My Own Inspiration

Who is your best friend?

2011-10-19T00:24:00.000-07:00

Who has never heard the old saying.... "Dog is man's best friend" I am sure there aren't many hands up!!

I'm afraid that I have to admit that I am not much of a dog person and much prefer cats, but I have a true story about my early childhood about a very loyal dog my parents owned.

At age 3-6 we lived on a smallholding just outside of a small town called Elliot, in South Africa. First few years we lived on our own, but after my grandmother passed on when I was 5 years old, we moved in with my grandfather who lived about half a mile away from our first house.

My parents both worked in town and until my grannie's passing, I used to stay with her during the day while my mother was at work.

As I mentioned before, they owned a dog. To save my mother time in the mornings she made good use of the dog's loyalty. She would place my arm in the dog's mouth and tell him "grannie" and he would walk me to my grandparents house. He would not release my arm until either my grandma or grandpa gave him a piece of chopped wood to take home. They actually tested him by ignoring us and carrying on with some chores outside. No matter how I pulled on my arm and spoke to him, he held on until the piece of wood was given in exchange. He refused to accept the wood from anyone else so it was quite safe to assume that he handed me to one of them.

If that isn't proof of loyalty and intelligence nothing is!

I am sure that many people have experienced such loyalty in their pets. Animals are strange creatures and often surprise us with their intelligence.

Here are a few "animal friends" quotes....

There is in all animals a sense of duty that man condescends to call instinct. ~Robert Brault

The kind man feeds his beast before sitting down to dinner. ~Hebrew Proverb

Man is rated the highest animal, at least among all animals who returned the questionnaire. ~Robert Brault

Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet. ~ Colette

The difference between friends and pets is that friends we allow into our company, pets we allow into our solitude. ~Robert Brault,

If you get to thinking you're a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else's dog around. ~Will Rogers

I hope all my friends enjoyed this true story.

ASK AND YOU WILL RECIEVE.....

2011-09-14T23:02:00.000-07:00

Is nature sometimes stranger than fiction?
I have often learned lessons from nature - from plants and "dumb" animals.

Many things in nature work together to make for a more successful planet. Some plants use other plants to keep them going - like some orchids that attach themselves to the bark of trees using that as their "home". They are not parasites that take anything from the tree, other than just having a place to live and survive. Some plants need insects and birds to help pollinate them and distribute their seeds, thus ensuring that they live on.

Then we find the unusual - Those animals who would normally not be friends but become bosom buddies. We had a few of these in the past.

We had a real "pet's paradise" for a few years. There were cats, bunnies, ducks and "silky" chickens. We obtained these as babies all at the same time, so they grew up together and all became friends.

We did not keep any of them in cages. Our back yard was well fenced in and they were left to roam as they liked.

Naturally they eventually had babies of their own - all except the cats - and once again these babies grew up together.

Our cats used to play with the bunnies while one of the baby bunnies befriended a duckling. These two were inseparable, even when they were full grown.

We used to spend hours sitting on the garden bench, in the shade of a loqaut tree, watching our unusual friends playing with each other.

I believe that this is living out what is proclaimed in the Holy Bible.....

"And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the kid, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them." Isaiah 11:6

I also believe that "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" Matt. 19:26

Once again I have to express my thanks and gratitude that I can ask our Heavenly Father for anything and as long as I believe, AND AS LONG AS IT IS IN MY OWN BEST INTEREST, my prayers will be answered. If I ask for something that is not going to be of REAL benefit to me, I will not receive. Sometimes when we pray for something, our prayers are answered in a different way to what we expected, because that is the way it must be for us.

We must learn to accepet whatever we receive even when it seems to be wrong. Nothing we receive in the name of God is wrong - God makes no mistakes!! We are often like small children who don't understand that we cannot always get what we desire - it is just the way it is. If your child asks you for a hot coal because it is pretty, will you give it to him? I'm sure you wouldn't.

As a parent I have often said no to my children when they ask for something - not because I want to be spiteful, but because I know what is best for them. In the same way, our Heavenly Father also knows what is best for us and will not always grant our wishes.

Whatever happens,

I know that I am safe in His love, even though I often don't understand - knowing that he loves me is good enough for me.

I AM ONE OF THE PRIVILEGED FEW...

2011-09-06T08:35:00.000-07:00

We should see Gods hand in everything that happens to us.......

I suffer from asthma and during the dry winter months, my hometown is absolutely unsuitable for me. There are gold mines, and the dust that comes from the mine dumps makes it impossible for me to breath properly as it induces my asthma. Due to circumstances beyond our control we cannot move away to a more suitable environment, so I often visit one of my daughters during the winter months. This year I saw once again how God works in mysterious ways...


A cloud of dust lifting off a mine dump


Another cloud of dust from the dump

Not many people can boast great grandchildren, but I can. I have one great grandson and one great granddaughter.

Shayne on his 7th birthday

Bianca showing off her "jewelry"

Besides being able to see them develop into real little people, I am very privileged to be in a position to help the boy get to grips with his first year at school.

He is a very active little boy and finds it difficult to sit still long enough to concentrate. His teacher insisted that he should be put on treatment for ADD even though he has not been tested correctly for ADD. We are all dead set against any kind of drugs, especially for little ones, so everyone has stood together and we are watching his diet making sure that he eats healthy food without artificial coloring, preservatives and too much sugar.

I offered to take him under my wing and oversee his homework. Although he is very sharp and quick when it comes to Maths, when I started helping him with his reading, he could not even recognize a word by spelling it. He also could not remember the letters, getting confused with d's, b's and p's. Now, after three months of working with him intensely every afternoon, he has improved to such an extent that he gets 100% for his reading.

I am very proud of the way he has improved, but I am also thankful that I may have played a small role in getting him this far. He is reading well and puts expression into what he reads as apposed to his monotonous little voice and stilted reading in the past.

I thank God every day for the privilege and opportunity that He granted me in helping to get one of His children on the road to success. He loves reading so much now, that he wants to read more and more every day. He is never keen to keep to the time table the teacher set him for his reading, insisting on reading at least twice the number of pages that are set for him.

If I didn't suffer so badly with asthma, I would not have been here to help him, so it was a blessing in disguise. We must look for the good in everything that happens to us, even though it is sometimes very difficult. It is too easy to simply say: "Why does it always have to happen to me" or "I always have bad luck, no matter what I do"

Be thankful every day that we are showered with blessings. If we look in the right places, we will find them. Unfortunately human nature is such that it is easier to find the bad rather than looking just a little harder for the blessing in disguise. As long as we believe that our way is set out by God, then we will also manage to find the good in everything. Nothing is ALL bad - there is always something good as well.

Let us all look for the silver lining rather than only seeing the dark clouds and thank the Lord for that silver lining.

Find the silver lining - it IS there

GRATITUDE

2009-12-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

As I stand at the end of yet another year, and I look back to the past year I have to reflect upon my many blessings. Sometimes they don't seem like blessings when they happen, but on hind sight I have to admit that I was never put in a situation that was bad for me, and I am grateful for that...

I am forever grateful for having friends who are always there for me whenever I need them. I know that I can depend on all my REAL friends any time of the night or day. I am also grateful that I can BE a friend..... to always be there for them too.

I am grateful for the gift of life and all it brings to me.....

Life is a gift that we must never take for granted. I am grateful for all my friends and family from North to South, from East to West - and everywhere in between. My friends who give me all the support I ever need - and then some!!

I face every new day with gratitude - whether it be sunshine or rain. Every night is a blessing - a time to rest and reflect upon the day that is just ending. We need every kind of day we are blessed with.... Those rainy days when I can be cosy in my home having a lovely comforting mug of hot chocolate. Then, when the sun comes out after the life-giving rain, everything is clean and bright and the birds seem to dance around with glee, singing and chirping with extra joy.

I am grateful for my home......

What would I do without the roof over my head - a place I can call home. A place I can feel safe.

More than anything else, though, I am grateful that I can call myself a child of God. That I have a Father whom I can call upon whenever I am in need - whenever I am in distress. I am grateful for the knowledge that my Father is my anchor no matter how rough the sea and how high the waves that break against my lifeboat. He will always be there to still the waters, to take my hand and lead the way - the right way for me, because I am as special to Him as each and every one of His children. It may not always be the way I want to go, but it will always be the RIGHT way for ME - the way I MUST go.

I am grateful!!! THANK YOU!!!

'TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY

2009-12-03T05:54:00.000-08:00

CHRISTMAS TIME.........

Everywhere we are met with the same messages......

Christmas is a time to be jolly.....
Christmas is a time to celebrate.....
Christmas is a time to toast.....

The question is.....

How and what should we celebrate, Why should we be jolly and what should we toast with???

To me Christmas IS a time to celebrate and be happy. To me Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, so we should be happy.

We should toast the fact that our sins will be forgiven and we will have ever lasting life if we truly believe in the real meaning of Christmas - the birth of the Son of God. We should toast this birth with the Water from the Spring of Everlasting Life and not with alcohol...the way most people are so bent on doing.

Many people profess to be Christians and that they believe in God and the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ, when they go to church each Sunday, but Monday to Saturday they live a different life. A life of the worldly.... the life of a sinner. As long as they attend a Church service every Sunday, all is well with their lives.

This is the time we exchange gifts with our loved ones, but what is the reason. Is it a status symbol showing off what we can afford. Is it merely something born of tradition - our parents did it, so we will do it - OR is it because we want to celebrate the GIFT that we received more than 2000 years ago. God's GIFT to us - His son who was given to us so that we can receive the ULTIMATE GIFT of everlasting life.

I know that we are ALL sinners and that nobody is perfect and without fault, but do you try to live as Godly as possible? Do you try to live your life without hurting your neighbor? We forget how easy it is to hurt other people's feelings by an unkind word - often not meant to be unkind, but the recipient may be going through a hard time that you know nothing about. They may have a problem that they have not shared with others and something you may consider as innocent, may be very hurtful to them. Please - always be thoughtful of other people and their feelings.

Let us start the new year thinking of others before ourselves. Let us think twice before we drop a seemingly innocent remark, or do something thoughtless that could hurt other people. Think about how we would react to a similar situation. It is very rewarding to see the gratitude from someone who has been given a compliment, and the pride when they are asked for their opinion in a matter.

It is always much more rewarding to give than to receive - try it and you will see what I mean. I don't profess to be the perfect friend at all times, but I try my best. I have many friends from across the globe, and I always try and listen to their problems, and even if I can't always help them physically, I will always lend an ear and try and give advice wherever I can. That is usually all your friends need - to know that you are always there for them. They don't need a proffessional to tell them that they are special - only a real friend.

Can we all try and look for the positive - the good in people. Is it possible that we can change our outlook on life to find the beauty instead of the ugly - this will bring such peace to our lives that we won't even think of the bad things that are happening around us, and if we all look at life like that, there will be more and more peace in the world. Peace starts with each one of us and goodwill should be spread all around us, by us..... Try it - you may even like it!!

How wonderful that would be - to be able to celebrate PEACE ON EARTH and GOODWILL TO ALL MEN!! After all, isn't that what Christmas should be all about.....

A time to be jolly....
A time to celebrate the right way.

Once in a lifetime - 09/09/09

2009-09-09T04:53:00.000-07:00

This morning I received a text message from a friend and it reminded me of how privileged we are to receive Blessings every day.

The message......

"What a special day..... 09/09/09 and we will only experience this once in our lifetime BUT.... God blesses us 90x90x90 times."

This statement is very true , but I want to add something to it....... What a pity that we so easily forget our blessings.

I know that every year has it's special days like 06/06/06 or 07/07/07, but to me 09/09/09 seems an extra special day - don't ask me why!!

When I think of blessings from God, I don't only think of my own blessings. He blesses every living thing in the universe. Just look around you - besides us humans, we have animals that are blessed with the knowledge of what to do to survive. They know how to bring their young into this world and how to feed them and keep them safe. They have the instinct that God gave them to know what is best for them and their young.

Many plants have a special built in instinct for survival. In drought stricken regions, such as a deserts, some seeds will lie dormant for years until there is a good down pour, which will let them spring into life.

It is a miracle to see arid regions suddenly burst into life with the most amazing plants blooming like there never was a day without them.

God creates new life every minute of the day and what a blessing!! The blessing of survival of all living things. The cycle of life.

Count your Blessings!!!

I love this poem written by Sandra Lewis Pringle.......

The Morning Glory

I awaken to the glory of the morn',
sunshine streaking, birds cheerfully cheeping,
another day is born.

The Morning Glory inaudibly climbs,
and shares its shy beauty, so rare.
And, we know that behind its mystery,
Our Creative God is there.

He blesses us with sunshine,
He blesses us with rain,
because it's only through the showers,
that do we not, remain the same.

So, as this new day awakens,
and I'm cradled securely in Your arms,
May Your love forever keep me safe,
and sheltered from all storms.

~ Sandra Lewis Pringle~

WHAT TIME IS IT..............

2009-06-05T08:47:00.000-07:00

It is time to reflect....

Time to reflect on the past... in order to prepare for the future.
Time to reflect on the past... in order to forgive and forget
Time to reflect on the past... in order to remember the good times and the bad
It is time..... to separate the good from the bad and take lessons from the past to plan for the future.

It is time .........
to let go of all frustrations and sadness and embrace happiness. Create your own happiness - never depend on others for your own well being - never blame others for your failures and sorrows. Only YOU can decide which way you want to go and what you want to do with your opportunities even though it is often difficult to recognize them as such.

It is time .......
to grab all opportunities with both hands and use them to your best advantage. Every experience you have is an opportunity - even the less pleasant and downright horrible ones. It is up to you to turn the bad ones into something positive.

Life is like standing just inside the entrance to a tunnel...... If you turn around you see the road. This is like your past stretching behind you never to be seen again. Looking ahead you see a spot of light at the end of the tunnel. This could be your future stretching out in front of you - Dark and unknown - Only you can control what is at the end of the tunnel. You have to make your own destiny and live with it. Make your own decisions.

It is time .......
to plan ahead, then the tunnel will not be quite so dark. We are all in the dark when it comes to the future, but at least if you plan for that very dark future, it could mean a lighter road ahead. If those plans don't always work out exactly the way you want, then accept that it was not meant to be...... accept it and make the best of it.

If you accept the trials and tribulations life throws our way, life can always be good. Accept them as a test of your strength. You will never be given a burden that is too heavy for you to bear - it will only make you stronger.

It is time.....
to see clearly......

THE TWISTS AND TURNS OF LIFE'S ROAD.

2009-05-04T12:50:00.000-07:00

Where does life's Road take us - we don't know - but could we have the faith of a child and run along believing that the road will take us to where our destiny lies.....

Coincidence or Destiny?

Communicating with people is one thing I derive a lot of pleasure from. I also pride myself on having quite a good memory - possibly because I take a real interest when I chat with others.

I also believe that everything that happens in life, happens for a reason, and here is an unbelievable but true story - something that happened to me.

I live in South Africa and my last name is Weimann..... A while back I received a message on Face Book from someone with the same last name, inquiring about our family background with the idea of possibly finding a connection. Although this gentleman used to live in South Africa, he had emigrated to the USA some years ago. It turned out that we did not seem to be related, and that was the end of that - or so I thought!!

About 30 days ago I received a message from a lady - also on Face Book - inquiring whether I knew someone, once again with the same last name as mine. She told me that she had applied for a passport for her daughter, and upon receipt of the passport, realized that it was not her daughter's, but the canceled passport of a little girl - the name she mentioned with the last name Weimann. She said that she would like to return the passport to the girl's parents as that is what she would have wished for herself had it been her daughter.

I immediately replied telling her that I live in South Africa and that the passport obviously belonged to someone in the USA. Her response to me was that she saw that I am from South Africa and the reason that she contacted me was that there were some entries in the passport to and from South Africa, so she thought that I may know the family. Then I remembered the gentleman who had contacted me before, and looked at his profile, and to my surprise, he actually lives in the same city as the lady who had the passport. I sent his details to her, and in turn she contacted him.

I think you know by now where I am going with this..... This man was the girl's father!! They arranged to meet so that the canceled passport could go to its rightful place!

Was it coincidence or destiny that brought the three of us together. I live thousands of miles away from two people who live in the same country, in the same city, and yet I was the instrument which was used to connected the two with each other.... three strangers who met by chance....coincidence, or destiny??

HEAVEN'S SPOTLIGHTS

2009-03-19T10:49:00.000-07:00

I have many dark days when I imagine that the sun will never shine for me again. I think we all have those days when nothing goes our way. Everything we want to pick up and hold, either falls and breaks, or we knock it over before we even pick it up..... like the last bit of milk - just enough for the desperately needed cup of tea!! We encounter stumbling blocks wherever we go and run into obstacles around every corner.

Many a day I feel like simply crawling back into bed and pulling the covers over my head. On days like these we only need to look that little bit harder to find the beautiful sunshine that breaks through life's clouds. All we have to do is remember that behind all our dark clouds, the sun still shines and that when it finds a chink in the cloud's armor, it will shine through like a spotlight from heaven.

Instead of burying our heads in the sand, rather look up to heaven and find that beautiful brightness in the dark cloud. If you look really hard, you will always find it. Be thankful in the knowledge that we can always depend on that - we may not always see our blessings, but they are always there - looking for the chink in our protective armor.

We are so fond of putting up a fence around us, keeping "things" out. Some fences are primitive and hand-made.....others are well planned and expensive.

We think that the fences are there to keep us safe - to keep bad elements out, but at the same time we are really building a fence around ourselves, keeping us in!! Unless we have a gate built into the fence, we are really building prisons for ourselves. Just like the opening in the clouds that let the sun shine through, we need openings in our fences to let ourselves through. We need the opportunity to let our light shine through. Counting our blessings can inspire us to share them with others and unless we can go through the gate in our fence, it becomes impossible to share and that would be such a pity.

We should seize any opportunity of being a shining light in someones life - someone who still has to find Heaven's Spotlights. Instead of hiding behind our fences, let us help them find the light.

Here are some quotes I would like to share with you:

“ God is the Sun and when His rays fall upon your heart, not impeded by the clouds of egoism, the lotus blooms and the petals unfold.”........Sri Sathya Sai Baba quotes

“In the hour of adversity be not without hope For crystal rain falls from black clouds” ....Persian Proverb

“It is the mind that makes the body rich; and as the sun breaks through the darkest clouds, so honor peereth in the meanest habit.”...........William Shakespeare

WHERE MY INSPIRATION COMES FROM....

2009-02-02T09:28:00.000-08:00

My inspiration - I find it everywhere...

Where do you find YOUR inspiration....

I find mine everywhere - in all things around me.

When I look at the beauty that surrounds me, I forget about the hard times.

The beauty of a delicate flower brings the realization of how powerful the Creator is - how these beautiful creations can never be reproduced by man. We can manipulate nature and create new things from others, but it will never be original, but a mere mixture of different kinds of the original beauty.

Each animal, no matter how small or large, is unique and perfect in its creation. They may be called dumb animals, but their intelegence is far higher than that of us humans in certain respects.They are self supportive almost from the time they start breathing, and we, as humans, take years before we can even walk and talk. Very few animals hold a grudge, no matter what wrongs have been done against them, while the humans are all too quick to start a war. I take my inspiration from these so called "dumb" animals and try to let bygones be bygones. It is not always easy, but who am I to judge the next person and think badly of them. How can I expect perfection from them - I am not perfect - who is?

The sun that rises every day and the moon at night... The seasons that come and go like clockwork and the tides of the sea....All this reminds me that everything is controlled by a higher hand, and that we can depend on that same higher hand to look after us and keep us safe.

We can all learn from nature. Have you ever looked at the delicate perfection of a spider's web. The spider with no tools other than its mouth and feet creates a perfect web. Look at the ants and the bees. Each of these have teams they work in. Each one has it's own place in the team and does that part for which they were created without complaints - and they never go on strike. They work 24/7 until the day they die. I would love to be like that, but unfortunately I am a human, and I have plenty of flaws. When I look at them I realize that I have nothing to complain about.

After flowers, I think birds are the next amazingly beautiful creatures. Some have such vibrant colours and have beautiful song to go with their outer beauty. They are so determined to succeed in whatever they do. How often do they start building a nest just to have it destroyed, either by nature or at the hand of man, but they will start it all over again until they succeed. Then they often have to see their eggs, or babies, eaten or killed. They will start again if time permits. They will know if the season will hold long enough for them to start again. They have no calendars or watches, but they know these things. They know when it is time to migrate to warmer countries before winter sets in, and they fly for weeks and maybe even months to get to their destination...the same one every year. They don't consult road maps or compasses - they just know. I would give anything to be so determined, and not give up when things don't go as I would like them to.

Some days when I think that there is no more hope for my life to improve, I will look at nature and realize that there isn't really anything to improve. As long as I am alive and breathing, everything else is bound to follow.

I am an online Marketer, and as such, I have had many disappointments and bad experiences, but I have always found something good in whatever happened. Even if it just the experience and knowledge of what to avoid in the future. I try and get the same inspiration in my daily life as I see in nature, but it is not always easy. Not impossible, but certainly not easy.

Here are some quotes that I find very true and inspiring:

If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive ... - Eleonora Duse

Keep your sense of proportion by regularly, preferably daily,
visiting the natural world........................................... by Catlin Matthews

The rainbows of life follow the storm........................ by Horace Friess

The morning of life is like the dawn of a day, full of purity, visions,
and harmony.............................................................. by Chateubriand

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished..by Lao Tzu

And this final one I like best:

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is
to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone
with the heavens, nature and God.

Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and
that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple
beauty of nature. I firmly believe that nature brings solace
in all troubles .............................................by Anne Frank
This is my exact belief also...

I also believe...........smile and the whole world smiles with you
..............Cry, and you cry alone.

There is so much to be thankful for, there should be no time to complain and be sad.

Next time you feel like the whole world hates you, go out and help someone, and you will know the joy of giving. While you are giving, you will have no time to want to grab, but you will receive the joy and happiness that comes with sharing.

Please leave your comments below.

I am..........

2008-10-08T10:52:00.000-07:00

I am grateful to be alive.....
I am grateful for all my blessings....
I am grateful for everything around me....

It is Spring and I love the new life it brings....I know I sound crazy but I live in South Africa which is in the Southern Hemisphere, so our seasons are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere.

I love the beauty of the fresh young leaves that appear in Spring.... The blossoms on what seems like dead plants and trees. Soon the blossoms will turn to lovely fruit, to be enjoyed by all - humans, birds and animals alike. The abundance of nature is unbelievable. From nothing, or what seems like nothing, there are the most amazing flowers and fruit.

All the animals reproduce and their young are as welcome as the fruit on the trees and the fresh young shoots of grass that feed many of the animals.

The sound of tiny newly hatched birds calling for food - forever hungry - and the parents always tirelessly carrying food to them. They need this continuous flow of food to ensure their rapid growth so that they can find their wings and learn to fly before the next winter sets in. They have to be independent from their parents by then.

The new lambs and calves frolicking in the meadows are so energetic it inspires me to want to do so much more!!

Everywhere you look there are young ones - the wonders of nature.

Look and listen.....

it is a wonderful sight to see and beautiful music to my ears.

How does one cope with the death of your young child

2008-08-02T09:20:00.001-07:00

TWO SIDES OF THE COIN.....

SIDE #1......

The phone rings...."Hello, is that Mrs. Brown - This is the headmaster of your daughter's School".

There is a pause and Mrs. Brown wonders what her daughter did to justify the headmaster phoning her. Before she could ask what the problem is, she hears his voice again. This time the words sound grave....

"There has been an accident - your daughter fell under the School Bus"….. “No Ma'am, I am sorry, she is not alright. You see, the bus ran over her head, and she died at the scene of the accident. She only lived for a few minutes after it happened, so she did not suffer long..."

The voice came from another dimension - Mrs Brown thought that it was someone speaking to her in a dream - NO, A NIGHTMARE!! This cannot be true! How can her beautiful little girl be dead, after all she is only 10 years old!! Soon she will wake up from the nightmare and be relieved when she hears the girl's voice calling her to wake up. She must have overslept!!

Then the cold, hard truth hits her - this is the here and now. This is no nightmare! She is still holding the phone to her ear and hears the voice at the other end of the line, but she is unaware of the words being spoken. She is in a trance...nothing registers any more.

Some time later she realizes that there are people in the room with her. She has no idea where they all came from and what they are doing there. Why is her husband home and sitting next to her, holding her and crying!! He should be at work! They keep talking about being strong and that they will get through it. What are they talking about and what did they give her to drink with that hot scalding tea. She doesn't want any medication - there is nothing wrong with her. What are they all doing here in her home!! She wants them to leave! It is time to meet her daughter at the bus stop. She always meets her there because she is afraid of what could happen to her if she walks home alone. On the bus she is safe, but one can never be too careful when they walk home after being dropped off.

Then a bomb explodes in her head - she can't meet her daughter at the bus stop..... her daughter is dead. That is what the headmaster told her. She must find out what happened. She will find out who is responsible and make sure that they are punished. How can anyone be so careless to let an accident like that happen. That person deserves the worst punishment possible. They killed her little girl!! They deserve to die too. She will make sure that they get what they deserve...........

A FEW HOURS EARLIER…….

SIDE #2....

It is a very cold, rainy day and he thinks of his wife and 4 children at home. He doesn't know how he is going to make ends meet this month. All the prices have sky-rocketed - food, clothing, medicine- and his youngest suffers from chronic bronchitis, fuel for the School bus he owns - the list goes on and on. While he is waiting for the kids to board the School bus his mind is racing. What happens if he takes just a couple of extra kids on the School bus every day. That should help a bit. After all they are all small and their weight surely won't make such a big difference. Maybe he can drive a little slower than usual to make sure he can manage the extra load, but that would make him late at the different stops, and some of these children need to catch a second bus so they cannot afford to be late. No... he will just be extra careful!

He allows as many children to board as he can possibly fit into the bus. The last little girl is standing in the foot well of the steps by the door, but she should be alright. She can hold on to something on the side of the bus. There is no strap to hold on to, but she should find a place to grab onto. The bus is struggling with the extra heavy load, but he accelerates to give it those extra revs to get the speed up. Suddenly, with an unexpected jerk, the bus lunges forward and he hits a lever with his arm - this lever opens the door of the bus!!

Then he sees it!! The little girl who was standing closest to the door was flung through the open door and before he could bring the overloaded bus to a screeching halt, he heard a thud. Please! don't let it be that little girl. She can break something if she is pushed against the wheel. As soon as the bus stopped the kids all scurried out and immediately there were screams of shock and distress. There was chaos all around and the driver had to fight his way through the gasping children.... then he sees her. She was lying under the bus, her head covered in blood. He could only stand aghast with shock and disbelief. How did this happen!! She must have rolled under the bus and he hit her!! Suddenly he came to his senses and asked some bystanders to phone for an ambulance, but he was told that the ambulance was already on its way...so were the police!

Why did the police take him to the police station. After all, it was an accident. He was not responsible for the sudden lunge that caused his arm to hit the lever and subsequently fling this little girl out of the bus and to her death under the wheel.

No!! He IS responsible!! He KNOWS he is responsible!!
He should not have allowed so many kids on the bus, but it was cold and they would have got wet if he left them. What is more, he needed the extra money for his own family. However, whatever excuses he thought of and no matter how hard he tried to justify his action, he had to admit - he was solely responsible for the death of an innocent, defenseless child. A child whose life had been entrusted to him.

A child who still had her whole life ahead of her. Never again would she run in the sunshine, chasing butterflies and laughing. Never again would she look at the birds and listen to the rain against the window. She would never breath again!! She is dead and he is responsible. He took her life - he cannot find any legitimate excuse for what he did, no matter how hard he tried. He will have to live with this for the rest of his life!! He will never be able to forget that blood covered head and lifeless little body. They told him that she was still alive for a while...did she suffer or was she unaware of what was happening. Was she unaware that the life was leaving her defenseless little body while she was lying in a pool of blood - her own blood - on the cold, hard road.

He had the lives of all these young children in his hands. He was so blinded by his own problems that he did not give a second thought to the fact that the parents had trusted him to keep their children safe. Not only did he cause the death of this girl, but how many of those innocent little kids who saw her lying there, dying, were traumatized and will remember that horrific scene for the rest of their lives. How many are having nightmares about it in the fear that it can happen to them too. Will they ever trust a bus driver enough to board a bus again. He knows that he will never be trusted again. Even if by some miracle he is not punished by law, he will carry his punishment around with him for the rest of his life... the sight of a 10 year old girl dying because he thought he needed those extra few bucks. That is a worse punishment than anything that the courts could even think of!!

Is there a third side to the coin.....

1st Case Scenario -

The driver is punished to the full extent of the law for what he did - after all, he is guilty of negligence - he is guilty of manslaughter and punished accordingly.

FACT: He is not the only one being punished - his wife and 4 children are punished with him.

FACT: The 10 year old girl will still remain dead - no measure of punishment will bring her back. Does this REALLY make her loved ones feel any better? Does it REALLY ease the pain of loosing her?

2nd Case Scenario -

Besides the driver being punished by law for his actions, there is still the punishment he is dishing out to himself. The punishment his conscience is inflicting upon him. He may get a prison sentence of xx number of years, but the memory of what happened and what he did, will remain with him for the rest of his life. This self-punishment is a life sentence.

FACT: He is still punishing his family together with himself. His family life can never be the same again, living with the guilt for the rest of his life.

FACT: That little girl will still be dead. No amount of self-punishment will bring her back. Nothing will ease his pain, or that of her family!

Who really wins - nobody!!

All this because of one irresponsible decision!!

Here are a few quotes that are very true of life in general, not only in this situation.

QUOTES ABOUT DECISION MAKING:

It's in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.

- Anthony Robbins

More than anything else, I believe it's our decisions, not the conditions of our lives that determine our destiny.

- Anthony Robbins

Before every minute of action, there should be an hour of thought.

- Henry Ford

QUOTES ABOUT REVENGE:

An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.

—Attributed to Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

Revenge has no more quenching effect on emotions than salt water has on thirst.

—Walter Weckler

If revenge is sweet, why does it leave such a bitter taste?

—E. C. McKenzie

There is a very important lesson to be learned from this tragedy.....

Be responsible in all your actions - think it through.... don't making a rash and "on the spur of the moment" decisions - especially when it concerns the lives of others!!

So many lives were effected by this one irresponsible decision!

A MAGIC CARPET RIDE

2008-06-30T08:42:00.000-07:00

.
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I was sitting all alone in the dark, deep in thought. It was a quiet evening without even a hint of a breeze - warm and sultry and I was enjoying the solitude.

Suddenly I heard it....a strange sound, almost like a whisper in the leaves of the palm tree outside the window. I was curious to see what the sudden sound was, so I stepped outside onto the patio.I could not believe my eyes!! Straight ahead was a friend of mine with her daughter floating on a carpet!!

Surely that was impossible, but I saw it with my own eyes - were my eyes deceiving me? Another shock was in store for me!! As I looked up at this incredible scene, I saw the sun and the moon in the dark night sky together. Surely this was a figment of my imagination!! Even greater was my surprise when my friend spoke to me and invited me to join them on their flight of fantasy.

Without hesitation I found myself moving closer, and being pulled up onto the magic carpet. As soon as I was settled I felt the wind through my hair with a swoosh sound as we sped through the air. Far below us I saw the city lights and the reflection of the sun and the moon on the ocean. It was the most incredulous feeling - absolute silence, but for the wind rushing past my ears. I have never experienced such peace before - such beauty. The burnished sky and its reflection in the water below was something no words can describe. I wish I had my camera with me so that I could share that moment with all the people I left behind....all those who would not believe my tale when I returned home.

Home!! Suddenly I wondered - will I ever get home again but this did not bother me too much. I could stay where I was forever and not regret a moment of it!!

My friends and I were chatting and laughing while we nibbled on some fruit and enjoyed the juice that was right there in a basket on the carpet. We were having this lovely picnic while flying over trees and rooftops and enjoying the unbelievable beauty all around us.

Eventually I saw that we had gone full circle and my house was coming closer and closer. That is when it hit me that my awesome journey was over, and I had to return to the every day life at home. I was quite sad at this knowledge, but I realized that life had to continue. I had this beautiful life - a life that, in reality, was great. It was an unbelievable experience to fly through the air on a magic carpet, but reality is just as good.

In reality too much magic would become boring and mundane - the same way we sometimes think our lives are boring and mundane. How does the saying go.... Too much of a good thing isn't good any more!!

WINTER IS NOT THE END.....

2008-06-05T06:40:00.000-07:00

Only a time to rest....

I know that many people think of winter as the end of growth. The end of life.....

I believe that there is no end to the cycle of life...it is a circle without end.

Winter is merely the rest period that everything needs before new life begins. First all the leaves change into the most brilliant colours - red & yellow, Amber & gold, just like Joseph's multi coloured coat. Then they leave their home on the plants and find a resting place somewhere down below. Soon the trees are barren, dry - looking sticks embedded in the earth - arms reaching out to the heavens - for what, I wonder.

When I see the beautifully coloured leaves floating downwards they remind me of fairies flying around, seeking a nice resting place for winter. Somewhere to wait until the next life cycle starts. These leaves will join the soil in helping feed the plants when they are ready for the new cycle to start in spring .

The barren trees and plants let more sun filter through to give us extra warmth for the cold winter's days. We are all seeking warmth in our lives, and here these trees, that most people see as ugly and bare, share their spot in the sun with us. Nature is always prepared to share with us, whatever the season - whether in abundance of fruit and shade in summer, or sunshine in winter. Why can't we all learn from nature - be as unselfish as nature!!

The bear sleeps all through winter, and will emerge from hibernation with the tiniest of tiny cubs at the end of winter. Winter also came along to give the bear the rest she needed to produce new life!

Just like the leaves on the trees change their colour in fall and winter, I know that my hair is also changing colour in the autumn of my life. Just like the leaves unite with the soil, I know that I will also become one with the soil again - dust to dust. I know that when that time comes for me, I will only have a rest while I wait for my new cycle of life to start in the arms of my Creator. It will not be the end of life, but the start of a new cycle.

The eternal circle with no beginning and no end.

Here are a few quotes for you to enjoy:

“Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter. Who would think that those branches would turn green again and blossom, but we hope it, we know it.”

“For the unlearned, old age is winter; for the learned it is the season of the harvest.”..........The Talmud quotes
“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.” ..................................................Hal Borland

CANDLE POWER - IT'S TRUE POWER

2008-05-05T01:01:00.000-07:00

THE REAL POWER OF CANDLES.......

When I was a child, candles formed a part of our daily lives. We lived on a smallholding with no Electricity for the first 6 years of my life, so we used candles and oil lamps for lighting. Now, with the power cuts we are experiencing in South Africa, many people have to revert to candle power once again. Many people don't have gas or oil lamps and cannot afford to buy them.

I, however, love the mystique and romance that candle light brings. There are two ways of interpreting images by candle light. One could see the eerie and sinister shadows as "monsters", or you could consider the power of that single candle being able to create a new world with extra objects that disappear as soon as you blow out the candle. The shadows on the wall, and the reflection on the table are all gone when the flame is gone! One candle has that much power...

The warm glow of candle light on the face of a child brings such soft tones instead of the harsh brightness that the electric globe gives us. It emphasizes the innocence... On a cold winter's night the warmth encompasses us and is comforting and peaceful.

People are very quick to complain about not having "Electric Power", but the lack of it forces us to become quiet and reflect on our lives... No TV, Radio, or Computers... In this rushed life where we don't have the time to relax and have a good look at the life we are living - always chasing after something - never in one place long enough to appreciate life itself. Most people don't live their lives....they are too busy trying to control it to actually live it and enjoy it!!

Come on!! I dare you to switch off all the lights, and light a few candles. Sit and relax while you watch the shadows, forever in motion in the light of the flame that flickers at the slightest breeze. How fragile is that flame, and yet, it clings to the wick like someone clinging to the rock face of a mountain after falling over the edge. It is not that easy to blow out the flame... you need to really blow hard... and even after the flame is gone, for a few seconds you can still see the glow on the wick, as if reluctant to really let go.

I would love to be like a candle in other people's lives, bringing them warmth and softness - a vision of warmth instead of the cold reality of a life of chasing after rainbows.

SPUN TO PERFECTION ~ YET DEADLY!!

2008-04-24T09:43:00.000-07:00

The Spider......

Another perfect creation of God…..

I see the delicately woven silk web spun to perfection, glistening in the early morning sun ~ the dewdrops sparkling like newly cut and polished diamonds in the rays of sunlight. In the center, spread eagled, hangs a beautiful black, white and cadmium-yellow spider. Its long legs remind me of a tiger with their black and yellow stripes - at the end of each of the 4 front legs a long spike-like “finger” - a single claw. The spider is covered in fine hair that shine in the sunlight, creating a silver aura around it.
The head ~ hairy, flattish and gray forms the first segment of the body, while the back segment is long and black with white spots that look like stripes until you see them closer. It sits in wait for some innocent insect to fly into the trap so neatly spun across the bare patch between two palm fronds.
Such a beautifully spun silken web that looks like a jewel, yet it is a deadly trap for the prey that have the misfortune to land in the sticky glue that keeps the silver strands together. They become entangled where they will soon die and become food for the spider.
That is life - and endless cycle. We all need food, and sometimes have to kill to get it.

CHANGING SCENES

2008-04-09T09:26:00.000-07:00

Life is like a cloud - forever changing shape and direction......

Have you ever had a good look at clouds and cloud formations.

A while back we traveled back from Piet Retief in Mpumalanga, (South Africa) where we had done a Wedding Photo and DVD shoot.

As we traveled clouds started gathering more and more until the sky was covered with white fluffy cotton balls. White candy floss forever changing shape.

I love finding shapes and forms in the clouds. "Look - there is a bear lying sleeping!! and there is an old man smoking a pipe!! Is that a little lamb?"

Alas! within minutes - sometimes seconds - they disappear and change into fluffy cotton balls again. Sometimes they stay longer, changing shape, but still recognizable.

Beautiful!! So many different sights to see. Some clouds are very
dark - almost black. Others seem blue, and then the bright white ones that almost hurt your eyes when you look at them. "Look, there are some bright gold and orange clouds - isn't it a sight too beautiful to even describe!"

Then I think of the proverb - or is it just a saying - "Every dark cloud has a silver lining", and I realize that it is literally true. Look at all the large black clouds hovering above the mountains. They each have an incredibly bright edge... a silver lining!!

Our lives are just like these clouds. There are so many different shapes, sizes and colors and they are forever changing.

Show me the person who can HONESTLY say that their life is the same every day, and I will have a hard time believing you. Every day comes with its own joys, challenges and sorrows, and it does not only choose certain people. Everyone must go through the happy and the sad, the success and the failure...to be able to grow.

Everyone's life is like a cloud, I know mine is. Every dark cloud has a silver lining....sometimes you have to look carefully to find it, but it is there... the same way every dark period in your life will have a bright spot hidden somewhere...just look for it. Also remember that the sky is always darkest just before the dawn!!

I know that it is not always easy to stay positive, but with help from above I know that I will always be safe.

Here are some quotes I love and would like to share with you:

“Try and fail, but don't fail to try.” ................................................................ by: Stephen Kaggwa

“If you only do what you know you can do- you never do very much.” ............. by: Tom Krause

“Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow ................................................. by: Mary Anne Radmacher

“You are the embodiment of the information you choose to accept and act upon. To change your circumstances you need to change your thinking and subsequent actions.” ................................................................................................................ by: Adlin Sinclair

“Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.” ...................by: Unknown

And this is my best choice:

“Don't wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.” ..........................................by: Mark Victor Hansen.

MUSIC FOR THE SOUL

2008-01-26T11:50:00.000-08:00

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then surely music is in the "ear of the listener".

When you complete your profile in social networks one of the questions that you often have to answer, is "What kind of music do you like", and this is my thoughts on that.

What more can you ask than the sound of crickets and the croak of frogs at night. The owl that hoots at midnight.

Listen to the birds singing happily on their way - especially at dusk and dawn. What is more beautiful than the dove calling for it's mate. The cry of a wolf in the distance, or a lion roaring to let the world know that he is the king of the animal world. Then there is the hyena's laugh that sounds so much like a human's that it could easily be mistaken for one.

These carefree and happy creatures don't worry about tomorrow. They know that they will be provided for.

Have you ever sat next to a brook and listened to the water rippling over the rocks and the cry of a fish eagle as it looks for its mate.

I have had the wonderful privilege of hearing the sound of a large flock of Flamingos flying over my head so low that I could hear the sound of their wings. It sounds like something exhaling very heavy and very long....the breath of something very large. It was such a wonderful sound - no man made music could compare.

The cry of a newborn baby is a reminder that life goes on, the wonder of someone who was created in the image of God by God.... A toddler talking to butterflies and flowers and "singing" with the birds. The innocence of these little people who have not a care in the world. They are happy in the knowledge that Mommy and Daddy will look after them, They will make sure that no harm will come to them.

How much more should we be happy in the knowledge that we are also looked after by our Father each and every day.

We should listen to the beautiful song of nature and know that we should never be concerned about tomorrow. If those beautiful creatures with their tiny little brains know that tomorrow will look after itself, how much more should we understand the Greatness and the Power of God, our Father.

Even silence is a beautiful sound. It is the sound of solitude and peace. A time you can be alone with your Creator without the noise of everyday life - Metal on metal, engines roaring, people fighting....... Silence is a much better sound than this!

I thank God for the music he provides every day in these simple things.

Look at these quotes - they inspire me, maybe they can do the same for you:

Listen what the poplar-tree
And murmuring waters counselled me. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Nature inanimate employs sweet sounds,
But animated nature sweeter still,
To soothe and satisfy the human ear. - William Cowper

He who hears the rippling of rivers in these degenerate days will not utterly despair. - Henry David Thoreau

MY PASSION

2008-01-25T06:06:00.000-08:00

Mission Statement

Yesterday a group of us were discussing our Mission Statements. It was very late for me, so unfortunately I had to leave the discussion before I had the opportunity to give mine.

My mission statement is very simple, yet complex. I know that this is a contradiction...how can it be simple AND complex at the same time.

Let me explain - My mission is to help people and animals. This is where the complexity comes in.

I am passionate about helping people and I want to do this online as well as offline. I also want to help animals - this would have to be offline, as I have not seen many animals with an internet connection.

Right, let me start with my offline ambitions.

My mission is to acquire a small farm that I will divide into 4 areas.

The first area should be obvious - it will be our living quarters with a house and garden for our personal use. In the garden I will have vegetables, Herbs and shrubs.

The next area would be for animals suitable for a petting zoo. Len, my husband is crazy about miniature horses, so that is at the top of my list. Ponies for kids to ride would also be lovely. We will have cows, sheep, goats, a pig or two and a couple of bunnies. We would need a few chickens too for their eggs. I want children to have access to these animals to teach them that milk does not grow in cartons and show them where eggs come from. Many children have only seen animals on TV and in magazines. I want them to be able to touch them and experience the wonderful feeling of a nuzzle from a horse and a cuddle with a bunny. These children must realize that there are living creatures other than human beings. They must hear the beautiful sounds of nature, and not the blaring screech of an MP3 in their ears.

The third portion, which will be the largest, will be a sanctuary for injured and orphaned wild animals. There will be holding pens to keep them in while they need medical attention or nursing. When they are ready to face the world again, they will be set free in the "wild" part of this sanctuary. This will also serve as a place where people can experience the wonder of wildlife - where they can be one with nature and its wonders.

Then we come to the fourth and final section. This will be my own sanctuary. Here I will have many water features, one being a large pond with an artificial waterfall that I will populate with different kinds of ducks. I will plant lawns, with fairly large trees with bird feeders hanging from them to encourage birdlife in my bird park. I will have Honeysuckle and Jasmin, Gardenia and yesterday, today and tomorrow plants,to attract butterflies and other inects, with berries and fig trees for the birds. I will have picnic tables and chairs for visitors to enjoy a picnic while enjoying the beauty of nature around them.

I will have a Gazebo where I can sit with my Laptop to do my internet business. This is where I will connect with with all the people I can help online.

Now you will realise that to complete my mission, to live out my passion, I need to also be successful and earn money on the internet. To enable me to help others, I need to help myself as well. So - I am actually not here to earn money only for myself, but to find the means to help others who are in need of my help.

I trust that some of my global friends will come and visit me in my sanctuary some day - Julie and Russ, I hope you will be my first visitors. I know that you will enjoy this as much as I will.

I have a dream, I have a vision, I have a Mission!!

I believe in the saying - If you can perceive it, and you believe it, you can achieve it. AND if you can see it. you can believe it - Well, I can see it - VERY CLEARLY!!

THE TWO WOLVES

2008-01-20T00:45:00.000-08:00

Food for thought:

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between two ‘wolves’ inside everyone of us.

One is Dark - anger, envy, jealousy, conceit, sorrow, hatred, greed, arrogance, self-pity, resentment, inferiority, lies, pride, lust, superiority and ego.

The other is Light - joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?”
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Deepak Chopra's Seven Spiritual Laws of Success.

1. The law of Pure Potentiality: by believing there are unlimited possibilities for me if I sit in silence and listen, stop doing and start being without judgment.

2. The law of Giving: by joyfully giving more while knowing that I will receive more when I appreiciate what I have now.

3. The law of Cause and Effect: by accepting that I create my future by my choices today.

4. The law of Least Effort: by being in the flow of nature, accepting the present and taking responsibility for myself without blaming others.

5. The law of Intention and Desire: by being in the now where changes are made and stating my desires while understanding the power of my thoughts will create my tomorrows.

6. The law of Detachment: by letting go of the outcome of my desires while taking what action needs to be taken to create my dreams, trusting that what will happen will be for the best.

7. The law of Dharma: by doing what I believe to be my purpose in this life while being in service to others.

Live in the love, light and laughter, for there you find life.

Emotional Intelligence is the knowledge and practice of choice with regard to our emotions and the emotional expression of others in our world (both personally and professionally). Everyone can master these tools and then choose which ‘wolf’ you wish to feed and how to manage other ‘wolves’ based on the goals and intentions you have for your life

I MET A FRIEND!!

2008-01-13T01:12:00.000-08:00

I have many wonderful friends from every corner of the world. I have very good and loyal friends, BUT.....

Almost two years ago I met MY friend. MY soul mate in friendship. We have never met face to face, and we are separated by oceans and continents, but I am sure she was my friend from the day she was born. You see, I am ten years her senior, so for the first 10 years of my life I waited for her to be born. It still took many years for us to meet, but we were destined to find each other.

We are so connected, we read each others thoughts. We feel each others joy and pain. Sometimes there is no need for words, just our love for each other and our love of God and all he created, tells us what the other one feels. I have many friends, beautiful and loyal friends, but only one like Julie.

I met a friend... Julie Wolf. We have never touched hands, but I know we have touched each others lives more than any physical touch ever could.

We know each other's strengths and weaknesses, and are friends in spite of those weaknesses. I will always be her friend - unconditionally, and I trust that the same goes for her.

With a friend like this who came into my life - unasked - I am the richest person in the whole universe. I know we were sent to each other by Divine Intervention. I believe it is a Divine Connection by a Higher Authority that connected us. It was my destiny to meet her. I know we will laugh together and cry together, but we will do it together, support each other - we are friends.

I may have more friends like her, waiting for us to meet, but until then I have a beautiful treasure. A VERY SPECIAL friend. Maybe I will never find another friend like her, but I am happy because I am rich. If I meet another...then I will have an even bigger treasure! In fact, I do have another friend who comes very close to being as special...... Russ, Julie's husband.

Some good quotes about friendship:

"I believe that friends are quiet angels who sit on our shoulders and lift our wings when we forget how to fly."
---Unknown

"Some friends come and go like a season. Others are arranged in our lives for good reason."
---Sharita Gadison

"True friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget."
---Amanda Kunkle

"A friend shares the good times and helps out by listening during the bad times."
---Molly Oliver

"True friends are always together in spirit."
---Lucy Maud Montgomery

"If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you made me smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand."
---Unknown
And this is my pick of the bunch......it reflects my own feelings so well.

"Sometimes in life, you find a special friend. Someone who changes your life just by being a part of it. Someone who makes you laugh until you can't stop. Someone who makes you believe that there really is good in the world. Someone who convinces you that there really is an unlocked door just waiting for you to open it. This is forever friendship. When you're down and the world seems dark and empty, your forever friend lifts you up in spirit and makes that dark and empty world suddenly seem bright and full. Your forever friend gets you through the hard times, the sad times and the confused times. If you turn and walk away, your forever friend follows. If you lose your way, your forever friend guides you and cheers you on. Your forever friend holds your hand and tells you that everything is going to be okay. And if you find such a friend, you feel happy and complete because you need not worry. You have a forever friend, and forever has no end."
---Unknown

Who else has friends like these. Let me know - please leave your comment.