King of the Mountain

Papa has this really great dirt pile at out New Ranch House and Jake just loves it. He uses it as a slide and says 'again ' and 'again'. It's so funny.

GIVE

Choose something you swore you could never, ever live without, and give it away. The ring you-know-who gave you long ago. Your dog-eared copy of your all time favorite book. The plant that finally, finally bloomed after everyone gave it up for dead. Give it to a friend or, better yet, give it to a stranger. Give two hours every other Thursday. Give a gift to the woman who answers your phone. Make it small and totally unexpected, and remember to tie it with a curly ribbon. Give a talk that makes someone laugh. Makes someone cry. When the man comes to clean the carpets in your apartment before you move out, give him your beloved antique mirror so he can give it to his girlfriend. Once in a while, give yourself a gold star on the refrigerator door. Giving is the first act of living.

**I think that GIVE is the prefect word for this week because today starts the Lent season. Lent is a season for soul-searching and repentance. It's a season for reflection. I know that sometimes when we start to soul-search and repent, we realize how selfish we may have been or are being in our everyday lives. Sometimes the easiest results involve noone other then yourself. I am going to try everyday this Lent season to give something to someone else. Even if it's just a smile or 'hello' to a stranger. 28 days makes a habit and Lent is 40 days. It can definitely CHANGE my life.
By the way....I'm Giving UP all Sweets...so if you see me with something I should not have please feel free to KNOCK it out of my hand.

CHOOSE

Every moment of every day, choose. Choose to do the right thing, the tough thing-not the familiar, easy thing. Choose the way of the warrior or the way of the coward. Make your choice out of love instead of fear. Choose from the heart. Choose to live fully, not to sleepwalk through your life. Choose to respond with the way you really feel, not the way you're supposed to feel. Choose the mineral water over the soda; choose the lemon juice and olive oil over the blue cheese; choose the walk in the park over the ride to the mall. Choose simplicity over extravagance. Choose conversation over the television. Choose to talk things out rather than stew in your anger overnight. Choose compassion and generosity. Choose to smile instead of frown. Make your own choices in your own time and choose to stick with them.

LOVE

Love freely, love deeply, love purely. Love yourself the way you've always wanted to be loved, and love others the same way. Love well, love often. Find it in your heart to love those who have never shown you love - for they need it most of all. Give so much love that you're certain to get some back. Open your heart to the woman who lives on the sidewalk with her two daughters. Love her. Have compassion fo the man who fired you from the job you loved most of all. Love him. Love all the Earth has to offer - her people, her birds, he stones, insects, trees, mice and oceans. Love something - anything! - with a passion. Love something larger than yourself. Call it Goddess, call it God, call it Nature, call it the Divine, call it Source, call it Betty. Call it Love.


** I figured that LOVE was perfect for this week, considering Valentine's Day is coming up. I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend and spend it with the ones YOU love and the ones who love you. You can never tell someone that you love them too much. Tell them everyday - tell them everytime you think about it. I love you all very much.

Daddy's Fire Station

Today we spent the afternoon with Daddy at his Fire Station. Jake had a blast. He wanted to get into everything and he ran around and laughed all afternoon. We are so proud of our HERO!!!

PRAISE

Raise yourself up with praise. Give praise for fresh tomatoes in the summer, butternut squash in the fall, and garlic all year round. Give praise for baby ducks in the spring. Give praise for getting through the darkness and coming into the light. You decide who or what gets your praise, and where, and how. Sing praises, speak them, blow them through a trumpet. Praise that young woman or man who faced a tough decision and did the right thing. Let her know it matters. Let him know, too. Praise honesty, dignity, integrity, and compassion when you see them in action. Praise yourself for taking the risk, for choosing love over fear, for staying with your own truth when everyone tried to shoot you down. PRAISE A CHILD TWENTY TIMES FOR EVERY ONE TIME YOU CRITICIZE. Praise yourself for remembering to give praise.


**This 'Word of Wisdom' was perfect for me this week because I was definitely challenged and little overwhelmed. I subbed for 1st grade in a not so great class. It really taught me that the little things that children do need to be acknowledged no matter how small. Even though a child is doing the right thing, it is a decision that they have made and it needs to be praised. There should never ALWAYS be criticism in the presence of a child. My Favorite: PRAISE A CHILD 20 TIMES FOR EVERY ONE TIME YOU CRITICZE. Learn and practice this technique and you can touch a child's life forever.

CARE

Care for yourself as much as you care for others. If you care enough to do something about another's pain and suffering, care enough to do something about your own. Care whether she's had a rotten day, and care enough to tell her so. Care enough to speak up when someone fouls your planet. Care about the old, the young, the sick, and insist that your elected officials care, too. Care lovingly for your belongings so they will last longer. Care lovingly for your friendships so they will last a lifetime. Care whether you get the worst table in a restaurant. Care whether your new jacket rips a week after you bought it. Make sure the store cares, too. Care whether there are still wild, sacred places you can visit in silence. Care whether the movie includes thirty-four murders and seven rapes, and demand that Hollywood care, too. Care that babies are having babies and that babies are killing babies. Whenever you say I don't care, ask yourself If not me, then who?

THANKFUL

Always be grateful. Give thanks for all that you have, no matter how little or how much that may be. Thank your grandmother for wonderful cheekbones, thank your fourth-grade teacher for getting you that special book on how bridges are built. When you get through another day, say Thank you to God. Be thankful for the music that leaves make when tickled by a warm breeze; be thankful for rain. When your promotion comes through, say Thank you. When a friend lets you sleep on her sofa because you can't be anywhere else, say Thank you. Be thankful that you have two arms and legs that work. If you don't, be thankful you still have a heart with which to give thanks.