Photo Friday: The Sender of the Ladybugs

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.

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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.

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

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Blessings,

Kat

Reece's Rainbow

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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").

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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!

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

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Blessings,

Kat

Crazy Life

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."

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

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

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.

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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.

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What's your something?

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

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Blessings,

Kat

The Littlest Heroes Project

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