Happy Holidays...To All

With the nation and the world full of strife, money problems, wars, illnesses, pure sadness of losses of loved ones and friends, let us join hands with hearts of peace and love. This season let us all pray for a better planet..safer and greener. One where we all work together not alone or separated but joined as one as was intended long long ago. Let us believe, having faith in our divine maker... all of us on this planet, that we are all from the same source, that we are all brothers and sisters of this earth and of the heavens, and its up to us to come together and believe in us. Have a Happy Holiday Season, full of joy. If you can in your life time but change the life of another for the good, its a wonderful blessing. Just think if we all did that what a wonderful world this would be! Many blessings to you all!!! Nothing is impossible.. with Love and Faith...... nothing

Remembering 9-11

Lyricist for "The Hero" Amy Matthew

God Bless all who died and suffered loss that day, Sept 11, 2001. I pray for you all, and will continue for all time. This was a day that most people will never forget where they were, or what they were doing during the attacks. Many of us from a safe distance still could feel the horror that was happening to those that were so very close or directly in it. My heart goes out to those firemen and police that were in the buildings at the time trying to save lives, and lost theirs that day, and for the ones that made it out that hurt so badly losing so many friends and family. I also pray for the families that go on day to day year after year having lost someone either on one of the planes or in one of the buildings that were destroyed. I have tried to follow articles and such to see how all are doing as the years have gone on, and it seems most are doing well, thank goodness, if not they have been able to conceal that well from the public. In either event, God bless you for your courage and strength. The terrorist perhaps thought they could break the human spirit, but the complete opposite occurred. The American people stood up against these attacks with honor and courage, and continue to do so. That we will never forget what happened and that we will stand guard as a stronger nation from those very attacks. It didn't weaken us, it gave the American people a bond that cannot be broken. We now know that no matter what happens in our future we can move forward, together hand in hand.


I will tell you my story of 911 which I haven't yet done on my blog. It is by far not nearly as intense as for the people that were inside the twin tower area in NY city that day... but perhaps it may touch someones heart.

It all starts when I was just seventeen. I had a very strong dream in color that if I ever were to get on an airplane something bad would happen. At that age I thought for sure it would involve me in a crash or something..... but I wouldn't know for another 31 years the answer to that. So for many years family and friends tried to get me to fly, even buying tickets for me and at the last minute me refusing to go. I fought this for many years, being ridiculed and laughed at, but for me it was a major fear, for I had believed my dream. So I missed many trips and family lost money on me when I wouldn't go.

In 2001 my mother approached me, asking me to go with her to her 50th high school reunion, which would take place Sept 7th and 8th. One night a dinner, and the next a dance and gathering. My mother had COPD and I knew she perhaps wouldn't make it to another reunion after her 50th that would have as much importance, so I told her I would go with her. She had asked me a couple months in advance and would call me on a regular basis to make sure I wasn't changing my mind.. I would assure her I wasn't ( although each time I thought of it I would shiver).

One week prior to our leaving, I had another dream that seemed to be related to my flying. It was very vivid and in color and very upsetting. In my dream I saw myself sitting on the left side of a plane about half way back, it had three seats on one side and two on the other. All of a sudden there was a huge fireball that started at the front of the plane and came through and melted people and everything in its path. Meanwhile I also was looking out the window and a large black line was across a field. The dream was much more involved but those were the impressionable parts I remembered most. I had no idea what this dream really meant but I was in someway sure it had to do with this trip I was about to take. I called my mother and told her I had a very disturbing dream. She asked me if we were going to die, I replied I don't think so but I think something very bad is going to happen when we flew. She said ohhh as she always did and said again that my chances of dying in a plane were far less than me dying in a car.

We took off out of Tallahassee Florida on Wednesday Sept 5th 2001 and had a stop over in Ohio before getting to Buffalo Ny which would be by late noon. Flying into Ohio I felt something strange come over me but set myself at ease or tried, I was so anxious to just get to Ny. We made it to Buffalo on schedule and was greeted by my mothers sister and her husband at the airport. We would spend our next days with them and also visiting other family members during our stay. My mothers reunion was lovely and such nice people she had gone to school with were there. My mother was 67 and it was really surprising how many were still living at the reunion, we both enjoyed it very much. The whole trip seemed to go by so quickly and it was soon to be the day we would return home.

It was the morning September 11 2001 the day we were to return home. I woke rather early to gather my things and be ready in a few hours to board another plane. My Uncle loaded our luggage into the car, while we finished checking the house for belongings. My Aunt and Uncle arranged for some of my cousins to meet at a restaurant nearby where they lived to have an early breakfast and a farewell meeting. It was great to see them all and was very glad I had made the trip. My Aunt had forgot something at her home so we took the short trip back there before heading to the airport. Mom and also myself had to use the restroom so we all piled out of the car. During this time my Aunt had received a call from one of my cousins who worked for Niagara Falls and he instructed my Aunt to turn the tv on and to also not take us to the airport, something very bad had happened in the city.

My Aunt yelled to us to turn the tv on and as we all filtered into the living room the second plane was seen hitting the second tower. As it did I heard those words again strongly in my head, a man stated on the television, "Look at the huge fireball" the words that rang so loudly in my dream. As the day went on I would see other things I had seen in my dream several days before we had left on the trip. My knees buckled and I fell back on the sofa saying to my mother, see I told you so. I began to wonder why I even had had that dream in the first place, what good could I have done to help any of those innocent people that were killed and or hurt that day. For many months I felt guilt not having been able help.. or to have been able to prevent this tragedy. I questioned why I was given so little information.. and as time went on I had to learn to forgive myself because it was eating me away. I had to look at what had happened as others had..and not at my dream, that it was an evil attack on American soil that was meant to bring us to our knees, however no matter what those terrorist did that day, we weren't going to bend. That if we momentarily fell we would stand taller as we stood. That America is the home of the free and the brave and we would show the world that.

Thank for reading my story, although it was of little importance it still took courage for me to write it here on the blog. This story is also dedicated to my mother who died last year on June 12th 2010 of COPD, although I wish she could have been sitting here with me this day. When we got home that year of the attack she made me an album of our flight up and back containing our tickets and photos of family and the union.

There was more that happened on that trip but enough said... God bless all tc be happy and safe!

Farm Life

Hi everybody, I have recently moved to the country, its lovely out here! Will take more photos soon and bring them to the blog. Unpacking has mostly been done but still a few things left. Its a very spacious place we are living in, and its so very peaceful here! Hugs and blessings will write again soon.... ( dont have internet connection yet here!) see you soon!

Believe Or Not

We are moving!!!! Yipee

I am moving more these days then I ever did. I had lived in my home for 37 years and had to move in 2008, and have been where we are since then. We ( my son and I ) got the opportunity to move to the country about 30 miles from where we are now!
Its a very quiet mobile home on a private lot with tons of outdoor space, and pretty spacious inside as well ( more than we have now!) We have a couple neighbors that live in a actual travel trailer next door but really quite far away! Its so quiet out there and will be quite a change from what we are use to in the city.. and I imagine it will take time to get use to the quiet lol. I am sure we will manage though. We also have field near the house with cattle what we have been told will come up close and also a donkey. I just have to find a fishing hole lol, so use to being near water where I live now but will find one I am sure... I hope :) Will place some photos here in about a week or so when we finish moving to show everyone! We are really in the wilderness lol.. well I am super tired and going to bed tc till next time!! PS my internet might be off a month or so coming soon...

Road Rage and Traffic Problems

I live in Jacksonville, Florida and when in traffic I have noticed a few things that tend to ..... well get under my skin. I am normally a very calm and collected person, and let little if nothing bothers me, but lately I feel I must speak out.

I have noticed that when I drive down any road obeying the speed limit, I am confronted with high five middle fingers, seems I am slowing people up. They will ride my bumper until I either speed up, or I continue on my way within the laws limits, which then they will proceed seemingly becoming agitated and pass me quickly giving me unkind gestures. This I don't quite understand, what does it mean to "sets examples" , " obeying laws" apparently that doesn't apply anymore.

What is it when you driving down the interstate and again going the speed limit, and you find yourself among many cars that seem to be huddling together, really no space between them. They certainly aren't following the law that states to leave at least two car lengths between cars, and you just know if one of them in front of you stops quickly, that one riding your bumper behind you is going to cause you to have a really bad day. Accident waiting to happen!

How about the people that race down the road you see them coming in your rear few mirror, weaving in and out of traffic as though they are looking to get first place in some Indy 500 race. You then become concerned about the other drivers around you seeing this and wonder what their reaction will be, and whether you should pull over all together due to someone wanting to compete. Where are the police officers in times like this? They are always there if I make a mistake! Most of my few mistakes have been due to those that don't obey the law, by me trying to get out of the way and have gone a bit to fast.

How about that driver on the cell phone. Oh my gosh! I sustained a little sore neck and backache from one once. I was hit from behind, and jarred quite hard, only thing going through my mind was, is my car in one piece? I got out assessed the damage ( thankfully I had none really) the other driver approached me clinching his cell phone, so I asked him, " were you on your cell phone when you hit me?" He answered, "yes", as though I was intruding on his conversation. He apologized quickly as though he was in a hurry and needed to leave. What is that about? He hit me! I told him he was lucky it was me he hit, because I could have called the police and reported the accident, but due to no real evidence of harm done I would let the situation go. He thanked me, hurried to his vehicle and sped off again on his cell phone. ( The laws should change, where when we report someone for doing such things its valid, respected and investigated. Its a law in Florida that anyone driving with a cell phone in hand will be ticketed, however I have seen many a police officer just drive by without doing so? So who is going to help stop this from occurring, why have a law when no one will do a thing about it?

Imagine being at a stop light at an intersection, and across the way you see a someone in a car that wants to turn left. When the light turns green for both of you, you know you have the right away but they proceed to turn in front of you and the car behind them does that same. As you move forward, all start honking at you as though your in violation of interrupting their turn. Personally I think they are under impression from other intersections where they get to turn first with an arrow light at an intersection, why did the city allow that? ! Is it the same in your city? No wonder they think they can turn first, and if interrupted give unkind gestures. At intersections where no little green arrow is on a left turn, they still think they have the right to go turn first...... City of Jacksonville get this right please... change the lights where the person proceeding forward still has the right away, even when there is no little arrow for those turning left that are across from you. They aren't getting it right.... so this really needs to be corrected. So many accidents can be avoiding by changing it to the way the traffic laws are written!
Speed limit laws..... I think a lot of roads need to be re-evaluated on the speeds you can drive them. Many of these roads haven't been updated to the standards of today, they remain the same as before new construction changed the road conditions. In each state the speed limit laws are governed by the state or territory. Sometimes it seems the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.... sound familiar? I have seen lots of growth in this city road wise and as I said many road speed limits haven't changed, and perhaps someone needs to look into it.. far to many accidents have been happening since these new changes.

So many things are happening in the world today that can cause lots of stress, and one thing we can do without is Road Rage... its not productive and causes many people harm each day. Think about it, most drivers are just trying to get from point A to point B without harming themselves or anyone else. Some are slower than others, some perhaps don't need to be on the road any longer, but we are all only human and most of us are only trying to do our best. Stop pointing fingers at each other while driving, or yelling or being angry, it doesn't really help anything it only shows that you can try bully someone. If you could see how you look on camera, when you have a mean face and finger raised you might re-evaluate how you are managing yourself on the roads.... its really isn't a pretty site to us that view it.
These are just a very very few examples of the things that can and do happen on the road ways in my town, and I am sure in yours as well.... if you live in a populated area. Cities make traffic laws for a reason and I believe some of them should be re-evaluated by officials. When someone reports some violation they have seen, it should be recognized as important ..... it may save a life!

Jacksonville, FL —
Six Duval County students suffered minor injuries when a woman crashed her Mercury Grand Marquis into a school bus bound for Love Grove Elementary. The driver told WOKV's Adam Kirk she was changing lanes going through the intersection of University and Coronet and didn't see the bus in time to stop.
The woman, who didn't want to be identified, said her car bounced off the bus, hit a landscaping truck, then came to a stop on the side of the road. The driver was not injured.
Was she on a cell phone, or feeling she might be late for work, whatever it was .... isn't it hard not to see a school bus?

Lets each start thinking about changes we can make for the better on the roadways, let change the way we think about others and situations we may experience on the road. Is it worth possibly another persons life to have the last word, or to be angry you might not make it to work on time and take it out on someone else. Is it worth your life or someone elses to have a conversation on a phone... I am sure the person on the other end doesn't want to hear you have your last moments on this earth played out that way... what a legacy to leave someone..:(
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This might help you with anger issues please read below if you wish

1.) Face the real issues (Gal 5:13-26)

Can you admit to having a spirit of anger? Do you really want to live as God desires?
Do you want self-control?
Do you want to love one another?

We must accept the fact of our anger. Ask those around you if they sense a spirit of anger in you. Acknowledgment is the first step of overcoming anger. Why? Our pride does not make it easy to say that we were wrong in our actions, words and judgments.
Do I really want to live out God's love in my life?

Galatians 5:13-14

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only [do] not [turn] your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the [statement], "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
2. ) Deal with your anger (Jam 1:19-20)

Unresolved anger is always bad. I must not tolerate it.

We must acknowledge that man's anger will not accomplish God's work.

James 1:19-20
[This] you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak [and] slow to anger for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

Do remember that our apology does not mean that others did no wrong. Whether they apologize for their wrong or not, it really doesn't matter, we still need to go forward in straightening out our relationships.


Confess past anger

Anger from the past must be acknowledged and confessed. Amends need to be made. Apologies for silent or open anger must be made. We also need to apologize for not loving them as you should have.

Repent from present anger

Anger in the present and future must be cut off. You must recognize man's anger is not going to accomplish the righteousness of God. You will confess that you have been responding to your own selfish desires and have focused on your own will and life, not on God's will and purpose.

3.) Die to self; live by Christ (Galatians 2:20)

I have died to myself. I now live for Jesus Christ.

An open and deliberate decision to not live according to your old life and consciously to allow Christ to live out His life in you is a special and necessary part of deliverance from anger. When this is done, you open yourself to Christ's full work in your life.

There seems to be two aspects to dying to self. There is the initial dedication period which is like starting anew. There is also the regular daily dying to self - a daily morning prayer where we commit ourselves to the Lord. (Read more)

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.
4.) Break the stronghold of anger (2 Corinthians 10:3-7 )

May God destroy every last lie of mine!

A stronghold is some hidden sin from our lives that we have given up hope on overcoming. We probably have tried to overcome anger in the past. Failure brings with it a disheartening and final cover up of our sin.

Truth, however, gives strength and confidence to do what is right. Lies block out the light and therefore strip us of any confidence in overcoming a certain problem.

From the verses quoted here and the many places exhorting us to deal gently with people rather than in anger, we are clearly responsible and able through Christ to overcome this stronghold of anger.

What common lies minimize the problem of anger and therefore prevent us from overcoming anger? Where in scripture did people cover up their anger?

"He deserves it."
"I was so hurt by him. I need to get back."
"I can't help it."
"I was always that way."
"My parents were that way."
"It's not too bad."
"My anger is better than before."

Hope comes when we are broken before God over our sin and welcome Him to overcome the sin in our lives. More than often our pride minimizes our anger's wrong and makes exceptions and excuses for our anger.


2 Corinthians 10:3-5

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ..."

Other Key Verses

Proverbs 14:29

"He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly."
1 Corinthians 13:4-5

"Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered..."
5.) Replace anger with acts of kindness (Ephesians 4:31)

Anger must go, but I will replace it with fruits of love.

Peace and fullness of love will not be activated unless we replace our angry spirit with a loving spirit. We must not focus on what we should not do but on what we should do. Be practical. Write down a few things you can do for that friend you have wounded.


Regulate your conversation by polite statements and well-intentioned motives. For example, I will not interrupt another. I will wait for them to finish what they are saying before I speak.

Ephesians 4:31

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."
6.) Fully deal with each day's anger (Eph 4:26)

Make sure before I go to bed, I deal with my anger.

Unresolved anger turns into wrath. We have a command from the Lord to heighten the importance of settling quarrel before we sleep.

Have you and your spouse made a commitment to resolve anger before going to bed?

As a parent, have you committed yourself to make peace with your children before they sleep?

One step at at time we can heal our woe's and worries our anger and sadness, resentments and begin to change the world even if it must be one person at a time! Let's set good examples for the new drivers to the road ( Our Youth)....
Blessings,
Butterfly

Happy Easter To All With Many Blessings

John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."



May God bless you this day and all the days of your life. Have a wonderful Easter.

Butterfly Laa

Indian spiritual leader Sai Baba dies at 85

PUTTAPARTHI, India, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Sathya Sai Baba, one of India's most popular and influential spiritual leaders, died Sunday at age of 85 at a hospital in his home town of Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh.

Sathya Sai Baba's body will be kept at the Sai Kulwant Hall in Puttaparthi for two days -- Monday and Tuesday. Arrangements will be made for darshan (last glimpse) Sunday evening at the hall.

Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Geeta Reddy said that Sai Baba's body would be buried Wednesday in Puttaparthi.

Sai Baba's response to medical treatment had been slow, doctors attending him said Sunday.

He was on intermittent hemodialysis and on assisted respiration until Saturday evening at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medial Sciences at Puttaparthi.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has left for Puttaparthi to pay homage to the Baba.

Sai Baba was admitted to the super-specialty hospital on March 28 following problems related to heart and lungs. Doctors treating him said he was suffering from multi-organ dysfunction.

Sathya Sai Baba was born in 1926 into an ordinary family at Puttapathi village in Andhra Pradesh. He was named Sathyanarayana. As a child he was unusually intelligent and never showed any interest in worldly things. When he was just 14 years old, Sathyanarayana announced that he was a reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi.

His miracles like creating Ash and gold rings from vacuum made him a household name across India soon. His ashram at Puttaparthi became a famous religious center within just 20 years.

From prime ministers, presidents, kings, ambassadors, sports stars, movie stars and ordinary people, millions thronged his ashram seeking his blessings for over 50 years. He founded over 1, 500 Sathya Sai Centers in 114 countries across the globe.

One of India's most famous spiritual leaders, Sai Baba led a life dedicated to philanthropy marred by the occasional controversies.

Thousands of devotees had gathered in his hometown since March 28 to pay their last respects.
Editor: Tang Danlu
Blessings sent

Need Hope?

Hope helps us to hold tight throw life's storms be that they are great or small, with out hope we have nothing, we lose sight of how to get through the rough times.
Hope helps us to remain calm during the roughest possible storms it keeps us grounded and secure no matter what happens around us. If we believe in hope then we know that God is right there with us even in the darkest of times holding our hand and guiding us forward. It is said that people with no hope can be possibly depressed, or become ill in other ways, they have more or less given up. There are ways to prevent yourself from finding yourself hopeless, to go on with hope in your heart.

Hebrews 11:1. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” This verse at the beginning of the faith chapter (Hebrews 11) carries with it all of the confidence that comes with knowing for sure, with no question, what we have been promised by God in His Word.



Below are Somethings That Might help You Keep or
Develop Hope
1. Be hopeless. If you are not in a tough spot where things look like they cannot get any worse, you do not need hope. Also, if you still have hope, you do not need to read this article.
2. Have a good friend. It is nearly impossible to build up hope without a positive voice in your head.
3. Fight back when things get rough. As you develop your ability to have hope, you must never give up. Hang on to anything you can while you ride out the difficult times.
4. Notice what happens to people who do not have hope. Bad things happen. You do not want to end up like them. The alternative of not having hope is ugly. Do not end up like that.
5. Help others. There are few feelings as rewarding as being an individual who makes the lives of others better. Once you begin filling your life with positive thoughts about yourself you can have hope for better things.
6. Devise a plan. You cannot just sit around and wonder why things do not get better. You must figure out a way to get out of your rut. Once you have hope, you need to do something with it. Make sure your plan includes you ending up in a happy place.
7. Go to your happy place. After you learn to have hope and use it to execute your plan, make sure you end up in your happy place.

Watch this video, its really nice and can help instill in you some hope!Very Nice Video on Hope
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Never Give Up Hope

Spiritual Gatherings; Forgiving

Hi everybody, glad you still come to visit at times, I know its a bit difficult to want to stay and read when there is no new material for the longest.. I have been staying pretty busy lately with Second Life and my Real Life! Just when you think life is getting better evolving and growing, down comes another bump in the road. Doesn't it seem to happen that way? Well the best thing I have found is to just climb right over that bump which can seem like a mountain at times, and continue on life's journey. While I am experiencing those bumps in the road I am constantly trying to learn from them and I usually learn some positive thing to carry with me.

I started a group several months ago that is very sweet. Its a closed group but if you ask and your in Second Life you can come as a guest and test it out to see if it fits your needs, and you like the content. Its a spiritual group called Spiritual Gatherings, one where people from many faiths have come together to learn from one another and to share our experiences. We have learned along the way that all of us share a common goal, and that is to be closer to God, and to live in his love. I think that is pretty amazing really when you consider that we come from all over the world, and have lived life in so many different ways.
We all have a great connection though in our faith and our inner beliefs spiritually. We may not believe everything one or another might believe in as far as some principles go but all in all we are a tight knit group, and bottom line belief in God.

This week and will continue next week, we are talking about forgiveness. Most of us would say well that is easy, you say your sorry or someone says sorry to you and its a done deal. It runs much deeper than that, there are so many facets to forgiving, and in some cases very hard to really forgive someone. One thing the group all agreed on is that if you just forgive with your brain/mind and not with your heart as well, you may not have really forgiven at all, or at least not totally. Letting go of hurt feelings is very hard at times, especially when it comes to very serious matters such as war crimes, slavery, murder or rape, leaving a spouse for another and so on. Sometimes the hurt can run so deep that we cover it with other feelings/emotions that keep us from seeing the real cause of our pain, and feeling lack of forgiving. We think we have in some ways forgiven and perhaps we have to a point. If you think about an incident that occurred that upset you or hurt you deeply after you thought you forgave, and you still feel the pain of it, then most likely you haven't really forgiven with your heart. Its a hard task to do, and it can takes many tries sometimes in many cases before you really can do it. The group also strongly agreed that when something is done and over with, you cannot change what has occurred, and that continuing to feel hurt or be upset at the one who caused you this grief only really hurts yourself not them in anyway. For all one knows they have gone on with life and living well. So many though continue to feel the pain of a hurt that person caused, and it just clouds the mind and heart day after day night after night with anger, fear, resentment, and pain. It is a proven fact that this is all part of stress caused by something traumatic that happened in ones life, and that it can also causes post traumatic stress, that can linger for a life time. All of that in turn can cause us to become ill, lowering our immune system, making us susceptible to very harmful diseases. Harboring those emotions keeps one a prisoner to it, learning to let go of it frees us to be ourselves once again. How do you let go? How to you finally find peace? There are several ways to do this and many fine people have written on this subject. I have learned personally to let God handle it, and what I mean by that is, I pray to forgive that person, every moment the ill feelings come to me about a circumstance that caused me this grief. Instead of falling into, oh my they did this or that, I turn it over to God I pray to him to release it from me and I pray in my heart to let myself let it go as well. There is a couple sections of someones writing on the subject on the net I found that really put it into a nutshell,

Maya Angelou wrote:

“I have forgiven myself; I'll make a change. Once that forgiveness has taken place, you can console yourself with the knowledge that a diamond is the result of extreme pressure. Less pressure is crystal, less than that is coal, less than that is fossilized leaves or plain dirt. Pressure can change you into something quite precious, quite wonderful, quite beautiful and extremely hard.”

Here is the next one;

“What could you want forgiveness cannot give? Do you want peace? Forgiveness offers it. Do you want happiness, a quiet mind, a certainty of purpose and a sense of worth and beauty that transcends the world? Do you want a quietness that cannot be disturbed, a gentleness that never can be hurt, a deep, abiding comfort, and a rest so perfect it can never be upset?
All this forgiveness offers you, and more.” - A Course in Miracles

Isn't that put so well? It helps us to see that yes, we may never forget horrible things that happen to us, but with forgiving what happened to us at the hands of another who caused us pain and suffering we are able to release ourselves from the hurt and pain we suffer from.

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Here is a little worksheet that might help you if you are suffering from not being able to forgive another persons wrong doings, or if you haven't yet experienced it at all this might help prevent you from having to go through it as well;

I have provided the link to this source of information about Letting Go Of Past Grievances ?
and the exercise, I think we could all benefit from looking at it and perhaps doing them:)


http://www.forgivenessandhealth.com/html/exercises/5steps.pdf

Highland Park, Illinois 847-433-8535
LETTING GO OF PAST GRIEVANCES


Step One:
Begin with an intention to forgive.

Write down the name of the person whom you intend to forgive.
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Step Two: Acknowledge the pain caused by the grievance.

(The goal is not to forgive and forget, but rather “remember fully and forgive”.)
Describe the grievance. What were the circumstances? (Be as specific as possible.)
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How did you feel at the time? Where in your body did you feel it?
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What have you done to take care of yourself?

If you are forgiving someone else, list the ways you have attempted to empower yourself.

If you are forgiving yourself, list the ways you have attempted to make amends.
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How do you feel emotionally, physically, and spiritually, when you think about the
grievance today?
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Step Three: Evaluate the gains and losses that comes with
forgiveness.
If I forgive, what would I gain?
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If I forgive, what would I give up?
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Step Four: Assess your attitudes and beliefs around forgiveness.
(You may not be responsible for what happened-but
you are responsible for your long-term
attitude.)


Underline any statements that have the most significance for you:


If I forgive, it doesn’t mean I am…


condoning or absolving the hurtful behavior.

forgetting.

being a victim or losing power.

surrendering my right to justice.

required to reconcile with the offender.

getting the other person to do something different.

refusing to make amends.



If I forgive, it means I am…


recognizing I have a choice about my perceptions and my thoughts.

choosing peace of mind.

freeing myself from the past and choosing to live in the present moment.

choosing empowerment over victim hood.

choosing to connect to my spiritual loving self.


STEP FIVE: Practice Letting Go Exercises.


1. Practice empathy: Forgiveness is the recognition that people who harm others
are expressing their own unresolved pain.

2. Meditation/prayer: Asking God or a Higher Power for help can be a
shortcut in the forgiveness process.

3. Visualization: Visualize the person you have decided to forgive. Imagine that
an energy cord connects you. Affirm, “I am calling my energy back.” Then
unplug the cord.

4. Journal Writing: Express your feelings to the person you are forgiving (or
asking to forgive) by writing a letter (that you may or may not send).
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5. Affirmation: Write a daily affirmation that states your decision to forgive.

6. Monitor your Thoughts: Listen to your inner self talk to ensure that it reflects the true ?
meaning of forgiveness. Ask yourself, “would I rather be right or would I rather be happy?”

7. Practice Patience: Remember that forgiveness is an ongoing process; it’s rarely
completed on the first attempt.
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HERE IS A YOUTUBE YOU CAN WATCH TO HELP WITH FORGIVING SOMEONE OR SOMETHING THAT HAS HURT YOU, ITS A MEDITATIVE VIDEO BUT JUST LOOK AT THE WORDS AND PRACTICE IT OVER AND OVER, IN TIME IT MAY HELP YOU!

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I may write some more on this topic here soon, it is a vast one and most of us have suffered being hurt, or have hurt others, or even ourselves. If the world would give up hatred, and learn to love one another, we wouldn't even need explore this subject. We would live by standards of love and compassion for one another, and in that we would feel only happiness. God bless See you next time!

Gosh To Long!!!!!!!!

Okay, I suppose for sure you feel I fell off the earth or forgot how to write ( not that I have ever truly known), or worse yet forgot you my friends. Some of it is far from the truth, the ability to write...mostly true.

I have come to grips with 2010 for the most part, it was a very trying year for me. I had to remember that how we feel about something for the most part is how life will be lived. If we feel sad or overwhelmed that is what life will be like everyday, twenty four seven. For me over all that has not been the way I have lead my life, drowning in sorrow, rather I have always tried to find the good in very bad thing that has happened around me and to me in my life. However the loss of my mother threw a temporary road block in my way, one that seemed as tall and as wide as the universe. One that would take me a while to get through. Yes time has a way of healing but it was up to me to use that time wisely, which for sometime I had lost my way. This month was probably another plateau I had to reach for it was my mothers birth month and the first without her. That was hard to deal with in itself, but adding to it was finding out on the same day that a very dear friend in Second Life had passed away, Sabrinna Nightfire who at 51 died of cancer. She had died the night before on March 6th 2011. She was a giver to SL and a friend to so many people. She will be truly missed.



I now embrace the fact they are gone, ones I have loved so dearly either as family or friends, and carry with me their wonderful uniqueness in fond memories.
That If I believe we go on and which I do, then they are in a good place and I will see them again. This is what I hold on to day and night, and so I go on till my time will come.

I have always had my faith and it maybe hard to believe since I had grieved so badly for so very long, but I suppose that was a symptom of the human condition that we all share. Yes time helps us to understand that we don't have a choice in the fact we go on and really we have no choice but to except what comes. Believing in God and pray for understanding then eventually a gentle peace comes and allows healing and acceptance. If we don't believe then we just come to terms with the fact we die and are dead. So much evidence for me anyways says there is a loving God and that he has given me peace now to heal. Whether we have faith or not the time will come that we all will find out the truth!

Its very hard in a world that is changing with so much destruction with loss of life, pain and suffering, changes in the economy, loss of jobs, families being torn apart to believe that there is a place that one will go on to that is so beautiful and full of love, all I can say is that we must trust and have faith that it will be so. I feel the hardest thing for the human race to believe in is what we cannot see, but having been given the ability to have faith is what we must trust in more than we ever have during these troubled times. To give unconditional love to one another while we are here, to show compassion for our fellow man. That just might help change the world for the better.



God Bless,
Butterfly Laa