Wonders N Wishes

There are so many wonderful things about Wednesday!

My short list:

• It is Hump Day! That wonderful middle of the week, half way to the weekend, let's celebrate making it over life's hump day!
• It is Wordless Wednesday! Whether you celebrate by seeking quiet solitude or by sharing image only posts, there's a sense of wonder in the wordless approach. Click here for my contributions to the sound of silence.
• It is 'not so' Wordless Wednesday over at Curious as a Cathy. Absolutely perfect for the chatter box in me. Of course I will be sharing this post there. :D
• It is Wish Day! That is right, the day designated by Claudya @ Unknown Mami's as the day to put a voice to our wishes. You will find my wish below. 
• It is Wonders N Wishes Day! The day I am designating to share a 'Wonder' as well as a wish.
• I was born on a Wednesday. Yep, I just threw that out there.  :)

 

This week's wonder

While looking for this weeks wonder I was doubly rewarded. Not only has Emilia Flores gone beyond the expected to fulfill a need in her community but the restaurant owner has brought a bit of warmth to this South Dakotan. Flores, the owner of The Taco Shop in Dallas put a coat rack out in front of her shop with a sign above it that says,

"Are you cold? Take one. Do you want to help? Leave one." 

While reading the news article I got a warm fuzzy feeling and all of a sudden I was transported back to the mid 1960's. All the way back to California and my Nana's kitchen. A place filled with warmth, love and the soothing smell of fresh homemade tortillas. Thank you Emilia Flores.

Today I'm calling on the universe to grant the following wishes.

- Today is one of those day's that I wish there were more of me. One to blog, one to clean, one to run errands ... blah, blah, blah....LOL

- I'm also wishing and hoping that the universe sends a bit of monetary help my way.

- My last wish for this day is that all of you have a fantastic week!

As Claudya at Unknown Mami's says go ahead and wish, be it simple or big, when we give a voice to our wishes it helps us realize those wishes. So what are you wishing for? I would love to know, just put your wish in the comment section and I will gladly lend my wishing powers to your wish. Please join me in visiting Unknown Mami's Wish Wednesday so that we can lend our wishing powers to her and those she is wishing for.

Wonders N Wishes

 I thought since I have been doing an awful lot of wishing and wondering, that today would be the perfect day to try and get back to one of my favorite activities, blogging.  

One of the biggest wonders of life is that it is as Shakespeare said both a tragedy and a comedy. My life is immune to neither, and I would have it no other way. Well actually I could do without the tragedies, although I reluctantly admit they do have their purpose. It is just very difficult during them to appreciate that purpose. As stupid as this may sound, I wish I could say that my recent absence was due to some tragedy, but thankfully it wasn't. At least not in the sense of a true tragedy. It has been more of a case of my train of thought being sidelined by the combined urgent need to earn a living and that needs effect on my cataplexy.

There are so many wonderful things about Wednesday!

My short list:

• It is Hump Day! That wonderful middle of the week, half way to the weekend, let's celebrate making it over life's hump day!
• It is Wordless Wednesday! Whether you celebrate by seeking quiet solitude or by sharing image only posts, there's a sense of wonder in the wordless approach. Click here for my contributions to the sound of silence.
• It is 'not so' Wordless Wednesday over at Curious as a Cathy. Absolutely perfect for the chatter box in me. Of course I will be sharing this post there. :D
• It is Wish Day! That is right, the day designated by Claudya @ Unknown Mami's as the day to put a voice to our wishes. You will find my wish below. 
• It is Wonders N Wishes Day! The day I am designating to share a 'Wonder' as well as a wish.
• I was born on a Wednesday. Yep, I just threw that out there.  :)

 

This week's wonder

I really do wonder how intelligent people can be so blinded by snake oil salesmen as to believe them even when their statements are proven false. Could it be that they allow their desperation for the promise of a cure to their one 'Problem' to overshadow their ability to reason and see the other very possible dangers they are trading for that one grandiose promise?

I will try for a positive wonder next week.

Today I'm calling on the universe to grant the following wishes.

- My first wish is that I can better balance my illness so that I can do both the things I enjoy and earn a living at the same time.

- Second, I am extending a wish that America and the world are not negatively affected by the new Presidency of the United States, and that it will be successful in a positive way. I have major doubts, but I must wish it well for to do otherwise would be to turn my back on my country.


- My last wish is that all have a safe, happy and prosperous 2017!

As Claudya at Unknown Mami's says go ahead and wish, be it simple or big, when we give a voice to our wishes it helps us realize those wishes. So what are you wishing for? I would love to know, just put your wish in the comment section and I will gladly lend my wishing powers to your wish. Please join me in visiting Unknown Mami's Wish Wednesday so that we can lend our wishing powers to her and those she is wishing for.

Wonders N Wishes

There are so many wonderful things about Wednesday!

My short list:

• It is Hump Day! That wonderful middle of the week, half way to the weekend, let's celebrate making it over life's hump day!
• It is Wordless Wednesday! Whether you celebrate by seeking quiet solitude or by sharing image only posts, there's a sense of wonder in the wordless approach. Click here for my contributions to the sound of silence.
• It is 'not so' Wordless Wednesday over at Curious as a Cathy. Absolutely perfect for the chatter box in me. Of course I will be sharing this post there. :D
• It is Wish Day! That is right, the day designated by Claudya @ Unknown Mami's as the day to put a voice to our wishes. You will find my wish below. 
• It is Wonders N Wishes Day! The day I am designating to share a 'Wonder' as well as a wish.

 

This week's Wonder Award goes to:
Jessika Baldwin

For many brides-to-be their bachelorette party is a 'one last wild night with their girlfriends' where the soon to be bride is the main focus, but not for this bride-to-be. Jessika Baldwin wanted her bachelorette party to be a celebration of the beginning of her new chapter in life. What she did is amazing! With the full support of the bridal party and a few salons and restaurants she turned her bachelorette party into a full day of pampering. But not a day of pampering for her and her friends, but one that included women  who were staying in a Pittsburgh women's shelter.  She stepped aside and put the focus on these women who were in obvious need of some tender loving care. 

The women were treated to three hours in a salon having their hair washed, cut and styled as well as receiving manicures, all compliments of the salon. Then it was off to lunch, followed by a shopping spree and photo shoot. They finished the day with a nice dinner in the evening, which was donated by the restaurant. 

As any woman who has gotten married can tell you, planning and organizing the wedding is very time consuming and often very stressful, yet during this busy time Jessika happily took on organizing this heartfelt way to give back to women who were going through a rough time.  Not only did she show those women she cared about them and maybe gave them a day to forget their worries, she hopes that her story encourages others to find ways to give back and show kindness to others. I for one believe it that it will. I know it has me thinking of what I might be able to do to give back.

Now for a bit of wishing.

Today I'm calling on the universe to grant the following wishes.

- It would be greatly appreciated if I could see an improvement in my health, even if it is only a slight improvement.

- Locally school is back in session so I would like to ask the universe to watch over the children and see they are safe on their way to and from school and while they are in school.

- My last wish for this day is that all of you find a bit of wonder in your week!

As Claudya at Unknown Mami's says go ahead and wish, be it simple or big, when we give a voice to our wishes it helps us realize those wishes. So what are you wishing for? I would love to know, just put your wish in the comment section and I will gladly lend my wishing powers to your wish. Please join me in visiting Unknown Mami's Wish Wednesday so that we can lend our wishing powers to her and those she is wishing for.

Wonders N Wishes

There are so many wonderful things about Wednesday!

My short list:

• It is Hump Day! That wonderful middle of the week, half way to the weekend, let's celebrate making it over life's hump day!
• It is Wordless Wednesday! Whether you celebrate by seeking quiet solitude or by sharing image only posts, there's a sense of wonder in the wordless approach. Click here for my contributions to the sound of silence.
• It is 'not so' Wordless Wednesday over at Curious as a Cathy. Absolutely perfect for the chatter box in me. Of course I will be sharing this post there. :D
• It is Wish Day! That is right, the day designated by Claudya @ Unknown Mami's as the day to put a voice to our wishes. You will find my wish below. 
• It is Wonders N Wishes Day! The day I am designating to share a 'Wonder' as well as a wish.

 

This week's wonder

9 year old delivers 363 pizza's to Lafayette, LA flood victims. (Source)

This week the AC Wonder Award goes to a young man in Louisiana by the name of Carson Boutte. For his 9th birthday young Carson asked his parents if he could buy pizza to give to local flood victims so they wouldn't have to worry about what to eat while they were busy trying to clean up. He started out with $100 dollars for pizza, but after his mom posted about what he wanted to do for his birthday on social media donations poured in. A local Domino Pizza restaurant offered to not only give him a special rate but also matched the first 100 pizza's.  Now I can't speak for those who were on the receiving end of those pizza's but I know if it were me, I would be extremely touched by this gesture of kindness.

Thank you Carson for being so amazing!

Now for a few wishes.

Today I'm calling on the universe to grant the following wishes.

- I wish I could remember what I wanted to wish for. I knew I should have written it down. LOL

- I do have one off the cuff wish though. I wish summer wasn't almost over.

- I know the Universe doesn't follow the rules in the 'How to be a Jeanie' handbook but I figure if I am going to wish I may as well wish in three's. So my third and final wish today is that you find joy and laughter to fill your day.

As Claudya at Unknown Mami's says go ahead and wish, be it simple or big, when we give a voice to our wishes it helps us realize those wishes. So what are you wishing for? I would love to know, just put your wish in the comment section and I will gladly lend my wishing powers to your wish. Please join me in visiting Unknown Mami's Wish Wednesday so that we can lend our wishing powers to her and those she is wishing for.

Wonders N Wishes

There are so many wonderful things about Wednesday!

My short list:

• It is Hump Day! That wonderful middle of the week, half way to the weekend, let's celebrate making it over life's hump day!
• It is Wordless Wednesday! Whether you celebrate by seeking quiet solitude or by sharing image only posts, there's a sense of wonder in the wordless approach. Click here for my contributions to the sound of silence.
• It is 'not so' Wordless Wednesday over at Curious as a Cathy. Absolutely perfect for the chatter box in me. Of course I will be sharing this post there. :D
• It is Wish Day! That is right, the day designated by Claudya @ Unknown Mami's as the day to put a voice to our wishes. You will find my wish below. 
• It is Wonders N Wishes Day! The day I am designating to share a 'Wonder' as well as a wish.

 

This week's Wonder

Donnie w/Project Donnie delivers about 30 pairs of boys pants to Children's Inn (Source)

This week the AC Wonder Award goes to a South Dakota local young man by the name of Donnie. In 2011 at the age of 8 years old Donnie, while watching a segment of CBS Sunday Morning about a man who started an organization to help people in his hometown, suggested to his mom that they should do that too. His mom agreed and they started Project Donnie. 

Project Donnie partners with Kids Against Hunger to package 3,240 meals. (Source)

In addition to independent fundraisers Project Donnie also partners with local business owners and other non-profit organizations to help people in our community who are struggling. Unlike many organizations that provide help in just your basic necessities such as food, clothing and shelter, Project Donnie strives to help with other needs as well, such as home & car maintenance and tutoring for children just to name a few. Last year when a local school's playground was destroyed by a fire Donnie raised $190 to help rebuild the playground by selling "I made a difference with Project Donnie" wrist bands. 2015 also saw the expansion of Project Donnie by opening Donnie's Closet which takes in donations of sporting shoes and equipment then disperses them to children in need. Just yesterday Project Donnie announced it's newest project, which is collecting donations of new or gently worn Halloween costumes to deliver to needy children on the Rosebud and Pine Ridge reservations here in South Dakota.

Because this young man didn't just see a need, but saw a way to help fill that need and suggested it to his mother I believe he has earned not only this award but our respect and admiration as well. Click Here to show your support of this amazing young man by liking Project Donnie's Facebook page, or Click Here to like Donnie's Closet's Facebook page.

Now on to wishing

Today I'm calling on the universe to grant the following wishes.

- This may sound like a strange wish but it is something that I really need to happen. I wish I would stop losing weight. You see I am not trying to loose weight and I don't need to loose. During my life time my I have been on both ends of the weight battle, and can honestly say either one is a frustrating battle. At one time I weighed over 200 pounds, which for my height and small bones was very overweight. The struggle to get back to a healthy weight took three years but I did it. Five years later I began loosing without trying, ending up at a very unhealthy 85 pounds. It took four years to get back to a healthy weight and I don't want that to happen again. Right now I am only five pounds under my ideal weight however just over a year ago I was 65 pounds over my ideal weight. I know it sounds crazy but the only thing that I have done purposely that I am sure contributes to this last year's weight loss is to stop drinking soda and start drinking a lot of water.  

- I wish there were more people like Donnie and his mom and less people so quick and willing to turn a blind eye to the needs of others.

- My last wish for this day is that all of you are healthy and have all your wishes come true!

As Claudya at Unknown Mami's says go ahead and wish, be it simple or big, when we give a voice to our wishes it helps us realize those wishes. So what are you wishing for? I would love to know, just put your wish in the comment section and I will gladly lend my wishing powers to your wish. Please join me in visiting Unknown Mami's Wish Wednesday so that we can lend our wishing powers to her and those she is wishing for.

Wednesday Wishing: Simple Wishes

Remember how when we were a kid all posed to blow out our candles on our Birthday cake and mom or dad would say 'make a wish… but don't say it out loud or it won't come true' ? Well guess what they were WRONG! Last week I made some pretty serious wishes and I am happy to say that at least one of them is already well on its way to coming true. Since making those wishes known my focus has improved and I am feeling much more optimistic. So don't hold back go ahead make your wish and you can even share it by clicking on the Wednesday Wishing button.

This week my wishes are much simpler. 

1. I would like to ask Mother Nature to please keep the weather nice enough for my daughters and I to travel this coming Friday to the western part of the state to spend  the weekend with my two sons and their families.

Source

2. Robin at The Ranch Wife Chronicles reminded me how having a great planner can make all the difference in successful organization. So my second wish it to get a planner but not just any planner. I would like to get the Passion Planner. Click on this Video Link to learn what makes this planner so special.

For the longest time I used a good old paper spiral bound planner. It actually became a bit of a joke in my family that if it wasn't on my 'calendar' (the family called my planner a calendar) it was not going to happen. Then a few years ago I went digital and to be honest it just isn't the same. How about you, do you use a planner?  

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

Wednesday Wishes: Getting Real

Claudya of Unknown Mami fame has a nice little thing going where she celebrates the abundance of the Universe on Wednesdays by making her wishes known, and invites others to do the same. The idea behind posting her wishes is that as she says "... the first step toward getting what you want is knowing what you want." By putting our wishes down in black and white we are consciously taking the time to figure out what it is we want, and thus the likelihood that we will receive or achieve our wishes rises exponentially with our acknowledgment of the wish.  I encourage all to join us in celebrating the abundance of the Universe. Your wishes can be big or small, silly or serious because the Universe is vast and can handle them all.


After missing a number of weeks, this week I have decided it is time for me to get real, so here goes.

Life is a challenge, sometimes that challenge can become overwhelming resulting in stress, anxiety and yes even depression. Optimism during such times can be our greatest asset, yet it too can suffer the blow of the challenges we face. This is where I have been for nearly a year now, with it spiraling this last month to a place where no creativity thrives and even conscious thoughts struggle to survive. A situation verging on impossible. Faced with decisions that feel like they have no viable solutions.  Zapping my optimism as well as my ability to focus, to create, to write.

A while back Michelle at The Space Between Raindrops wrote a post about desperation that really resonated with me. She wrote:

"Desperation breeds attempt. It makes people do things they usually avoid, it unearths latent talent, gets us off the couch, makes us find jobs and research health improvements. Desperation turns us into learners and seekers. Desperation is responsible for the achievement of more than a few of the world’s impossible dreams. Desperation is fuel." Although it has taken weeks, her words have moved me to use this desperation for the positive.

Yes, without going into details which I am sure you don't really want to hear, my situation is desperate. Suffice it to say I have until the beginning of the new year in which to decide if I will give up my dream of making Artistix Network LLC a profitable business, if that is even possible, or close it down. Beyond that, for my sanity I have until May of next year to find a way to become financially independent. Now that may not sound like much of a challenge, however due to various health issues working a regular full time job where I am unable to set my own hours is not possible. So far I have been unable to even obtain a part-time job. With this in mind here are my wishes:

1. I wish to find a way to make a livable income from one or more of my talents and abilities.
2. I wish for the strength and courage to explore all possibilities, and learn how to make them profitable.
3. I wish to regain my optimistic outlook. To take back my life and embrace my life motto.

Oh yes, and Mother Nature ... a bit of sunshine would be real nice about now.

Because the universe is filled with endless possibilities one more wish:

I wish you all a glorious day!

Set the winds in motion with a wish of your own.

Wednesday Wishes: A Writer's Wish Come True

It's Wishing time again! That is right we are half way through the week so it is time to let the universe know what we are wishing for. Just click on the Wednesday Wishes button below to join us and let the universe know what you have been wishing for.

Before I make a wish this week I want to share some fantastic wishing news. That is right, the universe has listened and this writer's wish has finally come true! After this post  I took the Universe's hint and got serious about getting started publishing my writings. I decided to start off with the poetry I had sitting in my to be published folder. After a busy week formatting the book I had a minor set back in that the book was too short so in this  post I asked others opinion.  The idea of adding a few short stories was well accepted so that is what I did.  Next came the cover design and let me tell you I really enjoyed creating this cover. I am almost as excited about the cover as I am that I published the book. Here is a look at the cover and link to preview my book 'Strength of Time: Weathering Life's Storms'.

Click Here for Book Preview

I know self publishing is not the same as being published by some well known publisher but I decided to take the easier and less stressful route and self publish. After some research I decided to go with Lulu as the steps to self publishing were easily explained and relatively stress free. I find the least amount of stress the better, if you know what I mean. Another major point for me was that they make it easy to sell not just on Lulu but on Amazon as well as make the book available to major book stores such as Barns and Nobel.

Thank You Universe for the nudge in the right direction and granting my (dream) wish to be a published author.

Now for this weeks wishes:

• I am wishing that people will buy my book and that my writing will inspire, encourage and delight the readers so much so that they will anxiously await my next book, which will be a journey into imagery.
• That my blood pressure settles down so I don't have to go to the doctor.
•  That all your wishes come true!

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

And Keep on Wishing!

FF: Fragments of My Heart

I have been making a lot of wishes this week. So many that my heart feels fractured into a thousand tiny fragments. Here are just a few of those fragments.

I've been wishing I could go visit my mother in California. This photo was taken when she was sixteen. She has been on my mind a lot lately as she is in her late 70's and just underwent triple coronary by-pass two weeks ago. Thankfully she is recovering nicely and I can call and talk to her often.

I've been wishing I could make a trip to Hawaii to see my lovely sister. I haven't seen her in 28 years and miss her something fierce. Thankfully she is healthy and happy.

I've been wishing my visit with my dear friend last weekend didn't have to come to an end. She is the BEST!

I've been wishing for a magic carpet. Just think of all the places one could go if one had a magic carpet!

Instead here is what I did this week.

 I made a mini top hat hair accessory!

 I photographed a pretty pink flower and shared it Here.

I went for a walk around this lake.

I wrote a fun little post titled 'When Cows Fly!'

That is what I have been up to. What have you been doing?
Please be sure to hop over to Mrs. 4444's and keep on fragging!