My 11 year old daughter noticed I was on the computer and wanted to know if I'd check her school website to see when the next dance is. She was disappointed to find there is no Dance for the month of October and she has to wait until November. She missed the first one in September because we were away for the weekend so she is anxious for the next one to get here. Then after finding out what she wanted to know, she ran off to play with her little sister.

I used to be fearless when I was growing up. I was spiteful and would get even wiht people no matter what size or age they were. When I look back on it now, I see how reckless I really was. Now I am a Mom of 3 girls and I don't want them to be the way I was back then. I fear they might not be as lucky as I was being that reckless in the past. I look at everything much different now. I'm still not afraid of too much, mostly fear for my children, not myself. I fear that if something happens to me, they'd have to grow up without Mom to guide them. I try to teach them not to hurt other people and to use words instead of violence to solve problems. I try to teach them to stand up for themselves and not to be afraid of trying new things, but I also teach them how to think of safety when doing the things they do everyday so they won't be as reckless I was growing up.

It's difficult to believe in hate and violence. I have trouble believing that people could be so cruel to do such things when I hear about the horrible things that go on in the world everyday. Everyday it grows and it becomes more unbelievable to me all the time. I guess it's difficult to believe in things that you are so strongly against even when it is shown to you daily in the news and even in your own life's experiences from time to time.

Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this?" or "Why did God have to do this to me?" Here is a wonderful explanation!

A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.

Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says,

"Absolutely Mom, I love your cake."

"Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers.

"Yuck" says her daughter.

"How about a couple raw eggs?"

"Gross, Mom!"

"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?"

"Mom, those are all yucky!"

To which the mother replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!

God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!

God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.

Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart."

If you like this, send this on to the people you really care about. I did.

I hope your day is a "piece of cake!"

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!

I took my Girl Scout troop to a corn maize and everyone had a great time! Of course, my coleader and I got lost and walked in many circles. One of the girls finally came back to help us find our way out. There were trivia questions in the maze. If you got the correct answers you found your way out faster. I guess we weren't smarter than 6th-8th graders, LOL! We also went on  hay wagon rides, cow train rides, did peddal car racing, and had a picnic lunch. We were having so much fun, we ended up calling all the parents and asking if they'd mind if we stayed two hours later than planned. They all agreed so everyone happy about that!

kindness from friends, family, and even strangers. The world would be lost without it. Just hearing what others are doing inspires me to want to do more for others.

Sorrow brings you down and it brings others down as well. It is just as contagious. Why make others feel bad, too?

President Richard Nixon is a descendant in my family. I come from a very large family descending from the Doane family (also known to be spelled Doan or Done). I married into a family that is the complete opposite, just 15 with the same last name in all of the united states.

Our location is unique, also. We can't get high speed Internet, natural gas, town water, or cable TV where I live.

When I am stressed, it is usually because I am doing too many things and am short on time to complete everything. I tend to volunteer too much sometimes. There's always a lack of volunteers and so I try to fill in where I can.  It makes me hurry at times when I am too busy and then I forget things which makes getting stuff done even more hectic, but it usually all works out for the most part.

Busy, that might be my middle name I think. I'm a Girl Scout leader, I'm our Girl Scout Service Unit's Public relations volunteer, I'm a Relay For Life team captain, on the Relay For Life Planning committee, the Relay For Life recruitment chair person, a volunteer for Chemo Angels, coeditor of our church newsletter, the bazaar helpers committee, the Women's Association, and a Sunday School teacher. I make my own greeting cards, read, surf the net, and answer emails.

Then, there's my kids. I drive them to friend's houses, NJHS, softball games, band, junior choir, youth choir, bell choir, Christmas plays, chorus concerts, school fund raisers, selling Girl Scout cookies, craft projects, home work projects, hiking, camping, soccer, swimming, doctor's appointments, orthodontist, eye appointments, playing at the park, Vacation Bible School, and so much more.

I drive my step-Dad to doctor appointments, help my Aunt, and the list is just too long to keep going.

God, Quiet time to sit and think, patience, good listening skills, and watching others. What slows me down is when I forget to take the time to do those things because I get too busy with the everyday fast paced life. I have to remember to take the time I need to do what's most important first, then everything else goes much more smoothly.

I do now. I used to never have time for myself. Now my youngest is in pre-k this year and I have almost 4 hours to myself 5 days a week now. It's nice to finally have time to just work on my own projects.