The Spirit Knows Best

The Year's Best

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:21:00 +0000

The Year's Best

Nothing makes you stop and wonder more than when you come to realize that a year has passed in your life and you aren't sure
just where it went.

Well, you know you lived it because you're here to tell about it, but what difference did it make?

You could say, "Well, I'm a year older."
In some cases you might say, "I'm a year wiser."

But are you any different?
Do you feel different?
Do you think differently?
Do you look different?
Do you act differently than you did a year ago?

What difference has a year made in your life?

If you haven't yet done so, now might be a good time to reflect on the past year.
Jot down a few highlights.
Don't forget the small things that might perhaps be insignificant to someone else,
but that mean something to you.
Take an inventory of all those things that have happened, places you've been,
people you've met, and changes you've made.

Think about the ripple effect. Who else in your life was impacted by the same things that touched you?

If there isn't anything that jumps out at you, I would offer a suggestion.
Take a closer look at the tapestry of your life in the last year.
Even if you have to get out the magnifying glass and inspect the lint of that tapestry.

There are so many little bits and pieces of life that make it good and wonderful and
awe~inspiring. Pick each of them. Collect them all in one place in your heart.

Now you have them to hold onto. The year's best. The best of you. The best of a year in your life.

A soft place to lay your head at night and a warm comfort to cradle your dreams of tomorrow.

Dream anew. Dream big. You have everything you need to propel you into a wonder~full New Year ahead.

Healing a Broken Heart: A Second Chance

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:05:00 +0000

Healing a Broken Heart: A Second Chance

A healer has a broken heart.
And many days have passed.

With sleepless nights spent searching
For the questions never asked……

The doctor said he wanted to do a cardiac catheterization. He said he’s 99% sure there is one or more blockages. He spoke of straight metal stents and medicated stents and open heart surgery. He gave me prescriptions for nitroglycerin and warned me to take it easy until the procedure:
“This is your heart
We’re talking about,” he said calmly and deliberately.
It couldn’t be physical, I argued in my head. My numbers are so good.
Good cholesterol. Good triglycerides. Great ratio of good to “bad” cholesterol.
What, then?

In that very instant an inner voice said:
You have a broken heart.
Oh that’s crazy, I thought.
How could the squeezing pain in my chest be a broken heart?
People don’t actually have “broken” hearts.
That’s just a romantic notion invented
by some lovesick poet long ago in a land far away.
A fairytale.
An enigma, at best.

The thought persisted:
You have a broken heart.

I paused to listen. There was more to this.
I had known about the mind –body connection
With regard to disease.
I was also aware of the phenomenon that all that is evident in the physical realm originates in the spiritual realm.
Did I have dis-ease? Perhaps.
Was I aware of it? No, not consciously, at first.
Did it exist? Well, yes, it did. It became apparent in my physical body.

So I set out to learn what brought me to this place.

I had to ask what I’d done or
Not done
That left me in this condition.
Through the course of introspection and reflection I came upon the question of my own mortality. That’s not so surprising considering the nature of the situation. My heart is involved.

I asked myself a few questions, but not very far into the self-exam did THE question present itself.

If there was one thing in the whole wide world that you could have, do or be before you die, what would it be?

Aha! I see where this is going.
THIS is headed in the direction of regret or remorse.

This was not an indication to me that I felt I might die, but something much more profound.

This was a revelation about what I truly wanted, something that I absolutely, without a doubt had to do before I leave this world, something I had, in fact, left undone.

And in not so graceful fashion it became clear to me:

I had stuffed my feelings and hopes and dreams into some remote corner of my heart. I had stuffed them there for safe-keeping, for some distant day when the time was right, for some someone to give me permission to be who I am, live the life I was meant to live, and to love with all my heart. My heart. My heart is swelling with those improbable hopes and inflamed with the slow-burning embers of my once white-hot dreams. My heart is now filled to capacity and the flow of life is being blocked, literally.

As long as live, there is time to fix it, I thought.
There’s time! There’s still time!
There’s still time to take action.
It’s not too late…yet.

So the cardiologist will do the procedure.
Will he find a blockage? Can he see a broken heart?
Will it be mended before he gets there?

It started as an intangible, ethereal experience: unresolved feelings, unrealized dreams, stifled hopes,
That has, over the years, translated into physical pain and damage….but damage that can be mended, if given the chance.

I have been reminded of these words time and again over the last several years and never have they made more sense to me than right now:
“Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life…” Proverbs 4:23
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12

I know now what I must do.

My life is depending on it.

The Spirit of Giving: My Online Charity Benefit Party

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:47:00 +0000

The Spirit of Giving:My Online Charity Benefit Party

I wanted to help my BigCrumbs friend, Jessica, by hosting this party but I wanted to do something more....

This online Charity Benefit Party is on behalf of the many homeless and less fortunate people in the community.

My goal is to present a large gift basket to the local City Mission that will be auctioned off in a Chinese auction.

The proceeds from this auction will help, in part, the men, women and children who come to the shelter everyday for meals, and clothing, and a warm, dry safe place to be.

This auction will be done just in time for their annual Thanksgiving Dinner which serves hundreds of people a hearty Thanksgiving meal that these folks would not otherwise be able to enjoy!

Please know that your purchases will help make this possible!
Not only will you be getting some great gift items for yourself, your friends, loved ones and co-workers but you will be doing a great act of kindness as well!
I thank you in advance for your support.

Please visit my online Charity Benefit Party here.

The New 2008 Holiday Catalog is now available!! Start your shopping early and get it out of the way!

Check out all the new items here.

Give someone the perfect gift this year, an e-gift certificate ~ Perfect for weddings, birthdays, holidays, or for that person that you just don't know what to get!!

Let's kick off this Season of Giving in the grand Spirit of Giving!

May you all be abundantly blessed for your support and generosity!

Robin

Charity Benefit Party
charity
homeless
Season of Giving
Spirit of Giving
Holiday Spirit
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A Candidate For Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:30:00 +0000

A Candidate For Fun

Love Me Now While I Am Living

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:37:00 +0000

Love Me Now While I Am Living

~ Original Author Unknown
modified by Robin Lee Sardini

If you're ever going to love me,
Love me now, while I can know
The sweet and tender feelings,
From which true affections flow.
Love me now, while I am living.
Do not wait until I'm gone,
And then chisel it in marble,
Tender words on ice-cold stone.
If you have loving thoughts of me,
Please, tell me now, I pray.
No, don't wait another minute,
We may only have today.....
If you wait until I'm sleeping,
Never wakening here again,
There'll be walls of earth between us,
And I would not hear you then.
So, if you ever loved me,
Even just a little bit,
Let me know while I am living,
So I'll feel and treasure it.

Life Lessons: When The Fog Lifts

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:08:00 +0000

Life Lessons: When The Fog Lifts

When people disappear from the forefront of life for an extended period of time there is usually a reason. What goes on behind the scenes at times like these is not apparent and may never become "public" knowledge. However, there does come a day when re-emergence is inevitable and a welcome relief.

Today is that day, for me.

Pain is a teacher, albeit, abrupt and seemingly brutal at times, especially when one comes to class somewhat unprepared. Although familiar with emotional and physical pain on an intimate level, the soul~cutting, faith~searing, heart~rending pain I suddenly faced was neither patient nor polite. It barged upon the scene and shoved its way past my shock and disbelief, into the deepest recesses of my spiritual experience thus far.

I was forced to go where I had never been before and ask questions that I had never had to ask.

There was more at stake than I had realized. Other people were more directly involved in this than I was. This wasn't about me.

My first instinct was to be strong and supportive. I found myself morphing into a caregiver once again. I hadn't been in that role for many years, but it just "kicked in" at the most critical moment. Like riding a bike, as they say.

My reaction was delayed for a few days. Somewhere inside I was processing the feeling of violation triggered by this uninvited "guest". There was no way I could describe it then.

Where did I go? Why did I find it so hard to reach out? Why couldn't I put it into words? I could always rely on writing when it was difficult to speak.

But the words...had abandoned me in silence. Mind~fog, like a heavy shroud, draped itself over my thoughts. It lingered for days. I retreated to deal with what was taking place.

As new information became available, there was only one thing on my mind: to make as sure as I could that hopelessness would not rob my loved ones of their faith and belief that God could take this situation and turn it around for good.

I prayed for my loved ones, and felt the continuing prayers of others. The fog began to lift, ever so slowly.

I did a lot of reading, some research, and finally was able to reach out.

The lessons are getting easier as the days go by. I have come to realize that some things are never fully learned, that there is a continual learning process in this life.

It is my hope that by sharing some of these things with you, that you will find a measure of comfort in being better prepared than I was when facing down fear, and painful life events.

Important Life Lessons:

1. Sometimes there are no words, and that's ok.

2. It's ok to ask questions, even the tough ones.

3. It's important to be yourself. Just be who you are.

4. Take it easy on yourself in difficult times.

5. Ask for help. Reach out to friends and loved ones.
Rely on your support network.

6. Establish or re~establish your spiritual connections.
Lay down your defenses and talk to God and your
spiritual counselors openly and honestly.

7. If there is something to be said, say it.
There may not be another opportunity.

8. If there is "unfinished business", something left undone,
do it as soon as you are up to it.

9. Healing comes in different forms, at different times,
and on many different levels.

10. We never walk this road alone.

life lessons
love
pain
faith
hope
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Pay It Forward

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Fri, 30 May 2008 19:27:00 +0000

Pay It Forward

pay it forward
second chance
generosity
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Manifestation: A True Story

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Fri, 16 May 2008 11:06:00 +0000

Manifestation: A True Story

Times were tough for her. There wasn't enough money to pay the bills. The electric bill was due in two days. She didn't have much, certainly not enough in the checking account to cover it. She had no savings to speak of....but she had Faith that God would provide. Somehow. Some way.

She remembered her change box, a 4"x10"x4" cedar box, which held her loose change. She slowly opened the dusty lid hoping to find something other than coins. Instead she found the box half full, mostly pennies. Oh, there were a few nickels and dimes and quarters in her little treasure chest, but not enough to make even one roll of coins. She held her breath and half~whispered a short prayer...

Hesitantly, she swept her hand through the change in the little cedar box hoping to reveal more shiny silver. She carefully picked through the coins, looking for quarters, the largest and easiest coins to see. There were a few...

"If only I could find enough quarters to make a roll, $10," she thought to herself.

She swept her fingers through the coins once again. And again. There were a couple more quarters. She took them out and placed them on the small pile of others.

Surely, if she'd missed these, there had to be more.

Once again she sifted the coins through her fingers, scooping up handful after handful, meticulously searching each one.

There were no more quarters.

She paused, closed the lid, and bowed her head. As her hope waned, she teetered on the brink of giving up, but then something happened. A glimmer of hope quickened within her. She remembered that God had always provided before....and certainly this time would be no different. The sacred words that she'd learned as a child came flooding back into her mind..."Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen...if you have faith as a mustard seed...nothing will be impossible for you!"

Her heart swelled with expectation. She quickly counted the quarters in the pile. $2.75. Ok.

Her heart pounded with excitement as she opened the little cedar box once more. She reached inside and swept her fingers through the coins that were left.

And there they were...more quarters...back to back...in twos and threes! She hurriedly picked them out and began placing them in stacks of four.

She swept through coins again as giggles of gratitude bubbled out and tears of joy filled her eyes. Each time she placed her hand in the box she discovered more quarters! They manifested right before her eyes, continuing to appear in groups of two and three.

She repeated the process several more times, placing the coins in stacks of four.
She was overwhelmed. She knew she was witnessing a miracle!

At last there were no more quarters to be found. She counted her stacks. There were twenty eight in all. Not twenty eight quarters. No. Twenty eight stacks of four quarters each! That's one hundred twelve quarters!

She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God had provided this miracle of manifestation. There is no possible way she could have missed 101 more quarters in that small cedar box!

She now had enough money to pay the electric bill with a few dollars left over.

In the swirling mix of raw emotion, she closed her eyes and whispered, "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."

miracle
manifestation
faith
prayer
Law of Attraction
The Spirit Knows Best
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Happy Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Sun, 11 May 2008 17:01:00 +0000

If today is a day of celebration with the mom in your life, may it be a very special day for you and your loved ones.

If today is a day of remembrance and sadness, may you find comfort in knowing how very much you are loved.

Peace.

Joe Vitale's AAA Plan to Wealth

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:20:00 +0000

Joe Vitale's AAA Plan to Wealth

This is Joe's gift to us...
He's a funny and brilliant. A truly generous and Loving man!

Giving

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:56:00 +0000

What I Can Give

I give you my absolute friendship, a sure hand to hold,
A strong shoulder to cry on, lean on and cling to.
Uplifting words of comfort and hope.
A listening ear and arms to gently embrace you
In good times and bad.
I give you all the time you need
To tell me what's on your heart.
A loving touch, a heartfelt smile.
A true reflection of the beauty of you.
An answer in your seeking.
An assurance in your doubt.
A stronghold in your stumbling.
A beacon in the dark night of your soul.
I am here for you.
Whenever you need me.
Because I am your friend.

Friends In New Places

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:42:00 +0000

Friends In New Places

I can't pass up the opportunity to share something special with my friends, not if I really am a friend. This isn't my usual post, so...
Take what you like and leave the rest....

I've been very blessed recently in discovering some very cool people. Some of them have requested my friendship onMySpace while others I've met on a new social networking site called Zenzuu.
One guy who calls himself "Social Network" (real name: Jim) actually lived in the small town here in PA that I lived in two years ago! It IS a small world!

Jim shared something with me that I thought would benefit any and all of you. How many of you have used PayPal? Well, then you know what a payment processor is and how it works, right? Ok, good. Pretty straightforward.

Here's the deal:
There's a way to get some quick FREE CASH into the hands of your teammates, your friends, your loved ones or strangers off the street ;-) that they could use for advertising, business~building, gift~giving or whatever...It's about the easiest, quickest $25 I've made. But it EXPIRES 5/15/08.

It's free to sign up and you get $25 in your account immediately!

It's a new payment processor that will compete with PayPal ...it has the former CEO of Mastercard International, a former U.S. Treasury Secretary and a smorgasbord of other similar corporate names behind it.

But the real point is, it's a FAST EASY $25-$500. You won't get rich, but besides the FREE $25, they give you $10 for the first 50 people you tell who do the same (i.e. $500 max).

If you do it and get your $25+, please leave me a comment here or on my profile page and let me know all went well.

Go see!

Are you debating? My $25 is already in my account. Why wait? Get yours now and tell your friends so they can be blessed, too!

Be Blessed! (I am ;-)

Undercover Work Has Its Privileges

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:43:00 +0000

Undercover Work Has Its Privileges

Imagine for a moment hiding out in a 3'x 5' cardboard box on the cold, hard concrete floor under a conveyor in a dark, isolated loading dock...
Imagine staying there in complete silence for hours (and what seemed like days) waiting for the elusive credit card thief to make his appearance...
Sound like your idea of fun?
No, not mine either, but that's just one of the things I did in my undercover days.
What were the privileges, you ask.
Hmmm...Now let me think.

1. Not getting caught. ;-)
2. Not getting loaded onto the conveyor and sent who knows where.
3. Not getting *shipped out in a big semi to an unknown destination.

I don't know, that* may have been fun, but I'm really glad I didn't have to find out.

I forgot to mention there are no restrooms in a 3' x 5' cardboard box, let alone the trailer of semi. The accommodations are less than desirable.
But I learned a valuable lesson: never hide in a cardboard box trying to catch a thief when you've had 2 1/2 glasses of iced tea for lunch and it hasn't made its way to its unknown destination yet.

Enjoy your day!

The Power Of Love

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 04:01:00 +0000

The Power Of Love

There is nothing else like it. You know what I'm talking about.

The Power of Love.

It leaves you speechless. It rocks your world.

You know I'm talking to you. That's right.

The Power
of
Love.

"She loved you beyond any love she had ever known or would know..."

Happy Valentine's Day!

love
Happy Valentine's Day
relationships
The Power of Love
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A Winning Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 11:15:00 +0000

A Winning Blog

Santa's Blog of The Day

Yesterday, someone, a very special "secret pal", nominated The Spirit Knows Best for Santa's Blog of The Day.

Well, I'm happy to report there was a tie. I am honored today (on Super Bowl Sunday, yet) to be a co~winner with Julie of Julie's Blog ! Well~done, Julie! You did a tremendous service to the blogging community with your participation in Mel's Big Bang.

Thank you,Santa, for creating this award and making this whole process possible!

The jolly old elf in the red suit deserves a big hug!

I especially want to thank all of you who voted. I am touched by your kindness!

Be sure to go to Santa's blog right now and nominate your favorite blog for Santa's Blog of The Day! Have fun!

Santa's Blog of The Day
Santa
link love
The Spirit Knows Best
Julie's Blog
A winning blog
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Home: An Urgent Call to Action

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:55:00 +0000

Home: An Urgent call to Action

This post is reprint from Ms. Maggie Moo Talks 2 U

Please visit her blog to see the pictures about this situation and, if so moved, to contribute to Jamie's Legal Fund. A picture speaks a thousand words and Maggie tells the rest of the story...

(Note: You may also want to read the post written by Jamie's mother, Linda, at Blue Ribbon Bloggers)

***AFTER READING THIS POST, PLEASE CONSIDER COPYING IT AND POSTING IT ON YOUR BLOG-THE MORE EXPOSURE THIS GETS, THE BETTER***

She tries to sleep, but she can’t-the noises coming from the only bedroom in the trailer are too loud, too embarrassing. Rolling over she faces the wall and hopes that her father will finish what he’s doing and that her step-mother won’t make any more noise.

She’s living every teenage girl’s nightmare.

It’s bad enough that she was torn from her friends in Kentucky-but living here, in this cramped, dirty trailer with no privacy and no indoor shower is the icing on the cake. Fitting in at school was out of the question-her father made sure of that by not allowing her to socialize outside of class & eventually, she woke up one morning knowing that she would no longer walk the halls of freedom, but instead would be taught in the very trailer she slept in.

It’s probably for the best, she thinks-if anyone ever found out that they make me wear hand me down underwear I’d be the laughing stock of the state anyway…

She wishes she could move home-to her real home-with her mother and sister in Connecticut. There she would be nurtured and cared for, and allowed to be a teenager…allowed to have opinions and ideas and to cut her hair the way she likes it.

But she knows she can’t. He’s making sure of that too…

Jamie wants to come home.

Many of you know Linda fromAre We There Yet?. And perhaps you know that she has two daughters, Amanda and Jamie. Amanda lives with Linda here in CT and Jamie lives in Florida with her father and his wife.

Life for Jamie is not going well.

Jamie is living a lonely life in a cramped, dirty trailer with guardians who won’t allow her to be an individual. She is not allowed to have friends. She can’t choose her own music or movies and she can’t even cut her hair. She has to shower in a common area of a camp ground because her “home” doesn’t have a shower.

She is homeschooled by her stepmother-a woman who is not qualified to take on such a task and Jamie is, for sure, behind other kids her age academically. No doubt, she will also fall behind socially as well.

Though Jamie has expressed to her father that she wants to move to Connecticut to live with her mother, he will not allow it. His reasoning is that Linda is not a good mother.

His reasoning is bull****.

When Jamie visits, it is easy to see that she flourishes. Her smile is bright and it’s clear that being allowed to smile and laugh and to be a little quirky is the reason. Anyone who reads Linda’s blog knows that she is a caring and attentive mother who strives to give both of her children what they deserve.

The man that Jamie and Amanda call Dad is not a good man. He remarried and is completely wrapped up in his new marriage and does not care what happens to Jamie. If he believes that Linda is a bad mother because Amanda has blue hair, then I wonder what he would say if she were to cast her daughter out of her life simply because she was a little different…

Of course, Linda would never do that-but he did. Amanda lived with her father at one time, and was sent back to live with Linda because she didn’t “fit in” to the family he wanted to create. He no longer speaks to her. Now tell me, how can a man who disowns one daughter ever be a better parent than one who loves unconditionally?

He can’t.

And that’s why Jamie needs to come home.

Being a single mother who makes “too much money” (read: she makes over the poverty level) Linda does not qualify for financial assistance for legal aid, and therefore is having trouble getting a lawyer’s attention. In CT, courts consider a custody award as subject to change until the child involved grows up, and in most states proof of a "change in circumstances" may overturn an earlier award. This flexibility is intended to allow for the correction of poor or outdated decisions.

Jamie has vocalized to both parents that she wishes to move. Her dad has vocalized that it will never happen. Linda made a promise to Jamie that she would do anything in her power to get here home.

But she needs our help.

On my sidebar I have posted a magic button-this magic button allows you to donate to the Get Jamie Home Legal Fund. The faster you click, the faster you will help change the life of one little girl who very much needs a new life.

Please help. We’ve seen in the past that every penny helps…even if you can only donate $5, please consider doing it.

Jamie needs to come home.

Ms. Maggie Moo Talks 2 U
Blue Ribbon Bloggers
plea for help
home
Jamie's Legal Fund
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The Power of Intention

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:26:00 +0000

The Power of Intention

I came across this video the other day at The Ordinary Mystic.

It speaks to the recent studies about the Power of Intention. Loving intention is proven to be a powerful, life~affirming force. It can take the form of loving thought, directed desire, focused prayer, and purposeful action.

It is important to note that we can direct this loving intention to others. There are so many people who can benefit from our intervention and intercession. To intercede, according to Webster, means "1. to plead or make a request on behalf of another 2. to intervene for the purpose of producing agreement; mediate". When we align ourselves with the Highest Good on behalf of someone else, when we agree, some remarkable things can happen.

We are wholly connected to each other and when we acknowledge this connectedness and align ourselves in Love, we become one with Divine Love. Divine Love is unconditional, embraces us at our point of need, and has the Power to restore us to our full potential and rightful place in this Abundant Universe. When we open our hearts and our hands in Love, it comes back to us in full measure. There is more than enough Love to go around. And good things follow in its footsteps.

Where there was lack, there is now Provision.
Where there was despair, there is now Hope.
Where there was brokenness, there is now Healing.
Where there was bad news, there is now a Good Report.
Where there was loneliness, there is now Love.
Where there was strife, there is now Peace.

It may not happen in an instant, but when we begin shift our focus and activate the Power of Loving Intention, we plant the seeds for miracles to grow. When seeds are planted we expect them to grow, don't we?

In closing, I'd like to leave you with these words from the Good Book:
"Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and anything praiseworthy ~ think on these things."

If we change our thoughts, just imagine the possibilities...

Intention
The Power of Intention
Law of Attraction
Think On These Things
Love
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The Band Meme

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:57:00 +0000

The Band Meme

"The hurrier I go, the behinder I get"...but still moving right along...

Mimi, Queen of Memes tagged me for The Band Meme.

"Yikes," I thought. Me? What do I know about memes and bands and photo editing?

Well, after some trepidation I decided to tiptoe over to Flickr and ask the photographer,Santa Rubita if I might use her photo, "Martiina" in a Band Meme. She so graciously and enthusiastically agreed. Yes!

My next hurdle was getting that Paint program to do what I wanted it to do...
That is a whole other story.
Here is how my album cover turned out:

Will Be Better Tomorrow by The Ansonia
Originally uploaded by QuietProsperity

Here's whatMimi had to say:

"The Band Meme

Here's how it goes. You are about to have your own band's CD cover. Follow these directions to the letter...It's fun and requires no thought at all. Go to......

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random

The first article title on the page is the name of your band.

2. http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3

The last four words of the very last quote is the title of your album.

3. http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/

The third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4. Use your graphics program of choice to throw them together, and post the result as a comment in this post. Also, pass it along in your own journal because it’s more amusing that way."

Here's Mimi's post with many of the beautiful album covers and here is the scroll box with links to all the album covers to date:

The Band Meme

Band memers: Bud - The Band Meme WTIT Style, Linda at Are We There Yet?, Sandee at Comedy Plus , Mimi Lenox at Mimi Writes, Bands That Rock - EDog's Everything Page Bond's Big Leather Couch , Crazy Working Mom , Coffee2Go , Hammer , Julie's Jewels and Junque , Lyn's Last Minute Life , Speedcat Hollydale Page, Knit For Joy , Gill's Jottings, Lee at Tarheel Ramblings, Jamie from Duward Discusssions, Maggie Moo Talks2U, My View Of It, Colin at Life, Work of the Poet, Mauigirl's Meanderings, Lori from Hahn At Home, The Painted Veil, Dixie's Heart and Soul, Anndi's Luggage, Monday Morning Power, Peanut, Peanut Butter Jelly2! , Asara's Mental Meanderings, Mr. Lance Solitary Views, Diary of a Heretic, Kids, Cats, & Books - Nola Dawn, Observations From the Back 40, Late Bloomer Boomer , My Dogs Keep Me Sane - Misty Dawn, Random Autumness, Foxxfyrre's Honk 'n Hollr, Screw Perfection, Olga, The Traveling Bra, Trav's Thoughts, Andrena Getting a Grip on Grace, Everything and Nothing Blog-Blond, Lowdown From Lois Writer Cramps, Friday Night Fish Fry Butchy and Snickers, The Ice Box, Robin at The Spirit Knows Best

Have fun!

Mimi Queen of Memes
The Band Meme
The Spirit Knows Best
Will Be Better Tomorrow
Turbo Tagger

Bloggers of The World 2007~2008

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 22:17:00 +0000

Bloggers of The World 2007~2008

I am honored to be among these noteworthy and inspiring blog authors! Their messages are life~changing and world~changing. It's happening...one blog at a time. Thank you, Colin and Shinade for this tribute and award!

An Award for you ALL.

Please take this award with my gratitude, feel free to pass it on to other Global Bloggers. Please do NOT change any links, add to the list if you like but if you copy this list please leave it unchanged.

All I ask is that you link back to here as the original point of reference

Lots of names on this list, are you among them?

For anyone who cannot copy the scroll box here is the full list of names:

0-Cotojo 1-Lisa , 2-Kim,

3-Deborah, 4-Pearl, 5-Sandy,

6-Jesse, 7-Chris, 8- Colin

9-Santa, 10-Blog Elf, 11-Jackie,

12-Marzie, 13-Adrian, 14-Jos,

15-NAFA SG, 16-Paula, 17-Sue,

18-Kathy 19-Maartje, 20-Morgan,

21-Greg, 22-MaryAnn, 23-Eric,

24-Hawk, 25-Carol, 26-Diane,

27-Ev Nucci, 28-Surjit, 29-Kuanyin,

30-Christy Z, 31-Sandee, 32-Robin,

33-Hanna, 34-Maunie, 35-Kim,

36-Bobby, 37-Billy, 38-David, 39-Jennifer,

40-Aryst, 41-Winston, 42-Christy,

43-LilyRuth, 44-Jess, 45-Rudy,

46-Lynda, 47-Lili, 48-Sandy G,

49-Ange, 50-BlackWyrm, 51-Vincent,

52-Colin & Anne, 53-Blandly Urbane, 54-Marco,

55-Mihaela Lica, 56-John C, 57-Aziz-sm,

58-Ugyen, 59-Lansy, 60-Alex Badalic,

61-Victors, 62-Nostalgia Manila, 63-Franco Yong,

64-Herby, 65-Rubie, 66-Santaram & BVK,

67-Jean-david, 68-Namgay, 69-Catherine,

70-Yunita P, 71-Debbie Dolphin, 72-Lorimer Black,

73-Dream Catcher, 74-Fred Plimley, 75-Anja Merret,

76-Maria Lourdes, 77-Jon B, 78-Aayush,

79-Denise, 80-Dharmendra P, 81-Brent D,

82-Jerry & Daryl McCoy, 83-Brian B, 84-Calvin Innes,

85-Pieter Marburn, 86-Jessica Field, 87-Taflas,

88-Alex Sysoef, 89-Norie, 90-Justin Stanley,

91-Ashish, 92-David Ledoux, 93-Thanate Tan,

94-Kevin, 95-Etienne, 96-Gerbera,

97-Christina, 98-Abhishek d, 99-Uprai,

100-Texas_Jam, 101-Azmiel, 102-Daniel,

103-Kristin B, 104-Luwis, 105-Adavait,

106-Now Sourcing, 107-Buen Amigo, 108-Kiran Pande,

109-Peterson Wong, 110-Lynn, 111-Chessnoid,

112-Luis Hipolito, 113-Joliveira, 114-Jennifer & Pete,

115-Team Dog, 116-Megan, 117-Mark,

118-Raivyn, 119-Mel, 120-Andrea,

121-Jen / domestika, 122-Mimi, 123-Bobo,

124-Lynda Lehmann, 125-Dread Bob, 126-Blue Ribbon Bloggers,

127-RennyBA, 128-Bobbarama, 129-Becky,

130-Magdalena, 131-Michelle, 132-Stacie,

133-Climate of Our Future Team, 134-CashMarble, 135-OilOffShoreMarine,

136-Jos Additional BlogLove, 137-Piper, 138-Barbara,

139-Ann Clemmons, 140-Deb, 141-madang.com,

142-RamblingMoo.com, 143-blogginginmypyjamas, 144-StylewithPassion,

145-Chinneeq, 146-Dora-zooropazoo, 147-Babyshern,

148-HiPnCooLMoMMa 149-Rachel’s Soulful Thoughts 150-When Silence Speaks,

151-Dancing in Midlife Tune, 152-Underneath it All, 153- I am Dzoi,

154-Hobbies and Such, 155-moms…..check nyo, 156-Choc Mint Girl,

157-Amel’s Realm, 158- My Thoughts, 159-Rusin Roundup,

160-Juliana’s Site, 161-Max, 162-Rooms of My Heart,

163-A Great Pleasure, 164-LadyJava’s Lounge, 165-Jesie,

166-Steven, 167-Trinity, 168-Leena,

169-Nick, 170-Nessa, 171-Debbie Dolphin,

172- Anna t, 173-krrey_boo, 174-Logic,

175-Steve Ho, 176-Virtual Entrepreneur, 177-WalksFarWoman,

178-Anna, Beth & Cory’s Mom, 179-Toon, 180-Belinda

181-EPSpeaks, 182-Teacher Julie 183-jafajfer,

184-pmonchet, 185-Aslan, 186-arouetvoltaire ,

187-Tanny, 188-Il vaso di Pandora, 189-Non Lineare,

190-Omniamundamundis, 191-LineaNeuronica, 192-Semplicemente Lisa

193-la penna che graffia 194-Angelbaby, 195-Divya,

196-Cyn, 197-Donna, 198-Liudmila,

199-djeblog, 200-Gracie Belle, 201-Reverend Ray,

202-Walter Winstuff, 203-Denny, 204-Terry (mee mOe),

205-awannabe, 206-Z.S., 207-Il Gnagnera,

208-Kevin Grieves, 209-DatCurious, 210-DatMoney,

211-Sanni, 212-Rolando’s Quiet Space, 213-SatoNa ,

214-Levian , 215-21Knots, 216-PuTLie,

217-Riciard’s, 218-Darlene, 219-Rantings of a Woman,

220-La Place de Cherie , 221-Enjoying The Ride, 222-A Window To Our World,

223-Juliana, 224-Retchel’s Pure Life, 225-We Are Family,

226-Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, 227-Echoes of Life, 228-My 3 Boys and I,

229-Mammagatta, 230-Juliana’s Lair, 231-Bless Sanctuary,

232-Confessions of An Army Wife , 233-Jean’s my So-called Life, 234-So cute tiny pixels,

235-Denz Techtronics Blog, 236-Wanna Be On Top!, 237-Carpe Diem,

238-My so-called Life, 239-TEEBOB, 240-Kikay,

241-Alaverde33, 242-CC’s Lifestyles and Reviews, 243-Pinay’s Lifestyles,

244-Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, 245-The Creativity Of Me, 246-OzLife

247-Scattered Thoughts of Mine, 248-Another Journal of Mine, 249-My Drama,

250-By The Way, 251-Paul, Toni and Lance - Bridging the Distance, 252-Live Love Pink,

253-In The Lance’s Mind, 254-My Life, 255-Rants and Ramblings,

256-WorldBlog, 257-Our Journey to Life, 258-Simply the best,

259-Paul and Toni, 260-Alpha’s Blog, 261-because life is fun,

262-The Simple Life of a Baghag, 263-PoeARtica, 264-Sweet Lullaby,

265-AnitoKid, 266- Lisa WAHM, 267-Ben Spark

268-Kesa, 269-Mauro, 270-Sindi

271-Alianorah, 272-Jennie, 273-CTN,

274-Jeremy, 275-Polliwog’s Pond, 276-Yvette,

277-Ali (DorisDay), 278-Rodney, 279-Alice,

280- WBAustin, 281-Max, 282-Rodney

283-Karen, 284-Michelle, 285-Stacy

286-SvenMarin, 287-CoolingStar9, 288-Billy Jack,

289-bbrian, 290-Cris Zimermann, 291-Franx,

292-Ramil, 293-JaniceNW, 294-Cathrina Jones

295-Bels, 296-Raman, 297-Jeques,

298-NPSG, 299-Anndi, 300-Georganna,

301-Jeane Michelle Culp, 302-Sam Chan, 303-Kumowai

Link Love Rules - Make Blogs Not Wars.

Bloggers of The world 2007-2008
link love
Colin at Life
Shinade at The Painted Veil
Turbo Tagger

Decorated Hearts

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:09:00 +0000

Decorated Hearts

As I put away the Christmas decorations for another year, I am reminded that the Spirit of Christmas need not be put away. In fact, our hearts can remain decorated all year long.

I responded to a post by Maunie James entitled "The Christmas Clean-up" in just this way: "Your house may be absent the Christmas nuances but your heart remains decorated all year through :-)"

Each new day is a special gift to be opened with the wonder of a child opening presents on Christmas morning.

Every smile we see and each hello we give brings joy to the giver and recipient alike.

Love overflows in the spontaneous embrace of a child and that familiar nudge and lick from a cherished four-legged friend.

The stark white, million tiny snowflakes that gently swirl down to the shivering earth is a comforting blanket, a pristine portrait of peace, if only for a time.

The kind words of a precious friend uplift and bring hope for days to come.

As my dear friend Julie Jordan Scott wrote in her inspiring blog:
"Barbara Kingsolver wrote, 'The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope.' I am choosing to live there, in that hope."

Me, too, Julie. Me, too.

May you be blessed in this New Year with health and hope. And may your hearts
be decorated all year long!

Christmas Spirit
New Year
Decorated Hearts
hope
Turbo Tagger

Awards & Blessings

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 15:44:00 +0000

It was bound to happen sooner or later...I have been bogged down and of course, am now feeling the anxiety for being bogged down and not posting...

So I must go back to the essence of Ho'oponopono and say to myself: "I love you. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you." There. I breathe it in. I believe it. I exhale. That's much better.

I want to acknowledge the individuals who have given me some amazing awards recently. I feel like Sally Fields who, when accepting her second Oscar 1985, said,
"...and I can't deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me!"

It's a combination of pleasure and disbelief and gratitude.

I am honored and touched to receive the Be The Blog Award. It was given to me by my good friend, Speedcat Hollydale .

This is what he said: "I would like to give this award to "one" person that is a light shining so bright. Robin Lee Sardini sends a message of hope and love to everyone, and her passion for spreading the Lord's message across the blogosphere is commendable. This lady cares about people, and is a special friend to me." This brought tears to my eyes.

Mark from Me And My Drum is the creator of this great new blog badge. Mark said, "This badge is for bloggers who make their blog their own, stay with it, interact with their readers, and have fun!"
Since I was over there to accept my badge Mark has added another color, Purple Passion.
And so it is with great joy that I pass this award on to Jennifer over at Goodness Graciousness , Christy over at Christy's Coffee Break ,
Simone at Outfit Inspirations , AC at A Circle of Women , Mimi over at Mimi Writes , Polli at Polliwog's Pond , and WaterLearner who writes Journey with Water Learner and Life's Prisms .
You may all stop on by Mark's blog and pick up your new award!

The next surprise I received was an award from Brad Blogbee who co-authors with Polli over at Polliwog's Pond . It's called The Good Buzzz Blog Award and according to Brad it's "for blogs that have generated a happy hum in the blogosphere". Thank you Brad!

And then to add whip cream on top of this ginormous bowl of chocolate fudge ice cream, I received an award that Colin created over at Life called Best Blogging Buddies Award for Global Communities. I am honored to receive this award, too. I have to pass this award on to Bobby at Revellian Dot Com , Mimi at Mimi Writes , and Speedcat Hollydale at Speedcat Hollydale Page. Head on over to Colin's blog and pick up your new award! Congratulations!

You have given me many new blessings to count!

blessings
ho'oponopono
blogging awards
Turbo Tagger

Answers Will Come

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:03:00 +0000

Answers Will Come

There are times in this life when we really don't understand why things happen.

We wonder why this happened now,

why this happened to me,

why this happened at all .

I don't like the feeling that I don't know why. It's a squirming, twisting kind of thing. It is very uncomfortable and sometimes even painful.

Answers to questions like these are funny things. Answers answer to no man (or woman). They come on their own terms, when they are ready.

It is better for me to shift my focus when I start to feel the squirming. Knowing what I do about how answers work, it is best for me to release my need to know for the time being. I open my heart and mind, I open my mouth in prayer and simply let go of that control. It is in God's hands.
The answers, the outcome...all of it.

There are more productive things I can do in the meantime. Waiting is extremely hard for most of us, but filling that waiting period with meaningful things and thoughts and people can certainly ease the discomfort.

It means stepping out of my own head for a moment..sometimes it's only possible to do that for brief periods of time. For example, in the case of grief, it is important to be with the feeling in order to process it completely. We can't ignore it or it goes underground only to surface later on in the form of depression or some kind of illness. However, we are allowed, even encouraged, to take a break and step out of ourselves briefly to see something good in this day, something beautiful in the people around us, some project or activity or holiday we can look forward to. And there are cases when we can see that another person's pain is deeper than our own so we are able to offer comfort to them.

Waiting is a time for reflection, recovery and growth. Answers will come. All in good time.

Sometimes it is not as important to know why or to know when as to know who.
When things happen to us, the who is always us.

Though I have no control over what others think, feel, say or do I am the one who can choose how I will react to what happens. I am the who. (No, not Dr. Seuss' "Who" ;-) I will shift my focus and ask myself, "What's good about this? What could be good about this? What can I do differently as a result of this? In what ways will I be a stronger, better (you insert the adjective here) person in spite of this?"

These are the kind of questions that produce helpful and, very often, quick answers. Like Mimi's Peace Globes congregating outside her door, you'll have answers lining up to reveal themselves to you. A brainstorm of answers.

I promise, the answers will come, whether it's instantly or down the road.
The answers are on their way.
Rest...assured.

A Dangerous Game

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 18:32:00 +0000

A Dangerous Game

There isn't anyone I know who wouldn't take a cry for help at face value.
Some are caught off guard by it.
Others shy away from the intensity,
but it's something that isn't going to go away.

My doctor once told me that depressive, suicidal feelings are really "anger turned inward", anger about something else that is directed at your self. And where does anger come from? A counselor (at the rehab center where a loved one once stayed) told me that anger is another emotion or combination of emotions in disguise, unexpressed emotions, specifically four: fear, hurt, shame, and/or guilt.

Anger is a dangerous game. I say "game" because it fools us and others around us. It isn't what it appears to be. One has to look deep beneath the surface and sometimes even then, it takes years to uncover, layer by layer, all that makes up the anger. It seethes and generates deadly body chemistry. It can take the form of homicide or suicide if it is not evaluated and defused.

AC entered a great post on Depression over at A Circle of Women that speaks to both women and men, young or not so young.

This is not meant to be offensive but to give the reader a sneak peek into the mindset, a "cynical, in your face" kind of commentary on a suicide blaming a lost love...
I DO NOT advocate suicide. Suicide is NOT an option anymore for me (yeah, it once was) but here's something I wrote today that I would have written back then:

~Evidence~

When the red ceases flowing
And my brain turns blue
The doctor will find
All the remnants of you.
You entered me slowly
And stole what you could.
You left me with nothing,
Or nothing so good
I finished my breathing
With you on my mind,
So surely the doctor
Will know what to find
He’ll see all my feelings,
Which should be a clue.
The evidence will lead
Him right back to you.
He’s laid me wide open ~
A coroner’s art.
And now he is holding
What once was my heart.
If ever there was
A great mystery here,
It’s solved now that he
Has exposed you, my Dear.

(c) Nov 2007
~ Robin Lee Sardini

Get help if you need it. It generally doesn't just go away on its own. It's depression's distortion of thought and emotion that will cause you to withdraw or act out. Make a pact for safety right now. Then get on the phone and reach out for help. There will be a voice and a hand reaching back.

You are loved and needed just as you are right now! Consider yourself hugged, but get to that phone.

My Heart is Breaking Today

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 18:04:00 +0000

My Heart is Breaking Tdoay

My heart is breaking today...
A friend is in need and there's nothing I can do in the physical realm to help him!

I can't not write about this. This can't be overlooked.

Bobby is a fellow blogger and a member of "The Spirit Knows Best" community at MyBlogLog.

He wrote Dying From a Broken Heart just hours ago on his own blog.

The song by George Winston entitled "Longing Love" captures some of the emotion I feel right now. The music is hauntingly beautiful but sad...

I pray he may find healing in the love and support of this community and so many others in our blogosphere.

Dear Bobby,
I have been where you are My Friend. It is the loneliest place that you NEVER want to be. I would hug you if I could be there. The human connection, the human touch was the only thing that kept me anchored in this life when I didn't want to be here. Let those of us who know you, love you. You will be well again. Right now it looks so bleak and feels like death. That's the depression creating those feelings. I urge you to talk to your doctor if you haven't already. It takes some time before those neurotransmitters can come back into balance with the proper help, so the sooner you get help the better. I know you know that. So many of us are extremely worried about you, Bobby. I know it's the worst thing in the world not to want to be here anymore, but please, DEAR ONE, do NOT do anything to hurt yourself. Call a hotline, call two. Talk to someone, anyone, and just keep talking. Don't give up, man! We need you here, Bobby! Listen..you've had the courage to write this to us..we hear you loud and clear. I speak for all of us who care so very much..please, we urge you, please take good care of YOU. You deserve the very best life and it's not over yet, Bobby! No, it's not. I know it may feel like that right now, but you have to give yourself the benefit of the doubt and realize that's the depression, the all-consuming depression. If you can't talk to your doctor personally today then go to an ER. I would drive you there myself, as would any of us, if that were possible. If you can't do it for yourself, call 911. Nope, I'm not overreacting. I hear the desperation in this post. Just do it, Bobby! You are soooooooo worth it! So very worth it! You deserve to be well again..please take the next step to get there.

Much Love from our deepest heart and soul,

Robin and all your Friends at MyBlogLog and Santa's community

Another friend CotoJo (Colin)from MyBlogLog writes to Bobby (reprinted by permission):

"Hey Bobby, I can relate to much of what you have written.....but I won't bore you with the details, but I will say that it all comes right in its own time, but in between it is hard. Even us guys have feelings and I'm not afraid to say that some things make me cry, sad, depressed. I too live alone, wake alone and spend most of my time on my own. My blogging friends online are absolutely the finest people one could meet, friends offline are few and far between, but they are the people I would trust with my life. Take your time, take time to get out and do something different and also follow what Robin has said, and remember there are many blogger friends who are praying for you right now, and if we could lift your spirits then we would shift heaven and hell to help.....that's why we are here. God Bless you Bobby, take care and get back to us when you are ready...from all your blogging buddies"

As we continue to keep him in our prayers we can send him some love here on his MyBlogLog profile.

Thank you.

Dona Nobis Pacem

noreply@blogger.com (Robin Lee Sardini) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 21:54:00 +0000

Dona Nobis Pacem

Today I am honored join bloggers everywhere in a Blogblast for Peace. I invite you to read the touching story behind the Peace Globe Movement at Mimi's blog.

Peace means many different things to different people. To think of it in global terms can feel overwhelming. So, it's important to think of it as something personal, something that is part of how we live, think, and are, something relevant to us right here wherever we are, right now in this moment.

Take this time to reflect upon peace and bring from somewhere out there, to the place inside where it can live and breathe within us. Whatever we think about, expands. And so today as we read the words of bloggers for Peace we are expanding peace, not only in our own lives but in the world.

For some people, peace is the absence of strife and violence. For others, peace is simply quietude. Whatever peace is for you, let it be. The Spirit infuses us with peace as we connect in spirit. Peace strikes a resonant chord deep within our hearts. It moves us to a higher mindset.

Peace weaves itself into the fiber of the most profound ideas, solutions and dreams we will ever manifest. It expands our vision and allows us to see the vast difference we've made in the world around us and the message we've yet to convey.

It embraces our purpose and journeys with us through vital life-changing events. It makes its mark on each of our lives in its own unique way so that as messengers and conduits of peace we are able to speak to all those who have ears to hear.

In spite of trials and loss, peace moves us forward. It is noble and strong.

When you have a moment today meditate on peace...

Peace.

Dona Nobis Pacem
Peace Globe
peace
Turbo Tagger