Locks of Love

Several years ago, my sister-in-law, Cathy, told me about an organization called Locks of Love. Twice now, she has grown out her beautiful blond hair and then cut it off and donated it.

From the Locks of Love website:

Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. We meet a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. The prostheses we provide help to restore their self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers.

If you have long hair or if your child is ready to lose the pigtails in lieu of a more grown-up style, keep this organization in mind. What a nice thing to do, and what a difference it can make.

Here are some before and after pictures of Cathy:

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,

Kat

Wildcard Wednesday: Ladybugs' First Ever Bloggy Award!

Muchas gracias to my friend Julie over at The Surrendered Scribe, who just passed on to me my first ever bloggy award for Dancing with Ladybugs!

This is the Arte Y Pico award and it is given to those who inspire others with their creative energy and talents in writing, artwork, design or contributions to the blogging community. I'll be the first to look funny at Julie for considering me in any of these categories, but I'm honored nonetheless!

I've been asked to pass this on to 5 other bloggers that inspire me. Problem is, there are too many to choose from, I couldn't possibly narrow the list to five. Instead, I'm going to put my own twist on this. Instead of me picking five, I'd like each of you to pick one. Choose the blog which most inspires you with creative energy and talents. Point them over here and tell them that this award is for them. I want YOU to pass on this award, and please leave a post to tell me who you're awarding this to, so I can add them to my list of "must read" blogs.

Go on, now, brighten someone's day!

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Good in the News: Lost Dog Home After 5 Years

The following is taken verbatim from a Today Show / MSN article, which you can find here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25700149&GT1=43001

Dog gone! Lost beagle back after 5 years, 850 miles
Rocco’s owner is now 11; ‘I was scared I’d never see him again,’ she says

By Bob Considine
TODAYShow.com contributor
updated 9:19 a.m. ET, Wed., July. 16, 2008

Five years ago, a heartbroken 5-year-old girl from Queens, N.Y., was hanging posters for the return of her lost beagle. Today, after years of wishes, little Natalie Villacis has been miraculously reunited with her beloved dog Rocco after he resurfaced some 850 miles away in Georgia — proving that every dog owner can have their day.

“I was actually scared that I was never going to see him again,” the now 11-year-old Natalie told TODAY’s Ann Curry on Wednesday. “I literally said, ‘I will probably never see him again.’ ”

Cristina Villacis, Natalie’s mother, said the family was shocked to get a call last week from a shelter in Hinesville, Ga., informing them that their long-lost pup had been found after half a decade. Thanks to a microchip implanted in the dog, an effective form of permanent identification, Natalie’s greatest hopes had been realized.

To help fill the aching void left by Rocco, the family got another dog a year after the disappearance — Bonita, a poodle from Ecuador. But even another wagging tail in the household could not fully erase Natalie’s heartache. “She got over it, but she was always wishful that he’d come back,” Cristina Villacis said. “She’d always make wishes.”

A surprise call
Although she was barely a pup herself at the time, Natalie had no problem remembering the joy of getting a new puppy named Rocco. “I was really excited,” she told Curry.

But one fateful day in 2003, after just two months in the Villacis household, the beagle slipped under a fence and ran off.

The family searched high and low, checked with neighbors and local authorities and posted flyers. But the only thing that remained of Rocco was his little red toy — and the memory of the joy he brought Natalie.

“She was very devastated,” Cristina said. “She kept his toy. She had a scrapbook with his picture.”

Then, on July 5, while Natalie was at a block party, the family received a call from Liberty County, Ga., Animal Control.

“We were so surprised,” Cristina said. “At first, of course, we thought, ‘It’s the wrong dog. It can’t be.’ But I think the turning point was when they said, ‘His name is Rocco.’ Right there, we said, ‘OK, it’s ours.’ ”

When her mom told her the amazing news, Natalie just “cried hysterically,” Cristina said. “She actually wanted to go to Georgia to pick him up, but the ride back was too long.”

A long leash
Natalie’s father, Jorge, and older brother, Nick, flew down to Georgia to pick up Rocco and drove the dog back home in a rental car.

“I was so choked up when I saw him,” Nick said. “It was a very nice moment, just to see him. He was doing well. He looked well-kept.”

Randy Durrence, supervisor at Liberty County, Ga., Animal Control, said Rocco had only a cut under his left eye and a spot behind one ear to show for his years on the road when he was brought in by someone who found him at a local military base. After the dog was scanned for a microchip, which Durrence says is “normal procedure,” he gladly made the call to the Villacis household.

“[Jorge] said he had been missing for five years,” Durrence said. “My understanding is that [Natalie] ran off into the bathroom and started crying right away. She is a real animal lover.”

How Rocco actually got all the way to Georgia from New York remains a mystery.

“Somebody must have taken him there; I honestly don’t think he walked there,” Cristina said with a laugh. “It’s OK, as long as we have him back.”

Durrence said no one came to claim the dog before the Villacis family, and that no one called to report this type of dog missing. But whoever it was that looked after Rocco over five long years has the lifelong gratitude of a little girl in Queens.

“Too bad we couldn’t meet them or see them,” Natalie said wistfully.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Meet Kat

I just returned from a week-long vacation to Upstate New York, visiting family and friends. The trip started off with a cancelled connecting flight out of Washington, D.C., which left us 11 hours to kill in DC before we could get another flight. The day turned out well, with a visit to the monuments (our first with the kids) and a visit to my husband's cousin in Virginia.

All of last week's posts were written in advance but I was sure that I could write today's when I returned. However, I checked my work email... 682 unread emails. My personal email isn't much better. Don't even get me started on the laundry!!

So, instead of doing a less-than-ideal job in posting today about a person who inspires me (because I just have so many other things to do and frankly, I'm tired!), I'm going to point you to me.

No, I don't think I'm nearly as inspirational as some (most? all?) of the other folks I usually write about on Mondays, but this blog has been up for a little while now and well, maybe you're curious as to who's behind it.

So, use today to catch up on some posts you may have missed here, or maybe check out one of my other two blogs to get to know me a little better:

Random Thoughts from a Newbie Blogger

Kat's Next Five Things

I'll be back with your regularly scheduled programming tomorrow, I promise!

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Photo Friday: Perspective

In our crazy, run-a-round lives, it’s so easy to overlook the simple things surrounding us. Take a minute… walk in the footsteps of a child… check out the beauty right there waiting to be discovered.

Photos by Bree Instefjord, Christmas 2007… 4 1/2 years old. Words by Melanie Instefjord.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Cool People & The USO

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the men and women who proudly and bravely serve our country. These are people who do a job that most of us wouldn't dream of doing. They leave their families, they put their lives on the line, and they do it with a bravery and dedication that most of us can't claim. Supporting them is not about politics, it's about patriotism.

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One of my heroes (and I don't have many) is retired Brigadier General Joseph L. Shaefer (who I lovingly refer to as "General Joe.") His patriotism and friendship is unparalleled, and I'm proud to know him. He served 36 years in the US Army (PSYOP and Special Forces) and the US Air Force (Intelligence), both active and reserve.

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I'm always looking for ways to support our troops, so I asked Joe which organization might be best suited to put my donations to good use. He recommended to me the USO.

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The USO is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the troops by providing morale, welfare and recreation-type services to our men and women in uniform. The original intent of Congress — and enduring style of USO delivery — is to represent the American people by extending a touch of home to the military. The USO currently operates more than 130 centers worldwide, including ten mobile canteens located in the continental United States and overseas. Overseas centers are located in Germany, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Qatar, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Guam, and Kuwait. Service members and their families visit USO centers more than 5.3 million times each year. The USO is the way the American public supports the troops. (Quote taken from the USO website)

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I've blogged here before about another one of my favorite organizations, CoolPeopleCare. The goal of this organization is to show us all how we can make a true difference in this world, every single day, in 5 minutes or less.

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So when the CoolPeople offered me the chance to support both their organization AND a non-profit of my choice, and to also bring a benefit to my friends, family and readers, I jumped at the chance.

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Starting today and continuing for forever, Dancing with Ladybugs has it's very own coupon code, which can be used to purchase merchandise from the CoolPeopleCare store. Using this code, you'll receive 5% off your purchase, and 5% will be donated to the USO. Their store offers t-shirts, eco-friendly products, books, stickers and fair-trade coffee, just to name a few items. I personally own pretty much one of everything, and I personally stand behind the quality of their products.

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If you're in the market for any "green" items, if you'd like to support the USO, or even if you're just curious, go check out the CoolPeopleCare store. If you make a purchase, be sure to use the code LADYBUG at checkout, to receive your 5% discount and to make sure the 5% donation gets routed to the USO.

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If you have any questions at all about the program, send me an email: DancingWithLadybugs [at] gmail.com.

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~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

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Blessings,

Kat

Wildcard Wednesday: 5 Minutes for Special Needs

Every parent knows that raising children can be a challenge. Even the healthiest, most "by the book" kids require a lot of attention, care, patience and love. Every parent needs support from time to time, in one form or another. When you're the parent of a special needs child, sometimes the level of support or kind of support is a little bit different.

5 Minutes for Special Needs provides just such a forum for this kind of support, for parents of special needs children to share their stories, experiences, advice, heartbreaks and triumphs. For parents who don't have special needs kids, it's a site to learn more about some of the challenges that our family, friends, or kids' friends may be facing. No pity allowed over there -- they know that every kid is a kid and every parent is a parent, and "special needs" or not will never change that.

I encourage you to check out the site, to add the button to your sidebar, and to spread the word. Take a minute to leave a comment, let them know you're reading. There are lots of contributors on the site, so the content is fresh and different all the time. 5 minutes is all it takes to make a difference.

Support. Insight. Inspiration. You'll find it all there.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Good in the News: Eat more chocolate!

OK, so sometimes "good news" comes in varying levels of seriousness. This one isn't a matter of national security, but it's certainly good news to me!

Researchers have come out with excellent news that chocolates are AN ESSENTIAL FOOD FOR HEALTH!

(Quote is from this article, I added the bold and capitalization since, if you ask me, it's the most critical point in the article.)

All chocoholics know that chocolate brightens your mood, but did you know that it can also help to prevent tooth decay? Chocolate builds brainpower? Chocolate can help curb your appetite?

I'd spend more time writing about why I think this is all such good news, but I have to go get a Hershey Bar now....

You can read the full article here: http://www.propeller.com/viewstory/2008/07/02/chocolate-benefits-and-health-factors/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailyhealthtips.org.uk%2Fchocolate-benefits-and-health-factors%2F&frame=true

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Meet Parker

Meet Parker, aka: Brave Little Hero. The extra chromosome (Down Syndrome) is really the least of his troubles... he's also got pulmonary hypertension, a tethered spinal cord, failure to thrive, bowel obstruction (he's had surgeries), sleep apnea, a trachea tube and a g-tube for feeding. All this, at age 3 and a whopping 23 pounds. Oh, and he's the youngest of six kids.

You might think a kid like that must lay around in a hospital bed all day, probably feeling sorry for himself. Nope, not Parker! He's up and, well, on his way to running. He colors with crayons, he does Eensy Weensy Spider, he laughs, he throws things at his mom, he gets put in time out. He's a three year old boy, for sure!

No one likes to hear about sick children, but if every you need inspiration, a smile, or just want to look at pictures of a really, really cute little kid, go visit Parker and his mom over at Praying for Parker. Parker smiles right through the rain, and will show you that even the smallest, most simple things in life can really mean so much.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Photo Friday: Going Home

Tomorrow I leave for a week-long vacation in New York. We fly into Albany and will spend a few days in the Adirondack Mountains (my favorite place in the world), then a day trip to New York City (including Yankee Stadium) and then spend the rest of the week lounging and visiting friends in the small town where I grew up.

This is a photo of a clock in Grand Central Terminal in New York City, taken by my friend Alan last year. Though I'm not actually from New York City, I've spent a good deal of time working there and we will pass through Grand Central during our visit.

1:36pm. That's the time showing on the clock. It's also about the time that tomorrow, I'll be pulling in to my parents' summer camp, the place where I spent every single summer as a teenager, the place I most love to visit and the place I most desire to take my kids. It's a beautiful place, a relaxing place, a place where my family and friends are near, my mind is calm and my heart is happy. We all need a place like that, whether it's a physical place or a place in our mind... a place we can call "home," a place where we can go when life gets too crazy, a place where there's nothing but love and calm and happiness. I wish for you this same kind of place.

Who says you can't go home again? Tomorrow, I'll do just that.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

The Gratitude Campaign

I've always had a soft spot in my heart, not to mention a deep respect and admiration, for the men and women of our armed services. I provide financial support when I can, but also look for other ways to say "thank you."

Sometimes, though, it can be a bit awkward (for both me and the service member) to figure out how to say something, do something, to tell them I appreciate their service and their sacrifice. The Gratitude Campaign provides a simple, heartfelt answer for all of us in this situation.

The Gratitude Campaign shows you how one small sign, a motion made with your hand, can say what your heart wants to say, without ever saying a word.

Check out the site, watch the video (warning: have a tissue ready!), or click on "Dig a Little Deeper" to learn more about the organization, the history of the sign and more. You'll be glad that you did, and so will our service members.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Wildcard Wednesday: Holly's Fund

I'm sure we've all been personally impacted in one way or another by "the big C" -- Cancer. We all know someone who has battled this vicious disease, and we know that many times, the outcome is not as we have prayed it to be. I've lost someone very close to me (pancreatic cancer) and during the illness and the fight, it's hard to know what to say, what to do, how to help.

Today's post is about a young man named Cody, who is going through the same thing right now. A friend of his mom's, Holly, is battling Stage 3 breast cancer. With no insurance to help her out with treatments and 2 sons to raise, the battle's that much harder.

Cody wanted to help, to make a difference. So he built a website, and he asked for support. He knows that we all have our own responsibilities and obligations and that we can't all make a monetary donation, but he also knows the power of community when it comes to bloggers, and so he offers other options to support Holly in her battle:

Your donation doesn't have to be much, and in fact does not have to be monetary at all. Prayer, moral support and your words of encouragement are greatly welcomed. We will make sure that she hears what you have to say. Spreading the word and sending this website to others around you is also a great way to help Holly get the support she needs in this time. And no donation is too small. Just think about it, the state of Missouri alone has a population over 5,000,000 people, if just 10 percent of them decided that they wanted to help Holly and donate a single dollar she would have more than enough to support her family, pay the medical bills, and help many others in a similar situation.

This blog is not about asking for money. In no way does it intend to say that Holly's battle is any harder than one you or a loved one may be going through. Instead, this post is to highlight an amazing young man named Cody, who did what he knew how to do to support a friend in need, and who's making a difference to Holly, to her family, and to the world with his big heart and many talents.

Go over and read about Holly, and say a little prayer for her while you're waiting for the page to load. Every one of them makes a difference. http://www.hollysfund.com/

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Good in the News: Man's Best Friend

Next time you're tempted to make Fido sleep outside or deny him an extra treat or kick him off your pillow, remember what a devoted friend he can be.

Madelus Davilmar slept through the smoke alarms as his house burned around him, filled with thick smoke. Six others in the house made it out, but his small mutt, Junior, wouldn't leave him. Junior is a barker, so Davilmar didn't think much of the noise. But the barking continued, and continued, and continued.

Waking to see what the problem was, he found his house filled with smoke, but Junior was nearby, warning him of the danger.

"We're lucky to be alive," Davilmar said.

Man's best friend, indeed.

Read the full story here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/604116.html

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Meet Sharon

Sharon Hinck is a novelist, the author of Stepping into Sunlight. In this book, Penny Sullivan is a woman healing from personal struggles, and she decides to help herself heal by doing random acts of kindness for others. Sharon has created a blog called Penny's Project, where she encourages other people to share their ideas and their own kind acts. In Sharon's words:

In the novel Stepping Into Sunlight, the character Penny Sullivan creates a plan in a little yellow notebook. She calls it "Penny's Project" and uses it to brainstorm ideas and also record small successes along the way.

As she struggles to heal from post-traumatic stress, she turns her gaze outward as much as she is able - and sets out to do a small act of kindness for a different person each day. Some of her steps of kindness are spontaneous... Other good deeds take planning... Some are common and familiar acts... Others are new ventures...

More than just a place to share, however, Sharon's blog offers up a big challenge, but a worthy challenge that should inspire all of us to think about doing something good. Though the challenge is technically for the month of September, I don't think any of us need to wait to begin on this one. Or, if you choose to participate in September, now you have plenty of time to plan! Here's the challenge, in Sharon's words:

During the 30 days of September, 2008, we're going to do small kind acts. You can set a goal for one per day (like Penny Sullivan in the novel Stepping Into Sunlight) or one per week, or just one per month. Sound fun? Sound scary? Sound impossible? This site will provide community support, loads of ideas, and a place to share your cool experiences.

I'm so excited about this idea, I've already started making a list of kind acts. Some are big, some are small, some I don't plan to plan, but just do as the opportunities present themselves. I hope you'll join Sharon, Penny and I in this venture!

Take a few minutes to visit Sharon's blog, Penny's Project. Even if you don't participate in the challenge, I think you'll be inspired by the kind acts of others, and Sharon's desire to spread a little bit of kindness to others.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Photo Friday: Stairway to Heaven

Even the gloomiest clouds and the darkest storms can provide rays of light, of hope, of promise. And after the darkness, the sunshine always looks that much brighter.


This photo was taken by my mom, many years ago. She named it "Stairway to Heaven," but I like to call it "Heaven Shining Down."

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

The Member's Project

I've been an American Express cardmember for close to 10 years, and I truly never leave home without it. Regardless of your preference for card companies, American Express' Members Project is worth checking out.

For the 2nd year in a row, American Express is conducting a "Members Project." This initiative allows cardmembers to submit ideas for ways to bring positive change to the world, and the winning ideas will receive a total of $2.5 million to bring the ideas to fruition. The winning project will receive $1.5 million, second place will receive $500,000, third place will receive $300,000 and two runner-up projects will receive $100,00 each.

Last year's winning project was “Children's Safe Drinking Water.” American Express provided UNICEF $2 million to make it happen. UNICEF has used that money to promote household water treatment and safe storage options in countries including Angola, Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Tanzania.

Only cardmembers can submit ideas and vote, but even if you're not a cardmember, all you need is an email address to post messages on the Members Project Discussion Board, nominate your favorite projects, or reach out to friends and family who are Cardmembers and encourage them to submit projects and vote.

Do you have a great idea, something that could make the world a better place? If you're a cardmember, get ready to submit your idea! If you're not, find someone who is, or apply to become a cardmember yourself.

Here's the timeline:

July 22 -Aug 19: Members can submit their ideas at www.MembersProject.com
Aug 20 - Sept 8: Start discussing the submissions and begin campaigning for your favorites!
Sept 9: Top 25 projects are announced and voting begins
Sept 30: Top 5 projects are announced and final voting begins
Oct 14: Winners are announced and American Express provides $2.5 million!

For more details on Member's Project, visit www.MembersProject.com.

To learn more about the benefits of membership or to apply for a card, visit www.AmericanExpress.com.

They'll provide the cash, we'll provide the ideas and the buzz. And in the process, we'll all help to make the world a better place.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Wildcard Wednesday: Work will Wait

One of the (many) great things about my "day job" is the Work Hard, Play Hard mentality. I put in a lot of hours, face a lot of challenges, but when it comes to fun, there's plenty of that, too. It's been a crazy couple of weeks at work and when I remembered late on Monday afternoon that Tuesday afternoon was an offsite team-building event, I was a little ticked off to lose an entire afternoon when I had so much work to do and so many (already) impossible deadlines this week.

But , I'm a team player, I committed to going, so I went. And I'm soooooo glad I did!

I've lived in South Florida for over 7 years but "airboat ride" never struck me as something I felt the need to do. But, someone else picked it and someone else paid for it, so airboat ride it was!

We trolled around the Everglades for 2 hours. Sometimes slowly, sometimes as fast as 65mph. Did you know an airboat can do donuts? Wish I had video of that!

We found a nest of about 15 baby alligators, 1 & 2 years old, under 2 feet long. They were adorable! We only saw one big one, but she was gorgeous. I named her Allie:


According to our Captain, she's about 15-20 years old and about 8 feet long. I know this picture looks scary, but she was so beautiful floating through the water. It was all I could do not to reach down and pet her, actually! Our (much braver) boat captain gave her a pat on the nose, which is what made her open her mouth... she wasn't really snapping at us. In fact, I think she was enjoying all the attention!

Anyway... there is a point...

Even on the days that the to-do list seems longest, the deadlines the tightest, the chores the most daunting... we all need to take a break from time to time and just do something fun. Today, give yourself a break. Put your feet up. Visit a friend for tea. Better yet, have a tea party with your kids. Go to the park. Explore a new neighborhood. The emails will wait, so will the laundry. Getting the work out of the way feels good, but you never know when you might miss a moment like Allie.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Good in the News: The Salwens

I try to do what I can to help other people, but even with my big heart, I'm not sure I could make this leap! Bravo and amen to this family for being so kind, so committed and so brave.

Driving through Atlanta one day, Hannah Salwen noticed a luxury car parked next to a homeless man. It struck her that if the owner sold the car, there would be enough money for a less expensive car AND food to feed the hungry man. That's where it began.

But the Salwen family didn't decide to sell their car. They decided to sell their mansion. I know, we all would love to have a mansion to sell... but would we all give half the profit to charity, to the tune of about $800,000 to be donated?

We don't all have a mansion, we don't all have a fancy car, and some of us don't have much at all in the way of "worldly possessions" to donate or sell. But if this family, sparked by a 15-year-old little girl, can make such a big jump, certainly makes me think twice about what I want and what I need. Certainly worth reflecting on, and certainly Good in the News.

Read the full story here: Sale of 1 house will help 30 Villages

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Some days 'ya just forget

Well, my goal was to post every week day, and I even had something lined up for today. Alas, it's after 5:30pm my time and it just occurred to me that I forgot to post it. **sigh**

I could beat myself up over it but instead, I choose to focus on what I did do today:

I remembered to get up this morning - Thankful to be healthy enough to do so.

I remembered to feed my kids breakfast and get them dressed -- Thankful to have enough food and clean clothes to do so.

I kissed the big one goodbye before her dad took her to summer camp -- Thankful to have the best husband I could ever have, that he's the best dad my kids could ever have, that he's actively involved with them, and that my daughter is going to a fun, safe place that she loves when we can't be with her.

I drove the little one to her grandparents' house for the day before going to work -- Thankful that her grandparents are close by, actively involved in my kids' lives, and that I have gainful employment to help pay for the food, the clothes, the summer camp....

All in all, it was a beautiful day, even if I did forget to post. Sometimes it's the little things.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Photo Friday: Happy Birthday, America!

Tonight, my family will celebrate the birthday of The Greatest Country on Earth at The Happiest Place on Earth.

Whatever your 4th of July plans, take a few moments to pause and reflect on all that you're thankful for today, all the blessings you have, all the freedoms you enjoy. After all, isn't that what America is really all about?

Alan, bespren, thanks for the photo!

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Celebrating Freedom

Thursday posts are usually reserved for talking about an organization that does good in the world, but on the eve of our national celebration of Independence, I thought this story was quite appropriate for today.

Good in the News: Celebrating Freedom

Late last night, three Americans who had been held hostage in the jungles of Colombia for more than 5 years landed safely on American soil. These three men, Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell, were government contractors. Their plane crashed in Colombia in February 2003, and they were captured by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and have been held as prisoners every since. Twelve other hostages were also rescued on Wednesday.

Tomorrow we celebrate America, our independence and our freedom. Let's also celebrate the freedom of these fifteen hostages, and rejoice that three of our fellow Americans are finally home again, where they belong. Most definitely Good in the News!

Read the full story on CNN here: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/07/03/hostages.arrive/index.html

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Wildcard Wednesday: There will always be those days

No matter how optimistic your outlook on life, there will always be those days when even the greatest efforts, best intentions and biggest heart will still fall short or will leave someone you care about disappointed. No matter how hard you try, there will always be those days where you weren't meant to win the race, or the game wasn't fair to begin with.

There will always be those days when, even though your head knows that tomorrow will be better, your heart wants only to cry, to scream into a pillow, or to devour an entire bag of chocolate.

There will always be those days where no amount of positive spin or inspirational messages or looking for the silver lining will make a whole lot of difference. Allow yourself those days.

If today is one of those days, allow yourself to have a good cry. Scream into a pillow. Eat some chocolate. Give yourself this day to grieve over what you've lost, or perhaps what you've learned you'll never have.

Tomorrow, you'll move on. Tomorrow, you'll see more clearly. Tomorrow, you'll look back on today and realize how far you've come.

There will always be those days, for all of us. If today is one of those days for you, consider yourself hugged. If not, say an extra "thank you" and enjoy today even more for all that it is.

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat

Good in the News: Kelly Perkins

The next time you're feeling less than 100%, or afraid that maybe you can't accomplish all that you'd dreamed, think of Kelly Perkins. At age 33, she was the recipient of a new heart. At age 46, she has just completed yet another ascent to the top of a mountain. This time, it was a 2 1/2-day climb up the 8,842-foot-high Half Dome, a granite mountain in Yosemite National Park. Twelve years ago and only 10 months out of surgery, she climbed the easier front side of Half Dome, but this time, she set her sights on completing the climb up the much more difficult back half.

She's done numerous climbs over the past 13 years, the only heart transplant recipient to have climbed some of the world's best known mountains - Mount Whitney, the Matterhorn, Mount Fuji and Mount Kilimanjaro. What makes this one so special? In Kelly's words, it's "because it's broken in half but it still stands strong. There's a spirit-building message there. You may not be 100 percent, but you can still be as strong as others."

Spirit-building, indeed.

Read the full article here: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/25440796/

~*~*~ May you always remember to dance in the rain, and may you have plenty of ladybugs beside you! ~*~*~

Blessings,
Kat