I'd like to believe that many good-hearted, caring people exist in this world. Well, let me rephrase that: I do believe that the world is full of good people.

But being "good" shouldn't simply mean that a person doesn't do bad things. That shouldn't be enough. There should always be an active, ongoing effort to do good things... to make a difference.

I guess that's where I get frustrated sometimes. I know so many amazing people, who are capable of so much good. Yet, there's so little motivation to actually do more with their time. To do more with their lives.

The reality is this: we're all just trying to make it in this crazy world. I get that, trust me. But if everyone just gave a little of themselves, then people like me wouldn't have to carry all of the weight on our shoulders.

Why should the few people who care SO much be expected to do it all? Sure, I care more about animals than the average person. And yes, I've made the decision to dedicate my life to saving them. I certainly don't expect everyone else to do the same; it's just not realistic. So of course I carry more of the burden than others. That's my choice.

But I can't do it all on my own; I need help, just like every other person who dedicates their life to a cause also needs help. I do so much... and I do it, because I want to do it. But with more help, I could do even more. We could do more.

Everyone can do something. Every single person. But it's so disheartening when good people choose to do nothing. Each helping hand makes a huge difference... and when the help isn't there, the entire burden falls on those like me, who are already overloaded and overwhelmed. Because we are the ones who care too much to do nothing at all.

Instead of reaching out to lighten that load, a lot of people feel comforted, just knowing that people like me exist. So, when help is needed, they figure we'll take care of it, and those thoughts help them sleep at night.

It's good to be thankful for those who are out there fighting on the front-lines. But without support, here's what happens: the people who do it all... eventually reach a breaking point. It's inevitable... one person can only do so much. When that happens, everyone loses. The world loses.

This isn't my way of saying I've reached a breaking point. This is just my way of asking for help... for me, and others like me. This is my way of encouraging all of the good people out there to act. To get involved, to make a difference, and to do something amazing with your life. Allow the goodness in your heart to drive your actions.

Just do something-- anything. Make your life count. If you're a good person, prove it :)

When you die, what will others say about you? What good did you do with the time you were given? How was your life different from all the other lives?

My hope is to inspire every truly good person to have solid answers to those questions. Otherwise... why are you here?

Everything Happens For a Reason!

Sometimes, we don't know why they come into and OUT OF our lives, and sometimes we don't find out until many years later when we can look back and finally see the whole painting, instead of just a few pixels. These moments are precious and enlightening and fill you with great, profound joy, often accompanied by lots of tears. I have had some of these moements, and I am a better person for it. This phrase rings so true for me in so many moments in my life....It’s sometimes hard to let go of a relationship, or a time. Some moments or time I wish could last last forever, but maybe its not always meant to, and learning to

accept this will help my heart find peace :)

A poem to explain more:

Reason, Season, or Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

— Unknown

Where has the time gone? Why does it not seem so long ago that you were sitting in my arms as a baby, looking into my eyes as I fedyou, smiling at me as I sang "You are my Sunshine" and tears weld up in my eyes with happiness of the baby we had created.At 2 am I woke up for some water and decided I wouldnt want to be anywhere else but in your big boy bed with you....I grabbed my pillow and called Vinny to follow....We snuggled up with you and thanked GOD over and over for YOU....You are BEYOND AMAZING....About 9:11 am you started stirring, I quietly sang “Happy Birthday” in your ear. I thought about you -

You are practically perfect!!!!!!

Your name exemplifies EXACTLY who YOU are.....

You love your Daddy more than words can say!

You say lots of words (dog, please, memememe (cat), Ayden, Max, toot, mama, daddy, yes, no, cheese, me, boy, truck, go, love!

Your favorite book is Mama's Right Here.

Your favorite show is Mickey Mouse

Your favorite place is in my arms.

You’re not a big eater but you are a BIG BOY.

When there is conflict, you tend to laugh!

In the midst of your constant pretending, you are also constantly singing. Songs I taught you (you are

my sunshine, I love you) songs Daddy taught you (I gotta Feeling).

I LOVE the way you exude confidence as you sing and dance! You are so much fun. ****************

I will always love you and I will always be in your corner. I don’t make many promises to people but I will make this promise to you. I will ALWAYS listen to you and I will ALWAYS be someone you can count on. I will do whatever I can to make your life better for as long as there is air in my lungs and my heart still beats. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS.

Happy Birthday, Baby Scout!!! Mama LOVES you SO much!!!!

Two years ago today was the BEST day of my life!!! You are

such a perfect, beautiful, and health little baby.

I look forward to watching you
grow into a man and I hope I will
guide you on the right paths.
Daddy and I can't believe
that we really have you.
It feels like a wonderful dream.
I will always love you no matter what
and will always be here when you need
me. I promise..

Summer 3

I’ve been raised my whole life to believe I can do anything. Girl power to the max! But just because you CAN do it all, doesn’t mean you SHOULD. I think this is especially hard for moms to grasp. Saying yes to everything is a guaranteed fast track to burnout. And believe me, there have been plenty of times where I’ve been on the verge of burnout. So here are my 3 words that I’m focusing on this summer and what a great time to write about this since it just started!Realistically I’ll give myself a B- to a C+ on all these efforts. I know, I’m a work in progress. Trust me.

My 3 words for 2011 are FOCUS, CONTENT, and FAMILY.....I want to focus on the projects and things that really matter, from my own wellness and fitness to my family and projects that are really worth my while, and not be so scattered all over the dang place which is easy to do when you love the social media like I do and you are a tad ADHD. Time management is a big challenge for me.I want to be content. Unfortunately I am not always one to be satisfied just “being” and “enjoying” the now. I’m a go, go, go girl and while that’s a good thing, it’s all about balance. I don’t want to overlook the beauty of today while daydreaming tomorrow. I want to enjoy the here and now. I want to live in the moment!I want to enjoy my family. Time is flying by so quickly. My “baby” is now 2!!!!! My husband is truly my friend but lately we have become too overwhelmed with "stuff" remember who “we” really are, minus all the life stuff.

Some days; truthfully MOST days I have the answer to most of MY own questions, concerns and obstacles.... Being Scout's Mom has changed EVERYTHING! Personally I have NEVER understood spanking/hitting/hurting another creature in order to "teach" a lesson. My father "spanked" me once and cried more than I did. I still feel guilty for the added emotion and dramatics I included in the semi-swat that occurred at 415 Woodhurst Lane, Coppell Texas 75019 in 1988. Sorry Dad, I hope you realize that act of desperation was not well received by either of us! My mother pulled that card more often. It was generally out of frustration and lack of an alternative. Having a STRONG WILLED CHILD was foreign in the early 1980's. I get it, I don't feel I became an aggressive person because of them or their parenting. I have never been in a physical fight and I am 31 years old. However, speaking with friends, coworkers, and even my HUSBAND I am realizing despite the 10 spankings my mother gave me and ONE from my dad, its NOTHING compared with others and even some of SCOUTS friends TODAY in 2011......With all of the fabulous research, studies, personal testimony, etc... How can HITTING an innocent child for; forgetting to listen, forgetting to share, forgetting the truth, having an accident, missing the mark be OK? Who are WE to set up these expectations for our children? Aren't they a blessing? I finished reading SEVERAL STUDIES that include years of research, this was a favorite:

From the press release:

"Toddlers that are spanked more frequently at age 3 are at increased risk for being more aggressive at age 5," said Taylor, assistant professor of Community Health Sciences at Tulane and lead author of the study. "We found this to be true even after taking into account other factors that might have explained this association such as the parents' level of stress, depression, use of drugs or alcohol, and the presence of other aggression within the family."

Study authors asked nearly 2,500 mothers how often they spanked their 3-year-old child in the past month, as well as questions about their child's level of aggression, demographic features and eight identified maternal parenting risk factors. Almost half (45.6 percent) of the mothers reported no spanking in the previous month, while 27.9 percent reported spanking one or two times, and 26.5 percent reported spanking more than twice. Mothers with more parenting risk factors were more likely to spank frequently. However, even accounting for these potential confounding factors, frequent spanking at age 3 increased the odds of higher levels of aggression at age 5. Signs of aggression included behaviors such as arguing or screaming; cruelty, bullying or meanness to others; destroys things; fighting and frequently threatening others.

You can read the entire study online here

Yikes, what are WE doing???? I can safely say communication and praise are working for us. Scout is a STRONG WILLED CHILD and sometimes it takes everything I have to clearly draw the lines for him as a 21 month old baby, but it is worth it. He is an amazingly kind and compassionate soul. I am NOT saying he won't become some inhumane, selfish hillbilly who forgets to respect LIFE, but at THIS point I am proud of him and will continue to preach compassion and kindness as opposed to anger and hurt....

Forgive or not????

One of my favorite friends and I were talking about forgiveness and saying it was one of the important qualities of a person. According to dictionary.com, forgiveness means the act of forgiving and to forgive means to grant pardon for, to grant pardon to (a person) or to cease to feel resentment against.Gandhi said it well when he said that forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. For most people, to forgive is a difficult thing to do. In fact to forgive, it takes a whole lot of courage to do it. However, why do we find it so hard to forgive someone? Is is because of the need to let the person knows that we are angry with him/her? Or is it because if we forgive that person, it means that the person wins? I feel like so many people think that to forgive is all about the other person. I think that when you forgive someone, you free yourself from anger; anger is a very strong negative feeling and it blocks you from loving. Being angry sucks and allows the person or situation to take over control of you.