When We are Given the Tools

The past 3 years has been a tremendous challenge with my youngest child. She is 16 and I will have a birthday in December. Going through all of this with her has kept me from writing. I have never been one to air my dirty laundry to the public and this has been the fore front of my life. She has been in a residential home for the last six months. It is a long story and someday, maybe I will back track on it.
One thing I have learned through this is experience is, it is so painful for the people who love you, to be able to give you all the tools to help yourself and they not be accepted. I do believe we have choices in our life and I know when we are depressed we want to stay in that place. But all of us that have been through those times and have had the strength and will power to pull ourselves out of that dark hole, knows it can be done.
I am seeing that some are more comfortable with the drama of being depressed. That it is more comfortable being the victim. I grew up in a family of female fighters, survivors. It is so hard for me to be able to wrap my head around, choosing victim.
I know some people would debate this with me and tell me that people can't help depression etc. I don't buy it. I believe we have choices, I believe we have the Divine Goddess within us and we need to let her light shine. I believe that some times we need to be in the depths of hell to learn, discover and grow. I do not believe it is intended for us to stay in that place. Life is short and it is a gift.

Sunday,Sunday Coupons!!

Yeah, it's Sunday. Coupon day for me. Last weeks Sunday paper didn't have any coupons in it and I was jonesing all week. I have become addicted to couponing. It is true.

I don't get free items as they do on extreme couponing, but I have been saving a good amount on my groceries. I figure if I saved at least $15.00 every two weeks, That's $360.00 a year. That's almost a months worth of free groceries.

Plus in this day and time, we can't afford to be throwing away money. Not using coupons on items that you will buy anyway, is throwing away money.

I have been making myself sit down every two weeks to make out a two week menu plan. Then I make out my grocery list, check the sales and put my coupons together. I enjoying doing the organization. I used to just buy randomly at the store and I always forgot something or I wouldn't have what I needed or I still had to come up with something for dinner. Now everything is all planned out and I am a lot less stressed.
Happy Couponing!!!

To Blog or not to blog, that is the question

For a long time I have wanted to write. Then this blog stuff came out and I thought it might be a little easier to start here. But it has not been. I think in my head, my life isn't interesting enough to blog about, my English isn't good enough to blog. I have come up with a 1000 excuses not to write. It's so easy to put it off til later. Well, my life isn't perfect and neither am I..... who knew? Maybe my life isn't so exciting, but maybe it could touch someone else or inspire someone else. Maybe I need to just write for me.

I have been reading a blog by Fiddledeedee. http://www.fiddledeedee.net. Now her very young son has an infatuation with toilets. Yes you are reading this right. I have gotten the biggest tickle at reading her blog about her son. Yes it's a little weird, but I laugh every time I read a new one. So if someone can write a blog about kids and toilet infatuations, I am sure I have something along the way to share as well.

I have many interest from spirituality to cooking to home organization to beginning to homeschool my 16 yo. So "so be it". My life an open blog.

Yes, My Krissy is home and I am so deeply happy I don't even have words to express!!!

Create a great day!!

We can't escape

"Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them."
-- Orison Swett Marden

We can’t escape problems and negativity. Escaping just brings denial and suppression - we continue to carry the problem with us. Ironically, it is our lack of acceptance and resistance to the problem that creates the pain. Resistance builds up an energy wall or block that, if not discharged, gets suppressed into the body. These blocks identify places where we have not enough understanding or love.
For health, we must work through what we seek to avoid. How do we do this? We can love parts of ourselves that we don’t like. We can seek the lessons we are being invited to learn through the problem. We can examine our beliefs and seek to see different perspectives and a bigger picture. As our perspectives grow, more of life makes sense and has meaning.

Self talk is revealing

"If you wish to know the mind of a man, listen to his words."
-- Chinese Proverb

What passes over your lips each day?
Are your words typically negative, critical, gossiping, deceptive, illusory, justifying, blaming, manipulative and argumentative? Are they more uplifting, inspirational, positive, questioning, beautiful, loving, universal, truthful, accepting and supportive?
The throat is our center of expression. Who we are sneaks out in our attitudes and in what we say.

"Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs."
-- Pearl Strachan Hurd

"The wise weigh their words on a scale with gold."
-- Bible

Open to awareness

"Mindfulness means moment-to-moment, non-judgmental awareness. It is cultivated by refining our capacity to pay attention, intentionally, in the present moment, and then sustaining that attention over time as best we can. In the process, we become more in touch with our life as it is unfolding."
-- Myla & Jon Kabat-Zinn

Why do we want to become more aware?
If we remain unaware, we:
- repeat the past,
- remain stuck in relationships,
- live superficial, literal and one dimensional lives,
- lack experiences of love and beauty, and
- have limited connection to others and the universe.
With awareness, we are fully involved with life. Awareness is sensing deeply and sensitively for what really is. To do this, we need to approach the present as totally new. When we can be open and attentive in each moment, we begin to free ourselves from the conditioning of the past and the suffering that it so often brings.

"If moment by moment you can keep your mind clear then nothing will confuse you."
-- Sheng Yen

Appreciation

"You can never get to peace and inner security without first acknowledging all of the good things in your life. If you're forever wanting and longing for more without first appreciating things the way they are, you'll stay in discord."
-- Doc Childre and Howard Martin

Develop an attitude of gratitude. We discover a sense of wholeness as we appreciate both the small and big things in our lives. And it really helps to remember to appreciate ourselves. Appreciation is more than just acceptance -- it's respect and admiration. Let go of criticism and self-abuse.

"Generally, appreciation means some blend of thankfulness, admiration, approval, and gratitude. In the financial world, something that ‘appreciates’ grows in value. With the power tool of appreciation, you get the benefit of both perspectives: as you learn to be consistently thankful and approving, your life will grow in value."
-- Doc Childre and Howard Martin