New Day Dawning

YOU

2009-12-03T15:05:00.003-05:00

"Use your energy in the direction of truth and love for yourself."

Imagine...

2009-12-03T15:00:00.004-05:00

If you can imagine what it is that you truly desire from a deep feeling place, being grateful for all the blessings that are already in your life and detach yourself from the outcome, success is most assuredly yours.

Let it go...

2009-12-03T14:32:00.002-05:00

"For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I like this

2009-11-03T12:18:00.004-05:00

There's more than one way to get from here to there. There's more than one way to arrange dishes in the dishwasher. There's more than one way to put together a salad. There's more than one way to deliver a toast. There's more than one excellent choice for lunch, for vacation, for a computer~for just about anything.

Once you make a choice, don’t second-guess yourself. Looking back won’t get you anywhere. If you've made a good choice, there's no point in wondering if it’s the best choice. Move forward, always forward.

Today's Message of the Day is:

2009-11-03T11:53:00.005-05:00

Keep Moving

By its very nature, life is dynamic. That makes it impossible to truly stand still.
If you're not moving forward, you're falling behind. So every day, in some way or another, take action to move your life forward.
Just a small improvement, just a subtle positive step, is infinitely preferable to doing nothing. Always, there is some little something you can do to better your life and your world.
What can you do right now to solve a problem that's been frustrating you? What step can you take in the next few minutes that will bring you closer to the accomplishment of an important goal?
There is something you can do, and those small efforts quickly add up as time goes on. So instead of complaining that you can't get it all accomplished at once, do a little bit, and then do it again.
Always, your life is filled with energy, and is moving in one direction or another. Harness that energy, align it with your highest purpose, and proceed constantly in the direction of your dreams.

~Ralph Marston

2009-10-12T15:09:00.004-04:00

"God’s Love is given to you, unending, unchanged, and unconditional, and only a thought keeps you from it."

www.thevoiceforlove.com

True Love Has No Barriers...

2009-10-12T14:39:00.007-04:00

"When you truly know the Love that you are, there are no barriers to expressing it."

www.thevoiceforlove.com

Photo: Dog with a Baby Elk

Momentum

2009-10-07T15:25:00.002-04:00

I have the support I need to succeed.
Many worthwhile endeavors are not completed quickly, but rather take time. I know that each experience I have builds on something I have learned or experienced in the past. It's as though I'm building a life brick by brick.
The decisions I make and the lessons I learn may seem to result in only small steps forward. But with each one, I build momentum toward the accomplishment of my goals.
Whether I'm following an exercise program, learning a new skill or developing a savings plan, the creation process is a spiritual one. I rely on God for help, support and guidance. I trust the creative process, knowing that I have the strength, will and energy I need to succeed.

"Be strong and courageous ... for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."--Joshua 1:9

Angels. . .

2009-09-29T12:13:00.004-04:00

When most of us reflect upon Angels, we conjure up pictures in our minds of beautiful mystical beings with opulent wings and golden haloes. We may recall various childhood memories of stories told of Angels and what they represent from the various religions we studied, or schools we attended.

But for me, Angels were always so much more than that. They were an ongoing part of my everyday world.

I am sure that if you look at your own life and the people in it, you will find Angels everywhere. The problem is, that most of the time, we just take it all for granted. We go about our day often lost in thought, oblivious to the world all around us, unaware of the miracles that abound and the countless Angels who grace our path.

It is my sincere desire that today, you OPEN YOUR EYES to not only SEE the Angels in your own life, but to be an Angel for someone else. And, It is my profound hope that just for today, you can rise above your mere mortal existence and walk among the gods.

What is Happiness?

2009-09-24T13:41:00.005-04:00

What is happiness? Let me share this little story with you, one you may have heard before but still worth repeating. A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.

"I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

"Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait!!"

"That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.
Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life."

Excerpt from InnerTalk® InTouch(TM) ~ Eldon Taylor's Newsletter

My Wish For You Today

2009-09-21T14:15:00.002-04:00

That you take some time to close your eyes and IMAGINE and DREAM, so big and so deep, that you become like the caterpillar, who emerges as the butterfly.

That you LAUGH today, harder than you have ever laughed before, so hard, that your sides ache, and tears stream down your beautiful, glistening face.

That you LEARN something new today, something so utterly amazing, that it shakes you up, and rocks your world.

That you SAVOR the little things in your day today, your first cup of coffee, snuggling with your puppy, your baby's sighs, your loved ones embrace.

That you SMELL one magnificent flower, so close and so intensely, that your nose rejoices to be a part of such an extraordinary face.

That you SEE, really see, your own soul reflected in someone else's eyes, and you don't run away, even though you'd like to.

That you WALK today, with a firm step, and a confident stride, as if you are really going somewhere, because you are.

That you PRETEND you are rich and witty and wise, whatever it is you are wanting to be, act as if, pretend it now.

That you FORGIVE everyone who has ever hurt you, and you understand the deeper purpose of all your pain.

That you really SMILE at someone today, as though they were your long lost lover come home again to steal your heart.

That you TASTE everything in your life today, the food, the wine, the rain drops, the snow flakes, each other, with your eyes closed, and your senses fully open.

That you PLAY today, with all the innocence and abandon of a sweet child, unaware of anything else, but this precious moment.

That you ALLOW yourself to just BE today, whatever your heart calls you to be, and DO only those things that inspire your soul.

That you tell the truth, and keep your word, and judge no man. That you FORGET today, forget your age, forget your past, forget your aches and pains.

And begin to REMEMBER, who you really are, and why you came here, and how very much you are loved.

My Wish For You Today

Today's Message of the Day is:

2009-09-16T13:54:00.006-04:00

"Every single thing you do matters. You have been created as one of a kind. You have been created in order to make a difference. You have within you the power to change the world."

~Andy Andrews

I love this. . .

2009-09-03T14:26:00.004-04:00

"Gratitude, I have learned, keeps me in tune with my love and appreciation of the abundance of God in my life. When I awake in the morning, I thank God for each new day. I thank Him for everything that I have, materially and spiritually, even the opportunity to grow from experiences that may not seem so positive but which I know are sent to me with divine purpose. I ask Him to allow me to expand beyond my narrow-mindedness and self-centeredness , so that I can see the good that comes from everything.

The Awakening Heart: my continuing journey to love, by Betty Jean Eadie, pg. 218

Imagine. . .

2009-09-02T13:55:00.004-04:00

Imagine for a moment a world where all people truly did their best to love and empower each other. Imagine if a significant number of the people on this planet truly did their best to live by these simple keys. You can choose to become one of those people right now. You can choose to make your life and our world a better place. It is fully possible. There are people of all races, religions, and beliefs around the globe already committed to living by these or similar ideals. Let us then choose with an open mind and heart to add to their numbers. Let us choose every day of our lives to do what's best for all, to open to divine guidance, to accept and understand, and to love and empower ourselves and all around us to be the best that we can be.

Excerpt from: www.weboflove.org/keystolife

Today's Message of the Day is:

2009-09-02T12:38:00.003-04:00

"The enlightened give thanks for what most people take for granted. . . As you begin to be grateful for what most people take for granted, that vibration of gratitude makes you more receptive to good in your life."

~Michael Bernard Beckwith

Just Keep On. . .

2009-08-27T17:15:00.002-04:00

"We have strength and courage to face the trials of this life because we can look beyond them to the glory that God has in store for us. We know the sacrifices we make now will be rewarded by God.

~The Promise Bible

2009-08-27T17:08:00.004-04:00

"Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth unseen, both when we wake and when we sleep."

~John Milton, "Paradise Lost"

Great Advice

2009-08-27T16:20:00.006-04:00

"If you are going through hell, keep going."

~Winston Churchill

So true!

2009-08-27T16:16:00.004-04:00

"There is NO snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast."

~Author Unknown

Photo: Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland

The Invitation, by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

2009-08-21T14:37:00.007-04:00

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals, or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, or to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself, if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. I want to know if you can be faithless and therefore be trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty even when it is not pretty every day, and if you can source your life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of a lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, "Yes!"

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done for the children.

It doesn't interest me who you are, how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself, and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

All I have to say about this is: I absolutely, positively love it.

A Return to Love, by Marianne Williamson

2009-08-20T17:14:00.010-04:00

"What if we truly believed that there is a God - a beneficent order to things, a force that's holding things together without our conscious control? What if we could see, in our daily lives, the working of that force? What if we believed it loved us somehow and cared for us, and protected us? What if we believed we could afford to relax?

The physical body is at work every moment, an array of mechanisms with a brilliance of design and efficiency our human efforts have never begun to match. Our hearts beat, our lungs breathe, our ears hear, our hair grows. And we don't have to make them work - they just do. Planets revolve around the sun, seeds become flowers, embryos become babies, and with no help from us. Their movement is built into a natural system. You and I are integral parts of that system, too. We can let our lives be directed by the same force that makes flowers grow - or we can do it ourselves.

To trust in the force that moves the universe is faith. Faith isn't blind, it's visionary. Faith is believing that the universe is on our side, and that the universe knows what it's doing.

Faith is psychological awareness of an unfolding force for good, constantly at work in all dimensions. Our attempts to direct this force only interferes with it. Our willingness to relax into it allows it to work on our behalf. Without faith, we're frantically trying to control what is not our business to control, and fix what is not in our power to fix. What we're trying to control is much better off without us, and what we're trying to fix can't be fixed by us anyway. Without faith we're wasting time."

~ From A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of a Course in Miracles by

Marianne Williamson

I have this book, and I truly believe that the world is already a perfect place, however, its inhabitants ARE NOT. If every human being on the planet were to read this book and actually grasp what it says and care enough to actually use the principles in the book, the world would no doubt be a perfect place, with close-to-perfect people.

~Jill

Psalm 25: 4-5

2009-08-19T16:43:00.003-04:00

Show me the path where I should walk; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.

2009-08-19T16:32:00.003-04:00

"When you come to the edge of all the light you know, and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: there will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly."

~ Barbara J. Winter

I believe this

2009-08-18T16:28:00.006-04:00

"It is better to sleep on things beforehand than lie awake about them afterwards."

~Baltasar Gracian

I completely agree with this quote. Too many times I've reacted to a certain situation and was sorry for how I reacted or how I behaved. I guess we all learn the hard way sometimes. Now, I always sleep on it. It's amazing when we wake in the morning and rethink the situation at hand and realize it really even isn't worth a reaction at all; we can just move forward. We do have the power within us to rise above it. ~Jill

2009-08-18T16:08:00.003-04:00

"You get the best efforts from others not by lighting a fire beneath them, but by building a fire within."

~Bob Nelson

Simple Abundance

2009-08-17T14:16:00.008-04:00

"Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend.

When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present: love, health, family, friends, work; the joys of nature and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure, the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience

Heaven on earth."

~ Sarah Ban Breathnach

Prayer

2009-08-17T13:56:00.005-04:00

"I have been able to see and visualize God's abundance in my life. I see it even before it arrives, but the knowing that I can make it arrive stems from my inner conviction that I am already connected to what only seems to be missing.

This feeling of connectedness propels me to act in such a way as if what I want, wants me. Thus, when I pray, I never attempt to influence God, ask for favors, or beg God to do something for me while I wait around and do nothing. Instead, I use prayer to open the gates of my soul to this divine presence.

I've used prayer as a way of residing in that one power and not asking God to do something, but rather to be in God consciousness where thoughts of scarcity simply dissolve and I feel directed to attract the missing pieces of my life like iron filings to a magnet."

~ Wayne Dyer

It's Your Choice. . .

2009-08-17T11:24:00.006-04:00

Some people sit – some people try;

Some people laugh – some people cry;

Some people will – some people won’t;

Some people do – some people don’t.
Some people believe and develop a plan;

Some people doubt – never think that they can;

Some people face hurdles and give it their best;

Some people back down when faced with a test.
Some people complain of their miserable lot;

Some people are thankful for all that they’ve got;

And when it’s all over — when it comes to an end —

Some people lose out and some people win.
We all have a choice — we all have a say;

We are spectators in life or we get in and play;

Whichever we choose — how we handle life’s game;

The choices are ours — no one else is to blame.

Author Unknown

For the Soldiers. . .

2009-08-14T13:38:00.004-04:00

The Light of God surrounds me.

The Love of God unfolds me.

The Power of God protects me.

The Presence of God watches over me.

The Mind of God guides me.

The Life of God flows through me.

The Laws of God direct me.

The Power of God abides within me.

The Joy of God uplifts me.

The Strength of God renews me.

The Beauty of God inspires me.

Wherever I am, God is.

Written by James Dillet Freeman for all the soldiers during World War II

Brilliant Perception

2009-07-30T16:14:00.007-04:00

"The beauty of the trees, the softness of the air, the fragrance of the grass, speaks to me.

The summit of the mountain, the thunder of the sky, the rhythm of the sea, speaks to me.

The strength of the fire, the taste of salmon, the trail of the sun, and the life that never goes away, they speak to me.

And my heart soars."

~Chief Dan George

I believe . . .

2009-07-30T15:25:00.002-04:00

There is a place in you where there is perfect peace.

There is a place in you where nothing is impossible.

There is a place in you where the strength of God abides.

From 'A Course In Miracles' Foundation For Inner Peace

Today's Message of the Day is:

2009-07-30T11:49:00.004-04:00

"This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind...let it be something good."

~Author Unknown

2009-07-28T14:47:00.002-04:00

"I saw an angel in the marble and I carved until I set him free." ~Michelangelo

2009-07-28T14:31:00.002-04:00

"The greatest honor we can give Almighty God is to live gladly because of the knowledge of His love."

~Blessed Julian of Norwich

L~O~V~E

2009-07-28T14:09:00.005-04:00

"We become truly personal by loving God and by loving other humans. . .In its deepest sense, love is the life, the energy, of the Creator in us."

~Kallistos Ware

2009-07-28T13:54:00.004-04:00

"Love wholeheartedly, be surprised, give thanks and praise ~ then you will discover the fullness of your life."

~Brother David Steindel-Rast

Colossians 3:2

2009-07-28T13:39:00.002-04:00

Let Heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth.

Isaiah 58:11

2009-07-27T16:58:00.002-04:00

The Lord will guide you continually, watering your life when you are dry and keeping you healthy, too.

2009-07-27T16:48:00.003-04:00

"Grace is the breath of God. . .an invisible essence beyond intellect that moves swiftly among us."

~Carolyn Myss

Today's Message of the Day is:

2009-07-23T13:43:00.003-04:00

The way you see yourself becomes the way you make yourself. How do you see yourself?
If you see yourself as always struggling, you will always struggle. If you see yourself as never getting ahead, you will not get ahead.
Your view of yourself is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Fortunately, you can make that view whatever you wish.
Choose to truly see yourself as effective, creative, patient, disciplined, enthusiastic and abundantly prosperous. See yourself as loving, caring, ever thankful and positive.
Imagine yourself in rich detail to be the kind of person who easily and naturally achieves those very special dreams you treasure most. See yourself living life at its best and most fulfilling.
Each time you think of yourself, see yourself as the best you can imagine. And the reality of your life will be true to your most sincere self-image.
~Ralph Marston

Be Free & Live Happily

2009-07-20T12:00:00.001-04:00

“I was born upon the prairie, where the wind blew free, and there was nothing to break the light of the sun. I was born where there were no enclosures, and where everything drew a free breath...I know every stream and every wood between the Rio Grande and the Arkansas. I have hunted over that country. I lived like my fathers before me, and like them, I lived happily.”

~Ten Bears Yamparethka Comanche Chief

The Ten Commandments of The Native American

2009-07-15T12:00:00.001-04:00

1. Treat the Earth and all that dwell therein with respect
2. Remain close to the Great Spirit
3. Show great respect for your fellow beings
4. Work together for the benefit of all Mankind
5. Give assistance and kindness wherever needed
6. Do what you know to be right
7. Look after the well-being of Mind and Body
8. Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater Good
9. Be truthful and honest at all times
10. Take full responsibility for your actions

Live in Joy

2009-07-14T16:48:00.002-04:00

Just for a moment, live in joy. Forget about what should or should not be, and just let yourself be as you are.
Let go of the need to need. Feel the reality that you already are enough, and that it is truly magnificent.
Do not worry about what will be or what won't be. See and feel the limitless beauty of what is.
Taste the eternal freshness of now. Live fully the boundless miracle of existence.
What you authentically feel now, you feel always. This moment is the most valuable opportunity you've ever known.
Live in joy now. And carry more joy forward as each moment passes.
~Ralph Marston

The Great Spirit

2009-07-10T15:54:00.002-04:00

"The Great Spirit is in all things. He is in the air we breathe. The Great Spirit is our Father. . .the Earth is our Mother. She nourishes us. . .that which we put into the ground, she returns to us."

~Big Thunder Wabanaki Algonquin

L~I~V~E

2009-07-10T13:59:00.004-04:00

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."

~Mahatma Gandhi

2009-07-09T15:31:00.003-04:00

"In ancient times cats were worshipped as Gods; they have not forgotten this."

~Terry Pratchett

Attitude Changes Everything

2009-07-08T13:36:00.003-04:00

"You can't be a smart cookie if you have a crummy attitude."

~John Maxwell

How True. . .

2009-07-08T13:26:00.003-04:00

"To the question of your life you are the answer, and to the problems of your life, you are the solution."

~Joe Cordare

Quote of the Day

2009-07-07T13:55:00.003-04:00

"Women might be able to fake orgasms, but men can fake a whole relationship." ~Sharon Stone

I friggin' LOVE it!!!!!!

A Heartwarming True Story About Dogs

2009-06-30T16:01:00.006-04:00

Dogs help injured soldiers under U.S. program

FORT CARSON, Colo. - Army Specialist Cameron Briggs washes down a cocktail of prescription drugs every day for post-traumatic stress disorder and a brain injury he suffered when four roadside bombs rocked his Humvee in Iraq. Tramadol for pain, Midrin for debilitating headaches, Minipress to suppress nightmares, and Klonopin to control anger and anxiety. His next dose of treatment will come from an unlikely source: a purebred Golden Retriever.

A new Veterans Administration program adopts dogs from animal shelters, trains them and matches them with wounded warriors home from Iraq and Afghanistan to help with their recovery.

For Briggs, his dog will be trained to help him find his wallet, cell phone and keys, which he habitually loses because of cognitive memory loss. The dog also will brace Briggs, who has an ankle injury, so he doesn't have to use a cane or walker in public.

"I call him my little battle buddy," the 24-year-old Briggs said as he strapped his old camouflage assault vest onto Harper. It's modified to store biscuits and toys instead of ammunition. "I most definitely think he'll help me transfer back to civilian life."

VA hospitals nationwide are integrating service dogs into treatment plans for disabled vets, said Will Baldwin, a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the VA in Denver. The program was formed after Freedom Service Dogs, a Denver-based nonprofit, recently partnered with the VA. Training takes up to nine months and costs $23,000. Service Dogs doesn't charge its clients but relies on private donations and foundation grants.

"The population is growing exponentially down in Fort Carson with the Wounded Warriors program," said Freedom Service Dogs' Diane Vertovec, referring to the Army unit that prepares wounded soldiers for civilian life. "We feel like a dog can help a vet meet physical challenges but, more importantly, can really, really help them overcome a lot of the mental instability that they're feeling."

Service Dogs can train 43 dogs per year — a number that doesn't come close to meeting demand. There are about 450 soldiers in the Wounded Warrior Battalion at Fort Carson.

David Watson, a 43-year-old Gulf War veteran who lives in Strasburg, about 40 miles east of Denver, gets out of bed every morning with the help of Summer, a trained yellow lab. Watson's knees were injured in the war, and daily tasks are painful.

Baldwin suggested Watson get a service dog so he also could take better care of his wife, Trish, a Navy veteran who has multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair.

"The relationship is just one big circle. We just keep helping each other out," said Watson. "If I can't roll over or get out of bed, Summer will have a little toy that she uses and she'll pull me up. It's a tug-of-war game for her."

"Get shoe, Summer!" Watson commands. Summer drops them at his bedside so he can slip them on without bending. Summer also helps Watson navigate a world that doesn't always accommodate his disabilities. "Uneven ground — she will notice that before I do and she will either nudge me over or step in front of me so I don't trip," Watson said.

Key, an 8-month-old mixed black Labrador puppy, is being trained to open and close doors, get food from the fridge, alert bark, pick up keys and other items and brace to provide support. Key's biggest service might be to "just snug up to a person in bed, which sometimes is very comforting, especially for someone that might have PTSD," said head trainer Patti Yoensky. "Just knowing that the dog's there helps the person feel more confident, feel that they're not alone."

At Fort Carson, Briggs hopes that Harper will help him adjust. "I don't like large crowds of people," Briggs said, alluding to a PTSD symptom. "I get really fidgety and I just hate it. So anytime a stranger comes into your personal bubble, the dog will always stand between you and the stranger."

Stephanie Baigent, manager of dog training at Service Dogs, believes that Harper can give Briggs something "unconditional that a lot of us can't give", because no matter what we hear about Cameron or his experiences, we can't fully understand.

"Harper doesn't have to understand. He just loves Cameron because he's Cameron," she said.

Proverbs 8:17

2009-06-29T11:48:00.003-04:00

I love all who love me. Those who search for me will surely find me.

Attitude

2009-06-29T11:27:00.003-04:00

"We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms—to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances—to choose one's own way."

~Viktor Frankl

Stay Gone

2009-06-26T16:54:00.005-04:00

Pregnant at 20.
Treasured her more than life and always knew she was mine.
Fight, argue, break up, get back together…never ending-for six and a half years.
Threats, wicked names, no respect, loss of love…still knew she was mine.
In her life for the first five months, then…gone, for nearly 17 years.
No contact, nothing saved, traveled to exotic places, no worries, no thought, no support…nothing. Returns. For what?
Nasty, controlling, selfish, mean, malevolent, spiteful, manipulative, no job, no money, in my house...him.
Incredibly sad, regretful, blamed, crying, worrying, miserable, some strength, no Grace, yet never defeated…me.
She wants him gone. Never liked him, ever.
Gone again.
Happiness, relief, contentment, thrills, no worries, not sad, miserable no longer, peace found.
Happy at 17.
Content at 38.

Written by Jill K. Johnson~March 9, 2005

This was written about my daughter's biological father. He remains estranged from us.

Alone

2009-06-26T15:14:00.005-04:00

alone
how long will I be
I know you’re out there-somewhere
I feel you, sense you, I long for you…how I long for you
to hold, to hug, to touch, inhale your scent, feel you, your skin
are you really out there
I’ve been alone a long time
I feel as if I’ve always been alone
has anyone ever filled the abyss in my soul
sometimes I feel like I’ll always be by myself-like it’s my destiny
how sad
kiss, touch, love, rub, tickle, laugh, smile, melt, tingle, smell, cry, sleep, soft, heartbeats, motion, sparkle, magic, shine, feel, move, tender, sweet, wanting
I hope I’m not alone forever

Written by Jill K. Johnson ~ February 10, 2005

Sadly enough, I had a boyfriend at the time that I wrote this. Of all the boyfriends I've ever had, he is undoubtedly in the top two for being the worst. The first thought that comes to my mind when thinking of him and that relationship is that I completely wasted my precious time. I was with him for 18 months. Being that I am a firm believer in that something good has to come out of something bad, I have to admit that I learned so much from that relationship ~ mostly about myself, about my weaknesses, and how to fix them. I've taken all of what I've learned and made myself a stronger and better person. For that, I am proud. Strength and grace are an invincible combination ~ two attributes that I'd always like to have.

The Subtle Torment

2009-06-26T15:03:00.006-04:00

How many times do I have to repeat myself? What is it that you can’t understand? Frustration overwhelms me, promises go unkept. I still feel hurt. Your words tear at my heart, rip my insides apart, then…my tears fall.

Happiness comes again. Still, in the back of my mind lies a distant fear that the tears will fall once more. . .viciously. . .infinitely. Then, eventually the fear slowly recedes. Everything is good.

Until…

Written by Jill K. Johnson - 2005

A Mother and a Father

2009-06-26T14:51:00.004-04:00

The love of a mother and father is unlike any other.

It’s a cool breeze cascading across your cheek, a ray of sunshine that warms your soul, the hand of God reaching out whenever you’re in need. A mother and father always giving the best they have to give, comforting us and adding sweetness to our lives as nothing else ever could. In the chaos of everyday life, this sweetness is hard to capture; yet we know their love is
everlasting, eternal…

The pathways of a mother and father are sculptured by beautiful memories, tender gestures, and precious gifts of love to our soul. The love they bestow to us becomes fresh air for our being.

A mother and a father radiate onto us a living spark that settles within us like rubies surrounded in gold…always there to pick up our pieces with
Amazing Grace…

Written by Jill K. Johnson

Luke Johnson

2009-06-26T14:25:00.000-04:00

"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself." ~Josh Billings

Isn't he just beautiful? He's a darling boy.

The Smell of Rain - A True Story

2009-06-26T13:36:00.008-04:00

A cold March wind danced around the dead of night in Dallas as the Doctor walked into the small hospital room of Diana Blessing. Still groggy from surgery, her husband David held her hand as they braced themselves for the latest news. That afternoon of March 10,1991, complications had forced Diana, only 24 weeks pregnant, to deliver their daughter, Danae Lu Blessing. At 12 inches long and weighing only one pound and nine ounces, they already knew she was perilously premature. Still, the doctor's soft words dropped like bombs. "I don't think she's going to make it", he said, as kindly as he could. "There's only a 10 percent chance she will live through the night, and even then, if by some slim chance she does make it, her future could be a very cruel one." Numb with disbelief, David and Diana listened as the doctor described the devastating problems Danae would likely face if she survived. She would never walk, she would never talk, she would probably be blind, and she would certainly be prone to other catastrophic conditions from cerebral palsy to complete mental retardation, and on and on. "No! No!" was all Diana could say. She and David, with their 5-year-old son Dustin, had long dreamed of the day they would have a daughter to become a family of four. Now, within a matter of hours, that dream was slipping away. Through the dark hours of morning as Danae held onto life by the thinnest thread, Diana slipped in and out of sleep, growing more and more determined that their tiny daughter would live, and live to be a healthy, happy young girl. But David, fully awake and listening to additional dire details of their daughter's chances of ever leaving the hospital alive, much less healthy, knew he must confront his wife with the inevitable. David walked in and said that we needed to talk about making funeral arrangements. Diana remembers, I felt so bad for him because he was doing everything, trying to include me in what was going on, but I just wouldn't listen, I couldn't listen. I said, "No, that is not going to happen, no way! I don't care what the doctors say; Danae is not going to die! One day she will be just fine, and she will be coming home with us!" As if willed to live by Diana's determination, Danae clung to life hour after hour, with the help of every medical machine and marvel her miniature body could endure. But as those first days passed, a new agony set in for David and Diana. Because Danae's under-developed nervous system was essentially raw, the lightest kiss or caress only intensified her discomfort, so they couldn't even cradle their tiny baby girl against their chests to offer the strength of their love. All they could do, as Danae struggled alone beneath the ultraviolet light in the tangle of tubes and wires, was to pray that God would stay close to their precious little girl. There was never a moment when Danae suddenly grew stronger. But as the weeks went by, she did slowly gain an ounce of weight here and an ounce of strength there. At last, when Danae turned two months old, her parents were able to hold her in their arms for the very first time. And two months later-though doctors continued to gently but grimly warn that her chances of surviving, much less living any kind of normal life, were next to zero-Danae went home from the hospital, just as her mother had predicted.

Today, five years later, Danae is a petite, but feisty young girl with glittering gray eyes and an unquenchable zest for life. She shows no signs, whatsoever, of any mental or physical impairment. Simply, she is everything a little girl can be and more-but that happy ending is far from the end of her story. One blistering afternoon in the summer of 1996 near her home in Irving, Texas, Danae was sitting in her mother's lap in the bleachers of a local ballpark where her brother Dustin's baseball team was practicing. As always, Danae was chattering non-stop with her mother and several other adults sitting nearby when she suddenly fell silent. Hugging her arms across her chest, Danae asked, "Do you smell that?" Smelling the air and detecting the approach of a thunderstorm, Diana replied, "Yes, it smells like rain." Danae closed her eyes and again asked, "Do you smell that?" Once again, her mother replied, "Yes, I think we're about to get wet, it smells like rain." Still caught in the moment, Danae shook her head, patted her thin shoulders with her small hands and loudly announced, "No, it smells like Him. It smells like God when you lay your head on His chest." Tears blurred Diana's eyes as Danae then happily hopped down to play with the other children. Before the rains came, her daughter's words confirmed what Diana and all the members of the extended Blessing family had known, at least in their hearts, all along. During those long days and nights of her first two months of her life, when her nerves were too sensitive for them to touch her, God was holding Danae on His chest and it is His loving scent that she remembers so well.

2009-06-26T13:14:00.002-04:00

"Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight." ~Phyllis Diller

This quote made me laugh.

The Time is Now

2009-06-25T16:49:00.005-04:00

Now is the time to act. Now is the time to live.
Now is when you can make a difference. Now is when you can bring your intentions to life.
In this moment you can choose to step forward. And when this day is over, you will already have made important progress.
Everything you need to take that first step is available to you now. It is now up to you to make use of the opportunity.
There is no limit to what you can accomplish when you put your effort and commitment into it. Now is the time to make the commitment and to begin the effort.
You have a dream, a vision of how truly fulfilling life can be. Now is the time to make it real.

~Ralph Marston

There's Always Room for Improvement

2009-06-25T15:09:00.006-04:00

"Building a better you is the first step to building a better America."

~Zig Ziglar

In every single human being, there is something that can be improved upon. Do what you can to be a truly good person with a truly good soul. If you're a good person, your light will shine and then you can shine on other people, and so on. Regardless, if you try your hardest to be your best, you will know in the end you did the finest job that you could. You'll know there's a place for you in Heaven. There are good people left in this world and we should all try to be one of them.

~Jill

Today's Message of the Day is:

2009-06-24T16:55:00.003-04:00

Close your eyes and draw a deep breath

Free your mind and soar

Fly through the stars and past the moon

Because you shine brighter than them all

Take cherished people in your arms

And fill them with your love

For you are truly beautiful

A sunbeam from above

Dance Like No One is Watching

2009-06-24T16:00:00.003-04:00

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we're frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are. After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We'll certainly be happy when they're out of that stage.

We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire. The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D. Souza. He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."

This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with...and remember that time waits for no one.

So, stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you're off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you're born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

The Seven Wonders of the World

2009-06-24T15:19:00.004-04:00

Junior high school students in Chicago were studying the Seven Wonders of the World. At the end of the lesson, the students were asked to list what they considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World. The following received the most votes:

1. Egypt's Great Pyramids
2. The Taj Mahal in India
3. The Grand Canyon in Arizona
4. The Panama Canal
5. The Empire State Building
6. St. Peter's Basilica
7. China's Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl, hadn't turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The quiet girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many." The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help." The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:

1. to touch...
2. to taste...
3. to see...
4. to hear... (She hesitated a little, and then added...)
5. to feel...
6. to laugh...
7. and to love.

The room was so quiet, you could have heard a pin drop.

May this story serve as a gentle reminder to all of us that the things we overlook as simple and ordinary are often the most wonderful - and we don't have to travel anywhere special to experience them. Enjoy your gifts.

~Author Unknown

My 100th Post!

2009-06-24T11:03:00.002-04:00

I just realized that yesterday I posted my 100th post! WOO HOO!!!

It is the quote immediately below by Zig Ziglar.

2009-06-23T16:54:00.002-04:00

"When you do the things you need to do when you need to do them, the day will come when you can do the things you want to do when you want to do them."

~Zig Ziglar

Don't waste time . . .

2009-06-23T14:01:00.006-04:00

"Time flies. It's up to you to be the navigator."

~Robert Orben

About Quotes

2009-06-23T10:01:00.016-04:00

I recently wondered about all the quotes that I put on my blog mostly because that's what my blog is full of . . . quotes. I wondered if there were too many and then I came across the following Introduction from a book called, Inspiration 365 Days a Year, by Zig Ziglar.

Reading has been the fuel of my motivation, it has changed the direction in which I have traveled, and it has enhanced my creative imagination more than any other activity I have ever pursued. I'm now in my eighth decade of living and I still read several hours a day. Why? When I can hook up old information with new information, the combination of the two creates perspectives that could never have been achieved otherwise. New information makes new and fresh ideas possible.

I read for the "ah-has," the information that makes a light bulb go off in my mind. I want to put information in my mind that is going to be the most beneficial to me, my family and my fellow man, financially, morally, spiritually, and emotionally. I seldom read anything that is not of a factual nature because I want to invest my time wisely in the things that will improve my life. Don't misunderstand; there is nothing wrong with reading purely for the joy of it. Novels have their place, but biographies of famous men and women contain information that can change lives. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale's, The Power of Positive Thinking, changed my thinking. The Bible changed my believing. Ultimately, what I have read has changed my being.

If the "ah-ha" I get when I'm reading is not already reduced into one or two sentences, I'll take the essence of what I've read and chunk it into easily remembered bites of information. That information is what becomes "quotable." You would not sit still for me to read every book I've ever read to you. But if you're the least bit like me, you'll jump at the chance to bypass all the churning and scoop the cream right off the top - that is what quotes are. . . the cream of our learning.

The right quote can inspire people to change their ways. I love to quote my mother, "Tell the truth and tell it ever, costeth what it will; for he who hides the wrong he did, does the wrong thing still." Of course this quote didn't begin with my mother, but she is the first person who said it to me. Quotes, good quotes, are like that - you remember who said it, what the circumstances were, and that it had an immediate impact on your thinking.

I've compiled the quotes in this book with great care. I've included quotes that will help you on the work front, the home front, and the spiritual front. There are quotes to lift you up and quotes to bring you back to earth. Some will make you smile and some will create more questions than you might care to think about. All of them will make you think and that is an exercise that will enhance and improve your future immensely.

It is my hope that you get the "ah-has" I got when I first read or wrote the quotes I've selected for this inspirational book.

If you apply what you learn to your life, I can honestly say that I will See You at the Top.

~Zig Ziglar

Hilary Hinton "Zig" Ziglar is an American author, salesperson, and motivational speaker.

After finding and reading this Introduction, I wonder no longer about the quotes on my blog and am going to continue to quote my little heart out. ^.^

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

2009-06-19T15:41:00.002-04:00

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate, a time for war, and a time for peace.

If only. . .

2009-06-19T15:35:00.004-04:00

"I am like a falling star who has finally found her place next to another in a lovely constellation, where we will sparkle in the heavens forever."

~Amy Tan

All Things Connect

2009-06-19T15:29:00.003-04:00

"Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect."

~Chief Seattle, 1855

We are what we think

2009-06-19T13:33:00.004-04:00

"We are what we think. . .

All that we are arises with our thoughts.

With our thoughts we make our world."

~Buddha

2009-06-16T15:14:00.003-04:00

"Our creator is the same and never changes despite the names given Him by people here and in all parts of the world. Even if we gave Him no name at all, He would still be there, within us, waiting to give us good on this earth."

~George Washington Carver

2009-06-16T11:27:00.007-04:00

"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown again into flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light."

~Albert Schweitzer

www.mayyoubeblessedmovie.com

2009-06-15T17:04:00.005-04:00

May we all come to live in a world where everyone is blessed by the presence of someone else. . .

May we all come to know just how beautiful such a world can be.

A Blessing

2009-06-15T16:33:00.002-04:00

"A blessing is not the function of a particular role. It is the natural expression of the fiery love and inclusiveness of our inner spirit. It is the manifestation of a soulfire, and each of us can be its hearth. To bless us is not the prerogative only of ministers, priests, and rabbis; it is not the exclusive domain of saints and holy people. It is a natural human ability, and anyone can do it."
~ David Spangler, from Blessing: The Art and Practice

Nature's Bounty

2009-06-12T14:54:00.003-04:00

"To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter; to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life."

~John Burroughs

Enjoy Your Life

2009-06-12T14:14:00.004-04:00

"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair." ~Kahlil Gibran

50 Thoughts About Life

2009-06-12T12:20:00.002-04:00

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously; no one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood, but the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time. . .time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don't ask, you don't get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Discover the Beauty

2009-06-12T12:02:00.003-04:00

"I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in."

~George Washington Carver

2009-06-11T13:42:00.003-04:00

"Angels frequently show us their love by some sort of sign, sometimes a touch. It is impossible to miss it when an angel touches you. People may feel shivers, goosebumps, joy, or peace and calm."
~Barbara Mark & Trudy Griswold

Shine from within and then share it with others

2009-06-10T14:11:00.002-04:00

"Let your light shine. Shine within so you can shine on someone else."

~Oprah Winfrey

2009-06-10T13:54:00.006-04:00

"Even after all this time the sun never says to the Earth, "You owe me." See what happens with a love like that? It lights up the whole sky." ~Hafiz

Acknowledge Nature

2009-06-09T13:38:00.003-04:00

"Acknowledge nature - take a walk or look out the window. Write something every day. Have a sensory experience of touching a flower, tree bark or a leaf. Put aside some pampering time each day to do something special for yourself. Smile at everyone you meet."

~Lady of Light

I really like this quote.

Hebrews 11:1-2 NLT

2009-06-09T12:05:00.003-04:00

What is Faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot see. God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith.

Today's Message of the Day is:

2009-06-05T13:41:00.004-04:00

See the Wonder

There is more value in life than anyone can imagine. So never stop imagining. Everything you imagine plants a seed. The more beautiful and compelling it is, the more of life's miraculous energy you give to it. And that makes what was once just imagined, real. What you now see all around you, was first imagined. When you meet with difficulties, it can be easy to imagine the worst. But that only extends and magnifies your troubles. Instead, imagine the best. Imagine the most brilliant, stunningly beautiful version of life, and the very act of imagining begins to pull you solidly toward it. What is possible is limited only by what you sincerely imagine to be possible. See the wonder, see the beauty, and bring it all more fully to life.

~Ralph Marston

Hope

2009-06-04T16:46:00.015-04:00

"Just as despair can come to one only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings."

~Elie Weisel

Elie Wiesel is a Jewish writer, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate and Holocaust survivor. He is the author of 57 books, the best known of which is "Night" (I read this book - it's excellent), a memoir that describes his experiences during the Holocaust and his imprisonment in several concentration camps. His diverse range of other writings offer powerful and poetic contributions to literature, theology, and his own articulation of Jewish spirituality today.

When Wiesel was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986, the Norwegian Nobel Committee called him a "messenger to mankind," noting that through his struggle to come to terms with "his own personal experience of total humiliation and of the utter contempt for humanity shown in Hitler's death camps," as well as his "practical work in the cause of peace," Wiesel had delivered a powerful message "of peace, atonement and human dignity" to humanity.

I have to comment on his quote above about hope ~ I feel a human being can also be given hope by an animal (i.e., dog, cat, bird, horse - any animal really). Animals can save people in more ways that one can imagine.

Psalm 62: 1, 2

2009-05-29T14:09:00.002-04:00

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Today's Message of the Day is:

2009-05-28T14:43:00.003-04:00

There are at least two people in this world that you would die for.

At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.

The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.

A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.

Every night, someone thinks about you before they go to sleep.

You mean the world to someone.

You are special and unique.

Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.

When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.

When you think the world has turned its back on you, take another look.

Always remember the compliments you've received; forget about the rude remarks.

Written for Leighann Daffern on her Graduation - June 2003

2009-05-27T16:41:00.006-04:00

Congratulations on your promotion in life. I wish you nothing but the absolute best in all that do…all that you are, and all that you become. Always remember that we are all Angels in disguise, and every soul is unique and authentic in their own way. Pay it forward…always do for other human beings and you will be endlessly rewarded. You will be forever warmed by this afterglow. In times of trouble, lift yourself to a greater level and always know that in the end, you will rise above…you will not fail. Never forget that not getting what you want can be the ultimate stroke of luck. Never make another human being your lifeline. You should only live and breathe your children. Until then, give all that you are…all that you have, but do not fail to keep your independence, your strength. This will undoubtedly save you in the end. This, I promise you.

Don’t ever fail to recognize that there is a God in Heaven. He will not fall short in times of need and should you feel He has, remember that it seems so only in your eyes, not His. Have Faith. Be grateful. Take the opportunity to grow from experiences that my not seem so positive, but which you know are sent to you with Divine Purpose. Try to find the good in “everything”, …it’s there. Handle life with strength, with Grace. Strength and Grace are an invincible combination. Life is a gift and a remarkable thing. Never under estimate all the good in the world; never under estimate the Power of the Human Spirit. Keep your Faith in all magnificent things; in the sun when it is hidden, in the Spring when it is gone. It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the End…

Written by Jill K. Johnson - June 2003

Unconditional Love

2009-05-27T15:14:00.005-04:00

"If you don't love me at my worst, then you don't deserve me at my best." ~Marilyn Monroe

The Beginning

2009-05-27T14:31:00.005-04:00

It is said and it is true that just before we are born, a cavern angel puts its finger to our lips and says, “Hush little one, don’t tell what you know.” This is why we are born with a cleft on our upper lip and remember nothing of where we came from.

Welcome to God, sweet, little one. He will always be there for you, during your happy moments, your sad moments. He will be there, reaching out, holding your hand. While living your life bestowed upon you so graciously by Him, may you experience pure joy, happiness, laughter, endless contentment, and a constant inner emotion of ultimate peace. May you carry within you a golden light, an inspiring heaven. May your angels’ wings fan you sending you sweet, scented breezes of unabiding love. Silently, one by one while you sleep, there will blossom enchanting stars, the forget-me-nots of angels, around your pretty little head. Your journey through life, little one, I am afraid will not be easy. Look to God for peace and tranquility.

He’ll be there…for He is love in its essence and He is overflowing with blessing.

Written by Jill K. Johnson - 1997

Some of my favorite movies are:

2009-05-26T16:36:00.010-04:00

In no particular order:

The Sandlot (one of my all time favorites)
Remember the Titans
Pay it Forward
The Longest Yard (Adam Sandler)
The Passion of the Christ
American History X
The Iron Giant (yes, this is a cartoon)
The Terminator (1st and 2nd) not too crazy about the 3rd and haven't seen the 4th yet
Late for Dinner
E.T.
Like Water for Chocolate
Liar, Liar (this movie cracks me up! I love it!)
Ace Ventura Pet Detective (I love Jim Carrey ~ I think he's fabulously funny!) ^.^
The Green Mile
Spellbinder
The Professional
As Good as it Gets
Austin Powers (all of them)
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Crash
Little Miss Sunshine (cute)
The Notebook (loved it)
Transformers
Edward Scissorhands
Billy Elliott
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
The Power of One
Last of the Mohicans (I love this movie)
Primal Fear
The Station Agent
Sling Blade
Rudy
Grease
Smokey and the Bandit (you some bitch!)
Wild Things
9 1/2 Weeks
Kill Bill ~ Volumes 1 and II
Clerks
Now and Then
Good Will Hunting
Radio
Death Becomes Her (I can see . . . my ass!)
King Kong
Turner and Hooch (this . . . is not your room)
Shattered
Better Off Dead
Amores Perros (Love's a Bitch) English Subtitles, great movie
Pulp Fiction
The Full Monty
Rush Hour
Clue
L.A. Confidential
Escape from New York
Universal Soldier
Radio Flyer
Regarding Henry
The Color Purple
The Man in the Moon
Jurassic Park
All About My Mother
The Abyss
Dead Poets Society
Field of Dreams
I, Robot
True Romance

Try to make the best of every situation

2009-05-26T16:26:00.003-04:00

"It is better to light the candle than to curse the darkness." ~Eleanor Roosevelt

A Marriage

2009-05-26T15:01:00.009-04:00

An unconditional love between two hearts is united in a brilliant entity called marriage.
An appreciation and love for one another that extends greatly beyond our farthest limits to places we thought we could never reach, to feelings we thought we could never feel, to a love that undoubtedly fills the abyss in our soul. Marriage gives us an extraordinary person to laugh with, cry with, play with, and someone to fall in love with all over again for the rest of our lives. A person to discover paradise with that will knowingly last until the end of time. Someone with whom we can share a special comfort with, a place we can go in our time of need,
always and forever…

Within a husband we discover the strength of a man, the ruggedness of his spirit, the brawn of his personality, his sense of independence; and yet, we also capture the gentleness of his touch, the depth of his soul, the sweet smell of his skin, his desire and longing for his wife, and always and forever we will feel safe in his arms. With a man’s love we experience compassion, a sense of wonder and amazement…

Within a wife we discover an elegant and tender woman, a sensitive and affectionate being. We enjoy the alluring fragrance of her hair, the glorious softness of her skin, the subtle curves of her body, the depth of her soul, the strength of her spirit, and a limitless and breathtaking devotion that touches a man’s heart eternally.

With a woman’s love we experience
pure radiance, pure emotion…

May you both be patient with the troubles of your marriage, and know that any clouds will eventually give way to the sunlight of your most hoped-for days. May you be rewarded with a dedicated and faithful love that blesses your life eternally. May you both be strong enough to keep your hopes and dreams alive, and yet gentle enough with each other to understand your differences. May you find within each other a bottle of prescription sunshine. May nothing ever eclipse the love that you share.

May you always be able to pick up the pieces with
Amazing Grace. Always know that together you are
making the most magnificent memories…

May God’s live shine upon you like a beacon, and may it be the brightest in all the world.

Written by Jill K. Johnson - 2004

One of my favorite quotes

2009-05-26T14:22:00.000-04:00

Be Kind

2009-05-26T14:00:00.003-04:00

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."

~Mother Teresa

Change the World for Ten Bucks - Action 37

2009-05-26T11:55:00.005-04:00

Action 37 - Let at least one car in on every journey.

Fully one-half of drivers who are subjected to aggressive driving behavior on the road respond with aggression of their own, thus risking a more serious confrontation.

According to a recently released national survey, when a driver gets the finger, is cut off or tailgated, 50 percent of the victims respond with horn honking, yelling, cutting-off, and obscene gestures of their own.
If you are subjected to aggressive driving, often the best way to ensure it does not get any worse is to just ignore it.

When it comes to aggressive responses, men are more likely than women to do so (54% vs. 46%), as are drivers age 18-24 (67%) versus drivers 65 and older (30%). Drivers with children are more likely to respond aggressively (59%) versus those without children (45%), and cell phone users (59%) versus those who do not use a cell phone while driving (39%).

I noticed something ~ right after 9/11, nearly everybody on the road was polite, courteous and kind. You always saw other drivers letting cars in lines of traffic or letting someone out of a busy storefront onto an even busier highway. Why does it takes a terrorist attack to make people nicer??

Happy Birthday, Dawn!

2009-05-25T14:32:00.003-04:00

Dear Dawn,

God gave a gift to the world when you were born ~ a person who loves, who cares, who sees a person’s need and fills it, who encourages and lifts people up, who spends energy on others rather than herself, someone who touches each life she enters, and makes a difference in the world, because ripples of kindness flow outward as each person you have touched, touches others. May the love you have shown to others return to you in Heaven, multiplied.

Love always,

Jill

Today's Dose of Cuteness

2009-05-22T14:53:00.003-04:00

This is adorable.