My children have had a very tough few years and this last one was tougher than any other.  They have managed to survive and thrive throughout the changes in our family life. 

I am so proud of them and just amazed at how fast they bounce back. Being left with no other choice but to accept the reality of their new lives’, they could have completely acted out, but instead, they’ve managed the weight that many adults cannot handle.  I am amazed and honored to be their mother!

Children end up being the innocent bystanders caught in the middle when a family runs into a rough patch like job losses, moves, separations, divorces, a loved one passing, or health issues in the family.

However, they are inherently blessed and connected to the wisdom of God.  They know when you need that hug.  They show us how to forgive instantly with complete honesty.  They know what a simple smile can do to affect people no matter what their circumstances may be.

In most cases, children end up playing the role of the adult, when facing challenges. For instance, a child with a health issue, like Leukemia, could possibly end up encouraging everyone else!  A child watches a parent go through an illness, and they become the main supporter to keep everyone going.  And if they get caught in the middle of a family that is changing, divided, or apart, they become the grownups in many ways.

Children are the embodiment of God's pure Love. Watching how they treat others is an amazing view of how life should be handled in many instances. 

REALIZATION:

Children and animals are the most innocent spirits.  They see no race, no gender, or social divides.  They look at all people as they are – the light and child of God.

They know this is a temporary home and while they are still fully connected they are to help remind us adults of God’s pure love.

Once pain has entered your life, you begin to develop your connection to this planet.  But through our children it is simple to be reminded of God when you see those smiles, hear those first words, and feel those unconditional hugs.

They are the light of the world, love them, instruct them, and honor the spirits of God that they are.

Much Love and Innocence.

When you are moving forward, by instinct, you are leaving something behind. 

The emotions related to moving forward are mixed with excitement and sadness.   

• The pain of the relationship that ended but the excitement of a new prospect.

• The loss of that friend you once had but the thrill of new friendships.

• The ending of a job you enjoyed or disliked but the excitement of taking a new one.

• The memories in the house you once called home but hope for new memories in another.

The steps to stay on your life path and bring the positive blessings to you will include some form of emotional hurdles.  Some decisions will be easy like, “cleaning house” and donating the old clothes and unused furniture that are collecting dust.  Other decisions may prove to be more difficult when they involve moving past an emotional connection with another person or animal. 

Emotions however, are a necessary component to life.  If emotion was not involved, life would just slip away with no attachments to people, places, or things.  Imagine how life would be with no emotions… you would just be going through the motions, not being attached to anything.  The closest you can get to the thought of emotional detachment is depression; when you go through the motions of life but don’t connect with anything.

The emotions are what help us grow.  Each emotion has a purpose to get you through something or to connect with something.

If everything was perfect, like in heaven, we would all understand each other from the moment we connected. There would be no need for explanations of why you feel a certain way or why you react the way you do.  When you connect with someone, you instantaneously would understand the emotion, reactions, and thoughts of that person or situation.  Life would be that easy.  Since we are not in a perfect world, we can look at the emotion on this planet as a learning tool; one which helps us move up the “ladder” so to speak.

The challenge with all this emotion is to balance it.  Emotions are constantly changing in and around you and if you allow them to take control, you will notice things are not working correctly; as represented by the extreme emotions of: anger, hysteria, stress, obsession, lust, greed, and narcissism.

Balancing does require responsibility to want to be better than the emotions want you to be.  And when you have gone off balance, pulling yourself back can be a very difficult task.

Balance does not mean you won’t have highs or lows.  It simply means you are in control of those emotions when they affect you.  In this state of balance, you know when to walk away, you know when to be quiet, and you know when to be appropriately overly caring.  You are in control and may not even realize it; you just do and know the limits in your heart.  God helps you to sense the limits.

REALIZATION:

Emotions are the way to getting all your soul desires from this existence. 

They are to be embraced and enjoyed.  To help with growth and connection. 

The best way to survive the weight of them is to learn to balance.  Know your limits and trust they are right.  If it feels right, even when it’s difficult, then you have found the key to understanding and surviving.

Much Love and Balance.

Now I say this with some reluctance because I know these changes are necessary, but I love dairy and bread!! 
Unfortunately, I can no longer physically tolerate gluten, red wine, and dairy as I used to.  My daughter can no longer handle dairy.

I was blessed to grow up on a farm in Kansas.  We had fresh milk, what they now classify as “cage free” chickens and eggs, and fresh meat from our own animals.  Running a small family farm was not easy, my dad worked hard at preparing the land and knowing how to get the best crops and the healthiest animals.  He was proud of his ability to provide healthy food for our family and our community.   

Today, I live in the city.  So some of the most reasonably priced food I can get comes from the mass produced quantities that a supermarket carries.  My kids have been raised on this food.  Many modern families now have to deal with their children’s bodies rejecting the chemicals and unnatural substances that are injected and put in our food.  This is causing allergies to develop in children.  We used to just have to be cautious of peanuts in the elementary schools, but now gluten and dairy has been added to that list. 

Now after years of evolution in the wrong direction, we are seeing the trend of independent films highlighting our food source issues, studies proving that GMOs are adversely affecting our lives and that MORE food is not better.  When our bodies are not supposed to have something, they reject it.  It can be a virus, a foreign object or substance.  However, when you have been feeding your body with the same foods since birth, there is a slow progression of a break down till your body noticeably responds.

Our bodies are now in a pattern of change that has been many years in the making.  We now have over 7 billion people on a planet that can only sustain 10 billion.  People are living longer since the last century and our planet must supply food for them all and the food supply is still a problem in many parts of the world even with all the changes food producers have made to provide more food. 

I am dismayed by the greed and the bullying that some major corporations have come to. Businesses built on greed and not with the intention of providing for the best interests of people, will eventually fail. Good always prevails. But not without sacrifices and people to stand up for the good side.

How does a cycle break?  Usually with a major breakdown.

In my personal case, and that of my daughters, we are breaking the cycle for the sake of our health. And yes, I may whine and want that delicious bread or biscuit, big burger or good old comfort food, but do I feel good after it? - NO. So I have decided to make the change to healthier alternatives, and yes, the change is not easy- when is change ever easy? But I do it knowing I will make a small change in my world and break the cycle in my family, with the hope that the ripple will get bigger and a new cycle will start.

The new generations of children are being raised on better foods for their bodies and they appreciate the growing awareness for QUALITY and NOT QUANTITY-which God has made clear is not necessary.

The old cycle, old habits, old greed, and old ways will come to pass.
We evolve constantly.

REALIZATION:

Our planet is changing for her growth and evolution, which in turn changes the food we produce to feed our bodies, so we must adapt.  The body is an amazing functioning machine provided by God and it has been working well for centuries.  And with each new growth cycle in life, there is discovery, success, and lesson learned from mistakes.

Discovering new ways to feed the population and knowing how to balance the source and what is given to our bodies is a constant challenge.  Our bodies are OUR holy temple and one should care for it, as you would your home.

If you can choose to make the change to healthy eating and quality, not quantity, NOW- before it is forced upon you.  Life will be much easier.

We are asked to love our bodies as we do God.  For it is from God.  A gift to us so that we can survive and thrive in this world.

Much Love and Health.

I started volunteering when my children entered the “school” phase of life. 

For most of their Elementary school years I have been blessed with either not working or with a very flexible job that allowed me to be there for my kids at school and in the afternoons. 

My volunteering started out with a school wide request for assistance.  I quickly found a place I could use my skills.  From that day on I was hooked.       

Since volunteering at the school level, I have discovered the amazing benefits of taking an active role in my children’s daily world.

• I have gotten to know the most amazing teachers, principal, office and school staff.  God bless them ALL because teaching 30 kids at once and being able to meet their individual needs as best as possible is a difficult task.  I can barely manage 3 sometimes!

The teachers manage to take field trips with ALL the kids.  They create a                 classroom atmosphere that makes my children WANT to get up and go to             school!  There is no throwing themselves on the ground demanding they             don’t go-nope.  They love their friends and all the smiling faces of the adults.

This week this amazing school became the 1st in our district history to                 receive an Academic Performance Index test score over 900!  The state target         is 800 and the average is in the high 800s for our district.  But we broke                 through the 900’s – an Elementary school!  This amazing accomplishment             was achieved by a staff that cares, students that thrive, and volunteers that             support the same goals.

• Then there are the booster clubs that assist schools in bringing in additional money for the arts and areas where government funding has been cut.  These are the parents that have a passion for ALL kids.  They have very kind hearts, are very determined, and in the end, they show up for ALL the kids to help be their voice.  Friendships are built and lives are changed. 

Being a booster member and volunteer in many capacities over the years has         given me the opportunity to discover new interests and bring out skills that I         never knew I was capable of.  A creative side has blossomed and I have                   applied my skills in different ways.  I have also grown as a mother because I            can relate and understand my children’s lives better now that I have been in            their world.

• My children receive the benefit of their friends becoming a part of our family because you hear the names and put it with a face among 500+ students.  Then the kids love the fact you know who they are talking about.  You also begin to see a trust that is established between us parents due to the kids talking about the other parent who was courteous and helpful. 

The saying, “it takes a village to raise a child” is true.  I live in California and have no immediate family living out here to assist with raising these amazing children.  It would not be possible to give my kids so many of the fun times they have had without our community of friends, teachers, mentors, and just good caring people in my life. 

The list of people who have stepped up to be “family” is so long.  So whether your assistance has been long term or just a brief moment, I do hope you fully understand how much you are appreciated.  You know who you are and I hope that every time you have assisted in my family’s life, I have made it LOUD AND CLEAR that I truly appreciate it!  THANK YOU!

REALIZATION:

Experiencing the emotions of this planet – negative or positive- is what keeps us learning.  Volunteering can open your eyes to a part of the world you don’t see every day.  With that will come emotions of compassion, joy, sadness, hope, understanding, encouragement, accomplishment, and belief in others.  All emotions you may experience daily and not even recognize.  But when you are in a volunteer situation, you just look at life differently.

The word volunteer just triggers a different way of seeing the world.

It’s a term and action that was created to help us remember who we should be while here.  We are all from the same source and all God’s angels.  We are meant to help each other grow through all the challenges and support each other along their path.

        Volunteering truly benefits YOU more than what you gave.

Much Love and Giving.