Today was full of beautiful blue skies and warm sunshine, with an occasional surprise of a gentle spring breeze. A perfect way to celebrate His victory over death. No matter the struggles, our Heavenly Father provides comfort, peace, and promise of everlasting life. He is risen! My hope and trust are in Him.

I recently finished reading The Hole In Our Gospel by Richard Stearns and I highly recommend it to anyone of any age. It motivates us to make a difference in our world from where we are with what we have.

I am thankful for the food, family, and fun we enjoyed this Thanksgiving Day. My children helped prepare the food and clean up afterwards. The team work of my husband and I preparing the turkey is one that I wish happened every day of the year. I love the aroma of fresh chopped herbs and the the lingering scent of turkey cooking on the grill. The extra effort to create a pretty table made the event more special. Thank you, God for this day.

Thank you to all who are serving in the military and those who served in the past. The United States of America is the greatest nation on earth. Today was an incredible day for me, I organized a Veterans' Day Observance for the Mt. Pleasant Residents. It was amazing. We had boy scouts, junior Air Force Cadets, active military, and WWII veterans. The band played, the people sang, the American Legion post 218 raised the flag, and the chaplain spoke eloquently. The 92 year-old speaker did a phenominal job, as did the Master of Ceremonies, and the army nurse recollecting the horrors of war. The weather could not have been more perfect. Watching the wind blow the American Flag against the backdrop of a glorious blue sky, took my breath away. This was the event of my lifetime and I am so proud to be an American.

Today, we resolved a three year battle with our insurance company and contrator. It didn't end in our favor. I'm thankful for our home and God's peace.

I am thankful for the wonders of the universe. Tonight, the moon was the largest and fullest I've ever seen.

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I am grateful for nature's palate of glorious fall colors, the warmth of the sun, and my daughter playing her absolute best this soccer season. I'm thankful for my son, Tim, making it through rugby season without any major injuries. I'm grateful for Tommy's great first quarter at Ohio State. I'm thankful for the time to read with my son, John. I'm grateful for my husband's determination to find the right opportunity to use his gifts and talents to provide for our family.

Our first sweetest day was twenty eight years ago. By God's grace, our relationship is sweeter today than ever before.

My heart was serendipitously opened to a group of senior adults and in return filled with kindness, encouragement, and genuine love. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve such fascinating individuals.

Letting go of what lies behind. Free to create a new path guided by a gentle whisper.

I hope more people will read and respond to this site. It hasn't worked in the past and I'm trying to get the settings right for it to be operational. Please try to comment and email me with your success or lack there of. Thanks for your time.

Take time to open the windows and breathe in Spring. Take time to look into the face of a child and see innocence. Take time to pet the dog and experience unconditional love. Take time with a teenager and see tomorrow. Take time to walk in the rain and be saturated by God's love. Take time to love the unlovable and know mercy. Take time to give thanks and be blessed.

Where are the strong leaders willing to stand for the principles that built this great country? Where is the common sense? What happened to integrity, honesty, and character?

The economy will recover once the media stops the propaganda of negativity and the government stops rewarding poor leadership.

Faith and fear can not co-exist. I prefer the outcome of unbreakable faith over the results of giving into fear. These are strange and challenging times, unlike I've ever experienced in my short life. Over and over in the Bible it states, By faith...., By faith..., By faith... then explains the great works of many regular people. Just as often, God tells us "Do not fear." In faith we will know victory. How much stronger our nation would be if all believers chose to focus on the promises of God and not the struggles of man?!

Just 30 minutes of activity per day will - increase your energy, improve brain power, increase the happy hormone, strengthen muscles, lengthen your life, decrease risk of disability and disease. An active lifestyle is the wonder drug.

Ways to boost your metabolism while watching TV - walk in place, pretend to be rowing a boat, balance on one foot, heel raises, lay on the floor and pretend you are bicycling, abdominal crunches, do squats or lunges, pretend to be mountain climbing, dance around the room, do dumbbell curls, jump rope, jumping jacks, or any movement, just move. Start small and gradually increase the intensity. Remember to always breathe and control the movement.

A few foods that may help increase metabolism - blueberries, oatmeal, apples

A few choices that may slow your metabolism - high sugary foods, alcohol, skipping meals, a sedentary lifestyle

Live life to the fullest, eat and exercise in moderation.

The day after Christmas we put our beloved golden retriever, Buckeye to sleep. It was quick and peaceful for her, very painful for us. We all had our hand on her as she passed. This was our first family pet and she was the most beautiful dog. I remember when we first rescued her and she curled up in my son's lap, claiming us as her family. We've enjoyed seven great years with her. I've learned from her how to let annoying things roll off my back, to love unconditionally, to greet others with great enthusiasm, to live in the moment, and the best way to teach others is by demonstration. Buckeye taught our new puppy how to act by the way she behaved, no words only action. We will miss her dearly. There is a void in our hearts and our home. I know she is in a better place, running, chasing, sniffing, and sitting perfectly proud. I'll never forget her silky soft ears, the way her tail wagged, and her beautiful dark eyes and multicolored brown coat. Goodbye, Buckeye, we love you.

The Internet is amazing. People are able to communicate to anyone anywhere anytime. I have reconnected with friends from high school, previous jobs, and am making new friends. It has been a blessing and a curse. The computer and the time I spend on it are taking the life out of my living. I plan to be more balanced and not let my days, nights, and all time in-between be sucked away into cyberspace. This is the new addiction. I challenge others to do the same, get some fresh air and walk the dog, read a book, play with your children or meet a friend in person for coffee, lunch, or a movie. Being connected is more than sending words through a computer. Let's be more human and less electronic before our physical and mental systems crash.

Have a great one and thanks for visiting the site. Please share your comments then go see the light of day.

This morning was a true gift. I walked my two dogs in the first snow fall of the season. Snow is fascinating and opens my heart to appreciate the uniqueness of each snowflake and all of God's creations. The slowly falling snow was calming. It truly was a morning to cherish.

Upon my return, I treated myself to a morning of coffee and finishing the book, The Shack. The messages that penetrated my heart are the ones about letting go, trusting God with everything and allowing Him in everything. It creatively expressed the importance of loving others as He so intensely loves us. I thought about relationships, the rules of the church, and the need to forgive from the depth of our soul and to release it. I recommend this book to anyone with an open mind and a willing heart.

To quote Gandhi, "Be the change you want to see in the world." After years of struggling, I hope to be the change I want to see in my family. We all have familial relationships that are difficult to navigate. There are patterns of miscommunication, misunderstanding, and misinformation passed from generation to generation. I want to inspire others to recognize one of those behaviors and conscientiously make the change with your spouse and children. Together, we can break the chain of pain. Please share with us your ways of breaking free from genetic dysfunction and the freedom that resulted from your courageous act.