2011, The Year in Review!

2011 has been an amazing year! I lived my first year after the death of my mother and I lived My first year after the death of my first career.  Well maybe my second career.  My first and ongoing career is motherhood.

These deaths were painful and put me in a position to draw upon a glimmering light of inspiration. I began 2011 determined to live the heart of my dreams.  This gave me energy to move forward, because I felt really hopeless at times.  I think I was successful, but as usual only God knows how life will unfold.

One of my hearts desires in 2011 was to be an entrepreneur. This dream was realized and I had many early successes! As my need for doing things correctly and in order would have it, I had to get additional education. The education I am enjoying, but it is taking my business three steps backwards, before it goes forward!

I believe my training is necessary. I am going with the flow, although it is frustrating. The term bitter sweet is very appropriate.

The other most significant event occurred in my spiritual life. My desire to live without denial has created a distance between me and the church (building). I have already written about the behaviors I disagree with in church, but now my disagreement, even anger is directed at the establishment itself.

One of my goals in 2012 is to find Biblical answers to the problems I have with church (the building). I will share more about this in future posts.

Overall 2011 has been a phenomenal year! I have grown, learned and looked fear in the face and said, "Step the f--- off!" I am excited to step into a new year and be apart of everything that God has waiting for me.  Empowerment is exhilarating!

I have made up my mind to make 2012 a year with NO LIMITS!!!! How are you going to live 2012?

Make some long and short terms goals and live each one of the 365 ahead to make them a reality!
photo via tomatotalk.earthfare.com via Google images

The Thanksgiving and Peace of Choice!

I received several invitations for Thanksgiving dinner today.  It was nice to have people willing to open their homes and share the joy of breaking bread together.  I could have even cooked and had my small, but loving family over.  However this year I made a conscious choice to be at peace!

Some of the invitations I got were from loving families, but I did not know them very well.  I didn't want to put myself in the awkward position of being around strangers on the Thanksgiving.  I could have went to a relatives, but they are not close family.  There would have been moments of uneasiness along with along with forced smiles.

Cooking on the holidays can be stressful, especially when you make EVERYTHING from scratch!  Shopping and being in the kitchen all day was not an appealing option this year.  I love my family and I love to cook, but this year I am taking a time out.  I encouraged my family to make other plans this year and I know they are having a great time! 

This Thanksgiving 2011, I decided to hang out at home and be at peace.  I decided not to put myself in a position that would make me uncomfortable or stressed.  I decided to work on some projects, watch some good movies and nibble on some of my favorite foods.

I contentment I feel is oure serenity, joy and it makes me smile.  I stayed true to myself and I am glad about it!

I am thankful and Empowered because I know the power of choosing!

Here are some other reasons I am thankful!

1. God and my Savior Jesus Christ!
2. I have peace of mind!
3. I have an amazing daughter!
4. I have a dad that loves me!
5. Empowered Peace readers!
6. Knowledge!
7. I have things, moments and people to be thankful for in my life!
8. Occupy Wall Street raised awareness and Empowered people to stand!
9. I own my feelings!
10. Oprah's Life Class!
11. The author's that share their words in great books!
12. Facebook and Twitter!
13. Healing!
14. A better diet!
15. My mom is no longer suffering!

These are just a few things in my life that cause me to be thankful.  Why are you thankful today?
photo via chasemor.wordpress.com via Google images

20 Ways to Say I love You Without Saying a Word!- A Loving Repost for Valentine's Day

via google images

Saying I love you to someone special is a gift.  It is easy to forget the value of love in the busy day to day activities of life.  Working, raising children, pursuing personal goals and caring for the sick often overshadow the needs of your partner.  I encourage you to stop and remember the precious person that you love and loves you back.

Falling in love is one of the most beautiful events in life.  It fills your being with hope, joy and meaning.  Love is certainly something that gives quality to life.  So in honor of the gift of love, here are 20 ways to say I love without using words.

photo via

1. Stare lovingly into your loves eyes.
2. Send a hand written love letter expressing your feelings.
3. Remember something special your love talks about and find a way to fill their request.
4. Ask them to dance when you are at home and no one else is around.
5. Wear something really nice.
6. Have their favorite radio station dedicate a song to them from you.
7. Clean the house.
8. Get a babysitter for the kids and reconnect with your love.
9. Write them a poem.
10. Fill up their gas tank and get their car washed.
11. Give your love a soft romantic kiss at an unexpected time.
12. Invite them out with your friends.
13. Sing a love song to them, even if you can not sing.
14. Hold their hand while you are watching a movie.
15. Say you are sorry for all the times you ever hurt them or left them alone.
16. Let your love have the television remote control for the weekend.
17. Stop what you are doing when your love talks and really listen.
18. Clean up their mess instead of yelling.
19. Acknowledge the kind things they have done for you since you have known them.
20. Pray for your love.

Now say,

photo via

Love Resources

 Does Falling in Love Make Us More Creative? (a scientific look at love)

The Love Calculator (find the chances of love between you and a dream partner)

Lovingyou.com (love, relationship and romance resources, packed with great information)

Weekend Getaways (Marriott Romance Packages)

Great Love Stories

The Real Meaning of Christmas- The Power of Relationship with Christ

It is Christmas time again, how many has it been for you?  This is my 40th Christmas and the question I am pondering...What is the real meaning of Christmas?  My Judeo-Christian American heritage has had many different focuses throughout the years.  During wartime the focus was on peace, during a recession the hope was for a better economy and during times of change Americans cleave to the familiarity of Christmas to comfort their confusion.

When I was a child, Christmas was great fun!  My nephew and I would look through store catalogs and make our Christmas lists.  We would steal fingers of frosting off of the cakes my mom baked and look for hidden presents.  The funny thing about looking for presents, was the fact that we believed in Santa Claus!  How funny!  We would watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snow Man, The Grinch That Stole Christmas and A Christmas Carol.  It was such a wonderful time of year for our family.  We were always happy and filled with good food.

As I got older Christmas became a time of family gathering.  It was such fun to have the family together and open presents!  We got the usual socks and underwear, but those special requests!  It was always so exciting to open the diary or roller skates that I wanted more than anything.  The family turmoil that troubled me in later years did not seem so bad during Christmas. 

As an adult I came to have a personal relationship with Christ.  The holidays began to center on Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross.  My daughter and I would read the book of Luke.  Then we would watch the book of Acts on dvd and eat a big dinner.  We then opened gifts and went to visit relatives.  These were very sacred times. 

Now here I am at Christmas number 40 and life's circumstances have matured and seasoned me.  And again I ask the question, what is the real meaning of Christmas?  I went to the gospel of Matthew and read the story of Jesus.  I have read this gospel many times before, but now I have come with different questions.  God what is the meaning of Christmas?

God has always existed and played an active part in the lives of His children.  The Old Testament is filled with stories of God intervening in the lives of Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Samuel and Ester.  He guided them and through each of them flows the blood line of Jesus.  I asked God "how did life change when you sent Christ our Savior?"

Christ's life was sober, focused and difficult.  God embodied experienced emotional distress, betrayal, death, murder, persecution, humiliation and isolation.  God himself suffered some tough times.  Then I asked God "Life continued to be difficult for believers after the resurrection.  Where is the abundant life in martyrdom and despair?" "Shouldn't things have gotten better with the resurrection of Your Son?"  Yet there remains struggle and strife, in the world and inside of people. 

Then I remembered the precious things that Jesus did have in the world.  He had relationships.  He had His disciples to comfort Him.  He had His disciples to reveal, teach and guide.  He had His disciples to love.  He had His disciples and humanity, which gave purpose and meaning to His life.

Yes life is hard and sometimes unbearable, but there are a few relationships in my life that give me joy.  It is my relationship with Christ that gave me a life worth living.  It is my relationship with my family that gives me strength.  It is my relationship to my destiny that gives me hope even when it feels like I am all alone.  The meaning of Christmas is relationship.

Christ's sacrifice on the cross gave me the ability to be one with God.  I am not separated from God because of my sin.  He sees me as snow white and clean, washed by the blood of His Son.  It is my relationship with God that my enemies seeks to destroy.  The deceptive games of satan make people think they are seeking to settle a personal vendetta; but each person's act of unkindness is an attempt to separate the receiver of the pain from God. 

This Christmas is a great time to renew your relationship with Christ.  

This 40th Christmas means relationship to me.  What does this Christmas mean to you?
photos via: alliecat-alliecat.blogspot.com, americana-music-and-memories.com, wellswarren.org, noquestionleftbehind.blogspot.com via google images.