Gotta have faith

I am not a George Michael fan at all, but Faith is still a catchy song... we all know the lyrics "you gotta have faith". And I believe we all do gotta have faith. Most people immediately think "religious" when they hear the word faith. It can mean a lot more than a religious faith. Just a belief that everything is going to be OK is faith. You don't have to believe in a higher power to have faith. Faith is a complete confidence and trust in someone. Anyone.  Just like the Wichita State Shockers yesterday beating my beloved Buckeyes. They had a lot of faith they were going to play well and win. And they did. They had faith in each other as teammates, and they got a great result because of it.  There certainly wasn't a higher power involved in it, just a natural human belief and confidence in one's self and one another. That is faith! It doesn't work all the time, but does that mean we shouldn't still have it? Phones don't work all the time, but does that mean you shouldn't have one?  So, do YOU have faith?

 

Faith is walking across a frozen pond, knowing it will hold you up

"Faith is a passionate intuition" ~ William Wordsworth


"Faith is believing in something when common sense tells you not to" ~ Miracle on 34th Street

            Now Go Out and Hug Someone Faithfully Today

 

Love is...

I want to know what love is... a wonderful song by Foreigner... to me this is love....

Love is unconditional, especially True Love. Like the love of a child. The love you get from your pet.

Love is beautiful. Like the beauty of a sunset. The beauty of a smile.

Love is kind. Like helping a stranger across a rocky road. Holding the hand of a friend in a time of need.

Love is patient. Like as long as it takes for a beautiful woman to be ready for you. Allowing  your children to make their own mistakes so they learn.

                                      Artwork by Maria's Children  www.mariaschildren.ru

                                               Maria and her children ARE LOVE

"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies"  ~ Aristotle

Aristotle was a smart man eh? What is love to you? Do share...


        Now Go Out and Hug Someone Lovingly Today
 

Hope by Shaggy

I was listening to a little known song by a little known artist on Thursday.. "Hope" by Shaggy. I was introduced to it by a friend and I admit I know nothing about Shaggy or his music outside of this one song. He may be a one hit wonder or he could be an incredible artist that isn't well known in the main stream of things... either way, if I like a song, I like a song. Plain and Simple. And I do like this song.

It is a lot like people to me.... some people aren't main stream and go somewhat unnoticed to the public eye. Most of the time, these are the people we should be taking notice of... for good and bad reasons. I like to focus on the good ones though. If I like someone, I like someone. Plain and Simple.

We all need words of Hope and Love and Faith. Friday is Hope. Saturday is Love. Sunday is Faith. That is how I see this weekend of Easter Celebration.

Hope that Jesus will pull one more miracle.
Love, as Jesus loved even after death.
Faith, that we can rise from the dead as Jesus did.

Today I write about Hope, as the song reminded me of it. Tomorrow I will write about Love. Sunday I will write about Faith. Whether you are religious or not, I think you will agree we all need Hope, Love and Faith. I am not wrong am I?

Sing it Shaggy.....

"Son there'll be times when the tides are high
And the boat may be rocky, you can cry
Just never give up
You can never give up,"

"And this hope... that keeps me holding on"

            I Hope You Go Out and Hug Someone Today


 

Friendship Thursday

This week's friend is James. James is a Brit. I met him at camp in 1994 and consider him my English brother. James has worked thru a learning disabiliy, among other things to become a nurse. He works with kids on a psychiatric ward. That is tough work and he is now the manager of the whole unit... so he must be doing it well. I got to see James last spring and meet his charming wife and lovely daughter! I am so happy he has found his way thru the world. Just another example of extraordinary human perseverance.

James with his adorable daughter Riva and his charming wife Claire. He is such a good dad!

My favorite story of James was at camp when he was in his early 20s. He came off as a young, cocky British kid. But the kids at camp LOVED him, and I found out why! Behind closed doors he was the most caring, gentle, real person I may have ever met. Outside of those doors he was a little brash, and again appeared cocky. So, when he told me he was a scratch golfer, I just laughed at him. But once again James was full of surprises. I decided to make him prove he was that good, or in my mind to disprove it! Camp had some old golf clubs and golf balls in the sports shed. On a Saturday we pulled them out to hit some balls. The first club James grabbed was a 3 iron. This made me chuckle of course. As any golfer knows, you don't warm up with a 3 iroon. It is one of the hardest clubs to hit, besides a 1 or 2 of course. This made me "realize" James was full of it and had no idea what golf was all about. He hadn't swung a golf club in at least 4 weeks and he wants to use a 3 iron first. I was heckling him a little bit, but he quietly went on his way.  I also want to add that the clubs at camp were from 1930 I believe. Wooden shafts and rusted iron. As James took a couple of back swings, I did think "he does have a nice smooth swing actually". Then it happened.... He swung and hit the ball..... ZOOM!!!!! I swear I have never seen a golf ball go straighter or longer than the one he hit then! To me it was like watching Ernie or Tiger or Phil hit a ball! Or Jame's favorite player, Ian Woosnam. Another astonishment to me... how many people do you know would name Ian as their all time favorite golfer? I am guessing none. It just drives home the point of James... he is his own man who in truth is not flashy and doesn't care too much about what others are thinking or liking... and that is a great thing in my book. One of the many reasons I have the upmost respect for James and consider him my English brother!

           Now Go Out and Hug and Englishman Today

Let's Yoga

So, my friend Susan sent me this 30 second video of her doing yoga. It is impressive and inspiring, especially if you know Susan's whole story. I asked her permission to use it in a post. She laughed and said I was funny, which I already knew. But she also gave me permission to use it saying "nobody will be interested in watching me do yoga". I disagree. She didn't send it to me to inspire me or anyone else. Susan is just not like that. She wanted to share her latest passion with her friend, me. Of course Susan IS an inspiration and always will be whether she wants to be or not :0). Take 30 seconds to watch this video and tell me if it inspires you! If you want to know more about Susan, just ask me. Short story is she had a massive stroke at 23 and could only move one finger afterwards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYjkeg0pZh8

                    Not sure what yoga position that is, but I am sure Susan is doing it well

                   Now Go Out and Hug a Yoga Instructor

My philosophy

A lot of people ask me how I can be so happy and positive all the time. Well, I am not happy and positive ALL the time, but I try to be most of the time. My philosophy is, especially at work, if I am not lying on a stretcher then I am on the right side of the coin. It really is a simple philosophy and it does make it a lot easier to be happy and positive.

Just this past week I had a child who had a tracheotomy, G-tube, and was deaf. His parents give him 24 hour care. If I am not that child or those parents, then my life is in pretty good shape I feel. This is not to undermine the problems I have or that you might have. It is just a way to look at things to help me or you handle your problems or adversities. If given a choice before the day starts that I get to have my problems or the problems of the families who loved ones are on stretchers, I would choose my problems every time.

Problems can be like trees... there are many branches to it... but if you let the light and color shine thru the branches, then it can be beautiful.


                      Now Go Out and Hug a Tree Today

Thursday Friendship

This week's friend is Donna Porter. Donna is an old high school friend. She is someone I hold to the highest esteem. She is a single mom who has raised a smart, caring, polite young man. All of this while working full time as an ICU nurse! She has worked ICU for 20 plus years. Any of you who know about ICU nursing, that is quite a feat! I commend Donna for doing it AND for doing it so well. She got an award for her nursing a few years ago... a well deserved award I must say! And if I am ever in the need of an ICU nurse, I would pick Donna above all others! Of all my high school friends, she is the one I treasure the most.

       Beautiful wings will help you fly, but they also will help you blend in to go unnoticed... which is the way most beautiful people prefer it.

“Butterflies are self propelled flowers. ”   ~R. H. Heinlein
 And so is Donna

           Now Go Out and Hug an ICU Nurse Today

Tiffany

Allow me to introduce you to Tiffany. Every day I drive into work and before parking I pass a security booth. Someone is there to make sure the cars pulling in have decals that give them permission to park or to answer questions if someone has made a wrong turn. By all practical purposes it seems like it would be a tedious, mundane, boring job. But not for Tiffany!

Every time I drive in, and I do mean EVERY time, Tiffany greets me with one of the widest, brightest smiles I have ever known. I smile and wave back and my day is off to a great start already! Even if I am a little tired while driving in at 7am, Tiffany is there to give me that spark to let me know my day is going to be good. Thank you Tiffany.

I wish we had more people out there like Tiffany. Heck, I wish I was more like Tiffany. As much as I try, I don't feel like I am Happy, Smiling, Enjoying my job and life 100%. I am probably in the 90% range, which isn't bad but can always be better. I am going to keep striving for that goal though, thanks to Tiffany's inspiration. You can find inspiration anywhere, and I find some of mine via a security booth monitor at Primary Children's Medical Center named Tiffany.

I think this mountain in Alaska should be named Tiffany Mountain. I might even start a petition for it. It does remind me of Tiffany.... bright and standing out.

         Now Go Out and Hug a Security Guard Today

 

Luck of the Irish

I am an Irish Hillbilly... how lucky is that? Except that I really don't drink much. But I do feel  like an Irish Hillbilly thru and thru. Not sure how to explain that, but it is a good thing I think! I like the country and hills, yet I like to pretend I am cultured and sophisticated. That about sums it up I think.

Today is the day to celebrate St. Patrick. Not sure what he is famous for, but I am guessing it has something to do with drinking til you puke and you turn green in the process. I will celebrate with my dad somehow. Probably will have a glass of wine together. We will toast  the rest of you out there having fun!

Keep your eyes on the rainbow and you will surely find gold! And remember, you are never gonna see a rainbow if  you don't stand a little rain. So bring on the rain I say!

I think there is a Leprechaun under the hat somewhere. What do you think? I leave you with an Irish wish for a friend.

A Wish for a Friend

Wishing you a rainbow                  For sunlight after showers—                  Miles and miles of Irish smiles                  For golden happy hours—                  Shamrocks at your doorway                  For luck and laughter too,                  And a host of friends that never ends                  Each day your whole life through!

                          Now Go Out and Hug an Irish Friend

Friendly Thursday

This weeks friend is Donna Kaminski. Donna has recently become a doctor and has been appointed Chief Resident of her hospital in New Jersey. Donna worked extra hard to become a doctor! During her studies she has found time to travel to help the less fortunate. She has studied in Malawi and learned of the conditions those folks live in. Now in her last year of residency she is going back to Malawi to study more, along with traveling to Belize to study there. She is a people's person without a doubt! Congrats Donna on your appointment and enjoy your travels.

If I am ever sick, I want Donna to be my doctor. And I hope if you ever get sick, you will have a doctor as passionate and dedicated as Donna.

Now Go Out and Hug a Doctor Today


 

Not Somehow, but triumphantly!

A friend of mine shared the story below about her mother's mantra. I like it! 
I think we can all use this mantra to help get us thru life! Live life with zest. Don't just do it somehow, but do it TRIUMPHANTLY! I really like that word, don't you?

When her first marriage ended in divorce and she was challenged with raising 3 children herself, she forged a new career in the Ohio Council of Churches Office of Social Justice-- 
        Not somehow, but triumphantly.

 When meeting her first grandchild and sharing the thrill of motherhood with me meant flying to London, she packed her bags and took off---- 
       Not somehow, but triumphantly.

 When spending time with my family and me meant camping out on a communal farm in Vermont, helping feed goats & chickens, she put on jeans and boots-- 
      Not somehow, but triumphantly.

 When her second husband died suddenly, thoroughly shaking the foundation of the new life they had built together in Arizona, she forged a new identity as a writer and teacher-- 
   Not somehow, but triumphantly.

                 When

When some hardships come your way

Just remember, you can say

Not somehow, but triumphantly!

When you're suddenly alone

Good examples you've been shown

Not somehow, but triumphantly!

When sometime you're maligned

You can win by being kind

Not somehow, but triumphantly!

Should you whimper, should you whine

You miss a chance that you could shine

Not somehow, but triumphantly!

Climb to the top, to the tippy top
Do it as a walk or do it as a hop.
I can't quite say it as elegantly
As "Not just somehow, but Triumphantly!"

             Now Go Out and Hug Someone Triumphantly

Be the root

A friend of mine sent the following to me earlier in the week...

There's a saying from Tyler Perry in one of his plays that says "Find 2 or 3 people in your life that's like the roots at the bottom of that tree you are blessed. Those are the kind of people that aren't going nowhere. They aren't worried about being seen, nobody has to know that they know you, they don't have to know what they're doing for you but if those roots weren't there, that tree couldn't live. A tree could have a hundred million branches but it only takes a few roots down at the bottom to make sure that tree gets everything it needs. When you get some roots, hold on to them but the rest of it". 

Not sure who Tyler Perry is, but it is an interesting statement. My friend who sent this to me considers me one of her roots. I am honored by that thought! I must be a Banyan tree, because I have hundreds of roots! I love each and every one of them too! Thanks to all my roots out there, I appreciate the life sustaining needs you provide to me!

   

                             Now Go Out and Hug Someone Today

Cute and Funny

A friend of mine sent me the story below about her adorable 2 and a half year old son..... Names are changed to protect the Cute and Funny.... I added explanations in parentheses...

OK a couple funny things: I asked Henry (her son) if he knew that I had a name other than mommy. He said yes. I asked what's my name. He said" your name Aunt Sally". (His cousin calls his mom Aunt Sally)How cute is that. Then I was asking him if he knew who my dad is and he said yes its" daddy" (meaning Joe/HIS dad) I told him no. He guessed again"um, my am your dad?" I tell him " no Henry you are not my dad. Grandpa Jim is my dad." He says ooohh. I ask if he knows who my mom is and he says with such enthusiasm "aunt Mary be your mom!"(Aunt Mary is his aunt) No... "Maria (his sister) your Mom?" Now this child can tell you that the sun is a star and that the earth goes around the sun. He can tell you how the train engine makes steam. He names types of dinosaurs and says he wants to be an astronaut and zoom to the moon on a rocket ship and 5,4,3,2,1 blast off! But what silly perceptions about family relationships he has. Also Maria decided she would like to be called Jupiter. Henry said he was Mars then and I am Venus and Daddy would be Saturn. So Maria said our kitten socks could be Pluto. Henry says in a you're ridiculous tone of voice " NOoo socks can't be Pluto socks a cat she not a planet!" We were all crackling up! Hope you get a chuckle too!

I don't know about you, but I think it is funny that he is wicked smart and can't keep his family order in order :0)... And that he recognizes that Socks is not a planet, but doesn't recognize that he and his sister are not :0)... Hope you got a chuckle today from the Cute and Funny

                                             My cousins dog Charlie is Cute and Funny too!


      Now Go Out and Hug Someone who is Cute and Funny!!





 

It's not the years in your life... A Tribute

My dear friend Eleanor Hoppe died recently. There will be a memorial today for her, and I felt like leaving a tribute to her. We all know Lincoln's famous quote about "It's not the years in your life"... Eleanor added her own twist with this...

                                  It's not the years in your life
                                  But the Life in your years
                                  Accentuate the laughter
                                  Eliminate the tears

I love the final two lines. Now Eleanor had a lot of years in her life, but she also had a lot of LIFE in those years. I only knew her for the past few years, but that was enough to feel her joyful spirit. She was a wonderful funny poet and below is one of my favorites of hers.

                                   
                                                      Life's Kaleidoscope

                                               I have had my "down times"
                                               I'm sure there will be more
                                               But mostly I've had "up times"
                                               Although, who's keeping score"

                                               I'd rather list the good times
                                               Not just take them for granted
                                               Life can seem good or bad --
                                               Depends on how it's slanted

                                               We've all shouldered burdens
                                               Some more, some less, I'm guessing
                                               But do we take time out
                                               To recognize a blessing?

                                                    Eleanor was a blessing indeed

 

"Eleanor's kaleidoscope"

 

                             Now Go Out and Hug Someone Today

Friend of the week..

This weeks friend is Bonnie Stearns. Bonnie is inspirational in many ways. She had to live with a clown for the past 40 plus years, literally! :0)... she is an artist who teaches pottery to local kids and adults in Brattleboro, Vt. She has traveled to Russia and worked with Maria and the children there. I am thinking of her this week because her mother died last week. Her mom was a lovely, fun woman as well! I got the pleasure of clowning with her a few years ago on her birthday. She was an amazing poet as well. I know Eleanor will be missed, but I know Bonnie will find ways to help others to help her thru the grief.

"Lay a flower on a stone. Wash away now from the shore. In a few days they'll be gone. But for you it's evermore" ~Emily Cavanagh



                     Now Go Out and Hug Someone Today
 

Death, It's inevitable...

Death... sometimes it comes inevitably too soon... sometimes it doesn't come soon enough. I am learning it is very hard to watch a loved one suffer! I am starting to understand what Dr. Kevorkian might have been thinking. We are humane to animals by not letting them suffer and euthanize them. Why can't we do this with humans? There is no right answer to that I am sure, and I am not trying to start a debate. Just realizing a few things out loud on paper or computer as it is. Even with all this, there are folks out there who suffer so much more and who have to watch others suffer so much more, so I will try not to complain. I just hope my dad doesn't suffer too much more, and that he gets his just rewards to wherever he goes next.

Also, it got me to thinking... I really should have an advanced directive in place. Not sure if a blog counts as an advance directive, but I will put it out there right now. If I am ever in a state (and I don't mean Hawaii or somewhere nice) where I have no quality of life, please don't force feed me... and please don't feel bad when I die... I want a big party when I die... filled with laughing and clowns and kids!! Because I will be on to my next big adventure, bigger and better than here I imagine :0).
And if this counts, I designate my friend Karen Evans to be my power to be to make all decisions regarding my health and finances!  Hopefully some legal beagle won't block this request of mine!

 

 

"Like a bridge over troubled waters. I will lay me down"

 

Now Go Out and Hug Someone Today

 

Spring into March...

It is almost spring here in Utah. Although snow is coming back this week to make a special appearance. I can handle it though. I really don't have much to handle if truth be told. I keep reading about and seeing kids who have the real problems and it just makes my troubles melt away. I recommend everyone go out and find someone less fortunate (especially children) and just spend some time with them. You should learn quickly that your troubles can be minor comparatively. Kids who have to deal with fighting cancer, parents being killed in accidents, and many other tragedies will teach you more about life than you will ever learn from a book or probably even your own experiences. So, if you are feeling a bit down, go volunteer with some kids who have had real challenges. It will surely lift your spirits believe it or not.

Looks like a long unending path eh? Well, that can be what life looks like too. When I walked this path it was a fun adventure with a startling view at the end. Just like life I think.

                    Now Go Out and Hug Someone Today