I Was Just Thinking About...

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Fri, 09 May 2008 20:39:15 GMT

Photos 4 Food

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 13:10:05 GMT

Hey Family,

My friend Ron, from the Once Upon a Time on Planet Earth project,

passed this on to me so I am passing it on to you!

Stephen Lebovits has taken on a challenging project to help the hungry. I'm sure some of you need a new pic for your wall or a gift for a friend or family member perhaps??

These are his words...

Hello to all my family, friends, acquaintances and the media,

In March of 2006 _Le Monde diplomatique_ published 'Planet in Peril -
An Atlas of Current Threats to People and the Environment.' Among the
15 reported threats was 'losing the battle against hunger' in
which it was reported that 'in 2000 there was 852 million
undernourished people on Earth.' The report continued, explaining that
in each of the following five years (2001 through 2005), more than 4
million more people, men, women and children, were added to that list -
This is simply a shame.

Now, in 2008, I have decided to embark on my own humanitarian project to
try to do my part in helping some of those undernourished people get food
to eat. Obviously my attempt will be only a small ripple in a vast ocean of
hunger, but I am trying to do something, in my own little way, to help out.

So, with that in mind I am inviting you all to take a moment out of your
day to visit me.

That is all, the rest is up to you.

Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,

Stephen Lebovits
Trying to do my bit.

I Had To Pass These On To Ya'll

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:31:14 GMT

It just ain't right!!

Hey Family!

My goodness...it's been a minute, huh? Well...I have to tell you...life is good right now. School is going great ("A" average so far), the kids are all fine, the job is okay so I really can't complain. Of course, it ain't all rosey don't get me wrong, but I am so blessed that it would be a sin to even talk about those little things that will just be a memory very soon.

I will learn from them and just keep on keepin' on.

I hope you all are well...please know that I think of all of you from time to time and hope that all is good and well in your world.

I hear from some of you on the IM and via email which is very cool.

I wanted to pass on 2 links to you that I came across today. One on 13 amazing (and not so amazing) women who don't get the props they deserve and through one of these women I found a site that will allow you to lend a helping hand (click on Products).

And if you can't, just spread the word.

That's all for now...keep those prayers goin' up for our brave men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan!!

Love,

Theresa

Thinking of You...

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 00:12:57 GMT

Christ has no body now on earth but ours;

Ours are the only hands with which he can do his

work,

Ours are the only feet with which he can go about

the world.

Ours are the only eyes through which his

compassion

can shine forth upon a troubled world.

Christ has no body on earth now but ours.

- Adapted from a prayer of St. Teresa of Avila

(from a book I'm reading now..."A String & A Prayer, How to Make and Use Prayer Beads"

by Elanor Wiley and Maggie Oman Shannon)

littlebookofman.org

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 18:42:39 GMT

Sayonara!

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:53:12 GMT

Thanks so much for the graphic Geri!! YOU'RE THE BEST!!

Hey Guys!

Well...the time has come for me to say goodbye to Spaces. It was a very difficult decision but I know it is the best one for me. I will miss coming here almost every day to share my thoughts and "good things" with all of you but the time has come for me to put all of my time and energy into working a full-time job and, I am happy to say, going back to school part-time. I have waited more than 20 years for this opportunity and God has opened the door for me.

I will be going to Catholic University of America which is in D.C. I am so excited! I feel like a kid which is always a good thing My dream has been for a long time to teach English as a second language. In 2 years or less I will have my Bachelor's Degree and then I will get my teaching certification and go on to get my Master's.

In my spare time, if any, I will be stopping by to visit all of you to see what you are up to. Please keep me in your prayers. This first semester will be a hard one for me because I have to physcially be there. But after that I can complete my courses on line. The Pope will be visiting the school in April so I am excited that I will get a chance to see him! I never thought I would ever have this opportunity.

So I have a lot to look forward to in 2008! I will miss you guys! Send me an email from time to time!

I wish you success...good health and most of all LOVE in 2008! Do something to help somebody when you can!! Remember God loves you and so do I!

Love,

Theresa

God's Speed Bumps

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 13:23:29 GMT

By now all of you have heard the sad news of Washington Redskin Sean Taylor's passing. I am presently living in the Washington, DC area and am, as many of you know, a Redskins fan. Everyone here is devastated by the news. There were prayer vigils being held last night and this morning. The atmosphere here at work is very somber today.

My grandmother always used to say, "Honey...God knows best...never question Him!" That was always a very hard pill to swallow for me especially if I lost someone who was very dear. The sadness becomes even more intense when the person, like Sean, is so young. My two oldest children are 22 and 25. As a parent of children this age the pain becomes even more intense.

One of my favorite phrases is "...this is just one of God's speed bumps". God always puts those speed bumps in our way to make us slow down and think about our own circumstances. Sean Taylor's passing this morning was definitely that speed bump for me.

I have been upset with my son for 4 months now. He has been traveling around the country playing basketball, which has been his passion since he was 9 yrs old. As the oldest son I feel that it is his responsibility to make sure his family is taken care of first. But I am his mother so I have tried to be supportive. My support has grown into anger and disapointment. And has caused tension in our relationship. My daughter always says, "well mom...he is your favorite!" Grrrrrrrr....I knew one day that was going to come back to bite me! It's hard hearing that from your own child! But if anyone knows this it would be her! So...my favorite son has been out of work all summer...chasing this dream of becoming a professional basketball player. Now he has returned home and has been back 2 weeks now...he hasn't looked in a newspaper or gone on any interviews...Grrrrrrrrr....I just wait.... Yesterday was his brother's 19th birthday. We are out celebrating and he says to me, "Mom...I got a job". WHAT?! When did this happen??? Probably when I was working 2 jobs. Well! Of course that made me feel so much better and very stupid!

Then when Sean passed away this morning I thought...hmmm...what if that was my son? What if my son wouldn't have had the chance to tell me the good news about his finding a job? Wow...there's that speed bump again. Lesson learned. Thank you once again God for teaching me to be still and wait on You! And to count my blessings once again.

Please pray for the Taylor family and for the Redskins fans everywhere.

God Bless Our Troops!!

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 23:08:50 GMT

It is the VETERAN , not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN , not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN , not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN , not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

VETERANS KNOW THAT THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE HAS NO

EXPIRATION DATE!!

God bless you and God bless our great nation!!

Thanks for Stopping By!

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 00:26:56 GMT

Have a great week!!

Thanks for the graphic Sweet Pea!

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near
Tampa, Florida, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.

      Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions,
they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that
copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

       One nurse took her copy to Missouri the old man's sole bequest to
posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News
Magazine of the St. Louis Association for Mental Health. A slide
presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

       And this little old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is
now the author of this “anonymous" poem winging across the Internet.

       Crabby Old Man

       What do you see nurses? ...What do you see?
       What are you thinking.....when you're looking at me?
       A crabby old man ...not very wise,
       Uncertain of habit ......with faraway eyes?

       Who dribbles his food.......and makes no reply.
       When you say in a loud voice...."I do wish you'd try!"
       Who seems not to notice .the things that you do.
       And forever is losing.......... A sock or shoe?

       Who, resisting or not...........lets you do as you will,
       With bathing and feeding ... The long day to fill?
       Is that what you're thinking?   Is that what you see?
       Then open your eyes, nurse......you're not looking at me.

       I'll tell you who I am........ As I sit here so still,
       As I do at your bidding ...As I eat at your will.
       I'm a small child of Ten.......with a father and mother,
       Brothers and sisters ........who love one another

       A young boy of Sixteen with wings on his feet
       Dreaming that soon now. .......a lover he'll meet.
       A groom soon at twenty ......my heart gives a leap.
       Remembering, the vows.....that I promised to keep.

       At Twenty-Five, now......... I have young of my own.
       Who need me to guide.... And a secure happy home.
       A man of thirty........ My young now grown fast,
       Bound to each other....... With ties that should last.

       At forty, my young sons...have grown and are gone,
       But my woman's beside me.......to see I don't mourn.
       At fifty, once more, Babies play 'round my knee,
       Again, we know children..... My loved one and me.

       Dark days are upon me.............. My wife is now dead.
       I look at the future ...............I shudder with dread.
       For my young are all rearing.....young of their own.
       And I think of the years....... And the love that I've known.

       I'm now an old man.........and nature is cruel.
       Tis jest to make old age ......look like a fool.
       The body, it crumbles..........grace and vigor, depart.
       There is now a stone........where I once had a heart.

       But inside this old carcass...... A young guy still dwells,
       And now and again .......my battered heart swells
       I remember the joys........... I remember the pain.
       And I'm loving and living.............life over again.

       I think of the years...all too few......gone too fast.
       And accept the stark fact........that nothing can last.
       So open your eyes, people ..........open and see..
       Not a crabby old man. Look closer....see........ME!!

       Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might
brush aside without looking at the young soul within.....we will all, one
day, be there, too!

OK family...make it a good one and keep in touch!

The Oops Book - is a guide to help little girls when they first start their periods. The cutest thing! The book is $10.00 but if you buy the kit it's $20.00. All of you women out there remember how frightening it was for you. Please check it out and pass it on to mother's of young girls and any teachers too. The book is a lot of fun it has stickers and good tips to help them through the scary parts. We want them to know the truth about what is going on with their bodies before they hear the stories from their friends. The stories I heard scared me to death!

Oh and please check out THE BEST HALLOWEEN SPACE here in Spaceville - Geri's Haunted House...SCARY!!!!!!

This is Good!!

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:45:17 GMT

Cherokee Legend

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage?

His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him

alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove

the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot

cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.

He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must

come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all

kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him.

Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth,

and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold.

It would be the only way he could become a man!

Finally, after a horrific night the sun

appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered

his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night,

protecting his son from harm.

We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, our Heavenly

Father is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us.

When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.

If you liked this story, tell someone.

If not, you took off your

Blindfold before dawn...

Everyone Can’t Be in Your Front Row

Life is a theater-invite your audience carefully.

Not everyone is spiritually healthy and mature enough to have a front row seat in our lives. There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a distance.

It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you let go, or at least minimize your time with draining, negative, incompatible, not-going-anywhere relationships/friendships/fellowships!

Observe the relationships around you. Pay attention to: Which ones lift and which ones lean? Which ones encourage and which ones discourage? Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are going down hill?

When you leave certain people, do you feel better or worse?

Which ones always have drama or don’t really understand, know and appreciate you and the gift that lies within you?

When you seek growth, peace of mind, love and truth, the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the FRONT ROW and who should be moved to the balcony of your life.

You cannot change people around you…. but you can change the people you are around! Ask God for godly wisdom and discernment and choose wisely the people who sit in the front row of your life.

“Just because no one has shown up who can love you on your level, doesn’t mean you sink to theirs!!

I know for sure that God has someone waiting for me to meet in His own time.

That is what I like about my awesome God.!

More Good Stuff...

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 17:18:35 GMT

My dear friend Ron finally finished his masterpiece - Once Upon a Time On Planet Earth - I am so proud to have been a part of such a wonderful project.

There are a couple of my fellow spacers like Lori and Saksinee who also participated.


	" " "In this time of prosperity and season of sharing, let's remember, when we give what we can, and give it with joy, we don't just renew the American tradition of giving, we also renew ourselves." --Bill Clinton Table made by CoronaGurlGrphx!

Lookin' for a special gift? Go to World of Good...help somebody...it feels good!

Help Those In Need!!

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:08:57 GMT

Please make sure you visit Little Book of Man!

Have a great week my dears!!

Friends are a Blessing!!

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 15:21:49 GMT

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen."

Thank you Angel!

My dear friend Ron Modro has completed the Once Upon A Time On Planet Earth project.

PLEASE stop by and see all of the photographs that were submitted by people all over the world.

I am so proud of you Ron!! What a fantastic contribution to world peace! Love you!

And a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to my girl Geri for creating the beautiful graphic you see at the top of my space. Love you girl!!

I just want to thank all of you SO MUCH for the BEAUTIFUL birthday wishes. It really meant so much to me and made me feel so special.

You all are THE BEST!!

For those of you who like reading your daily devotional PLEASE go visit Lizzy.

She just created a new space that is fantastic!!

For those of you who are hungry for The Word please stop by and visit Lizzy.

You will be so glad you did!

On August 27th @ 12:30 a.m. Planet Mars will be the brightest in the night sky.

It will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye.

It will look like the earth has 2 moons.

The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287!

Hiroshima and Nagasaki...Never Again...

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 13:59:51 GMT

Aug 6, 1945 the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima killing 140,000 people and leaving a legacy of more death to follow.

70,000 lives were lost in Nagasaki.

Ron Modro started a project months ago asking 40 participants to take a photograph on this day and at the exact time - 8:15 am- when the bomb was dropped. A photograph of what this day means to each participant. I am fortunate enough to be one of those participants. I hope you all will visit Ron's website specifically made for this event.

We should never forget our history so we do not repeat it.

Have a Good Week!

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 11:33:55 GMT


	I want to thank all of you for the beautiful birthday prezzies you left for me last week. They really meant so much! I had a good week off...now it's back to the grind I hope all of you have a good week! Table made by CoronaGurlGrphx!

Lookin' for a special gift? Go to World of Good...help somebody...it feels good!

Thinking Positive...

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 17:29:38 GMT

Hey Family,

My oldest son Evan is in Long Beach, CA right now at NBA Camp. There will be lots of scouts there so he is hoping that one of them will make his dream come true. For those of you who don't know Evan spent 4 months in Germany last year trying to make one of the teams over there and sustained an injury and had to come home. It was heartbreaking for him but I am so proud of him because after he was well enough he started practicing every day until he was strong enough to decide to give it another try. He has a heads up on some of the guys there because he was actually invited to this camp. If it's God's will his dreams will come true. So please say a prayer for my son. We have to encourage our young people when they try to do something positive with their lives.

I hope you all had a good 4th!Love,

Theresa

Oh and thanks for the cute table Mija.

Daily Quotes

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:34:03 GMT

Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself.

Affairs of the Heart

Sun, 03 Jun 2007 23:57:46 GMT

**Dad Update**

It looks like Dad won't be home for his birthday as I had hoped. He is improving every day but has an issue with his feet swelling right now. He has also decided that when he is released from the hospital he will be going into a rehab center instead of going home. He doesn't want to be a burden to any of us. That's my dad...

I will be going home for the 4th of July holiday and spending 5 days with him before returning home. Please continue to pray that he stays on this road which will eventually lead him home.

Dad is out of intensive care. He is still in some pain and has been walking short distances which takes a lot out of him. It's hard to see him suffering this way but I know the walking will make him stronger with each passing day.

I am at home now...it was extremely difficult leaving him but I have to return to work. Please continue to pray that God will continue healing him.

Theresa

**UPDATE**

Dad made it through the surgery OK - triple bipass + valve replacement.

The next 24 hrs is crucial so please continue to pray for him.

*blessings*

Thanks for the Father's Day graphic Myta...You're the best!

***UPDATE***

My dad's surgery will take place this Thursday. I didn't think it would happen this quickly but better sooner than later. Please ask for God's healing for my father and that He will give me the strength I will need to get through this. If anyone has ever seen someone after open heart surgery you know it is frightening to see someone you love hooked up to so many machines. I appreciate your prayers very much.

Love,

Theresa

Hey Family!

First let me thank all of you for your prayers for my dad. I am a firm believer in prayer so I appreciate them and you greatly.

My dad came through his heart catheterization very well. The results I'm afraid, were as I feared. He will need bypass surgery as well as a valve replacement.

As you can see from the text below I have been doing research ever since speaking to the doctor on Friday. I know what will take place and I know that my dad will have a long convalescence afterwards. I am his only child so I must speak to my manager this week to find out what my options will be as far as a leave of absence is concerned. My dad is scheduled to speak to the surgeon on Wednesday to make an appointment for the procedure and to discuss the post-op requirements.

I am very close to my father. He is a fine man who is loved by all who know him. He is a very kind, loving caring and giving person. I love him very much. He has worked hard all of his life and deserves the best care. I will make sure he gets just that.

Please continue to pray for him and for me as well. I will need every ounce of strength to get through this. I "ain't no spring chicken" either - a direct quote from dad.

You all have a great week ya hear?

What is coronary artery bypass surgery?

This is a type of heart surgery. It's sometimes called CABG ("cabbage"). The surgery reroutes, or "bypasses," blood around clogged arteries to improve blood flow and oxygen to the heart.

Why is this surgery done?

The arteries that bring blood to the heart muscle (coronary arteries) can become clogged by plaque (a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances). This can slow or stop blood flow through the heart's blood vessels, leading to chest pain or a heart attack. Increasing blood flow to the heart muscle can relieve chest pain and reduce the risk of heart attack.

Recovery Time

You can expect to stay in the hospital for about a week, including at least 1 to 3 days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Life After Bypass

After bypass surgery, you should limit the fat and cholesterol in your diet. Your doctor may recommend walking or swimming to get your strength back. Your doctor may also recommend that you join a cardiac rehabilitation program. These programs can help you make lifestyle changes such as starting a new diet and exercise program, quitting smoking, and learning to better deal with stress.

If you have an office job, you can usually go back to work in 4 to 6 weeks. Those who have more physically demanding jobs may need to wait longer. In some extreme cases, you may need to find a job that is not as physically demanding. Twenty to 30% of bypass patients will need a second procedure within 10 years

Come On Friday!!

Tue, 29 May 2007 16:32:56 GMT

Ya'll have a good week!

Thank you Maria

Talking about War - what is it good for

Fri, 18 May 2007 11:40:44 GMT

I am proud to say this was written by my home boy Tim. Please stop by his space and show him some love when you can!!

Quote

War - what is it good for

Thanks to my friend Matthew Vadum for reminding me of the canonic veracity of the following quote:

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing worth a war, is worse. A man who has nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance at being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." - John Stuart Mill
Today's rising crescendo of voices against the war in Iraq begs the obvious question: Is the answer to an unjust war an equally unjust retreat?
Through the fog and information-overload of daily death and bombing statistics, arriving at an educated conclusion to the query, "where do we go from here" may seem impossible.
The United States is on the threshold of choosing a new Commander-in-Chief. If we select an individual based on his promise to stay or go in Iraq, we choose a simplistic response to a complex issue, and thereby abdicate our role and privilege as voters.
If we have blood on our hands now, cutting and running promises only more blood.
While few today still believe we should have invaded Iraq, our imperfect memories betray us; we tell ourselves we knew this was a bad idea to begin with - we told everyone it was a mistake....
The historic data confronts us, however, and reminds us that Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike were fooled into believing that Saddam was a bigger threat than he turned out to be.
It takes little integrity to turn and look away when there's violence taking place in another part of the world. How often have we stood aside as genocide took place in Cambodia, Rwanda, and now in Darfur.
In Iraq, we have the unique complication of having stirred up much of the trouble we are encountering; how much more are we responsible, then, for addressing it, and not running away from it.
It strikes me as an excessive degree of hubris and hypocrisy that the same people who wag a self-righteous finger at Republicans for not doing something about Sudan are the same people who are clamoring for us to lick our wounds, turn tail, and flee from Iraq, advocating that we leave sure destruction in our wake.
"We only went into Iraq because of oil...." Regardless of your political point of view, I challenge you to rise above your paranoia and conspiracy theories to consider this fact: We, the United States of America, have created a situation where not only are scores of our own soldiers dying weekly, but thousands of innocent people are dying every month, and millions who at first welcomed us as liberators, are left wondering what went wrong, as a few radical Shi'ia and Sunni terrorize them daily.
War is a horrible thing. Doing nothing is more horrible yet. When 'bringing home the troops' is a euphemism for defeat, then we have succeeded not only in defeat as a nation, but as a symbol for all who seek to come to the aid of the downtrodden in the world.
Our simplistic answers to the world's problems are haunting us; 'democracy' is just one small step removed from mob rule. 'free elections' means a majority reads a mandate to slaughter the minority. And if we don't win easily and quickly, then we shut the drapes and turn our heads, and pretend we can't hear the screaming anymore.
No political party has a corner on making stupid mistakes. Our integrity as a freedom-loving nation respecting the rule of law requires us to rise above our mistakes, publicly apologize for our clumsy stupidity, and seek an international alliance pledged to the restoration of a lasting peace in Iraq.
The alternative is too ugly to consider.

Photo Album: Pope's Visit, Trip to New Orleans, Etc..

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 15:24:22 GMT

Pope's Visit, Trip to New Orleans, Etc..

So many people!

The beautiful basillica in DC

Waiting...

There he is!!

Here he comes!

Cardinals waiting...

Still waiting...

Secret Service

Welcoming banners

Carol and Drew at Hard Rock

More Photos...

Photo Album: 2008 Pics

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 04:58:12 GMT

2008 Pics

Boom's Road Trip

Class of 09

Drew by the Lake 3 Mar 08

My Friend Ginny

Trip to Bethesda

My handsome baby boy

the fam2

Photo Album: It's All About Dad

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 16:27:55 GMT

It's All About Dad

Dad and his best buds

Dad and Evan

Me and Dad

Daddy-O

Daddy-O 2

Dad gets legion award

Dad in VA Beach

Dad flyin' high

Photo Album: So Thankful

Sun, 03 Jun 2007 23:52:41 GMT

So Thankful

Untitled Photo

RedWhiteAndBlue

treese1

treese2

treese3

Photo Album: Favorite People & Things

Sun, 03 Jun 2007 23:51:57 GMT

Favorite People & Things

FamilyAffair

MeandDad

meandmycrew

MeandMyGirls

Prince

thetwomeninmylife

Denzel

Halloween04

Jilly from Philly

mg2

More Photos...