Category Archives: faith

Sisters in Spirit

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“Learning is the beginning of spirituality. Searching and learning is where the miracle process begins.” ~ Jim Rohn 

Women all over the world are sisters in spirit. This weekend I attended a most fulfilling weekend with a group of United Methodist Women, sisters in spirit, right here in Steamboat Springs, CO. The gathering included a range of women in different decades and seasons in their lives, but we all shared something in common. We were all women who were on a quest to understand more about our place and purpose in this world, and how our spirits guide us in our daily living. 

Life Coach, Mary Nelson of www.reclaimyourselfandmore.com led the women in our weekend retreat in considering what areas of spirituality we are interested in exploring further. The possibilities are many, and a few of them included: 

  • Life Purpose
  • Intuition
  • Connecting with God
  • Angels
  • Meditation
  • Yoga
  • Journaling
  • Prayer
  • Wisdom
  • Affirmations
  • Laws of Attraction
  • Miracles
  • Reading Spiritual books
  • Faith 

Although we were asked to identify just one area, it was difficult to make a choice for some women, including myself. There is no right or wrong in how we as women chose to incorporate spirituality into our everyday lives. Our personal definition of spirituality is different and unique to each of us based on our own life experiences and beliefs. 

If given the choice, what area of spirituality would you like to explore the most? We would love to hear from you! Do you have a spiritual journey that you could share with others through independent publishing?

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Hatched Blessings

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“Faith is putting all your eggs in God’s basket, then counting your blessings before they hatch.” ~ Ramona C. Carroll 

As summer slips into fall, I have decided to look back just one more time to reflect on the blessings of the summer, my favorite season of all. Focusing on what is positive in our lives, helps us to live a life fulfilled. Ordinary occurrences can become extraordinary depending on how we view them. By concentrating on our blessings rather than our woes, we live in the present moment, enjoying life to the fullest. Some of the highlights of my summer included: 

  • Returning to childhood for one glorious day of floating down the Yampa River in a tube!
  • Witnessing our child graduate from DeSales University www.DeSales.edu  and recalling all the landmark steps in his life that came before it.
  • Participating in two fundraising events as a member of Kiwanis International. www.kiwanis.org. Knowing that Kiwanis will partner with Unicef to serve children all over the world through The Eliminate Project.
  • Learning that my husband has been invited to coach athletes at the World University Games this coming winter. What a thrill for him!
  • Eating peaches and sweet corn from Paradise, CO that rivals the summer produce I ate growing up in the state of Maryland. I didn’t think again in my life, I would find any as fine as that – but I have!
  • A return to Rocky Mountain National Park for one great day of sharing the splendorous sights with our son.
  • The opportunity to share with others, at several events, what independent publishing is all about.
  • Volunteering at Strings in the Mountains www.stringsinthemountains.org seeing some of the finest artists in the world perform right here in Steamboat Springs, CO.

It is time to say goodbye to summer and I can’t wait to see what a new season in my life has in store. I am sure it will be fulfilling, too.

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Believe it, Achieve it!

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“Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve. Thoughts are things!” ~ Napoleon Hill 

Last weekend, as I climbed the ladders to the caves of the cliff dwellings in Bandolier National Monument in Jemez Springs, New Mexico I was fulfilling a dream that for many years I had been wanting to see come to fruition. The ultimate pleasure of all was being able to share the dream with those that I love, my husband and my son! 

It is important to have dreams in our lives! They give us hope, they give us a reason to believe, things to aim for and things to fulfill. Without dreams, we accept life as ordinary and mundane, and we can fail to thrive. 

Before we reach our dreams,  we must first climb the rungs of the ladder! We need to set goals and reach them. Sometimes the steps to success can be fraught with fear, self-doubt and setbacks. The timeline we set for having our dreams come true does not always follow the path we would like it to. 

This weekend, I will be attending my second women’s retreat! Last year at the retreat, our leader, Mary Nelson of www.reclaimyourselfandmore.com  asked the retreat participants to map out, through pictures,  how we saw our lives. I am pleased to report, a year later, the picture of my life, is very different. Some of the images should be exchanged, old for new, some should be revised. Make no mistake, I have moved in the direction I set for myself because I have done the personal work it takes to find success. As I have climbed the ladder of personal fulfillment, I know that whatever I believe, I can achieve. Granted, sometimes change does not happen as quickly as I would like. Sometimes the situation is out of my control, and sometimes not. What is important is that I have learned lessons along the way. 

As time marches forward, so do my dreams!

Weekend Indie Publisher News

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Have you written a book designed to improve daily living? The Living Now Book Awards are coming up and the first deadline has gone by. The sooner you submit your book, the lower the cost to enter your book into the competition, so all of you enter now!

Basic Information:

This contest is designed to reward authors for new publications that helps improve quality of life and how to live fulfilling lifestyles. 

Categories include:

  • Fitness
  • Travel
  • Cooking
  • Entertaining
  • Self Improvement
  • Animals/Pets
  • Green Living
  • Spirituality/Enlightment
  • Family    
  • AND MORE!! 

Next submission deadline and fee – now until November 20,  $85 per title,   After November 21st , $95 per title

                                                          Final Deadline February 21st. 

For more information – please visit http://www.livingnowawards.com/index.php 

Good Luck! Book awards are a sure -fire way to increase your visibility as an author and for your book!

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Sharing the Word!

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“Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.”                 ~Mark Twain 

How coincidental is that? Today, I had planned to write a blog on the man who is known as our first American novelist – Mark Twain. He is one of the most well-known essayists and moralists in our country’s history! This morning, I had a few minutes to spare before my dentist appointment, and took the opportunity to take a little drive into an area of Steamboat Springs, CO that I had not previously taken the time to explore before. There the name was, on a street sign, Mark Twain. Was it an Avenue or Road or Lane? ! I dont know! I was so thrown off guard by this odd coincidence of having just composed, on paper, last night a blog based on  Mr. Twain that I can not remember which!   

Seeing this sign has changed the content of my blog. I was going to go on and on about the man who was born in 1835 and died in 1915 AKA Samuel Langhorne Clemens. His speculative ventures included silver mining, business and publishing.  His writings had appeal to young and old, alike. Although in he is known for his humor and wit, many of the essays he wrote in his final years were filled with his “venting” against power, corruption and greed.

Why his name should appear on a street sign in a place like Steamboat Springs, CO, I wonder. Perhaps it is just a subtle reminder to all that as we travel down the road of life  “to do the right thing.”

 

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Devilish Distractions

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“Patience and fortitude conquer all things.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

My computer, the little devil, has really gotten under my skin! It has even become the cause of writer’s cramp. I’ve got writer’s block – of all things! I have begun to write not out of desire but out of will.  My will to test my fortitude over a machine. Imagine that!

Having to work on what has become an antiquated, slow computer that freezes up, coughs and chokes every time I turn it on has been the bane of my existance all summer long. I have put off getting a new transmitter of digital information for far too long. My limits of being a fiscally conservative business owner have been reached, that is for sure!

I have learned alot from this adversarial relationship between my old computer and me –

  1. Write out of desire, not out of will!
  2. Recognize when it is time to let go of the old old and bring in the new.
  3. If a relationship becomes too overwhelming, get out of it!
  4. To write and think clearly and succinctly, you must clear out the clutter.

I need to have patience for a few more days. Then, I will be in a new relationship – one that will not be detrimental to my mental health.  As readers of this blogsite, you’ve got to be tired of hearing about this relationship with my old computer that I have found hard to forget! The relationship with my new electronic transmission device will be positive and filled with all good things! It will be more aligned with the way I like to live.  I will look forward to sharing all things fulfilling, once again!

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A Strong Foundation

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“The reward of one duty done is the power to fulfill another” ~ George Eliot 

Last week, the kids started back to school after summer break.  On the first morning of school, I walked by groups of children standing at the bus stops, all up and down the road. I began to think back on the fulfilling and glorious days of raising my child…. 

The days were filled with trying to figure out what made my child tick and what set off temper tantrums, what he was passionate about and how to channel the energy he had. My one child has the energy of 20. Moms with two or three kids would shake their heads and say to me “I don’t know how you do it!” He has always been hard to keep up with, I will admit! 

My daily “to-do” list, was no different than every parent’s list – fixing meals, snacks, monitoring and helping with homework, fetching other kids for play dates, doing laundry, soothing skinned knees, reading at bedtime, picking up socks, shoes and toys. 

 The early years went by, and then our life and was consumed with soccer, soccer, soccer and yes, you guessed it, soccer…..  and on and on it went. Fortunately, I had a willing and devoted husband who did it all too – we tried to work as a team. 

One day I woke up and hardly knew who I was. I had been fulfilling my life for 18 years with the activities of raising a child. Would I go back and do it all over again? You bet, if I had the energy now that I had then! 

The point of this blog is to remind all parents that children are a gift from God. They come with tremendous responsibility. Children emulate what they see. Teach them love, compassion, the value of faith, how to share, a spirit of cooperation, encourage them to follow their dreams, the importance of family and what it means to be a real friend. 

There will be nothing more fulfilling then knowing that you were there when your kids needed you the most. Put your child’s emotional needs first. There will be plenty of time to figure out even more about who you are, after the kids leave home!

 

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An Adjustment

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“The winds of grace are always blowing; all we need to do is raise our sails” ~ Unknown  

Ok, so I couldn’t post the blog that I really wanted to post today. I had written a blog that I really wanted to share with all our readers. It was important and it needed to be said! But the image I wanted to post came to me in a format that does not want to cooperate. 

So, rather than pout, and fuss and stew, I decided to move on and I will share what I have to say, in due time. Hopefully tomorrow I can share it, but if not, we have until August 31st to share the news. 

I have been caught a little off-guard today, since what I had planned needs to be postponed. I will follow the words of a friend who has been a mentor to me for 10 years or more. As she says, “There are no problems, only solutions.” She has set a great example in finding grace during the most trying times, and has taught me to turn to Art for fulfillment and enjoyment! 

So, that is what we will do. Join me in a moment of sharing and caring.

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August Rules

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“Honesty is the cornerstone of all success, without which confidence and ability to perform shall cease to exist.” ~ May Kay Ash  

It is already August! The first eight months of this year are almost gone! Let’s see what fulfills all those born under the Zodiac sign of Leo the Lion.  

Character Traits of Leos – “I WILL” is the motto of Leos.  They are born leaders and good organizers. Leos have a strong sense of pride, are loyal and honest. It is very important for Leos to put their hearts into something they love!  

As I  did research for this blog post, I came across a fact that I never knew before! My husband shares the same birthday as Saint Francis DeSales! For anyone who knows my husband, he has always lived his life – as a Leo – in the truest sense of the word.  

Saint Francis DeSales (born August 21, 1567) is well known for his words “be who you are and be that well.” Over three hundred of years ago, St. Francis had astounding  insight into what it takes to become successful artists, writers, publishers, musicians, screenwriters, filmmakers, journalists and great human beings. (Note: Mother Teresa was also an August baby). Without doubt, it takes character traits that Leo’s possess in order to pursue the creative path. 

Can you imagine living in a household with two Leos? Our Pisces son can! And he can well explain just what it was like! A Pisces born on the 25th is “in tune with the world around them and they may possess an amazing psychic sensitivity! They are most powerful when they put their talents into a cause much greater than themselves.” http://bit.ly/8XNTFh. 

Yikes! Now this is scary, fascinating stuff! The stuff of compelling films! Do you have any good stories of one Zodiac sign meeting another zodiac sign and the fascinating combined result? If so, share it with us! 

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Mind Reader

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“Seek the spirit in all you do. Keep it with you continually. That is our challenge” ~ Ezra Taft Benson  

Uh- oh, the minister of the church I attend has me all figured out!! He can read minds, too!!  

This Sunday, as I sat in church, the Reverend Tim said  “let’s bow our heads for a  Prayer of Clear Vision!”  It was followed by the song “Open My Eyes, That I May See.” After his beautiful and very heartfelt sermon (it truly was) on “An Unclenched Life”, we then sang “Be Still, My Soul.” 

How in the world did he know that every day, this is what I ask for? This is what I request? With over 400 blogs written, it is more difficult then you might imagine to come up with fresh, interesting material to post on this blogsite each and every day day. When I wake up each morning, I ask to “go through the day with my eyes and ears wide open, so that I may learn or find something of interest and of value to share.” Every night, these are the prayers I ask – “help me, help me, help me to think of what to write tomorrow.” Bingo! Somehow, in some way, in the quiet of the night or in the early dawn of the morning, my prayers are answered! My mind opens up, clarity sets in and I find my way to the computer with an idea of what to compose for my blog of the day.  

See that, all things are fulfilling, when you seek and ask for help! Yes, there is a God, and he helps me with this blogsite,  too!

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