Sarah McLachlan TV commercial

This TV commercial is so sad, but I wanted to post it for those of you that have not had the opportunity to see it.

If just one of you watches and ends up visiting an animal shelter to adopt your next pet, then all the tears I have cried while seeing this advertisement will have been worth it.

Please adopt an animal from your local shelter or donate to a worthy cause for an animal....they need us.



Go to MYASPCA.ORG

Is There Really A Silver Lining?

I am a firm believer in the "silver lining" statement.

Most people go through difficult times, heck, everyone does. It varies in degrees from person to person, but we all have our crosses to bear. It's part of life.

I have learned that in every difficult time of my life there has been a silver lining. Without exception. No matter what the problem has been, big or small...there has always been a reward of some form as a result of whatever I went through.

No matter how painful or heartbreaking, I can look back on every situation and find a silver lining some where in that experience.

I'll give you two examples, one small and one rather enormous :)

1. I'll make a long story as short as possible. I was pretty ill and ended up bedridden for a month. It was the middle of the summer, my favorite time of the year. Everyone else was out boating, gardening, going on vacation, going to the lake or river, camping...just doing all the fun things that we all look forward to when Summer arrives. There I was, stuck in bed! I could have spent that time being miserable and feeling sorry for myself, but my "silver lining" was this, every day from 4:30AM until about 9:00PM I had the most spectacular form of entertainment...and it was FREE! I had a hummingbird feeder hung outside my bedroom window and those little birds gave me non-stop entertainment and joy throughout the day!

I look forward to those wonderful little birds return each spring and will do so as long as I live.

2. This example was a pretty big "silver lining". About 30 years ago I was in a very bad car crash. It was 12 days after my wedding day and I was thrown thru the windshield of the truck I was riding in. I was not wearing a seatbelt because I was riding in the center of the bench seat and there was no seatbelt available. When I saw that the truck was going to roll from end to end, I felt myself rise off the seat...I only had time to cover my face with my hands before I hit the glass....the next thing I remember was waking up in a wheat field, unable to move my legs.

The sun was beating down on me, I could barely breathe and my newlywed husband was looking frantically for me under the truck that was now a ball of mangled metal.

The silver lining in this event goes on for pages...I was lucky to be thrown from the truck because where I was sitting, the roof of the cab was crushed to the seat.

I was lucky to have been thrown from the truck because I ended up yards away from where the truck came to rest...it rolled four times and I was fortunate to have landed far enough away that I wasn't crushed under it!

The best silver lining in that event is that I lived and am now a mother of four kids and one grandchild...I have a great life and appreciate every breath I take!

You might have to look real hard to find the silver lining sometimes, but I promise you, it's there...look for it :)

Stone Cairns~Markers For Life

I have always been drawn to stone Cairns. For those of you that are not familiar with cairns, they are rocks that have been placed into formations or piles that are balanced. These cairns are used as markers along a path, road, mountain trail, summits, burial sites and various other places.

When I see a cairn it makes me wonder about the person or people who placed the stones. Why they were moved to build the cairn or add to an existing one. I wonder what their life was like at the moment they placed the stone.

Personally, I view cairns as "life markers". When I build one I let each stone be a memorial to where I have been or where I am headed. Each stone is placed with an affirmation attached to it. I will either silently say the affirmation or say it out lout as I place the stone.

The pictures I have added are some beautiful examples of cairns from different locations.

If you find yourself with some extra time while you are out and about, enjoying nature, sitting on a beach, walking a trail or even broken down on the side of the road...build a cairn and say your affirmations as you place each stone...it might surprise you how meaningful the cairn will be when you are done!

When Life Derails...

Hi everyone,

I'm sorry for the lack of posts, but I have been dealing with family issues resulting from aged parents.

I am reminded of how life is made up of never ending choices. Every choice we make results in a consequence, that's why it is so important to try not to make rash or hurried decisions if at all possible!

Remember to try to think things through, although we do not have a crystal ball that can show us what lies ahead, we can limit the chaos to an extent by making informed, rational, educated choices.

I have spent the last two weeks trying to regain order in my parent's life when most of the problems could have been avoided if he had only made different choices to begin with!

Please remember...life is what you make it, and it all starts with a choice!

Think things through. Concentrate on what out-come you desire and educate yourself on the options available before you act!

The universe has vast rewards for you if you choose to keep order and direction in your focus!

Madam X