Wishing You Love And Joy

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Blessed Christmas filled with so much love and joy!

I pray you enjoy a day that reminds you of all of the blessings we have to be grateful for surrounded by loving memories of those who cannot be with us today. I am reminded in the still of the morning with my sweet children asleep in their beds that these are the small blessings, the amazing moments that are to be cherished.

So hold your loved ones closely. Life is precious. Be the love and joy you wish to feel in this world. As always, keep shining your heartlights! You are loved!!

Shine On!

xo

As Our Loved Ones Age

Maybe it begins when you realize they are forgetting silly things that you know they well-know.  Maybe you notice when they aren’t as spry as they once were.  Maybe you sense that they aren’t following the conversations or involved in them as they once were.  Maybe you notice that the rituals (daily bed making for example) aren’t completed.  As time goes on, you realize that there’s a little hitch in your loved one’s routine, conversation,  eating habits, sleeping habits and such.

Many times we brush those moments off with the thought that hey, they are getting older.  But how many signs does one need in order to shake up our thinking and begin the growing alarm that our loved ones may need more help?

That is a personal issue for many people as we can easily explain away when we aren’t ready to deal with the issue at hand which is:  our loved ones are aging and need our help.  For some people, it’s a mind-blowing thought (especially if we are their children) when our loved ones have been people we looked up to, respected, revered and who took care of us.  To see them slide even a little can cause us to feel that tinge of panic or to altogether dismiss it because we can’t even begin to go there in our minds.

But let’s been honest – aging happens to us all, so we need to help when we can!  Because someday, it will be our turn.  So what do we do when we begin to notice more frequently, aging signs in our loved ones?

Tread lightly is my advice.  Know your loved one and approach the subject accordingly.  Some people welcome a little help.  Others vehemently oppose it.  Nobody likes someone else to point out that we are functioning at less than our normal ability so be kind as you broach the subject.  Be respectful.  Offer help in a non-judgemental way and allow the conversation to flow in a peaceful way.

Caveat:  unless you see imminent danger, then be proactive and respectful.

It’s not easy for your loved ones to admit that they are weakening or finding their normal routines more difficult.  Getting confused, losing objects and forgetting to eat are tell-tale signs that you need to step up your communication with them.  But do it in a non-threatening way.  Take more time with them when possible.  Encourage them to share with you how they are feeling and what they are noticing if anything.  Do it the way you would like ti done for you.

I have some friends who are noticing their loved ones showing signs of aging that are concerning to the well-being of their loved ones.  It’s not an easy task to flow into the parenting role of a loved one who is older than you.  It’s not always met with gratitude, but instead sometimes it is met with distrust.  It’s scary for your aging loved one to feel that they are not as strong as they once were.  Some fight it and others simply allow the aging process to flow easily.

My advice is to keep your eyes and ears open and to broach the subject with compassion.  Listen to your intuition too as many times we know, we just don’t want to see because it’s hard to think of our loved ones in that way.

I wish you well on this next chapter of your journey.  I’m here if you need a hand to hold as we’ve experienced this as well.  You are not alone.

Shine On!

xo

When’s Your Last Day?

Do you think that your last day here on Earth is pre-determined?

Or do you think it’s a matter of circumstances?

Would you want to pre-know your death date (or not) if you could?

I know I may be opening up a big discussion here, but it’s a topic that has come to my attention recently through a few conversations with friends and I thought I’d ask you too.  (To my knowledge, there are no imminent deaths coming to my family/friends, so it’s just a question.)

But honestly, I think it’s a sad, but important topic to cover, to share our thoughts and to expand our thinking from others’ experiences.  Life is fragile and as my blog states, we only have the present moment for sure.  Not that I don’t plan for the future, but nobody knows for sure what’s on the horizon.  I’m not being morbid here honestly.  I don’t want to add fear to anyone’s thoughts.  I guess my point is a reiteration of being grateful for the past and being grateful for the present moment at all times.  Plan for the future, but don’t put off holding your loved ones close, spending time with them and telling them in real life, whether in person, via email, or sending a card, how you feel.

Because frankly, who doesn’t love hearing that we are appreciated and loved?

So back to the topic at hand!  What do you think of when you envision your last day?  Or do you even think about it?  I think about mine.  I think cancer changed my views on life, so I have thought about it.  I believe that we may have a pre-determined last day, but I’m open to listening to your thoughts on the subject.  For me, a pre-determined last day means I’m free to live my life without measure, completely in the moment, sharing love easily and without fear, but with the knowing that we never know our last day or that of our loved ones for sure.  With that in mind, we need to be the best, most loving souls we can be today and everyday.  It helps me to consistently choose connections, love, kindness and understanding instead of the lower vibrations.  It allows me the freedom to shine my heartlight with sparkling enthusiasm.

What about you?  If you feel inclined, please share your thoughts!

Shine On!

xo

 

I Want Seconds!

Daily Prompt:  Describe the most satisfying meal you’ve ever eaten in glorious detail. 

Well, to know me, is to know that I love my birthday!  In fact, I adore all holidays, but my birthday is especially near and dear to my heart ~ truly!  In fact, today is one of my son’s birthdays and he’s just like me ~ he celebrates his birthday for as long as we’ll allow!  Mine isn’t until March and I celebrate for as long as my family will allow too!

So when the Daily Prompt came today with describe the most satisfying meal you’ve ever eaten, I must admit that my birthday cake every year is the most satisfying!  Not because it’s anything special, no.  It’s because it’s usually surrounded by the people I love and sharing that cake with them on my birthday year after year brings me the most joy ever!  In fact, I intended on enjoying multiple festivities ~ I love going out to celebrate my birthday with family and friends!  I am not ashamed of telling the world it’s my birthday either!  To me, it’s just so exciting to be here year after year, that I never say no if you ask if I’d like to go out to lunch for my birthday!  In fact, I try to make it a week long event!

Perhaps this isn’t what Michelle was thinking when she posted today’s prompt, but for me, it’s true.

The most satisfying meal I eat every year is on my birthday with my loved ones…because it’s filled with love, family and life ~ for all of which I’m so grateful year after year!  Thank you for indulging me!  It means so very much!! xoxo

Seconds for All!!

Shine On!

Let them eat cake!

xo

P.S.  I made my own card from SendOutCards ~ try it yourself for free ~

my pre-birthday gift to you!  CLICK HERE!

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/daily-prompt-seconds/

Connections…From the Other Side…

Deepest Sympathies For the Loss of Your Beloved Pet

The above is the card that I sent my friend BAngel when her beloved dog passed away.  Feeling a little melancholy this morning, I thought that I’d repost from my friend BAngel’s new website and blog!  I wanted to include her post because I believe that it is fitting for those of us who have lost our dear pets and loved ones.  We all want to find that connection from our dearly departed loved one and it matters not if it’s a pet nor human.   https://misifusa.wordpress.com/2012/08/01/spirits-in-the-night/  To feel that connection, that love link is something yearned for by many who are left earthbound without their loved ones.  I know that I’ve written about this before ~ and shared with you some of our experiences with my Dad.  https://misifusa.wordpress.com/2012/12/28/life-after-death/  Bobbi’s signs are special ~ so I’d like to introduce her to all of you!

My “Little Cricket” Connection

January 6, 2013 By Bobbi

I am so aware that our souls do not die when our bodies do, but I do struggle with the passing of my sweet, little, black shih tzu, Sophie, in spite of knowing that. I had to put her to sleep recently because her heart failure made it so hard for her to breathe, and I didn’t want her to have to struggle to breathe any more. I felt that decision just rip a hole in my heart that day because I was so attached to her for almost 13 years. I loved her so much and I couldn’t believe I would not be able to hold that little, soft, warm body on my lap anymore, or feel her pressed against my feet in bed at night or her standing on me with her full-body wag to wake me up every morning. I loved that she nuzzled in my neck when I picked her up to carry her home from our walks when her heart got tired. I loved the way that tiny little 10-pound dog, when she was at her healthiest and happiest, would give full-body barks at the squirrels and giant birds in our trees, backing up with each bark like a cricket springing backwards. She even did her reverse, full-body “cricket bark” one time and landed backwards in the pool much to her surprise! I loved her hard-to-see black little pearl eyes as they trustingly stared into my face for reassurance – even on her last morning.

She was sweet and she was special, and everyone who held her knew that, too. She communicated what she needed so cleverly. She was seldom hungry and had to be coaxed to eat every single meal, but I didn’t mind. And I didn’t mind getting up around 2 am to let her out to empty her little bladder every night for over 12 years. I would have to soothe her later in life from all the things that made her tremble like when we had thunderstorms, or visitors, or when almost inaudible electronic clicks from the stove or iron alarmed her, but she was so worth it.  I was feeling just so deeply saddened to have to end that beautiful life. I tried to make myself feel better at first reminding myself that she wasn’t really gone, not her spirit anyway,  just her physical form. But, as often as I would remember her energy wasn’t gone, it wasn’t enough. I would then want to connect with that energy. I was simply missing my physical Sophie so badly that I wanted to really “feel” her energy with me. I had always heard that when a loved one passes, his or her soul’s energy raises to a much, much higher speed that it was when slowed down by the physical body, but I still ached to connect with her, somehow. I said a little prayer asking for a sign or a message from her and then let it go, hoping it would come.

To read more and comment…and perhaps find a new blogger to follow ~ or even get a life coaching session….here’s the talented Bobbi!

http://www.openyourjourney.com/my-souls-journey-with-sophie/

Happy Sunday to All and Shine On my friends!

xo

I found a few other posts that were similar…so I thought I’d share!

http://passionfortheparanormal.com/2013/01/04/do-animals-have-souls/

http://passionfortheparanormal.com/2012/12/20/how-the-spirits-communicate/

http://alittledeathblog.com/2012/12/20/so-long-farewell/

http://motherhoodisanart.com/2012/12/17/she-was-thinking-about-him/

Cyber Monday ~ Holiday Cards!

It’s not just on Cyber Monday, but ALL YEAR LONG!

Click below to see what you can do!

Christmas cards!

Gratitude Made Easy…

Gratitude is a habit and like many habits, it takes time to develop.  Being thankful for all things in our lives and all people in our lives can sometimes be a challenge ~ especially when Mother Nature wallops you with unforeseen, epic storms.

However, it’s sometimes when life is darkest that you can find gratitude in the most minute things that can increase your life’s abundance exponentially.  I gave out the 30 day Gratitude Challenge yesterday and I thought I’d follow up today with some suggestions.  I know that before I took the challenge myself, I floundered at the thought of 30 different people to thank, but as I went along, every morning, I popped out of bed excited to find my next person to thank ~ and magically they were delivered to me!

Here, you will find my first gratitude card that I began earlier this year.  gratitude-day-1    I did the gratitude challenge which morphed into something bigger as time went on for me.  It changed me just like the death of my Dad did.  Perhaps that’s why I’ve reached out to my cousins and found peace.

Life is short…don’t live with regrets…now’s the time to say how you feel…enjoy the beauty in the written word.  It doesn’t have to be fancy nor cost a lot…it just has to come from the heart!

Hugs to you!

126830

xo

Giving Thanks for a Response!

Although we are miles apart, warm thoughts of you and the memories we share,

make the distance apart seem closer. 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

A few weeks ago, I shared bucking-expectations with you which was about my sending a sympathy card to my cousins with whom I hadn’t spoken in years due to family troubles.  I sent my heartfelt message to them with love, hoping for a response, but being ok without one.  So, last week when I finally got my mail, tucked in the pile of junk mail and bills was a white envelope addressed to me ~ from my ‘older sister’ to whom I’d sent the card.

She sent me a beautiful card of sympathy, acknowledging the death of my father (as I had acknowledged the death of her Mom).  She even included a sweet story which I had never known about something my Dad had done for her.  She told me that I would always be in her heart as well which is what I had told her.

It was, for me, a bittersweet moment.  All those years wasted and yet, a hope for reconnection.  The above card looks perfect to me and I am sending it to her and to her family.  I haven’t seen them for 13 years ~ her children are grown, she’s only met my older son when he was little because the last time we saw each other was her dad’s funeral.

Her brother has not responded and I am ok with that as well.  I wrote from a loving heart so whatever happens is not my concern.  There was a message that I had longed to send which I did.  I told them both how I missed them and how much they had meant to me.

I don’t believe I am alone in this situation.  Perhaps you as well have relatives or friends with whom you’ve lost touch…and it’s awkward to call after so much time for reasons beyond your control.  That’s where sending a card can be a blessing ~ besides the fact that you can say whatever you want, you can reach out and touch the heart of another person…without fear of verbal rebuttal.

Thanksgiving is around the corner…a time for family and the beginning of the holiday season.  SendOutCards has a ton of cards to choose from and they cost only about a $1 plus postage…write your own message and press SEND…it is so easy to reach out!

Click below to send a card today!  Give it a try ~ you never know what could happen!

SendOutCards

xo

Seasons Change, Life Changes, You Change…

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.

Nature’s peace will flow into you just as sunshine flows into trees.

The winds will blow their own freshness into you… while cares will drop off like leaves.

Well my friends, it’s almost the end of summer and I am hanging on to its vestiges with every fiber of my being.  I know most of us are already thinking in terms of fall since school has started but alas, the Fall Equinox officially begins on in the Northern Hemisphere on September 22, 10:49 A.M. EDT.   The word equinox comes from the Latin words for “equal night.” The fall and spring equinoxes are the only days of the year in which the Sun crosses the celestial equator.   From here on out, the temperatures begin to drop and the days start to get shorter than the nights.

My Dad passed away on June 21st which was the first day of summer which was his favorite season so I guess moving into fall would be just another first to add to our collection.  We’ve endured my parents’ first wedding anniversary without my Dad, my nephew’s & brother-in-law’s birthdays, my husband’s and my wedding anniversary, the first day back to school went by without his traditional call to ask how the day went and various holidays ~ July 4th, Labor Day have already been celebrated without his earthly presence.

I guess that’s where this all ties in together for seasons change…life changes…we are born, we live, we die…and then…?  I won’t go into what happens next, because I am concentrating on the NOW…the PRESENT that we’ve been given.

My suggestion to you is to video tape your loved ones talking about something special…get their voices on tape…take pictures now while life is good because we only have today…we only have my Dad’s voice on the answering machines since he was always calling us.  I am grateful that I kept his last few messages.  My sister took a video of him when he was first put in the hospital, before he started to really go further downhill and it is one that I am ever grateful for because he sent me a message ~ one that I’ll forever cherish.

Which brings me to my passion ~ sending out love.  What’s the legacy you’re leaving behind?  If today was your last day, would your loved ones know how you feel?  Would there be kind words left unsaid?  I used to keep cards from my family that said something very special ~ you know, that note that said how proud of you they were and how much you are loved…those kinds…now I keep the last card sent from others because I’ve now found first hand how much it means to see a loved ones handwriting especially when it says something good.  You see, we all need to feel loved and to feel special.  An unexpected card in the mail, amidst the junk and bills, is a smile giver ~ telling someone now how you feel is a sure-fire way to not feel that there are words left unsaid.  Sending a card with your heartfelt words gives a concrete, hand-held reminder of how you feel ~ one that will be cherished.  And with SendOutCards you can even write it in your own handwriting, but from the comfort of your computer, in your pjs without leaving home!

Do you have 10 minutes and $1?  Of course you do…now use it…be the change you want to see in your life, in your relationships…you can’t change others, but you most certainly can change yourself!

Don’t FALL back into the routine which you’ve know for years…

branch out, let your cares fall like the leaves

and blow the freshness of a new season into your life and into the lives of others!

I’ll help by getting you started…

www.sendoutcards.com/126830

xo