I am always looking for something to celebrate each month with a card and a costume and as the month of MARCH approaches we celebrate Women's History Month, Music in Our Schools Month, Social Workers Month & National Nutrition Month - but my favorite of all this month is the recognition of the humanitarian organization, the AMERICAN RED CROSS!  March is RED CROSS MONTH too.   The American Red Cross helps people in emergencies everyday.  I encourage you to learn how good it can feel to make an incredible difference in someone's life.  Be a part of a life-changing experience.  Contact your local Red Cross this month to donate blood, volunteer, host a blood drive or even become an employee.  Every minute, every day, there is someone in need of help.  Disaster services, international services, community services; I guarantee you'll find something of interest, something that you will enjoy at the Red Cross.  Down the street, cross the country and around the world-in emergencies the American Red Cross touches millions of lives each year.  I recommend you take time this month and be a part of this journey and experience the greatness of the human spirit at its best.  I found out that helping others helps me too.

I still love the element of L-O-V-E, the fairy-tale world I live in and the fact that love has been the central theme of my life eventhough this four-letter word has caused me some joy & pain.  So this Christmas I want to start a LOVE REVOLUTION!! And I want all of you to join me; but this is the tough part..Love MUST be more than a theory or a word; it absolutely has to be put into action.  It must be seen and felt.  That's what makes it so special and wonderful. Love is the answer to selfishness because love gives and selfishness takes. Be as creative as you want to be, wrap it up real nice and put a bow on it..Tell someone that you love them{ with chestnuts roasting on an open fire} and life is beautiful; when we speak those words and don't mean them or never speak those words at all, nothing really works properly at all. Until we all learn how to really receive and give love will we find the true treasure in the gift of love.

But I didn't make this up...Remember another reason for the season: God is Love..Love is and has always been his idea.  He came to love us, to teach us how to love him, and to teach us how to love ourselves and each other.  Love is enough - Love should be enough - Love can be enough!

Always Straight From the Heart...Happy Holidays!

So many kids, teens and adults are headed back to school. I often imagine what an exciting time that really could be for me if I could afford it now.  Its a time of stretching, growing, and transition. Its a time of fear and of adjustment. Teachers and students adjust to one another, parents have to adjust to new schedules and us single folks or those not headed back to school are still in the mix too adjusting to morning traffic and extra crowds on the metro.  Changing, learning and making adjustments are all part of growing. I am striving to be all God has called me to be (very difficult at times when you really still dont know what your calling is...) but we all have to be willing to constantly make adjustments & embrace change. We have to look for opportunites to learn and grow.  Is there something you can do to sharpen your work skills? Is there room for growth in your relationships? Have you been avoiding a necessary change in your life? Scary..4 sho but think about maintaining a "back 2 school" attitude. Take some time to reread some books, talk to a friend, listen to some teaching tapes; make the necessary adjustments in your schedule to keep learning & growing. It's never to late to go back to school...

When we count our many blessings, it isnt hard to see, that life's most valued treasures are surely those treasures that are free...For it is never what we own or buy that signifies our wealth, it's the special gifts that  have no price----our family, true friends, and our health..as you celebrate this 4th of July holiday surround yourself with those who accept you for just who you are..those who love you and are willing to be loved by you..and never be afraid to say i love you and thanks for loving me back!