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  • Congratulations

    The epic Donkey Duel of the year draws to a conclusion.   The judges must meet and decide a winner.  I’m sure it will be hard and I expect a surprise announcement about the winner.  That seems to always happen in these duels. 

    My competitors have been worthy opponents.  Donkey_Guy and Aloysius_Son and DanishDoll and DreadPirate and Bella_Esperanza  have all been so nice.  I hope you have seen the niceness and kindness spread all over Xanga.  It has been a marvelous thing. 

    Al_son has posted many nice things about each of the competitors.  Donkey has posted nice and helpful directions for keeping your computer happy, Doll has posted things to noursish our souls,  Bella has posted some great lists about kindness and Dread has posted about encouraging others and enjoying the ride.  How fun it has been to read and enjoy all the kind things going on.  I do hope that everyone has adopted the theme of the duel and made it a part of their life.  That was my goal in participating in this duel. 

    Now, I get to go spend the evening with family that is in town from Texas.  I get to see a baby neice that has faced some major challenges in her short life and yet seems to be a very happy baby.  AND.. she has red hair!  I might try to get a photo of her to put on here.  :)

    Have a happy day!

  • Nice

    Continuing with the theme of the week.. about being nice and kind….I’m going to list a bunch of things I see that I believe are nice and kind.

    • Your children’s friends calling you Mrs. or Mr. Lastname out of respect for you.
    • A person holding open a door for another person regardless of gender
    • Someone listening to a story told by an older person
    • Letting a car in front of you in traffic
    • Returning the cart to either the corral or the store where you used it.
    • Bringing a plate of goodies to welcome a new neighbor
    • Picking up something off the floor that a pregnant lady dropped
    • Smiling at people you pass on the sidewalk or in the hall
    • Recognizing and greeting the custodian BY NAME at your place of employment
    • Thanking the sacker at the grocery store
    • Playing with a baby just because you can
    • Putting things back where you found it when you are shopping (folded is even better if it is clothes)
    • Gathering with a group of friends to bid farewell to one of the friends
    • Sending a note to someone just because you thought of them.
    • Calling people on special days like birthdays and anniversaries and holidays
    • Listening to a knock knock joke that is older than dirt but laughing like you’ve only just heard it when a 4 year old tells it to you.
    • Volunteering to pick up coffee for your co-workers on occasion  (or chai or whatever drink they like)
    • Telling a teacher, doctor, nurse, minister, missionary, police officer, fire fighter  THANK you for doing the job they do that serves the public in such an important way.
    • Holding hands with the ones you love simply because God gave you hands.

    There are so many more.  I challenge you to go out and be kind.  Be nice.  Then, when we are all participating, the world will be changed!

    Have a happy day!

  • Camping

    My sweet husband has gone camping with some guys from church.  I am very excited for him.  He has missed so many opportunities like this because he was working weekends.   I am glad he is getting to go with guys and do guy things, like fish for supper and camp.  I really hope he has a wonderful time. 

    Usually I am the one taking the girls and leaving for a week.  But this time he left us home and he went.  It will be different for sure.  Still it will let me spend some time with the girls (while not driving across the country) and he will get some fun in too. 

    Camping is fun… after the work.  Setting up the tent or packing and preparing all the stuff you need to take along is not my idea of a lot of fun. If I could walk into a camp that was already set up and stocked with supplies, I’d like that.  I haven’t really seen that before though.  I think that is why I like backyard camping so much.  We just set up the tent and we are good.  Food and potties and other necessities are a few steps away from the backyard. 

    I hope that each and every one of you has found something fun to do this summer that feeds your soul.  Something that just plain makes you happy.  AND I hope you’ve had the opportunity to be happy when someone else gets to do something that they enjoy. 

    Have a happy day!

  • It’s day three of the duel

    I’ve not been around much today.  I’ve been doing nice things here at home.  For example, cleaning the whole kitchen top to bottom (because hubby loves a clean house), teaching my kids about responsibility (and cleaning toilets) and other such adventures. 

    What have you done that is nice lately?  I hope your list is long and your heart is happy.  Being nice becomes not something you do, but someone you are.  Being nice gives your heart a smile on a dreary day and most often, it gives a smile to someone else.

    Today, I may look like a ragged, smelly, unkempt housemaid, but I can assure you, I have a happy heart and a happy family.  THAT is what counts.  I will shower and get pretty-fied later. 

    Have a happy day

  • Simple things

     Kindness takes many forms.  I read an article in my newspaper recently that has stuck with me.  Today, I’m just going to share someone else’s words.  They are eloquent and timely.  I think I will do some of this myself today. :)   Wonder what will happen?  Read this article and then go out and do something similar.  I think it will be fun!

    Have a happy day!

    Link to original article in the Denver Post 


    The Post-It note, stuck to a mirror in a public bathroom, had a simple message: “You are beautiful.” When Caitlin Boyle wrote that message on the little yellow sticky note a few weeks ago, she had only one goal: to encourage women in her tiny corner of the world to feel better about themselves.

    Later that day, the 25-year-old urban planner in Orlando, Fla., posted a picture of her note on her blog — healthy tippingpoint.com — and challenged her readers to do something similar, and tell her about it.

    Within days, she had more than 130 photographs and followers.

    “The response was just insane,” said Boyle, who’s been blogging for about a year. “I’ve done giveaways for hundreds of dollars of workout gear and I’ve never seen anything like this.” Boyle quickly set up a new website to house her growing movement.

    At operationbeautiful.com, she posts messages and photographs from women around the world who are trying to inspire others to love their bodies and themselves.

    And the word is spreading — quickly. The site is getting 3,500 visitors a day. And in the past month, women from the U.S. to Canada to Japan have been posting notes in public restrooms, on boxes of Slim-Fast at supermarkets, in subway stations, in gym changing rooms, even on a scale outside a GNC store.

    Some of the messages are simple: “Smile! Life is beautiful and so are you.” Others are more cerebral: “Be the goddess inside of you.” Or “A smile makes everyone pretty.”

    When Boyle started posting the notes, she never imagined her little idea would snowball into a movement.

    “To me, it’s crazy,” says Boyle. “But when people do it, they realize that they’re not just making a stranger feel better, they feel better too.”

    Inspired by Boyle’s blog, Colleen Dollar of LaGrange, Ga., posted a note in the restroom at the call center where she works. It said: “Believe in yourself — you are beautiful inside and out.”

    A few days later, she left another note in a different bathroom: “There are so many lovely people working here! I think YOU are one of them!” On her next visit, she found a colleague had left a note beside hers. “This made my day!”

    Dollar, 27, is now a believer. “These notes make me feel fabulous,” she said. “If they brighten only one person’s day, it’s totally worth it!”

    Kristen Moulton of Ottawa has also become a Post-It paster. The 28-year-old has stuck the feel-good notes in bathrooms at work, in a popular diner, in coffee shops and the locker room at her gym.

    Her most recent note, left in the changing room of an American Eagle store, said “You’re beautiful. No matter what size you just tried on.”

    Boyle, who grew up in Miami, became interested in health and fitness after she graduated from college. “I was your typical college student — too much pizza and too much beer,” she recalled. After graduation, she was working at a desk job and felt out of shape.

    That’s when a friend who was training for a marathon gave her some lasting advice: “If you’re not happy, the only person who can change that is you.” Boyle took up running and, about a year ago, she began blogging, chronicling the changes she was making in her life. Even as she wrote about health and exercise, she realized that many women are still too hung up on their weight and the scales.

    “Everyone says being healthy is eating well and exercising,” she said. “But we’re ignoring this large spiritual component. I think Operation Beautiful is really letting women get involved in that aspect of it.”

  • Kindness

    Webster says:  Kindness- 1: a kind deed: FAVOR  2 a: the quality or state of being kind. b: archaic: AFFECTION

    So I am involved in the Duel of the Year.  This year’s theme is “Kill em with Kindness”.  Interesting mix of words in that phrase.  Have you ever thought about that?  I thought I’d take a moment and share with you some kind DEEDS each of the comptetors has already shown me.   Let’s take a look at the old mail bag.

    DreadPirate once held a contest during the summer.  I was struck by a moment of silly and made a video of a swimsuit attacking me.  It was very silly, but still fun to do.  As it turned out, I won a prize in that contest.  Usually, the prize for such online silliness here on Xanga is bragging rights.  That would have been sufficient.  But that is not at all what it was.  I was sent a prize package that included a handwritten letter, an e-book and some other cool things.  This was time and money spent just for the sake of being kind. 

    Aloysuis_son (and his lovely wife) noticed that my family was dealing with some hurdles in our life at one point.  They put their heads together and came up with a plan.  They sent us a very nice card and a note of encouragement just to name a few.  The timing and the thought put into what they did for us still lingers.  That kindness is not forgotten.

    Donkey_Guy took time once upon a time to edit and condense a very special video for me.  I didn’t have the tools or the knowledge to do what needed to be done.  He talked me through the process so that I could get him what he needed to work on it for me.  He made that video and mailed it back to me in time to share it with the people that it meant the most to.  He didn’t have to do that, but he did.. out of kindness. 

    THAT is just the things my mailman has delivered to me.  These are some very kind men.  It is my pleasure to be listed as a friend to all of them.

    Have a happy day!

  • Dueling Xangans

    Well ladies and gentlemen,  I have been requested to join in a Xanga duel.  I suppose more accurately I have been informed that I’m going to participate in this duel.  I first saw the poster hanging on the wall at Al_Son’s place.  He announced all the players in this duel.    Donkey Guy has a bit of history on this duel that you can check out. 

    Naturally I went to check out the compitition, do a little advanced scouting, that sort of thing.  Here are the guys I’m going toe to toe with.  DreadPirate,   Donkey Guy and Aloysius_Son.   Three guys and me.  Does that sound fair at all?  I didn’t think so either.  Those poor guys have to compete against me!  Maybe I could give them a head start, except it isn’t a race, it’s a fight.    I’ve already won in a competition before.   Remember when I beat the dreaded swim suit and reigned supreme over that attack?  Check out that video if you’ve forgotten!  That is just one example of how I have won in fights before. 

    I’m ready boys.. BRING IT ON!!!  August 8th… be ready.  It will be like nothing you’ve ever seen before!!! 

    In the mean time,

    Have a happy day

  • Dinner for 30ish

    There are times in life where you are just surprised.  There are times  you are shocked.  Sometimes you are caught unaware, but are not shocked. 

    My walking buddy called me last night and said she’d like to bring dinner tonight.  FUN.  She continued on and said that she wanted to bring dinner for our entire life group!  There are about 30 people in our group.  A lot of them are kids, but still that is a lot of people to feed.  She then asked if I had room in my fridge so she could put some of the food here since it wouldn’t all fit at her house.  She came over last night with a bunch of food!   I think there will be plenty of food for all of us to eat tonight.  I just need to make sure I have plates for everyone.  She brought food, silverware, napkins, drinks and a pack of cookies.  WOW!   We will be having a taco bar.  Make your own and enjoy the company.  I told the rest of the group to bring camp chairs and we’d set up in the back yard and eat.  After dinner we’d have our Bible study as usual.   I thought that was very generous of my friend. 

    I’m looking forward to friends, food, fellowship and study tonight.  What about you?

    Have a happy day!

  • Personal boundaries

    We all have a space around us that we don’t really enjoy people breaking.  If someone gets in your space you either take a step back or ask them to step back.  Sometimes it is unintentional.  Sometimes it is unavoidable.   For example, when I was on trains in Japan, sometimes people were not only in your space, but they were smashed up against you because there were so many people in the trains.  Sometimes people get in your space to intimidate you.  Whatever the reason, we all know about how much space is ours and we don’t like people in there unless we invite them in, say for a hug.   That is physical space.

    What about emotional space?  What if you have a friend that is beginning a new relationship with a special someone?  You have been able to call whenever you want or just hang out and now there is another person.  Do you step back a little so you don’t encroach on their space?   How far back do you step?  Do you wait for an invitation to step back closer or have you even moved in the first place? 

    Then I think about my kids.  They are growing up.  I’ve been a very close presence in both of their lives.  The older one is wanting a little more space, which I believe is normal and healthy.  I’m still her mom though and I still will be involved in her life.  So do I let her take a tiny step away from me or a big one?   How much is too much?  

    Personal space and boundaries are funny things.  There are no set rules and everyone has a different comfort level.  I tend to be one of those that will stand back from any boundary you’ve presented and NOT cross it at all without permission and invitation.   I wonder then.. have I lost closeness that I could have kept if I moved a little sooner? 

    Lots to ponder.  But it is good pondering and good friends.  So in the end, I am, once again, BLESSED!

    Have a happy day!

  • Stuff

    We’ve got stuff everywhere.   We have the general stuff just from living in a place for awhile. We’ve got school stuff piled up near the backpacks.  We’ve got tutoring stuff on the dining room table.  And now we have office stuff.  Hubby closed up his office yesterday. He no longer has a job.   His company went out of business. So he brought home things they were just going to throw away.  File folders, copy paper, pens, light bulbs, single packets of coffee, coffee stirrers, highlighters, binder clips and a whole lot of other stuff. 

    Now my job is going to be to try to find a place for all this stuff.  I’m going to have to get creative I think.  Clean out old stuff and put in new stuff.  I think we are becoming overstuffed.  Stuff makes me nuts.  Too much stuff makes me feel like I’m suffocating!  I’m not really a fan of stuff.  There is so much stuff I have to deal with. 

    What do you do with your stuff?

    Have a happy day!