Great quote for the day :)

Inaction breeds doubt and fear.
Action breeds confidence and courage.
If you want to conquer fear, do not sit at home and think about it. 
Go out and get busy.
- Dale Carnegie 

The gift from within...

Well, it is that time of year again.  We decide who we are buying for this year, get all of our lists written out, after some serious brainstorming...what does my mom need? How old are my nieces now? What are they into? The questions about what to buy and where to buy it dance around in our mind, and hopefully we are still filled with the Christmas spirit after we go over that little detail...our budget.  I think we are all feeling the pinch a little more this year than in most years past, with the economy the way it is. We are all just that much more aware of our financial picture.  But what about the ones we pass by everyday, who dont have a list to make?  The ones who can see their own breath as they walk down the street late at night, not knowing if they will be sleeping in a bed or on the cold pavement?  They don't have the luxury of "coming home with their treasures" from the busy malls, and festive filled department stores.  All they know is that they are hungry, alone and hurting.

The other day I went into the city with my mom, as she had a hair appointment and I wanted to do some Christmas shopping in this particularly trendy part of town. I picked up my delicious Gingerbread Latte from Starbucks, and headed off into the stores amongst busy shoppers and delightful Christmas decorations.  I bought a beautiful nativity scene from a charming vintage store, made of brushed white porcelain...perfect for our mantle!  As I took my last tantalizing sip of the latte I had been savouring, I came up to a trash can and couldn't help but notice a man who had been peering in longly to see if there was something he could salvage.  Like most people I kept walking...as I walked away I could almost feel a palpable pull within my soul.  I thought of that man, what was his story? Why was he so desperate? He was someones baby at one time...

I couldn't go any further, I looked back as he slouched over, another possibility to quench his hunger gone. I looked into my wallet, only twenties, no change. I thought to myself,  "I needed that money for Christmas presents right?" But then I felt another tug, even more gripping than the last.  I walked up to the man, $20 bill in hand and as he turned around I saw his eyes light up.  "Really? Ohhhh man" he said, in a tone that resonated as if he was so close to hopelessness he couldn't understand why someone would even care.  "You've just made my Christmas."  Those words penetrated me to the core...
Made my Christmas???  I made his Christmas with a twenty dollar bill?
All I could say, as tears welled up in my eyes was, "Please go get something good to eat".  He said thank you, and we went our separate ways.

In that moment I learned something that I will keep with me for the rest of my life.  The gift that comes from within is the true meaning of giving...the gift that comes out of us from a stirring within our soul.  There is a common bond all humans share, a deep connecting invisible truth.  We must extend our hand to the needy, to those that are hurting...because if we all did just a little...what a difference we could make in this world.  Perhaps a little more hope, a little more caring, a little more love could change a life.  That life might just be your own.

So this Christmas, I hope you will listen to that whisper within your heart...dont ignore it, because however small, the gifts from within are more valuable than any gift under the Christmas tree.

Here's a great quote!

Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dreams...

Sometimes we have to sit back and reassess our lives, take an inventory and ask ourselves some big questions.  Where do I want to be?  What is my vision in life?  What goals do I want to accomplish.   Proverbs 29:18 says, "Without vision, the people will perish."  But what does that mean?  I believe we were made to always be striving for something, we were not made to have a weak spirit.  We were all made for something amazing!!  Sometimes we are crippled, and I think the main culprit is...FEAR.  But the spirit within you is not made of fear, it is made of Power & Love!  We are all equipped with everything we need, to reach out and go after our dreams. So today, I challenge you to reach down deep.  Reach down into that place you may not have visited in a while...remember your vision, say it out load, and never forget how powerful you are.  I will leave with this amazing little poem;

Only as high as I reach can I grow,
Only as far as I seek can I go,
Only as deep as I look can I see,
Only as much as I dream can I be.

Karen Ravn

A little update!

Well, its been a while since my last post and a lot has happened!  Anderson is growing like crazy, and continues to become such an amazing little boy.  He has truly enriched our lives, we are so very blessed!  Since my last post Anderson has learned to crawl, wave bye bye, clap, say "Ma Ma" & "Da Da", and the list goes on and on!  Last week we took him out to see Santa!  He was such an angel and was completely mesmerized by him.  Here's a picture!