A Good Year....

...And it is not even March!

So far I have had a romantic mini vacation, a visit from my brother and sister, new computer and a new business venture. A little nervous about the business, but my friend's husband researched it to death, presented it to me, after prayer I researched it myself, got my husband's support (and financial backing) and now I am an Ambit Energy Consultant.  My first experience with direct sales was with a company called The Pampered Chef.  With that I went into people's homes to prepare a dish that highlighted the tools I was trying to sale.  I was reasonably successful managing to keep my business a float in a competitive market even during a personal illness.  With Ambit there is no need to door to door, hit people up for leads or make cold calls. I start with people I know show them how I can save them money on electricity or natural gas, and then move outward to acquaintances and then friends of friends eventually I'll be comfortable enough to talk to anyone...

In signing up for Ambit I was able to help my friend meet his goals and grow his business, I have switched service to Ambit to save on our house hold budget, I get to help others learn how to save on their own monthly expenses as well as giving my husband tax deductions. Of course I have high hopes of success. If I do well I will not be the first.  I want to work hard and be the exception. Not struggling consultant. I want to make to this for myself and to show my husband he didn't make a mistake taking a chance on me and my latest ambition.
Ambit is currently providing energy in the form of Electricity, Wind energy and natural gas to California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington D.C. Eventually it will come to my home state of Georgia which will open a new market for me. A new task to focus on, new goals to set my sights on and reach for...

Energy Needs
http://sheronsmith.joinambit.com
Business Opportunity
http://sheronsmith.ambitenergy.biz

Can Your Name Shape Your Life?

I did a google search trying to come up with a cleaver name for a new website and I came across this Kabalarian Philosophy website.  I don't take stock in a lot I find on the internet, but I found it interesting just how well it describes me...

• Your name of Sheron contributes sensitive, creative, and idealistic qualities to your nature that could be expressed in a variety of literary or artistic fields.
   
• You desire harmony and refinement in your environment and in all your personal associations.
   
• Although mentally quick and intuitive in recognizing the thoughts and feelings of others, you experience a lack of fluency in verbal expression in responding.
   
• Kind but shy, you appear calm but suffer inwardly from nervous tension that saps your strength.
   
• As a result, you experience moods of depression and self-pity and often avoid facing issues.
   
• A lack of confidence leads to procrastination, a need for support and encouragement from others, and a vulnerability to be taken advantage of in many situations.
   
• Physical weaknesses resulting from the use of this name centre in the heart and respiratory organs, or in the fluid functions.

Sourcehttp://www.kabalarians.com/cfm/DisplayNameAnalysis.cfm

Sponge Brain

I'm in the middle of an anxiety attack. I feel not only confusion, depression and stress but all this is accompanied by the inability to think properly and physical pain.  Especially in my joints as if everything is trying to fall apart.  I look normal, but I feel far from it. I wish I knew what my triggers are for this issue in my life.  If I could figure out that out I might could head off the symptoms before I get to the point of needing a rescue drug and a quiet room.  They are getting fewer and further between and I truly believe there will be a time in my life when I am fully delivered from this and not something I just have to manage.  For now I will do whatever it takes to keep life as normal a possible and I make my way through them...

American Pastor Saeed Abedini

I first heard Pastor Saeed's story on Air One Christian Radio.  I have taken his story and his imprisonment to heart. WHat can we as American Citizens and Christians do to help this man of God? Most importantly we must Pray! Not Just for him, but for our leaders, for his captors, for his fellow inmates and his wife and children Below I have posted links to information on Pastor Saeed (ACLJ) and a link to a petition to Free Saeed.
Please do whatever is in your power to help save him and bring him home....

By Stoyan Zaimov , Christian Post Reporter

February 22, 2013|9:58 am

Pastor Saeed Abedini, the American pastor serving an 8-year sentence in Tehran, Iran, is being pressured into converting back to Islam, but he has said that that will never happen.

"After all of these pressures, after all of the nails they have pressed against my hands and feet, they are only waiting for one thing…for me to deny Christ," Abedini wrote in a letter obtained by the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), who is representing his wife and two children back in America.

The pastor, however, has said that "they will never get this from me," and expressed his gratitude to the over 260,000 people who have signed a petition calling for his release.

Jordan Sekulow, ACLJ Executive Director, said that he hopes that number will climb to 300,000 before his organization meets with U.N. Human Rights officials on March 5.

"Now is the time to redouble our efforts to save this courageous pastor, this U.S. citizen, from the darkness of an Iranian prison," Sekulow wrote.

The Iranian-born pastor is currently serving an eight year sentence in Evin Prison in Tehran, where he has been held since his arrest in September 2012. The Iranian court convicted him of endangering national security, but the ACLJ say that the real reason behind the trial was that Abedini has helped many Christians in underground churches in Iran since his conversion to Christianity in 2000.

Abedini, who then married his American wife, Naghmeh, was working on an orphanage for underprivileged children when he was arrested by Iranian authorities in September.

A number of notable Christian leaders, including Bart Millard, lead singer of the Dove award-winning Christian band Mercy Me, have called for Abedini's release. Naghmeh said that her husband was encouraged when she was allowed to visit him in prison recently and share with him the amount of prayers and support he has been receiving.

"When I first met Saeed, music was an important part of worship and prayer," Naghmeh said. "He would often listen to Christian radio. When he heard about Savesaeed.org and the number of artists that he admired he was encouraged by their involvement – advocating for his release. It brought him hope as he suffers in his dark prison."

Last week, more than 80 U.S. Senators and Representatives called on Secretary of State John Kerry to "exhaust every possible option" to try and secure the release of pastor Abedini.

"Every American citizen traveling or living abroad should have the assurance that the U.S. government will come vigorously to his or her defense if they are unjustly detained or imprisoned," the congressmen's letter reads.

"We respectfully request that you continue to use every diplomatic avenue possible, in cooperation with our allies and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, to secure Mr. Abedini's unconditional release and personally and publicly condemn his arbitrary detention in a statement."

Kerry has condemned "Iran's continued violation of the universal right of freedom of religion" and has called on authorities to release the imprisoned pastor.

Source: http://www.christianpost.com

Petition to Free Saeed

Read more at http://aclj.org/Tags/Saeed
Pray for Pastor Saeed on Facebook

Naghmeh Abendini Follow this amazing wife on Facebook

Left Behind

Karen Jesse and Wyatt

Last Sunday morning my brother and sister traveled 1000 miles from my home state of Georgia to our front door.  Getting prepared for their arrival was exciting for me.  Working to get everything as close to perfect as possible shopping, cleaning and getting rooms ready with clean linens and fresh towels.  I thrive when I have something to look forward to.
They arrived about 6 am after driving strait through so we stayed home from church to be together.  Some of the highlights was going to Norwich to visit Doug's parents and to Nina's Italian Restaurant for lunch. A trip to our local library (My brother Bill, Wyatt, Jesse and me) and then a short ride in the snow to Hamilton for Dunkin Donuts where Wyatt thought it was hilarious that Bill received a senior citizens discount. Their last night we drove into Syracuse in an attempt to eat at Pastabilities, a restaurant Karen saw featured on Diners, Drive ins and Dives. And I do mean attempted as we drove around for an hour having various ridiculous turns of events and never found parking. We ended up eating at the food court at Destiny USA.  While we were at the mall my husband bought me the most wonderful iMac. I knew he planned to provide me with a nice new computer.  I never expected this.  I am overwhelmed by his generosity and the awesomeness of this machine.  I am glad we bought it that night.  It did help relieve the grief of my siblings returning South.  It is easier for me to visit and come back than it is to have them leave me here.  I had my good cry and now life is as normal as life can be.  I am very grateful for Bill's coming and gifting the trip to my sister,  I miss them both terribly. I have no idea when we will see each other again.

Bill and Karen at Nina's

Happy Valentines Day

 

Breathe

By:Faith Hill

I can feel the magic floating in the air
Being with you gets me that way
I watch the sunlight dance across your face
And I've never been this swept away

All my thoughts just seem to settle on the breeze
When I'm lying wrapped up in your arms
The whole world just fades away
The only thing I hear is the beating of your heart

And I can feel you breathe, it's washing over me
And suddenly I'm melting into you
There's nothing left to prove
And baby, all we need is just to be

Caught up in the touch, slow and steady rush
Baby, isn't that the way
That love's supposed to be
I can feel you breathe, just breathe

In a way I know my heart is waking up
As all the walls come tumbling down
Closer than I've ever felt before and I know
And you know there's no need for words right now

As I can feel you breathe, washing over me
And suddenly I'm melting into you
There's nothing left to prove
Baby, all we need is just to be

Caught up in the touch, slow and steady rush
And baby, isn't that the way
That love's supposed to be
I can feel you breathe, just breathe

Caught up in the touch, the slow and steady rush
And baby, isn't that the way
That love's supposed to be
I can feel you breathe, just breathe

I can feel the magic floating in the air

Being with you gets me that way

 

Song

Making Preparations

In Real life Bill is the eldest, followed by Karen and I am the baby of the family

This coming week will be a real work week for me.  This coming Saturday morning my brother and sister will start their 1000 mile journey to visit me.  They are my only family and my closest friends, I know they don't expect perfection from me but I want to do everything in my power to have the house clean, organized and comfortable.  Bill will literally bunk in with Wyatt and Karen will take Jesse's bed.  Need to clean and dust, make sure clean sheets are on the beds, plenty of towels in the bathroom and shopping done for comfort foods.  Looking forward to their visit. Bill has not been here since 2000 and Karen's last visit was for the birth of Jesse.

The Strong Willed Child

Yep I got one...he is beautiful. loving and funny....

Jesse "Iron Will" Smith

I have tried everything from ignoring his antics to 123 Magic (which by the way is an excellent idea).  I had gotten to my wits end with him and had vowed to beat his little butt every time he defied me or challenged me...After a full day of frustration, I felt like the Holy Spirit was giving me the answer.  He's strong willed and it was up to me to find the parenting style best for him...
The strong willed child has to be dealt with differently than a kid that is being naughty.  Like a child with Aspergers or ADD structure and routines are very important and can make or break a day for the child and parent....Keeping to a schedule is not easy for me...I make them, plan to stick with them and 90% of the time get distracted and down the drain the schedule goes. Being ordered or forced to behave a certain way is a waste of time and just brings frustration.  Giving him choices is helping more than anything...Do you want to wear boots or sneakers? Do you want milk or water? Do you want to eat and have desert or go hungry? So far so good....


On of the many articles poured over this week:

Strong-willed children, who may also be called difficult or spirited children, can be a challenge to parents. There's no clear reason why some children are strong-willed, but it's probably due to a combination of factors, including genetics, chemical balance and environment, according to the University of Minnesota Extension's Parenting Resources. Being able to identify the characteristics of a strong-willed child is the first step toward successfully parenting one.

Intense

Strong-willed children don't usually roll with the punches. They tend to react to situations and environments intensely, exhibiting extreme signals of happiness and sadness when confronted with different circumstances and environments.

Persistent

Once a strong-willed child begins a task, he will persist until the task is completed. Strong-willed children are very goal-oriented, and it can be incredibly difficult to dissuade them from a particular task or encourage them to try a different approach to a task that is giving them trouble. Convincing your strong-willed child to change his mind about something can be difficult.

Sensitive

Strong-willed children may have strong reactions to smells, noises, lights and other environmental factors that other people might not even notice. Even the slightest change in their environment, such as opening a window, can have a big impact on sensitive strong-willed children. In the same way, strong-willed children can be easily distracted by events happening around them.

Rigid

Strong-willed children like things to be consistent and don't adapt well when their environment or schedule changes. It can also be difficult for strong-willed children to transition from one activity to another one because they become so focused on whatever they are doing.

Energetic

Not all strong-willed children exhibit high-energy behavior, but many do. They may express their energy in running, climbing and jumping, or in building, drawing and making small projects.

Source : Livestrong.com

Twenty Eight Years Ago

Two became one and the journey of a lifetime began

Battle Hymn of Love

I will pledge my heart to the love we share
Through the good and the bad times too
I'll forsake my rest for your happiness
'Til my death I will stand by you

With God as my witness this vow I will make
To have and to hold you no other to take
For richer, for poorer, under skies gray or blue
'Til my death I will stand by you

There are wars and there are rumors of wars yet to come
Temptations we'll have to walk through
Though others may tremble, I will not run
'Til my death I will stand by you

I will put on the armor of faithfulness
And fight for a heart that is true
'Til the battle is won, I will not rest
'Til my death I will stand by you

With God as my witness this vow I will make
To have and to hold you, no other to take
For richer for poorer, under skies gray or blue
'Til my death I will stand by you

'Til the battle is won, I will not run
'Til my death I will stand by you

Songwriters: Don Schlitz / Paul Overstreet
Performed by Kathy Mattea and Tim O'brien

Song

Feels So Right

Whisper to me softly three words upon my skin.
No one's near and listenin', so please don't say goodbye.
Just hold me close and love me.
Press your lips to mine.
Mm, feels so right, feels so right.

Lying here beside you, I hear the echoes of your sighs.
Promise me you'll stay with me and keep warm tonight.
So hold me close and love me.
Give my heart a smile.
Mm, feels so right, feels so right.

Your body feels so gentle and my passion rises high.
You're lovin me so easy.
Your wish is my command.
Just hold me close and love me.
Tell me it won't end.
Mm, feels so right, feels so right, feels so right.

Aw, you feel so right baby.

Word and music by Randy Owens
Performed by Alabama

Video

Rechanneling

Today has been a ridiculously stressful. Wyatt is home from school due to illness.  My husband was sick yesterday with the same symptoms, my house is mess, no matter how many times I ask there is no help from my older sons. The cats decided they wanted to use laundry waiting for the washer for their littler box...now I have clothing covered in cat urine...after changing out the litter and starting the laundry, I find myself at the kitchen sink elbow deep in hot water with my anger beginning to boil.
I have to make the choice to explode...yell at the boys which I have found does nothing to help the problem, or I can find a way to rechannel the stress into something positive...sounds simple but it is not...it works but I find myself having to do it again in again...God give me strength...

Thrive

By Switchfoot

Been fighting things that I can't see
Like voices coming from the inside of me and
Like doing things I find hard to believe in
Am I myself or am I dreaming?

I've been awake for an hour or so
Checking for a pulse but I just don't know
Am I a man when I feel like a ghost?
The stranger in the mirror is wearing my clothes

No, I'm not alright
I know that I'm not right
A steering wheel don't mean you can drive
A warm body don't mean I'm alive

No, I'm not alright
I know that I'm not right
Feel like I travel but I never arrive
I wanna thrive not just survive

I come alive when I hear you singing
But lately I haven't been hearing a thing and
I get the feeling that I'm in between
A machine and a man who only looks like me

I try and hide it and not let it show
But deep down inside me I just don't know
Am I a man when I feel like a hoax?
The stranger in the mirror is wearing my clothes

No, I'm not alright
I know that I'm not right
A steering wheel don't mean you can drive
A warm body don't mean I'm alive

No, I'm not alright
I know that I'm not right
Feel like I travel but I never arrive
I wanna thrive not just survive

I'm always close, but I'm never enough
I'm always in line, but I'm never in love
I get so down, but I won't give up
I get so down, but I won't give up
I get so down, but I won; t give up

Been fighting things that I can't see
Like voices coming from the inside of me and
Like doing things I find hard to believe in
Am I myself or am I dreaming?

Am I myself or am I dreaming?
Am I myself or am I dreaming?

Thrive, thrive, thrive, yeah, thrive

No, I'm not alright
I know that I'm not right
A steering wheel don't mean you can drive
A warm body don't mean I'm alive

No, I'm not alright
I know that I'm not right
Feel like I travel but I never arrive
I wanna thrive not just survive
I wanna thrive not just survive

Yeah yeah
Feel like I travel but I never arrive
I wanna thrive not just survive
I wanna thrive not just survive
I wanna thrive not just survive

Feels like I travel but I never arrive
I wanna thrive not just survive

Video

I knew others must feel this way as well...but until I heard this song, I suppose I really didn't believe it...

Virus

It seems I have come down with a nasty little virus.  If it is the one Wyatt had, at least it doesn't last long.  Headache, sore throat, fever and fatigue.  Like most public places, the public school is a nasty little petri dish, I'm lucky this is the first (of the many) communicable diseases he can bring home.  Between my spouse kissing me and my four year drinking from my glass, I have a bad feeling this is not going to end with me. Fortunately my career as a housewife gives me a great deal of flexibility. On sick days I can do as much or as little as I need to rest, yet keep the family running.