Chances Are~

This is what it looks like.

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Chances are that 99.9% of people on line will not see this post, but if you are one of the 1/10 that do, decide to take a risk and get everything you ever wanted by doing 3 things. Blog everyday, read something from someone successful everyday, and attend all Empower Network Webinar. Not hard, right?
Well, if you are the 1/10 check this out 100% commissions. I know you'll be glad you did.
Persistence is what makes most of us fail, we are not persistent. Doing the same things everyday if the only way to succeed, and they don't have to be things you hate. They can be fun and exciting...your own creation. So create, share, read, blog, have fun and make money. Now how hard is that?
God Bless~
AnnMarie

iT IS THE TEAR (THAT RESULTS) FROM THE INJURY OF THE OYSTER.

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 "A pearl is a beautiful thing that is produced by an injured life. It is the tear [that results] from the injury of the oyster. The treasure of our being in this world is also produced by an injured life. If we had not been wounded, if we had not been injured, then we will not produce the pearl." 

Stephan Hoeller

Have you been asked on many occasions how you got through a certain challenge in your life? I have, almost on a daily basis. But today, I am tired. I am tired of the trying and the challenges. I am again locked in depression. My questions to myself today are what are you going to do about it? My answer today? NOTHING! That is what I am going to about anything today, nothing.

Friends and family that “know me well,”” really well,” know that is not who or what I am, but today I am, just that. I am tired of the daily challenge to raise others when I can barely raise myself anymore.  Then I read this: “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.” Psalm 71:20  

Followed Shortly by this:

A letter sent from Anne Sendai, Japan 03/14/2011 By The Waking Circle March 20, 2011

Things here in Sendai have been rather surreal. But I am very blessed to have wonderful friends who are helping me a lot. Since my shack is even more worthy of that name, I am now staying at a friend's home. We share supplies like water, food and a kerosene heater. We sleep lined up in one room, eat by candlelight, share stories. It is warm, friendly, and beautiful.

During the day we help each other clean up the mess in our homes. People sit in their cars, looking at news on their navigation screens, or line up to get drinking water when a source is open. If someone has water running in their home, they put out a sign so people can come to fill up their jugs and buckets.

It's utterly amazing that where I am there has been no looting, no pushing in lines. People leave their front door open, as it is safer when an earthquake strikes. People keep saying, "Oh, this is how it used to be in the old days when everyone helped one another."

Quakes keep coming. Last night they struck about every 15 minutes. Sirens are constant and helicopters pass overhead often.

We got water for a few hours in our homes last night, and now it is for half a day. Electricity came on this afternoon. Gas has not yet come on. But all of this is by area. Some people have these things, others do not. No one has washed for several days. We feel grubby, but there are so much more important concerns than that for us now. I love this peeling away of non-essentials. Living fully on the level of instinct, of intuition, of caring, of what is needed for survival, not just of me, but of the entire group.

There are strange parallel universes happening. Houses a mess in some places, yet then a house with futons or laundry out drying in the sun. People lining up for water and food, and yet a few people out walking their dogs. All happening at the same time.

Other unexpected touches of beauty are first, the silence at night. No cars. No one out on the streets. And the heavens at night are scattered with stars. I usually can see about two, but now the whole sky is filled. The mountains are Sendai are solid and with the crisp air we can see them silhouetted against the sky magnificently.

And the Japanese themselves are so wonderful. I come back to my shack to check on it each day, now to send this e-mail since the electricity is on, and I find food and water left in my entranceway. I have no idea from whom, but it is there. Old men in green hats go from door to door checking to see if everyone is OK. People talk to complete strangers asking if they need help. I see no signs of fear. Resignation, yes, but fear or panic, no.

They tell us we can expect aftershocks, and even other major quakes, for another month or more. And we are getting constant tremors, rolls, shaking, rumbling. I am blessed in that I live in a part of Sendai that is a bit elevated, a bit more solid than other parts. So, so far this area is better off than others. Last night my friend's husband came in from the country, bringing food and water. Blessed again.

Somehow at this time I realize from direct experience that there is indeed an enormous Cosmic evolutionary step that is occurring all over the world right at this moment. And somehow as I experience the events happening now in Japan, I can feel my heart opening very wide. My brother asked me if I felt so small because of all that is happening. I don't. Rather, I feel as part of something happening that much larger than myself. This wave of birthing (worldwide) is hard, and yet magnificent.

Thank you again for your care and love of me,
With Love in return, to you all,
Anne

God gives us everything we need, we just need to ask where to look.

"We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with."

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 My post yesterday talked about how, after reading a comment a woman made on a

NAMI blog, set my mind to reeling. Well, it did not stop there. It seems that this one discovery had led me down a path, not by my own choosing but on the path anyway. The attempt to shake my faith failed, and I am here to tell you that that is how fleeting moments are, and how powerful they can be. The devil slides in whenever he can and tries to take our faith from us. He is constantly trying to break our faith to satisfy him/herself. I was happy to read this today that led me back to the path I belong on.

"We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with." Roman 6:6 

I was barely a glimmer in God's eye, yet part of his plan long before I was born. We were all there on the cross in Christ's heart. This is explained in Roman 5 12:21. Here Paul explains that we were all subject to death through Adam, so we can all receive the gift of  new life through Christ. 

"There is still sin in us, but it is no longer my master. Jesus is." When he died and rose, so did we, and that reality changes everything. 

Whatever is happening in our life, even when we sin, we must all remember that Christ has already taken our sin, not that that is an excuse to sin, because it is not. But staying on a holy path each day may be a struggle, but to be worthy we  commit to try, EVERYDAY.

Lord, Help us to believe in the transforming power of the resurrection in our own life.

EVERYONE NEEDS A GOOD CLEANSING LAUGH

Image by dannie4852 via Flickrhttp://ourgratitude-rosee285.blogspot.com/googlea38ace4ec2d0d8d1.html

Life is not easy. God never wanted it to be easy. He puts challenges in front of us so we will pay attention to what he has to give us. What is that you ask? Well, even if you didn't ask, you should know.  He wanted us to know that, no matter what we have done... he gave his son to die and to save us from ALL our sins.  So, no matter what you have done, or what is making you sad or dysfunctional...all you have to do is ask for his forgiveness...with conviction, and he will answer your prayers.
I ran across a video online today and could not resist sharing it with people, because it was so cathartic for me. It made me laugh so hard that I cried...The tears that I cried were from grief, sadness, guilt and so many other emotions that I couldn't even list them all, but it worked.  That is what EVERYTHING is about. Cleansing ourselves from the things that make us so dysfunctional in a world filled with so many things to be GRATEFUL for.  Take responsibility for your part in your life and ask for forgiveness; and if that is not enough watch this video, because I promise you, it will make you laugh until you cry with JOY.

Image by nikkorsnapper via Flickr

Ever since I watched the movie, "Clancy," the other night, I am reminded of how she (Clancy, the young girl in the story) explained God to the transient that was caring for her after she ran away from home. She told him that the greatest fear that most people have is "the fear of dying." Which I certainly agree is true.  My other personal thought is that people are afraid to open their mind because of what they "fear they will find there.." Both statement are true and tie together. 
If one believe that God exists and that he gave his only son to save us from  our sins, and we are all sinners, (think about it, we all sin, everyday); then we should not fear dying, because we know that God will take care of us. That being said, why bother with the other fears, when the greatest fear is the fear of dying? Stop fearing death by believing that God sent Jesus to save us from all of our sins, not just the ones we have already committed, but the ones we will commit, from now until we die. How simple is that?  
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Matthew 24:12-13)

Read, learn, talk to others, and discover whether or not you believe that God sent Jesus to save us from our sins, and when you realize the truth, stop fearing death and don't sweat the small stuff anymore, and open your mind. Right?

Attitudes Truly are Contagious, so ask yourself one Question. Is mine worth catching?

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"Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the world worthwhile."
Carrying sad and painful memories of the past is what creates pain body. Living in the NOW is not easy, but it is so worthwhile. Carrying grudges, sad memories of the past, and trauma; keep one from living in the PRESENT. Clear your mind everyday of these thoughts and live LOVING the PRESENT. Living the present is what we are meant to do. God tells us to live in the image of him, and that includes our thoughts. It is just as sinful to hang on to past angry thoughts, as it is to covet our neighbors goods. Letting go of the things we left behind and taking only the lessons we have learned from them, releases us from pain body.

Going to the gym everyday, eating healthy, and losing weight will not do as much for us as letting go of the the things that make us victims in our own lives. Hanging on to the past makes us victims in the present, letting go of the past makes us healthy and happy in TODAY. Choose the PRESENT and be in optimal health, so when success comes to us we are ready for it!

"It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it~"
Somerset Maugham

There is a reason it is called The Pepsi "Challenge"

Image by dannie4852 via FlickrGOOGLE

or the third time in 2010 we did not collect enough votes to stay in the running. I will probably run again in March when they start accepting new Grantees. I am collecting resources now to get to the top in April. I will be asking many craft, and quilting sites to offer me their support. I will begin collecting them on my Face book page for the "challenge." It is a difficult challenge to win because it is based "totally" on people voting for me. I never give up, so I'll be in the fight again come March or April. So look for us and go to my page on Facebook to offer your commitment to vote for me. Please share with friends and family because this challenge is not about me it is about the disabled. Visit OUR GRATITUDE regularly to check for updates and our new start date.
I hope all that read this will go to the page join and lend "helping others with no expectation of return," is how life is meant to be lived. I hope to serve the disabled in my community and many others with this program. Please join in and lend me your support by beginning to collect bloggers, friends, and families to vote for us during our next challenge.

TODAY IS THE DAY! AGAIN

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Here we are again at Day1 of the Pepsi Challenge to bring a "day program" for the disabled to my Norton  Community. Your votes me the world to me, so please take the time and vote and text everyday so I can bring this program home.
Read My story and how much it will benefit my community and I know you will offer your support. Vote or text everyday!

TRAVELING RECIPES

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I have completed a cookbook project with my family.  We have compiled our family recipes into a cookbook along with some family memories and inspirational stories.  All of the proceeds from the sale of the book are being donated to The American Cancer Society, The American Heart Association, and Autism Speaks.  You can find the book in my Etsy store at Pogo2go’s Shop.

I hope you will all enjoy the recipes and share your traveling changes with me.

POGO IS TO THE RIGHT....

ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

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AND OUT OF NOWHERE AND NOTHING, (cont'd)

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I took a second job, as a special needs bus driver so I would have a vehicle without expenses and became a home demonstrator for a direct sales company. My youngest son was at an age where he was old enough to care for the children and although it was a heavy burden for a young boy that had only a few years before lost his sister and both grandparents, he helped to hold us all together. He was my Godsend, and in time, our lives settled into peaceful ones, at least for a while. We had a few vandalizing events around Christmas the first year. Someone took a baseball bat to the windows of my school vehicle and through a larger boulder through the picture window where the Christmas tree stood. I never tried to prove these things were his doing, but I had a sense about them. I tried so hard to stay in a positive state of mind amidst the turmoil. It was hard and I began treatment for depression, despite being able to carry out all the necessary things in my life, it triggered an old disability of clinical depression. There was great fear lingering in me all the time but I had to keep going for the children. I never spoke a bad word about their father or made them privy to the fear I had about the vandalism, but in time, they formed their own opinion about how they felt about him. If one always does what is right, the truth will always come out. The truth was not mine to tell, but my children found it anyway. When they did, I was there to talk them through it until my youngest son turned 13.
My ex-husband was also a narcissist; something we would discover later on, but if my children did not call him every day and tell him how grateful they were for everything that he gave them, he would spin into a tirade.(A God complex) Many phone conversations and lies later, he called and told my youngest son, the only one that still loved him, never to call him again. He broke my son that day, and although I have forgiven him, I have no use for the man in my life and neither do my children. What kind of parent says something like that to their child? He went on later to say to me that “my” children were “white trash, and had never been raised properly.” My children, really? I responded with, “Never call me again, you have no idea what it means to parent a child and the influence you “inflict” on my children is destroying them.” A few months later, I learned, not by him, but from the return address on the child support payment, he resented every month he made it, that he and his wife moved to Georgia. Well, I say good luck to Georgia. He had burned all his bridges in this area and needed to re-locate, re-invent, and run from all the mistakes he had made here. (cont’d)

GIFT CARDS ARE NOT JUST FOR GIFTS ANYMORE

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Gift cards are a great deal more versatile than they used to be. It can be a tactful way to help out a proud friend, the solution to the person that has everything, or "I think it's best if you pick out your own jeans rather than have me guess at your size." Whatever the question is Gifts Cards are the answer.

IF YOU NEED A LIFT TO YOUR DAY, THIS KID WILL DO IT!

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Sometimes  it is just a word, a picture, a phrase, or a quote...to change your mind-set for the day.  Only you can control where your thoughts go...Find them in beautiful places and make yourself laugh.  Humor can change your mindset in a minute, and when it does...EXPRESS YOU GRATITUDE.  This kid will lift your day.  I first saw it on TV and had to watch it over at least three times with live TV.

LOVE...LOVE....LOVE...

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MARY TRAVERS DIES AT AGE 72

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It's sad that with every good intention there are people that manage to make bad ones out of them. It never ocurred to me that this song was about anything other than a young boy's life and his innocence. Happiness is a mind set, as is health, so always having good intentions is the perfect way to always be happy. (naturally)
They were wonderful at what they did and it is sad to know she has passed, but the idea that Peter, Paul, and Mary gave so much to the world; should give us comfort in her passing.

AM I AN ANGEL, "Do you mean now, do you mean now?

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Listening to Abraham Hicks always sets off my thought process to places I have never been. I hope you find enlightenment here: