November 17, 2011: Allergest/Accupuncturist

Hola, All! Last August Kim and I visited with Sandra, a woman who told us of her journey of how her kids overcame their terrible allergies. She talked to us about the things she felt she didn't do well and what she felt were the successful things that she accomplished. Sandra told us of a man who was a petroleum engineer whose first son was allergic to almost everything. In desperation to help his son, Steve Homoky quit his job to attend school to become an accupuncturist. He learned about Eastern medicine and how energy flows through the meridians of the body; when the energy is blocked, then sickness ensues. He also learned of a technique that has helped his son overcome most of his allergies and now he is a healthy 19 year old, attending college.
Later that month, I attended a gathering at Rose's house, where she proceeded to tell me about how Steve had helped both her and her daughter, Kristen, with different allergies. Then in October, Rose talked about it again at the Girls Gone Wild party. In November, at the Women's Retreat, Rose and Larie were both talking about Steve and what he had done for them. By this time, I'm thinking to myself, "OK, I don't need to be hit me over the head with a brick...........I'm making an appointment with Steve when I return."
I have had to deal with food allergies for years. It started out with problems with milk products, and has progressed to issues with onions, carbonated drinks, beef, spicy foods, sugar, fatty foods like sausage and bacon, and things I haven'teven identified. The older I get, the longer the list gets. I decided it was time to stop this insane cycle!
I've now had 3 treatments, and will write about them in my next blog. Right now, I'm going to go get Austin from his crib so I can play with him!!
Pay attention to the signs,
Dawnie

October 30, 2011: Follow your Intuition

Hola, All! Earlier in the month, I had a bone density test. This was not my first one, and certainly won't be my last. The test showed that my bone density had diminished, and the dr strongly suggested that I go see an endocrinologist (sp?). I drug my feet making the appointment because I don't want to be on any medication. A few years ago I was prescribed Actonel for my bones; it didn't take too many doses before I was having terrible heartburn from it. Needless to say, I stopped taking it.
After making the appointment with an endocrinologist, I started waking up with weird sensations, such as the fingers on my right hand went numb, even though I was sleeping in the same position that I always sleep in. After a few nights of this nonsense, I knew that the numbness was caused by my fear of not wanting to face the facts that were starring me in the face. In order to express my emotions, I started doing EFT, which caused me to face my emotions that I kept hidden and my fear. Since that day, the weird sensations have not come back.
Last Friday I went to the speciality doctor to see what her thoughts were on the situation. She suggested that I try something called Reclast, because it is taken intraveiniously once a year, that way there is no heartburn, but it makes most people feel like they have the flu for a few days. (Great.) It sounded to me like it must be pretty strong stuff to last a year; I'm really not looking to have my socks blown off by the infusion!
When I got home, I asked the Holy Spirit to tell me if this was the path I should take. Well, you know how it is, I wanted to know sooner rather than later. So, not hearing anything, I, of course, put my request in again to the Holy Spirit, knowing I have to wait on His timing.
This afternoon I was in John's office, trying to figure out how to make the best use of the space in the closet. After taking things out, putting some stuff in a Goodwill bag, and rearranging other things, I was indecisive about how to proceed. I noticed a book on the bed that was lying face down. When I turned the book over, I saw that the title was "IV Therapy"!! Holy cow, Is that the answer I've been waiting for! Is it really that easy to get an answer? Then, and I know you can relate, I started second guessing myself. Does it mean to proceed with the drug, ooorrrrr, does it mean to do some research on it? Oh, the agony of indecision. I think I'm going back to the Holy Spirit for clarification!
Follow your intuition (Holy Spirit),
Dawnie

October 20, 2011: All is well!

Hola, All! Co-habitation seems to be going well! John is settling into his job, having meetings, learning about the products he will be selling. For the next 2 weeks, he is in Chicago for training. How convenient is it that he can also talk to the realtor in person, check on the condo, pack more clothes in the second empty suitcase, and it not be on his dime! I think he also plans to talk to a management company about possibly renting the condo.
In the meantime, back at the ranch in Texas, we are settling into a routine, sort of. Kim takes the baby on Wednesdays for 45 minutes to the Rosemead Rec to a class. The second gym is open to children 1-5 years old;they get to play on the mats, trampoline, and gymnastic equipment. Yesterday Ed went with them and got to be a kid again, hanging out with Austin, rolling around on the mats. Oh, what a sight that must have been!
Since Tuesday was one of Kerri's days off, she and Kim took Ed's mom out to lunch, and then did some serious shopping. Ed was working, but I got to stay home and play with the baby. He loves hiding under the dining room table, playing cards. Well, kind of. What he really does is put each one in his mouth, clamping down on it with his two front teeth. Then he turns to me so that I can grab it. (It reminds me of trying to get something out of a dog's mouth.) I hold the card, pull a little bit, until he smiles and the card comes out. This was great fun for him, as we must have repeated it at least 30 times! I don't think it'll be too long before I can teach him to play Hand and Foot!
When Kim, John and Austin first moved in, I was doing almost all of the cooking. Now that they have been here a couple of weeks, Kim is starting to cook more. The other day she made banana bread that was yummy. Yesterday she took a whole chicken, cut up 2 lemons and rubbed them in the cavity, stopped up the opening with an onion, put oil on the skin with some herbs, and baked it. It was easy and delectable!
All is going well!
Dawnie

October 16, 2011: Food Allergies

Hola, All! Almost every morning I make fruit smoothies in the Vitamix: pears, peaches, and mangos.........all fruit that we know that Austin is not allergic to. He loves his fruit smoothie! I don't know if it's because he likes the taste so much or because he gets to drink it in a big-boy cup. Either way, he downs it pretty quickly. Last Monday morning we gave Austin a raw cut-up strawberry to see if he would have any reaction to it; we repeated this on Tuesday and Wednesday. If he is life-threatening allergic to a food, his throat will close within an hour; Kim keeps an epi-pen with her at all times. If he is mildly allergic, he might break out in hives or have runny poop, or get random bumps on his body. Luckily, the strawberries passed with flying colors; now I get to add strawberries to our morning smoothies!
This week Kim is going to test him on olive oil by putting a little in his oatmeal or some other food. She sometimes will try one new food a week, in the morning for 3 days in a row, watching him carefully. Sometimes I think that having food allergies is a blessing in disguise. The main foods that Austin eats are fruits, vegetables, some chicken and turkey, and cheerios. No candy, cookies, cake, ice cream, french fries..........all that stuff that tastes good but isn't very good for you. He is 13 months old, and his diet consists of foods I never even thought to feed my kids at that age; foods like mangos, blueberries, turkey meatballs, black beans, avocado. Good grief; K, K and B didn't eat avocados until they were nearly grown! (They didn't eat them earlier because avocados are green and that made them undesirable!)
Austin still drinks a bottle 3 times a day, before his morning and afternoon naps, and before bedtime. Since he turned a year old, his bottle has 1/2 vanilla rice milk and 1/2 EleCare, a formula for children with severe allergies. It is dairy free, soy free, wheat free, etc, and not very tasty, according to Kim, but it contains the vitamins, minerals and fat that babies need for proper growth. Because of that, he may be on a bottle longer than other children, but who really cares. I am so thankful that there are so many choices for people with allergies than ever before.
Be thankful,
Dawnie

October 14, 2011: Co-habitating rules

Hola, All! To continue from the previous blog: Earlier in the year John interviewed for a job in Dallas and one in Houston with Hospera. In September he was offered the Dallas job, the condo went on the market, the car was sold, and on October 3 Kim, John and Austin moved to 3711 Standridge. Never say that when the kids leave, they won't come back! Luckily, we had 3 bedrooms not being used: Kim and John moved into Kim's room, Brandy's room had already been made into a baby room, and Kerri's room became John's office.
So as to live together as peacefully as possible, we set down some ground rules. Instead of having different shelves for their food and our food, Kim and I decided that we would combine all food, alternating weeks when we each pay for groceries. For instance, starting on Sunday Kim shopped and paid for all the groceries; this next week will be my turn. Another ground rule is that at night all the toys are to be put away, not scattered all over the livingroom/house. So Kim bought 2 good size bins so the toys have a home at night. Something else is that Kim and John have not lived in the south for 6 years, and therefore haven't had to worry about attracting bugs. So all food must be either closed with a closepin, or in a container with a lid, and all dishes washed or put in the dishwasher at night. I certainly don't want to give the bugs any kind of invitation to relocate here!
Kim, John and Austin plan to live with us until at least the end of December, depending on when the condo sells. Another option for them is to start renting it in January.
For those of you who are not grandparents, there is nothing like being able to be around your grandbaby EVERY DAY!! It is such a delight to watch him discover new things, to see his eyes get big over things that I don't think twice about. And, of course, baby sugar is the BEST; I get as many kisses as I can! They don't call me the kissy monster for nothing!
Get 'em while you can!
Dawnie

October 12, 2011: BIG CHANGES SERIES

Hola, All! Boy, have we had some BIG CHANGES around here! On Monday, Oct 3, Kim, John and baby Austin moved from the cold tundra of Chicago to 3711 Standridge, Carrollton......in other words, they moved in with us! But, before I continue, let me give you some background information. Kim and John met her freshman year (his sophomore) in college. When John graduated a semester before Kim, he accepted a job as a salesman in Wichita, KS, with a pharmaceutical company called Hospera. John's game plan was to stay single for a few more years, work, put away some money and then get married. But, when he asked Kim to move to Wichita after she graduated, she replied, "Not unless I'm married!" So much for the best laid plans........ John then went to plan B pretty quickly and asked Kim to marry him. She graduated in May of 2005, and married John in June. After living in the extremely exciting city of Wichita for a few years, he transferred to Chicago, headquarters of Hospera, to find out what people do when they work in an office all day. They bought a small condo near downtown, on the 4th floor with no elevator, and the washer and dryer were in the basement. The stairs numbered 55 from the basement to their front door. Kim got a job working downtown, but John's job was a 45 minute ride on the subway, then a 10 minute ride on a bus. (Can you think of a better way to spend your time??) After a couple of years Kim had a bundle of joy named Austin Daniel on September 4, 2010. She had already decided to quit her job, which turned out to be a hugh blessing, before having the baby. To make a long story short, after Kim quit breastfeeding, they found out that Austin is deathly allergic to cow's milk when his throat closed after sucking down a bottle of Infamil. After having him tested, nuts will cause the same reaction. Well, naturally, this brought out the extremely protective Mother Bear in Kim, so don't even think about touching or kissing Austin unless you wash your hands and have not eaten nuts or dairy that day. But, we do have an out.............after the baby goes to sleep for the night, you will find ALL the adults in the garage or backyard chowing down on cookies, cake and ice cream! Inside the house, though, we are a dairy-free, tree nut-free household. More to come later!
Go with the flow,
Dawnie

October 1, 2011: Roll of quarters

Hola, All! Last week after empyting a chest of drawers, Ed and I heard a shuffling noise as we attempted to move it. We immediately stopped, put the chest down and looked through all the drawers. There was nothing in them. When we started to move it again, we heard the same noise again. Perplexed, we took all the drawers out and found what was making the noise. Somehow under the last drawer were 253 pennies; how they got there we have no idea! After taking them out, I put them into paper rollers that held 50 pennies each. Not only that, but I took most of the loose change we had in cups and rolled them also. I ended up with 2 rolls of quarters ($10 ea), 1 roll of dimes ($5), 1 roll of nickles ($2) and 6 rolls of pennies (50 cents ea). Then, on Thursday, before leaving the house, I dropped in my purse 1 roll of quarters and the roll of dimes. After the book study at Cathedral of Light, for a love offering, I put the roll of dimes in the basket, even though I felt a little funny doing it. As Edna and I were on our way to a restaurant, we passed Mistro Bistro. When I found out that she had never eaten there, we turned around and went there for lunch. After enjoying their delicious food, and asking for the check, I gave the waiter the roll of quarters to pay my bill. He took it, deposited it, and came back to tell us "This is so odd. Yesterday, for the first time, someone paid their bill with a roll of quarters, and now it has happened again. Two days in a row! I want to thank you so much for these quarters; we get so many paper bills and not very much change. " Of course, I was a little shocked at what happened, but happy also that what I gave was so appreciated!
Spreading joy unexpectantly!
Dawnie

September 28, 2011: Legions of Angels

Hola, All! Last week I had a mammogram; Monday they called to say that I needed a sonogram on my right breast. Since this has happened at least twice before, I wasn't worried, so made the appointment for this morning. After signing in and going through the routine of undressing and putting on a top with the opening in the front, I was shown into a room to await the sonogram. Lying on my back, I then remembered something that I had read this morning. Whenever anyone is faced with fear about anything or is just a little nervous, we can call on legions of angels, masters and friends to be with us. So I did that, instructing them to fill the room with their healing energy; I wanted so much healing energy in the room that I could feel it! And I did as I experienced a wave of dizziness , which I knew to be the healing energy swirling in the room. When the dr came in, he told me that he had seen something that looked like a broken blood vessel and that he wanted to get a better look. He asked me if I was on any medication, and I told him no. Well, I do have to tell you that he had trouble finding it. He said he had never seen anything like it because it was in a peculiar place. It was smaller than before!!I mentally thanked the angels for their healing energy, and for crowding into the room. I am supposed to go back in 6 months ............but, we shall see!
Call on legions of angels, masters and friends,
Dawnie

September 21, 2011: The chicken or the egg.

Hola, All! As we all know, change is in the air. "The Way of Mastery" says that whatever is going on inside of you will be manifested outside of you. For instance, think back to a time when things just didn't seem to be going your way, when nothing seemed to be working out the way you wanted. Were the circumstances that were happening around you the cause of your unhappiness? Or, were you unhappy inside and the unhappiness was showing up around you? It seems to be similar to the saying: what came first, the chicken or the egg. Because I have been working on my inner peace for a long time, I know without a doubt that the crappy things that happen in my environment are a result of the crappy way that I have felt, along with the negative thoughts I have had in my mind. When this happens I know that I have to change the way I think, the way I feel and the things I say in order to change what is going to happen in the future. Many times it isn't apparent that these two things are connected because of the space of time between them. But, rest assured, that the saying, What you think about, you bring about, is true. It's our energy, our feelings that tells the Universe......this is what I am valueing right now. And, the Universe will respond.......OK, here it comes! And then, a week, a month, a year, 10 years down the road when the crap hits the fan, we wonder what we ever did to deserve it. Sound familiar? How do we change the way we feel so that it doesn't happen again? Well, here are two suggestions. 1. Ask yourself, how can I see this differently? When Ed and I are dancing, and I get blamed for making a wrong move ( whether it's true or not), I almost always start to get irritated. But now I am training myself to ask in that moment, how can I see this differently? One way is for me to break the tension by either saying something funny or doing something he doesn't expect, like winking at him. It breaks the ice that had started to form and we can go back to having fun. 2. Tell your mind, with certainty, "The stillness of the peace of God is mine". This one I just read about yesterday so haven't had much time to put it into practice. I hope these will be useful to you.........let me know!

Practicing peace,
Dawnie

August 18, 2011: Letting go

Hola, All. As I was reading "The Way of Mastery" in my dining room, I stopped to think about a question that was posed: "As you look upon your environment, imagine that the things around you were taken away. Would that take anything from you?" Now, I have some lovely things in that room...........a small table that I got from my mom's house that I use as my meditation center, another pretty table from my mom's house, a pitcher that I use when I have company, several pieces of Waterford crystal, etc. I asked myself the question as I looked upon each piece...........if I no longer had the meditation table, would that truly take anything away from me? Me, being the soul of me; me, being the place where God resides; me, being where the peace that passes all understanding is living. Of course, when put in that light, the answer is no, nothing would be taken from me. Would I miss it if it was gone? Yes, but why? Then, I realized that the meditation table is important to me because of the emotion that I have given it; in my perception it is important. I hear people say that they hang on to things because something has been in the family for years. But, that's not really the reason they keep something; it's because of the emotion that they have given the particular thing. Which leads me to another question: What if we saw these things as neutral? What if we took the emotion out of it; would we still feel the same way if it was gone? Truly, do you think your dead ancestors give a flip about the lamp they used to read by? We have a wonderful table from Ed's grandmother, Dora, that has at least 5 leafs in it. I use it sometimes when I need an extra table. I seriously doubt that Dora cares about that table, considering that she has been gone 10 years. Taking the emotion out of the table just makes it a nice piece of furniture. If it were gone, I would still be the same; inside I would still be the being that God created. To me, taking the emotion out of things seems to be very liberating, very freeing; it should not disturb my peace if it were gone. I think that's what this all boils down to for me............striving for inner peace and letting go of the emotional attachment to things is one more step toward inner peace.

Letting go,
Dawnie

July 4, 2011: Happy 4th

Hola, All! Edna and I left San Marcos yesterday, arriving in San Juan 30 minutes later. The hotel we are staying at is so beautiful. Every room has a view of the lake, since the back side of the hotel is the mountain. The rest of the mission team got here Saturday. I have a room to myself that has 3 beds in it, so I have plenty of space.
Today was our first day on our mission work. The group I am in is helping to build the walls of a two room building. When we got there this morning, nothing had been done. The walls are going to be made out of concrete blocks; on two of the walls progress was achieved as 4 rows were up when we left. The other group were working at a different house that had been in a fire. We have split into 2 groups since the space we are working in is too small for all of us to be at the same house.
The food at the hotel is so delicious! A local husband and wife are the chefs, and everything they have made has been so good. We are eating like kings at the hotel but working like slaves at the houses!! The local people are so wonderful and very friendly; you can hardly walk by anyone without them wishing you a good day.
Happy 4th,
Dawnie

June 30, 2011 Little Angels

Hola, All! Edna and I have met these 3 Guatemalan girls who show up just when we need them. For instance, yesterday we were in a Tuktuk, which is a three wheeled taxi about the size of a golf cart. It was pouring down rain as we were making our way from San Juan to San Marcos on the bumpiest roads because of the hugh potholes in the road. In one place the water was covering the road and somehow we made it through. Normally the sides of the Tuktuks are fairly open but when it is raining, they have a curtain on each side, which only helps to keep the rain out if you hold the curtain in place. We were both wearing capris, Edna had a jacket but nothing on her head; I was wearing my rain windbreaker with a hood. And the rain was coming down in sheets. As we rounded a bend, we saw a large truck completely blocking the road; our driver could go no further because they were working on the road. I asked our driver how much farther the town was and he responded 20 meters, but I really had no idea how far that was. As Edna and I got out to walk the rest of the way in the rain, we were laughing at our predicament! The town was really only a short walk, thank goodness. As we reached San Marcos, who should be at the top of the hill but our little angels. They showed us to a restaurant named Ganesh where we were to meet with Stephanie, the Reike instructor. I am pretty sure we would not have found the restaurant without our little angels. Several times when we wanted to go someplace, they just seem to appear out of nowhere.
Angels can be people sometimes!
Dawnie

June 29, 2011 Happy Day

Hola, All! Yesterday we had the pleasure of riding in the very back of a very crowded van with several young men from Canada. They were quite intertaining! We ate lunch in Antigua at a wonderful restaurante, then made it to Panajachel, where we took a boat to San Marcos. At the dock was a young man who carried both of our bags to our hotel. San Marcos is very tropical, with mostly pathways instead of streets. People love it there because it is very quiet, if you don´t count the dog fights and the roosters who crow whenever it suits them. We had a delicious dinner at the hotel, then sat outside my room and talked for a couple of hours. Hotel Paco Real has a sercurity guard who walks the grounds at night. It has 8 ´hotel rooms´that are actually huts with a downstairs room and an upstairs room. Edna is in a room below me. The rooms have a bed, small table with chair, and a private bathroom. I took a lukewarm shower last night, but Edna figured out how to get hot water..........by barely turning the faucet, hotter water comes out, but also less pressure.........oh well, it beats a cold shower!
This morning we explored part of the town, finding the meditation center, which we plan to visit tomorrow. Also, I talked with Stephanie who is going to give us a lesson about Reike, an energy healing technique. We then hopped on a boat to San Pedro where there is a festival celebrating St. Peter. It was quite the sight and very loud, as someone feels the need to continually set off firecrackers. We are headed to San Juan next to visit JoAn and Molly at the medical clinic that I helped build in 2008.
Will write more later!
Happy Day!
Dawnie

June 28, 2011. GREAT DAY

HOLA, ALL! SOMEHOW I HIT THE BUTTON THAT CAPITALIZES ALL THE WORDS AND CAN NOT SEEM TO DECAPITALIZE THEM! OH WELL. ALL WENT WELL AT THE AIRPORT YESTERDAY. WE BOARDED ON TIME, THE DOORS WERE CLOSED, AND THEN WE SAT. IN A FEW MINUTES THE PILOT ANNOUNCED THAT THERE WERE 5 PEOPLE WHO ARRIVED FROM CHICAGO AN HOUR AGO, THEIR LUGGAGE WAS ON BOARD BUT THEY WERE NOT. THEY HAD TO FIND THEIR LUGGAGE AND TAKE IT OFF THE PLANE BEFORE WE COULD LEAVE. THE NEXT THING WE KNEW WE WERE ON THE RUNWAY, WITHOUT THE PEOPLE FROM CHICAGO!! YIKES, CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW THE PEOPLE FELT WHEN THEY FOUND OUT THAT THEY MISSED THE PLANE!! AND WE WERE THE LAST FLIGHT OUT! I KEPT IMAGING THAT THEY WERE COLLEGE STUDENTS, NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE TIME, SITTING IN A RESTAURANT WITHOUT A CARE IN THE WORLD........UNTIL NOW!
THE BED AND BREAKFAST WHERE WE ARE STAYING IS ABOUT 10 MINUTES FROM THE AIRPORT. IT IS A HOME THAT HAS BEEN CONVERTED WITH 5 BEDROOMS FOR GUESTS, 2 IN ONE HALLWAY AND 3 IN THE OTHER. AT THE END OF EACH HALLWAY IS A COMMUNITY BATHROOM. IN THE CENTER OF THE HOUSE IS A COVERED, BUT NOT ENCLOSED, PATIO WITH THIS COMPUTER, A TABLE FOR EATING, A TV AND COUCH WITH CHAIRS. SINCE THE TEMPERATURE IS ABOUT 65 DEGREES, IT FEELS GREAT! JUST OUTSIDE THE PATIO IS A SMALL YARD WITH A BEAUTIFUL, LARGE LEMON TREE WITH LEMONS AS BIG AS ORANGES! I STAYED HERE THE LAST TIME I WAS IN GUATEMALA AND REALLY APPRECIATED THEIR HOSPITALITY. THAT´S ALL FOR NOW, MY STOMACH´S CALLING ME TO FILL IT.
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
DAWNIE

June 26, 2011: Follow Your Heart

Hola, All! Here I am, on the eve of another adventure! Tomorrow I leave for Guatemala with my friend, Edna, who is also bilingual..........yipee!! I met Edna several years ago through her sister and my good friend, Cynthia, who passed to the other side. Sometimes I talk to Cyndi in my mind, knowing that she hears me; tears are falling down my face as I remember how she was so full of life and laughter! Such a joy to be around, and you talk about courage...........it oozed out of every pore of her body! Cyndi showed us how to accept with courage and grace those things that can destroy our lives, if we let them. She had a feistiness about her that I just wanted to capture and inhale until it filled all my cells! With determination and strength, Cyndi followed her heart. And, that's the main reason that I am going to Guatemala; my heart has been calling me to return. Near the end of my last visit in September, 2008, I heard about a small town on Lake Atitlan called San Marcos La Laguna that had a holistic/meditation center. In a nutshell, holistic healing is treating the whole person, not just one part. For instance, if you have a headache, you usually take ibuprofen and the headache goes away (to return at another inopportune time). But, holistic healing looks at why you got the headache in the first place, trying to find the source of the headache and not just treating the symptom. That's what Edna and I are interested in learning more about.
Our adventure starts tomorrow in Guatemala City, where Patricia's B&B will send a driver to pick us up at the airport. The next morning they have arranged for a van to take us to Panajachel, a 3 hour drive on roads that wind through the mountains. In Pana we will eat lunch, exchange money, possibly do some shopping, and take a 'yacht' across Lake Atitilan to San Marcos, where we will live for the next 5 days. On Sunday, July 3, just two towns over in San Juan,we will meet up with a group from Denton to do some mission work, returning on July 10. I will write about our adventures as time permits!
Follow your heart,
Dawnie

June 19, 2011: Freedom is a State of Mind

Hola, All! This morning I heard a song that I haven't heard in a long time: "Born Free". I knew most of the lyrics but as I was listening to the words, a deeper and different understanding was taking place. In case you have forgotten, the first stanza is: "Born free, As free as the wind blows, As free as the grass grows,......" It got me to thinking about another meaning of freedom. Is anyone really born free or is freedom a state of mind? How many people live in countries such as the U.S and feel tied to their jobs, to their responsibilities, to their relationships? They drag around all day bemoaning the situation that they see themselves in, not even trying to look at it differently. Rev Kay has a grandchild who has spent much time in and out of jail. One time she said to him, "You are the lucky one, because you can see the bars that imprison you. Many others are imprisoned by bars that are invisible." What a profound statement! I know that I have felt trapped before, not knowing which way to turn, and feeling like I had no control over my life. I wish someone had said to me, "You know, Dawnie, the only things keeping you behind bars are your feelings, your beliefs." That was so true........I FELT trapped, FEELING like I had no control, no options. And yet, I did have options; I could stay in the pity party that I was throwing for myself, or I could look at the situation as an opportunity to grow. Everything that I see as an obstacle, is really the Universe giving me an opportunity to change something about myself, whether it be my thoughts, my beliefs, my actions.
The third stanza from the song starts by saying, "Stay free, where no walls divide you". As I continue to let go of negative thoughts, negative words, negative actions, the walls that I put up so long ago are falling down like raindrops. leaving me closer to the people I love. What a feeling of freedom it is to know that the bars and walls that used to contain me have since dissolved into thin air, back to where they came from. Without a doubt, freedom IS a state of mind; the same person who imprisoned me has also set me free. I truly am "Born Free".
Be free,
Dawnie

June 14, 2011: My Perception

Hola, All! Have you ever wondered why certain things happen to you? I know that I have, especially if I see something as hurtful, evil, deceitful, causing pain, etc. But, if what happens to me is fun, or exciting, or makes me happy, then I'm jumping for joy! What makes the difference here? It is only my perception of the event. The value of anything that happens to me, or things that I see or read about is determined by my perception, and nothing else. What if I could first see an event as neutral, would that change my perception of the event? What if I could back off from the situation and just watch it unfold, without putting my judgements on it, could I see it differently? Could I learn something from it? Most likely the answer is yes.
Several years ago a close family member, I'll call Susie, was so mad at me that she would either act like I didn't exist or say ugly things to my face. She even called and told me that I wasn't welcome at the family Christmas gathering, even though it wasn't at her house. Of course my perception was that I was being wronged. Granted, through the years I had said things that were hurtful to Susie; after all, who hasn't said things that they regreted? But, to have all this anger aimed at me for the reasons that she gave, it made no sense. At first I was deeply hurt and struggled to understand how this could be happening to me. But, as time went on, I was able to step back, to try to see things from her perception. She was old and lived alone, her husband having passed away 2 years ago. She didn't have many friends, and spent a hugh amount of her day by herself. The bottom line, in my way of thinking, was that she was angry at life and was taking it out on me. Ok, but, how could I deal with my hurt feelings? I kept having to step back, to look at the situation objectly, which was not easy to do. But, I did realize after a few months, that this was going to be a hugh lesson for me in forgiveness; I was going through this for a reason. That realization didn't help me forgive her any sooner; the only way I made it through was by working on forgiving her little by little. And then, one day a couple of years later, as if by magic, the anger directed at me was gone, and things were, sort of, back to normal. Was I ever able to see this as neutral? Not on your life. Am I a better person for having gone through it? Absolutely.
Stepping back from a situation can be such a blessing. It allows me to try to look at the event from another perspective, which helps to keep me from saying/doing something that could make the situation worse. Now, that's a good thing!
Step back into a more peaceful solution,
Dawnie

May 24, 2011: No response

Hola, All! Let me say first that this is not about bashing Ed, but about realizing something about myself. This morning when I asked Ed a question, I received no response. I tried to make a light joke of it but still got nothing from him. This is not really anything unusual since I have had this same reaction so many times in our 30 year marriage. Most of the time I try to ignore the hurt feelings that I choose to have. But I am learning that when I do that, those feelings don't just vanish into thin air; they 'hide' somewhere inside of me, only to resurface later. So, there I was, sitting on a bench, putting on my shoes, letting my hurt feelings, that I created, surface. I sat there for a few minutes, acknowledging my feelings, letting them surface, loving them as something that I created, and letting them go, all the while saying nothing. I thought about saying something but knew that it was better to wait until I return to my happy self; the opportune time will present itself at a later date. I think that most of my experiences, good or bad, are a lesson in something and it's to my advantage to figure it out. And, then it hit me........what I was seeing in Ed was a reflection of the millions of times that I have ignored myself. How many times have I told people that whenever we don't learn a lesson about something that the same lesson will continue to crop up until we finally get it? An example of this is the lady who marries someone who abuses her verbally; she divorces him only to date the same kind of man, with a different look and a different body, but nonetheless, a 'reincarnation' of her first husband. Why does this happen? Because she failed to learn the life lesson that first she has to stop verbally abusing herself, whether she's doing it outloud or inside her head. When she stops abusing herself, and starts loving herself, then she will be attracted to a much kinder man. 'Birds of a feather flock together' is so true. As for me, one of my lessons is to let my old hidden, squashed feelings of being ignored arise as the opportunity presents itself, whether it stems from me ignoring others, or me igoring myself. At the time I told myself that I did it to keep the peace, but the truth of the matter is, I did it because I didn't value myself or my own opinion. Also, I am left wondering what the Universe is trying to tell me through Ed, but I'm not listening and/or I'm not getting it. Or, is this all about the way Ed feels about himself? That could be part of the message but I think there's more to it than that. Now that I've paid attention to something that is going on around me and inside of me, I'll leave it up to my angels and the Holy Spirit to guide me and help me figure it out. It's really amazing what other people can show us about ourselves if we just pay attention, isn't it?
Respect and love yourself,
Dawnie

May 21, 2011: EFT

Hola, All! Yesterday I was talking to my friend, Edna, about how we enjoy what we are doing in our lives, but really want to learn more about what we feel God is revealing to us. Most of my life, I haven't had a deep passion for anything outside of my kids. I prided myself on being the middle of the road kind of person, not too far to the left and not too far to the right. I enjoyed doing alot of things like reading, playing racquetball, etc, but nothing really put me over the edge. I watched my husband Ed as he would become interested in something, jump in with both feet, learn all he could about it, go full steam ahead, but I never really understood that kind of passion. The older I get the more I want to experience that kind of all consuming passion, where I am filled with such joy that I want to burst out singing at the top of my lungs! I want to know that what I am doing matters, that I am helping people live better lives, that I am fulfilling my life's work. Only, it won't feel like work, it'll feel like play. That's the 'pie in the sky' that I am looking for. And, I know that it's just around the corner!
Recently I have become interested in EFT, Emotional Freedom Therapy. This is a process whereby a person can learn how to release things like anxiety, fear, pain, excess weight, without the use of any drugs. The basic process is easy to learn and can be done anytime one starts to feel anything that upsets one's peacefulness. It also can be taught to children. This would be especially helpful to those children who have excess energy, who have been labeled as ADD, or ADHD, whose parents didn't know what else to do except put them on medication.
In June I am going to Guatemala for a mission trip, but I am leaving a few days early to attend a holistic center where EFT is taught. Of course, EFT is taught in the US but since I was going to be in Guatemala anyway, I figured I would learn something while I was there. When I return I plan to teach this process to as many people as are open to learning it, with the objective of eventually starting a business. I think that this is right up my alley; wish me luck!
Follow your passions!
Dawnie

May 14, 2011: Present Moment Awareness

Hola, All! Recently I read something in "The Way of Mastery" that has stuck in my head. It was talking about 'being in the moment'. Books have been written about this subject, but I never took the time to attempt to practice it, until now. What does present moment awareness mean? It means keeping my mind on what I am doing and not letting it wander off, not letting it go on auto-pilot, not thinking about what I'm going to do next. For instance, let's say that you are washing the dishes; how long is it before your mind is no longer thinking about the dishes? Maybe 10 seconds; could be a little longer but I doubt it! Many people bragg about having the ability to do 2-3 things at once, to multi-task. But, what are we really doing to ourselves when we do this, what's the downside? For me, my ability to focus on anything has decreased dramatically. On top of that, my listening skills have taken a dive. Unless I'm really, really interested in what someone is saying, my mind can 'leave the building' so quickly that I don't even recognize it .............until they ask me a question. Yikes, caught in the act of daydreaming!! It dawns on me that, perhaps, multi-tasking can be a forerunner to severe memory problems in later life (which isn't that far away anymore!) After years of constantly allowing one's mind to practice fracturing, it's no wonder that people have such a hard time remembering anything. But, all is not lost, as there is something that we can start doing today, and that is to practice present moment awareness. Here is my suggestion: pretend that you are watching someone else and recording everything they do, except that you are really paying extreme attention to your actions. It is helpful to not only think about what you are doing, but also to voice your actions outloud. And, try to make it fun! For instance: when washing dishes, think/say "I am turning on the faucet, squirting Dawn in the water, filling up the sink to wash the dishes. Oh, look, my hands are putting on gloves. How interesting, now they are placing two plates, three cups, and 2 forks in the water. My right hand is picking up the blue sponge and washing a plate, rinsing off the suds and putting it on the drainer. Let's do that again!.............Well, you get the picture. Keeping your mind on what you're doing may very well help you to keep your sanity as you age. "The Way of Master" says to practice this for 10 minutes every hour, which can be extreme for most of us just starting out. The most important thing is just start practicing, then increase the time as you go along. I've already done 10 minutes today, how about you?
Be aware!

Dawnie

May 3, 2011: Take Care of Yourself First

Hola, All! Putting oneself first only makes sense! If you don't take care of yourself, then who is going to? As a mom I didn't always feel this way, but the reality is that the only person responsible for me.........is me! The following story is an example of how I put myself first; I think you'll understand.
During the months that my sisters and I cleaned out and remodeling our mom's house, something wonderful happened! We developed stronger bonds with each other, and wanted to continue hanging out with each other. We planned a girls' sleep-over at Carol's house in Nolanville, which happened last weekend. I was looking forward to spending time with everyone, when on Thursday, I started feeling a little 'off', and my left temple had a tinge of pain. This was a clear sign that a migrain could be headed my way. Then on Friday I found myself running to the bathroom throughout the day, if you know what I mean. I wasn't sure what was causing this turn of events, so I tried to ignore them, hoping they would go away. But on Saturday, I was feeling better even though I still had a slight headache. I drove to Carol's house enjoying the drive, where Jeanne and Lynne showed up also. Carol, and hubby Stan, live on the edge of Nolanville on several acres. We took a short walk around their property, sat on her front porch shooting the breeze, and played the card game "Hand and Foot". Later we made dinner and played "Apples to Apples" with my neices, Diana and Melissa. We laughed, played Neil Diamond cd's, and enjoyed each others' company. Before we knew it, it was midnight! Lynne said that she would sleep by herself since she snores...........Jeanne and I were just fine with that arrangement! At 3am when I felt Jeanne get out of bed for the 3rd time, I asked her what was wrong; for some reason her feet kept cramping. In the morning Lynne told me that she didn't sleep well either; I wondered what was going on. Seems as though none of us slept well. I finally asked myself what my headache was all about.....it was about my mother. You see, recently we had to put her in a locked memory unit 20 minutes from Carol's house, and she is not happy about it. I think we all knew how close in proximity we were to her and yet none of us wanted to think about it. Repressed feelings will always show up, one way or another. For me, I realized that thinking of mom brought up memories of my dad, who lived in a VA hospital for over 3 years before he passed on. Everytime we would visit, he would ask, sometimes beg us to take him home; and now we are dealing with the same situation with our mom. She always feared living like this, and now she is living her fear. As I left Carol's house to drive home, I thought about going to see mom. I thought about how I'd had a slight headache for 4 days, and how little sleep I had gotten Saturday night. I just didn't think I had the emotional stamina to deal with the situation, knowing that if I visited her, the chances of me getting a migrain would increase dramatically, so I just kept on driving. About 30 miles later, my headache went away and I felt the tensionfade away. Right then I knew that I had done the right thing; I had put myself , my health, first. My first responsibility is to take care of me in the best way that I know how, and that's what I did. Putting yourself first is not taking anything away from anyone else; it is accepting the responsibilty that you are in charge of your own health.
Take care of yourself first,
Dawnie

April 21, 2011: Start with yourself

Hola, All! As I was reading the book "The Intuitive Spark" by Sonia Choquette, a particular paragraph jumped out at me. It brought back to mind about how I was raised which affected how my children were raised.
" If you are extremely goal oriented, evaluate your self worth by your performance, and don't tolerate slipups, then chances are that your kids will also strive for success in the same way in order to gain your approval. This kind of upbringing creates extremely anxious children, making it very tought for them to access their intuition, because whenever we're afraid, our distress overrides our inner voice or completely drowns it out. As a result, we grow up listening to our fears instead of our heart."
I can relate to how my self worth was related to my performance in school, etc; how I started having headaches in high school, never realizing it was the stress I put on myself; how my intuition was shut down for years; and how I listened to my fears instead of my heart. None of this could I have verbalized for years, and yet, looking back, this one paragraph from Sonia's book seems to sum up most of my life pretty well. I can't tell you how thankful I am for the people, books and experiences in my life that started changing my perception of myself, because that's where it has to start. I love the song by Michael Jackson........."I'm starting with the man in the mirror, I'm asking him to change his ways, And no message could have been any clearer,......take a look at yourself, then make a change". What great lyrics; we can even learn lessons from songs! I hope everyone knows that each of us is worthy of the best that life can offer. That all of us, no matter what religion or no religion, are children of an abundant God Who always showers us with His Love. To forgive ourselves is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves and others. And, to connect with our intuition, is really connecting with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, which is in all children of God.
Pay attention to your inner guidance,
Dawnie

April 21, 2011: Workshop

Hola, All! In February I signed up to do a workshop called 'Guidance from Above' at Cathedral of Light; the workshop was supposed to take place April 16. Then, things started happening in my life...........such as cracking and having my tooth yanked out, my mom breaking her hip and having to go to rehab,and Kim and Austin visiting for two weeks. The last one was the only one that was pleasurable! I started feeling that I was going to have to cancel the workshop. That feeling became reality when I realized that I was going to have to pick mom up from the rehab in Round Rock and take her to a very nice assisted living/memory center in Belton. Of course, this happened the same week as my workshop. At that point, I cancelled the workshop, thinking that possibly I could do it at a later date. I wasn't upset because I needed to put all of my positive energy on having a pleasant experience moving mom to another place that she was going to have to adjust to. I'm sure it must be hard for someone who's memory is right on some days and out the window on other days. Last July she moved into the retirement center, after having lived in the same house for almost 40 years. Then she broke her hip and was moved from the hospital to the rehab center; now, another adjustment but this time she will be behind locked doors. That is why I needed all the positive energy that I could muster. After moving mom, I was drained for 2 days, and was so glad that I had the foresight to cancel the workshop. But, at Toastmasters on April 16, I gave an impromtu speech about Guidance from Above! I cancelled the workshop only to give an extremely short (7 minute) speech on the same topic. That was really fun! I gave the workshop no more thought until today. This morningI attended a book study, 'The Way of Mastery' which is led by Rev Kay, an 85 year young very wise woman who speaks to and hears from Jesus regularly. All during class I thought that she was looking at me more than usual. Of course, she makes eye contact with eveyone in the class; it just seemed different to me today. Maybe it's because I wanted to talk to her about things that were on my mind. After class I hung around to tell her that I wanted to visit with her sometime. But, even before I could say anything, she hugged me and told me that my workshop wasn't cancelled, only postponed. I was taken aback because the workshop wasn't even on my mind. Then, she repeated that Jesus had told her that it wasn't the right time for my workshop and that it would happen at a later date! I can't tell you how good it felt to have the workshop validated! I plan to visit with Rev Kay next week, and I'm sure that we will have a delightful time getting to know each other.
Listen to your inner voice,
Dawnie

April 14, 2011: Tooth

Hola, All! Several weeks ago, 2 days after mom fractured her hip, one of my molars cracked. When I went to see Dr. Jackson, the kindest dentist one could ask for, we talked about putting a crown on it........that would be the 7th crown in my mouth! I really wasn't in any pain, which was good since he didn't have a block of time to do it for 2 days. While at home a thought lightly crossed my mind about losing that tooth, but I dismissed it, not wanting to even think about that option. One suggestion that Dr. Jackson made was to bring my MP3 player and listen to music, or for me, to listen to meditative cd's. That was an excellent idea! The morning of my next visit Dr. Jackson talked to me about how he had to pull the part of the tooth that had broken but was still attached to the root. After he gave me a shot on either side of the tooth, he pulled the broken piece, only to tell me that the root was dead. He said, in his opinion, that I now had 2 options: to go ahead and crown the tooth or to pull it, which was his recommendation. He told me that this very same thing happened to his best friend, who elected to crown the tooth, only to have the tooth die 6 months later, and then it had to be pulled, which translated to more pain in the mouth. Not really taking any time to think about it, and feeling that I had already been told intuitively what to do, I agreed that it had to come out. He was surprised that I made that decision so quickly, but thankfully, I had already been 'warned'. For some reason, Dr. Jackson always refers the pulling of teeth to an oral surgeon, maybe because of complications that could occur....I don't know. , Dr. Steele, a kind man with an unhurried air about him, had an opening at 2pm. Truly I was hoping to go straight to the oral surgeon while my mouth was numb, but that didn't happen. My good friend, Jan B, drove me to and from my next appointment, since I had no idea if I would leave there loopy or not. After receiving 2 more shots, and given gas (which I have never had before), Dr. Steele pulled the molar but it really sounded like he ripped it out of my mouth! Almost the whole time at both offices I listened to a meditative relaxation cd over and over, plus I asked that Archangel Raphael surround me in his healing light. I know that Jesus was in the room with me also. I believe these are the reasons that I didn't have much pain afterwards, and that the hugh hole in my mouth healed so nicely. With graditude, Dawnie

March 27, 2011: Insights

Hola, All! Several weeks ago when my sisters and I were finishing cleaning out my mom's house because we had a contract on the house, a random thought crossed my mind. It said something like 'after the house sells, my mom will pass away'. When I mentioned this to my sister, Carol, she didn't realize that I meant that my mom would know about it intuitively. Her response was, "Well, who's going to tell her?" Since I've tried to talk to Carol before about what I believe and didn't get very far, I just dropped the subject. Today I was talking to my sister, Lynne, about it and she said she had the very same thought last week after our cousin, Peggy, died. Even though Peggy was our cousin, she was the same age as my mom. Peggy's mom (who was my mom's sister) was 21, pregnant with Peggy when my mom was born. How would you like to be pregnant at the same time as your mother!! Yikes! Something else I shared with Lynne was the thought that I am going to get a windfall. This thought came into my mind last month, and randomly continues to appear. My feeling is that it will happen because my mom would have died. Again, Lynne said she just had the same thought last week. Interesting that 2 of us have had the same 2 random, or not so random, thoughts, isn't it? Right before lunch Carol texted me that mom had fallen twice and is being taken to Scott and White Hospital in Round Rock to see if anything was broken. Whether anything is or not, I think we will be moving her from the retirement center to an assisted living center where mom can get more care. With her memory problems and her mobility lessening, it's time to move on. I'm pretty sure that mom is ready to be done with this life, and I can't say as I blame her. Bad news, I just found out that mom has broken her other hip and is having surgery today. Will up-date you later. Insights can be wonderful but they can also be stressful, if I let them. One way to release stress is by walking outside, which I am going to do right now. Dawnie

March 25, 2011: Love wins!

Hola, All! Stress is a funny thing; it can manufacture itself in our bodies in so many ways. I know that I have a very low tolerance for stress, as evidenced by the thousands of migrains that I have had over the years. They started when I was in high school, and continued regularly until about 7 years ago. In order to keep my stress level as low as possible, and therefore avoid the big "M", I have had to let things go, to work to become detached from many situations that could cause migrains to explode in my head. But, I have not completely freed my life of stress, or migrains, yet. Right now, in my life, is alot of drama with people who are very close to me. Of course, there are two opposing sides, people who can't seem to accept another's point of view; some seem to think theirs is the only right answer. As I have tried to maintain balance in myself, I have not been successful. Last week I was the recepient of another migrain; I don't get them very often any more but when I do, I also end up losing everything in my stomach (if you know what I mean). But, because this situation has lingered, and no matter how hard I try to not think about it, it is still there, lurking beneath the surface of my mind.
On Monday, I woke up with a bad tooth ache. Now, I've had many tooth aches in my life; it's quite obvious with all the crowns in my mouth. But, this ache was different in that it would be bad for awhile, then go away. It started in the upper left molar and made its way to the lower left molars so that the pain was basically all over the left side of my mouth. But, because it would come and go as it pleased, I wasn't sure what was causing it. So, on Wednesday I went to the dentist to make sure I didn't have another cracked tooth, even though I had just had
x-rays 2 weeks ago. He confirmed that there was not a cracked tooth, or anthing else wrong that he could find. He said that when he sees this kind of thing in patients that it usually is a sign of stress. Well, since I already suspected that diagnosis, I was not surprised.
When I get up in the early mornings, I read from "A Course in Miracles", and then meditate on what I read. Today's lesson said to clear my mind and listen for the Word of God in quiet, because His Word can't be heard until my mind is quiet for awhile. So, I cleared my mind to just listen and then I heard, "Replace fear with Love". Awww, doesn't that make so much sense? The rest of the day, or days, I will surround this situation and the people in it in God's white light of Love until my mind is saturated with Love, and my aches and pains have accepted that they have no place in my body any more.
Thanks be to God's Love of all His children.
Dawnie

March 14, 2011: SOLD!

Hola, All! Great news! Last month my sister, Carol, told me that we were scheduled to close on my mom's house on March 21 at 10am. This was good news in that we had a buyer for her house, and bad news in that my daughter, Kim, and sweet grandson, Austin, would be visiting me at that time. I really wasn't excited at all at having to miss time being with them. So, I asked my angels and our Creator to change the date of the closing so that I could spend as much time as possible with my family. To some of you this may seem selfish, but the truth of the matter is that our angels and Creator want us to be happy and they will do what they can to accommodate us. Also, if we don't ask for what we want, how are we ever going to get what we want? So, I asked, and left it up to them to do what needed to be done. I even told my sister, Jeanne, what I had done. I'm don't think she had as much faith in the process as I did. Then, surprise, surprise, surprise, Carol calls me to say that the closing has been moved up 6 days and now we are going to sign the papers at 10am Tuesday, March 15! Of course, I knew that it would all work out! But along came a snag, in that the people who were supposed to survey the land didn't complete their job. But, I held on to my faith that the closing would take place before Kim and Austin get here on Wednesday. Today Carol called and told me that we are closing tomorrow at 4pm!! This is great news in that the house will finally be out of our hands and I get to spend two whole weeks with my sweeties!
THANK YOU GOD/ THANK YOU ANGELS!!
Ask For What You Want,
Dawnie

March 13, 2011: Vision

Hola, All! Thursday morning as I walked to the rec center I could see something out of the corner of my left eye, something that looked like part of an outline of something, but it was clear. I knew it had something to do with my eye, which is weird since I've always had really good vision. As I continued to walk, I noticed that everytime I looked to the left, the thing also moved to the left so that I never could look at it head-on. Not really giving it much more thought, I went about my day. On Friday morning, as I was taking a shower, I suddenly saw a streak of light to the left of me. Now that's weird, I thought. But then, I noticed that every time I looked sharply to the left, I saw streaks of light. I thought back to when I last had my eyes checked, knowing it wasn't that long ago........September, 2010. At that eye exam, I told the dr that I had been seeing these black floaty spots for a couple of months. They come and go, and I never know when they will show up again. He told me that if anything changes, to call him because something had happened to him, and it turned out to be a detached retina. The strange thing about having a detached retina is that you don't even know it has happened. So many people think that when something a little different happens with their vision, it isn't important and that it will go away with time. This is true sometimes, and sometimes it isn't. So, when these weird things started happening, I made an appt with my eye dr, Dr Gambino, for that day (Friday). He ran some tests, but didn't find anything. Then, he personally called to make an appt for me with a dr. who specializes in retinas, for that afternoon. On top of that, he told me that he wasn't going to charge me for my visit; he is the kindest man! As I was driving to the next dr's office, one thing that I thought of was something that I read that morning: God wants only happiness for me. I repeated that saying over and over and over, along with asking God and the angels to put me in the best drs care. At Dr. Coors office, drops were put in my eyes to dialate them so she could examine them more closely. She said what was happening is fairly common but to call immediately if I start to see the 'outline' and/or streak of light directly in front of me. According to the pamplet that she gave me, these odd occurances are because of changes in the jelly-like substance (vitreous) which fill the back cavity of the eye; these are things that can happen as one ages. I drove home relieved that it was nothing serious, and also thankful for divine help. And, I was thankful that Ed and I were still able to go dancing that night, because it allowed me to release some of the stress that I was feeling.
Any chance you get, dance!
Dawnie

March 11, 2011: Be the Peace

Hola, All! The song with the words 'be the peace you want to see' runs through my mind fairly often. Wednesday I had an 'opportunity' to put these words into practice. I usually walk to the rec center to work out around 6:50am, but this time I didn't leave until 7:10am. I also took a little bit of a different route, in that I went out the front door instead of the back. This makes my walk to the rec center a little longer. As soon as I walked out of the door, I asked the angels to protect me and surround me with their love. As I was walking west on Elizabeth Dr, I saw a blond woman, maybe in her late 20's walk out of a house wearing a short nightgown, a long white bathrobe, and nothing on her feet. I found it strange that she was barefoot because it was in the 40's, and I was bundled like a wooly bear. As I walked by her, she asked for my help, so I stopped to see what she wanted. She was holding a cell phone that didn't appear to be turned on. She said that her boyfriend was abusing her and she wanted to call 911. Just then the boyfriend, a nice-looking man in his early 30's, dressed for the day, walked out and just started droppping the f-bomb. She and I were on the sidewalk and he basically stayed near the house. He must have heard what she said about him because he loudly said that he never touched her, which I could see was true. I put my hand on her shoulder and looked into her eyes; she was clearly drunk or on drugs, which he also told me. I tried to let him know with my eyes that I didn't believe that he had hurt her, but I think he was really scared that she would call the cops and he would be arrested for something that he didn't do. All the time that he is talking, if that is what one calls it when one's vocabulary is limited to the f-bomb, I was calming talking to the woman in a low voice. She finally admitted that he had not hurt her, and then he left. I encouraged her to go back inside and I continued on my way. All this probably didn't take 3 minutes, but as calm as I was around them, I was shaking as I walked away. I was so thankful that the angels, God, the Holy Spirit, some being, was guiding me because I was so calm in the midst of this drama, and I didn't become a part of the drama. Even now as I write this, I am getting a little shaky reliving it. But, it showed me that I could be the peace that I want to see in this world.
Be the peace that you want to see,
Dawnie

March 10, 2011: More on Austin

Hola, All! Today Kim took baby Austin to a pediatric allergist (please see previous blog). Since he has several drugs in his system, he could not be tested for certain allergies the conventional way of pricking the skin on his back. She had to take him to the hospital where they drew blood out of his arm. They will test it for allergies to dairy, nuts, shellfish, soy, wheat and something else. Thankfully, the allergist told Kim that she could feed Austin the breastmilk in the freezer; that's a relief since it's packed in there! And, my freezer has at least 16 bags from when Kim was here in December. He gave her some formula that she can try to give to the baby but warned her that it wasn't very tasty. Knowing Austin, he isn't about to drink something that tastes nasty. We will find out in the next couple of weeks what the little booger can or can't eat. I think this should also help his excema also. Kim's been dealing with that almost since he was born. I guess we didn't think of it before but these problems abound in my family, but just not to the degree that Austin has them. For one thing, Ed can generally eat or drink anything, and not be bothered. But, he can't use anti-persperant. Since I've been buying his deodorant for years, I think he forgot a couple of years ago when he bought 3 sticks of deodorant/anti-persperant. When he used it the next day, he broke out all the way from his armpit to almost his waist! Also, there's been certain detergents that have caused him to break out. On the other hand, I started having problems with dairy when I was in my 30's. Kerri and Kim started having problems in their late teens, and Brandy was born with an allergy to milk. It seems as if all these problems have been multiplied in Austin. But, I'm thankful that soon we are going to find out what he can and can not have.
Be thankful every day of your life for something,
Dawnie

March 9, 2011: Austin

Hola, All! Yesterday Kim called me about 5:30pm to say that she and baby Austin were headed to the emergency room! Kim had taken Austin to John's work to eat lunch with John, a 45 minute drive on a good day. When they got home after 3pm, she decided to feed him formula, which he's never had; she had not pumped yet and didn't have any breastmilk for him. After feeding him about 2 oz, he started making a really weird noise, like he had something in his throat. He was gagging, crying really weird, and throwing up mucus! She stopped feeding him, and made a bottle of breatmilk (her freezer is full of bags of breastmilk) but he wouldn't drink it. She tried to use the aspirator in his throat but she couldn't get anything out. Then she notices that he is covered in hives, and he is as red as a tomato! Panic sets in! Kim calls her neighbor, Olivia (in school to become a pediatric nurse) who tells her that Austin has had an allergic reaction. It's after 4:30pm when she calls her doctor who told her to take the baby to the emergency room. At the ER the triage nurse tells her that Austin is having anaphylaxis; they give him epipen, benadryl and steroids! And, the nurse says that alot of times when a person has an allergic reaction to something, they have another one in 6-8 hours. The dr hooks the baby up to all kinds of machines, checking his breathing, bp, etc. After 10 minutes his skin color started returning to a more normal color, and he was breathing easier. By the time John made it to the ER, Austin was 80% better. Since John rides the train home, and Kim had the car, it took him awhile to get to the hospital. The baby was not released until 9:30pm, when they thankfully took him home. He is fine now but Kim was given a long list of things that she and the baby can't eat. This is going to change her life more than it changes Austin's life, I think. I am proud of Kim for listening to her gut and taking him to the ER, even though a couple of her neighbors thought Austin was out of danger and didn't need to go. Tomorrow they have an appointment with a pediatric allergist; maybe we can get to the bottom of what he can eat/drink and what he can't.
Praying for Kim and Austin,
Dawnie

March 4, 2011: Speaker Connection to Audience

Hola, All! Tomorrow I am giving a speech at my Anecdotally Speaking Toastmasters meeting on "One way speakers can connect with their audience". I got the inspiration for the speech from when I attended a conference in Chicago last summer. (All the speakers were authors). On Friday night the speaker was really good, because I heard people say how much they liked her. She didn't stand in one spot, but walked among the audience. I don't think she was exactly boring; all I know is that the longer she spoke, the sleepier I got. I did everything to stay awake........shifted in my seat, took deep breaths, moved my legs alot. I even tried rotating my head............until my chin hit my chest and woke me up! I was so glad when her speech was over! This speaker did not connect with me. The next day after lunch I had signed up to hear Speaker B. I had read two of his books. They were the kind that you could hardly put down because they were so interesting! I was real excited to hear what he had to say. When I walked into the back of the room, I looked for a place to sit near the front. Since there weren't any available, I sat near the middle of the room. This turned out to be a blessing for me because the whole time he talked, his voice was monotone. It neither went up or down but stayed the same. Holy Cow, did he not realize that we had just eaten lunch?? All the blood was headed to our stomachs to digest our food, and not much was headed to our heads! I thought to myself, "Oh, no, another boring hour!" But, then, his presentation required him to TURN OUT THE LIGHTS!! Oh my lord, off to dreamland I went. (Actually that was nice since I hadn't slept well the night before and it gave me some time to get refreshed.) The next morning was a different story as the main speaker walked across the stage in her sassy purple party dress, acting like she owned the place. I liked her immediately! She told the audience to get off their booties because we were going to have some fun! This woman knew how to connect with her audience. I immediately recognized that I liked her style, and am using it in my speech tomorrow. My club doesn't know it yet but I'm going to get them off their booties, and we are going to do some jiving to the song "Shake Your Booty!" I know that it's going to be alot of fun!
Since most of you know that I want to be a public speaker and speak in front of thousands,
I want to know what kind of speaker do you connect with? What kind of qualities must the speaker have to hold your interest? What keeps you awake during a speech or presentation? I welcome any suggestions because they will just make me a better speaker.

Have FUN!
Dawnie

March 3, 2011: Ocean/Wave

Hola, All! Here you are, at the beach, sitting on the sand, watching the waves roll in. Let's assume that God, or the Universe, is a hugh body of water, like the ocean. And, you are a wave, part of the ocean yet distinct from the other waves, but made from the same water. What do you think would cause wave A to rise higher, last longer and have more of an impact than wave B? I think the difference is that the bigger wave has decided to take on more of the characteristics of the ocean, to absorb what the ocean has offered to all the waves, to use the power that is deep within the ocean. You see, each wave has the same opportunity to become more like the ocean, but the ocean has given each wave the free will to decide if it even wants to immitate itself. As a wave, would you not want to absorb all the things the ocean offered, to eventually become so much like the ocean that no wave could tell where the ocean ended and you began? I have a picture in my office (dining room) that shows a large wave reaching its highest point, using the power of the ocean to affect every drop of water it comes into contact with. I look at this picture everyday and tell myself that I want to be like that wave, I want to make a big splash by using all the gifts that the Universe offers, such as love, completeness, joy, peace, happiness, and power to affect others' lives. Some of my greatest desires are to make a difference in the world, to help others improve their lives, to accomplish my mission in life. Looking at the picture helps me to stay focused on the steps that bring me closer to becoming who I am meant to be..........a wave that is one with the ocean.
I am Love, You are Love,
Dawnie

March 1, 2011: More Tibetan Bowls

Hola, All! Yesterday while listening to the vibrations of my Tibetan bowl, this message came through:
The healing powers of the Tibetan bowls are spread throughout the land. Concentrate on them as they vibrate, bringing peace and joy to your inner being. Lavish yourself with the sounds, accepting them and then sending them out into the world. Breathe in their love, letting it settle into your bones. Breathe out stress, relaxing your inner being and body. Allow the music to reach the inner corners of your mind, allowing it to be peaceful and open. Receive the healing tones; they bring lasting peace and joy.

Here is some information about Tibetan bowls, according to Diane Mandle, Certified Sound Healer. "During our waking state , the normal frequency of our brain waves is that of Beta. Sound tools entrain the brain to move into the deeper Alpha and Theta brain wave frequencies. These are the frequencies that induce deep meditative and peaceful states, clairity of mind and intuition. Modern medicine can now measure and thus confirm the practice of sound as a means to promote healing. Thus, sound is a type of energy medicine that creates the sacred space in which people can heal from stress disorders, pain, depression, the emotional roller coaster and more. "
Some people listen to meditative cd's before a surgery, to lose weight, to get through a difficult time, to have peace of mind, etc. Other people listen to music to connect with joy in their lives. I listen to Tibetan bowls as a way to connect with my inner being, that part of God that lives inside of me. Sounds can be very theraputic, helping us to attain a deeper sense of peace. I hope you find the peace that you are looking for.
Peace be with you,
Dawnie

February 27, 2011: Dancing and Trusting God

Hola, All! A year and a half ago Ed and I started taking dance lessons. I have wanted to know how to dance, especially the East Coast Swing, since I was in college. I remember that my friend, Mary, could get on the dance floor and just boogie away! I was secretly jealous because I wanted to know how to do it too, but, for whatever reason, I never asked her to show me. Then, when I was dating Ed, we used to go to the Belle Star on Sunday evenings to take country and western dance lessons. Why we stopped going after we were married is a mystery to me. We went to our first lesson at the Rosemeade Rec Center in September, 2010. We learned how to do the basic steps of East Coast Swing (is similar to the jitterbug), and the country and western dance called Double Progressive. The interesting thing about Double Progressive is that it is mainly popular only in Dallas; the most popular C&W dance step in the United States is the Two-Step, which Ed and I are also learning. For the man, the hardest parts of dancing are that he has to lead the lady every step of the way and at the same time pay attention to what his feet are doing. This is a real challange for most men when they start learning to dance. For the woman, the hardest parts are doing all the turns and not knowing what step the man is going to lead next. For the longest time, I would get sooooo dizzy from turning that Ed would literally have to stay really close to me in case I fell , which never happened. I also had a really hard time leaving all the leading to him; it was so hard getting used to not knowing what step to do until he lead it. At some point it dawned on me the similarities between dancing and trusting God. In dancing if the lady doesn't follow the man's lead, the results are that he ends up going one way and she goes another. This can lead to frustration, anger, and having to start all over again. Something similar happens when God wants to lead us down one road and we, usually out of fear, go down a different road. God isn't frustrated (since He is only Love, Peace, and Joy) but I've been frustrated as I have resisted His lead since I didn't know where it was leading. As I have relaxed and trusted Ed to be the leader on the dance floor, it has taught me to relax and trust God to lead me off the dance floor. Just as on the dance floor, Ed can only lead one step at a time; the same is true that God leads me one step at a time. When I am doing the turns, I have to trust Ed to protect me from getting hit by other dancers. Similarily, I trust that God will protect me as I go about my day. I have come to understand that I really don't need to know the next step in either case; my job is to follow where I am lead, knowing everything will turn out beautifully, if only I will let it.
Life is good!

Dawnie

February 25, 2011: What would I do with a million dollars?

Hola, All! What would I do with a million dollars? As long as I am fantasizing, I might as well make it several millions! Do I take care of my expenses first, put some in savings and then pass out the rest? One of my affirmations is that 'I am a good million dollar manager'. What exactly does that mean? Have I shown God that I know how to take care of the abundance that flows my way? One thing I don't want to do is stop the flow of abundance by hoarding all the money or spending it all for selfish reasons. Although, if you think about it, as long as the money flows in and out, does it really matter where it goes? Since I've really not given this much thought, what I'm saying here is coming off the top of my head. So here's one plan: The first thing I would do is pay off the loan that we took out for Ed's dyno business, and have added onto when we upgraded the house with the laminate flooring. Then I would add the maximum to our IRA's for this year. I'd seriously think about paying John, my son-in-law, to move his family from Chicago to Carrollton!! And, I'm thinking that needs to be moved to the top of my list! I want to start a foundation, or be involved in a foundation that helps women and children in Guatemala. Camille's brother already is doing this; I hope to get some information from you soon about it, Camille! I know that there are so many charaties and organizations that help other people that it's hard to know which ones to support. I think I'll stick to the ones that mean something to me, like the American Disabled Veterans . Even though my dad wasn't physically injured in the war, (he was a veteran of WW II, the Korean War, and the Viet Nam War), there's no telling how the wars affected him mentally, and he eventually was mentally and physically disabled. Have you ever wondered why so many people who win the lottery are broke after a few years? Here's my version: after the elation of winning so much money wears off, they start thinking about why they won and if they deserved to win. Guilt sets in as they spend money that they didn't earn, until all the money is gone, and they are back to where they started, back to a position they are familiar with. I know that God wants all of us to be happy, to live fulfilling lives, to contribute to the good of all. I also know that when I am a manager of millions, I will be listening for divine guidance, listening for the best way to make use of the green paper that I'm in charge of. What about you: what would you do with a million dollars?
Happiness is yours and mine,
Dawnie

February 23, 2011: Tibetan Bowl

Hola, All! Every morning after reading my lesson for the day from "A Course in Miracles", I sit on the floor with my Tibetan bowl beside me and strike it slowly, letting the vibrations linger until they are almost gone. Then I go through this process two more times, enjoying the sounds my Tibetan bowl makes. I repeat the affirmation several times that comes from the lesson, and try to let the affirmation soak into my mind. Yesterday, after doing this, words started coming into my mind so fast that I had to stop and write them down. I want to share them with you:

"As the Tibetan bowls are played, close your eyes and imagine that the vibrations are filling your body with healing. Release your anxieties, fears, helplessness and allow the vibrations to enter your body, and then allow them to leave taking your anxieties and fears to the Conscienceness of God. Relax into the loving sounds of the Tibetan bowls. God wills you to be happy; allow it to fill your heart with the Love of your Creator."

I believe that Tibetan bowls have healing powers for me, and possibly for you. I know that I receive Divine guidance through hearing, so it comes as no surprise to me that the vibrations allow me to open my thoughts to receiving messages.
The Grace of God is with you,
Dawnie

February 22, 2011: Dream

Hola, All! Several years ago I had a vivid dream where I was applying for a job in a church that was shaped like a lighthouse. As I stood in front of the audience, I remember that I could only see the people sitting in the center section of the church. On either side of the center, it was as if a black screen kept me from seeing those sections. I didn't really know what to think of this dream except that I knew somewhere down the road this dream would come true in some fashion. You see, I rarely remember my dreams so when I do, expecially when I can remember details, I keep these dreams in the back of my mind. Now, at the time of this dream I was very involved with missions at Holy Covenant United Methodist Church. I love organizing mssion trips in this area and to far away places, such as Guatemala. I have the gift of caring about and helping people, but I don't get emotionally pulled into their burdens. I have my own that I'm trying to get rid of, and really don't want to take on the burdens of others.
The dream was interesting in that I didn't feel that I was being called to be a missionary, or a preacher, or to work within the Methodist church. A few months before this, I felt a strong calling to get over my fear of public speaking, at which time I joined a local Toastmasters group. Belonging to Toastmasters has literally changed my life, giving me more courage and self confidence, and making me realize that I really did have a purpose for being. So dreaming about speaking in front of an audience was something that I could connect with.
This morning while blowdrying my hair, it dawned on me that The Cathedral of Light might be the lighthouse that I knew would show up in my life. Even though the building is not shaped like a lighthouse, COL gives off a light letting people know that this is a safe place to worship no matter what color you are, what your sexual preference is, what your background is or where you are on your spiritual path. All are welcome here. As far as getting a job there, I don't know about that, but I do know that life is an exciting journey!
You have a reason for being!
Dawnie

February 21, 2011: 100 Lessons

Hola, All! Today was a day of celebration! It marked a milestone for me because I made it to Lesson 100 in "A Course in Miracles"! Yeaaa! It's not that it's a struggle to do the lessons, it's just that I don't always take the time to do them, especially if I'm out of town or if my sweet grandbaby is here. Or sometimes I do the same lesson twice because I didn't spend enough time on it the first day. So, it has taken me awhile to complete 100 lessons. Today's lesson had to do with remembering that each of us is meant to spread His happiness to everyone we come in contact with. That was fairly easy for me since I'm a pretty upbeat person to begin with, and I have no problem greeting people I don't know with "Good Morning!" or something to that effect. To give you some background, there are 365 lessons in the "Course", one for each day of the year. Since it is a home study, everyone who studies this book goes at his own pace; at the rate I am going, it will take me over 2 years to complete it. But, the length of time it takes is immaterial; what's important is that one lesson is learned before continuing to the next lesson. The whole purpose of the "Course" is to provide a foundation for inner peace, and I have to say that it is working for me. It is all mental work, so it can be done no matter where I am or what I am doing. Of course, the challenge is to remember each day's lesson throughout the day, and that is where I sometimes get stuck. I can go hours without thinking about it, and then all of a sudden, it hits me..............that's when I do the same lesson the next day also. But, each lesson learned brings me a tiny step closer to having inner peace, being calm inside no matter what kind of drama is going on around me. I stick with it because I have been searching for inner peace for years and have finally found something that is working for me. Everything inside of me tells me that I am on the right path. And so, I celebrated today by spreading happiness eveywhere I went.
Celebrate your life!
Dawnie

February 20, 2011: Cathedral of Light

Hola, All! Today my friend, Bhooma and I, went to the service at Cathedral of Light in Carrollton. I have been there several times before, but this was Bhooma's first time. One thing that I really like about COL is that during the service, a woman named Wilma plays Tibetan bowls of different sizes, which causes them to emit different sounds. If you've never heard the sound Tibetan bowls make, they kind of sound like beautiful wind chimes. I have a Tibetan bowl that I bought at the women's retreat some of us attended in November. I love to hear its music before I start meditating; it seems to quiet my mind much easier than I can do on my own. I can feel the vibration the music makes throughout my body; it's as if I am connecting with the Spirit of God. I want to share the words that came to me while meditating: Be open to the Love of God, from whence you came. Let the healing tones of the Tibetan bowls vibrate through your soul, lifting you from the despair of life to His Love. Let them awaken inside you His joy and peace that is your inner being. Be guided into the peacefulness of His Love. Remember Jesus' words, "I am with you always".
Another thing that I like at Cathedral of Light is that when it's time to 'pass the hat', we are asked to take our money or check in our hands so that we can bless it. The blessing is written on a large screen so that everyone repeats the words together. Then, after dropping our money in the collection plate, we ask God/Divine Love to bless and mulitply all that we are, all that we have, all that we give and all that we receive. Doing that makes me feel like my heart just spreads itself across my chest.
Even though I've visited COL several times before, today was the first time that I really felt a connection. I just knew that I was in the right place to get my heart filled up. Afterwards, Bhooma told me that as soon as she entered the cathedral, she felt the positive energy. We're decided to visit again next week; come join us if you are looking for a different spiritual experience. The service is at 10:30am; I hope to see you there!
I am Love, You are Love,
Dawnie

February 19, 2011: Want/Desire #2

Hola, All! I have been asked several times about the difference between 'to want something' and 'to desire something'. (This refers to my previous blog.) I gave people my definitions but today decided to consult with my good friend, Mr. Webster. As I read the definitions, they sounded almost the same, but then I came to the SYN part under 'desire'. Here is what it says:

DESIRE: generaly interchangeable with the other words here in the sense of 'to long for', stresses intensity or ardor/(such as) to desire success/;
WISH: is not as strong a term as desire and has special application when an unrealizable longing is meant/(such as) he wished summer were here/;
WANT: specifically suggesting a longing for something lacking or needed, generally is a more informal equivalent of wish/(such as) she wants, or wishes, to go with us.

So, there you have it, folks, right off page 373 of Webster's New World College Dictionary. Please continue reading and asking questions; I'll do my best to 'set you straight'!

You are Love, I am Love,
Dawnie

February 18, 2011: Wants/Desires

Hola, All! While reading "The Way of Mastery", I came across an exercise called "Trusting Desire". After reading it through, I decided that it would be interesting to do. If you want to find out what you truly want and desire out of life, give it a try. Even if you feel like you are doing what you are meant to be doing, you might be surprised at what is truly in your heart. For me, I found it easier to do this in the morning, not long after waking. If you are interested, here is what you do. First, relax your body, close your eyes and breathe deeply; then ask yourself, "What do I truly want?" Write down ANYTHING that comes to mind, and pay attention to what images and feelings you get, even if it's wanting chocolate! Place no judgment on what shows up. When you have finished, take another deep breath and ask, "What do I truly desire?" Again, write down whatever comes into your mind as pictures, feelings or words. The next day or so, do this exercise again, until you have done it for 5-7 days. Each day after doing it, don't look at what you've written. Just put it aside until the next time. At the end of the 5-7 days, read again what you've written each day, and see what repeatedly shows up. After 7 days I got a piece of paper, wrote down each new thing that I had thought of, and when something repeated itself, I marked how many times it showed up. Then I ranked the top 10 things that were my wants/desires; I did not separate the wants into one column and the desires into another. This gave me a clear idea of what is in my heart. So the next time I question why I am on this planet, I can look at my list and be reminded of my purpose. One thing the book suggests is to talk about one's results with a buddy. So, if you do this exercise, and want to talk about it with me, just let me know. I think it'll be fun!
You are Light, I am Light,
Dawnie

February 16, 2011: Valentine's Day

Hola, All! For Valentine's Day I asked for a love letter from my valentine. At first Ed said he didn't know how to write a love letter; I told him to just write down what was in his heart. Later I found him looking up love letters on the internet. I could tell he was trying but it was causing him stress also. I let him off the hook by giving him my second choice: a session of reflexology. I mentioned it to Joyce who wanted it from her valentine also. We decided to return to "The Foot Place" where we had gone a couple of months ago and had really enjoyed it. Since it is across the street from Walmart, we decided to shop first, then go have our feet massaged. As we were leaving Walmart, something made me look at my feet. I started laughing as I realized that I was wearing my warm, cozy houseshoes! How silly of me to forget to change my shoes.........oh well! I like the reflexology at "The Foot Place" because it's not just about getting your feet massaged; they massage just about every body part from your head to your toes. And, it's so reasonable: $29.00 for an hour! And, now they have a special going: $29.99 for 70 minutes! Why is it that I don't even think about the hair on my legs until I'm sitting in the chair, about to put my feet in some delicious hot water? Knowing there was nothing I could do about it at that time, I didn't really check out how long the hair was until I got home. You'll be happy to know that my legs have seen longer hair than they did on Monday! As I get older, less things are really important, and having hairy legs is not something I am going to sweat over. The foot massage is good and the body massage is good, and Joyce and I left happy campers! I know that we'll be back!
Happy Feet,
Dawnie

February 15, 2011: DART RAIL

Hola, All! Today my friend from Cuba, Aida, and I rode the DART train from the Frankford station to downtown Dallas. Even though Aida doesn't speak much English, and my Spanish is a work in progress, we seem to understand each other most of the time. Or, I just let her yak and nod my head. The danger in doing that is I might be nodding 'yes' when shaking my head 'no' is a more proper response. Oh well! When we got to the parking lot, we were very fortunate to find a parking place near the platform. It was encouraging to find that this lot was packed; there is another lot beside it that wasn't full. I'm so glad to see the citizens of Carrollton using DART rail. There are 3 machines where you can buy a ticket, but we couldn't get any of them to take our money. (Rats, right!) I talked to the man driving the train and he said he had already called it in, so we just got on the train and paid for our ticket on the other end. A one day pass is $3.50 - $4.00. One reason I wanted to ride the train was to see where it stopped. Besides Carrollton and Farmers Branch, it stopped near Love Field. You have to get off the train and catch a bus to the airport, but you get to use your same rail ticket. It also stopped close to Children's Hospital and Parkland, but if I were really sick, I'm not sure I could walk to the hospital since it looked like it was a hike. We got off the train downtown and walked around the West End, eating at The Corner Bakery........yum! We then walked to The Red Courthouse where there is a tourist bureau inside. If you go there, they will give you a map and show you where the most interesting places are to visit. As far as free places, he mentioned the Kennedy memorial, Neiman Marcos, the Crow collection of Asian Art, and the Guadalupe Cathedral. Another place is Thanksgiving Square. We didn't visit any of those places since we had to be back by a certain time, but I plan to return, this time with an agenda of places to see. It was an interesting, enjoyable day, and I highly recommend experiencing the train from Carrollton to downtown Dallas and beyond.
Enjoy your trip!
Dawnie

February 14, 2011: Potatoes

Hola, All! Last weekend, my brother, Terry, wife, Lynna, and daughter, Emily, spent the night at my house. As Terry and I were talking, he asked me what kind of vegetables I was going to plant this year. I mentioned tomatoes, zuchinni, squash; also, basil and oregano. He said, "Why not new potatoes?" I really hadn't given potatoes any thought but remembering how delicious my dad's new potatoes were really got me to thinking. I remember that my dad planted them in February, but I couldn't tell you anything more than that. My dad didn't start a garden until I was in college, so it wasn't something I grew up with. And, unfortunately, while he was alive, I wasn't interested in growing some of my own food. Now that I am, he isn't around; sometimes things work that way. Terry said to plant potatoes, all one needed was some potatoes from the store; that I had. While I cut 2 red potatoes into fourths, Terry dug 8 holes in my garden. Then he threw one fourth potato into each hole, covered it up and said that's it. Since then I've done some research on the internet. It seems that the potatoes needed to have developed some 'eyes' since that is the 'seed'. (I'm sure that the ants are having a 'potato party' since i'm not digging them up!) I bought 2 more red potatoes today, and put them in the pantry, hoping they develope 'eyes' in the next two weeks. For north Texas, the best time to plant potaotes is from February 15 to March 1. Then I read on another website not to plant potatoes that are bought in the grocery store since they are sprayed with something that keeps them from reproducing. What to do?? If you have experience growing red potatoes in this area, would you please tell me your process? I would appreciate it greatly.
You are Love, I am Love,
Dawnie

February 8, 2011: Jury Duty

Hola, All! This morning I was at the municipal court in Carrollton to attend jury duty. I had mixed feelings about performing this service since I have been trying to reduce/eliminate judgment in my life. This was a paradox for me since being on a jury requires one to give a verdict on another person's behavior. There was nothing on the summons that I could use as a legal reason not to go, so I went trusting that I would not be picked. (Warning: if you go for jury duty, wear warm clothes; I wore a long sleeve shirt, a very light sweatshirt, and a light leather jacket along with socks and boots, and still was cold. Also, and I know this is selffish, but I wanted to see Kerri before she went out of town at 10:30am, so I set my goal to be home by then.) While we were waiting for the bailiff, we watched an interesting short clip about the history and purpose of jury duty. After some time, the bailiff arrived calling out 20 names of people in the room who would go to the first court room, some of whom would be picked to serve on that jury. I was not on his list. Then, a second bailiff called out 18 names, mine being the 7th name. In the courtroom, the prosecuting attorney told us she was going to ask us questions and we should verbally respond yes or no. As she was going through her routine, about half the people would answer, the rest remaining silent. I was listening to her when she asked the following question: If there is a city law that you don't agree with, and the defendant broke this law, could you uphold it? Some people answered yes, and she went on to the next question. But, inside me, something started churning and making me real nervous. I asked myself, could I do that, knowing the answer was no. So, I raised my hand, and asked to return to that question. I told her that I didn't think I could uphold a law that I didn't agree with. She said, OK, and moved to her next point. Shortly thereafter, we were dismissed to the next room while the proseceutor and the defendant (who decided to be her own lawyer) each picked 3 people to serve on the 6 person jury. When we returned to the courtroom around 10:15am, my name was not called, and I made it home in time to take Kerri to the airport. I want to close by saying that if you feel proud to serve your country on a jury, wonderful! I am not knocking jury duty at all. But, for me, when my insides were in a knot, I knew that I had to be true to myself and speak up about my feelings. It was the right thing for me to do.
I am Love, You are Love,
Dawnie

February 7, 2011: Aura/Angel

Hola, All! Sometimes in my meditations, I ask to see angelic beings. Why do I want to see them? Possible a part of me needs proof that they exist, or maybe I think that if I see them, that means I am on the 'right' spiritual path. I want to know that I am connecting with them. Sometimes I just want to feel them beside me. Yesterday I met Edna at the Cathedral of Light for their Sunday service. There were lots of uplifting music and good messages. Rev Kay had given an inspirational reading after which was a period of silence except for the lovely sound of vibrating Tibetan bowls. Then, Rev Kay gave a message on "To Love As God Loves". As I was listening to her message, the energy field surrounding her body came into my vision. As I sat there watching her energy field, it started to grow beyond her into the shape of a head with shoulders. The 'form' lasted only a few seconds, and then it kind of melted back into her aura. But, in a few seconds, out of her energy came a second form, like the first, only larger. There was no clear distinction of anything except behind her was a 'form' of a head, shoulders and flowing body that seemed to float. It lasted but a few seconds. My first and only thought was that I was seeing one of her angels, but I felt no different than before. There was not even a little bit of excitement over seeing this, which kind of surprised me. I guess I expected to be happy, or elated, or even scared.........but I had none of those emotions. It happened and then it was over. I could still see Rev. Kay's aura but no more shapes presented themselves to me. Did I see one of her angels? I don't know, but I do know that I saw something. Whether it was an angel, or an extention of her energy, I don't think it really matters.... A thought just now occured to me that possibly it was an extention of the Love that she was sending out into the world. Ah, that explanation seems to ring true to me; I think I'll stick with that one.
I am Love, You are Love, Give it freely.
Dawnie