Dancing with Ladybugs

Faith

2009-12-15T15:42:00.004-05:00

By Edward Teller:

When you come to the end of all the light you know

and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown,

FAITH is knowing that one of two things shall happen:

either you will be given something solid to stand on

or you will be taught to fly.

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

Blessings,

Kat

Advice from a Butterfly

2009-03-04T08:04:00.000-05:00

I'm making a quilt to give as a gift, and the "theme" of the quilt is butterflies and ladybugs. After yesterday's post about Advice from a Ladybug, I decided to go looking for Advice from a Butterfly. Anyone care to guess what's going to get embroidered onto the quilt? You can view the t-shirt here.

Advice from a Butterfly

Let your true colors show.

Get out of your cocoon.

Take yourself lightly.

Look for the sweetness in life.

Take time to smell the flowers.

Catch a breeze.

We can't all me monarchs!

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

Blessings,
Kat

Advice from a Ladybug

2009-03-03T07:56:00.003-05:00

I love catalogs. I don't usually buy much from them, but I seem to get about half a dozen of them a week anyway. This week, I ran across a t-shirt with "Advice from a Ladybug" written on it. Of course, I was smitten and wanted to share it. You can view the t-shirt here.

Advice from a Ladybug

Spot new opportunities.

Spend time in your garden.

Be well rounded.

Enjoy the wonders of nature.

Don't let small things bug you.

Keep family close by.

Be simply beautiful.

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

Blessings,
Kat

Happy Tears

2009-02-18T11:53:00.005-05:00

If anyone knows how to explain the word "humbled" to a 5-year-old and terms she can understand, please post a comment here 'cause I'd love to know!

This morning was fairly typical. I was doing my daily "chicken with her head cut off" routine around 7am -- simultaneously making lunch for Rachel and myself, trying to convince her to eat her breakfast sometime today, helping her pick out hair doo-dads and reading emails on my Blackberry, trying not to get THAT covered in strawberry jelly like my shirt already was. My husband and younger daughter had already left (20 minutes late!) for the day and I had 17 minutes to get Rachel and myself out, too. What I read on my daily Feedblitz email stopped me in my tracks.

My wonderful friend Julie (aka, The Surrendered Scribe) blogged yesterday about Character. You'll never guess who she chose to talk about. I'm humbled and grateful and very surprised.

I've cried before in front of my kids, there's no shame in that, I don't think. But this morning, I found myself trying to define "happy tears" and "humbled" to Rachel on the drive to school. I don't have the right words to describe those and I don't have the right words to describe how Julie's post made my day (week? month? year?). So Julie, THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart.

Has someone made your day today? Did you tell them how much it meant to you? Or better yet, did you make someone else's day? If not, maybe now is a good time. I can tell you first hand how amazing it feels when someone sends a compliment your way.

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

Blessings,
Kat

Angels for Ana

2009-02-05T16:47:00.005-05:00

Once in a while, people come into your life that just "become" your family. I don't mean the "she married my brother" kind of family... I mean the "love and support you no matter what" kind. Ana is one of those people.

Almost 10 months ago, Ana received very severe 2nd and 3rd degree burns on over 20% of her body (legs and feet) when a large pot of boiling water tipped over next to her. Her healing has been a long, challenging struggle and still continues today. She was uninsured at the time of the accident and though she did receive a temporary insurance (from the county) to help out, that is expired and she is uninsured once again.

I have watched her take one step forward and two steps back for longer than any person should have to. And speaking of steps, she's actually only started taking steps (on her own) very recently. Ten months in bandages, sitting in a wheelchair, because of hot water. Can you imagine?

Anyway, enough was enough and I needed, needed, to find a way to help her get better. Faster. Now.

I needed to find a way to show her that there are people out there who will love and support and pray for her, even in her darkest, bleakest, most painful moments.

I needed to do something. To make a difference. To offer hope. Here's what I came up with:

www.AngelsForAna.com

I hope you'll take a few minutes to visit and considering becoming an Angel for Ana.

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

Blessings,
Kat

Hero on the Hudson

2009-01-16T12:27:00.005-05:00

All the people from the New York office that were supposed to be on my 4pm conference call yesterday were late. Once they finally started trickling on to the call, I heard the news about the US Airways plane that landed in the Hudson River. They could see the rescue efforts from their office building.

My heart started racing, my stomach was in knots. I've been on literally hundreds of flights, a good majority of them into or out of LaGuardia. I've been on dozens of flights with my kids and all I could think about in that moment was some mom with her young children, hoping and praying and trying to be strong in order to save her babies.

I went right to my favorite online news source. The picture there showed an almost submerged plane with no people around it. The panic increased. I was relieved when I surfed to another news site, which had pictures of the plane much higher in the water, with people standing on the wings, surrounded by rescue personnel. Obviously, this picture was taken earlier than the first.

It wasn't long before the headline announced that all passengers and crew were believed to have gotten out, no serious injuries reported. That's when the tears began to flow. Tears of fear, tears of celebration, tears of "what if."

Last night when I got home, I couldn't stop hugging and kissing and holding my two beautiful little girls. I'm not sure why it sometimes takes something so significant to inspire those moments, but I'm thankful not only for the happy ending of that airplane and all aboard, but for the reminder that life can change in the blink of an eye, and I need to cherish what I have as often as I can.

It may only be the third week of the year, but already I've chosen my Hero of the Year. His name is Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III.

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

Blessings,
Kat

The Road Not Taken

2009-01-12T16:48:00.005-05:00

One of my favorite poems has always been "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost. Not sure why, I've just loved it since the first time I had to read it in grade school.

Lately, I've been wondering which path I'm on... the one more or less traveled. And is it the one I should be on? Would taking the other road really make all the difference? Or just lead me to a place I can't get back from? All good questions, no good answers yet. While I try to figure them out, at least I have a beautiful poem to keep my company.

The Road Not Taken

by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

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

Blessings,
Kat

Mr. B's Wallet

2009-01-07T10:00:00.006-05:00

My family was in town (South Florida) from Upstate New York for 2 weeks over the holidays. Taking advantage of the beautiful weather, my dad embarked on many of what he calls "Grand Adventures." These are basically exploration missions where he takes long walks around my development and the surrounding area to see what he can see. We have wildlife and plants that don't live in Upstate New York and being that he's a 6th grade science teacher, the little lizards and coconuts we're so used to are always fun for him.

After one Grand Adventure he came back with some coconuts, which he cracked open to find very foul smelling coconut milk. One of them had a gecko on it, which hitched a ride all the way from the community pool back to our house. Other times he found loose change or saw a cool bird. Other times, it was just a nice walk.

The day before he left, though, he returned with his biggest find of the trip, a wallet... complete with driver's license, bank debit card and cash. He found it next to the newspaper vending machines about a mile down the road.

I thought it would be easy to track down the owner since the license was inside. It took all of 30 seconds to find the phone number on yellowbook.com. Of course, the number was no longer in service. A call to directory assistance yielded no match for that name in my county or the 3 surrounding counties. I searched through his wallet to see if I could find another phone number, with no luck.

There was a fitness club membership card in the wallet, so I called the one closest to my house (the card didn't say which one he went to and it was a national chain), explained what happened and asked if they could contact the man (Mr. B) and give him my phone number. They told me I could drop the wallet off to them and they'd give it to him if he came in to that particular facility inquiring about it. No, thank you.

There was a bank debit card in there, too, so I called the local branch. They wouldn't relay a message but told me if I brought in the wallet, they'd call Mr. B while I was there, so I'd know they really contacted him. Off Dad and I went to the bank, wallet in hand, only to find out that even though someone was answering phones, the branch didn't really open for another 20 minutes. Oh well, it was a nice day to wait.

The first phone number the bank rep tried got through to Mr. B, who knew right where he'd lost the wallet and when. It hadn't been gone long, and he was quite relieved to get the call that it had been found. He asked to speak to me so he could thank us in person and asked what he could do to repay us. Nothing, I told him, we were happy to help him get it back. He went on and on about how thankful he was, how he needs his license for his job and couldn't work without it. What a great way for us all to start the new year, with Mr. B knowing there are still honest people in the world, and with Dad and I knowing we did a good thing.

We left the wallet at the bank, Mr. B was going to come pick it up. We didn't leave our name or phone number. Didn't need to... we knew it was in good hands and we didn't want to give Mr. B the impression that he needed to thank us again. In hindsight, I wish I had left him a little note about Paying it Forward when he could, or tucked myself away in the corner of the bank lobby to see the reaction on his face when he realized everything in his wallet was still right where he had left it... license, bank card, $49 cash in the main part and even the $100 bill he had folded up and tucked in between a collection of other cards and papers.

Though I'm sure we made his day brighter, returning that wallet to him probably meant just as much to us. It was nice to do a nice thing, an honest thing, for no other reason than it was the right thing to do. If you ever have the opportunity to do a nice thing anonymously, take it. It'll make your heart smile.

~*~*~ 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 Gift of Hope

2009-01-06T06:15:00.000-05:00

You'll need a tissue (or ten) by the time you're done with this one. Thanks to my friend Mel for sharing this amazing article.

"Imagine if you didn't have a home life. Imagine if everybody had pretty much given up on you. Now imagine what it would mean for hundreds of people to suddenly believe in you." (Kris Hogan, head coach, Grapevine Faith Football)

"There are some games in which cheering for the other side

feels better than winning." (Rick Reilly)

From ESPN.com, by Rick Reilly:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3789373

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

Blessings,
Kat

Today is a New Day

2009-01-01T00:01:00.002-05:00

I'll admit it, I'm not a huge fan of the hoopla around New Year's. I know that the new year brings a new beginning, new opportunities, a new start. I have some great New Year's memories (most notably our trip to Times Square in New York City to watch the ball drop from 1999 into 2000, when Craig and I were standing as close to the ball as the police barricades would allow). But the whole idea of resolutions... I'm just not a fan. They seem so big, so intimidating, so impossible. I make them every year and I find myself disappointed about my ability to see them through. Sometimes, it's due to sheer lack of willpower on my part. Sometimes, it's because I choose such BIG things to tackle. Sometimes, well, I don't know... I'm just not a fan.

This year, I'm not going to make any resolutions. There are some things I would like to do better in 2009, some things I want to focus on more intentionally, some things I want to change in my day-to-day life. But this year, they will be just that. Nothing earth shattering, nothing to write home about... just some things to focus on more in my day-to-day life. Key here, my friends, is the "day-to-day" part.

I will aim to do my best each day. And to know that no matter how long the to-do list might be, my best is good enough.

I will aim to make the world the best possible place it can be for my children, both now and for their future.

I will aim to make a difference each day, no matter how small it may seem, to make the above two items happen.

How will I do this? I will take one day at a time. I will focus on what I can control, what I can do, and not what I can't. And I will look to my really cool friends to help me out.

I've blogged here before about my friends over at Cool People Care. Their motto is "Saving the World, 5 Minutes at a Time." After all, who can't find 5 minutes to make a difference each day?

The Cool People have just released their second awesome book, called Today is a New Day!. This book is filled with small things that make a big impact, things you can do in only 5 minutes each day, things to help make the world a better place for yourself, your family, and all the world around you. Between the two of them, their two books (the first one was New Day Revolution)contain more than 365 ways you can make a difference in 2009 and beyond, in only 5 minutes a day. How simple is that? As Sam said, "It's time to save the world. Every little bit of inspiration can help."

If you do decide to order something from the Cool People Care Online Store, don't forget to enter the code LADYBUG when you check out. You'll get a 5% discount on your entire purchase, and another 5% of your purchase price will be donated to one of Dancing with Ladybug's favorite causes, The USO.

What are your dreams for 2009? Your goals? Your hopes? Your challenges? I'd love to know what you're planning in the new year. Leave me a comment, let me know how you plan to make the world a better place in 2009.

Sometimes, making a big difference doesn't have to be intimidating and in 2009 and always, I'm thankful to have such really cool friends to help show me how.

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

Blessings,
Kat

Sunrise, Sunset

2008-12-31T07:01:00.009-05:00

The holiday season has brought me two weeks of much-needed vacation time from work. What a treat to not have to get up at 5:30am and rush out the door to drop kids off at school, commute 60 miles to the office and spend the day on conference calls and emails. We didn't travel this holiday, our family came to us. I had grand ideas for posts on this blog (and my other two) but opted to stay away from the computer as much as possible, to give my brain a break and focus on my family and my kids. However, on New Year's Eve, I can't help but stop and marvel on how amazing it is that yet another year has gone by again.... already.

My family's holiday season began by celebrating Hanukkah with my husband's family. Being in a mixed-religion marriage poses it's share of challenges, but also it's share of wonderful opportunities. One of these is the opportunity to expose our children to different customs, traditions, beliefs and celebrations. Hanukkah, at it's core, is a celebration of a miracle, proof that God will always provide. The oil in the lamp was only supposed to last for one night but by the grace of God, the menorah stayed lit for eight nights. Even if you're not Jewish (I'm not), I think this is such a great lesson in faith, in miracles, in the power of a higher being. I can apply this lesson to my own life so easily. Even in the hardest, most difficult times... even when I don't know how I'll make it to tomorrow... even when I am sure the world will crash in around me... God always provides and somehow, I always make it through. I can't think of a more perfect reminder to begin the holiday season.

After Hanukkah came the Christmas celebration at my house, with all of my family in town. This happens at most once a year so it's always such a special time, to have my parents and both siblings together in the same place. I have a lot of beautiful Christmas memories this year but the one that stands out the most is the simple message the Pastor delivered at Christmas Eve candlelight service at church. It was about Joy.

He asked us to think of "joy" as standing for Jesus, Others, Yourself. He reminded us that putting those in any other order wouldn't bring us JOY, it could only bring us YOJ. The only way to have to Joy in your life (at the holidays and always) is to put Jesus first, Others second and Yourself third. Though "Joy" seems to be a word we use the most at Christmas time, it will now become a year-round word in our house and I'll do my best to keep JOYous, 365 days each year.

Perhaps the most memorable moment so far, however, was our "Sunrise, Sunset" day on the Saturday after Christmas. I thought my husband was nuts when he suggested we get up before dawn and drive to the beach (we live on the east coast of South Florida) to watch the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean, then drive west across the state to watch it set over the Gulf of Mexico. Somehow, though, we (seven of us) all managed to get up and out of bed and in the car in time to actually get to the beach before sunrise, and we all survived the 2.5 hour car ride to the west coast later in the afternoon.

We've seen the sun rise before, seen it set before... but never both on the same day over two bodies of water on opposite sides of the state. We've taken for granted that the sun will indeed rise each day and set each night but to watch it do so in person, so intentionally, was a beautiful treat that I won't soon forget. It reminded me that if you just take the time to stop and look, you can see the beauty of the world around you, see God's hand at work. No matter what comes in between the sunrise and the sunset (of the day, the season, the year or your life), God will begin it beautifully and end it in the same manner. And hopefully, your moments in between will be just as special.

My words could never describe the beauty of these events, so since a picture is worth 1000 of them....

Sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean ~ Delray Beach, Florida

December 27, 2008

Sunset over the Gulf of Mexico ~ Naples, Florida
December 27, 2008

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

Blessings,

Kat

If you're happy and you know it...

2008-12-01T16:01:00.002-05:00

I am sleepy. SOOO sleepy.

It is Monday. Mondays are not my favorite.

I have 3 long weeks ahead of commuting to the office every day (120 miles round trip) before my holiday vacation time starts.

There are cookies to make, presents to buy, year-end financials to run, meetings, fundraisers, laundry, out-of-town guests.... the list is too long to put in one place.

Yet oddly, I am happy.

It's the beginning of another new week, another new month, full of possibility and whatever opportunities I choose to pursue, all culminating in 2 weeks off with my family and friends to celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas. Kind of nice when I stop to look at it that way. I think I'll have to look at it that way more often.

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

Thankful for Thankfulness: November 15 - 30

2008-11-30T19:30:00.004-05:00

No, I have not forgotten about this blog! And since I still have a few more hours left in November, I figured I'd better get caught up on the rest of my November thankfulness items! Here goes...

November 15: Quality
I did not need the vintage Singer sewing machine. I have a wonderful, perfectly good "new" Singer sewing machine. But when one of my dear friends developed the vintage sewing machine interest (obsession? said with love, of course!) and found a 1930's machine on Craig's list for an awesome price a mile from my home, I couldn't resist. I dropped it off at the repair shop for an oil and lube and without even seeing the machine (only the cabinet it's mounted in) the man offered me $150 to take it off my hands. I had to laugh since I'd only paid $40, but of course, I wasn't about to give up my new found treasure! He told me he could have her up and running in no time and she'd run another 50 - 60 years. How's that for quality!

November 16: My dog
I have the world's coolest dog. His name is Oliver, he's almost 8 years old and he's a black and white Cocker Spaniel. He doesn't bark and he only growls if a stranger comes near the kids without Craig or me giving the "stand down" signal first. He has chronic "cocker ear" and he often gets overlooked in lieu of the kids, but he's my first baby and I'm so happy to have him as such an important part of our family.

November 17: Laughter of a child
My 5-year-old is into knock-knock jokes these days and of course, the 2-year-old loves to follow her lead. They spend hours making up jokes that make absolutely no sense but keep them rolling. And of course, when the kids laugh, it's contagious. What's not to love about a child's infectious laughter?

November 18: DVR
It's like TIVO only through the cable company. It lets Craig and I tape our favorite shows and eventually (read: on nights we can manage to stay awake after working all day and getting the kids in bed) watch them without commercial interruption. It's a beautiful thing.

November 19: Eat, drink and be merry...
I was in Salt Lake City on a business trip on election day in 2000. We had dinner at a Mexican restaurant and they wouldn't serve me a beer because there's a law against drinking on election day. I was baffled! Though I knew there were (must be, right?) valid reasons behind it, I bought myself a shot glass that says, "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow you may be in Utah!"

Don't get me wrong, I know wonderful people in Utah and I certainly don't judge a whole state because of a law about allowable alcohol content on election day. And it's a good thing I don't, because one of the best friends and greatest people I've ever known lives in Utah. I "met" her online almost 6 years ago when we were pregnant with our daughters, who ended up being born on exactly the same day. Her daughter was late, mine was early and we both questioned what God was thinking at the time. Six years and the deepest friendship later, now we both know. (I blame the vintage Singer squarely on her, but still love her to death!) Today, I am thankful for friends near and far, and especially this one who means so very much to me.

November 20: Chocolate chip cookies
I'm not sure this one really requires explanation, honestly. Who isn't thankful for chocolate chip cookies? Amazing how a little bit of flour, sugar and chocolate can melt away a foul mood and put a smile on my face. Yes, I'm a girl of simple pleasures, about as low maintenance as they come.

November 21: Friday nights
My favorite time of the entire week is Friday night when I crawl into bed with my husband. Don't get any R-rated ideas, it's not that kind of blog! I just love the feeling of being cuddled up in my nice, warm, comfortable bed with my favorite person on earth, with the prospect of two full days of weekend ahead of us. What a calm, relaxed feeling it brings. No other night of the week comes close.

November 22: Lunch dates
My friends from Manila invited my family to enjoy a traditional Pinoy (Filipino) lunch with them and of course, knowing what great cooks they all are (not to mention great, fun company!) we immediately accepted the invite. Pansit and grilled pork, yum!

November 23: Church
I attended church every Sunday until I went off to college. Unfortunately, working full time to put myself through school meant weekend shifts at the mall, not conducive to church-going. Then I moved away from home and then farther away again. Worship services became fewer and farther between. Recently, Rachel (the 5-year-old) asked if we could start going to church and of course, I had her there the following Sunday. It makes my heart smile to see her so excited about going each week... waking early, picking the perfect outfit, "is it time to go yet"-ing me for 3 hours on Sunday morning. I'm so glad I've started to attend again. I didn't know how much I missed it until I started going again, and I really don't know how I got along so long without it.

November 24: Adobo and "See you soon"
When my bespren (that's Tagalog for "best friend") came onshore 2 months ago, I knew the time would pass quickly. This was the last day we'd both be in the office before he returned home and he treated me and my co-workers to a wonderful homemade feast of chicken adobo. Though I miss him already, I know I'll see him again next year and I'm glad for the time we got to spend these past few months.

November 25: A good cut and color
Yes, perhaps vain, but I couldn't stand the gray roots any longer. (I am waaay too young for gray, I might add!) Tuesday I worked a half day and spent the afternoon letting Tony (read: the greatest hairdresser on the planet!) pamper me with a great cut (similar yet just enough different from what I had) and a great color (strawberry blond... a cross between my blond and Rachel's red - it's gorgeous!). I walked out of there feeling like a million bucks. Amazing what some scissors and a little dye will do for a girl!

November 26: Changes in plans
I had planned for a long time to take off from work the day before Thanksgiving and had a long list of things I was going to do on my day all to myself. I was a teeny bit ticked off when I realized that Rachel's school was closed this day and I wouldn't get the day to myself after all, but decided to instead enjoy the day as it came, with one of my favorite people in the world. We went non-stop from 8am to 4:30pm but took the day at a 5-year-old's pace instead of my own. It was the best day I've had in a very long time and it reminded me that even curve balls can be hit out of the park.

November 27: Icing on the cake
So much to be thankful for on Thanksgiving Day itself, but after a nice afternoon and a great meal with family, the "new email" indicator on my Blackberry delivered the icing on the cake. It was the sweetest email from a co-worker of my dad's, telling me how my dad was so proud of me and my girls and this blog and she wanted me to know. Fortunately, I did already know, but what a special thing to see it in writing from someone else. That email now lives in my "never delete" folder and to the sweet lady woman who sent it, Thank You!

November 28: Technology
I was in the car with the girls, singing along loudly with them to our favorite Sugarland song when Craig called. From the emergency room. The cat scan showed it to "just" be a kidney stone, and it had passed, but there was another one behind it. I have never had a kidney stone myself but I hear it's like childbirth without the epidural. I'm thankful for the cell phone that let Craig call me and for the CAT Scan machine that told us it wasn't something far worse.

November 29: Sweet treats in the mail
The package arrived with no return address, but the giant Disney World tote bag and chocolate princess advent calendar gave the sender away in half a second flat. What a sweet treat for the whole family to receive some unexpected love in the mail from a very dear friend!

November 30: 24-hour pharmacies and lazy Sundays
Craig's 2nd kidney stone attacked around 3am. I knew he had gotten up, but I figured he had fallen asleep on the couch watching Sports Center. It wasn't until I got up at 6:45 that I realized what was going on, then immediately headed to the pharmacy to fill the prescription the ER doctor had given him on Friday afternoon. It took an hour or so for the meds to kick in and he finally got a little sleep, but I decided to follow his lead and we spent a quiet, lazy Sunday doing a whole bunch of nothing. I'm sorry it took him being sick to get us there, but it sure was nice to have a full day of nothing... like watching football, sewing, watching TV with the kids and finally, at long last, blogging!

I hope that you had a blessed November and that your December is the same. Happy Holidays, everyone!

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

Thankful for Thankfulness: November 14

2008-11-14T12:36:00.003-05:00

Freckles

It's Photo Friday and today, I am thankful for freckles.

Need I say more, really?

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

Thankful for Thankfulness: November 7 - 13

2008-11-13T08:08:00.003-05:00

November 7: Home
No matter where you live, no matter who lives with you, home is where the heart is. How amazing to wake at home last Friday (after being away for a few days) with my very favorite people in the whole wide world -- my husband and two beautiful little girls. Doesn't matter where our house is, our home will always be where they are.

November 8: Sharing my home with others
One of the best parts of my job is working with people from all over the world. Some of these folks come onshore to work for several months at a time and on Saturday, I invited my team over for a barbecue and a bounce in the bounce house. They are so wonderful to my children, so wonderful to me, and it's always a blessing to share my family and my home with others. Even more a blessing still to watch my children learn about new places, new cultures and meet amazing new friends.

November 9: People who are as silly as I am
Maybe "silly" is the wrong word, and the backstory is too long to post here. Short version is that when I travel, my older daughter doesn't like me to be alone and always sends me with 2 of her "friends" to keep me company. I started taking pictures of them at the places I visited and made her a story book. On my trip to Atlanta last week I didn't have a lot of time so I "wished" that the concierge would help me out taking some pictures around the hotel. Not only was he willing to do so, but told me his family does the same thing and their doll has her own Facebook page! The picture below shows the princesses at Bliss Spa in the W Hotel in Mid-town Atlanta. THANK YOU to the wonderful staff there for showing Rachel's princesses such a fun time!

November 10: Gainful employment

Until this week, my job allowed a lot of flexibility in where my work got done. Since we have team members all over the U.S. and around the world, most of our work is virtual to begin with. I enjoyed the great privilege of being able to work from home 2 days/week, which was a true blessing given that my commute to the office is 60 miles each way. This week, though, for a variety of reasons, the overall policy changed and now we are all required to be in the office 5 days/week. This is a huge blow and requires a lot of adjustments not only for me and my team, but for our families. I started out bitter on my drive to work Monday morning (which should have been a "work at home day"). However, I decided to look at it from a different perspective. In today's economy, there are many, many people who would give anything for a job to go to and a paycheck at the end of the week. I have both and for this, I am truly thankful.

November 11: Our Veterans

I have always felt an overwhelming sense of pride for and gratitude to the men and women who so bravely serve our country. Because of them, I am granted many freedoms that so many people can't imagine. For their service, their sacrifice, their honor and their heroism, words cannot begin to express my thankfulness.

November 12: My amazing family

I was going to try to stay away from the "cliched" things to be thankful for, but I am just so blessed. Rachel had a school assignment this week to make a Family Coat of Arms to display in her classroom. It had 4 quadrants, and each needed to be decorated with something specific: A picture of the people who live in her house; a picture of where her family originally came from; something her family likes to do together; and something that makes her special. Working on this project together this week, as a family, I am reminded just how blessed I am to have not only a family, but this unique, special, amazing family who, even when times are challenging, can always pull together as one with our love and devotion and commitment to each other.

November 13: Flexibility and Fun

I said earlier that our work-at-home policy changed and I have to be in the office 5 days/week now. Well, there are some exceptions. Rachel has an early release day from school today and her aftercare program is hosting a Fall Festival for the children and their parents. Today I'm working only in the morning (from home!) then leaving to go spend the afternoon playing games with my favorite redhead. Though I'm sure I'll still check emails this evening, I'm thankful to have the flexibility to take some time and have some fun with one of my favorite people on a random Thursday afternoon.

What are you thankful for today?

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

Blessings,

Kat

Thankful for Thankfulness: November 6

2008-11-06T06:21:00.004-05:00

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Whatever, whenever, what is your wish?

That's what I heard from the front desk attendant when I called last night for a wake-up call this morning. How often do you get to hear that in life?? I like it! With a question like that I felt I should think of something much more creative than, "may I please schedule a wake-up call for 6:00am?" But alas, I couldn't think of anything better on such short notice.

I'm staying at the W Hotel in mid-town Atlanta. Too pricey for me to ever stay at when my company is not picking up the tab, but if you ever have the chance, visit one. It's a very modern, very trendy hotel, truly a unique experience. The lobby is dimly lit like a night club. There are velvet couches with big pillows, a spa, two bars, more lounge areas... all the stuff that would have been SOOO cool when I was in my early 20's. Alas, here I am at 30-something, in my room, in front of my laptop, trying to catch up on emails instead of enjoying the hotel. But hey, it's still SOOO cool to have a young man ask, "Whatever, whenever, what is your wish?"

But guess what... it's not the hotel or the young man that I'm thankful for today, though both are very nice! Today, I'm thankful for wishing. And dreaming. And imagination. I'm thankful to live in a world where I can not only wish and dream and imagine, but where I have the power to make those wishes, dreams and imaginations come true.... not only for me, but hopefully, for those that I love and those I haven't met yet. 'Cause I think wishing and dreaming and imagining, and making wishes, dreams and imaginations come true is really SOOO cool. And for that, I am thankful.

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

Blessings,
Kat

Thankful for Thankfulness: November 1-5

2008-11-05T22:12:00.010-05:00

I had a goal for myself to blog here every day this month on something that I'm thankful for. There are so many blessings in my life and I'm thankful just to have so many things to be thankful for, really. I started keeping a daily list and alas, as has been the case for the past many weeks, time is not on my side. As I write this, I'm sitting in a hotel room in Atlanta (which is not where I live!) and I really should be going to bed. However, I've been so anxious to get back to blogging that I thought I'd post this quickly before turning out the lights. Hopefully I'll be a little more timely in my updates in the days to come but in the meantime, here are some things I'm thankful for. Some are heavy, some are silly, but all are truly blessings.

November 1: Unprompted love
My 2-year-old is now talking up a storm. She's also going through a "mommy phase" right now, after about 6 months of only wanting Daddy. She's home before I am and as soon as I walk in the door, she runs to me and says, "Mommy! Uggy!" (translation: Mommy! Huggie!) She's been doing that for a while but has recently started adding, "I mub woo!" to the end of it. (translation: I love you!) Is there anything sweeter than an unprompted declaration of love?

November 2: Running out of Halloween candy that I like
Every year I debate if I should but candy that I like, in case there are leftovers... or candy that I don't like, in case there are leftovers. This year, I opted for bags of assorted, mixed varieties, and by November 2, I had eaten all my favorites. My waistline is thankful it's over now.

November 3: An end in sight for my braces
Yes, I'm a grown-up with braces. I don't tell that to many people, it's a sore spot that I struggled with for years. About 21 months ago I decided to get braces on my teeth, for cosmetic reasons, and I've felt like the work would never be done and I'd look like an over-grown 12-year-old for the rest of my life. But on my November 3rd orthodontist visit, my wonderful orthodontist declared an end in sight. Amen!

November 4: A decisive end to the election season
My husband and I are political junkies but still, I try to avoid discussing politics here (though I'm happy to share any/all of my own personal views offline with anyone who is interested!). However, as everyone who's been alive for the past year knows, this has been a long, hard-fought, overwhelming election cycle. I did a lot of praying over the election and one specific thing I prayed for was a final, decisive victory for whomever the new president would be. No hanging chads, no recounts, no lawsuits, no popular vote vs. electoral vote debates. I am thankful that it's over, it's decisive, and we can now look beyond November 4. This is Kat and I approve this message.

November 5: The Buddy System
Ah ha! To read about this one, you have to click on a link! My good friend Julie over at The Surrendered Scribe is taking on the NaBloPlomo challenge to blog every day in November, and she has invited guest writers to post each day on something they're thankful for. Today is my day and if you click here, you can read why I'm thankful for the buddy system. Go on, you know you want to!

More to come....

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

Blessings,
Kat

Note: I have no idea why the headings aren't all posting as pink... they're pink in the preview and I just can't make them work. Oh well... you probably didn't even notice until I pointed it out anyway! :-)

Photo Friday: At least I have chocolate!

2008-10-24T02:40:00.005-04:00

(click thumbnail to enlarge)

Not sure you can see what I intended at the time I took this picture... though the time I took this picture was the point of the picture. 2:37am on Friday morning. I am still working. Yes, from Thursday morning. No end in sight and I'm thinking the kids will be up in the morning before I go down for the night. But hey, I know you can see the stack of Peanut Butter Cups. Sometimes, you've gotta find your own silver lining...

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

Blessings,
Kat

Good in the News: Ratchet Comes Home

2008-10-21T06:14:00.000-04:00

In May, Sgt. Gwen Beberg helped rescue a puppy from a burning trash pile on the streets of Iraq. The became instant friends and the pup, Ratchet, provided much needed love and support to Sgt. Beberg as she served our country overseas. Her goal was to bring Ratchet back to her home in Minnesota once her tour of duty was over. However, the U.S. military does not allow soldiers to adopt pets overseas and bring them back to the U.S.

The story got out, and the SPCA's (Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Operation Baghdad Pups (OBP) stepped in.

An online petition began (started by a blogger) and as with so many online movements, people jumped in to to lend their support. Over 65,000 signatures were obtained and last Wednesday, the military granted permission for OBP to to bring Ratchet to the U.S. However, the clearance did not come in time for the group's flight out of Baghdad that day. OBP, however, was not giving up. On Sunday, Ratchet was on a charter flight to Kuwait and Northwest Airlines has donated the remaining flights from Kuwait to Minnesota. (It usually costs $3,000 - $4,000 for OBP to bring an animal home from overseas, all funded by donations.)

Sgt. Beberg's tour is not over until November, but when it ends, Ratchet will be ready and waiting for her at home, thanks to the help of tens of thousands of people who neither the soldier nor the dog will ever meet. What power there is in the internet, don't you think?

My prayers are with Sgt. Beberg as she completes her time in the Middle East. So is my respect and my admiration and my eternal debt of gratitude for all that she -- and all her fellow soldiers -- do for all of us each day. So many ugly news that comes out of the Middle East these days... what a nice ray of sunshine this story brings.

Read the full story on CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/19/iraq.ratchet.the.dog/index.html

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

Blessings,
Kat

Looks like a butterfly, feels like a ladybug

2008-10-20T09:01:00.002-04:00

Though I am quite certain I do not deserve this award, I am tickled that my good friend Julie over at The Surrendered Scribe would pass it on to me. What a beautiful gesture from a really sweet, amazing woman, at a time when I really could use a ladybug (or ten). Yes, it may look like a butterfly, but it sure feels like a ladybug to me!

As you may have noticed from my lack of posting lately, life has been very, very busy for yours truly. My outside-the-home job is taking up way more of my time than I care to admit, and it's been a very busy, very stressful, very tiring past 6 weeks. I miss blogging terribly, on this blog most of all (I have 2 others). However, there is an end in sight (to the chaos at work) and I hope to get back to blogging more regularly within the next few weeks.

To all of you who read this blog, thank you, especially those of you who still check in to look for updates even when there haven't been any in a while. I'll be back.... I promise!

And thanks to Julie, for passing on a ladybug that really made my day!

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

Blessings,
Kat

Meet Your Candidates

2008-10-06T09:34:00.004-04:00

Even if you're not "into" politics, it's been very hard to avoid the 2008 Presidential Election news coverage. So many historic firsts this time around, regardless of the outcome. Some people already know who they plan to vote for -- be it based on party lines, specific issues or specific people on the ticket. Others are still trying to sort through it all and make up their mind. Regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum, make sure you have all the facts about the candidates before casting your ballot on November 4th.

Each candidate, of course, has their own website. Obviously, these will be skewed toward each individual candidate. But, it's still a good start to read up on what each candidate says they stand for:

John McCain / Sarah Palin

Barack Obama / Joe Biden
.

Even though I'm pretty sure who I'm voting for, I still listen to and question the ads and what I hear from the opposing candidate. For example, here in Florida, I began hearing radio spots by Obama, saying that McCain did not support and was opposed to stem cell research. Within a few days, I began hearing radio spots by McCain saying that he did support stem cell research. During the Vice Presidential debates, I heard a lot of "facts" from one candidate about the other, which didn't seem to make sense or sounded a bit off. How's a girl to know what the real truth is?

There's a great website that does a lot of the fact checking for you. It purports to be fair and balanced and non-partisan and from what I've seen, it is. Check out http://www.factcheck.org/, where you can read about what Candidate A said and how true (or not) it really is. Of course, the issues and comments are too numerous to list them all there, but it hits on a lot of the biggies.

You may or may not agree that this country is in good shape, and you may or may not agree on the path the new President will take. But the good news is that each of us has the power to help shape the future... by getting informed, deciding what's most important to us and our families, and casting your vote on November 4th to make your voice heard. Together, we decide our future.

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

Blessings,
Kat

Photo Friday: Tranquility

2008-10-03T11:50:00.004-04:00

I took this picture early on an August morning at my favorite vacation spot in the world, the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Calm... peaceful... perfect, really. This picture always makes me stop and remember to slow down. Don't make waves, don't disturb a thing. Just take a deep breath and let the tranquility of the moment surround you.

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

Blessings,
Kat

Project Linus: Providing Security through Blankets

2008-10-02T08:56:00.003-04:00

As a child, I had a favorite blanket which I called my "bye." Actually, there were two or three of them that were identical, and mom would sneak a dirty one away and replace it with a clean one while I slept. Today, one of those very same "byes" lives in my 5-year-old's bed and has been renamed the "Hugs and Kisses Blanket." Every night before bed, I fill it with hugs and kisses and wrap it around her in case she needs any "mommy love" while she sleeps.

Even though I'm "all grown up" now, I still love that bye, and perhaps that's part of what fueled my favorite hobby of making quilts. I'm certainly not an expert blanket maker but I really enjoy the process of choosing that special pattern for that special someone, selecting the right fabrics, piecing them together and admiring how yards of fabric can become something so special. Maybe that's also one of the reasons I'm so attracted to an organization called Project Linus.

From the Project Linus website:

Project Linus is comprised of hundreds of local chapters and thousands of volunteers across the United States. Each volunteer and local chapter all work together to help us achieve our mission statement, which states:
First, it is our mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”
Second, it is our mission to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.
Together we have distributed over two million blankets to children in need since our inception in 1995.

You don't have to know how to sew, knit or crochet to become involved with Project Linus, though their website does offer lots of great blanket patterns that would be fun for people of all ages to make, including a really simple "no sew fleece" pattern. If you'd like to donate supplies, you can find your local chapter and contact the coordinator for more information. Or, you can make a monetary donation on the Project Linus Website or by mail.

What a great gift to give a child in need... the love, warmth and security of a made-with-love blankie. These are gifts that can make such an important difference that can truly last a lifetime.

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

Blessings,
Kat

Prayers, please, for The Miracle Baby in Room C

2008-10-01T15:05:00.004-04:00

He's a fighter and he'll get through this, and so will his amazing, loving, supportive family. However, it's been a very long, difficult 9 months already and I know that some more prayers and love headed their way will make it a little less difficult.

During the night, CP got a call from the NICU. Austin had been moved back down to the critical care nursery. His belly blew up once again and an x-ray showed that his large intestine was (again) severely blocked. His breathing was fast and unsteady due to the pain and discomfort. The doctors had to put the tubes back in and the biopsy will probably be done sometime today. This is related to the possibility of Hirschsprung disease that I posted about yesterday.

Please, say a prayer. Ask your friends to say a prayer. And please, keep praying. This little boy and his family have been through so much already.

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

Good News: Houston, we have poop!!

2008-09-30T12:47:00.004-04:00

The usual Tuesday topic is Good in the News but this week,

Good News works just as well!

Only a mother (or a father) can appreciate how magical the words "we have poop!!" can be. This is most especially true in the case of The Miracle Baby in Room C, Austin, who I introduced here yesterday.

For those who read yesterday's post (and if you didn't you should, trust me!), Austin has continued to make even more great strides. He graduated again to another nursery in the NICU, only 1 nursery away from "I can go home now!" Go, Austin!!

The current concern, though, has been about poop. Yes, poop. He went about 3 days without one, which is an indication that he could possibly have Hirschsprung disease. Hirschsprung disease is a birth defect not uncommon in Down Syndrome babies, in which nerve cells in the wall of the large intestine do not develop. These nerve cells, called ganglion cells, control the muscles in that area that normally push food and digestive waste through the large intestine. In Hirschsprung's disease, the muscles in the wall of the large intestine do not relax, which prevents waste from moving through the large intestine. This may lead to trapped stool, infection, inflammation, and constipation.

The doctors were waiting to see if Austin would poop so they could decide whether or not to do a biopsy to test for Hirschprung's. If he has it, he will require surgery to remove the portion of the large intestine that has no nerve cells.

Well, AMEN for POOP!!! Which Austin did on Monday. Way to go, Austin!

The doctors are still planning to do the biopsy just in case, but we're praying now that it shows everything to be in proper working order, with more and more poop coming along as Austin starts eating and nursing more and more.

Today, we're looking for "More Poop" Prayers and healthy biopsy results. Could you spare some for The Miracle Baby in Room C?

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

Meet The Miracle Baby in Room C

2008-09-29T05:30:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I've posted but I've been waiting and praying for this very story for such a very long time... I'm so honored that my wonderful friend "CP" allowed me to share it with all of you. It's long, but I think it's the most important blog post I've ever written. Further proof that God knows what he's doing, that He'll never give you anything you can't handle, that prayers work and that miracles really do happen. I hope you enjoy this story's ending as much as I have.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I "met" CP on a community message board on BabyZone.com. The group was set up for expectant mothers who were due in August 2003. I was pregnant with my first baby, CP with her fourth! As our pregnancies progressed, we shared the ups, the downs, the fears, the joys and everything in between. After the little ones were born, a group of us started our own virtual community and we've been together ever since, sharing more of the ups, the downs, the fears, the joys and the "everything in betweens" of mommy-hood. I feel like all the mommies in our group are sisters to me, we've shared so much and loved so much and cried so much and prayed so much and, well, you get the point....

I've had the privilege of meeting five of the mommies in person, CP is one of them.

Many of us have had more children. I had Baby #2. CP went on to have Baby #5. And then, to everyone's surprise, Baby #6.

CP's Baby #6, though, was different from all the rest. He made us pray harder than we've ever prayed, inspired us more than we ever knew possible. This little guy... he changed us. And today, I share his story with you.

From almost the minute CP became pregnant with #6, she felt the effects. Morning sickness, discomfort and unfortunately, problems. Too much amniotic fluid. Too many "off" test results. Too many needles, ultrasounds, worries, pain. All the things that could go wrong with a pregnancy seemed to be happening to CP. They wanted her on bed rest. Right, with five other kids at home. Test results came back. The baby might have Down Syndrome. They couldn't be sure. Then he didn't. Then he did. Then came the fluid around his lungs and other tiny little organs, pushing them to places they should not be. Could he hold on until 36 weeks, when it might be "safe" to deliver him? There was debate amongst the doctors... was he better off on the inside or out? Induction, c-section, natural labor? Were his lungs ready? Would he make it?

Finally, an induction date was set. October 9... only 1 day before he was due. Baby #6, though, had other plans.

Below is CP's story, in her own words, of Baby #6. You might want to grab a tissue (or ten) before you read it.

Sunday, September 21 at 6:00am I woke up and rolled over to hear a pop and a huge gush. I woke up Al and told him my water just broke. We got dressed and headed to the hospital. On a normal day it would have taken us 35 minutes, but that day only took us 20. Al was nervous something was going to happen.

We got there and they put me in an exam room where they tested to see if it was really my water, and sure enough the test strip turned very blue. Because of how much the was flipping, they called the doc in to do an ultrasound to see if he was head down. Sure enough, he was. That was a big relief. The doc checked me and I was 2-3 cm dilated.

At that point I wasn’t having any pain or contractions so they said they would wait and see if I’d start to contract on my own. They moved me from the exam room into the labor room. Got me all hooked up to the monitor and had the hardest time getting his heart beat. Not that there was anything wrong, but because he was moving like crazy.

By 11:00am I still wasn’t having any contractions and I called the nurse to come in because something just wasn’t right. Not that I was worried, but because he was moving so much and his heart beat I couldn’t keep on the monitor. The nurse came in and tried to pick it up with no luck. She looked at me and said she thinks this little man has turned breech. She went to go find the doctor. He came in and said that it wasn’t likely that the baby had turned but he would check. First he checked to see if I had changed any. I was now 5-6 cm dilated (with no pain). They got the ultrasound machine back in the room and sure enough he was now breech. There was a huge pocket of fluid below him, along with my cord. He said that if my water gushed again that my cord would come out first and that wouldn’t be a good thing. Things got underway for a c-section.

Things were moving fast and lots of people were coming in and out with meds and paperwork. The doctor from the NICU came in to talk with us. This is where it gets very emotional for me. She sat down and told us that she wasn’t going to sugar-coat anything with us. Because the has Downs and has the fluid in his lungs, there was a 75% to 80% chance he wouldn’t make it. She wanted us to tell her how much time we wanted them to work on him before they called a time.

I just lost it at that point. I couldn’t even breath. Al stepped in and told her that we would like them to do the best they could for him and work on him until they felt there was no hope. We were shocked by what she was telling us and the stress level went sky-high along with my blood pressure. When she left, Al and I didn’t know what to do but cry. We talked and ended with talk about funeral arrangements.

About 10 minutes later they came and got me. Off to the OR I went. Within 20 minutes, the baby was on his way out. At 1:03pm, 5 seconds after he was out, he was screaming his head off. Both Al and I just lost it and cried when we heard that scream. The doctor looked over at Al and gave him 2 thumbs up. Everything was going perfectly. Al went over to cut the cord and they brought the baby to me for a fast peek and kiss. And off to the NICU he went.

The doc later told us that if he was born ten years ago, he wouldn’t have made it. He still isn’t out of the woods yet. There is still a chance the fluid will build back up, but things are looking to the positive side. He is a fighter and I know he will pull himself out of this. The nurses say he’s the “Miracle Baby in Room C.” He has them all wrapped around his finger.

This is his birth story. It was a long road with a lot of bumps in it, and I’m sure there will be many more as with every kid, but we are ready and so very blessed we have a strong fighter to love and care for. I’m a mother of 6 now and have more love inside of me because of my new baby boy.

Since writing this birth story, The Miracle Baby in Room C has continued to make great strides. He no longer requires the tubes in his mouth, he's able to drink from a bottle and is doing his best to learn how to nurse. He's even graduated to the next level in the NICU. CP is at home with her other 5 "babies," but makes daily trips to visit with her newest little guy. We're all continuing to pray that he gets stronger and healthier every day, and that he gets to come home very, very soon. If you could spare a prayer for him as well, I know the entire family would appreciate it.

It is with the greatest honor that I introduce the world to The Miracle Baby in Room C, the cutest, bravest little fighter, Austin:

Austin Fredrick

Born 09/21/09

7 pounds, 2 ounces

20.5 inches long

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

Blessings,

Kat

Don't Whine... Vote!

2008-09-18T10:32:00.002-04:00

So many things I'd like to change in this world, and sometimes, I feel so powerless. I do what I can as often as I can, and I know which issues are most important to me. I know what I like, and I know what I want to change. But how?

It's so simple, and ALL of us have the power. One word. VOTE!

If you're not registered to vote, it's quick and easy to do online. Check out the voter registration deadline for your state, and then take a few moments to register to make YOUR voice heard!

Voter Registration Deadlines by State

"Rock the Vote" online voter registration site

We've all heard that more people than ever plan to vote this year, plan to make their voice heard. Go ahead and make sure you are one of them!

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

Blessings,
Kat

Photo Friday: And Still She Waves

2008-09-12T08:55:00.005-04:00

Julie said it best in a recent post, that no one remembers where they were on September 10th. But September 11th, clearly, We Will Never Forget.

I know that it's September 12th already, but I clearly remember where I was and what I was doing 7 years ago today. I was on my couch where I'd been for 24 hours straight, glued to the TV, still in the same clothes I'd been wearing from the day before. Craig and I were talking about the friends, colleagues and mentors we already knew we'd lost, and praying for those we hadn't heard from yet. You see, 8 months earlier, I would have been coming into the Towers on the subway at the very time the first plane hit. The building I worked in was directly across the street.

Seven years later, I'm still not sure we can make sense of it all. We were at Ground Zero in July, and even though I've been there many times in the past few years, the shock of that gaping hole in the ground still doesn't wear off.

One thing I know, though, and one thing I praise God for, is that even on September 11 and every single day since, our flag still stands. Maybe a little more tattered, maybe a little more torn, but no less bright and no less beautiful. And still, she waves.

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

Blessings,
Kat

Good in the News: To Infinity and Beyond

2008-09-10T15:18:00.003-04:00

Warning: You'll need a box of tissues for this one!

==========================================

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/09/10/rescue.at.sea/index.html

To infinity and beyond: A sparkling survival story
By Mallory Simon, CNN

(CNN) -- Walter Marino shouted to his 12-year-old son, Christopher, as he drifted farther away in the Atlantic Ocean.

"To infinity," the father yelled.

"And beyond," Christopher replied.

After a rip current swept the boy and his father out to sea Saturday, darkness fell, and the sound of rescue helicopters and boats grew faint until they were nonexistent.

Despite the danger, Christopher, who has autism, was enjoying himself, his father said. The boy lacks a fear of death because of his autism and finds comfort in the water, Marino told CNN.

Marino finds comfort in his son. Their unique circumstances helped keep them alive for more than 12 hours in the open ocean, Marino said.

"With many kids with autism, the thing that is so dangerous is that they have no concept of fear or fear of death," Marino said. "In this case, though, it perhaps saved him -- that and the fact that water is one of his favorite things. Whenever he goes missing or tries to run away, we can always find him near water ... even at the mall if it is just near a fountain."

Christopher was laughing as the father and son were pulled farther and farther from Ponce Inlet, Florida. As the pair lunged for buoys -- and missed -- Christopher couldn't help but giggle. It was this spirit that helped ground Marino, the father said.

"It was a big entertainment roller coaster for him, that's what got me through it -- because he wasn't freaking out," said Marino, 46.

But after four hours at sea without a life vest, and after it became obvious that rescue operations had ceased for the night, jellyfish began to sting the pair. That began to "freak Christopher out," his father said.

While Christopher is almost nonverbal in his communication, he and his father use catch phases from Disney movies, which the boy loves, to communicate.

After four hours, the currents picked up, and Christopher began to drift from his father's reach. Because of the darkness, they couldn't see each other. So Marino shouted out part of a phrase to his son.

"To infinity," Marino shouted, referencing one of Christopher's favorite lines from the movie "Toy Story."

"And beyond," Christopher shouted back, pumping his fist in the air like movie character Buzz Lightyear.

The call and response went on for a while, with Marino choosing different phrases and Christopher yelling back. But over the course of an hour, Christopher's voice faded until his father couldn't hear him anymore.

"That's when I resigned myself to the fact that he was gone," Marino told CNN, saying he believed his son had been pulled under the water. At the time, Marino said, he thought about giving up, until he thought of his daughter Angela. She had just registered for ballroom dance classes, and he told himself over and over he would live to see her dance.

"I just kept thinking about her and how I was not going to leave her without a brother and her father in the same day -- not on my watch," he told CNN. "It was the visual of her that kept me going."

Marino used other tricks to keep his mind focused in the 81-degree water. He remembered going to the Ponce Inlet museum, which highlighted a lighthouse. He then set out to use the lighthouse as a guide for himself, so he would know how far he was from shore.

He alternated doing the "doggie paddle" and floating on his back with his ears in the water, the way his son loved to.

He would float on his back and watch the bright stars. He wished on four shooting stars that flew by and used constellations in the sky to know what direction to go if he drifted away.

Under the stars and in the dark Atlantic, he turned to his spirituality, realizing his life was in God's hands. A religious medal rested on his chest.

As morning turned, Marino tried to stay alert for sounds that might mean help was near.
Hearing a boat motor, he waved frantically.

Soon, a group of fishermen pulled him aboard their boat. A flash of light from the medallion had caught the eye of one of the anglers, who shouted at his brother at the helm to stop the boat, one of Marino's rescuers told him.

The first thing Marino asked was if the men had heard anything about his son, but they hadn't.

Marino began to grieve. It had been nearly eight hours since he had last seen his son, and he believed he was gone for good. He wept.

When the U.S. Coast Guard arrived, Marino asked them, too, about Christopher, but they said they had not found him. The Coast Guard crew asked if he wanted to go to the hospital, but he decided to stay on the boat so the search for Christopher wouldn't be disrupted.

But Marino chose not to watch the water as the search went on.

"I chose to be down below, because I didn't want to see them pull up on Christopher being face-down in the water," he said.

So the Coast Guard vessel steamed on. After more than an hour, the boat went full throttle, jolting Marino backward in his space below deck. Suddenly, the boat was idling, and Marino was asked to come topside.

"That was my personal green mile," Marino told CNN, a reference to what some people call the walk on death row from the cell to the execution chamber.

"I took three steps up the green mile to the back of the deck, and they pointed to the helicopter and they said, 'You see that helicopter? It has your son on it, and he is fine,' " Marino recalled a crew member saying.

Marino was so excited he began "kissing all the Coast Guard guys."

The father and son were reunited at the emergency room at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, where they were treated for dehydration.

"We were both very weak, tired and thirsty," Marino said. "But I reached out and held his hand and could tell from the same sparkle in his eye that he was going to be fine."

While Christopher can't truly communicate what he felt during those hours alone at sea, his father hopes that one day, he will be able to tell him what he felt alone in the Atlantic.

The one thing Marino knows is that his son still loves the water and that the experience hasn't taken away that special comfort from him.

"It may be a while before we go back to a beach," Marino said. "But he still loves the water. He's already gotten back in a pool."

==========================================

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

Blessings,
Kat

Meet my Bad Habit

2008-09-08T05:42:00.000-04:00

No, it's not what you think... (even though yes, I have plenty of bad habits)... my worst bad habit, I think, is leading with my heart instead of my head. Though in many cases this is not an awful thing... sometimes, well, it blurs my perspective of reality.

When I started this blog, not even 3 months ago, I had such grandiose dreams, such amazing intentions, such confidence that yes, I could come up with a daily theme and well, post daily. Alas... I led with my heart instead of my head.

Though I still have grandiose dreams and amazing intentions, the reality is that I also have 2 small children, a husband, a dog, a home, a full-time outside-the-home job and a whole buncha other "schtuff" that also demands my time. Though I had sincerely hoped to be able to maintain this blog on a daily basis, I have found, unfortunately, that I can't always make the time to research and write and post things here that are the caliber I want them to be.

So... what does that mean...

The blog is not going away. I love it too much and I believe in it too much and even though I barely get any comments here, I am a firm believer that if even one person reads one line that makes a difference to them, then it's a blog worth maintaining. And maintain I will. Just not always on a daily basis.

For my faithful readers (and yes, I know there are a few of you), I offer a giant THANK YOU for sticking with me this far. If you're visiting, please keep checking back. There will be more! If you don't want to have to remember to check back, you can enter your email address in the "Subscribe to Dancing with Ladybugs" box on the left and you'll get an email each time there is a new post here. (Disclaimer: I promise never to spam you, forward you anything and quite honestly, I can't remember my password to log on to Feedblitz to see who has subscribed anyway... so it's strictly an email to tell you when I post, with the text delivered right to you, nothing to buy, nothing to click, nothing to remember. Promise!)

So.... that said... some weeks I might post 5 times, some weeks I might post once. But know that every post I write from here on out will be meaningful, will be important, and will provide a reason to dance in the rain.

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

Blessings,
Kat

Photo Friday: Sometimes

2008-09-05T05:47:00.000-04:00

This is my favorite hat. Some days I feel it, some days I don't. But all days, it reminds me that even when you're feeling a little bit tattered and a little bit worn, there's always a SuperGirl inside you. Have you hugged your inner SuperGirl today?

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

Blessings,

Kat

The Ladybug Foundation, Inc.

2008-09-04T21:18:00.003-04:00

I'll admit, it's the name that first got me. What's not to love about an organization called "The Ladybug Foundation?"

As I read more, though, I learned that this organization was started by an 11-year-old girl named Hannah, who has a big dream and a huge heart. At age 5, she saw a homeless person eating from a garbage can and decided that she wanted to make sure no one ever had to do that again. It's something we've probably all seen at some point in our lives, but here's a shining example of someone, and someone so young, who is actually making a difference.

Hannah's mission for The Ladybug Foundation is simple:

“I believe that if people know about homelessness – that there are people living without a home – they will want to help.”

Hannah does speaking engagements to raise awareness about this problem and sells bracelets and scarves with proceeds being donated to people in need. I happen to have a soft spot for ladybugs, but even without them in the picture, this is an organization I'll definitely support.

Go check out The Ladybug Foundation, you'll be inspired by the difference Hannah is making.

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

Blessings,
Kat

Penny's Project

2008-09-03T09:35:00.003-04:00

I've blogged here before about Sharon Hinck. Sharon 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.

For the entire month of September, Sharon is sharing ideas on things you can do, small acts of kindness, to brighten someone else's day. I encourage you to go check out her blog, Penny's Project, to get some ideas on things you can do to bring a smile to someone else's face. If you've got great ideas, I know Sharon would love your comments and thoughts, as well. (Note: When you get to her blog, scroll down just a little bit to see the daily posts.)

Go on, take the September Penny's Project challenge. I am, and even after only 2 days, it feels great!

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

Blessings,
Kat

Good in the News: They got it right

2008-09-02T15:47:00.003-04:00

We've all, no doubt, heard about Hurricane Gustav and the havoc it's been wreaking on the Gulf Coast states. My heart goes out to all those impacted, whether they're still in the area, have evacuated but are unsure what "home" looks like after the storm, and those with loved ones in the area. Living in South Florida, even in an area where severe flooding is not a major concern after a hurricane, I've been through enough with our own hurricanes to know what a toll it can take.

We can't change the weather, and it's certainly awful when a hurricane makes landfall. The good news, though, is that the authorities had a plan in place to get people out quickly and safely. After the disaster that was Katrina, emergency management teams put plans in place for just such an occurrence and by all accounts, they worked.

Power is off for hundred of thousands of residents. Homes are flooded or lost. People have died. However, thanks to the hard work of the emergency preparedness teams and cooperation by the residents of these states, the loss of life has been greatly reduced.

When storms (or tornadoes or earthquakes) strike, it's always a tragedy. But being prepared, following emergency procedures and knowing how to respond before, during and after the storm has paid off greatly for people in these states. That is most definitely good in the news.

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

Labor Day

2008-09-01T18:19:00.003-04:00

Today is Labor Day, the last official long weekend of the summer. It's about more than barbecues and a Monday off, though. From the U.S. Department of Labor:

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Growing up in New York, Labor Day always marked the end of the summer, the return to school, and the start of another long winter. Now that I live in South Florida, we look forward to Labor Day as the time when finally, finally the weather will start to cool off enough that we can actually go outside. For us, it's the beginning of another beautiful winter.

Wherever you live, however you celebrate, take a moment today to think about the contributions our fellow Americans have made to the well-being of our country. Say a prayer for those impacted by Hurricane Gustav, say a prayer for our leaders, say a prayer for our countrymen. Say a prayer of thanks for this great nation we live in.

Whether you're mourning the end of summer of celebrating it:

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

Photo Friday: The Sender of the Ladybugs

2008-08-29T06:04:00.001-04:00

I was brushing my teeth before bed last night when I remembered... August 28th... Seven years since Heaven welcomed Grandpa through it's gates. My first reaction was to be ashamed, that I hadn't remembered earlier in the day. My second reaction was that "ashamed" was the last reaction Grandpa would want me to have. He'd probably be thrilled that my life goes on, that my family goes on, that I go on. He knows how much I loved him, admired him, respected him, both then and for eternity. Nothing was unsaid between us, there are no regrets.

Take a look, that's him on the right. (Cute, isn't he?!?) The ladybug story didn't start with him, but he gave it meaning. He's the reason I feel it, believe it, and try my best to live it. He, my friends, is the sender of the ladybugs. In my heart, I know he's always dancing in the rain, and no one in Heaven or on Earth has more ladybugs beside them.

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

Blessings,

Kat

Reece's Rainbow

2008-08-28T05:57:00.000-04:00

Grab This Button
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I've blogged here before about American Express' Members Project, but now I want to share with you my favorite project on their list of nominations. It's called Reece's Rainbow (on the American Express site it's referred to as "Save an orphan with Down Syndrome").

The primary goals of Reece's Rainbow are:

To raise awareness regarding the plight of children with Down syndrome in foreign orphanages and their availability to be adopted
To raise adoption grant donations for each of our waiting children
To seek new adoptive families for orphans with Down syndrome internationally
To provide adoptive families with additional fundraising opportunities.
To fund humanitarian aid opportunities and improve the quality of life of our children waiting to be adopted
To fund educational and therapeutic opportunities for orphaned children with Down syndrome living in foreign orphanages
To fund and facilitate the development of new Down syndrome birth parent support groups in foreign countries, thereby decreasing the number of children placed in orphanages
To enact social change abroad about children with Down syndrome and other special needs through the testimony of adoption

Take a few minutes to go over to the American Express Member's Project Website (click on the button above, or go here and search for "Reece"). You don't have to have an American Express card to vote, and these few clicks and two minutes of your time could save the lives of children with special needs who are waiting to be adopted. I voted, I hope you will, too. Hurry, voting ends on September 1st!

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

Blessings,

Kat

Crazy Life

2008-08-27T06:07:00.001-04:00

Ever hear a song that just catches you at the right moment, like you were meant to hear that song at that time?

On my Tuesday ride home from work, I was listening to the Prayer of a Common Man CD by Phil Vassar, one I've listened to many times before. Usually I just skip around to my favorite songs but this time, I let it play straight through to the last song, called Crazy Life. This song really struck me, and I found myself playing it over and over again, at least 1/2 dozen times. (I have a really long commute!)

It's a sweet ballad with a catchy melody and I wanted to share it here. It reminds me that even though life is hectic and crazy sometimes, it's all about choice... it's all about perspective... it's all about balance. This is my new theme song, I think!

I rise and stumble from the bed

It wakes the worries in my head

And I pour myself a bowl of Cheerios

I think about the good and the bad

The happiness outweighs the sad

And the balance evens out the highs and lows

Today, there's lessons to be learned

There's progress to be made

Tomorrow, I can say, "I'm a little older and wiser."

It's a crazy life, a crazy life

It keeps you on your toes

You never know what lies in store for you

Or where it's gonna go

Hellos, goodbyes, you laugh, you cry

You're free to pick and choose, you win and lose

You're either wrong or right

Yeah, it's a crazy life

I think of lovers come and gone

And people I've depended on

And I subtract the pleasure from the cost

Except for maybe two or three

They've drifted far away from me

Or maybe I'm the one who's gotten lost

But you can never go back home, no matter how hard you try

And once you've said, "goodbye."You've said it all and it's over

It's a crazy life, a crazy life

It keeps you on your toes

You never know what lies in store for you

Or where it's gonna go

Hellos, goodbyes, you laugh, you cry

You're free to pick and choose, you win and lose

You're either wrong or right

Yeah, it's a crazy life

Thanks for letting me share my crazy life with all of you!

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

Blessings,
Kat

Good in the News: Girl Uses Computer To Save Trapped Flood Victims

2008-08-26T06:03:00.000-04:00

Living in South Florida for the past 7 1/2 years, I've become all too accustomed to tropical storms and hurricanes. It's the price you pay for being able to go to the beach in January!

After Tropical Storm Fay hit my area and moved out to sea, I was dismayed to see that it was turning back west to hit Florida again. The rains were terrible and the flood waters became dangerous in many places. I think that Florida has a great disaster response system in place but sometimes, there just aren't enough crews to go around or enough real-time information about what's happening where.

When the flood waters started to rise and she knew people were trapped, 16-year-old Tiffany Monk thought fast and started emailing for help.

After reaching a local radio station via email, the news crews and emergency workers arrived quickly. This young girl's email helped to save over 40 people from being trapped in the waters -- some of whom were in wheelchairs and on oxygen.

Say what you will about teenagers and computers... this girl's use of email saved people's lives. Most certainly, good in the news.

Read the full story here: http://www.local6.com/weather/17277174/detail.html

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

Meet Luanne

2008-08-25T06:33:00.003-04:00

I "met" Luanne early last year, when I bumped into a blog she had started called Sixty-Six Days. This blog was her way of chronicling the 66 days leading up to her 50th birthday, and all the things she was hoping to accomplish during that time. I was immediately hooked and so it was a no-brainer that once she turned 50 and started her new blog, Luanne @ 50, I'd become a fan of that one, too. Yesterday, Luanne turned 51, so what better day to talk about all the ways that she inspires me.

Luanne has three great children and a wonderful husband. Her love of her family is apparent in her writing, and they share a strength, closeness and sense of fun that I very much admire. Luanne is a great friend, a great writer, and her thoughts and perspectives always make me stop and think.

Luanne is one of the kindest people I know. This spring, she gave my family a most wonderful gift. I tried to say thank you, though words and quilts could never express how much her generosity touched my family. Luanne is also a woman of principles, and I admire her ability to know when to say when. I think that's something you don't see enough of these days.

For her friendship, her generosity, her many talents, her love of family, her strong faith and her inspirational words, Luanne is my Inspirational Person of the Week. Go on over to her blog and wish her a Happy Birthday with me, will you?

Luanne, may your 51st year be full of all the wonderful blessings you deserve, and may your next 51 be just as special.

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

Blessings,
Kat

Photo Friday: My Something

2008-08-22T05:41:00.000-04:00

We all have a "something"... a smell, a taste, a view, a blanket, a person... a "something" that reminds us to stop for a minute, take a look around, remember all that is good, all that is right, all that is important.

This is my something. This something always stops me in my tracks and reminds me to kick my priorities back in order. Little bug, lotta power.

What's your something?

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

Blessings,

Kat

The Littlest Heroes Project

2008-08-21T14:30:00.004-04:00

I'm trying my darnedest to keep up with the blog on a daily basis but sometimes, it's just too much. I have great intentions and extremely helpful friends who keep passing along things that would be great to use here, and I thank them SO much for that! But, this week has been crazy at work and at home, so unfortunately, blogging gets bumped way down on the list.

That said, I ran into a great post today on one of my favorite blogs, and it fits in really well with the Thursday Theme of "organizations who do good in the world." I invite you to hop on over to 5 Minutes for Special Needs and read Tammy's post on The Littlest Heroes Project. With a name like "Littlest Heroes," how can you not want to click right over there! Go on now, what are you waiting for?

~*~*~ 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: Mom was right

2008-08-20T15:26:00.005-04:00

She always told me, "You won't ever be able to understand until you have kids of your own." Was she right or what?!?

Today I dropped Rachel off at Kindergarten, her first day. She's been in daycare / pre-school for 3 years, but my husband always did the dropping off in the past.

She was a bit nervous, but no tears. I, on the other hand, am on my 2nd bag of chocolate, 3rd box of tissues, and I'm feverishly tearing apart my office building looking for a bottle of wine.

Rachel is ready for this, has been for years. I just wish I was...

Sometimes, though, we have to let go a little bit. We have to look at their smile and know they'll be OK. We have to trust that we did our Parent job. In my heart, I know I did... and here's my proof:

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

Blessings,

Kat

Good in the News: Don't let 'em count you out!

2008-08-19T06:19:00.003-04:00

Twenty-eight-year-old Stephanie Brown Trafton didn't make the Olympic team for Athens four years ago. Before this year, she only had two discus throws over 200 feet. She finished only third at the U.S. Olympic trials. The US Team took her on more as a "body" than as a medal contender. No U.S. female athlete had won gold in the discus event since Lillian Copeland in 1932, and they won only 1 other medal in the event since then. Until Beijing.

On her very first throw, Brown Trafton threw for an amazing 212 feet, 5 inches. She watched that distance hold up through the entire competition, resulting in a gold medal in the event for the U.S. Women for the first time in 76 years. 76 years. Who says persistence doesn't pay off?

"I came to the Bird's Nest to lay a golden egg, and that's what I did," Brown Trafton said. "I am surprised we haven't won more gold. But you know what? I hope this sets a trend."

Read the full article here, in the Sports Illustrated Beijing Olympics section.

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

Blessings,
Kat

Meet Taylor Swift

2008-08-18T05:58:00.006-04:00

My brother-in-law owns a food concession business and one of his venues is a large concert amphitheater near our home. A great perk is that he can get us in to any concert we'd like to see there. Last night, Rascal Flatts (country act) was playing, with opening act 16-year-old newcomer Taylor Swift.

My 5-year-old is a huge Taylor Swift fan so even though it was a Sunday night, my husband decided to take her to the show, just to see Taylor and then come home. Rachel spent a lot of time getting ready for the show -- picking just the right outfit, which ended up to be a pink dress (she only wears dresses, since princesses only wear dresses) with a pink Taylor Swift t-shirt over the top, rounded out by pink socks and pink sneakers. But I digress...

They were there early, not a big crowd yet, when a DJ from the local country music station approached them and asked my daughter if she was a big Taylor Swift fan. Of course, her answer was a resounding "YES!" Wouldn't you know, this man gave her a side stage pass, where Rachel was able to get in line to meet Ms. Taylor Swift herself.

Not only did Taylor give her a hug and pose for a picture, but she signed my daughter's t-shirt ("I {heart} Rachel!" then her autograph), signed a picture, and spent time talking to her.

In a day and age where so much music has to be censored, so many "role models" end up on the front page for the wrong kind of things... how refreshing to see (meet!) a young woman who is not only a superstar but a great role model for other young women, living proof that if you have talent and dreams, you too can be whatever you want to be when you grow up.

Taylor Swift sure made a difference to my daughter last night, who may be beaming forever (and certainly isn't likely to let that autographed t-shirt out of her sight soon!) and for that, she's my inspirational person of the week.

If you haven't heard her music, I encourage you to take a listen (go here, click on Media then Audio). No matter how old you are, I can pretty much guarantee you'll be singing along in no time!

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

Photo Friday: Makes a Lousy Week All Better

2008-08-15T05:57:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, all it takes to make a lousy week all better is one little smile. I hope your weekend is full of them!

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

Blessings,

Kat

We now interrupt....

2008-08-14T14:35:00.003-04:00

... today's regularly scheduled blog to go bite and hit.

(That will only be funny if you read yesterday's post.)

(And don't worry, I'm not biting or hitting people.)

Hope y'all are having a better week than I am! And remember, no matter what kind of week you're having:

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

Blessings,
Kat

Wildcard Wednesday: Quote of the Week

2008-08-13T12:43:00.003-04:00

Don't worry, life is good... work is a thorn in my side this week, though. A friend of mine sent me a card with this quote on the front, sums up my week perfectly and brings a smile to my face:

"You know it was a good day if you didn't bite or hit anyone."
by Nathanial Parizek, age 4

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

Good in the News: Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics

2008-08-12T06:02:00.001-04:00

Hello, my name is Kat and I'm married to an Olympics Addict.

Olympics are a long-awaited, revered event in our house. Doesn't matter the event, we're TIVO-ing pretty much 24/7 and watching into the wee hours of the night. Sleep be damned when the Olympics are on!

In spite of the fact that the bags under my eyes from too much Olympics and too little sleep are pretty much the same size as the Olympic rings, there's just too much excitement to stop watching for a second!

So many good stories have come out of these Olympics, and we're only 4 days in! Choose a story, any story, and you'll see why the Olympic Spirit is so strong, and why I picked the Olympics as this week's Good in the News.

Learn all about the Olympic Spirit

American Men's 4x100 swim relay team takes the Gold!

Russian and Georgian Olympic shooters hug in Beijing as their countries fight

Official website of the Olympic movement (check out Photos of the Day, upper right)

United States Olympic Committee

Fantastic Finishes in Summer Games

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

Blessings,
Kat

Meet Your Significant Other

2008-08-11T05:59:00.000-04:00

Disclaimer: I feel the need to start with this.... If you don't currently have a significant other, or if you're in the market for a new one (kidding!!), there is no dating advice in this post. If you already have a significant other that you have not yet met, you need to do more today than read this post... run, don't walk, to the nearest therapist!! :-)

I love to write. Always have, I'm sure I always will. This is my third active (ish) blog, and though my husband knows about my first one (Random Thoughts from a Newbie Blogger) and my second one (Kat's Next Five Things), it turns out that I never told him that I'd started this one. It was an innocent mistake, I wasn't trying to hide something from him at all. He knows that early in the morning before anyone is awake or late at night when the kids are in bed and he's watching sports, I blog. I guess I just never told him I was doing a new blog.

Last Monday, I posted here about my daughter, Rachel. I wrote that post on my home computer (I usually use my laptop when I post, and no one else uses this one). I happened to leave the window open and when he got on the computer after the kids were in bed, he saw that post up on the screen. He started to read some posts from this blog, and also on my Random Thoughts blog. "What's all this," he asked me?

"Ah, love, there's so much about me you don't know," I joked. OK, I'm not sure there's so much about me he doesn't know... we've been together for 12.5 years now. What wouldn't he know? But as it turns out as he read through my posts, there was a lot he didn't know. Certainly that's not intention on either of our parts, and I do think it's OK to have a few things that only you know... the blogs just wasn't intentionally one of them.

Today, take a look at your significant other. What about them don't you know? Does (s)he have an interest in ancient Egyptian history? Has (s)he always wanted to try sushi? Is (s)he having trouble at work? Want another baby? Want a dog? Want to travel to Europe? Won the spelling bee in 3rd grade? Always wanted to be an astronaut? Hates your fuzzy blue slippers? Wish you'd let your hair grow longer or stop coloring it so blond? Loves how you look when you wear green?

Maybe it's a little thing, maybe it's a funny thing, maybe it's something that's been heavy on their mind or on their heart, and they don't want to "burden" you with it. Whatever "it" is, though.... find out. Learn about it. Support it. Act on it if you can.

If, like me, you think they're can't be anything left you don't know about your significant other, well, ask! If your significant other is still sleeping, as mine is as I write this post, I suggest you don't wake him/her up for this question. But maybe later on tonight, after the dishes are done and the kids are in bed, ask the question. See if it's true what they say: You learn something new every day. To me, there aren't many better people to learn something new about.

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

Photo Friday: Can't Hide from Mommy's Love

2008-08-08T06:20:00.004-04:00

Try as you might, you can't hide from a mother's love. (Or a mother's camera, as the case may be.) And you know what? Even when you're grumpy, Mom will still always think you're beautiful.

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

Blessings,

Kat

Volunteer Match

2008-08-07T06:20:00.002-04:00

If you've ever thought about doing any kind of volunteer work but weren't sure where to start, check out this site: www.VolunteerMatch.org.

VolunteerMatch is a leader in the nonprofit world dedicated to helping everyone find a great place to volunteer. The organization offers a variety of online services to support a community of nonprofit, volunteer and business leaders committed to civic engagement. Our popular service welcomes millions of visitors a year and has become the preferred internet recruiting tool for more than 50,000 nonprofit organizations.

I've used this site before and when I plugged in my zip code today (yes, that's all you have to do!), I got 232 local opportunities -- from volunteering to do Children's IDs/fingerprints at the county fair to joining the Peace Corps and everything in between. They even have virtual volunteer opportunities, things I can do with my PJs on, without ever leaving my house.

Some opportunities ask for a specific skill set (helping a client create a database), some just need friendly people who are willing to lend a hand. All are great opportunities, certainly a site worth checking out!

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

Blessings,
Kat

Wildcard Wednesday: 7 Seconds

2008-08-06T06:20:00.001-04:00

Recently, my husband, two daughters and I took a trip to New York to visit my family. My younger daughter did not have a ticket, she sat on my lap during the plane ride. I've flown close to 500 times (seriously!) and I've heard the "important announcements in the event of an emergency" so many times that I pretty much don't listen to them anymore. However, there's one that always sticks in my head.

"In the event that the cabin experiences a sudden change in pressure, oxygen masks will drop from the ceiling. The bag will not inflate even though oxygen is flowing. Please secure your own mask before assisting others."

Once I had kids, this one always made me chuckle. Yeah, right, I'm going to put on my own mask before my kids'. Sure. I'm their MOTHER! Of course I'm going to put theirs on first, make sure they are OK, and then tend to mine. Silly flight attendant!

This time, though, one of the flight attendants made sure to point out that the baby and I should sit on the left side of the plane, there were 3 masks on that side (only 2 seats) so I should sit there since I may need one for the baby. He also proceeded to remind me that I should secure my own mask first, since it only takes 7 seconds without oxygen before an "altered state of consciousness" will begin, at which point I'd be less able to help my daughter.

Seven seconds. Wow. That's not very long. It got me to thinking....

I tend to go through life worrying about how to help everyone else. What can I do? What can I give? How can I help? How do I make sure that everyone else is taken care of? If there happens to be a little something left over for me, that's great, but certainly the "everyone elses" in my life come first. Always have. And hey, shouldn't they?

Seven seconds. That's not very long.

If I neglect myself, within 7 seconds I could start to become unable to help my baby girl. I want to believe that I can get her mask on first and then my own in those 7 seconds. But what if I can't? Then I've hurt both of us by not putting myself first. Wow. In this case, taking care of myself first is the only way to make sure I can take care of her as well as I want to, as well as I need to.

That's fine on an airplane, but what about the rest of my life? Though I'm sure he wasn't looking to instill a life lesson, that flight attendant made a big impact. I spend so much time and energy focusing on everyone else, that I may (unknowingly and unintentionally) be putting myself into an "altered state." Not enough sleep. Not enough time. Not enough energy. When I'm dragging, can I really help others the way I want to, the way I need to?

Putting my own mask on first only takes a few seconds, but it could make all the difference. Just like taking care of myself first doesn't have to take long, but could make a huge difference in my ability to be happy, healthy, and therefore, take care of others to the true best of my abilities.

No, I'm not planning a spa getaway or a shopping spree or lazy afternoon naps. But next time I want a pedicure, I'm not going to feel like I don't deserve it. Instead, I'll go to the local nail place, let them massage my feet and make my toes pretty for an hour, and come home a bit recharged, relaxed, and feeling good so I can be in a better mental place to do what I love to do best -- take care of others.

Mommy first, Mommy always, forever and ever, Amen. But I'm learning (slowly but surely!) that to the best I can be for others, I need to be the best I can be for me, first.

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

Blessings,
Kat

Good in the News: Mother of 5 Wins her Dream

2008-08-05T09:22:00.003-04:00

Goes to show that when you have a dream, passion and talent, nothing should stand in your way.

On Monday night, Melissa Lawson, a 32-year old mother of 5 was crowned the latest "Nashville Star" in the show's 6th season finale. This is the first year I've watched the show, but it certainly won't be the last.

From Day 1, Melissa's amazing talent has shown through and I'm thrilled to see her win. More than that, though, I'm thrilled to see that a mother of 5 has proven to the world that moms, just like everybody else, can still follow (and attain) their dreams.

This excerpt from an article by Mario Tarradel in The Dallas Morning News sums it up perfectly:

In many ways, however, she was a winner before her name was called. The relentlessly image-conscious music business, country or otherwise, would have probably discarded Ms. Lawson immediately because she's not model-thin. Yet it's in her realness – her looks, her story, her talent – that the heart of true country music beats. She represents most of the women out there who connect with the genre: the working mothers, the wives and the churchgoers. She proves that life experiences are the ultimate tools needed to sell a song.

Melissa, you go, girl! You're an inspiration to me as a woman, as a mom and as a dreamer. Looking forward to more of that beautiful voice.

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

Blessings,
Kat

Meet Rachel

2008-08-04T06:58:00.005-04:00

I have been blessed with two beautiful little girls. Rachel is the older of the two, and today she turns five. I mentioned in a post last week that I don't have many heroes, but Rachel is one of the few. She inspires me daily with her kindness, her wit, her bravery and her innocence. She makes me want (more than anything!) to be the best mommy I can be, the best me I can be. She puts my life, my work, my stress, my every single action into perspective, and she truly makes my heart smile.

Children are amazing. Life is so different through the eyes of a child, so much better than through my own, I think.

If you have children, take a special, intentional look at them today. Remember how amazing they are, how inspirational they are, and how blessed you are to have them.

To my sweet, beautiful, amazing little Rachel, may your next 95 years be as wonderful as the first five have been, for both of us. Happy, Happy Birthday! And most important of all:

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

Blessings,
Kat

Photo Friday: Joy!

2008-08-01T06:20:00.001-04:00

Drop all your cares and worries at the doorstep… and just revel in the fun. Jump in with both feet!

Photo and words by Mel Instefjord, June 2008. Bree Instefjord is 4 3/4 years old, and LOVES soccer!

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

Blessings,
Kat

Locks of Love

2008-07-31T06:20:00.001-04:00

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!

2008-07-30T06:20:00.000-04:00

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

2008-07-29T06:20:00.000-04:00

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

2008-07-28T06:20:00.001-04:00

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

2008-07-25T06:20:00.002-04:00

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

2008-07-24T06:20:00.002-04:00

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.

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Blessings,

Kat

Wildcard Wednesday: 5 Minutes for Special Needs

2008-07-23T06:20:00.001-04:00

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!

2008-07-22T06:20:00.001-04:00

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

2008-07-21T06:20:00.001-04:00

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

2008-07-18T06:20:00.001-04:00

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

2008-07-17T06:20:00.001-04:00

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

2008-07-16T06:00:00.000-04:00

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

2008-07-15T06:20:00.000-04:00

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

2008-07-14T06:38:00.005-04:00

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

2008-07-11T06:20:00.000-04:00

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

2008-07-10T06:20:00.001-04:00

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

2008-07-09T17:47:00.004-04:00

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

2008-07-08T06:25:00.002-04:00

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

2008-07-07T17:34:00.005-04:00

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!

2008-07-04T06:53:00.004-04:00

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

2008-07-03T11:14:00.004-04:00

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

2008-07-02T06:51:00.002-04:00

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

2008-07-01T06:27:00.002-04:00

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

Meet Alan

2008-06-30T06:30:00.008-04:00

One of the best parts of my day job is that it affords me the opportunity to meet and get to know people from all over the world. The very best part of my job is when one of those people grows from "just" a co-worker to a real friend, a bespren, even. Alan is one of those people. Alan inspires me with his creativity, his smarts, his loyalty and most of all, his very big heart.

Alan lives in the Philippines, a nation made up of many small islands. Alan has had the opportunity to travel to many places most of us here in the U.S. have never heard of. When Alan noticed the poverty and the potential of a place called El Nido, he knew he had to do something to help. What a simple idea he came up with, and what a complex, long-lasting effect it had. Alan started a program this Spring called "Lapis, Please (A Pencil Revolution)." In Alan's own words:
I’ve been yearning to contribute the little that I have to make a world of difference to our less fortunate brothers in the provinces. I want to send a strong message that the youth is what this country really needs to treasure and nurture. It’s not about what school you come from or which social class you belong to; everyone has a substantial stake on the future of our beloved Philippines.

First off, why pencils? Well, my humble reply is, why NOT pencils? The pencil has always been the symbol of learning for kids and their first tool for expressing their own imaginations. Why just pencils? Well, let’s give a chance for them to get creative and find or improvise a sharpener or eraser. This program aims to be an enabler and not merely a dole-out.

This program will never claim to be the ultimate solution to our pressing problems in both education (or lack thereof) and the debilitating poverty. However, it is absolutely the BIG first step to reach that noble goal, a flicker of a light on an otherwise bleak(er) future. Realizing our own limitations, we turn to our dear friends (and friends of friends) who also believe in our advocacy. It is a simple idea but hey, it might be someone else’s ticket out of poverty and away from ignorance - perhaps even life-changing for some. Hopefully, in 10 years or more, someone will remember that this tiniest of ideas opened the biggest of opportunities for him. Talk about “paying it forward”.
You can read more about how the "Lapis Project" day went here, and see some pictures that Alan took. (He's a great photographer, by the way.) Who knows how these pencils will change the world in the future... one of those pencils might be used to sketch the world's next great masterpiece, write the next great novel, find the formula that cures cancer or perhaps, just bring a smile to a child's face. You never know. But sometimes, just bringing a smile to a child's face is more than enough, don't you think?

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

Blessings,
Kat
.

Photo Friday: The Other Side

2008-06-27T08:31:00.003-04:00

My mom took this picture many years ago, back when we all still used film. It was taken in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York, at the family campground where my family has spent the past 25 summers, where my parents still spend all their time from "school's out" (they're both teachers) through Labor Day weekend.

I love this picture, I have a large version of it framed and hanging in my home. This is a path I've been down hundreds of times before, and it leads from one beautiful beach to another. In the daytime, it's a short, pretty walk, only a few hundred yards with a gorgeous beginning and a gorgeous ending. But, I've also walked down it at night, in the dark.

When it's dark outside, this path, though familiar to me, is still scary. There are lots of tree roots in the path, it's easy to stumble. There are a few small curves and if you don't see them coming, it would be easy to end up with your face planted firmly into the side of a tree. A few feet to one side is a lake, so a few wrong steps and you'll end up in the water. And the mosquitoes? Merciless!

Isn't that so true of life? When it's darkest, even the most familiar path can be difficult, sometimes frightening. If it's a path you've never been down before, it's even worse. But sometimes, you just have to trust that the path really does end, in a safe, sometimes beautiful place. Trust and strength and courage aren't always easy, but if you take your time stay the course and pull yourself back up if you fall, you'll always make it through to the other side.

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

Blessings,
Kat

Live United

2008-06-26T06:41:00.008-04:00

I love organizations that have a simple mission, a simple principle, and a great plan to put it into action. The United Way is one of these organizations. Big thanks to my friend Mel for bringing this one to my attention! It’s likely you’ve heard of them before, but do you know what they’re all about? I encourage you to read more here, then visit their website for additional information on how you can help them help our local communities.

In this post, the items in italics are pilfered straight from their website, and though I’m not a fan of using other people’s words to tell the story, who better than The United Way to tell you what they’re all about?

The theme: Live United.

The mission: To improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities.

That’s right, it’s about putting people (us!) into action to make our own communities stronger, safer and better. Who can’t get on board with that?

So who is the United Way, exactly? United Way is a national network of nearly 1,300 local organizations that work to advance the common good by focusing on education, income and health. These are the building blocks for a good life: a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement, and good health.

There are three different ways you can get involved:

First, you can give. If you can afford to, you can make a charitable donation. The United Way website offers advice on giving, what to look out for, and how to track your donations.
Second, you can advocate. Even if you can’t afford to give, anyone can champion the cause. Whether you’re speaking out to improve education, income and health, reaching out to members of Congress, or wearing the LIVE UNITED shirt to show your support, you can help inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow. So go ahead and advocate in a LIVE UNITED world. Do it in public. Be visible. Be loud.
Third, you can volunteer. Give an hour. Give a Saturday. Give your best. We all have special talents. Things we can do to help. And when we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all. Whether it’s reading to children, or leading financial literacy classes for hard-working families, or delivering meals to homebound seniors, there are hundreds of volunteer options available every day. Give the gift of you. Volunteer.

I ordered a Live United t-shirt (gotta love a t-shirt with a strong, positive message!) and I’m looking at volunteer opportunities in my local community. Even if you don’t have a lot of money or a lot of time, you sure have a lot of YOU! I encourage you to take a few minutes to get to know more about this organization, to see how you can also make a difference in your local community and become a part of the Live United movement.

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

Blessings,
Kat

Wildcard Wednesday: Comment Card

2008-06-25T06:44:00.004-04:00

There are a handful of blogs that I read every single day, others I check in on every few days or at least once a week. My favorites are my favorites because they inspire me, they make me laugh, they educate me, they tell a good story, or some combination of the above. Yet even though I read them frequently, I (very) rarely leave a comment on a post.

Why? Usually (and though not consciously), I suppose I think, "This is [insert name of close bloggy friend here]'s blog, s/he knows I read every day, I don't really need to tell him/her" or "this person doesn't really know me, why would they care what I think?" or "I don't want to look like a stalker if I keep leaving comments!"

And then I get a comment on one of my own blogs, and it makes my day! Doesn't matter if it's from a close friend, a bloggy friend, or a stranger. We (bloggers) LOVE to get comments on our posts. It makes us feel good!!

So here's a challenge for today (and tomorrow and every day really, but we'll start small). Find a blog. Read it. Leave a comment. How simple is that? You can pick a blog you already read, maybe choose one from my list of "Links I Love" on the left side of this page (scroll down a bit to find it), or find a random blog by clicking on the "Next Blog" link at the very top of this site.

Your comment doesn't have to be long or profound, you can write something as simple as:

"I read your blog all the time, just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy it."

~or~

"This really made me laugh, thank you!"

~or~

"I can relate to this so much, thank you for sharing."

~or even~

"I have a different perspective on this, but it's nice to read another point of view."

Of course, remember what your mom always told you... If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all. We don't want to leave any mean comments, but it only takes a second to make someone's day with a comment, a kind word of encouragement, or some advice / suggestions the person may be asking for. If you blog yourself, you already know what a day brightener these comments can be. Why not take a moment to spread some sunshine today?

PS - If you leave a link to your blog in a comment to this post, I'll visit your blog, bookmark it, and even leave YOU a comment!

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

Blessings,
Kat

Good in the News: Tim Russert

2008-06-24T08:54:00.003-04:00

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve no doubt heard that Tim Russert passed away on June 13 at the age of 58. Even if your house isn’t full of politics-junkies like mine is, who TIVO Meet the Press every Sunday morning, and even if you never heard the name “Tim Russert” before his death, surely you have now. You know who he was and what he did in his career. You know the sadness felt by those who knew him and those who watched him at home and abroad. You know the loss, the sadness, the void left by his passing.

So how is it that a story about death at a young age makes it to the “Good in the News” section of this blog? Remember, this blog is all about how to find light through darkness, how to dance in the storm, how to focus on the good things instead of the bad. Let me explain...

At his funeral service, Barack Obama and John McCain, who have been battling it out in the political arena for months on end, sat next to each other, engaged in amicable conversation, as they waited for the service to begin. How many other people could bring the left and the right together, making opposites put aside their differences for a greater purpose? That’s a big accomplishment, that’s good news.

Whether you knew of him or not, when you heard of his passing, did you stop and think, “wow, he was too young!” and hug someone you love just a little bit tighter? Appreciate today a little bit more? Stopping to count your blessings or to show appreciation to someone you love, that’s good news, too.

Mario Cuomo, former governor of New York (for whom Tim Russert once worked) said this: "He regarded a day greeted without real enthusiasm as a sadly lost opportunity." That’s advice we can all benefit from, a lesson we can all learn and share with our children. That’s good news.

Speaking of children, the most important words of the day came from Tim Russert’s own son, 22 year old Luke. “My dad was my best friend," he said. “Tim Russert led with his heart, his compassion and most of all his honor.” These are big statements, powerful statements, proud, loving, wonderful statements. Don’t we all hope and wish and pray that when our time comes, our children remember us that very same way?

To lead with your heart, your compassion and your honor… that is a shining example to set for others. To leave this world a better place than you found it… that is the most we can ask for in our life.

Of course, I didn’t “know” Tim Russert. But I miss him, and I’ve learned something from him: To live a good life, to give what we can, when we can, to whomever we can... to bring people together, to raise amazing, proud children… that is the best sort of legacy we can leave. Tim Russert's passing has reminded me of these lessons, and I hope it reminded others, too. If his passing has provided you any perspective on your own life, on the kind of memories you want to make or the legacy you wish to leave, then that, my friends, is good news.

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

Blessings,
Kat

Meet Melody

2008-06-23T07:17:00.005-04:00

I have two young daughters, ages 2 and (almost) 5. They are wonderful, amazing, (fairly) well-behaved kids. Yet there are always those days where my husband and I find ourselves wondering who's silly idea it was to have so many children. You know, those days where you get into bed at night and just thank God you made it through the day, with everyone all still in one piece. We promise each other that the only way we'll have more children on purpose is if they come with more parents!

On the days I get frustrated, I always find inspiration and motivation and calm in thinking about Melody. Melody has four children. Yes, four! Not only four kids, but four boys! Can you imagine? One is grown but three of them are in their teen/tween years. Three tween boys?!?!? Yikes! Compared to that, my life is cake!

There's more to her story, though. The three youngest boys? All adopted. That's right, Melody and her husband made a conscious decision to open their hearts and their lives to three young boys, to bring them into their own family and love them as their own. Did I mention they're all close in age, and she currently has three tween boys?!?!?

The story still doesn't end there, though. Between them, these three boys live with autism, ADHD, bipolar disorder, cerebral palsy and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. And yes, Melody knew all that going in. Can you think of anyone with more purpose, more courage or a bigger heart than this woman? I most certainly can't!

Not only is Melody a mother, she's a photographer, a writer, and she has a great sense of humor. In her own words:

I love my life! My special purpose sons take me to places daily in mind and heart that I would have never known existed without them. In sharing photos and a few words from our daily life, I encourage you to look at your life with humor, hope and with the reality that you do what you can do when you can do it. And reminding you to snap photos...lots of photos.

Let me tell you, this woman is amazing. She is an inspiration. She is a daily reminder to stop taking yourself so seriously, to look at your life with a little bit of humor, a whole lot of hope, and to let yourself off the hook on the days you just can't get it all done.

Run, don't walk, over to her blog: Slurping Life. Bookmark it, visit it daily. Melody will make you laugh, she'll make you cry, she'll show you some amazing pictures. More than all that, though, she'll remind you that even on your toughest days, there are others out there going through the same things as you, and if you stop to smell the roses, enjoy the moments and laugh when you can, life will be a much more beautiful place.

Oh -- and if three tween boys?!?!? and one blog wasn't enough, Melody just launched a new blog called whatithink, which is full of blogging reviews, giveaways and contests. Trust me, this lady gets some COOL giveaway stuff, you'll want to check that one out, too!

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

Blessings,
Kat

Photo Friday: Perfect Moments

2008-06-20T09:05:00.008-04:00

Let me preface this by saying that I do not claim to be a "photographer." I have a very average camera and though I'm gifted in many areas, photography is not one of them. The camera is usually an afterthought and if I do get a decent shot, pretty much all I know how to do is upload it to my laptop and take out the red eye.

Photo Friday is not about picture quality, it's about picture content. I hope to be able to include photos that others have taken in the coming weeks, where the quality is as good as the content. But in the meantime, don't focus on if the picture is in focus, if the lighting is right, or if it's a little off center. Focus on the subjects, the intent, the story and the emotion. If you've got a photo to share, please let me know!

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Nine months is a long time to wait when you're an expectant parent. But when you're only two years old and you're waiting for you new baby sister? Might as well be forever. My husband took this picture of my daughters and me during their first meeting. Jessica was 15 hours old, Rachel was 2 months shy of turning three. This photograph doesn't do it justice, though. Jessica had her eyes wide open, presumable planning how to get her hands on Rachel's head of curly red hair. Rachel just smiled and smiled and stared and stared at "her" new baby... the one she'd waited for, planned for, and loved in a heartbeat.

If you're a parent, you probably have a memory just like this one. Whether you captured it on film or not, you can relate to this first introduction, this first look, this first love. For this moment, the rest of the world melts away, nothing else matters, you have everything in the entire world that you could ever want or need. It's a perfect, pure, unconditional moment, one that you want to hold on to forever. It doesn't matter what's going on outside the walls of the room that you're in, it only matters that you are a family, and that you are forever.

This photograph, this is my perfect moment. What's yours?

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

Blessings,
Kat

Really Cool People

2008-06-19T09:49:00.008-04:00

Growing up, "cool" was pretty much the last adjective anyone would have used to describe me. I was a teacher's kid, a straight-and-narrow, A student. A geek, a nerd, a dweeb.

Last year, though, I "met" (virtually) a guy named Sam Davidson. He and Stephen Moseley have completely redefined what it means to be "cool" and this time, it includes me! Sam and Stephen started an organization called Cool People Care, who's mission is to change the world, 5 minutes at a time. Though I've never met them in person, I've read their book, I wear their t-shirts, display their and stickers and poster (both at work and at home) and drink their own special brew of coffee from my really cool travel mug.

So many of us think we "just don't have the time" to do good things for each other, our community and our planet. But wait, we do! Cool People Care shows us all how we can make a true difference every single day in 5 minutes or less. Who can't find time for that?

If you have kids, know kids, or even just act like a kid, you'll also want to check out their sister site, Cool Moms Care. This site has the same concept, except that it's aimed at parents (and aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, friends, etc.) with children ages 0-12. Michelle Andrade is the Mom-in-Chief over there, and if you look around a little bit, you might even find some articles I've written!

These guys (and gal) fall under the category of doing good in the world, not only themselves, but promoting "good" to others, and giving us all the simple tools and information we need to do good ourselves.

Cool doesn't even begin to describe them, they're downright awesome! Check them out and learn how you can increase your own "cool quotient" in 5 minutes or less!

CoolPeopleCare - Saving the World, 5 Minutes at a Time
CoolMomsCare - Saving the World, One Kid at a Time

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

Blessings,
Kat

Welcome to Dancing with Ladybugs

2008-06-18T13:39:00.007-04:00

I think we all go through days where the weight of the world is heavy on our shoulders. Sometimes these days drag into weeks, sometimes months. There are times when life seems dark, ugly, stormy, where getting out of bed in the morning is more an obligation than a choice. Most of us eventually come out of the tunnel, though from inside, the light can be hard to see, and the journey can be long. Sometimes we turn to friends, family, God, or look deep within ourselves to find the courage and the strength and the motivation to keep moving in the right direction. Sometimes, though, it's hard to stay on the path, to find the light, and to follow it until it's within arm's reach. But when we emerge, the warmth of that light is beautiful, the sun through the clouds is the most magnificent, the rewards are the greatest.

Every adversity, though, provides the opportunity to learn a great life lesson. It's all about perspective, and sometimes you just need to know where to look for the inspiration to get you through. Sometimes it's a random event, a story of hope, even a little ladybug that can make all the difference. In a stormy, ugly world, we need to remember to that life is about dancing in the rain, not merely weathering the storm.

The impetus behind this blog started from an ugly event, one of those things that makes you feel sick to your stomach at how cruel the world can be. A friend of a friend knew two young men who were involved in a terrible accident, where one young man lost his life. The local news reported snippets within hours after it occurred, with very little information or facts available. The situation was tragic enough to begin with, but as I read some of the comments that had been posted to the article on the news site, I was appalled that some people could be so cruel, so judgemental, so heartless. In frustration, I told my friend Mel that I was annoyed to have to share air with some of these people. I probably should have prayed for them, but instead, I got angry. She and I began a conversation about ugly things in the world, and how hard they are to explain to our young daughters. How do we, as parents, shield our children from these things? How do we raise them to be good people and do good things when there are so many ugly influences in the world? How do we explain why people do bad things? How do we show them the good, the hope, the promise, the light, when there seem to be so many forces working against that?

The idea for this blog was born... a blog about the GOOD in the world. The hope. The inspiration. The promise. The light at the end of the tunnel that can provide you direction and pull you through.

The goal here is to include some original posts, links to other sites / blogs / stories that personify beauty in this sometimes ugly world and in addition, offer this space to guest bloggers who have stories and inspirations to share.

It may be a slow start, I'm a full-time-mom with a full-time-other-job, so time time isn't always on my side. However, having too many good things to blog about is really a positive, and I'm hoping to meet some new friends, inspire a few people, and maybe even pick up some help along the way!

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

Blessings,
Kat