Excercise clears the mind

And the spirit!

Sometimes, there's nothing like a good jog or hard workout.

Or ... a little DDR!

In all things

Our pastor had a great message yesterday, taken from II Timothy (I belive). It was "In all circumstances, give thanks."

Nor 'for' all things, 'in'.

That thankful people are positive.

That if you appreciate something, you will not so easily discard it.

That if you feel you deserve something, you will not be thankful for what you already have.

So, regardless of what you're going through or where you are at, give thanks.

Thankful

Things I am thankful for:

A devoted, loving husband!

A personal relationship with God.

A home I feel safe in.

My loveable, sassy big kitty, Hobbes.

My new, curious, sweet kitty, Rocko!

Friends & fans who keep me going when I get discouraged.

A purpose in life with my novels.

A fourteen year-old young lady to love and care for.

A reliable vehicle that just had its first birthday. (And has 31,000+ miles!)

And a Thanksgiving dinner at home with high definition football!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!

Adjusting

Life is a series of adjustments.

Rocko has spent one whole day in our house now. She's doing better, but has quickly realized not to come anywhere near the big, mean kitty. (That would be Hobbes, our 19 pound wonder kitty!)

We are adjusting, too. Time to kitty proof the house, teach Rocko "No!", and make sure she does not chew on any cords and zap herself. But it's fun - forgot what it was like to have a kitten in the house! (Hobbes is 15 & 1/2 - so it's been a while!)

It'll keep us busy. But hey - I already have to much to do - what's one more distraction at this point?

Especially when she's soft and cute!

And we did it to safe a life!

Being Adopted

Being adopted is to be carefully chosen. It is finding the perfect match in a whole sea of humanity.

I'm not talking about being adopted by people.

I'm talking about being adopted by cats!

Two little black kitties recently took up residence in our neighborhood. They mostly hung out at our neighbors (who had begun feeding them) and occasionally coming over to visit us. (Sensing we are 'cat people'.)

Well, knowing that it is getting below freezing at night and that they do not have a home, Craig purchased some kitten food and we set out a warm bed for them. They are curled up there right now, happy as clams. Obviously, they were somebody pets before they were dumped in our subdivision.

We did not intend to get new kitties so soon. Don't even know how how our old cat, Hobbes, will react. But come Monday, after a trip to the vet, they will become indoor kitties. And we have already named them - Rocko and Spunky.

Guess we've officially been adopted now!

People judge you by your actions, not your intentions.

Happiness is ... trying something new!

Most of my friends are aware of my complete lack of balance and general uncoordination. I can walk down a ten foot wide hallway and still bump into the wall. That is why I ride roller coasters - a complete lack of balance means I do not feel out of whack when pulling five G's. (And when I get off the ride, my equliberium evens out!)

However, that said, I was duped into getting hooked on Dance Dance Revolution. While I can still only do the first two levels (half beats totally confuse me!) I can get single and double A pluses without a problem now and continue trying new songs.

Now - even better!

I also have absolutely NO singing voice. None. Zip. Zilch. ZERO. (I don't think I sound good just speaking!) I do not even mouth the words in church. Why bother faking it?

Now, because of the same coniving friends who got me hooked on DDR, I am actually playing Karaoke Revolution too.

No, it does not sound pretty!

Only Craig and Ashley (and said friends) have EVER heard me sing.

BUT! I can get a platinum record on a couple songs!

We just got version three, and there's a lot of songs I know on there. Strange thing is, I can only sing ones with higher notes. (I love Switchfoot's "Meant To Live", but with his range, I slaughtered it!) But I am bravely trying new songs and attempting to improve on the others.

Never EVER thought ANYONE would hear me sing, but now, it's kinda fun.

And I broke a barrier!

(And - I promise I will NEVER sing Karaoke in bar in front of live people. Don't want to break eardrums!)

Amazing people

Ever had a day where you ran into nothing but super nice people?

That was my Friday night.

I was in the Charlotte area for several book signings and a speaking engagement. It seemed as if I could meet no ugly person!

From the wonderful CRM who was generous and thoughtful beyond words, to the people who purchased my books that night, I was simply blown away! The spunky young lady from Georgia Tech simply made my night! She simply oozed genuine consideration towards her fellow human beings! (Not to mention that I greatly admired her confidence and obviously great self image!) And the gentleman who had no one to buy gifts for Christmas - he bought both books and I so enjoyed speaking to him for a great length of time. And then there were the employees at the other stores in the area - they were just so awesome! And the manager at the signing next day - I am still so touched she purchased BOTH of my books! Said she'd read a little of them, trying to determine where to place 'inspiration fiction', and I guess she liked what she read! And there was also a gentleman who said he would come back for a book for his wife later - and believe it or not, he did! (Yes, Ron, you restored my faith in humanity!)

Now, if EVERYONE could just put for a little of the effort these people did, just think how wonderful the world would be to live in!

Lord, I hope I exude that kind of positive enthusiasm every single day!

True love

I got one of those forwarded friendship emails.

This one had something a little different - not just a friend, but a love that would make itself known if the message were passed along. I kinda liked it, so I will pass it along here ...

Yeah, once in a great while, I get a little romantic!
(Enjoy, 'cus it doesn't happen often!)

A girl asked a guy if he thought she was pretty, He said...no. She asked him if he would want to be with her forever....and he said no. She then asked him if she were to leave would he cry, and once again he replied with a no. She had heard enough. As she walked away, tears streaming down her face the boy grabbed her arm and said....
You're not pretty you're beautiful.
I don't want to be with you forever, I NEED to be with you forever.
And I wouldn't cry if you walked away...I'd die...

What's love got to do with success?

"The answer is ... Everything! Love has everything to do with it, because love is the most powerful emotion on earth. Love has the capacity to heal and to cure, to build and to restore, to renew and reform, to translate and transform. Love hopes all things, bears all things, believes in all things and endures all things. Love conquers all ... and love never fails!
Love, like anything else that changes your life, is a decision. Love is a choice which creates options. Hate is also a choice, but it removes options.
Once you realize that you cannot control the time, you cannot control the weather ... the only thing you can control is yourself. You can choose to love in spite of anyone of anything."
- Willie Jolley

Fourteen and a half

Meant to post this on November 1st!

Ashley has been proudly saying she is 14 & 1/2.

Well, November 1st was my 14 & 1/2!

And in memory-

"Now that I've tried to
Talk to you
And make you understand
All you have to do
Is close your eyes
And just reach out your hands

And touch me
Hold me close
Don't ever let me go
More than words
Is all I ever
Needed you to show
Then you wouldn't
Have to say
That you love me
Cause I'd already know"

- Extreme

Please, thank you, and friendship

We have worked hard to teach our foster daughter manners and the art of maintaining friendships, mostly be example.

I try to be polite and friendly with everyone I meet. I've tried to show her that by being kind to others, they will respond in a similar fashion. With friends, I try to compliment and encourage, always reciprocating their acts of kindness.

Sometimes I think people have forgotten that friendship is a two way street. One cannot simply receive all the time. Friends like to feel important, that their opinions and feelings matter. Acknowledging these things in a friend is the greatest act one can do.

Occasionally you'll find yourself in a one-sided friendship. A person can only give so much before their cup becomes empty. It's sad, but sometimes you just have to say bye.

I prefer not to give up on anyone.

"He who can do this has the whole world with him. He who cannot walks a lonely way."
- Dale Carnegie

Halloween

It's not the same holiday it used to be.

We used to have trick or treators - had two batches tonight, which is better than last year when there were none.

Used to watch "The Crow" every year - with Ashley in the house, decided against it this year.

Did make "Zombie Vomit". Of course, thanks to a slip of the tongue, this year it's "Vombie Zomit"!

Did have some friends over for some Karaoke Rev. and DDR. I'm better at the DDR than the KR (and this from the person with no sense of balance or rhythm!), but tonight, I actually did not come in last in KR! I have to wing one song every time, but I'm okay at two.

One is Mr Mister's "Broken Wings". Beautiful song and I know all the words. That helps.

The other is "Like a Virgin".

I really, REALLY hate that song!

What a scary Halloween tradition!