Ramblings for today

In my last posting I mentioned how exhausted I was...... Today I am emotionally exhausted. It took Linda and I 6 hours to create two picture boards for Nana's funeral. I came to work at 10am and worked until 9:30pm last night. I managed to get over 50 thank you post cards created before she got here at 3pm. So yes, I worked the entire time. The girls at my store and I are creating post cards to send out to the people who donate monetary gifts to The Center for Animal Health and Welfare. It takes a job off of them and allows us to be creative in helping them out.

Today, I have a bird in my store. He is nesting peacefully on the top of a wreath I have hanging ontop of the windows in my office. How the heck do I get him out? LOL! At least it is entertaining when he starts to fly around. Maryann said it is a gift I have, animals flock to me. May I remind people that I am not entirely a bird person??? LOL! I have my few choices that I like, Casey and Sunney....that is about it. They make me nervous.

Today, I feel blah. Linda and I cried last night together so my head hurts today. My spirit just doesn't feel right. Church was great this morning until they annouced their sympathy for Jeremy and my family. I balled....with no tissues....snot and tears everywhere. I wish I would have had more time to scrapbook with Nana. She just could not make it up my stairs. Because of mine and Linda's schedule it was hard for us to coordinate time for me to go down there and scrapbook. Maybe this is why I am so sad. I was really enjoying my time with her in the last year.

After I had heard of her passing, I prayed. You know me and my signs..... Of course I had asked Nana to show me a sign that she had crossed over and was ok. Within two hours of asking, she came through to me twice. Last night I told Linda that Nana was ok and how I knew. She tearfully thanked me for sharing that with her and was so grateful that Nana made it Home.

I am so blessed to have the gifts that God has given me. The gift to see signs from loved ones who have passed, connections to the spirit world, the feeling of spirits being with me. My grandfather seems to be the strongest. I feel him the most when I write. Like now....I know he is with me. It is this inner shaking, cold feeling that the biggest snowsuit would not make me warm. He promts me to write. He wants me to publish a book about my experiences with the spirit world. I am just not ready to tell the world of judgemental and critizing individuals. My strength to not care what they think has got to be hardened. I have come a long way. Lets just say that I know the people I can talk too and I am so thankful for them.

What I am thankful for today is:
my experiences with 'the other side'
God
the people God has surrounded me with
patience
time
healing
love
laughter
inner peace
my children
my pets
my friends
my store
my creativity
inspirations
hope
faith
music
family
the gift of writing
energy
my health
The Healing Place
Linda M
Linda B
knowing Nana is in a better place
The Farmers Market next Sunday
Shelley

What is 'It'?

One word sums up how I am feeling right now, exhausted. Although I am thrilled that we managed to raise $1,340 for the New Jerusalem Fundraiser today, it was a lot of hard work. I am sure everyone who participated is feeling the same way. It was so worth it though. Shani and I were so blessed to have so many people help us. A huge thank you to everyone who was a part of the event. We could not have made it happen without you.

In talking Youth Group talk today with some members of the church and my mom, I came up with some solutions to my constant feeling of banging my head against the wall when it comes to getting everyone together. The kids do not want to learn any more bible verses, nor do they want to sit around and talk about God. Not that I believe that Youth Group is all about that, I think it is important to get together with reasons of learning Gods way. Right? Times have changed since my youth group and I want to keep up with the current trends of getting extremely busy kids together. However, it has been a struggle since day one. I get that kids learn about God through church, Sunday School, Confirmation Class, etc. So how does a Youth Leader be a Youth Leader without feeling that I am getting kids together for a play date?

The community service at The Center for Animal Health and Welfare was such a hit with those who went. The children worked because they wanted too. They experienced things they have never seen. They felt love like they have never felt. My mom pointed out to me that these kids were getting a message. My mom totally acknowledged what 'it' is all about. 'It' is about doing for others. 'It' is about doing service for others, helping others, making other's lives easier. 'It' is about living God's way and spreading it to others just as Jesus did. 'It' is coming together as a community, a whole, and preforming God's work. Now the answer to what 'it' is, is life.

So, while we may have fun outings going bowling, to Dorney Park, camping...etc, we will be engaging in a lot of other wonderful experiences subjecting the children to things they have never seen. We will be helping out at a local soup kitchen, donating items to Safe Harbor Homeless Shelter, engaging in fundraisers for various charities and getting these kids educated on life, all aspects of it and how we can all help. As these kids grow up, they will figure out what matters to them most and help in the area they feel the most passion for. Just as I feel the most passion for animals. This doesn't mean that I will not help with other charities or events, just that my passion is greatest for God's wonderful furry creatures.

My challenge for you is to do God's work at least once a day. Make someone elses life easier by lending a helping hand. Could be as easy as helping someone carry their groceries to lending someone $20. Could be just a smile offered to help cheer someone up. Let everyone see God shine through you. Show them what wonderful things He can do. Be the messenger and show everyone what 'it' is all about.

What I am thankful for today:
How awesome our fundraiser was
all the help we received
Shani
Erika
Maryann
my Mom
Jennifer G for her amazing baked goods!!!!
everyone who donated something
Cindy
Pauli
Charles
Kayla
my bed
my niece and nephew
my children
my pets
my friends
my family
my strength
my confidence
energy
sleep
my health
money
my Jeep
kindness
generosity
my church family
laughter
God
time
creativity
affection
my free oil change!! WHOO HOO!
PartyLite
Shawn (he is coming home tomorrow...YAY!)
Emma and Gunnar who just make my day
hope
faith
love

Ramblings for today

I am very excited about the fundraiser tomorrow. Shani and I worked hard at the church and Erika and I worked hard in the rain. Erika and I loaded the cars yesterday in the pouring rain. I know, what were we thinking? At least it got done. Hopefully we have a great turn out. We have over 65 baskets!

Tonight I am missing my man. He decided to go on a fishing/kayaking/camping trip up in the Promise Land near the Poconos. So, I am watching Ghost Adventures all by myself. I tried to get Gavin into it and he cannot get over his fear of the unknown. Shawn and I have our shows that we watch late at night...when we can. Watching it without him is just weird. I am so glad he had the chance to go away. All summer he was upset at his lack of liesure activities. He was able to get two of his friends to go with him and go for an entire weekend. He called me tonight to tell me that he was all set up, ate some good burgers on the fire, and is excited about kayaking all day tomorrow. He really needed this. And, it makes us appreciate each other even more. Absence does make the heart grow fonder....even when you think you can't get any fonder of someone.

Tonight I am praying for all those people who had their basement flooded because of all the rain. Although the rain was well needed, it didn't need to ruin houses and people's important stuff. May they get everything cleaned out soon and prepare themselves for future flood issues.

Despite my crazy day of rain, kids, getting the church ready for tomorrow, cleaning out a hoarders car (ask me later), dinner with my brother and his kids, then a sleep over with my niece and nephew....it was a pretty good day. I am glad it is over though. It is all in your attitude. Smile through the tears, dance in the rain, laugh a lot, don't sweat the small stuff, eat some chocolate and all will be fine at the end of the day.

What I am thankful for today:
time I get to spend with Shawn (even if it isn't much)
my children
my friends
my family
my church
sleep overs
Italian hogies
a great day tomorrow
sleep
a dry basement
fall
laughter
a sign from Mimi today
The Center for Animal Health and Welfare
Amy Grant
memories
smiles
hope
mums
love
free massages
hugs
kisses
my store
my furry friends
my pets
my man

How to Give Thanks During a Stressful Time

I had a stressful week....actually month. Between chipping my tooth, getting a $400 electric bill, Pouncer with his diabetes then running away, brakes on my car needing to be replaced, and then issues with Chloe I just wanted to run away. After the storm calmed down I sat and tried to figure out what good came out of all of this. What it comes down to is that I realized how much people really care for me. So what if I look like I belong at the Q-Mart? LOL! My tooth will be fixed on the 14th of October.

On Agape's CD there is a song called Rejoice. Near the end of the song he sings, "Let us give thanks in all circumstances." When you feel like the world is crashing down on you, how do you give thanks? Taking some alone time, I prayed. I prayed that God helped me think of what I have to be thankful for during all this mess. I analyzed each situation: I didn't care for my left front tooth all that much so maybe chipping it and getting it re-done will make it look better? My electric bill just pushes me to look for a better building even more....which will help with location. It also pushed Erika and I on to getting eclectic turned off on the circuit breaker that we were not using. Pouncer....well I learned that I CAN give shots and take care of something I care about even if it means learning to do something I never thought I could. Him running away made me realize how many people care about Pounce and me. I think all of Hellertown was searching for him. Plus it made me realize even more how much Shawn cares for me. The entire day he walked up and down the alley behind the store, calling Pounce, talking to everyone he saw outside, walking the creek.....doing all he could to find my cat. He was supposed to be working but could not focus on anything with me being so upset. Jen R and Erika were as equally upset as I which showed their care and concern towards me.

Chloe's illness made me realize that I do have people who recognize all I do for them. The Center for Animal Health and Welfare offered to take care of Chloe so that I would not encounter a huge vet bill. The Center does not take any animals outside of the shelter for vet visits or surgery. But because they recognize all I do for them, they want me to bring all of my pets there from now on. It makes me feel appreciated. Not everyone gets to see how much we do for others and that is ok. Most of the time I like it when I am not recognized and can stay behind the scenes. Never would I expect anything in return, this is not why I do what I do.

What it comes down to is that God has surrounded me with amazing people. He makes sure that I know I am not alone in any situation. He gave me friends that feel my sadness and hold my hand during tough situations. They also cheer me on and celebrate with me the happy times. God gave me Shawn who never gives up and keeps me motivated to keep going. He had so much faith that we would find Pouncer and kept telling me that he was not giving up until we did. Shawn showed me that I am the most important thing to him and that when I am sad, his heart is heavy. My family was all praying for us, neighbors were praying, Makenna's teachers were praying, and finding Pouncer just shows me that prayers ARE answered. The more people who pray about the same thing, the faster the prayer is answered. Thank you to everyone who prayed for Pouncers return and for me and my kids.

I am so blessed to have many people that I can lean on. They are strong when I am weak. I am so thankful that God has enabled me to find the good in these situations. My jeeps brakes, well I was not ever in an accident and now my brakes work better than ever. So I am thankful for new brakes and that God kept me safe when they were not working. And thanks to my dad, I did not have to pay a mechanic to fix them. Focus on the good. That is all I can say. I have a roof over my head, food in my fridge, a jeep to drive, clothes to wear, healthy kids, I am healthy,  I have a job, I have an over abundance of friends, I have an amazing relationship with Shawn, my pets love me unconditionally, I can see, I can hear, I can speak, I can run....I am free, I am beautiful and I am very much loved by many. Praise the Lord.

The other things I am thankful for today:
My time at The Center with my friends and my youth group
Birdy
Squeaky
Ramona
Alice
Hettie
and all my other favorite furry kitty friends
the power of prayer
money
time
the rain
the sunshine
yodels
painted toes
sleep
laughter
love
hope
faith
knowing my treasures await for me in Heaven and that no earthly treasures will be as wonderful.
blue and purple
support
confidence
non-judgemental people
Agape
the quote: Keep your nose out of people's business or their business will stay on your nose. ~The Power
inspirations
creativity
a heart full of love
God