Change The World

What a simple thing that seems to be when you say those three words from your heart. How overwhelming and impossible it sounds when you hear it in your head though.

I think it's safe to say, all of us agree that the world is not what we want it to be. Loyalty and honesty are not common practice anymore, nor is hard work. Friendships are often based on convenience. Love...well, for most it's in the form of a switch; they can just turn it on and off as needed.

We have become a desensitized society. Desensitize:1. to lesson the sensitiveness of, 2. to make indifferent or unaware in feeling.

It's happened to all of us. We see and hear so much violence through the media. We are often let down by yet another persons 'fall from grace'. And no, I'm not talking Tiger Woods or Jessie James here. It's our friends, family and neighbors. People we have looked up to and respected for their morals and integrity. These kind of people are far and few between. So we are naturally disappointed when we hear of their mistakes, selfishness or greed that they allowed to invade their lives.

Another major culprit of desensitivity is texting. I like to text, but I don't use it as my main source of communicating as many do. How many times have you received a text and thought, "What do they mean by that?". Or, how many times has your simple and completely innocent text been misinterpreted and/or caused anger or hurt feelings. It's because we can't hear the other persons tone. And we can't see their body language.

Don't let disappointment and negativity drag you down. I've been there before. Actually, I stayed there for quite a while. Thank goodness (God) I decided to change. It's a world that's dark and cold and it's no way to live. It affects everyone around you whether you think it does or not.

We can change the world. It's very simple to do. The way you want the world to be, is the way you need to be. The things you wish others would do, is the things you need to do.

Change you. It starts there.

Today is PAY IT FORWARD DAY. Here is the website for more info. http:/payitforwardfoundation.org/

Do something nice for someone. Don't tell them or anyone else what you've done. If the recipient is aware of your good deeds that's fine. But it's defeating the purpose if you expect a 'pat on the back'.

Just do it!

Wow! This day really makes me smile and want to Shine...bright. :)

Bits and Pieces

Well, I've done it again. I've gone and not kept up with a goal. For two weeks in a row now, I've not posted a blog entry like I promised myself I would. I know, I know, I'm only letting myself down, (cause I honest-to-goodness don't think anyone else reads it) but it's a promise all the same. And me, myself and I, get aggravated at ourselves when we don't do what we say we are going to do. Oh boy, I'm really starting to sound crazy....wait....yep, the other two agree.

Hmmm, what all has happened since my last post. Well, I've turned a year older. It's the big three-nine for me now. My mother swears I was born in 1971, but I just don't feel like I should be this old already. In my mind, all three of them, I feel much, much younger. Sometimes I start to do something, then 'I' stop 'myself' and say, "You're to old to act like that!" Then 'me' says, "Go for it!" So I do.

This was not exactly the direction I had expected my blog to take this morning.

Back to my birthday, and saner minds. It was a wonderful day. Doug took me out to dinner at our favorite place, J Parrino's. We ordered baked mostaccioli, as usual. And split it, as usual. And was home by 9:30, as usual. Doug and I had a great time at dinner. However, I noticed he didn't seem to act quite like himself. I talk about myself not acting my age, you should meet my husband. It wasn't until we got home that he finally told me how sick he was. I would have been just as happy with a bologna sandwich at home that night. Especially if I had known he was not feeling well.

There was girl drama at the High School. But we won't talk about that. Though your prayers are welcome and are encouraged. :)

Clay, well, he's the same. Doing good. Living to pester his older sister and freak his mom out whenever possible.

Got new glasses.

Had lunch with a dear friend on Saturday.

Um....lets see, what else. Oh, I went to see Chonda Peirce Sat. night in her Did I Say That Out Loud tour. She's a christian comedian and super funny! It was so nice to listen to a comedian and have good, clean fun....the whole time. Vulgarity and the "F word" does not make jokes funnier. Plain old simple, true, daily life is the funniest. Especially if you live in my home.

Just plain old simple, true, daily life is what's been going on in our lives. Boring as it may be to others, it's the simplicity of it that makes one Shine!

A Few Days Late

Okay. First things first. I didn't have a blog post last week. I know, I know, I promised myself and my blog that I would post at least one blog entry per week. But, I do sort of have a couple excuses. One: The wireless internet decided to take an impromptu vacation for a few days, Two: I worked a lot of hours at work last week. (which I gladly volunteered for) and Three: Easter. Hope everybody had a good one. Dinner was at my house and I had a lot to do to get ready. Not to mention all the help I promised the Easter Bunny ;)

It's been a very busy/slightly hectic past several days. But it's all good. I got the internet working. Made a few extra bucks at work. Easter was wonderful. And my promise to be the Easter Bunny's helper turned out to be more than I bargained for. On Sat. night two of Clay's friends decided to come spend the night. So at the last minute I was trying to turn two Easter baskets into 4. Again, all good!

However, I was extremely disappointed when it turned out to be to windy to fly kites and play Badminton:( We tried to play, but when I served the birdie the wind caught it and took it clear over the fence into the farmers field next to us. lol...same thing happened with the frisbees. Boy can they ever go when they got the wind behind them. Word of advice-Don't ever try to go through a barbed-wire fence with a dress on. I've still got a slashed knee to commemorate that hilarious event!

Anyway, Happy Easter! Even though it's a few days late, we can still Shine by celebrating it every day of the year.

Tah-Dah

Oops! How did I forget a pic of these two new girls? On Tuesday they were practically the 'Stars of the Show' well, er...blog, in this case. I lovingly wrote of the great day my husband and I had junking. And how I, just me, had found these two new additions for my Angel Collection. How they were perfect and beautiful and musical and...and...then I didn't even photograph them for all the world to see.

Sooooo, drum roll please...Tah-Dah!

(Grrrr. I had to write this blog post twice because I accidentally closed out of it when I went in search of how to properly write 'Tah-Dah'. Wasn't sure if it was Tah-da or tahdah or Tadah or...)

"Isn't they lovely. Isn't they wonderful." Lyrics by Stevie Wonder. I had to replace the word she with they because it had to be in plural form. Yes, I'm well-aware that it's not gramically correct. I'm not even sure if gramically is a word. And I'm sure not going to chance it by going to search it.

Definition of Tah-Dah-A word used to tell people to "be impressed" or "aren't I just amazing!" Hmmm, maybe I should change the name of my blog from Shine to Tah-Dah! :)

And yes, I'm aware that the last half of my blog was extremely random. But that's just how I am. "Oh look. A potato!"

A Very Good Day

Monday Doug and I drove over to the wonderful old historic town of Carthage, MO. Doug really just needed to pick up a couple of antique pieces he had purchased. Devony didn't want to go with us cause she would rather go to her boyfriends house and Clay wouldn't go with us cause he would rather stay at home and play a computer game with his friends (being the nerd he is ;). So we decided to make it sort of a "date day" and spend the whole afternoon antiquing...just us!

We spent the whole day roaming the isles of Flea Markets and quaint Antique Shops hand in hand, and gazing into each other's eyes...insert screeching-halt sounds here... Actually, it went more like this, Doug went one way-I went the other and eventually would meet in the middle with both of us claiming, "You have to see what I've found!" Of course Doug always thinks he finds the better find. And truth be know...he usually does. He is a natural at that sort of thing (he was a born 'picker')and has a much better eye that me.

I did find two things, all on my own, I was so proud of myself for finding these little Angels before Doug...Hee-Hee. The day I was born, that would be April 9, for any of you who would like to make note of my b-day, my Aunt Claire brought a porcelain Angel figurine to my mother for me. That started what would become my 1st, of many, collections. I've collected them ever since. And now I have close to eighty. Mostly due to my husband who is always on the look-out for them.

And I can tell you the story on every one of them. Many of them have seen better days (I kinda would play with them when I was little when my mother wasn't looking). Some of their wings have been glued back on, a head or two got knock off, but again...glued back on, and perhaps a halo is missing. But as my collections go, the Angel collection is my pride and joy!

I'm so proud to have these two new girls be on display with the others. One of them is musical. She plays Brahms Lullaby, but not to well. It's kind of funny, you wind her up and it sounds like a 45 record on LP speed. But it's not her fault. She is getting up there in age. However, she doesn't look a day over 29!!

The other Angel isn't musical, but she Shines bright all on her own. Just like Angels do!

Last day of Winter

Well...Hello there beautiful, warm, last day of Winter. I'm so glad to see you. Wish you were sticking around longer. Word on the street is you're only here for today and snow is in the forecast. That snowy forecast happens to be for the 1st day of Spring. Ugh! That's not the way I want to embrace the next season! My pansy's are STILL sitting on my dryer. They want to be planted!

Well...I only have this morning to enjoy the sunshine and I'm taking complete advantage of it! Nothing wrong with sun-bathing at 8 am in March is there.

Enjoy the the shine of the sun today. And don't worry Spring really is just around the corner. Today's corner actually!

Paper Seamstress

My new favorite thing to do in scrapbooking is sewing on paper. Yep! I get my big ole sewing machine out and my current layout, and I go to town. The love the texture it brings to my pages. And, it's just 'plain ole fun'! It's like you're doing something you're NOT supposed to do-yet you're not going to get in trouble for it!

Sewing on paper is not a new technique, but I'm ALWAYS behind the times. (Kinda of like when I was in Junior High and pin-stripped jeans became popular. I hated them, thought they were stupid, and swore I would never wear them. Six months later I had five pair. Or the time when all the girls started letting their bangs grow out. Mmm Hmmm, about the time they got theirs all one length-I decided to start that gruelling hair-growing-out process.) Oh dear, am I a...follower? Never mind. That's a whole other blog.

Like I said, this type of embellishing is not new but I'm lovin it! Lovin it enough to blog about it, aaand, share some of my creativeness.

Obviously the blue flower page is not finished. I'm being quite indecisive on photo size and how to arrange them. But here's a hint, shhh, it's about two lovely girls!

My request to everyone today, Shine, Shine, Shine!