like a butterfly

Being happy...

“Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.”

our brightest day may come in the middle of the night

It is the toughest day when we find our greatest strength.  It is the day we feel alone, that we have to remember that we are not.  It is the day that we feel hopeless, that we must hope and the we don't want to pray, that we must pray.
Our lives never stop to ask us if we are ok with what is going on or what we are dealing with.  Life just goes on blindly and sometimes it is all we can do to keep up.  Life waits for no one, life cares for no one, life feels for no one.  This is truth and sometimes truth hurts, but where there is truth there is also hope, faith, love, and understanding. 
We must remember that our brightest day may come in the middle of the night and our greatest power may come for our weakest moment.
The day to day may have no rhyme but that does not mean it has no reason..

Our Second First Kiss

I thought this poem was beautiful! 

We dwell on the past, while living the present
But I admit, the past was unpleasant
Full of ups and downs, less pleasure more pain
We wished for the sun, but only got rain
We both made mistakes, put pain in our hearts
But here we are again, promising to never part
Counting our blessings and letting go of the past
Starting all over and making it last
Feelings and memories flow deep in my mind
Of those days our love was genuine and kind
Holding you close, feeling your skin
You look into my eyes and make my head spin
Those feelings are back, but stronger than ever
I know you're the one I wanna hold on to forever
We both smile again, nothing's better than this
Kissing you again was like our second first kiss.
- Giselle Simental -
Found at: http://www.lovepoemsandquotes.com/LovePoem165.html

8 Foods for better skin

We found this at http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/11/23/eight-foods-for-healthy-skin-this-winter/ .  This is some great information!  Read through it.  It is fantastic!
As winter approaches, it’s a great time to explore ways to keep our skin hydrated and healthy during the harsh weather ahead. Here are some wonderful skin foods that will keep your face looking fresh and youthful this season:

1. Lemon is purifying to the body and gives a lovely glow to the skin when consumed regularly with water (it may also help the body stay regular) or tea.
2. Apples: Did you know that organic red delicious and granny smith apples are excellent for the skin? Scientific studies have shown them to fortify both collagen and elastin production. 
3. Aloe is known to draw oxygen to the skin and lock it in. Aloe also has fantastic anti-inflammatory properties and it heals burns and wounds when applied topically. Aloe makes a wonderful refreshing juice that cleanses and purifies our inner systems. Regularly drinking aloe helps to keep the body hydrated, so if you drink coffee, which is known to dehydrate the skin, try drinking aloe juice to balance your system.
   
4. Cucumber is a well-known classic. Try this skin refresher recipe I discovered at Lettus Cafe: juice cucumber, apple and strawberry, for a gorgeous outer glow. Cucumber also cools the delicate eye area so try placing a slice over each eye for a relaxing treat.
5. Green Tea contains Camellia Sinesis (its plant of origin) which is rich in polyphenols. Polyphenols are compounds that demonstrate amazing healing properties, protect skin, help reverses damage and prevent oxidative stress. Drinking green tea regularly is one of the best ways to keep healthy, both inside and out.
6. Pomegranate like green and white tea is full of polyphenols and contains ellagic acid known for anti-inflammatory and anti-bactrerial properties. Some have said pomegranete can ward off colds or shorted the duration. Try this delicious pomegranate tulsi tea from Organic India.
7. White tea is one of the richest in cancer-fighting anti-oxidants in the world. It comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant just like green tea, however white tea leaves are harvested earlier in spring, air-dried and foregoe the heating process of green tea. Drink white tea to stay healthy and beautiful.
8. Apricots help keep one youthful as they are known to be an anti-aging fruit. Carotenoids are antioxidants found in this fruit that protect the body. Apricots help give your skin that youthful glow, so snack on them often.

PROMISES WORTH KEEPING

PROMISES WORTH KEEPING

I promise myself . . .

To be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person I meet.

To make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature I meet.

To give so much time to improving myself that I have not time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds.

To live in the faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me.

                                                                                                Christian D. Larson

There are a dozen promises here you can make to yourself. I suggest choosing one for each of the next twelve days of Christmas and see how keeping each promise impacts your life.

Happy Holidays!

~ Carol  

Peace of Mind

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.
Buddha