For All Sons and Daughters

I know it’s early, but as a Mom, daughter, daughter-in-law and aunt, I think it’s an important day to honor the women in your life.  Now as a woman, I think we ‘get it’ especially if we’re moms, but for those of you who find that Mother’s Day sneaks up on you, I have an easy, fun and inexpensive solution that will make you want to hug me!  Let me help you ROCK Mother’s Day this year ~ let’s take the opportunity to reach out to the “Most Important Woman In Your Life” to tell her how much she means to you.  She can be the woman who gave birth to you, the woman who raised you, the woman who loves you, the woman with whom you’ve had children.

Just to list a few:

Mom, Grandma, Godmother, Mother-in-law, Step-mother, Wife

Friend who acts  like your Mom, your sister who’s a Mom, your daughter who’s a Mom, your Great Aunt who’s like a Mom

Perhaps you have 2 Moms, the Mom of your children…I could go on and on!

When you think about it, you may have many women to acknowledge this year on May 12th!

So, let me help you make it easy.  Stay right there on your computer.  It doesn’t matter what time it is nor where you live for you can send a real paper card directly from your computer right now in time for Mother’s Day.  You can even send a video of the kids or of yourself!  You can send jewelry, Mrs. Field’s cookies, a book, a special coffee mug or even a gift card!  You can even make something special for Mom in the photostore ~ have a special picture?  Upload the photo, click and position it on the canvas print or a coffee mug or a t-shirt and press add to cart!  Voila ~ personalized gift made and mailed for you with the click of a button!

There are no excuses to miss Mother’s Day this year!  You don’t need to go out and peruse cards at the store ~ you can do that here on your computer with SendOutCards!  You can choose from our card catalog or you can make your own card ~ use your own pictures ~ your own videos ~ and make cards for all of the Moms in your life!  It doesn’t take a computer wiz to do it either ~ there’s an easy tutorial to help you or just click and drag!  My kids make their cards this way and find it to be so much fun!  You can too!

Just Click HERE!   The account is free, you pay for what you need and your card is printed, stuffed into an envelope, stamped, addressed and mailed for you ~ and you can even add a gift if you choose.  Instead of paying big bucks at the card store, finding a stamp, then finding a gift and mailing it all on time, why not let your new SOC (SendOutCards) assistant do it for you!?  Save some money for yourself and Mom ~ she’ll be so proud that you did!

Happy Mother’s Day to All!

Send your card today so that it gets there in time!

Shine On!

xo

The video below is from SkitGuys ~ for Mothers of Sons, this is a must see ~ and for sons of Moms, this one’s for you too!  Heck, it’s for anyone with a Mom.  Thanks to TheSkitGuys, you never disappoint! ♥

http://skitguys.com/videos/item/my-mom

All Grown Up!

I never thought I’d be grown up.  There’s a 16 year old girl deep inside me who peeks out occasionally to do something I Love Lucy-ish and she is like a talisman to me that I haven’t lost my youth even though now I’m a mother of 2 teenage sons!  Technically I’ve been a grown up and a Mom for a long time, but honestly, I don’t think I felt like a true grown up until my Dad died.

Mom and I were talking about Dad as we often do and as we got off the phone last night, my Mom told me how proud she was of me and how proud Dad would be of me as I’ve taken over everything since he passed.  Her compliment hit a tender spot in me and when I got off of the phone, I began crying a bit.  It was as if a flood of grief emerged and swirled within me, finally being able to be released.  It meant so very much to me to hear her words as I am trying very hard to keep it together all the time, to be the strong one of the family and to keep everything organized all the time, all the while, dealing with my own family, my business which has been left by the wayside as I deal with the problem du jour and continue to attend to my parents’ financial affairs.  I’ve had to step in and become the matriarch ~ a job I never dreamed I’d need to fulfill.  I explained to Mom how Dad had ‘trained me’ (his words which I disliked) in his office.  At age 11, I began working in his law practice and earning a paycheck.  There I was taught to think like him, to be lawyer-ish and to cover all the bases when dealing in business.  I had always abhorred when my Mom and sister had called me, “Little Al” in reference to my Dad, but now I am happy that he taught me all that he did for this new chapter is my life would have been much more difficult if he hadn’t guided me at such a young age.

Even though I’m now adjusting to being a real grown up, there’s still this little Lucy inside who just won’t rest ~ and I’m not letting her go!  But this post, I’m dedicating to my Dad ~ Rest in Peace Dad ~ I’ve got it ~ remember, you taught me!

Hug your loved ones today!

Shine On!

xo

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/03/06/daily-prompt-grown/

Daily Prompt: All Grown Up When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?

Happy Birthday Sissy!

Sister Every year that passes, I learn so much from you.

You are a great inspiration in my life, and I wish you the happiest of Birthdays.

Today is my only sister’s birthday…Happy Birthday AAngel!

I want to dedicate today’s post to AAngel as without her birth, I would have been a very lonely only child.  My sissy has brought me plenty of love, laughter and camaraderie as only sisters can share.  We’ve had our moments where we weren’t as close and we’ve had a few when we didn’t agree.  But for the most part, we’ve been close and we know that we can count on the other when the chips are down.  And for that, I am truly grateful.

I remember when my sister was born as I am three years older than she is.  My parents bought me a baby doll to love so that I would have a baby like my Mom.  However, as soon as AAngel arrived at the house, I put that fake baby doll aside and held the live baby my Mom brought home and called her my own…and it’s been that way ever since.  Much to my sister’s chagrin, I’ve been her second Mom her whole life.  I can’t help it…she came into my life and I just wanted to be her Mom…I wanted to protect her, to love her and to take care of her.  And for much of her life, that’s the way it was…but then something special happened…the tables turned.  She became the caretaker of me.  She began being my Mom and mothering me when I needed it.  There have been so many times she has taken care of me in a Mom-like way ~ times when she’s called and I’ve burst into tears for one reason or another and she’s listened with love as only a sister can.  I hope she feels the same as I do ~ that I am so grateful for her…her love, honesty, sisterhood ~ that I’m so proud of her…she’s a great Mom to 3 boys, is successful in whatever she puts her mind to whether it be PTA President or working part-time as a successful sales rep, gives of her time and heart to those who need a little extra care and is always ready to help whenever I need her.  I enjoy her company ~ she’s great fun and always brings light wherever she goes.  She is beautiful both inside and out ~ truly, she is beautiful.  AAngel is the only person who understands our family dynamic as she’s been there with me throughout our lifetimes and it’s her strength, determination and wisdom on which I rely ~ which I hope she can say the same about me.

I have the privilege today to be able to enjoy a birthday lunch with her and our Mom which I think is special.  We’re lucky that we live within an hour’s drive of each other so that we can see each other during the holidays and whenever we want!

So, this post is for you AAngel…

May All of Your Birthday Wishes come true this year!  You deserve it!

Much love and appreciation to you! xoxo

Below is a bunch of cards that came up when I typed in SISTER in my SendOutCards account…there are even cards in French and Spanish to send as well…SOC (SendOutCards) makes it easy for me to choose a card, write my heartfelt message to my sister, even put pictures and a video in the card!  I can send her a real gift, a giftcard, even Mrs. Field’s cookies!  Once I press SEND, her card is printed, stuffed into an envelope, addressed, sealed, stamped and mailed for me within 24 hours (or I can schedule it for delivery up to a year in advance)…but the best part?  Her card cost less than $1 and yet it’s in my own handwriting!  How amazing is that?

I included a few of the cards I found under SISTER ~ there are even Step-sister cards as well!

Do you have special birthday coming up?  Need a card?  Want to try it?  Let me know!

Gratitude…

The possibilities are endless!

I guess you could say there are two ways to look at life ~ there are limited possibilities or none at all…and then there’s the way I LOVE to look at EVERYTHING~

The Possibilities are ENDLESS!! 

I don’t know about you, but I love the positive expansion of ENDLESSNESS rather than the negativity of limitation.  Don’t you think that’s the better choice?

Many people talk about gratitude lately ~ give thanks for what you have and more comes to you.  While I agree with that theory and have seen it in action myself, I also think that we need to appreciate the people in our lives!   Having had my dad pass away recently and two friends’ moms pass away (one in January and one last week), I realize that what we possibly put off until tomorrow, we miss out on today.   All those things we wanted to say, but didn’t…the wish that you could have told them that they were special…all those woulda, coulda, shoulda’s that are now gone because that moment is now lost.

I”m not saying that there aren’t angelic ways of communication after passing, but that time for human connection is lost once a person has passed.  When I went to my friend’s mom’s wake last night, her dad told me how much my card had meant to her.  I had sent her a card last year telling her how much I appreciated her.  It came out of the blue and was a simple card.  Nothing fancy, just heartfelt and personal, but the connection was one which even a year later, her husband remembered.

We are all connected ~ in joy, in tears ~ in life.

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Join me in the Gratitude Movement…

xo

Gratitude Day 20 ~ Back to the Light

Sometimes our hearts get tangled and our souls a little off-kilter

friends and family can set us right

and help guide us back to the light. Sera Christann

I write today’s post with such heartfelt gratitude for so many people, many that I didn’t know previously, who have prayed for us, helped us behind the scenes and have sent their loving messages to our family.  The outpouring of love is a bit overwhelming at times as is the entire situation.  I truly feel so blessed as does my family.

We are not out of the woods yet by any stretch with my Dad’s health situation.  The amazing doctors and nurses continue to try new and innovative ways to regain his health.  I have said it before, we are on a seesaw as he is now 14 days in the ICU ~ and at times, his situation improves and we go up ~ and then it declines and we go down.

Our souls and hearts have been mangled lately with the ups and downs ~ hoping against hope, believing and yet worried…holding on to that Beacon of Hope and trying to grasp the faith of a mustard seed…and all the while, we’ve been surrounded by angels who continue to pour their love around us, sheltering us and helping to guide us as we navigate these difficult waters.

And today, I am so grateful for you all ~ and I want you to know how much it means to us to get your emails, texts, phone calls, FB messages and even comments on my blog…your hearts infuse us with light, hope and strength so that we can continue to help Dad and Mom as we continue on this journey.

With loving gratitude always,

xo

Gratitude Day 17 ~ A Beacon of Hope

Appreciation is the highest form of prayer,

for it acknowledges the presence of good

wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts.
-Alan Cohen

My Mom shared yesterday that she was begging God to let my Dad live.  She said she was didn’t mean to beg Him, but she simply couldn’t just pray as she cannot begin to imagine her life without my Dad.  She has been through so much in the last 2 weeks ~ standing like a Beacon of Hope next to his bed all night Thursday night, comforting him when he awakened calling for her.  In her stoic way, she never lets on to him that there is anything but hope there and that he will get better.  Even when he thinks he is dying and verbalizes it, she keeps her Beacon of Hope shining brightly.  It’s all we have at this point.

Our thankful thoughts are our Beacon of Hope and we have many good reasons to be thankful.  It’s hard to think about the possibility of my Dad passing without feeling bereft even though I’ve been blessed to have him in my life for so many years.   I know from experience that there are many others who have not been blessed with parents as long as AAngel and I have and I continue to be thankful in prayer for all that has been given to us.

Truthfully, I don’t want my Dad to pass, but I don’t want him to live uncomfortably either.  But then, it’s not my choice is it?  All I can do is continue to be thankful and appreciative for every little and big thing and for every person who is in our lives.  I am consciously trusting in God/Universe that what is supposed to happen, happens and that my family and I endure with love.

Family crises’ can bring people closer or tear them apart ~ and as I gratefully write that we three women have bonded together in order to be strong Beacons of Hope and Love to a man who has been Husband, Father and PITA to us all (he’s not a Saint you know ~ and I am a bit irreverent) I know that the above quote fits perfectly today.

Because we were called to the hospital early yesterday morning, I wasn’t able to write my post for the day.  In fact, when I awoke early this morning, I wasn’t sure of what I was going to write ~ and then, there it was ~ a quote in my email from a fellow blogger ~ LadyRomp ~ and the above quote and posting took shape.  So a heartfelt thanks to Kim @ a-message-from-the-creator-3-2 for her inspiring messages and quotes.

Use your thoughts wisely, be grateful, show your appreciation to your family, friends, loved ones.

Use the Gift of Today ~ The Presents of Presence that is yours.

Be the Beacon of Hope and Gratefulness

Shine your Love Brightly Today.

xo

Gratitude Day 9 ~ Being Thankful is So Easy!

www.thethankyouchallenge.com

Coach # 126830

Today’s gratitude card is above which I made especially for this occasion.  Although I’m not sharing what I wrote inside today to one of my parents’ friends who helped us immensely yesterday as my Dad is in the hospital.  DAngel stayed and visited with my parents, helping to sort out all of the complications of my Dad’s illness.  I am unfortunately not allowed to visit nor be in the hospital due to my own recent surgery and complications so it’s been very hard to help by phone.  My sister AAngel has been our ROCK and has taken over helping my parents daily, but she’s got her job as well as her own busy family ~ I am amazed at her ability to juggle so many hats in such a caring and loving way.  My heart goes out to her as she’s taken over the care taking of everyone while still taking care of her own responsibilities, family and life. xo

Our family appreciated DAngel and his wife LAngel just stepping in and helping my Mom when the doctor came around as more ears hear better ~ especially when you are hearing information that may sound foreign to you (medical speak you know!)  So that’s why I am sending this card to them.

I also thought I’d take the opportunity to share a bit more about the Gratitude Challenge by posting a website and a bit more information on the how to do it yourself.

If you click on the link above, you will see more information on the challenge that I’m participating in which is bringing me so much joy!  Although I didn’t create this website, you can easily put my Coach # 126830 in and send a card or 2 for free so that you can get the gist of what it’s all about!  Isn’t there someone that you’d like to thank?  Someone who went the extra mile to make your day brighter?   It’s all about karma, the law of attraction and giving ~ sending out love just brings more joy to your life!  I guarantee it…it’s changing mine so quickly!  The more grateful I am, the more I have to be grateful for it seems…and I am loving the changes in my life!

I find that sending cards brings so much joy to my life in so many ways.  It’s been over a week of gratitude already and I am finding that everyday brings more reasons to be thankful to more people who are showing kindness to me in my life.  It’s the little things, the big things and even the mundane that bring me so much joy!

Don’t let today go by without telling the special people in your life how you feel…

We aren’t guaranteed anything except this present moment…

Enjoy The Presents of Presence…on FB!

xo

May Blessings…

“May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day.
May songbirds serenade you every step along the way.
May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that’s always blue.
And May happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.”
~Irish Blessing

I saw this lovely blessing recently and thought I’d pass it along to you today.  Seeing that it’s the first Friday of May, I thought a little bit of blessings, love and rainbows might do the trick to end the work week on a high note.  No matter that it may have been a long week for you (because it certainly has been for me), the weekend is on its way and that’s always a good thing in my book!

Family time, a bit of relaxation and some time to recoup before Monday starts the week again.  It’s funny, on our calendars, we start the week with Sunday, but I have never felt that the week begins on Sunday.  Instead, I’ve always thought of Sunday as the day of rest, my favorite day of the week before the hustle and bustle begins again.  Perhaps it’s the Spanish life that beats inside of me or my Mother’s mantra that Sunday is a day of rest.  For whatever reason, Friday is the winding down day and Monday revs up the week for me.  Am I alone is this way of thinking?  What’s your first day of the week in your head?

Take a moment today to look around you ~ recently we’ve had a lot of rain and nature has blossomed everywhere it seems…a lush green has settled in my yard and the surrounding areas and it looks so beautiful.  I believe Spring has Sprung…

‘May the month of May bring you beauty to surround you,

love to protect you and hope to ignite your soul!’ ~ Misifusa’s Blessing

Happy Friday!

xo

Thanks Mom…

Mother’s Day is around the corner…for many of us, it’s happy day as it’s OUR DAY because we are Mothers…there are those who are not Moms, but have Moms who are living and that makes it special as well…then there are those whose Moms have passed away and for them it’s a bittersweet day…

My friend JAngel recently had her Grandmother and her Mom pass away within months of each other and I find it so sad to think of how this coming holiday will be for her and her lovely family.  As a wonderful Mom herself, I know her family will pay special attention to her and honor her on Mother’s Day…and for that, I am grateful.

I am grateful that my Mom and I had lunch recently and I love how our relationship has evolved over the years.  We’ve all seen the comics of how daughters grow up and grow apart from their Moms and then realize that Mom knew what she was talking about ~ what an amazing journey Mothers and Daughters travel.  I know I am very blessed to enjoy my Mom’s wisdom and company every day and I can’t wait to honor her on her special day!

Moms come in all different forms and they don’t necessarily have to be your own biological Mom to be honored on Mother’s Day!  Many of us are blessed with women who seem to just be so very nurturing that the bond that you have with them is as strong as any Mom’s could be.  Hopefully during your life, you’ve been blessed with a special woman (or even women!)  in your life who love you with all of her heart…

I know it’s early to talk about Mother’s Day, but I don’t want you to forget to thank your Mom, take a moment and be grateful for her patience and love and if you can, give her a heartfelt hug ~ she deserves it!

My gift to you is a card to your Mom for free…no pressure, just spreading love.

Please watch the following video to see an array of Mother’s Day cards…

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And contact me

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Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13th…take a moment to tell her how you feel!

xo