thanksgiving is one of the holidays i hold the most close to my heart.  the memories that come along with Thanksgiving are at times overwhelming.   i love the fact that i get to continue to create memories each year and build on a wonderful foundation of memories that brings tears to my eyes.

Thanksgiving – a time to give Thanks for what we have, a time to spend with family and friends, a time to look around and realize how blessed we really are with all God has given us and continues to give us on a daily, even hourly, basis.

Every Thanksgiving I search further inside of myself and realize there is so much more to be thankful for.  Thank you to all who have helped bless my family in such an amazing way.

God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving!

As some of you know Joshua was recently diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism.

Help us, make other aware.

Did you know that every 20 minutes another child is diagnosed with autism? This has occurred in my family.

I am walking in the fight against autism at Walk Now for Autism, joining tens of thousands of other people united by a single cause and dedicated to raising money to find a cure and build awareness for autism. The money raised at Walk Now for Autism supports Autism Speaks mission to finding the causes, effective treatments and a cure for autism through funding essential biomedical research. One in every 150 children is diagnosed with autism. Autism Speaks directs 75¢ out of every dollar raised to autism research, awareness and outreach.

I am well on my way to reaching my goal. Please help me reach my goal by making a donation. You can make a donation online using the link below or visit http://www.walknowforautism.org/dfw/cneth . You can also use the donation form located on my page to mail a check; please make checks payable Autism Speaks and mail to:

Autism Speaks/Walk Now for Autism
5455 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 2250
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Thank you for taking an important step in the fight against autism.

Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Autism Speaks 501 (C)(3) Tax Id #: 20-2329938

My relationship and bond with Dear Son and Gwenn has grown to such levels in this 40+ day period it is amazing what time and mental concentration can do for relationships.

Additionally, I have realized that many of my relationships on Facebook were negative in my life [which lead to the deletion to 100+ "friends" on initial login].  When I was on Facebook I was not necessary using this technology as a positive influence in my life, instead I found myself comparing pieces of my life with others – which is not a healthy practice.  The technology behind Facebook was meant to be enjoyable and a fun way to connect with individuals, however it was not this for me anymore.  We cannot compare ourselves to others, we are all unique individuals at different places in our life’s with different circumstances. Also, people tend to only place the ‘good’ on social networking sites, so you are not really seeing the truth.

Through this last 40+ days I have found myself “refinding” myself again.  Rediscovering who I am and what I like to do, how I like to dress and how I like to laugh and joke.  It has been amazing and I expect to continue the journey as it has only begun.

Step 8 – Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all

Step 9 – Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others

It is time….

When he races, which is frequently now, he says “I’m JJ the Jet Plane.” The freedom of imagination, where it can take us – no limits, no boundries, follow our dreams.  As adults, we should hold on and capture that feeling, that freedom and remember it in times of trouble and times of searching.

Expectations:

• The act or state of expecting or looking forward to an event as about to happen.
• That which is expected or looked for.
• The prospect of the future; grounds upon which something excellent is expected to occur; prospect of anything good to come, esp. of property or rank.
• The value of any chance (as the prospect of prize or property) which depends upon some contingent event.

Expectancy:

• expectation or anticipation; the state of expecting something
• the state of being expected, or something expected

.

I am currently reading “The Shack” by William Young, in this book it talks about living in a state of expenctancy in relationships verse pressing expectations on relationships which cause laws and rules to come into play.  I would much rather live my life going forward in a state of EXPECTANCY then with expectations, it seems much more free.

Image via Wikipedia

Downs and Ups
Life Swings like a pendulum
On its own course of time
No rhyme or reason
Just worries going by

Life slows down
I take a deep breath
Step back
Relax…
.
.
.
Realize
This is all I have
Prioritize and not snap
Love and not like
Engage and not check-out
Be and not just exist

I am a work in progress, my life is a work in progress.  Each day I figure out something new, each day I better myself, each day I am me.

I have to remember:

a great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.

“I want to be in the light.”

“I want a heart for humanity.”

“I dare you to move.”

All quotes from amazing songs that inspire and make me wonder what am I truly doing on this Earth.

Put them together… I want to move into the light with a heart for humanity. Surely makes me think about my choices.

This morning on my drive into work, on my way out of Flower Mound, through the quiet neighborhoods and the green grass lawns there was a man jogging.  He was hot and sweaty and seemed as if he was overheating.  It was already 87 degrees outside and it was only 7:45 am.  I watched him approach a set of sprinklers of a house whom must be determined to keep their grass green and nourished.

The man was jogging on the sidewalk, this house had grass adjacent  to the sidewalk, but concealed by a fence so these set of sprinklers probably are not seen often from the house.  As the man slowed down to the sprinklers, appearing to overheat and in need of a drink, he bent down, cupped his hands and drink from the broken sprinkler.   He then took the water the washed it over his face and then continued jog.

As I pulled away, I realized even the broken have a purpose.  Who knows how long that sprinkler has been broken for, but today on this hot morning – that man needed a drink and who knows what would of happened had that sprinkler not been broken for him to have one.

The past few days I have been reconnecting with past friends from both my youth and young adulthood.  I’ve mentioned in previous posts that I am searching for my purpose and/or vision for 2009, I feel that going backwards a bit and remembering who I was and all the people who helped me to be the person I am today will allow me to focus on my future and where I am to go.

I am realizing with each person I find and each memory I feel how much each person can affect our lives in such a special manner.

Some of these individuals I haven’t been in contact with in over 15 years and yet at first glance I knew it was them and was drawn to know the rest of their story.

To each person whom has ever touched my life.  Thank you…