"In God We Trust"

I occasionally receive emails that promise miracles in exchange for forwarding them to others. While I usually appreciate the uplifting content, the "chain letter" format is frustrating—and I know I’m not alone in that feeling. I’ve shared an inspirational message below, but I’ve removed the chain-mail ultimatum at the end.

Since our currency acknowledges God, it makes me wonder about those who want Him removed from schools and government. It seems contradictory to be so judgmental of faith while having no problem accepting money that bears His name.

“In God We Trust”

 

We’ve all heard that finding a penny brings good luck or a "message from an angel," but I recently encountered a different twist on that old story.

Years ago, my friend Arlene was nervous about spending the weekend with her husband’s wealthy employer. His lifestyle was pure extravagance—mansions, yachts, and fine dining. As they approached an exclusive restaurant one evening, the boss suddenly stopped to stare at the pavement. There, among some cigarette butts, lay a single, darkened penny. To Arlene’s surprise, the wealthy man reached down, picked it up, and pocketed it like a treasure.

Unable to contain her curiosity during dinner, Arlene asked if the coin was a rare collectible. The man smiled, pulled the penny out, and asked her to read the inscription.

 

"United States of America?" she ventured. "No, keep reading," he replied. "One cent?" "Further." "In God We Trust?"

 

"Exactly," he said. "To me, that coin is a message. It’s a reminder to stop and ask myself if I am truly trusting God in that moment. I pick it up as a prayer—a response to Him. I cherish it more than gold because it starts a conversation with my Creator. Fortunately for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!"

 

I found a penny myself today while I was caught up in worry. I saw those words, "In God We Trust," and had to laugh. I got the message. God is patient indeed.

Back to my personal blog…

Reading this story reminded me of a classic Irish blessing I’ve heard throughout my life. A quick search for a few key phrases led me right to it.

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

May God be with you and bless you:
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.

May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.

May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.

Mystery of the Lost Remote Control

If I had a dollar for every time I lost something, I’d be at least $500 richer. The frustration of a missing item is bad enough, but the real struggle is the mental "itch"—I simply can’t focus on anything else until the item is found.

 

Take our camcorder remote, for example. After three weeks of searching, I gave up and asked my brother, Russ—an eBay veteran—to "Buy It Now" for me. We hadn't used the camera in a year, and I suspected it might have been left at a family reunion. I figured it was a lost cause.

 

Naturally, two days after Russ bought the replacement, I had a "Eureka!" moment. I remembered a specific box from 2008, back when I was recovering from foot surgery. During my recovery, my office was moved into my bedroom, and my small desk items—including that remote—had been swept into a nursing home storage box during the move back.

My memory is funny that way. I can’t remember what I ate for lunch yesterday, but I can "rewind" a year to find a remote. It’s the same with names; I once spent an hour lying in bed reciting the alphabet just to remember my cousin's son, Adam.

 

Does your memory ever go on strike like that? Do you use the alphabet trick too? If so, welcome to the club!

The Abby Show

On December 31st, during Christmas vacation, my 10-year-old niece, Abby, came over and did a little performance in our living room. She wanted to do something for awhile, but with school and other family activities, this was the first chance we could find time to do it.

Abby created the ideas all on her own, and if I do say so myself, she did a really good job. The entire show was over 16 minutes, so I broke it down into three smaller shows for faster uploading. We used a Canon camcorder and I edited it with iMovie on my eMac.

The song for the opening credits includes one of Abby's favorites, Fireflies sung by Owl City. You can watch the music video here at YouTube.

The sponsors for Abby show were gifts which she received for Christmas and she wanted to share them with everyone. They include the Philips GoGear 4GB Vibe Mp3 Video Player, Project Runway Projector and the book, Diary of A Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney.

 

I hope you enjoy watching Abby's show as much as Abby, Rick and I enjoyed being a part of producing it.

Music Galore on YouTube

From Transistor Radios to YouTube

Looking back at the early 70s, I have such vivid memories of sitting with my transistor radio and a tape recorder, hovering over the 'record' button to catch my favorite songs. It’s funny to think about that now, when any song we want is available on YouTube in an instant!

 

Lately, I’ve found myself drawn to country music. I look for tracks that offer either an inspirational message or an upbeat tempo—and I’m especially happy when I find a song that brings both. 

 

To me, music is a gift that soothes the soul, providing a much-needed escape when life gets hectic. Since there are so many wonderful videos out there, I wanted to share a few of my personal favorites with you. If you’re looking to relax, I encourage you to look up your own favorites; the perfect song is always ready and waiting.

 

Faith Hill - A Baby Changes Everything

Mark Lowry - Mary Did You Know?

Martina McBride - Anyway

 

Randy Travis - Three Wooden Crosses

Lee Ann Womack - I Hope You Dance

 

 

Jimmy Wayne - I Love You This Much

 

 

Sara Evans - I Could Not Ask For More

 

 

Diamond Rio - I Believe

 

 

Shania Twain & Bryan White - From This Moment On

 

Josh Turner - Long Black Train

 

Sarah McLachlan - Angel

 

Rascal Flatts - My Wish

 

Faith Hill - Breathe

 

Billy Currington - That Changes Everything

 

 

Jessica Andrews - Who I Am

 

Alabama - Angels Among Us

 

 

Martina McBride - Blessed

 

Diamond Rio - One More Day

Jo Dee Messina - I'm Alright   Tim McGraw -  Live Like You Were Dying

 

God's Message is Powerful

A friend sent me an email with a website link to watch the following video: The Interview with GOD

The video features beautiful, soothing music, stunning nature photography, and powerful words that reflect God’s infinite wisdom.

Beyond the Video: A Transcript for Reflection

I dreamed I had an INTERVIEW WITH GOD.

“So you would like to interview me?” GOD asked.

“If you have the time,” I said.

God smiled. “My time is eternity… what questions do you have in mind for me?”

“What surprises you most about humankind?”

God answered…

“That they get bored with childhood, they rush to grow up, and then long to be children again.”

“That they lose their health to make money… and then lose their money to restore their health.”

“That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live in neither the present nor the future.“

“That they live as if they will never die and die as though they had never lived.”

GOD’S hand took mine and we were silent for awhile.

And then I asked, “As a parent, what are some of life’s lessons you want your children to learn?”

“To learn they cannot make anyone love them. All they can do is let themselves me loved.”

“To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others.”

“To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.”

“To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in those they love, and it can take many years to heal them.”

“To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most, but is one who needs the least.”

“To learn that there are people who love them dearly, but simply do not yet know how to express or show their feelings.”

‘To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it differently.”

“To learn that it is not enough that they forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves.”

“Thank you for your time,” I said humbly. “Is there anything else you’d like your children to know?”

GOD smiled and said…

 

"Just know that I am here." 

 

"ALWAYS!"
  

Happy New Year!!!

I honestly have no idea where 2009 went. I didn't get nearly as much accomplished as I’d hoped, but I’m looking forward to a more productive 2010. My goal is to stick to these resolutions for longer than a week this time!

• Practice Optimism: I want to take life one day at a time instead of worrying about the future. 

• Beat Procrastination: I'll use to-do lists to stay organized and productive.

• Prioritize Movement: I’ll continue my morning bed exercises and stay active with walking. 

• Healthy Weight Gain: My goal is to reach 120 lbs by mid-March to prepare for my next surgery.

• Food Freedom: I’m officially moving past restrictive diets like Phase 1 and Alkaline. I’ve learned I can tolerate grains without flare-ups, and I’m ready to enjoy food again—healthy, organic, and even the occasional gluten treat. It’s time to eat as nature intended! 

• Gratitude: I’ll thank God daily for my life and express my deep appreciation to my family—especially my mom—and my friends for their tireless support during my hardest days. 

 

That covers the basics for now. Happy New Year!