Like A Pearl

I want this ring. Like, really, really badly. I am not much of a jewelry person, even. It's not that I don't like jewelry (I do); I'm just a pretty practical person and it doesn't always fit my lifestyle. However. I have a problem with stalking two shopping sites: www.Etsy.com and https://www.theveteranssite.com.

I first found The Veteran's Site Store because they periodically have music videos with military themes and I have a heart for that, so I've been watching their stuff since I discovered them about two years ago. Not only do they post videos, but they have this really cool store that's right up my ally with handcrafted "hippie" stuff, free trade items, and just all around neat stuff...and their prices are so reasonable! They are constantly having sales and the shipping is flat rate! The BEST part though, is that the proceeds from what you buy help to feed and house US veterans, to whom I am forever grateful for.

So the ring. I found it browsing their site today, and I'm pretty sure my heart skipped a beat when I saw it. I don't know why, exactly, because I've seen other beautiful rings before. This one in particular cries out to me. I love non-traditional beautiful rings. You know, diamonds that aren't like everyone else; pearls that are, well, blue in this case. :) Once I clicked on the link and read the description, though...WOW! That is my life right now!

Timeless as the night sky, our Midnight Freshwater Pearl & Sterling Ring is a beautiful testament to the beauty that can come from persevering through struggle.

Pearls are developed because of an irritant inside a clam--sand. Instead of up and dying, rejecting the hardship, or being forever damaged, the clam creates something beautiful out of something ugly, useless, and painful. Once the pearl is created, it can be removed from that clam without harm, giving something precious to the world and giving a normal life back to the clam. That is what I wish my life to be, and what I believe it is right now. Domestic violence destroyed my marriage, and almost destroyed me in the process. When people ask me how I can still believe in marriage and the love of God after what I went through, I simply explain it as it's said in the end of Exodus: that I am ok with the fact that I went through these things because it will bring about the survival of many people. Like a pearl, beauty can come from persevering through struggle.

I may just buy myself that ring. Not sure yet, since I'm not one to buy things for myself, but it's possible.

"Oh Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me." (Psalm 30:2)

"The Lord will be your everlasting light, and  your days of sorrow WILL end." (Isaiah 60:20b)

95% off Dave Ramsey Products!

Tonight is my last class to complete Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University course. For anyone wanting to get out of debt, understand and become wise in handling money, or become a millionaire, take Financial Peace University. I only wish I had taken this at the age of 17-years-old and in high school! Needless to say, I have put this on the future schooling agenda for my children. :) He certainly is the financial guru of this time period, and entertaining to boot.

Here are his seven steps to financial freedom that all of his materials are based around (do these in order):

1) $1,000 in an emergency fund ($500 if your income is under $20k/year)

2) Pay off all debt except the house utilizing the debt snowball

3) Three to six months expenses in savings

4) Invest 15% of your household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement plans

5) College funding

6) Pay off your home early

7) Build wealth and give!

You can find out about local classes, register for his online class, or access all of his free forms and information through http://www.daveramsey.com. OR, pay $1 and get his "Cash Flow Planning" lesson on mp3 AND an mp3 copy of "The Super Red Racer" children's book by Dave Ramsey! This normally costs $21 but is 95% off for three more days over at Mamapedia. Take advantage of this with your one dollar!

Need Advertising Space?

Are you a business owner? I love to support other people developing or running their own entrepreneurial endeavors--especially parents! If you want to get some extra PR, send me an email at with "Advertising on Life More Simply" as the title subject. You will need a banner and website, but not a ridiculous amount of money (today's now your favorite day, right?).  :)

I offer very reasonable pricing for advertising space and am more than happy to work out something with you and what you can afford--even if it means a trade of your product for my space! Remember that I have over 1,000 readers/followers/subscribers, so you will have a pretty good data base to spread the word to about your service or products.

Space will be first come, first served, so contact me now and we'll start spreading the word about your business!

Love Exuberantly

This is what I think...

You should hold your babies more, and never stop kissing them and telling them that you love them. You shouldn't be afraid to rock them to sleep, to let them get messy, or to let them snuggle you in the morning before you get out of bed. It doesn't matter if your floor isn't always spotless or the clean laundry always folded. It does matter that your children know they are loved unconditionally with an agape love. It does matter that you touch them and hold them and giggle with them and smile at them. Remember that the purest form of you is who you are when you're with your children. Let them know that they are the best thing in the whole wide world. Love those children, and make sure they know it. Don't ever hold back; love exuberantly.

This is what I think...

You should spend more time with that person who you are bound to. Whether it's a best friend, a girl friend, or a husband, be with them. You don't know when an accident will happen, cancer will strike, or something unforeseen takes them from you. Cherish your time. Love them. Stay up late talking, watching funny movies, and listening to the rain. Don't be afraid to experience everything possible that life offers with that person. Take every opportunity to love on that person, to fix every problem that hinders your relationship, and to serve that person with bounding joy. Learn to love better, and practice it. Do not take them for granted or take lightly the memories you have the opportunity to create together. Hold on to that person, the one that you can't live without, or at least that you don't ever, ever, ever want to live without. Love that person, and make sure they know it. Don't hold back; love exuberantly.

This is what I think...

I don't know what you felt when you got that phone call, and I won't pretend that I felt your fear. I do know, though, that I will hold your unconscious baby, sing to him, and love him for you when you can't do it yourself. I will do everything that is absolutely possible to give life to your baby, no matter what it costs me in the process. I will always be sure that I know what I'm doing, that everything is ready, and that your child comes first when my scanner goes off and I step into that ambulance. You don't need to fear, because when I get there, he becomes my baby too, and there is nothing stronger than a mama's heart. Know that if anything ever happens; if I can't get our baby to the place where he should be, or if things go wrong and something happens, I will be sobbing too. You may not see it, but I am breaking inside, too.

I won't pretend that I understand what it must be like to see your  unresponsive husband lying on a backboard with blood pooling everywhere. I do know though, that I feel part of your pain when I want him to wake up and he doesn't. When I know that he may never open his eyes again. When I know that you are standing there watching him die while I try to give him life. It's not easy as I gently tell you to hold his hand and kiss him, to talk to him and reassure him. What I am really saying is that you need to tell him goodbye and hold on to him for these minutes that he is still here for. Know that I am doing everything I can, though. Part of a team, I am still watching everyone and everything. I will speak up on his behalf, and I will make sure he is treated correctly. I will talk to him by name as I push oxygen into his lungs, and I will be ready to do everything possible to get him home. But if that doesn't happen, know that I am standing behind you, and that I wanted him to live, too.

This is what I think.
Seize every opportunity possible to love exuberantly. Don't wait for tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come.

-------

Originally posted at http://OctobersHeart.blogspot.com. 

If you aren't already following my blog there, then head on over! 

Four Things You'll Want To Know About

There's some great stuff going on in the world right now! If you weren't having a fantastic day yet, check this stuff out and start yourself on turning your ordinary day into a fantastic day.

Like...

1) Free Quiznos food. http://quiznosqclub.com/?imm_cid=C1-9W&imm_kwd=v2:CD1816&flow=prte&imm_mid=4200&imm_hid=789153221&c1=v2:CD1816&c2=&c3=#/register

2) Benefit auction going on over at KumfyKozies with some pretty great looking diapers, mama stuff, toys, and more with excellent starting price bids. All of the money collected will be going to help a family who has experienced a major medical crisis! Check it out: http://hyenacart.com/kumfykozies/

3) Chaco Dirtiest Feet Contest. No, I don't want you to win, because I want myself to win...but if you're a Chaco lover, you know that I couldn't possibly hold this back from other Chaco lovers. :) http://www.chacos.com/US/en/Tan-Contest-2011-Dirtiest-Feet

4) FREE 8x8 photo book from Snapfish...expires this Wednesday! Use code RXV4-1ND8-DKPS-WKMJV9.

Beat Cancer & Get a Pair of Yurbuds Iron Man headphones for only $20!!!

I just learned about a great event going on right now--a Beat Cancer Boot Camp Powered by Yurbuds. It's a two-day event and only costs $5 which will be donated to help fight cancer. Not only do I love the idea of that (and wish I lived close enough to go), but you can actually donate $20 to the Beat Cancer Boot Camp and get a pair of Yurbuds Iron Man Headphones for FREE (a $59.99 value)! I was about to go buy myself a pair (sounds like an excellent way to drown out Insanity while I'm jumping around like an idiot in my living room every day) when I found out that I *may* be able to win myself a pair by telling you about this great organization. So Here's the info, and a big thanks to MomSelect for letting me know about it!

 

WHAT:           Yurbuds®, the leader in sports earphones designed by a triathlete and 23-time    marathoner, has teamed up with Chris "Macca" McCormack, "World's Fittest Man" and two-time Ironman Champion to host the first-ever two-day Beat Cancer Boot Camp Powered by Yurbuds in NYC at the Sports Center at Chelsea Piers.

Free to the public, a suggested $5.00 donation will benefit the Entertainment Industry Foundation's (EIF) Revlon Run/Walk for Women, which helps raise funds for multiple beneficiaries dedicated to cancer research, early detection, and support.

Each boot camp will be led by Anita "Sarge" Kellman, founder of the national Beat Cancer Boot Camp program, and hosted by a Yurbuds-sponsored athlete from the Ironman World Triathlon Corp., which endorses Yurbuds earphones, available at Apple stores, Best Buy, Sports Authority and more.

WHEN:                       Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

   11 a.m. to Noon Beat Cancer Boot Camp Workout

Yurbuds Host: Chris "Macca" McCormack, two-time Ironman World Champion, World's Fittest Man

                         

                                  Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

           7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Beat Cancer Boot Camp Workout

Yurbuds Hosts: TJ Tollakson, 2011 Lake Placid Ironman Winner and Kyle "Epic" Mendoza, freerunning and parkour expert

WHERE:          The Sports Center at Chelsea Piers  

Pier 60 at the West 20th Street Crosswalk, New York, NY

Please use the entrance located at the East end of the Pier

By Cab: Enter at 23rd Street & West Side Highway (11th Avenue) 

REGISTER:   Sign up now at www.yurbuds.com/beatcancerbootcamp!  

  

MORE:           Donate $20 or more to receive a pair of Yurbuds Iron Man Series headphones ($59.99 value). For more information please visit www.yurbuds.com and http://www.facebook.com/sportscenteratchelseapiers.