If a frog can do it, I can do it.

I got this in my email today, and have read it before. Usually I just delete, but thought I would read it again. I think its really pretty profound.

Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs.... who arranged a running competition.

The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.

A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants....

The race began....

Honestly:

No one in crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower.

You heard statements such as:

"Oh, WAY too difficult!!"

"They will NEVER make it to the top."

or:

"Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"


The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one....

Except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher....

The crowd continued to yell, "It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!"

More tiny frogs got tired and gave up....

But ONE continued higher and higher and higher....

This one wouldn't give up!


At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!

THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?


A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal?

It turned out....

That the winner was DEAF!!!!


The wisdom of this story is:

Never listen to other people's tendencies to be negative or pessimistic.... because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you -- the ones you have in your heart!

Always think of the power words have.

Because everything you hear and read will affect your actions!

Therefore:

ALWAYS be....

POSITIVE!

And above all:

Be DEAF when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfill your dreams!

Always think:

God and I can do this!

God Bless.

Why don't we pray?

THEN WHY DON'T WE PRAY?

The highest privilege ever afforded to man is the power of prayer.
...then why don't we pray?

The right to talk to the highest potentate in all the universe...
...then why don't we pray?

The most powerful force accessible to man is the potential of prayer...
...then why don't we pray?

The greatest longing in the heart of God is to talk to His children...
...then why don't we pray?

Nothing is impossible to those who pray...
...then why don't we pray?

No man ever fainted or faltered who gave himself to prayer...
...then why don't we pray?

Every sin is forgiven, every stain is washed clean, all guilt
diminished to the man who prays...
...then why don't we pray?

Hell moves farther away, satan flees from the man who prays...
...then why don't we pray?

Anointing will come, mountains will be moved, valleys made smooth,
rivers made crossable, the inaccessible made accessible, the
impossible made possible, dreams come through to the man who prays...
...then why don't we pray?

Jesus said that men ought always to pray...
...then why don't we pray?

Paul encouraged prayer without ceasing...
...then why don't we pray?

The riches of heaven are open to those who pray in His name...
...then why don't we pray?

Everyone can pray, the young, the old, the rich, the poor, the
strong, the weak, the child, the aged, the sinner, the prisoner, in
any nation, in any language, all can pray...
...then why don't we pray?

-- Author Unknown

Something to ponder....

They found a dead body in the small town close to where I live. The person had been dead for a very very long time, possibly over a year. The really sad thing is, no one missed them. I was told of a crazy woman who lived in the woods many years ago. A girl I met at school told me when she lived in the town that they would go for walks in the woods and this woman would come out running and screaming at them, and they would take off for the hills. I think the girl assumed, as I did, that she had moved on, since the "girl" was almost 30 now, and she had been in her prepubescent years when that happened. Apparently, the crazy woman had been living in a van in the woods, and that is where they found the body. I don't know who found her, or how. Probably hunters or 4 wheeler drivers, since they go all over the area.

It makes me sad to think that no one missed her. She probably needed medical treatment for her condition. I wonder what her story was. Did she have any family at all? They haven't released her name yet. I wonder if I knew any of her family. Probably not since I didn't grow up in the area, but you never know.

Its terribly sad. God bless, and pray that everyone has someone that will miss them when they are gone.

Going strong

Well, I am coming to the end of the 2nd week of classes. I have one instructor for 3 classes, and they are all in a row. After the first class, he leaves the room, goes to his office, changes briefcases, comes back in the room, and we go on with the next class. That continues for the rest of the day. Its like he throws off the old, and on with the new. Heaven forbid he be in the middle of a lecture and someone asks him a question about one of the other classes. LOL. He is very funny, and very very smart. He expects a lot out of a person, but is the best instructor I have ever had I think. He piles on the homework and we have a quiz every day, give or take 3 or 4 days a semester. Everytime anyone complains about too much homework, his standard answer is always "what do you mean? This is the only class that matters." I heard that today in all 3 of his classes. (I wasn't the one complaining. I learned a long time ago that DOESN'T work. I have one class tomorrow, and then the one online I still have to turn in before Sunday, then I can start on Monday's work. Yikes.

My son is in trouble at school again. I had a talk with him. He has been lying about homework. He said that he decided to quit lying, cos it just gets him in trouble. Yeah right. He is going to have to prove it to me. I know the teachers think I am a bad parent, but I don't know what else to do. He is on medication. I won't beat him, although sometimes I am tempted. I asked him tonight if there is anything more he thinks I could do to help motivate him about getting his homework done, or help him in any way. He started to say something, but I then mentioned WITHOUT doing it for him. He said yes. Let him make a robot to do it for him. (huge eyeroll here) I have 2 tv tables set up at my computer desk. One is for him to do his homework on, and one is for my homework. We work together when he brings it home, but some nights he says "I forgot" or " I got it done in study hall." Turns out I can't believe that, and by the time he gets off the bus we can't go to school and get it, because its too late.

He gets real upset if I don't believe him. I know he tells the truth on some things, but it sure is hard to tell what. I told him he has to prove himself to me first, and so far thats not happening. I thought it would help too with us doing our homework together. Some days I just want to SCREAM!

Well, time to go to bed. God bless, and pray for my son, me, and homework evaders everywhere.

Getting caught up and tying up some loose ends....

I haven't been around much. This used to be so cathartic for me, but now I just try not to think about anything. I signed up at Pogo and play for hours and hours. That is going to come to a screeching halt as new classes start Tuesday. I am trying to have a positive outlook about the whole thing. I'm real gunshy at this point. I was so exhausted emotionally and mentally after finals, I wanted to stay in a haze. I never thought it would affect me that way, but I was actually having nightmares about them after they were OVER! I remember in the nightmare I was sitting in class and the instructor hands us back our scantrons and mine was filled with little pink marks all down the side. I missed 99 out of 100 questions. Actually, I got 2 right, but the machine counted one wrong TWICE because of an erasure mark, and then I also marked the wrong answer on the same line. I was really upset when I woke up, even though it didn't happen, it sure felt like it and I was zombied out for a while over that. Sometimes I wish I still smoke, drink, do illegal substances to escape. Not a good thing for a single mom though. Since I am the only parent, it wouldn't be good to be absentee at that too. My son has to have someone he can depend on.

We had a good Christmas. B'fs son even complimented me on dinner. I was shocked and grateful. I thanked him graciously for the compliment. I made a turkey with all the extras. It turned out well. My son loved his presents, and I loved mine. All went great.

I got my son Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Johnny Depp for Christmas. I was gazelling the other day and found out that the extra cd with the songs from the movie last exactly 10 minutes and 2 seconds. Its real bouncy and great for gazelling. I backslid on it for awhile, but have been getting back at it. I am feeling crappier than crap and know I have put on a lot of chunk. I have been cooking, and thats a good thing in some respects, but not for this body of mine. I have noticed certain foods I eat make me feel worse, all bloaty and stuff. I have noticed that happens when I eat saltines. I am not sure if its them or the tomato soup. I LOVE Campbell's tomato soup, with milk and saltines. I think I am going to have to delete it from my diet. :(

B'f got some bad news the other day. He didn't tell me, but he has been having trouble with his eye since around Christmas. Its his bad eye, but he said it got really bad. He finally went to the dr. Friday. He has a detached retina, and is going on a 3 hour trip tomorrow to a dr. who is going to do surgery on his eye Tuesday. I can't go. Nor, do I want to. (I am such a bitch) I assumed he would spend the night since its such a journey, but he is planning on traveling 6 hours tomorrow and 6 hours again on Tuesday. I told him I can't get any money to him tonight, but if they decide to get a motel room, I will pay for it. His nephew is driving him, and his sister might go too, I don't know. I wish I could be there, but not with classes on Tuesday. I have class from 9 am till 2:40 pm, and I sure don't want to miss the first day. I hope and pray everything will be ok. It could be great when its done, or useless. I know having no insurance is a big problem for him too. I hope he can apply for aid this time. He lost all his overtime at work, the hospital is garnishing his wages from before, and his job may be in jeopardy. Another company was looking at it a few weeks ago, and if they buy they plan on having it done by February last he heard. They have their own bookeeping personnel, and said they will be keeping 90% of the current employees, so he may be out the door. Its a shame, for many reasons, but this new company does have insurance, 401K plans, etc. I hope it all works out for the best.

Time for bed. Actually, it was time for bed hours ago. Maybe now I can sleep.

God bless.

Survived

Ok. I made it through the holidays. I still can't sleep, but am surviving. Christmas went well. My son seemed to like everything, b'f likes his gifts, and his son seemed pleased with what he got.

New Years Eve, b'f came over. We were invited to a few parties, but he didn't want to go. The one I told him about were with the Mormons, and I think he was afraid they are trying to convert me. Or him. LOL He told me before if they try to get me to go to church with them, to JUST SAY NO. I told him I was an adult and I could make that decision. He hasn't mentioned it since then. Anyway, it was just the 3 of us. My son was so disappointed that his son couldn't come, that he turned into our social director. We didn't get any party hats this year, so he made some for us out of white paper and tape. He got out one of his kids magazines that had party stuff in it, and went to town. He said he was going to surprise us, so we couldn't see what he was doing. Then he doused us with homemade confetti. I found out he had cut up most of my postit notes to make them, but he got such pleasure out of it, I didn't say too much. I just suggested all the FREE paper we had would have made great confetti. At 12 on the east coast, we banged on pots and pans wearing our white cone hats with shoelace straps, shooting whooooooowhoooooooooooooooo. We brought in the New Year 12 central time too. I was hoping son would be satisfied with the first celebration, but I was wrong. I'm really glad he knows how to tell time, really I am. Most of the time. Anyway, we got to do it twice.

I'm going to try to get back to sleep. I have been in a stupor these past few weeks. I only have one week left till the insanity that IS school starts again.

God bless, and may the new year bring very good surprises your way.