NILES SMILES

Sharon, the sister of friends of ours, wrote a short story about Gratitude, dedicated to her 15 y/o nephew, Nile. Nile always had a smile for everyone and was a happy, joyful teen, and altho he had a serious physical impairment it didn't slow him down. His parents, Carol and Ty, said Nile could always brighten up a room or a life with his smile. Sharon wrote about her gratitude for having this beautiful soul in her life and all the blessings she had received from and through him. She shared the story at her church and it became popular, with many people emailing it to friends and family in other churches all over the world.

One ladies church group heard the story, and wanted to do something for Nile. This dedicated group of ladies makes hand stitched prayer quilts for people with cancer or other devastating illnesses. The quilts are about 3 ft x 5 ft, and are put together in the old fashioned quilting way. Basically 8 large blocks of varied colors and patterns, sewn together,plain material on the other side, filled with cotton batting. They are colorful and vibrant, made up of 8 large squares with a picture in the middle of each large square. Niles quilt had pictures of him from babyhood to his teens. The 3 layers are tied together with a matching color of yarn, placed in strategic places. As these loving ladies tie each yarn knot they say a healing prayer for the person that will receive the blanket.

The church ladies contacted Carol and Ty about the prayer quilt made for their son, not knowing that the beloved teen had passed away from a MRSA infection in the meantime.

Now the quilt is resting on the shoulders of a healing family friend that is recovering from a brain tumor. The quilt was wrapped around my grateful shoulders for a few precious hours when we visited these caring people a few weeks ago. I could feel the healing prayers and energy coursing through my body and settling inside my heart, to rest there and help me heal.

BRICK WALLS

I have hit a brick wall. All thru the last year and a ½, I have kept my equanimity, my composure, my stability. Through surgeries, doctors appointments, through radiation, doctors telling me I have lung metastasis, and doctors telling me I also have a second type of cancer. Nothing to do with the original cancer. Through tests, tests and more tests. Through chemo for the past 6 weeks. I have, well not really sailed through all these challenges, but kinda slowly coasted down hill on my E- ticket ride through life.



I have even looked for and found, and am still finding my Blessings on this cancer fantasy ride.
But now I have hit my Brick Wall with a solid kerplunk!! thwhhaaacccck!!

But now, due to the chemo I have lost all my hair. Or about 99.9 % of it. And the other .01 % doesn't really count. It looks like a spider web on my head. Not very appealing, so I keep a cap on most of the time.
I never dreamed I was so vain about how I look, especially my hair, but I was devastated.
And the resultant depression and embarrassment told me it was all ego. What a shock!!
I didn't really know what to do about my suffering vanity, except live with it.

Acceptance is also a good place to start, but that comes in small short clumps, and then its back to disappointment and vanity.
Now you know me. I am pretty much a realist, facing lifes challenges with a strength and a certain aplomb.
But no hair had me stumped. Caps, hats, scarves, wigs really did no good to my wounded ego. In fact, all the head paraphernalia called attention to my loss, to my – difference.
I have cancer. I am 'ill.' Generally people have a distrust, sometimes an embarrassment or discomfort of 'different.'
So don't have a disability, or a weakness, or illness or some other kind of 'difference.' You will only be an embarrassment.

Now , I am at my Brick Wall, and what am I going to do? In leiu of the non-existent phone booth, I'll have to find a powder room and change into my SuperWoman persona and bust thru that Brick Wall - Boom, Bamm, Kerpowww!!!

Because on the other side of my Brick Wall is my Hero – God. God with His soothing, comforting, Loving Embrace. He Loves 'different.'
I close my eyes and take a deep Breathe of God!

Ok I am fine now.

HEAL THE WORLD

WE ARE THE WORLD
By Micheal Jackson, Lionel Ritchie, Diana Ross





I tried to download a youtube video of Michael Jacksons 'Heal The World', but they are witholding the free video downloads.
Here are the lyrics, not as impressive as the video, but....








Rae




"Heal The World"

There's A Place In
Your Heart
And I Know That It Is Love
And This Place Could
Be Much
Brighter Than Tomorrow
And If You Really Try
You'll Find There's No Need
To Cry
In This Place You'll Feel
There's No Hurt Or Sorrow

There Are Ways
To Get There
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Little Space
Make A Better Place...

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

If You Want To Know Why
There's A Love That
Cannot Lie
Love Is Strong
It Only Cares For
Joyful Giving
If We Try
We Shall See
In This Bliss
We Cannot Feel
Fear Or Dread
We Stop Existing And
Start Living

Then It Feels That Always
Love's Enough For
Us Growing
So Make A Better World
Make A Better World...

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

And The Dream We Were
Conceived In
Will Reveal A Joyful Face
And The World We
Once Believed In
Will Shine Again In Grace
Then Why Do We Keep
Strangling Life
Wound This Earth
Crucify Its Soul
Though It's Plain To See
This World Is Heavenly
Be God's Glow

We Could Fly So High
Let Our Spirits Never Die
In My Heart
I Feel You Are All
My Brothers
Create A World With
No Fear
Together We'll Cry
Happy Tears
See The Nations Turn
Their Swords
Into Plowshares

We Could Really Get There
If You Cared Enough
For The Living
Make A Little Space
To Make A Better Place...

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY

Shadow Shot Sunday
Click the icon and visit Shadow shots from around the world.
Rae

SKY WATCH FRIDAY

Lake Arrowhead Ca. San Bernardino Mts.
Visit Sky Watch Friday to discover Skies from all over the world.
http://skyley.blogspot.com/

AUTUMNS BLUE RIBBON

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY

Blueridge Rd in Skyforest Ca

SKY WATCH FRIDAY

View from Hiway 18, San Bernardino, Ca mountains

For beautiful pics from around the world go here: http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Thursday June 11, 2009


HARMONY

Last week, to celebrate spring, renewal, and my birthday, we purchased a juicer. The idea of having our own fresh juice appealed to us in this time of searching for ways to promote new healthy growth and harmony in our bodies. I keep my eyes and ears open to ways to optimize the remaining good health I have. And for ways to build on that health.
Other than some decrease in stamina and some shortness of breath that is more asthma than anything else, I have no obvious signs or symptoms of the battles being waged in the inside of me.

Fruit juice is heavenly tasting and I thoroughly enjoy a large glass of fresh juice, especially on a hot day. It really seems to quench my thirst better than anything else. But vegetable juice is another story. I have never liked it, having tried it many times in my life, always thinking, Its been a long time since the last foray into juice conciousness. Always, one small sip and I was done. Too, way too veggie dull broccoli tasting. And that was that.
So I plugged in my new juicer and did the oranges, apples, grapes, and a couple of small carrots as a bow to the veggies.

But I had promised my self I would do whatever it would take to improve my health. Because it was a promise to myself, I had to keep it.
I put a few handfulls of spinach leaves in the juicer, a large group of broccoli, some celery stalks, some carrots, and an apple for sweetness.The juice dripping out of the juicer spout was as green as green can be. I thought, oh yuck, why did I make that promise. Now I have to keep it. Darn!

The moment of reckoning had arrived. I dipped my spoon into the green liquid and thought about the wicked witches brews.Green dragons blood, with werewolf tears and bats eyes, and other creepy things floating around crossed my mind. I closed my eyes and took a sip. Hmmm.
I took another sip, and another and then dipped my cup into the bowl, and drank the green glop.
The creepy stuff was kinda good. Not as good as fruit juice, but OK.
What a pleasant surprise.The apple sweetened the juice so it was more palatable to my sugar jaded taste buds.
So I am geared up and healthy for my Reality Show date with the chemo brothers this week.
With Gods help, I will be the winner, the # 1 best contestant in the Reality show this week and every week.

Just call me 'Juicey.'

I am learning to accept Gods promise. He promises He will answer my prayers for a healed body

ONE PERSON

One person can make a difference. Nowhere is that more evident than with the story of the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®, which began in Tacoma, Washington, as the City of Destiny Classic 24-Hour Run Against Cancer.
In the mid-1980s, Dr. Gordy Klatt, a Tacoma colorectal surgeon, wanted to enhance the income of his local American Cancer Society office. He decided to personally raise money for the fight by doing something he enjoyed—running marathons.

In May 1985, Dr. Klatt spent a grueling 24 hours circling the track at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma for more than 83 miles. Throughout the night, friends paid $25 to run or walk 30 minutes with him. He raised $27,000 to fight cancer. That first year, nearly 300 of Dr. Klatt's friends, family, and patients watched as he ran and walked the course.
While he circled the track those 24 hours, he thought about how others could take part. He envisioned a 24-hour team relay event that could raise more money to fight cancer. Months later he pulled together a small committee to plan the first team relay event known as the City of Destiny Classic 24-Hour Run Against Cancer.
In 1986, 19 teams took part in the first team relay event on the track at the colorful, historical Stadium Bowl and raised $33,000. An indescribable spirit prevailed at the track and in the tents that dotted the infield.
Since that first Relay For Life® event, millions have joined the cause all over the world, making Relay the largest fundraising event in mankind’s history.
My children, ( Larry, Sherrie, and grandaughter Autumn ) have a Relay For Life team dedicated to me called Ray Of Light. That Relay race will be held in Chico, Ca. April 25-26 2009. Many other Chico teams will participate, also.
I had planned on joining them for the festivities next month, but I don't know if that will be possible this year. I am supposed to start chemotherapy at about that time in April. That is the most important activity for me right now.
So never think that because you are just one person, that your little contribution won't make a difference. Anything you can do to make the world a better place is important , from helping to clean up the oceans and beaches, to walking in Relay marathons to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
I'm sure there is a Relay For Life near you. Google it and find your town or city.

HOPE

Hope is a belief in a positive outcome. Hope is the feeling that what is wanted can be had, or events can turn out for the best. Hope can be passive such as a wish or a prayer. Or it can be active, as in a plan, sometimes against all popular belief, but with a persistent personal action to execute the plan. Consider a P.O.W. who never gives up hope for escape, and against all odds, plans and accomplishes his escape.
So we make our plans and say our prayers. And build our Hope.
We must, regardless of the obstacles life puts in our path, continue to bolster and encourage Hope. To make it of primary importance, and to keep Hope strong, and not let it diminish. We must make our plans for our escape from whatever demon has us by the throat, whether physical, mental, emotional or imagined.

So, day by day, say a prayer for the accomplishment of your plan for escape. Write it down on a piece of paper, and review and update it often. Have a clear plan of action, and stick to that plan of action.

Part of your plan could be to communicate more with people that are like-minded, that are uplifting and are positive thinking. People that can give you support, and caring. Friends that understand and Love you.
If your goal seems impossible, the more important it is to build on that Hope.And to build your network of caring friends.
Finding a group for survivors of your demons, is extremely beneficial, and can be a good learning experience.The support and verbal exchange is phenomenal, and would be well worth your effort.
The time you spend in prayer is of utmost importance, and the conversations with God will help save your life.

'With God all things are possible.' Matthew 19:26