Heartfelt Greetings from Pedro and Rosita!

I know it's a little corny, but I'm a sucker for anything cute, and chihuahua puppies especially. So when I received this in an email, I just had to pass it on to you! I hope it brings a smile to your face and happy thoughts to your heart, as it did to mine. Enjoy!

It's a romantic full moon, when Pedro said, "Hey, mamacita, let's do Weeweechu."

Oh no, not now, let's look at the moon!" said Rosita.

Oh, c'mon baby, let's you and I do Weeweechu. I love you and it's the perfect time," Pedro begged.

"But I wanna just hold your hand and watch the moon." replied Rosita.

Please, corazoncito, just once, do Weeweechu with me."

Rosita looked at Pedro and said, "OK, one time, we'll do Weeweechu."

Pedro grabbed his guitar and they both sang.....

"Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year."

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

In spite of the busyness, the "issues" and anything else that may come up, choose to make this a very Merry Christmas, as we remember Christ is in the center of Merry Christmas!

From my heart to yours!

The Power of One

It only takes ONE to make a difference!
One word - One act - one look - one smile - one person! It all starts with you - and me.

We all make a difference in one way or another - some positive, some negative. Think about the ripples in a pond when a pebble or rock is thrown in. The ripples keep spreading out and moving on. We have a choice to make about what kind of difference we will make each day, with each action or non-action.

I recently saw the movie "Pay It Forward" again and want to share this clip with you. It inspired me to be more conscious in making a difference in the world around me.

I challenge you to do the same - and see where your ripples go...

Singing our Hearts Out!

I just came across this cute yet amazing video.



Just as the parents of this child, I rather think God as our Father must be smiling on our feeble attempts to do what we do in life, including our ways of praising him or just expressing ourselves in ways beyond words.

With the same love and pride you know this child's parent felt for her as she sang this challenging piece the best way she knew how, feel God's love and pride for you right where you are in life today. Enjoy that embrace of love for a moment.

Then go and live your life empowered by the heart of God for you!

Squirrel Talk - Gotta Minute to Listen?!

Have you seen the picture taken by a vacationing couple where a squirrel jumped in the picture with them? If not, you'll want to view it and read the brief story at: http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/intelligenttravel/2009/08/ground-squirrel-photo-crasher.html

Actually, I've got my own cute squirrel picture!

I was looking out the window over my deck and saw this squirrel having breakfast and a conversation with an angel! I wish I'd been able to shoot a video of it or get a clearer picture, instead of this one through the screen door, but as soon as I moved to open the door, the squirrel dashed away in a flash.

I hope you enjoy it! Perhaps it's good to be reminded there are interesting things going on all around us, if we only have eyes to see!

What is God trying to show you today through the eyes of your squirrel - er, soul?! Perhaps there's an angel right where you are now with a few observations for you... ;-)

Don't Send a Man to the Grocery Store!

Have you had your belly laugh today? Medical authorities reiterate how important it is to laugh much. Even the Bible tells us "A cheerful heart is good medicine..." - Proverbs 17:22a

When I came across this video, I just had to laugh out loud at her story and way of looking at things, as well as her delivery. Jeanne Robertson is a humorist I've recently come to appreciate with a gracious southern woman's perspective. Not only is she one of the top speakers with the National Speakers Association (of which I'm a member), but she's a former Miss North Carolina and is involved in giving back through her speaking and other projects.

Once I viewed this video, I had to review a few more and check out her website. It was a 30 minute break in my day that actually inspired and empowered me, and even helped my health through the "laugh oxygen" it generated!

Share it and spread the good "medicine" with your friends!

For more quick laughs, visit http://www.real-life-institute.com/articles.html
and click on "Rough Day" on the right.

Lotsa Heart and Power!

A great group of Christian women all wanting to move ahead more powerfully with their dreams gathered last night in my home.

The meeting was the second of the Heart & Power Women's Connection Group. I started this group with a vision to encourage and empower more women to step up to the plate and start living out their purpose with passion and power.

What I've found is that most Christian women want to move ahead with their life and serve God in some way, but they are not really sure which way to go or how they should be doing it.

Through my struggles with this issue myself, I have gained much strength and power, focus and direction, support, resources and knowledge along the way. All of this is burning a hole in my soul to be shared with others so they can live their best life too!

If you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt you could achieve whatever you set out to do, and that all the resources of time, money, support people, knowledge and ability - everything you needed - was there for you - WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING NOW?!!

The good news is that all the resources ARE ALREADY AVAILABLE TO YOU! You CAN accomplish whatever you set out to do. Help IS available! After all, God owns the cattle on a thousand hills - it's ALL His. He will give you everything you need to fulfill his purpose. But you need to step out in faith and expect it to be there when you need it. That is true faith: believe it and then you'll see it (not believe it when you see it).

I've experienced this so powerfully since I realized that I CAN do everything God puts in my heart to do - one step at a time. But I must take that first step - and then the next - and the next. And watch with awe as God meets me step by step on the journey with even more than I could think to ask to propel me towards my destination of purpose!

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love and of power and of a sound mind." - 2 Tim. 1:7

May you take the challenge to stir up the dreams in your heart. Accept they're given to you from God. Move forward with faith (not fear). Gather support and momentum as you keep going. Think of all the people whose lives you'll enrich by what you can do for them! Live and enjoy your best life now!

For more info, visit http://heartandpower.org

For help in living your best life also visit: http://real-life-institute.com/

New Vision

You may have noticed I haven't published a blog post for the last two months. In case you wondered if I fell off the planet, I actually didn't! But I have been in the "plan it" stages of a new vision God has given me.

This vision has brought a huge step up of faith and action, with an amazing unfolding, including quite a few trips, a whole new circle of friends, and the beginnings of a great support team of thinkers and doers. So I have been focused on going from "good to great," as author Jim Collins likes to say!

For news and insights into what I've been up to, visit: http://heartandpower.org/.

If you have enjoyed my writings and posts to date, you can continue to be inspired in the future. I will be continuing my writing through several books and ebooks I am producing. I will also post lessons I'm learning at this site as time permits.

So stay tuned for the next chapters of life to unfold...!

In the meantime, as I always like to relate your life to mine, why not carve out some time to hear what God might be saying to you about expanding your vision?

What I discovered is that God is not looking to send us somewhere unpleasant or to do something we hate: quite the opposite. It would be senseless for God to have given us talents, abilities, skills, ideas and passions and then ask us to do something totally the opposite of what He has been preparing us for (unless that area is a needed part of future preparation).

I have been amazed at how God has brought all the crazy things I've done and enjoyed into the vision He has for me now. He has taken my interests in writing, speaking, coaching, studying human nature & spiritual issues, and even my artistic side plus the financial services career - and all the other experiences of being an entrepreneur and leader.

Now he has rolled that all into one ball of wax and sent me spinning down the alley of life thoroughly enjoying the ride along the way to where He is aiming me! Only He really knows where the destination is, as we see only the small view ahead of us as He reveals it. But I sure am enjoying the scenery along the way!

My main verse for this season is:

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." - 2 Timothy 1:7, NIV

May you be empowered by God's love and his power to move forward with the discipline and wisdom of a sound mind, as you step out and up today!