Seaside Soiree and Charity Wings

For three days I was in absolute Seaside Soiree sensory euphoria.

In fact, even the last few days of reflection on my weekend are only now just beginning to be infiltrated by the reality of chores, grocery shopping...you know, the real life stuff.

The first annual Seaside Soiree was like being at an incredible entertainment park with some of my favorite people. My mind was empty of everything but having fun.

Everywhere we looked, everywhere we turned, there was something amazing going on including, making new fabulous friends and spending time with some of our favorite friends.

The classes were like being on a wild ride.

The teachers who, in my opinion, are some of the best included, Liz Hicks, Suzi Blu, Miss Vicki Breslin, Alisa Burke, Michelle Cummings and Melody Ross.

We made paintings, royal princess beaded crowns, sea shelled frames, stamped journal books, painted canvas purses and more.

Like fairy princesses, Elena, Sheila and the wonderful Charity Wings fairies gave us gifts throughout the entire event. Every class included gifts. Every time we went to bed, we had gifts on our beautiful tye dyed pillow. Actually, I should have brought an extra suitcase for all my projects and presents.

We stayed at the Oceanside Marina Suites, which was located right on the harbor. The accommodations included 2 bedroom, 2 bath suites that were literally 15 feet from the water.

Oceanside, California in the winter.

The view right outside our suite.


A man and his bird.

Harbor...we could hear the fog horn at night. So peaceful here.

Sally and Georgia

Living room in our suite

Kitchen in our suite.


Best picture of the night, Alicia and Kathryn having fun.

Me and my friend.

Elena and Jessie being cute! Awe Ha

Miss Vicki, Suzi and Maryanne

Miss Vicki and her baubles and bangles

Elena, Miss Vicki and Alicia telling secrets in our room.

Elena's birthday present from Kelly.

Hangin' with my good friend Sally.

Kat, Amy and Glenna at sunset.

Roommates, Miss Vicki and Camille

Princess Elena provided us with bacon so that every morning we could wake up to the smells and sounds of bacon cooking.

CSS Book club friends, Cynthia, Kat, Alicia, Kathryn

Crown time.

Danette & Kat

Jill Bolte Taylor's stroke of insight | Video on TED.com

Christian the Lion

Holy Cow...a new year. I hope it's the best year ever...for all of us. I just came across this amazing video. I had to put it here for you and for me because it truly shows the ultimate power between man and beast. If you know me, you know I love animals. This video brought me to tears. How awesome! Please visit Christian the Lion for inspiration and the warm fuzzies.

Beauty

I received this in an email. It spoke to me! I forget that beauty is only skin deep.

We All Have Them...Limitations

What is yours?
For me, I think the answer to that changes from time to time. Right now I feel very limited. This little Food for Thought opened my eyes. I need to review it and ponder it more. I received it in an email from George Raynault, previous owner of Weekenders and current owner of Symagi http://www.symagi.com/ He sends out a weekly Food For Thought email in case you want more of this.

Limitations
Can you make one cent in a year?
Two?
Three?
At some point you are going to say no.
Sooo, let's try the other way.
A lady author (Harry Potter) recently made well over $100,000,000 in one day. (True!)
Could you do that?
No?
$99,999,999.99?
$99,999,999.98?
$99,999,999.97?
$99,999,999.96?
At which penny are you going to say yes.
This is reality as you see it.
This is the Law of Attraction at work.
This is where/how you decide to limit yourself.
You simply cannot attract what you don't believe.
And your beliefs are a complete illusion. (Meant both ways)
Take a moment to think about just how much money you truly believe you could earn in any one year. Then reason with yourself as to exactly why that amount is coming to mind.
Dare I repeat, yesterday is not tomorrow. Yet you use yesterday to base your expectations of tomorrow. And you are even pleased at how 'reasonable' you are being when you do that!
For once, stop convincing yourself of your limitations (and the long list as to why!) and set a new objective for yourself. Dramatically lessen your own limitations on your income.
Overcome your own resistance.
Just this once.

The Dash

The Dash
copyright 1996 Linda Ellis

If you have never read the poem The Dash, or seen the short movie, you're in for a treat. Go to Linda Ellis' blog. This poem has been read by millions and has quite an impact. If only I could remember to live my life this way on a daily basis. If only the world could live like this.

"You cannot do a kindness too soon,
for you never know how soon it will be too late. "
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

I received this from my friend MJ who recently visited The National Memorial Sculpture Garden at the Springfield Museums. One of the memorials was The Storyteller: A Seussian storytelling chair, backed by a 10-foot-tall book with the text of Oh, the Places You'll Go! with Gertrude McFuzz perched on top and the Grinch and his dog, Max, peeking around the side. "Short of scripture and verse, this is about the most wisdom one could possibly need in a lifetime! And what fun to help all of us move onward and upward with the words from this timeless classic from Dr. Suess." Thanks MJ for sharing this inspiration.

Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away!

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy (girl) who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care. About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there.

"With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any you'll want to go down. In that case, of course, you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener therein the wide open air.

Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen, don't worry. Don't stew. Just go right along. You'll start happening too.

OH! THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You'll be on your way up! You'll be seeing great sights! You'll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed. You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.

Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don' t. Because, sometimes, you won't.

I'm sorry to say so but, sadly, it's true. Hang-ups and Bang-ups can happen to you.

You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch. And your gang will fly on. You'll be left in a Lurch.

You'll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump.

And the chances are, then,that you'll be in a Slump.

And when you're in a Slump, you're not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked. A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin! Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?

How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite? Or go around back and sneak in from behind? Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find, for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused that you'll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place. The Waiting Place...

...for people just waiting. Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or a No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.

NO! That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape all that waiting and staying. You'll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing.

With banner flip-flapping, once more you'll ride high! Ready for anything under the sky. Ready because you're that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. Fame! You'll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don't. Because, sometimes, they won't.

I'm afraid that some times you'll play lonely games too. Games you can't win 'cause you'll play against you.

All Alone! Whether you like it or not, alone will be something you'll be quite a lot.

And when you're alone, there's a very good chance you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.

There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.

But on you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go though your enemies prowl. On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl. Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike and I know you'll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.

You'll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You'll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and 3 / 4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Brayor Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea, you're off to Great Places!

Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So . . . get on your way!

Dear Lord,

I thank You for this day, I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You. Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things. Let me not whine and whimper over things that I have no control over. Let me give the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits.

I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will. Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak... Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement. I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those that don't believe.

I thank you that I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met. I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.

I pray in Jesus name that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees it.

Amen

I received this today in an email and wanted to post it so that I can read it often. I don't know where it originated or who wrote it, but I think it's a wonderful prayer.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when she discovers that someone else believes in her and is willing to trust her with her friendship.

I love you Sis!

Sniplits - Short Stories

Just found an interesting website: http://sniplits.com/

According to Enews Channels, Sniplits is a new source for entertainment on the Internet. Sniplits(SM) is publishing audio short stories, packaged as DRM-free MP3 files and playable on virtually any device capable of playing digital music. Sniplits launched its website with 85 audio shorts, ranging from about one minutes in length to nearly an hour. Check out the article on Sniplets http://enewschannels.com/2008/05/12/enc3067_181318.php

Acts of Kindness

WAYS TO GIVE SPECIAL ACTS OF KINDNESS

WITHOUT EXPECTING ANYTHING IN RETURN.

Help someone. Do something that's selfless. Find a way to give back.

1. Wake up each morning and pray/meditate on how/wanting to be kind to people...wanting to give with no expectations.
3. Learn how to be kind and giving.
2. Notice how I feel when I offer acts of kindness.

This is a way of life that I want to learn. At this point not knowing where to begin, I need to take baby steps. Consciously, I think I do my best already. Lord, gift me with the knowledge and guidance to go above and beyond for others. Help me Lord to give selflessly. Thank you for guidance in your ways of giving and doing for others. Help me to stay out of my own way.

In Jesus name I pray. Amen

The Daffodil Principle

Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, 'Mother, you must come to see the daffodils before they are over.'

I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead. 'I will come next Tuesday', I promised a little reluctantly on her third call. Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house I was welcomed by the joyful sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my grandchildren. 'Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in these clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see badly enough to drive another inch! 'My daughter smiled calmly and said, 'We drive in this all the time, Mother.'

'Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home!' I assured her.

'But first we're going to see the daffodils. It's just a few blocks,' Carolyn said. 'I'll drive. I'm used to this.

''Carolyn,' I said sternly, 'Please turn around.'

'It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience.

'After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with an arrow that read, 'Daffodil Garden ..' We got out of the car, each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight. It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over the mountain and its surrounding slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, creamy white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, and saffron and butter yellow. Each different colored variety was planted in large groups so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers.

Who did this?' I asked Carolyn.

'Just one woman,' Carolyn answered. 'She lives on the property. That's her home.' Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house, small and modestly sitting in the midst of all that glory.

We walked up to the house. On the patio, we saw a poster. 'Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking', was the headline.

The first answer was a simple one. '50,000 bulbs,' it read.

The second answer was, 'One at a time, by one woman...Two hands, two feet, and one brain.'

The third answer was, 'Began in 1958.'

For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop. Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration.

That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time--often just one baby-step at a time--and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world .

'It makes me sad in a way,' I admitted to Carolyn. 'What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years? Just think what I might have been able to achieve!'

My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. 'Start tomorrow,' she said. She was right. It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays.

The way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, 'How can I put this to use today?

Use the Daffodil Principle. Stop waiting....

Until your car or home is paid off
Until you get a new car or home
Until your kids leave the house
Until you go back to school
Until you finish school
Until you clean the house
Until you organize the garage
Until you clean off your desk
Until you lose 10 lbs.
Until you gain 10 lbs.
Until you get married
Until you get a divorce
Until you have kids
Until the kids go to school
Until you retire
Until summer
Until spring
Until winter
Until fall
Until you die...

There is no better time than right now.

Wishing you a beautiful, daffodil day!

Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.

If you want to brighten someone's day, pass this on to someone special. I did!

Thanks to Joann at http://babygabespage.blogspot.com/

THE ANGEL

I wanted to share about an angel that came into my life recently. D is 48 and has been homeless for 15 years by choice. She rides a bike everywhere she goes. She earns money by cleaning houses and taking care of sick people. She has severe hyperactivity and ADD. She is totally aware of her handicaps and seems to only focus on the positive things in her life. Even the things that most people would think devastating, she talks about them in a positive light.

I want to say that she seems to have a halo.

The little that I know of her past is that she had a daughter at the young age of 13. She eventually agreed to let her sister adopt her daugher and then left home. She hadn't seen her family in 22 years. A friend encouraged her to contact her mother and then gifted her with an airplane ticket to see her family this past Christmas. It was an incredibly wonderful event for her. She now knows that leaving her daughter with her sister was the absolute right thing to do. She says her daughter is a happy, beautiful, talented, nice, young woman today.

D is a self-proclaimed healer. She says, "God works through me to heal people." I believe her because she knows it to be true. I've never witnessed her healing powers and most people might even think she's quite the quack, but I love that she is so true to herself. She's pure. What she says may seem crazy to most, but she is so clear, concise and positive that one can hardly believe it's anything more than truth.

I don't want to forget the feeling I had while in her presence. We connected on a level that I can only explain as a gift from God. We are nothing alike and I don't typically connect with people quickly. I'm embarrassed to say that when I reflect on our meeting, it even sounds bizarre to me that...hmmm, I guess, that I would have even taken the time to engage with her. She's a character like no one I've ever met, and I instantly loved her. I pray for her safety in life. Thank you God for the gift of an Angel.

Today

"While focusing on a pot of gold at the end of the path you have chosen, don't miss the diamonds embedded on the path itself." - Author Unknown

Awesome Look At Psalm 23

The Lord is my Shepherd = That's Relationship!
I shall not want = That's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = That's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul = That's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = That's Guidance!
For His name sake = That's Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of t he shadow of death = That's Testing!
I will fear no evil = That's Protection!
For Thou art with me = That's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me = That's Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies = That's Hope!
Thou annointest my head with oil = That's Consecration!
My cup runneth over = That's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life = That's Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = That's Security!
Forever = That's Eternity!

Face it; the Lord is crazy about you.

What is most valuable
is not what we have in our lives,
butWHO we have in our lives!

Attitude Is Everything

Learning to live in the present moment is part of the path of joy.
- Sarah Ban Breathnach

Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.
- Antoine de Saint Exupery

Plant a seed of friendship; reap a bouquet of happiness.
- Lois L. Kaufman

First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others.
- Thomas a Kempis

Other things may change us, but we start and end with family.
- Anthony Brandt

Words To Live By

I found this great little brochure from Roger and Kathy Cawthon, "The Cancer Coaches" on http://www.thecancercrusade.com/ . These were some of the quotes I'd like to keep in my arsenal of inspiration.

You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face...You must do the thing you think you cannot do. - Eleanor Roosevelt

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. -Author unknown

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. -Hebrews 12:1

I get up. I walk. I fall down. Meanwhile, I keep dancing. -Author unknown

The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse. -Helen Keller

1. Laugh - Write it down so you can laugh again.
2. Focus on the future - Plan. Be specific.
3. Laugh.
4. Power of Music - Songs of survival, love, courage and beating the odd.
5. Wear clothes that make you feel brave - NYPD...
6. Peace is healing - Quiet time.
7. Create something.
8. Move you body. Wiggling counts.
9. Celebrate every milestone.
10. Live your dreams! Now!