The Dollar Bill, A modern day parable

A torn and ragged one-dollar bill discovered that it was about to be retired from circulation.

As it slowly moved along the conveyor belt to the shredder, it became acquainted and struck up a conversation with a fifty-dollar bill that was meeting the same fate.

The fifty began reminiscing about its travels all over the country. Life has been good," the fifty exclaimed. "Why, I've been to Las Vegas, the finest restaurants in New York, political fund raisers, and just returned from a cruise on the Caribbean."

Gee," said the one-dollar bill, "you're fortunate to have been able to visit all those places."So where all have you been in your lifetime, my little friend," says the fifty?"

"Well, I've been to ..the Methodist Church, the Baptist Church, the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Lutheran Church, the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, the Assembly of God Church, the Brethren Church, the Quaker Church, the Pentecostal Church, the Charismatic Church, the Mennonite Church, the Church of Christ..."

"Excuse me," says the fifty, "but what's a Church"?

Sept 1, Back from vacation and back to School!

It's back to school after a weeks vacation they are finally headed back today to school! Yeah for mom! It was a short summer with lots of activities but it's time once again to buckle down. Gone are the days when you could walk them to school and get a picture of them lining up for class! I had to take this picture out the car window! I'm really good at embarrasing my children!

As you can see the kids are not at all thrilled that mom still wants to take their picture before they head out the door. With the front yard redone and the wood railing gone we had to have a new spot to stand. No more gaging their size and height by the wood railing any more!

Pictures below from last week. Fun in the sun for the kids. Pool time, golf, tennis and ice cream.

Trust

Trust

Follow your heart,

but be quiet for a while first.

Ask questions, then feel the answer.

Learn to trust your heart.

This week I had the opportunity to spend time with my special friend Dawn Marie and we talked about building trust. It's been such a long time since I've had to start from scratch and build trust with someone, and them with me. It was a good conversation on what a process two people go thru to develop mutual understanding and trust.

Then I started to think about how we need to trust our own inner voice and picked the above to write.

The dahlia flowers are are a reminder of my long time special friend Pam's wedding that was years ago in August and how she had home grown dahlias on all the tables at her reception. This time of year and seeing the dahlias always reminds me of her special day. ( Happy Anniversary! )

HarMoney Card- Prosperity # 3

HarMoney Card - Prosperity #3

I SEE MYSELF IN A NEW LIGHT

Just because your life has been a certain way in the past doesn't mean it must be the same in the future. The future can be different. You can make it different. You can change.

Questions to ask:

What are my priorities?

What are my short and long term goals? Am I going to let time slip by and not accomplish those things that are important to me?

How do I make the things that I am passionate about a priority?

Have I written things down?

Have I set dates?

Who is holding me accountable?

The Daily Acceptance Prayer, Author Unknown

The Daily Acceptance Prayer


I accept myself completely.I accept my strengths and my weaknesses,my gifts and my shortcomings,my good points and my faults.I accept myself completely as a human being.

I accept that I am here to learn and grow, andI accept that I am learning and growing.I accept the personality I've developed, andI accept my power to heal and change.

I accept myself without condition or reservation.

I accept that the core of my being is goodness andthat my essence is love, andI accept that I sometimes forget that.

I accept myself completely, and in this acceptanceI find an ever-deepening inner strength.From this place of strength, I accept my life fully andI open to the lessons it offers me today.

I accept that within my mind are both fear and love, andI accept my power to choose which I will experience as real.I recognize that I experience only the results of my own choices.I accept the times that I choose fearas part of my learning and healing process, andI accept that I have the potential and powerin any moment to choose love instead.

I accept mistakes as a part of growth,so I am always willing to forgive myself andgive myself another chance.I accept that my life is the expression of my thought, andI commit myself to aligning my thoughtsmore and more each day with the Thought of Love.

I accept that I am an expression of this Love.Love's hands and voice and heart on earth.I accept my own life as a blessing and a gift.My heart is open to receive, and I am deeply grateful.

May I always share the gifts that I receivefully, freely, and with joy.

Sandra James 2009 CD Release

2009 Sandra James Songwriting Contest CD Released!

A pleasant surprise in my mail box upon my return from Carmel. A package containing the 2009 Sandra James Songwriting Contest CD. The CD comprises of the eight songwriting finalists and more of Sandra's music for everyone to enjoy.

For those of you that are not familiar, the Sandra James Music Foundation is a non profit organization who is committed to supporting the causes that were important to Sandra when she was alive: positive changes involving children, music, peace, and the protection of the environment.

I am always thrilled to be involved with the foundation and am happy to make my contributions since Sandra was a dear childhood friend and I have met an amazing friend Rhonda while working on these projects!

Rhonda and I will be sharing the CD's and giving them out at the 2009 Sister's Folk Life Festival in Sisters, Oregon in September.

However, we are more than willing to share now. If you would like your own CD and hear these amazing messages from the featured artists please send me an email and I'd be happy to send you a CD, courtesy of the foundation!

You can visit the Sandra James Music Foundation web site by going to

www.sandrajames.com

Carmel by the Sea , Vacation

Carmel by the Sea, they say that when you visit you need to close your pocket book and open your soul. And they are right! It really is a truly beautiful place and these photos are only a small sampling of all the wonderful photos we took during our trip.

While are friends in the Pacific Northwest dealt with record heat waves, we enjoyed cool foggy days on the ocean. Our evenings consisted of afternoons by the fireplace and outdoor dinning under gas heaters!

Coastal side of Carmel, along the seventeen mile drive. Home of beautiful homes and Pebble Beach Golf Course.

Carmel Mission

Beautiful inside and out with the gardens, chapel and museum. Could have stayed here all day! Having grown up in California and studied the history of the California missions I try to expose my daughter to a mission on each visit.

This is her second ( Mission in Sonoma and Carmel , not bad !)

Dinner out for the girls!



Story book cottages of Carmel! Yes, very small and VERY EXPENSIVE!!!

Statue from inside the grounds at the Carmel Mission.