2009

As we close one year and approach a new year, we reflect on where we've been and how far we've come.

Personally, this year has been a journey of trust.

I've learned to rely on God to provide for all my needs. But first, I had to ask. The action of prayer and asking for specific help from God meant that I had to do my part.

I couldn't be like the man who prayed for God to rescue him from drowning but refused the life preserver, the boat, and the helicopter. If I was to ask God, it meant I had to do my part and trust God with the rest. This has been an awesome lesson for me.

Trusting God to provide also meant feeling worthy of receiving God's blessings instead of believing as I always did that I had to earn everything.

With this growth comes the realization that I will never do it 100% perfect, 100% of the time. But when I look back at the year, I see how my faith has increased and my priorities have changed for the better.

Next year will hold even more lessons because I am willing to grow.

Take a look at where you've grown this year and enjoy it.

The new year will present it's own challenges and if we're willing to grow, we will improve--without any resolutions.

Jingle Pooch to the Tune of Jingle Bell Rock

Jingle pooch, jingle pooch, jingle pooch Kip
Jingle tags swing and harness does ring
Sniffing and pulling and bushels of fun
Now the jingle pooch has begun

Jingle pooch, jingle pooch, jingle pooch Kip
Jingle tags chime in jingle bell time
Dancing and prancing and sniffing the air
With a doggy stare.

What a bright time, it’s the right time
To walk the pooch today

Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go walking in the park I say
Giddy up jingle pooch don’t you go poo
Jingle around the park

Mix and mingle with the other dogs too
That’s the jingle pooch
That’s the jingle pooch
That’s the jingle pooch bark!

Excerpt from Surviving and Thriving after Job Loss

This is a short excerpt from my manuscript Surviving and Thriving after Job Loss.

The true breakthrough came when I realized that more than just being a writer, what I really wanted to do was to inspire and give hope to others as well as to myself. When I write my stories and they turn out with a happy ending, I am reinforcing in myself hope for all of humanity. This may sound corny, but all my life experiences, good and bad have led me to this place of being an author of inspirational works. Losing my father, growing up with alcoholism and abuse, and finding recovery all led me to discover the power within myself that comes from God. Only by connecting myself to this power, do I become able to realize my true potential. Just as each job kept leading me back to writing, so my life circumstances keep leading me to stronger dependence upon God. When I was in my thirties and forties and facing the pain of my childhood, it took a lot of faith in God to get through it all. But as I faced the emotions and the pain, I was able to let go of the hurt, to forgive others and myself, and to find in myself a wealth of power and energy from God, power that I didn’t know existed. I had buried my creative forces for years in my efforts to repress my emotions. As I let those emotions out, I also let out the creative forces that led me to being a great author. Going through the pain made me realize how much we all go through and how much we have to face to get on with our lives. Only by learning to face reality do we become able to realize our full potential!

Thank You

Thank you to everyone who sent me birthday wishes. I placed all the cards in the center of the kitchen table and felt overwhelmed with love.

Nativity Meditation

In Your weakness was great power.

In Your vulnerability, You were exalted.

In Your humility, Your strength.

Read this for free!

Buy, Buy, Buy!
Spend, Spend, Spend!
Is anyone else tired of the holiday crunch for our cash?

I can't open my inbox without finding 5 or more emails vying to separate my bills from my wallet.

Every website, blog, or whatever is always trying to sell me something. Can you just give me a break?

Could we all slow down a little bit and spend some time with our families: talk to each other and be together? Could we spend dinner together instead of money?

Okay, I feel better now. Thanks for letting me vent! And it didn't cost you anything. And you can reply for free too! :-)