I think I posted this last Mothers Day, but it says so much and says it so well, I wanted to share it again..to encourage and to celebrate each of us who are mothers and to remind us all of the awesome place our mothers or "mothers" (and for some that might even have been dad) have had and, for some of us, still do in our lives.

The greatest thing my mother shared with me was her faith

that became mine.

Thank you, Mama.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !!
 
This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up puke laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It's okay honey, Mommy's here".
 
Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted.

This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.
 
For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T.
 
This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see.  And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.
 
This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.
 
And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football , hockey or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars so that when their kids asked, 'Did you see me, Mom?'  they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the (grand) mothers who wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.

This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat.

For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year. And then read it again "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls 'Mom?' in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home -- or even away at college.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches, assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them.

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14 year olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good Mother anyway?
 
Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?

Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time?

The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby?

The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home?

Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation...

And mature mothers learning to let go.
 
For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.
 
Single mothers and married mothers.
 
Mothers with money, mothers without.  This is for you all. For all of us.
 
Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can. Tell them every day that we love them. And pray.

Please pass along to all the Moms in your life. "Home is what catches you when you fall. l and we all fall."
 
Please pass this to a wonderful mother you know.

Whether it's quitting smoking (I'm close to two months now smoke-free!!!) or beating the odds while in remission from cancer (some may know to whom I'm referring with that one ), whatever your dream may be, read on...

Realizing Your Dream

~ Saralee Perel ~

During these difficult times and with all the distrust these days of corporations, this story was really a breath of fresh air.  If you are trying to help our planet by buying earth-friendly products, check out this website: www.ecos.com

Family-Owned Company Hands Out Hefty Bonuses

Vince Gerasole Reporting

WOOD DALE, Ill. (CBS) ―

The Vlahakis family has owned Earth Friendly Products for decades, and employees say the family is doing nice things for them.

During this difficult recession, many American workers feel lucky just to hold on to their jobs. But a company in west suburban Wood Dale is not only keeping all its employees – bosses are handing out holiday bonuses.

As CBS 2's Vince Gerasole reports, the workers at Earth Friendly Products are coming clean about making ends meet in a troubled economy.

"So many people are losing their jobs, out of work, it's a tough time right now," batch maker Torin Moore said.

Jeannette Udischas, who works in customer service at the company, said, "The economy is kind of scary."

But their holidays will be far from washed up. All the workers at Earth Friendly Products got very generous Christmas bonuses. The company is dividing more than $1 million between its 120 employees.

For most, it's adding up to an extra month's pay.

"It came in handy for these tough times," Moore said.

Now, from the assembly line to the shipping dock, the employees are talking about what they plan to do with all that cash.

"I got credit card bills so some of it is gonna go to that," said Joe Marrese, who works in the shipping dock.

"I gonna fix my kitchen with that bonus check," Jose Gonzales said.

"I have three daughters and if they're all going to get a little bit more in their stockings because of it -- I share -- they don't know this yet, they'll find out," Udischas said.

"They never cease to amaze me there's always something happening here -- they are always doing something for their employees," Moore said.

Earlier this year every worker here got another bonus check, to help pay for rising gas prices. Apparently the Vlahakis family – who have owned the company for decades – wouldn't have it any other way.

"The owner really believes in his workers being the number one asset," another employee told CBS 2.

And in return the company is being rewarded with dozens of faithful productive workers.

"It's a very nice feeling," Udischas said. "You feel you are worth something here because they appreciate what you do."

And that's a feeling you can't really buy in a bottle.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

 

I learned, during a most difficult time in my life, that we have a choice each day as to how we will perceive life and that God gives us small joys when we most need them if we only have eyes and a heart to see them. It's where we choose to put our focus each day that can make all the difference.

He gave me a bird's nest just outside my window that I would watch every day as the eggs hatched and those tiny miracles were fed by their mama. He gave me a small child who needed me when his mother had no love for him who was the sunshine of my life for many years. And during a time when my children and I might have lost everything, He blessed me through others who, seemingly miraculously, gave of themselves in answer to our needs. And I felt a closeness to Him that strengthened my faith.

It was during that time that I began using the internet. I had to pick an id for Yahoo and I thought and thought, what name would embody who I was to the world? I became choose_joy_today and that name has allowed me to share my outlook on life because of those dark days and the way God blessed me to many over the years when they ask what that name's all about. Some time later I created my e-mail signature:

In all of life's joys and trials, we can either choose
to be thankful for our blessings or curse God for our misfortune.
Choose joy!

May your today and every day be filled with the same joy!

Man returns gas 34 years later

SOUTHINGTON, Ohio (AP) -- An Ohio couple has been repaid for a liquid asset they shared 34 years ago.

Violet and Harold Goff of Southington say a man showed up at their home recently and explained that he'd appeared at their door in 1974 when he was 17 and had run out of gas.

Back then, Harold Goff got a five-gallon can of gasoline for Jeffrey Hardin. Goff remembers telling the teen to make sure to pay it back.

Hardin still lives in the area and told the Goffs the debt had remained in the back of his head. So, he presented them with a plastic, five-gallon container of gas.

Harold Goff notes that he made a good investment, since the gas and container once worth about $5 are now worth $25.

For the past several years as I've been traveling around the country, I've been approaching soldiers in the airports and thanking them for serving for us. On several occasions I have noticed that it felt a little awkward for both of us. There are several reasons, some of which I am even just now learning as I produce this film and talk to more soldiers. But they have always appreciated being thanked, and I have always felt better having expressed my gratitude.

I started to think that it would be nice if civilians had a gesture or sign that they could use to say "thank you" quickly and easily without even having to approach. I did some research and found the sign that we are now using.

Is this limited to the military? Not at all. If you look around you I'm sure that you'll find lots of people who are serving their communities, from local to global. If you appreciate their service, give them a sign. Say "thank you."

How to sign "thank you":

The sign we are using is intended to communicate
"thank you from the bottom of my heart. "

To make the sign simply place your hand on your heart
as though you're saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Then
pull your hand down and out, bending at the elbow
(not the wrist), stopping for a moment at about the belly button with your hand flat, palm up, angled toward the person you're thanking.

It takes so little but can mean SO much...

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