Today I believe....

Day 12-What you believe

Today I believe..
things will get better.

Today I believe..
that my life means something.

Today I believe..
I will cross off yet another item on my list of things that desperately need to be done!!

Today I believe..
that I can and will fix this all!!

Today I believe..
I rule the world...well at least my world!! :)

Baby Your A Firework

Ok so I know the video is a tad bit corny, but I LOVE this song. I have been listening to it over & over today as I put out job applications, it helps me remember to keep hope alive.

Things have gotten slightly worse as time goes on and there seems to be no end to this plight. I am having a hard time keeping my head above water, this may just be the end for us.. Then I remember the four little munchkins counting on us.. I try to smile and keep treading through all this mud.

Katy Perry - Firework - (Official Video) found on Pop

Break The Pattern

Fighting against a sense of despair will only make it worse. Instead of letting despair feed on itself, do something positive and proactive to break the pattern.

When you become angry about being angry, that will only make your anger more destructive. The more intensely you feel your frustration, the more frustrated you will become.

The way out is to quickly and decisively break the pattern. Realize that the negative momentum is building and do something so completely unrelated that you knock it off track.

Don't make your negativity stronger by fighting against it. Instead, make it irrelevant and powerless by turning your attention and putting your energy in a radically different direction.

Be outrageously and unreasonably positive. Be funny and creative and ridiculous and joyful all at the same time.

Smile, laugh and be enthusiastic about life even when you have no reason to be. By breaking the negative pattern, you'll create many great reasons to smile.

-- Ralph Marston

For this quote and others visit GreatDay.com

Skip The Need

Whatever you need, you do not have. Take your focus off needing, and start doing, start creating, start being what you seek.

Don't waste your time and energy languishing in a state of need. The moment you have the thought to add something to your life or your world, get busy making it happen.

Skip the need and go straight to the achievement. Dive into the effort, and keep making the effort until your objective is reached. Instead of constantly thinking that you need something, experience yourself achieving it. Instead of dwelling in excuses and lamentations, celebrate positive and valuable results.

There is nothing that you need to need. That's because you are fully capable of setting goals and of finding effective ways to reach them.

So get busy, get going and express life's grand abundance in your own very special way.

-- Ralph Marston

For this quote and others visit GreatDay.com

To Do This Day

As soon as it begins, take control of your day. Decide in detail what you intend to do and commit to making it happen. If you sit around and wait for events and circumstances to pull you along, you'll end up getting nothing accomplished. If you have no firm and resolute plans, you'll waste all your time on meaningless distractions and interruptions. Certainly unexpected situations will come up that require your response.

Yet you can choose to respond from a position of power and control, rather than from a position of weakness and ineffectiveness. Decide what you will do with this day, and get busy doing it. Make a difference, establish a positive momentum, and get your goals accomplished. Time is here, right now, for you to use. Transform the passing time into lasting value by making effective use of it. This day is filled with great possibilities. Choose certain, specific ones, and make the effort that will make them happen.

-- Ralph Marston

Reasons Behind The Reasons

Look for the reasons behind the reasons. There is some reason for everything Behind each reason is another reason that drives it, and a whole string of reasons, reaching to your very core. Dig deep enough, and connect with your most treasured purposes. The more clearly you know who you are, the more elevated your perspective becomes. Develop a solid understanding of your very own fundamental reasons why, and you'll find multiple opportunities for moving forward.

When you're in touch with your purpose, you'll find that many of the external things you see as necessities are not really necessities at all. The less you need, the more abundant and fulfilling your life will be. Know why you do what you do, and you'll understand how to do it more effectively. When there is authentic passion driving your actions, those actions get results. Where there is a real and meaningful reason, fulfillment naturally follows. Find your deepest reason why, and activate your most powerful abilities to make it so.

-- Ralph Marston

Breast Cancer 3 Day

My friend Lisa at Under The Laundry Heap recently lost a dear friend to Breast Cancer and in Michelle's honor she will be participating in the Breast Cancer 3 Day.

Here is a little bit of what Lisa has to say:
"I am walking in honor of my dear friend Michelle, who lost her battle with breast cancer on April 3, 2009, at the age of 37. I am walking for my sisters and my nieces. I am walking for my mother and my aunts. I am walking for my girlfriends and their daughters. I am walking for my sons and my husband. I am walking for the 1 in 8 women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer. I walk, because I can not walk away."

I ask you to please visit her at Under The Laundry Heap and if you can, please donate and I ask that you send others her way, so they can donate too! Also a few words of encouragement, I am sure would go a long way! :)

Marathon Love

Several months ago while Jeremy was in the hospital and I was watching the Discovery Health channel (one of my favorites BTW), I came across this awesome show called Marathon Love. It was so inspirational to hear about this story of love that continued on through such a horrible accident. With all that we were going through at the time the story really hit close to home for me.

After watching the show the first time back in December, I had to blog about it because it was just such a touching story. Jamie Parks actually read my blog and left me a comment, I thought that was the coolest thing ever! Long story short we are now friends on Facebook and yesterday I saw on his status that Marathon Love is finally available for purchase on DVD!!

So if you would like to purchase a copy of Marathon Love on DVD please visit Lynjame.com, $5.00 of each sale will be going to the Midwest Brain Injury Clubhouse.

Happy Earth Day!

"Earth Day 2009, April 22, will mark the beginning of The Green Generation Campaign^TM which will also be the focus of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day in 2010.""Earth Day Network’s “Green Generation^TM” campaign is a two-year initiative that will launch in 2009 and culminate on the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day in 2010. Similar to "The Greatest Generation" that confronted the challenge of World War II, who inspired the major societal changes that followed, the Green Generation includes ordinary people who are engaged in individual and collective activities to improve their health, to improve their schools, to participate in building a solution to urgent national and global issues, such as climate change or the world’s water crises."

Here's how you can get involved:

• Donate or join EDN, help fight global warming, support Earth Day and our other programs
• Register your organization and network with our other partners
• Get active with Earth Day Network. Visit our Volunteer Center
• Register with the EDN's Educators Network and enjoy free curriculum, contests and other activities

Please visit the Earth Day Network website to find out more ways to help the Earth!

10 Things You Can Do This Earth Day and Everyday!

1. Slow the Flow
A faucet leaking just one drop per second wastes over 1,300 gallons per year! A leak from a hot water source wastes both water and fossil fuel, creating more greenhouse gasses. Most repairs to plumbing fixtures pay for themselves within just a year. Fix it!

2. Think Green When You Clean
Cleaning products that contain chlorine or petroleum distillates expose your family to toxins and then end up in the ecosystem. Choose nontoxic, naturally derived cleaning products, which are proven effective but won’t cause long term damage to the Earth.

3. Choose Both Sides
Every year, pulp mills release over one trillion gallons of chlorine-tainted water as part of the paper making process. Using the other side of the paper can cut that pollution almost in half! And choose recycled paper—especially processed-chlorine-free recycled paper.

4. 'Green' Your Machine
Americans waste over 700 million gallons of gasoline each year just because tires aren’t properly inflated. Millions more are wasted because our vehicles aren’t properly tuned up. Keep your machine running ‘Green!’ You’ll save money and reduce emissions!

5. Meat Less for Dinner
Once a week, plan a meat alternative for dinner. Enjoy pasta with a marinara or Alfredo sauce, meatless chili burritos, or even grilled veggie burgers! Reducing meat consumption conserves fresh water, saves topsoil, and even reduces air pollution!

6. Walk, Hike, Ride a Bike
If people in the U.S. would occasionally ride a bike for a short errand instead of driving a car, over 70 million gallons of fuel could be saved each year! And there’s the added benefit of enjoying the fresh air and exercise! For short errands, take a hike!

7. Plant a Tree Every Earth Day!
Over a 50-year lifetime, a tree generates $31,250 worth of oxygen, provides $62,000 worth of air pollution control, recycles $37,500 worth of water, and controls $31,250 worth of soil erosion. It also provides shade that keeps homes and cities cooler!

8. Give Weeds a 'Hand'
Herbicides aren’t the only way to control weeds, and they’re certainly not the most environment-friendly way! Invest in a good pair of gloves and garden tools, and remove weeds by hand. Also, choose natural alternatives to pesticides for getting rid of pests!

9. Lighten Your Energy Bill
There’s a brighter way to light your home: new Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). Compared to regular bulbs, CFLs last 10 times longer, use only 1/4 the energy and pro-duce 90% less heat—yet they produce more light per watt! Brighten the future: go CFL!

10. Reduce, Reuse Recycle
It’s more than just a slogan. You can start making the world a ‘greener’ place today: return hangers to the cleaners, donate clothing and computers to charities, pack lunches in reusable containers instead of bags, there are hundreds of easy things to do! It’s up to you!l

I found these ideas over at Rustle The Leaf!

More progress, Vermont legalizes gay marriage.

I think this is just SO incredibly awesome! I know that I have blogged about my feelings on gay marriage before so I will not start that rant again just wanted to share this awesome news!

"MONTPELIER, Vt. — Vermont on Tuesday became the fourth state to legalize gay marriage — and the first to do so with a legislature’s vote.

The House recorded a 100-49 vote — the minimum needed — to override Gov. Jim Douglas’ veto. Its vote followed a much easier override vote in the Senate, which rebuffed the Republican governor with a vote of 23-5.

Vermont was the first state to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples and joins Connecticut, Massachusetts and Iowa in giving homosexuals the right to marry. Their approval of gay marriage came from the courts.

Tuesday morning’s legislative action came less than a day after Douglas issued a veto message saying the bill would not improve the lot of homosexual couples because it still would not provide them rights under federal and other states’ laws.

House Speaker Shap Smith’s announcement of the vote brought an outburst of jubilation from some of the hundreds packed into the gallery and the lobby outside the House chamber, despite the speaker’s admonishment against such displays."

News link

WOOHOO, Iowa Court Voids Gay Marriage Ban!

DES MOINES — Same-sex couples will be allowed to marry in Iowa by month’s end, after a ruling on Friday by the Iowa Supreme Court that found unconstitutional a state law limiting marriage to a man and a woman.

The unanimous decision moved the heated battle over same-sex marriage beyond the East and West Coasts to the nation’s middle. Only Massachusetts and Connecticut now allow same-sex marriages, while California permitted them for about six months before voters approved a ban in November.

“We are firmly convinced the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from the institution of civil marriage does not substantially further any important governmental objective,” Justice Mark S. Cady wrote for the seven-member court, adding later, “We have a constitutional duty to ensure equal protection of the law.”

Opponents of same-sex marriage pledged to fight the outcome, but acknowledged that there appeared to be no immediate way to undo it. The only avenue would be a constitutional amendment, but under Iowa law that process would take at least two years.

Members of the Iowa Family Policy Center, a group opposed to same-sex marriage, spoke with state lawmakers after the ruling in hopes of jump-starting the amendment process.
“A court decision doesn’t change what’s right and what’s wrong,” said Bryan English, a spokesman for the group.

But there was no indication that the Legislature, controlled by Democrats, would take up the matter.

Meanwhile, the ruling set off celebrations among same-sex couples, many of whom had gathered at a hotel here to await word. They wept, embraced, laughed, and wept some more.

To read more click here

Watch

"Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny."

Not my words, but they make you think.

International Woman's Day

"International Women’s Day is celebrated around the world each year on March 8th. It is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women. It is also an important occasion to celebrate the achievements and gains made by women and to focus on the job still to do in working towards equality for women around the world.

International Women’s Day provides an opportunity for communities to recognize and celebrate local women’s achievements and the contribution they continue to make to their area"

A little history

"The history of International Women's Day is a history of taking action. The event originated in 1908 when women garment makers in New York demonstrated to demand better working conditions. They worked in appalling conditions, earned half of men's wages, died prematurely from poor health and didn't have the right to vote.

In 1910 an international conference of women resolved that each year a day should be set aside to press for women's demands. Since then International Women's Day (IWD) has been celebrated around the world each year on March 8. From its inception International Women's Day has stood for equality between women and men."

To find out more information about International Woman's Day check out the links below:

http://www.women.nsw.gov.au/IWD2009/index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women%27s_Day

I Am Thankful..

FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT SHOPPING.


FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.


FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.


FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED .


FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.


FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.


FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE


FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME


FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.


FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION .


FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.


FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.


FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.


FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.


FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.


AND I AM THANKFUL:
FOR THE crazy people I am privileged to know
BECAUSE they make life interesting and fun!

Two of a kind!

I just had to share this special story of two little boys who share so much in common and were imo destined to meet. This story had me smiling and crying all at the same time. Thank you so much for sharing this touching story. My heart goes out to both families.

"On his first day of kindergarten in August, 5-year-old Derek Coleman came home and told his mother, "Henry and I have the same piece of skin on our heads."

He pointed to the hairless racing stripe that runs from ear to ear over the top of his head.

Under most circumstances, a parent's response would have been, "Who's Henry?" But Rachel Coleman endured too many hours in hospital waiting rooms and too many sleepless nights to brush aside the significance of his words.

In a kindergarten classroom in a very small town, there is another child who's had the same kinds of cranial and facial surgeries as her son.

Henry is Henry Johnson, a 6-year-old who was born with Apert syndrome. I wrote about him last year as his mother, also named Rachel (Johnson), prepared to stage the first Henry's March walk-run benefiting the Children's Craniofacial Association. The nonprofit organization helps children get necessary surgeries and procedures. Last year's event, at California State University, Stanislaus, raised more than $26,000. This year's march will be March 22, again at the Turlock campus.

Derek was born with a cleft palate, meaning the roof of his mouth failed to develop properly, and he also lacked a soft spot on the top of his skull. Both birth defects required surgeries.

Henry's Apert syndrome prematurely fused his skull, fingers and toes and caused some facial deformity. So Henry has had not only head and facial surgeries, but operations to free his digits. Both boys have more operations in their futures.

These two little guys have become inseparable. Best buddies. Brothers.

Because of their physical similarities? Maybe at first. But they quickly progressed beyond the initial curiosity.

"They're friends for no other reason than they get along," Rachel Coleman said.

From their energy levels and exuberance, you'd never guess they have had more than 20 major surgeries or medical procedures between them.

They play. They laugh. They roughhouse. They are oblivious to their own looks or each other's. What they see in the mirror is the only normal they've ever known. They're too young to understand the operations that lie ahead and so spirited and resilient that it doesn't matter.

"Derek doesn't know he's different and he doesn't know Henry's different, either," Coleman said.

They met by a quirk of fate. Henry thrived in special education kindergarten at Brown Elementary in Turlock last year. But living in the Denair district, and with his sister Lauryn attending Denair Middle School, Rachel Johnson and her husband, T.J., wanted to keep them in the same district. Because of his surgeries, Henry is a bit delayed in his maturity and needed to repeat kindergarten. His parents wanted him to be with the same group of kids all throughout school because experts told them the other children would be more accepting and less likely to tease him. So they moved him to Denair Elementary.

Rachel Johnson decided to prepare the other parents for Henry's arrival, hoping they would prep their children similarly.

"I told the teacher I wanted to address the parents," she said. She showed them a photo of Henry. "It was his first time in regular ed. I told them I have this special little kid, and that I wanted there to be an open line of communication."

While she worried about how the other kids might perceive Henry, he had his own concerns. Though he has amazing dexterity in his surgically separated fingers, there are some things he can't overcome.

"He complained because he can't do the monkey bars," she said.

A few days after school began, she attended another parents' meeting.

"A woman walked up to me and said, 'Hi, I'm Rachel,' " Johnson said. It was Rachel Coleman, Derek's mom.

She told Johnson how much Derek liked Henry, and how they played together. The mothers also talked about their sons' conditions, their surgeries and how much these little boys have in common. They like the same kinds of shoes. They've memorized each other's phone numbers and call each other frequently. They both like hockey. Both have moms named Rachel. The boys visit the same ear, nose and throat specialist in Turlock.

"And I'd never met anyone who'd had the same surgery as Derek," Rachel Coleman said.

Coleman also knew nothing about the Children's Craniofacial Association, or the services it provides. Johnson brought her up to speed.

The boys' bond grew stronger each day. When Derek needed surgery to reconstruct his nose, Henry sent him a gift.

When Henry got an ear infection and needed minor surgery, Derek went with him to the doctor's office.

When winter break began, Derek needed a Henry fix.

"I had to come get Henry," Rachel Coleman said. "He had Henry withdrawals."

So Henry spent New Year's Day with them. And when he arrived back home that night, he carried a large toy motorcycle.

"I asked him, 'Where'd you get that?' " Rachel Johnson said. "He said, 'Derek bought it for me.' "

Indeed, Derek purchased the toy using a Wal-Mart gift card he'd received for Christmas.

"(Henry) found a soul mate in this kid," Rachel Johnson said. "I've never seen two people who aren't related who are as connected as Henry and Derek. They wholeheartedly love each other. Derek has a vocabulary like a fifth-grader. Henry -- you've got to have a special decoding system to understand him. But Derek interprets. He understands every word Henry says."

"Derek speaks perfect Henry," Coleman added.

Two little boys, classmates and best of friends.

Could there be anything more normal than that?"

Full story credit goes to Jeff Jardine and his article.

New T-mobile commercial from the UK!

I really enjoyed watching this commercial on youtube, it made me laugh and gave me a real "feel good" feeling! It was neat to watch and to see some of the random people join in was just too awesome! lol I hope you enjoy! :)

Losing all that extra weight!

This year I am really going to try my best to lose some of this weight that I have put on throughout the years! I usually blame my weight gain on the kids and my three pregnancies being so close together, but honestly it has more to do with my will power or lack there of.....

So with that said I am determined to get a good head start this year on losing the 75lbs that I have to lose in full! While reading one my favorite blogs 5mins for mom a few days ago I came across their awesome contest called "Will Your New Year's Resolution Win You A Wii Fit?" and I knew I just had to join in! While reading about the contest, I noticed that they mention a site called WeightView that is all about visual motivation to help you lose the weight. Well visual motivation can be a HUGE motivating factor for me and so I had to jump right in and submit a photo!

WeightView will take your photo and remove up to 50lbs so that you can see what you will look like after you lose the weight! I submitted my photo and took off the max 50lbs so that I could see what I would look like when I was almost at my ideal weight and the results are below. I have to tell you seeing myself in the after photo has really helped to motivate me to eat better and drink more water. Now if I could only get my butt to the gym! lol

Here is the before and after photo that I submitted to WeightView:

In remembrance of all the Veterans and those who currently serve!

Thank you for all that you do and have done!

How Preemie Moms Are Chosen

I stole this from my friend Lisa's blog today because it was just so powerful that I had to pass it on! I hope you all enjoy and do not end up in tears at the end like I did or you know maybe that is a good thing. ;)

The Special Mother

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit. This year thousands of mothers will give birth to a premature baby. Did you ever wonder how mothers of preemies are chosen?

Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting His instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.

“Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron saint, Matthew.
“Forest, Majorie, daughter. Patron saint, Ceceila.
“Rutledge, Carrie, twins. Patron saint... give her Gerard. He’s used to profanity."

Finally, He passes a name to an angel and smiles, “Give her a premature baby.”

The angel is curious. “Why this one, God? She’s so happy.”

"Exactly, " smiles God. “Could I give a premature baby a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel.”

“But does she have patience?” asks the angel.

“I don’t want her to have too much patience, or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she’ll handle it.

“I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence that are so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I’m going to give her has his own world. She has to make it live in her world and that’s not going to be easy.”

“But, Lord, I don’t think she even believes in you.”

God smiles, “No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness.”

The angel gasps, “Selfishness? Is that a virtue?”

God nods. “If she can’t separate herself from the child occasionally, she’ll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child who comes in a less than perfect way. She doesn’t realize it yet, but she is to be envied.

“She will never take for granted a spoken word. She will never consider a step ordinary. When her child says ‘Mommy’ for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it.

“I will permit her to see clearly the things I see - ignorance, cruelty, prejudice - and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side.”

“And what about her patron saint?” asks the angel, the pen poised in mid-air.

God smiles. “A mirror will suffice.”

-Adapted from
Erma Bombeck
Motherhood The Second Oldest Profession

Special thanks to Lisa From Under The Laundry Heap