Time in a Bottle

January 29 2012

2012-01-29T11:52:00.000-05:00

Spent the last couple of days posting quickie blogs to this!! That definately may happen throughout the year. For one thing, days will come that I just simply don't have anything to share or at least nothing I feel like blogging about. So on those days, I will fulfill my goal of posting to this blog everyday for one year by posting a quick, inspirational message :)

This is the one I shared for yesterdays date and thought it was worth sharing again :)

Today begins DAY 1 for starting the Nocotrol inhaler. I am currently 48 years old and have been smoking cigarettes since I was 21. That's a lot of years. While in my twenties, people would say that smoking was bad for you, but I didn't feel any different so I ignored them and continued to do what I wanted to do. Setting in deep the addiction that I now have not only to nicotine but the the cigarettes themselves.

Then, in my thirties, there were signs. You know, getting a little out of breath every now and then. I guess somewhere in my mind, the cigarette smoking worried me. I saw the ads about how bad they were for you but still, the addiction held strong and I continued smoking.

Now here I am, twenty seven years later since the first cigarette. Yes, I admit it. Even now, I enjoy smoking. Crazy. Yeah I guess. I truly believe the addiction to the cigarette itself is just as powerful as the addiction to the nicotine. I don't know, maybe they are the same addiction. The mind is very powerful. When I leave my house - for any reason - the cigarettes and the lighter go. They just have to. Can't imagine going anywhere without them. Seriously. That's an addiction that I want to break as much and the health problems they cause.

Why now?

Why not now?

For one thing, I got a little cold over two weeks ago. After medications, a trip to the doctor, antibiotics -- I am still coughing and sick. Yes, it's a little better than it was but it's taking its sweet time and I know why. As I write that, I glance at the pack of cigarettes sitting near me.

So....

While at the doctor I requested the inhaler and needless to say, my doctor of over fifteen years jumped at the opportunity to assist me with throwing away the cigarettes. And it is time and I am ready.

Yes, I fear some of the things that even though some of us smokers use it as an excuse to not quit - it is a genuine concern. Weight Gain. I already need to lose some weight, get in better shape etc... so the way I'm approaching this is -

Lets Do them Both Together.

I am going to work on them both at the same time and the difference now for me is that I know that I can. I do not think that it will be easy but I know that I can do it.

So having said all that, I am starting the inhaler this afternoon and when going to the grocery, healthier foods will be forefront in my mind.

My Word of Wisdom Share Today

‎" I am happy because I chose to be happy. I am sad because I chose to be sad. Life comes once, it is short and the events are unpredictable. Things don't happen the way you expect them to. So in this life, you can choose to stay sad and gloomy or you can cherish whatever you've got now and find happiness on your own."-Unknown

Website to Share

Namaste Cafe

http://www.namastecafe.com/main.htm

My Pet Share Today is

This is a baby picture of our Sophie. She is 1/2 Great Pyrenees and 1/2 Golden Retriever. She's bigger now and I will share adult pictures soon.

and for further thought....

In the News

World Largest Snowflake

http://digitallife.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/28/10259640-google-doodle-celebrates-worlds-largest-snowflake

My Photo Share

This is my youngest daughter Becky, a long time ago. It's a photo edit but this is one of my favorites.

I call it Making Wishes

Joy Happiness Love

Spiritual Photo Share

January 28 2012

2012-01-29T09:43:00.000-05:00

Just a lazy day, still trying to feel better. I wish this cold/cough that I have had for two weeks would go away. Finished the antibiotics today.

Thought maybe going out this afternoon would help so the girls and I went to Goodwill for some fun shopping and then got pizza for dinner and brought it home.

Januray 27 2012

2012-01-28T12:43:00.000-05:00

Message Today

I offer you peace. I offer you love. I offer you friendship. I see your beauty. I hear your need. I feel your feelings.
~ Gandhi

January 26 2012

2012-01-26T20:21:00.000-05:00

Things were a little lighter today. The solar activity was intense yesterday and it made me a little scatter brained!

Still in the training mode at new job. It will be that way for awhile. I really am enjoying it and it's nice to be back in the automobile/accounting field once more. I missed it more than I thought.

Not much about sharing my own thoughts tonight for some reason. Might be the antibiotics. That's what I blamed everything on today :)

Eventually all the pieces fall into place, until then hang on to hope, laugh at the confusion, live in the now, see beauty in everything, trust your intuition and have faith that everything happens for a reason. ~Hxx ♥

Website Share Today

Care2 - A great way to Give for Free

http://www.care2.com/

My photo share today

My three beautiful daughters.

Becky, Susan and Amanda

Searching the news, I found this

So.. You Want to be a Cowboy?

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2012/01/24/so-want-to-be-cowboy/

A Word of Wisdom Share :)

Happiness. Love. Peace.

We are more than just physical beings, we are whispers of Love dancing in the breeze. We are spiritual beings on a path of loving service, where if we pay attention the sacred earth wisdom within will direct our destinies to a place of peace where joy and love abound. Embrace how beautiful you are, and you make your life a garden of grace and beauty. We are love and love is the light within that guides our way.
~ Micheal Teal

Artist: Susan Tower

Above is the Spiritual Picture Share today too!! Love those Tree Spirits :)

January 25 2012

2012-01-25T19:32:00.000-05:00

All the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of today.

Today, I stop and think of all the wonderful people I have been privileged to know over the years of my life. Sometimes I feel bad because I don't have a lot of time for friends in my life. With work, family, crafting, computer, reading....I just simply run out of time.

Today, I visited some special people who were like family to me for over ten years. I hadn't seen most of them in over a year. I had been worried that it would be a traumatic experience for me but it was wonderful, truly wonderful. Circumstances caused my separation from them but I realized today how sillly it was to worry about feeling bad by returning. It was just a waste of precious time with people who matter. And I matter to them too.

Anyway, I am so happy with the direction my life is taking now. Seeing old friends and busy making new ones. I understood today that friends aren't only people you "hang out with" all the time. They are people who matter to you. And now I know how blessed I am. There are so very many and I am grateful.

" We begin to find and become ourselves when we notice how we are already found, already truly, entirely, wildly, messily, marvelously who we were born to be."
Anne Lamott

Website Share

http://www.crystalinks.com/

A wonderful collection of information!!!

My Pet Share Today

This is Flower. She is our only inside kitty now and is about six years old. As she has become older, she is much more affectionate. Her favorite time is when I sleep on the couch, usually on the weekends. I always wake up with her curled up next to me:)

While searching for a good news story, I came across this one to share..

http://main.aol.com/2012/01/24/best-man-donates-kidney_n_1231636.html?1327520469?test=latestnews

Best Man donates Kidney to Bride.

My Photo Share for today

I took this picture while sitting in the parking lot of the Montvale VA post office. It is one of my absolute favorites.

My word of wisdom today...

Peace. Laughter. Love. Faith.

These are my wishes for you.

Spiritual Photo Share

January 24 2012

2012-01-24T19:05:00.000-05:00

What a weather change around here. Some nearby places had temperature highs up to sixty eight degrees!

Me, just trying to get better. Went to my doctor today and she gave me some antibiotics. I try to not do that but this one is holding on going on two weeks now. Guess what else I got? Nicotrol! My health insurance approved it and I'm going to try to quit smoking. How great is that??

I have some pictures to share from the happening last night....

Getting Stuck at the Top of our Driveway and Having the &&&* Scared out of Me

Looking up from the road, I was stuck way up there, near the top. It was dark.

Same driveway, looking from the top to the bottom now.

and..this is the spot I was stuck in.

Usually, I leave the van at the bottom of the driveway when conditions are muddy. Last night I was feeling really bad when I got home from work and the walk up the driveway is so long...so I foolishly thought maybe the van could come up. On a good note, it made it almost the whole way but got stuck at the top. It was dark and the scarey thing for me was I couldn't get anyones attention in the house. I had my foot on the brake, pushed in the Ebrake and because the driveway is so steep it felt like the van was slipping a little here and a little there. It caused me to panic. I blew the horn and then started yelling out the window. FINALLY, Becky came out and then here came Bill. He hooked his 4x4 Ford up to the van with a towing strap. By this time, I was convinced I was going to slide down the hill, wreck the van and possibly myself. Anyway, the van came up the rest of the way with some help and me, myself learned yet another lesson - Leave the Van at the Bottom of the Hill when it's Muddy. I think it will stick this time.

At least the only damage to the van was mud and I fixed that problem at the carwash this morning!!!

The sky this morning. It was such a beautiful day.

The website I am sharing today is Mother Earth News. I also subscribe to their magazine. Wonderful recipes, gardening ideas and more.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/

One of my favorite things on facebook is all of the inspirational messages I read. Sharing a Word of Wisdom with you today.

Searching the News, I found this one...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46118390/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.Tx9EoW_2ZAE

My pet share is one of our dogs - Bucky. He is about four years old and a lab/golden retriever mix. He's our protector and one of the most family devoted dogs I have ever been around. When the kids go outside to play, he either lays near them or up on the ridge right behind the house and watches them. Bucky loves to go for a ride and this is a picture of him taken this morning after Becky got on the bus. Bucky took his position in the front seat and that's where he stayed until we got home. Always watching, always on alert.

Leaving you tonight with words of gratitude.

Why not jot down everyday 5 things in your life you are grateful for. Start by doing this for a week, a month or even a year. You might be surprised that even through dark days, there always things to be thankful for. There are always blessings.

(happy little plant in my kitchen window sill)

Feel Love, Spread Peace, Know Joy.

My Spiritual Picture Share today

January 23 2012

2012-01-23T20:30:00.000-05:00

Okay, today is Monday!! While driving home from work the guy on the radio said it's a great Wednesday evening. Wow, really confused me for a moment,, I thought I had lost a couple of days...imagine that.

Don't you just ever want to press the reset button????

The picture I am sharing today is...

This was taken at our family Christmas party this year. We have so many children now and it's fantastic! We came up with an idea of letting them play games and win prizes and it was so much fun. This was Christmas Bingo! We also had pin the star on the Christmas tree and more.

Each of the kids got a nice gift then a lot of small prizes. Plus Ma gave them all bags with crafting stuff and Nana gave them all Christmas candy bags. It was a great Christmas and I really think the kids had more fun than if they had received a big gift from every adult there :)

My shared word of wisdom today...

Very muddy, foggy and rainy around here. Guess it could be snow but there really is an awful lot of mud out there.

My wonderful pet share today is

This is Dixie. She's past five now and very loved. Bill has made her too "attached" to getting food as treats but other than that, shes wonderful. :)

Website to share today...

www.theamethystcenter.com

Awesome and Amazing Place

Wishing everyone a great night. Got the van stuck in the mud coming home so waiting for someone who's not a big chicken like me to go drive it while Bill pulls it out :)

Be Blessed. Be Happy. Believe that all will be fine. Always.

Spiritual Picture Share today

The magical transformation of the Butterfly.

January 22 2012

2012-01-22T10:47:00.000-05:00

Sunday. Not only is it raining and wet outside but its very cold too! Here's a picture of the winter sky I took by stepping out my front door this morning.

The dryer is still busted and it looks like we probably won't be able to get one for another month or so....Last week, we headed to the laundry mat. Wow, that was crazy. I haven't been to a laundry mat in over twenty years, We looked like a bunch of village idiots because we had no idea how to use the big washing machines and had to stand there, reading the instructions and then discuss putting in the detergent, softener, which compartment, are you sure?? Yes, that's what the instructions say. Really? Yes and the instructions are different if you use liquid detergent...Oh, okay..

and on and on.

A couple of times I looked around and people - most likely laundry mat experts - were staring at us with strange looks on their faces

but

We didn't let it bother us. We marched on and learned and got all of the weeks laundry done in a few hours. It was great. I think I'm going back this afternoon. This time I will be armed with more knowledge of how the big machines work....

This is my photo share for today

I call it "Chillin (and Learnin) at the Laundry Mat.

Shared Word of Wisdom Today...

I think these words are important because it is my belief that there are no mistakes. They are lessons to be learned while we are here. Even now, as I look back on past "mistakes", I ask myself, what was I suppose to learn from this?

If I can answer that question, I feel confident that I am done with that.

If I can't answer the questions, the "mistake" will probably be repeated somehow and even in a different way during my life.

And sticking with the above a little, sharing these words from The Movement Within

"It is not to focus on what is lost, but rather, it is to focus on what was gained." -ac

Site to Share today is just that - you can like them on facebook and receive some beautiful and inspirational messages!!

http://www.facebook.com/TheMovementWithinMe

Snapped a picture this morning of progress on my brothers afghan.

I searched around a little this morning and found This in the News

A Dutch Teen completes Year Long solo sail around the world....

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/01/21/teen-ending-globe-circling-voyage-in-st-maarten/#ixzz1kAeCQBPA?test=latestnews

On my I Love Animals share today, I have another recent photo of Tyson to share with you.

It is now time to get some things accomplished on this gray January day. I think the warmth of the laundry mat beckons me....

Spread some sunshine on this winter day! Try hard to keep your life in balance.

Feel the Love that surrounds you.

Spiritual Picture Share today

This one reminds me of Tree Spirits too only

in a different way.

January 21 2012

2012-01-21T10:03:00.000-05:00

Saturday. Rain, rain and more rain expected. I am trying to focus on getting rid of this cold or flu that I have had.

Started my new job on January 9th and it is wonderful. I am so blessed and grateful.

The photo I want to share today is..

This was taken in November of 2011 after one of my granddaughters birthday party. There was so much fun, laughter, presents, silliness, kids running around throwing balloons, trying to pop them...and then there is the above picture.

Stillness. Memories.

The shared word of wisdom today is....

I will try most of the year to share a site everyday that I think is great and worth checking out...

Here is an organization in the Roanoke VA area that does awesome and amazing work. If you are an animal lover or advocate, check out their website. If you have room in your heart and home for a new pet, please visit Angels of Assisi

http://www.angelsofassisi.org/

If I could define enlightenment briefly, I would say it is the quiet acceptance of what is.
~ Wayne Dyer

Artist: Luisella Zuccott

In my life

I am working an my first crochet afghan of the year. I'll grab a picture of it so far and post it tomorrow maybe. This one is for my brother and I hope to have it finished by his birthday in April.

In the News

Weekend Solar Flares my spark great Light Shows

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46073011

For my reading Log this year...

I just started and have a total of 24 books to read in 2012.

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks is the first one.

And as always, I love Animals. The gifts God gave us to take care for him. I am so grateful to have so many in my life.

This is Tyson. He is my dog and a very special spirit. I got him as a puppy for my son almost five years ago. It turned out that my son couldn't keep him where he lived at the time and no other family member could take him in so we found him another home. A couple of years later, I was blessed with the opportunity to get him and bring him home. He's now back with us. I cannot ever express how close I feel to this dog. I love all of our animals but this one has a special place in my heart and I think he always has.

Have a beautiful day.

Spread some sunshine to someone who is in need.

Peace, Balance and Love.

My Picture of Today

Tree Spirits

January 20 2012

2012-01-21T09:38:00.000-05:00

You don't have to let your attitude be poisoned by other people, situations or events. You can choose a positive perspective no matter what. Remember who you are and what is important to you. Focus more on what matters and less on what circumstances come your way.-Positive Inspirations.
~Donnita~

January 19 2012

2012-01-21T09:36:00.000-05:00

"Accepting" someone means finding beauty in the ugliness, virtues in the flaws. If you cannot do this, then you do not know how to accept someone.
~Donnita~

January 18 2012

2012-01-21T09:35:00.001-05:00

January 17 2012

2012-01-21T09:34:00.001-05:00

January 16 2012

2012-01-21T09:33:00.002-05:00

January 15 2012

2012-01-21T09:33:00.000-05:00

January 14 2012

2012-01-21T09:32:00.000-05:00

Some people are afraid of what they might find if they try to analyze themselves too much, but you have to crawl into your wounds to discover where your fears are. Once the bleeding starts, the cleansing can begin.
~ Tori Amos

Artist: Danielle Daniel, Canada

January 13 2012

2012-01-21T09:31:00.000-05:00

January 12 2012

2012-01-21T09:30:00.000-05:00

Surround yourself with like-minded souls, it will enrich and widen your horizon

January 11 2012

2012-01-21T09:29:00.000-05:00

Be the human who brings humanity to the human race. Reach out and touch someone's heart with your kindness. Reach out and touch someone's mind with your words. Reach out and touch someone's life with your Love.
~ Dr Jeff Mullan

Artist: Jane Hinchliffe

January 10 2012

2012-01-21T09:27:00.000-05:00

Humility like the darkness, reveals the heavenly lights.
~ Henry David Thoreau

Artist: Amanda Clark, Night Bearer

January 9th 2012

2012-01-21T09:25:00.001-05:00

January 8th 2012

2012-01-21T09:24:00.000-05:00

and

If you don't like drama, stay away from it. Don't allow it. Nip it in the bud, and if you have to, cut off the people who bring it to you.-Unknown

January 7th n2012

2012-01-21T09:23:00.000-05:00

The LORD sometimes takes us into troubled waters, NOT to drown us, but to cleanse us. So when you are faced with a difficult situation, Let go and Let GOD.-Unknown

Januray 6th2012

2012-01-21T09:21:00.000-05:00

Love youself first and everything else falls into line.-Lucille Ball

January 5th 2012

2012-01-21T09:20:00.000-05:00