I have been a writer for many years but recently I have been writing stories for children. There is a big difference with writing these types of stories as opposed to articles or short stories. Parents like to see lessons within a story for their children.

Well, at first I did not believe that. I thought if the story was cute enough that the lessons were unimportant. So I began writing. My thought was only to write a cute story about a little fairy girl who gets an unexpected adventure.

I created the main character and began to write. Within the first two paragraphs, as often happens with me, I was no longer writing the story but the character was. She took over and led me where she wanted to go. She introduced me to other characters and helped me get to know them.

Still I did not believe my story needed a lesson. I did not believe one was appearing on the paper either. Even after several edits of the final copy of the first draft, I did not see them.

Last night I asked a friend of mine to read the story and give me some feedback. She did and it was all very helpful. What she also did though was tell me that she loved all the lessons within the story. I was shocked. Lessons? I didn't include lessons. So I asked her what she saw. And sure enough, there they were plain as the nose on my face. I was just so close to the story that I couldn't see them. All I could see was the little adventure and the cute little characters whom I now know and love. But there they were. The lessons had wound themselves into the story.

Tonight I was watching an older movie with my husband. As we neared the end, the main character taught his superior how to be a leader. I sort of saw it coming but still somehow it was a little unexpected and it made me think.

I realized that sometimes life is kind of like these stories. That sometimes our lessons wind themselves into our story, but many times we are too close to see them.

When we are in a situation, like an argument or a life crisis, we are too into the moment to see the lessons. We are too close to the people and to emotional to see the lesson. It's just like my story. I was so close and emotionally involved with Bee-bee, my main character, that I didn't see the lessons she was learning because to me it was just different situations.

Recently I have been witness to a real life event that mirrors this. Fortunately I was a third party and could see what was happening to and with the other people involved. As the drama unfolded you could see that these people were emotionally attached to their own thoughts, opinions, and actions and could not see the forest for the trees. My advice was that once things cooled down they could later go back and look over what had been said and done. By doing this after the situation is over they may be able to see the lessons that were winding their way into this story.

This is something we can all do with any situation. Lessons come in all shapes and sizes and at the most mysterious times. Most times we are incapable of seeing them while they are happening but if we go back later and look things over sometimes we can find them.

I challenge you to re-read your life's stories after you have let them play out and see where your lessons appear. You may

I listen to a lot of talk radio, so you may hear me reference a program I was listening to now and again. More often than not you will hear me reference the Glen Beck program because he is fantastic and he talks about the things I personally care about. Not only that but he also makes it entertaining and amusing.

Today in the car on my way to work, which was a 2 1/2 hour drive today, glen got a call about the new chip you can have implanted under your child's skin to locate them anytime and anywhere in the world. I have recently heard a lot being said about this "new" technology called "Digital Angel". More than once on talk radio I have heard people asking where did this come from or do we really think this is good.

I'll be honest, I've known about Digital Angel for about 3 years now, if not longer. WHen I first heard about it I tried to tell people and get someone to listen. However, as usual, people just blew it off and said it would never affect them. Now these same people are outraged that anyone would consider implanting humans with GPS tracking devices. What did they think this technology would be used for?

Another question in my mind is this. If we implant out children with these devices, when do they get removed or do they? Will there come a time when the government will require all citizens to have "Digital Angel" or some such device for law enforcement purposes?

Now I've hear the argument that if you aren't doing anything illegal then why should you care about this implant. I see more and more government sanctions and laws being made and not fought against because of this logic. My question to you is; how much is too much? When do we begin to see our freedoms and rights are being infringed upon? When do we speak up and remind the government that this great nation was build on these freedoms and rights they are beginning to trample on?

After 9-11 we had the "Patriot Act". Then we hear about the Bush administration tapping phones without obtaining warrants. Now we are hearing about the NSA collecting phone data from thousands of phone numbers. Do you see a pattern yet? If not give it time because I guarantee you that, if we do not stand up and speak for our rights, this is not even close the the end.

If you don't think or believe that Digital Angel or similar technology could ever become a government requirement just pay attention to the patterns. Don't take each story separately but as pieces of a puzzle. Put the puzzle together and see the bigger picture. Then tell someone else, show someone else, and speak up.

You are only one voice, but so am I and together we are thousands or millions. America was based on simple funemental truths and freedoms. It's up to you and me to protect them.

I feel like I am being held medically hostage. Have you ever felt like your doctors just didn't really care what was wrong with you? Or like they were simply biding time hoping that whatever your ailment was it would just go away? That's how I feel right now.

I have been running a low grade fever for 7 weeks now. Between 99.5 and 100.5. I have had constant pain on my lower right abdominal area ranging from minor to unbearable for 7 weeks. I have had various other pain all over my stomach and abdomen for the same amount of time. My doctor started out by saying "I don't know what to tell you". Great right. I started crying. Now they have run every test on the planet and still she doesn't know what is wrong. If they can't answer some questions tomorrow I am going to insist on a specialist.

I even had one doctor tell me the medicine is kind of all a guessing game. Well for the prices we pay for medical care I think it ought to damn well work better than that. I think it is sad that most people look up their own symptoms online and tell the doctor what they think it wrong. They don't do it to help the doctor simplify his/her life. They do it because they know the doctor doesn't have the time to figure it out or they do not have the time or experience spend on you telling them what your syptoms are.

I used to hear people say they preferred an older doctor with more experience, but I have to say that I prefer them young and fresh out of med school because they are not as tired and they have more current knowledge.

Who's life did you touch today? Did you touch it in a positive way? Do you think you made anybody's day better or worse?

Every day we touch people's lives. It may only be the lives of our spouse, children, parents, or siblings; but we touch a life. It may be the telemarketer who called during your favorite movie or the teller at the bank. Maybe it was the clerk at the grocery store or the bum on the corner.

Every day we make a difference. It may be a small one or a big one. It may be positive or negative. Maybe we made someone smile for no reason or maybe we made them feel really bad. It may be consciously or unconsciously that we do this.

We need to make an effort at watching how we interact with people every day. My son reminded me of a line from the movie "Dinotopia" the other day. The line says "one raindrop can raise the ocean". He asked me what that meant and I told him it means that no matter how small you think you are, YOU can make a difference. No matter how small you think your actions are, they can change the world.

I have a line on my business card that says "To the world you may only be one person, but to one person you might be the world." And my favorite quote of all time is from Mathatma Ghandi "Be the change you want to see in the world".

Find a quote like this that speaks to you and make it your own. Repeat it to yourself often. Then go out into the world and make a difference. Touch people's lives in a positive way.

What can you do to make a difference? Leave your comment and let me know what you think.

Bird Flu?!   Mumps?!   Tornadoes?!   Hurricanes?!   Tsunami?!   Volcanoes?!   Earthquakes?!  

Has the world gone crazy? Has Mother Earth had enough? Is there really more happening in the world today than in previous years?

My opinion is this. I think that we have taxed Mother Earth to her limits and she is retaliating with everything she has. I believe that in the coming years we will either have to find new ways to live in harmony with the Earth or be removed from it in mass numbers. 

What do you think? Why are there so many things happening today that were not happening just 10 or 20 years ago? Why are the storms getting worse? Why are the diseases getting worse or coming back? (speaking about the outbreak of mumps in the midwest)

Today is my daughter's birthday. She would be 14 years old today. It's hard to believe she has been gone 5 1/2 years now.  Ashley was hit and killed by a car when she was only 8 years old. It was October of 2000.

Each year for her birthday everyone who loved her gets together to celebrate her life. We each write her a letter and tie it to a helium balloon and then we float them up to heaven to her. We have a cake and share that together. Some years are tougher than others. This year is not as bad as last year although I could not tell you why. I don't mind having folks come this year but last year I could have locked myself in a closet and been perfectly content.

We miss her terribly. The loss of a child is something you NEVER really get over. I could live to be 100 and never get over the fact that my 8 year old daughter was taken from me. However, you do learn to go on.

The loss of a child is something that nobody else will ever fully understand unless they have been through it. It's not the same as losing any other family member. It sticks with you the way nothing else can even come close to.

So to those of you who have lost a child, I say I am here for you and I understand. I may not understand your personal loss because each loss is different and each child unique but I understand what you are going through better than others might.

Happy Birthday Ashley my Angel.

It's a neat little test actually. Someone left it as a comment for me on my last post and so I leave it as a post for you. Here are my results. Go get yours and leave them in a comment if you like.

You Are 72% Open Minded

You are a very open minded person, but you're also well grounded. Tolerant and flexible, you appreciate most lifestyles and viewpoints. But you also know where you stand firm, and you can draw that line. You're open to considering every possibility - but in the end, you stand true to yourself.

We have not seen our friend Craig in MONTHS and tonight he is coming to our house for a karaoke party with John and I. I suppose this is either my birthday party or John and I's 10th anniversary party since my Birthday is the 8th and our anniversary is the 16th. Any excuse is a good excuse.

In October of 2000 my 8 year old daughter was hit and killed by a car near the house where we lived. She had been taught never to go near the road. She knew the dangers. She "knew better". She was outside without me for only 10 minutes. And now she is not here with us anymore.

My daughter was amazing. At 8 years old she was more spiritual than most adults I know. She had knowledge way beyond her years. She was an old soul only here for a short time and she LIVED in the time she had. When she passed it was devestating to our family and it took years to feel even a little normal again. Even then I knew that Ashley was looking down telling us to live and not let her leaving stop us from living OUR lives. She wanted us to go on and be happy. I know this because I knew my daughter's heart.

You hear people all the time talking about the things they wished they had done before they got to old or too sick or before a loved one unexpectedly passed on. You hear people say also that life is too short. Well they are right. Life is short and I for one don't want to have a lot of shoulda woulda couldas to look back on.

I say live your life NOW while you can. Be responsible and be respectful of others but LIVE. If you have a dream of becoming something, find out how and do it. If you want to write a book, write it. If you want to visit a place, save your pennies and visit it. Don't just assume that you can never have your dream or become your desire. Put your best foot forward and make your dream come true.

You have heard me say Life is a Choice. Well it is. Make the choice to LIVE your life today. What are your dreams? Do you want to travel? Make a savings plan and travel. Do you want to become a teacher, lawyer, doctor, etc...? Research what it takes and do it. If you put your mind to it you can do anything you want. It is within your power to achieve your dreams.

Life is too short... LIVE IT!!

I just completed lesson four in my first course toward my associates in Psychology. On the first four tests I recieved a 90, 90, 100, and 100. I'm so excited. I'm doing much better than I had anticipated.