until Ricardo can leave Afghanistan. woo-hooo!!
He was going to stay a few extra weeks which would put him coming home the first week of December. A little extra money is what we were thinking when considering that option. We have just come to miss being around each other, him missing certain memorable events in the boys lives, etc... Those are things you just can't get back. So putting an extra a few extra $$ doesnt amount to the time lost with family, holidays missed, which he would be missing Thanksgiving if he stayed. I have realized many times including this time what a great husband and father Ricardo is. More importantly what a great supporting family that we both have. We would not be who we are and where we are without them! Thank you!!!!
I know he has been working his butt off over there and when I have talked with him lately it's quite obvious that he is ready to come home. We are more than ready to have him home at this point! Working practically seven days a week since he got there in May can wear you down I am sure..
So here's to 46 more days until he can celebrate his homecoming... 75 more days until we can celebrate (aboard the Carnival Conquest) being together again and Ricardo obtaining his masters/while working full-time and going to school full-time... Anything is possible!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Celebrate good times come on!
Counting down the days until Ricardo will be home again. He has 56 days until he can leave Afghanistan. woo-hoo!
We will soon be together again. So to celebrate that on top of a big accomplishment in Ricardo's life, which is earning his masters degree, we are taking a nice family vacation December 14-21. The boys and I are VERY excited. The ship stops in Cozumel, Montego Bay and the Grand Cayman Islands.
This trip would not have been possible if not for the sacrifice of Ricardo being deployed for six months, so for that I am thankful!
The Circle of Life
I found this posting on another blog and thought the message was soo great I wanted to share it. I am taking a psychology class right now where we are picking apart old and new rules of life, seeing which ones we identify with the most, reflecting on that, as we write the story of our life so far. This is a great rule in life- The Cirle of Life...
Soren Kierkegaard said, “God has given each of us our "marching orders'. Our purpose here on Earth is to find those orders and carry them out. Those orders acknowledge our special gifts.” It is important to know that each of us is a unique individual and that we each have our own reason for being here. It is easy to get lost in the endless sea of competition and conformity to feel like a number of just another spoke in the wheel. We are each searching for some message that reveals our purpose and sets us on the right course that gives our life meaning. However, you already have it with you. Your purpose is inside of you. You have to learn to listen to your inner voice, the one that gives you gut feelings and little hints all throughout your life. It is when you finally listen to that voice that you will discover why you are here. It may surprise you to discover that you are in control of your life to a much greater extent than you ever imagined. Frank Clark said, “Everyone is trying to accomplish something big, not realizing that life is made up of little things.” There are so many things that you have already accomplished that you have not given yourself enough credit for. George Eliot said, “The golden moments in the stream of life rush past us, and we see nothing but sand; the angels come to visit us, and we only know them when they are gone.”
It is usually through reflection that we see the good that we have done. What we focus on is what we get, so do not spend a lot of time in the past. Just learn from your past and move on. You cannot change it. If you feel that you have done someone wrong in the past, find them and apologize. You cannot change what happened, but you can at least let it go. I have found that by apologizing for a past event, the person I thought I had injured did not even remember what I was talking about. The only person I had hurt over all that time was me. Let things go and move on. The thing that makes or breaks us is our mindset. Coach Vincent Lombardi said, “The good Lord gave you a body that can stand most anything. It's your mind you have to convince.” We learn to live in the future or the past in either thought or memory, but life is here in the present. If you do not live in the present moment, you are missing out on the very essence of life. Learning to enjoy the here and now will allow you to fill your memory banks up with wonderful memories because you will be fully aware of what is going on around you. Too often we are on autopilot and miss all of the things that surround us. You have to notice the order of life and the opportunities that are always present.
I thought the movie, “The Lion King,” was a good representation of the struggles and the lessons in life. In fact, the song, “Circle of Life,” by Elton John really summarizes well that we are all connected and that each of us must find our own path. Read the lyrics.
Circle of Life (by Elton John)
From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There's more to be seen than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
Some say eat or be eaten
Some say live and let live
But all are agreed as they join the stampede
You should never take more than you give
In the circle of life
It's the wheel of fortune
It's the leap of faith
It's the band of hope
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle, the circle of life
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with the scars
There's far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round
In the circle of life
It's the wheel of fortune
It's the leap of faith
It's the band of hope
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle, the circle of life
Because of free will, we do have the opportunity to soar…or we can allow ourselves to fall by the wayside. You have the choice to be whatever you want. The power is within you…so set your dreams and goals well. Denis Waitley said, “Goals provide the energy source that powers our lives. One of the best ways we can get the most from the energy we have is to focus it. That is what goals can do for us; concentrate our energy.” Focusing your thoughts, words and actions towards making your dreams come true, attract people and circumstances into your life so that you can accomplish your dreams. Thomas Huxley said, “The great end of life is not knowledge but action.” You can dream about where you want to be, but you must take action towards making your dreams come true. You slowly become aware of what you need to do as you focus on where you want to be. By listening to your inner self, you will discover a guide that will lead you to your chosen purpose. M. Scott Peck said, “The great awareness comes slowly, piece by piece. The path of spiritual growth is a path of lifelong learning. The experience of spiritual power is basically a joyful one.” The more you discover your inner voice, the more spiritual you will feel. You are connecting to your soul. It may sound esoteric, but it is really one of the greatest lessons you will ever learn. Start listening to your own wants and needs and follow your own way. David McKay said, “Find a purpose in life so big it will challenge every capacity to be at your best.” You will find your place on the path unwinding and will discover your own circle of life.
Soren Kierkegaard said, “God has given each of us our "marching orders'. Our purpose here on Earth is to find those orders and carry them out. Those orders acknowledge our special gifts.” It is important to know that each of us is a unique individual and that we each have our own reason for being here. It is easy to get lost in the endless sea of competition and conformity to feel like a number of just another spoke in the wheel. We are each searching for some message that reveals our purpose and sets us on the right course that gives our life meaning. However, you already have it with you. Your purpose is inside of you. You have to learn to listen to your inner voice, the one that gives you gut feelings and little hints all throughout your life. It is when you finally listen to that voice that you will discover why you are here. It may surprise you to discover that you are in control of your life to a much greater extent than you ever imagined. Frank Clark said, “Everyone is trying to accomplish something big, not realizing that life is made up of little things.” There are so many things that you have already accomplished that you have not given yourself enough credit for. George Eliot said, “The golden moments in the stream of life rush past us, and we see nothing but sand; the angels come to visit us, and we only know them when they are gone.”
It is usually through reflection that we see the good that we have done. What we focus on is what we get, so do not spend a lot of time in the past. Just learn from your past and move on. You cannot change it. If you feel that you have done someone wrong in the past, find them and apologize. You cannot change what happened, but you can at least let it go. I have found that by apologizing for a past event, the person I thought I had injured did not even remember what I was talking about. The only person I had hurt over all that time was me. Let things go and move on. The thing that makes or breaks us is our mindset. Coach Vincent Lombardi said, “The good Lord gave you a body that can stand most anything. It's your mind you have to convince.” We learn to live in the future or the past in either thought or memory, but life is here in the present. If you do not live in the present moment, you are missing out on the very essence of life. Learning to enjoy the here and now will allow you to fill your memory banks up with wonderful memories because you will be fully aware of what is going on around you. Too often we are on autopilot and miss all of the things that surround us. You have to notice the order of life and the opportunities that are always present.
I thought the movie, “The Lion King,” was a good representation of the struggles and the lessons in life. In fact, the song, “Circle of Life,” by Elton John really summarizes well that we are all connected and that each of us must find our own path. Read the lyrics.
Circle of Life (by Elton John)
From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There's more to be seen than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
Some say eat or be eaten
Some say live and let live
But all are agreed as they join the stampede
You should never take more than you give
In the circle of life
It's the wheel of fortune
It's the leap of faith
It's the band of hope
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle, the circle of life
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with the scars
There's far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round
In the circle of life
It's the wheel of fortune
It's the leap of faith
It's the band of hope
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle, the circle of life
Because of free will, we do have the opportunity to soar…or we can allow ourselves to fall by the wayside. You have the choice to be whatever you want. The power is within you…so set your dreams and goals well. Denis Waitley said, “Goals provide the energy source that powers our lives. One of the best ways we can get the most from the energy we have is to focus it. That is what goals can do for us; concentrate our energy.” Focusing your thoughts, words and actions towards making your dreams come true, attract people and circumstances into your life so that you can accomplish your dreams. Thomas Huxley said, “The great end of life is not knowledge but action.” You can dream about where you want to be, but you must take action towards making your dreams come true. You slowly become aware of what you need to do as you focus on where you want to be. By listening to your inner self, you will discover a guide that will lead you to your chosen purpose. M. Scott Peck said, “The great awareness comes slowly, piece by piece. The path of spiritual growth is a path of lifelong learning. The experience of spiritual power is basically a joyful one.” The more you discover your inner voice, the more spiritual you will feel. You are connecting to your soul. It may sound esoteric, but it is really one of the greatest lessons you will ever learn. Start listening to your own wants and needs and follow your own way. David McKay said, “Find a purpose in life so big it will challenge every capacity to be at your best.” You will find your place on the path unwinding and will discover your own circle of life.
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