really well made when you are good at your top stitching, and so she gave me a piece of lined notebook paper, put in an old needle in her machine and would have me practice over and over again..sewing on those lines. Then when I got that perfected, then she would have me practice over and over again to stitch exactly in between the lines. Even though she has passed away many years ago, I will never forget her kindness in teaching me how to sew. So, I try to be there to help anyone who asks me to teach them how to sew (haven’t had a lot of time for that since I started working), but still I love to pass on that tradition.

My grandmother and Aunt used to make beautiful quilts out of their old dresses and aprons. I was shocked to see how most of them were done by hand. I couldn’t believe that someone could do that kind of detail by hand. They also quilted by their machines too. I only got 2 of their quilts, but they are displayed proudly in my home and only dreamed that one day I could quilt like that.

Fast forward to the present day, now I am teaching at a Quilt Shop! Who would have ever thought I could do that? I am still a beginner compared to most of the ladies in there, but still I have a love for quilting/sewing and I love to teach …so it is a great opportunity for me to do something that I had never done. The fun thing about working at the quilt shop and getting to know all these wonderful talented women is….that I am learning something new every day! I see all the wonderful things that these ladies are creating, it gives me a desire to do something else I have never done. It is exciting and scary at the same time. I wonder at times, if it would be possible to do some of these amazing things but… I have finally realized that I just need to try new things and never say never! 
Good night dear friends!

“To have passion, to have a dream, to have a purpose in life. And there are three components to that purpose, one is to find out who you really are, to discover God, the second is to serve other human beings, because we are here to do that and the third is to express your unique talents and when you are expressing your unique talents you lose track of time.”    ~Deepak Chopra

“Sewing mends the soul.”     ~Author Unknown

Great Date Night!

I was pretty worn out by this evening, so when Jeff suggested that we go to the movies for our Date Night, I said yes right away!

We went to the movie Hugo, it was amazing and a great movie for everyone. Not often can you say that about very many movies.

Hugo tells the tale of an orphan boy living a secret life in the walls of a Paris train station. When Hugo encounters a broken machine, an eccentric girl, and the cold, reserved man who runs the toy shop, he is caught up in a magical, mysterious adventure that could put all of his secrets in jeopardy.

The message behind it was absolutely inspiring…

Hugo Cabret: I'd imagine the whole world was one big machine. Machines never come with any extra parts, you know. They always come with the exact amount they need. So I figured if the entire world was one big machine, I couldn't be an extra part. I had to be here for some reason. And that means you have to be here for some reason too.

I hope you might get to go see it for this Holiday Season.  Good night dear friends!

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.”   ~ Albert Einstein

“A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.”  ~ John Barrymore

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”   ~ Walt Disney

Amazing!

Sunday a friend of ours, spoke about service to others. One of the stories that he related, was about a man who developed this technology called Eagle Eyes. I can't tell the story exactly word for word but it went something like this... This man would walk to work everyday. He had to pass Handicap kids and it made him feel uncomfortable, so he would cross the street so that he wouldn't have to have that feeling. Basically the technology that he created, ended up helping these same kids that he used to try and avoid. When he realized that something he developed could actually help someone he was excited and said something like this..." Now I know what I want to do for the rest of my life. I am going to dedicate my life to these handicapped kids that I used to avoid every day."

I just thought this was an amazing story, especially since I used to work with severely handicapped children...they are special spirits! Any of us who have these special spirits in our homes and families, already know how blessed we are to have them in our lives!

EagleEyes Project

The purpose of the EagleEyes Project is to help people with severe physical disabilities develop and be educated to their fullest by enabling them to access the computer. We work with people, mainly children and young adults, who cannot speak and can move only their eyes or head.

During the past ten years we have developed two access technologies. EagleEyes allows people to control the computer by moving only their eyes. EagleEyes works through five electrodes placed on the person’s head. The Camera Mouse allows people to control the computer by moving their head. The Camera Mouse works through a video camera or web camera connected to the computer. Both access technologies function as standard mouse replacements in Windows systems. They work with standard commercial Windows applications software. We also have developed a number of application programs (for example on-screen keyboard programs, games, and a browser) that work well with EagleEyes and Camera Mouse and are available for free download or on a CD.

The EagleEyes Project is centered at Boston Collegemainly as a joint project between the Carroll School of Management, the Computer Science Department, and the Campus School. Boston College recently signed a licensing agreement with the Opportunity Foundation of America of Salt Lake City to build miniature EagleEyes boxes and distribute them for free. EagleEyes sites have been set up at several facilities in the U.S. and U.K.

http://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/schools/csom_sites/eagleeyes/pdf/C-%5Cfakepath%5CEEChangingLives.pdf

 

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

"When Jesus Christ asked little children to come to him, he didn't say only rich children, or White children, or children with two-parent families, or children who didn't have a mental or physical handicap. He said, "Let all children come unto me."   ~ Marian Wright Edelman

Live like you were dying!

I heard this song, and really liked the words. It is so true for those of us, who have faced life threatening situations, diseases or heartaches, we really appreciate life and it's moments more. So all of you that life has been kind to or relatively easy, then be very grateful. But still try to remember those who struggling, your kindness could make all the difference.

Artist: Tim McGraw
Song: Live Like You Were Dying
Lyrics: Craig Wiseman and Tim Nichols

He said I was in my early forties
with a lot of life before me
when a moment came that stopped me on a dime
and I spent most of the next days
looking at the x-rays
Talking bout the options
and talking bout sweet time
I asked him when it sank in
that this might really be the real end
how's it hit you when you get that kinda news
man what'd you do

and he said
I went sky diving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named FuManchu
and I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying
and he said someday I hope you get the chance
to live like you were dying.

He said I was finally the husband
that most the time I wasn't
and I became a friend a friend would like to have
and all the sudden going fishin
wasn't such an imposition
and I went three times that year I lost my dad
well I finally read the good book
and I took a good long hard look
at what I'd do if I could do it all again

and then
I went sky diving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named FuManchu
and I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying
and he said someday I hope you get the chance
to live like you were dying.

Like tomorrow was a gift and you got eternity to think about
what'd you do with it what did you do with it
what did I do with it
what would I do with it'

Sky diving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named FuManchu
and then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
and I watched an eagle as it was flying
and he said someday I hope you get the chance
to live like you were dying.

"You are not the momentary whim of a careless creator experimenting in the laboratory of life. . . You were made with a purpose."   Og Mandino

"There's three choices
In life.
Give up. Give in. Or give it all you've got."

What are you passionate about?

I love this quote and believe that it is true, it is vital to find something that you feel passionate about, something that makes you happy and excited to be alive. I love what we learn through these passions.

"To have passion, to have a dream, to have a purpose in life. And there are three components to that purpose, one is to find out who you really are, to discover God, the second is to serve other human beings, because we are here to do that and the third is to express your unique talents and when you are expressing your unique talents you lose track of time."  ~ Deepak Chopra

 

In the last few years, I have learned to quilt. (This is a quilt that I made for Lauren to have her first year of college.)  I have always loved to sew and so quilting, was the natural..next step. I like how it feels to create different pieces of fabric in all shapes, sizes and colors to create a quilt. I love the feeling I get when I give the quilts to a loved one. I hope it is something they will always cherish. I hope that they feel loved, every time that they wrap up in it. Yes, quilting has become one of my passions and has been a very healing art for me, these past few years. I am thankful for my talents, thankful that I have lots left to learn, and thankful for so many loved ones to share my quilts and gifts with.

"One of the things that may get in the way of people being lifelong learners is that they’re not in touch with their passion. If you’re passionate about what it is you do, then you’re going to be looking for everything you can to get better at it."    ~ Jack Canfield

"A successful life is one that is lived through understanding and pursuing one's own path, not chasing after the dreams of others."   ~ Chin-Ning Chu

Living Abundantly

I liked this story because it tells about a man who changed his life when he was 39 years old. We have all heard of people who at all different ages, finally understanding what they wanted in life and they lived a happier and a abundant life ever since.

Why is that? I think many of us just keep going, same old thoughts, jobs, habits, relationships and because we aren't happy, we just figure we need to trudge along and put in our time. What this story reminded me, was to live more abundantly. Learn what I need to do and do it. Find out what makes you  happy! When you find that something you are passionate about...it is like recharging  your batteries. You can hardly wait to get up each day to get started. I know that is much easier said than done. Many times the hardships of life seem to cloud of vision but, I do believe that if each of us tried a little harder to find out purpose then we would live with more intent, we would love our lives! Hopefully this story will make you start thinking about your purpose and when you can get started living it!

As soon as I get over this terrible flu, I am going to get back to my life. I haven't done anything but lay around for 6 days, I am a mess. Hopefully I will start getting better soon!  I pray that each of you, are staying healthy and strong. Good night!

Run With Intent

Buckminster Fuller once said, "The minute you choose to do what you really want to do it's a different kind of life." And it's not about what you're getting PAID to do! If you want to live abundantly, decide what you really want and figure out a way to do it. Be clear and live with intent.
You may have heard of Fred Lebow. Fred complained to his doctor that he lacked energy. His doctor advised him to take up running in order to increase his stamina. He fell in love with it! He was 39 years old when he entered his first race -- and did horribly. He beat only one other contestant…a 72-year-old man. But he loved it!
Fred decided what he really wanted to do -- and he did it in his spare time. He joined the New York Road Runners Club and organized New York City's first marathon race. But what Fred truly wanted to do, even more than run, was to bring people together. And that is what he did. He believe that anybody should be able to run -- people of all ages, any background, professional or amateur, and of any country. Today, more than 28,000 people of all backgrounds and nationalities compete in the NYC Marathon.
Not everyone in New York was excited about people running through their neighborhoods. Fred was approached by a youth gang that warned him that nobody had better run through their turf. "That's great," Fred enthused. "I need someone to protect the runners in your area, and you look like just the fellows to do it." He gave them each a hat, shirt and jacket and that year, when the marathon went through their neighborhood, these young men proudly guarded the runners along their way.
Fred decided what was truly important to him and he found a way to do it. He lived with intent. That single decision made his life remarkably different.
In 1990, Fred Lebow found he had a brain tumor. In 1992 he ran his final race. He crossed the finish line holding the hand of his friend and Norwegian Olympic medalist, Grete Waitz. A bronze statue was created of Fred in his running clothes, checking his watch. It is now placed at the finish line of every race. Fred died in 1994. But as one sports writer said, "Fate handed him a short race. With his gall, with his love of life, Fred Lebow turned it into a marathon."
Fred would say that it's not about how long you live, but how you run the race of life. Do you run it with intent?

~ Steve Goodier ~

"The question is not whether we will die, but how we will live."   ~ Joan Borysenko
Borysenko, Joan

"THE MINUTE YOU CHOOSE TO DO WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF LIFE!"  ~Buchminster Fuller

"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve."   ~ Albert Schweitzer

PS Not sure why this font is little, tried to fix it but... it didn't work. Sorry!

Happy birthday

Today is my daughter in law's birthday, which made me think of this quote it is one that we should put in every birthday card for every woman in the world. It goes like this...

"There are two important days in a woman's life-the day she is born and the day she finds out why."

~ Elaine Cannon

I have said this on more than one occasion, that it is important we find out what our mission and purpose in life is and also, to recognize how Satan works on us. I learned a long time ago that Satan can not tempt me with smoking, drinking, gambling,stealing etc. but where he seems to hurt me the most is... my self esteem. I daily have to work at that and remember no matter what I see in the mirror, that I am a daughter of God and I have great potential. Everyone has there weaknesses in life, it is suppose to be like that so  we can learn and grow. But it is vital to be aware of exactly what your weaknesses and temptations are, so that you can stay far away from them. Keeping your eyes open and watching for those, I think is a great way to help protect and nurture  yourself.

So today my birthday advice for my sweet daughter-in-law would be this...

~know what your mission is in life

~learn to love the person you see in the mirror and love others

~forgive yourself and others (remember know one is perfect)

~enjoy each day to the fullest

~ learn to listen to your body and take care of it

~ and remember your are a Daughter of God with great potential!

I guess this is great advice for all of us to remember. Hope you have a wonderful day!

"It took me a long time not to judge myself through someone else's eyes."  ~ Sally Field

"The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others." ~Dr.Sonya Friedman

"It's surprising how many persons go through life without ever recognizing that their feelings toward other people are largely determined by their feelings toward themselves, and if you're not comfortable within yourself, you can't be comfortable with others." ~ Sidney J. Harris

Mirror, Mirror on the wall...

I was speaking to a dear friend on the phone the other day about life, motherhood and everything else you could think of. It was amazing (although we had lost touch with each other for 15 or more years) that we both had experienced many of the same trials in life, especially as moms. I know this isn't possible...but I wish when we are going through really tough times in our lives with ourselves or our kids, that we could share it with each other. That way... maybe we could share ideas on how to survive or better yet, help solve the problem. We don't do that however to very many people though, for fear that they will judge us or our children. But I have to admit there have been so many times when I thought I had to be the only person that has ever struggled in this area or the only mom that ever had this struggle with a child. Only to find out years later that you weren't the only one and actually more often than not, there are a lot of people out there who are struggling in the same areas or with the same problems. That feeling of being alone is quiet devastating and I believe potentially very dangerous.

I guess this is why I started this blog. When I have done my motivational speaking in the past, I realize that one of the reasons that my audience likes me (at least that is what they tell me) is because I talk about real life struggles and trials. I am very honest about what has happened to me and what steps I have had to go through, to not only survive it but learn and grow and be able to eventually thrive each day. I am more than honest about my weakness and insecurities.

I have conquered many things in my life but still struggle in some areas, so daily I have to remind myself of this truth. I have it typed out and put on my mirror.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” 

I actually have memorized it but still I look at it each day, say it out loud and realize that I do so much better on the days that I remember this truth in my mind and heart. It was originally by Marianne Williamson but I think there has been a few different versions out there.

Life is hard and I think ( I KNOW ) it is actually suppose to be at times, because that is when the greatest lessons take place.( if we learn them! )

"The wise man in the storm prays to God, not for safety from danger, but for deliverance from fear."  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

A CHALLENGE...

I think every night before we go to bed, we should look at ourselves in the mirror and ask these questions?

"Did I make today better than yesterday?"  "Do I truly understand who I am and my value?" And " Am I happy, truly happy? " ( if not, why?)

Yes, self evaluation is important, otherwise we just get caught up in the BUSY things of our days and maybe forget these important principles. So read this poem again, remember who you are and get out there and make tomorrow a better day than today!  

P.S. Moms, we need to remember everyday ( I am still working on this one ) that if we like who we are and what we see in the mirror, that our children are more likely to do the same. Example is the best teacher!

"Work and live to serve others, to leave the world a little better than you found it and garner for yourself as much peace of mind as you can. This is happiness."   ~ David Sarnoff

Finding your purpose and passion in life!

I have always said that you will find happiness when you know what your purpose is in life and your strive to fulfill that with great passion. I had a dear friend send this mini-movie to me about dreams. That is great timing, because Jeff and I were just talking and sharing our individual dreams with each other last night. I still don't have near the great dreams that Jeff has, maybe I am way to practical or maybe I still can't quite see past all my physical limitations and so that keeps me too grounded from my dreams? Whatever it is, I am just grateful that I am starting to dream again at all. There was a time (not too long ago) that I didn't, so I am thankful that I am at least looking and hoping about the future now.

Here is the address, I hope you can take a moment to look at this beautiful reminder to DREAM!

http://www.adreamsmovie.com/

"ONLY AS HIGH AS I REACH CAN I GROW.

ONLY AS FAR AS I SEEK CAN I GO.

ONLY AS DEEP AS I LOOK CAN I SEE.

ONLY AS MUCH AS I DREAM CAN I BE."

~ Karen Ravn

Thanks for always encouraging me to keep looking forward.