Bringing my blogs home. Well, at least some of them...

Barbara’s Blog
Daily thoughts of joy


Are You Happy?July 22nd, 2008
Did you say yes or no? Your answer will tell you what you need to do next!
I have learned a few things about happiness. It really has very little to do with the things we have, or what we are doing. It really is not based on anything outside of ourselves. It is an internal state. No one can make you happy, and no one can take away your happiness. Oh, they might sway things one way or another for a time, but the real, deep down joy can not be moved.
It is like the stars. You may not see them at times, but they are still there. They did not leave, they are shining even when we can not actively see them. Even after the death of a star- the light shines on for years.
Our lives can be like that. The joy we have can carry on no matter what is happening in the atmosphere. We might be covered for a time, but the light will shine through by the end of the day.
If you do not have that kind of happiness, you can get it. You can not buy it, or make it, or even steal it. But you can get it. All you must do is ask. God is waiting to give it to you. He only asks that you do one thing in return. Pass it on. Loving God will give you that deep, strong root of joy. It will spring up in you and grow and bear fruit. God only asks that you pass the fruit of your joy on to others. Love deeply, fully. Laugh long and hard. Find the happiness and then give it away. It is just that simple.
Have you ever seen a child make a full day of games out of an empty box? They can laugh and play and romp all day. The box is nothing special. it is not really magic. The magic in the play of a child comes from the inside. They are not afraid of being silly, they do not worry about what others are thinking or doing. They take what they have and enjoy it. Do you?
If you named all the things you DO have, would the list be longer than what you think you don’t have? Look around you and be honest. Are there people in the world who would think they had died and gone to heaven to live a life like yours?
Now, look inside of yourself. What is there? Deep joy comes from inside, so what is there? Have others hurt you? Do you allow that to keep you dead inside? Don’t. By allowing the actions of another rule you, you are still giving them power over you. You are GIVING it to them. Stop letting others have YOU. Take back your life.
From this day forward YOU decide your path. No one can make you walk a life of sorrow and pain. Have a long talk with God. He understands. He cares. He does not want to see you live a life of emptiness. The Bible says he came that we might have joy, and that abundantly!! Then let go of the things that hurt you. lay them down at the feet of Jesus and refuse to pick them back up. When you feel yourself reaching for those boxes of hurt, stop. Tell yourself, “NO, that is over. It will not control me one more moment.” Take a deep breath, relax your shoulders. Then step out in joy! Hugs, Barbara
PS-if you answered Yes! to that first question, then go find someone who did not, and hug them. Help them find the joy you have. Pass it on!
Tags: Future, Joy, Peace


The Exit RampJuly 21st, 2008
I am in the business of helping people find joy in their lives. One thing I see a lot, is people who know they are on the wrong road, but they refuse to take an exit ramp. They just travel on and on, getting more and more lost, or they back-up and go up and down the same road over and over. You can not get to a new place traveling on the same road.
If you are on the road to nowhere, get off! Take an exit and get on a new road. The fact you are traveling down a wrong road does not mean you have to stay there! You can exit! You can stop and ask for directions!
Some people are afraid to take that exit. It is an unknown road. Well, if the road you are on is leading you nowhere, what do you have to lose exactly? Take the exit. If you find that exit did not take you where you want to be, take another! There is a road leading to where you want to go! Be willing to find it! Finding the right road can be an adventure in itself! You may just find that a new road gives you a new vision. The horizon might look different for you. Where there was once darkness, there will be light. Where there was once loneliness, there is friendship, maybe even love. You might find the new road has fewer pot-holes and better road signs.
Stop wasting your time and energy going on a road that leads to pain and failure every time. Take that exit. Every road has a way on and a way off. You do not have to stay on the road you are on. I don’t care how you got on that road, you can get off. You can decide to go a new direction.
Our lives are like that road. We can keep blindly going in a direction we know is wrong or we can choose a better way. At any moment you can take control of your life and begin again. It is never too late. I see an exit right ahead. Are you willing to see what wonders are around the corner? A new road awaits! Hugs, Barbara



Stopped By Fear.July 17th, 2008
I went to the dentist today. I HATE DENTAL WORK. Now don’t get me wrong. I have a wonderful dentist, who I like very much. He is really good, we are friends. I trust him, yet I HATE DENTAL WORK!! I had an old badly done crown that needed replaced (done by a different dentist). He has been trying to get me to replace it for a couple of years. I keep saying I will. I knew I should. The old one was ugly to begin with. It hurt frequently. It kept my gum sore a lot. It trapped food and I had to floss every time I ate anything. There was no reason to keep that old crown. Yet I did.
I was more afraid of the dental work hurting, than the pain of that old crown. I was kind of used to that pain, in a wierd way. The thought of having that crown removed made my skin crawl. I just knew it was going to be an awful ordeal. So I kept putting it off. I had good excuses. I was too busy. It was going to cost too much….blah…blah…blah. The real truth was the fear.
So today I did it. I was scared to death when he started. I did not feel the shot. I could feel the cutting and tugging, but it did not hurt. It really didn’t. My gum is sore and tender, but not anything a couple of advil can’t take care of. I have a nice new temporary crown in place. It looks nicer than the old one! I can’t wait to see the real one in place in a few weeks. All the troubles the old crown gave me will be gone. This one will really fit. It will feel good. It will look nice. Everything about it will be better. Why did I wait so long???
What is your crown right now? What thing are you not doing because of fear? What thing would actually be better for you, but fear stops you from doing it? Sometimes, like my crown, we fear pain, but I think for most of us, we more often fear failure. It is easier to sit tight, even if we are getting no benefit, than to risk failure. We hurt where we are, rather than risk a new hurt.
I should have gotten this done years ago. Now that I am on the other side of it, I can say that with ease. This morning I was living in fear of it. Now I am enjoying this side of the mountain!! Which side of the mountain are you on? What is holding you back? Your life is meant to be special. It is meant to be lived in joyous wonder.
I finally trusted my dentist and let him do the work that needed done on me. Do you need to trust God today to do a work on you? As much as I like my dentist, there is no comparison to God! God can be trusted with everything. Listen to him. If God is telling you to get over the mountains in your life- go! Don’t waste another moment!!
You might end up with a new crown on the other side! LOL!! Go on, shoo, get moving! Hugs, Barbara

Tags: Faith, Trust


Your Future’s So Bright, Ya Gotta Wear Shades!July 16th, 2008
Do you doubt it? I don’t! You have a wonderful life story to write! Good things are waiting right around the corner! Want proof??
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
There you have it! You have a bright future waiting for you! Know when the future begins? Now!! So le’t get moving. If you are bogged down by thinking of your past, take my hand and we will walk together for awhile. Distance from a problem often lets us see clearer. You have heard the saying, ” Can’t see the forest for the trees”. We can really be like that. We can be so close to a problem we can not see the way out. If you are in a deep forest and can not see out, no matter which way you look I have a solution. CLIMB. Find the highest tree and climb to the top. From there you can often see which way to go to get out of the trees!
Remember yesterdays mountain climber? Going up is the way, not back! So if your life is full of problems, pick the biggest one and climb it. Tackle that one. Once you are at the top of it, you will get a new view of all the rest- they are smaller! If you have several big problems make a list. Really . Write them down. Now can you see which one is biggest? if you can, climb it! Get to the top and see what needs done. Then do it! If you have written them down and they all seem huge and you can’t decide which to start on- then pick the first one you wrote down. Since it was first in your mind, it gets first attention! Climb it.
Like I said yesterday. Get yourself in order, and start. Do what it takes to get that one problem solved. let the others wait. Fix #1. Once it is gone, take a new look at your list. You may find getting rid of #1 took care of several others too!
Write down the verse at the top. Post it where you can see it several times a day. Believe it was spoken for you. You will prosper! You do have a bright future! Don’t wait, step today. Oh, and don’t forget to bring your shades- your gonna need ‘em!! Hugs, Barbara
Tags: Faith, Future, Hope


Making Your Life Count!July 15th, 2008
I see it daily. People who just plod along. They are bored, sad, angry, depressed, falling out of love, failing at their job, and down right miserable. They ask my advice. So here it is, for free:
STOP IT!!!!!!
That’s right, stop that! Stop plodding along. Stop being bored, sad, angry, depressed, falling out of love, failing at your job. and being miserable! If you are in one of those groups stop reading, go wash your face, brush your hair, get dressed and THEN come back here. I will wait……..ladeedaa…ladeedaa… hummmm….hummm…..
Ok, You awake? Clean? Now. Listen up. You are too wonderful and important to waste one more moment of your life. I mean it. Do you know how many people have ever been born on this planet? A LOT! Guess what? Not one has been, or ever will be, exactly like you. You were designed by God for this day and this time and you are important!
Your life has meaning because God made you. he put in you the exact things you need- and what the world needs from you. You have rich talents locked up inside of you. In every fiber of your being is purpose! You just need to find it. You need to realize it is there, and believe that it is there for a reason. Your life was meant to be a blessing for someone. Did you realize that? You were not placed here as some sort of endurance test.
You were placed here to do something. Inside your mind and heart is a purpose. There is. You may have denied it. You may have lost sight of it, but it is still there. The exact talent the world needs from you is in you. Stop looking at your past. Stop looking at your present even. Look in your heart. Somewhere inside of you is a longing. You may have been trying to silence it for years- or you have allowed those around you to silence it- but it is still there. Let your heart speak to you again. Let the words God molded into you when you were formed come alive. Begin to listen again with an open heart and mind. Then MOVE.
Don’t let one more day come between you and your potential. Begin. You may have a dream that will take work and years to see come true. So get started! You have wasted enough time. Don’t tell me you can’t. The truth is you won’t. You can. It is in you. Don’t give me your list of why you can’t realize your dreams. Instead give me the list of the things you are willing to do to reach that goal!
When a person climbs a mountain they don’t stand at the base and wish they were at the peak. That will never get you to the top. They don’t stand and tell you all the reasons that mountain can not be climbed. Again that does not get you to the peak. When a person REALLY wants to climb a mountain they gather materials- ropes, hooks, partners, supplies. Then they train. They get their minds and bodies ready. Then they CLIMB!! They take a flag with them to place on the top- because they do not doubt they will get there.
Where is your flag? Find it! You are going to need it! Because today is the day you begin! Hugs, Barbara
Tags: Dreams, Goals, Hope


Yesterday is Not Tomorrow!!July 14th, 2008
Of all the things I teach people, this is one of the most important- don’t miss this fact: Yesterday IS NOT tomorrow! It really is not! What-ever happened back in your yesterdays does not determine your future. You do!
We all have a past. It has molded us into who we are right now. That is true enough, but we are not done changing yet. If you are alive, you are still growing! Your future begins right where you are at any moment, because at any moment you can change course! You can decide on a new direction!
I talk to many people who let their mistakes and hurts keep them stuck. They never move away from that place of pain and guilt. Why? Because they are looking in the wrong direction. Turn around right now. Look at here and now. Today is a blank page waiting to be filled. Life is a lot like a book. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end. When you read a book do you read the first chapter and place it on the shelf- finished? Of course not! You keep reading! There may be twists and turns to the story that you never dreamed of while reading that first chapter! The end can suprise you! Was the end happy? Unexpected? Thrilling? The author gets to decide.
Your life is like a book. You have only lived the first few chapters. The rest is yet to come. Want to know the best part? YOU are the author! You get to fill in the days as you choose. Like the characters in a story, there may be unexpected twists in the plot, but the author decides how the characters will react and meet those challanges. You are the author of your reactions to life!
The wonder of life is in the living! It is in the fact we can keep learning and growing and loving and changing and can do it all with JOY! Nothing in your past can keep you from joy, if you will take control of your life. God loves us. He knew we would make mistakes, stumble and fall. That is why we were given Jesus, and that is why we were given each other. Jesus has paid the price for any mistake we have made- or will make, so we are free to go forward in peace and joy. We have people to love and hold our hands as we walk out this beautiful mystery of life.
This is your life. Make each moment count. Make each day a lovely addition to the library of life. May God bless you as you write the story of your life, day by day. Hugs, Barbara
Tags: Freedom, Joy


It is OK to be Human.July 9th, 2008
Really it is. We make mistakes. We say stupid things. We tell ourselves we won’t but we do. Know what? It is OK. We are not robots, that is what makes us so wonderful. We think, we feel, we love, we worry, we cry, we laugh, and it is all good. All those things make us wonderful. We are creative and magical and flawed! Yippee!! We are real!!
So, if you have really messed up till now, so what? Start again! The day is new. Start again! Wash your face, brush your hair, put on clean clothes and get back to being human. We are all in this together. We all mess up. We all fall flat on our faces. Get back up! I have fallen flat many times. i have fallen flat while trying to get up in fact! So what? I am human. I just keep at it, and you know what? Life is good!
It is not our perfection that makes us grand. It is our ability to begin again. It makes us who we are, and what we are. No matter where you are in life, there is happiness to come! No matter what you see in front of you, there is joy waiting. get back up. Take a step. Forgive yourself your mistakes and go make a future!!
We can not live in the past. It is not alive there. The past is only shadows and memories. We can not live in the future. It is not here yet. We have here and now. Embrace it. Make each day what you want it to be, because each day is really all we have. Make each day beautiful. Make each day bold! You are amazing and there is untold wonder locked in you! Share that wonder with the world. Stop looking back, look at now, and live it! Hugs, Barbara



Real Freedom On The 4th of July!July 4th, 2008
Happy 4th of July! What blessings God has given us in our dear country. We are free to vote, school our children how we choose, read what we want, travel, and live the lives we choose. No one tells us where we must live, or what we must do for a living. We can choose our own church, doctor, and laws!! I love America!!
Jesus gave us the ultimate freedom. He freed us from death from sin, and he also freed us from living under the Law of the Old testament. We have two laws left: to love God and to love each other. If we follow those two, nothing else is needed.
Some people would like to bring us back under the old laws. They want to tell us how to dress, how to worship, what songs we can sing, what movies we can view, and they want to draw lines of who it is suitable to love. God has not given anyone the authority to make those kinds of laws. Again we have two laws: To love God and to love each other.
This day as you celebrate this lovely country, remember those who died so you may live free. Jesus died so we can be truly free. Our brave servicemen have died so we can live out that freedom here in America. Remember that sacrifice this day.
This year is an election year. You live in a country that gives you the chance to vote. Do not waste that, or take it lightly. When you vote, please remember what this country is about. Many have died to give you the chance to live free. Make sure your vote allows that freedom to stand. Look long and hard at the people you vote for. You are giving them your voice. Vote not just for your personal choices but for freedom for everyone who lives here. Your personal preferances should not be law. Our laws are to protect each other from harm, and to ensure our basic freedom. Before you vote to stop any particular group from having the freedom to live as they choose- not hurting anyone- think long and hard. Who do you want telling you how to live your day to day life? Be sure you are following God’s law to love your neighbor as you vote.
Enjoy the day! May the fireworks in the sky match the brightness of your heart. Blessing to everyone this beautiful day! Hugs, Barbara



$300 catJuly 3rd, 2008
Ok, So I have a son in college right now, he is a going into his JR year this fall. He lives alone in an apartment. He works full time to put himself through school. The kid is lonely. He comes from a house full of kids, and now he is alone in that apartment. He wants a cat.
Now that seems to make sense. A cat can be alone while he is in school, and would not need to be walked. He could hold a cat while he does his work all evening. It would give him something live to look forward to seeing when he gets home each day. He wants a cat.
Of course there is the little problem of money. He is supporting himself and paying for his own schooling. You can get a free cat. I have done this in the past. That free cat will cost $100 to get it fixed, and all it’s shots. The apartment owners want $150 deposit for a pet. So we are up to $250 for that free cat. Then there is the litter box, litter, food, and the cute cat toys it will need so it will be a happy cat while he is gone. Yep, we are up to $300 ( at least) for that free cat. He wants a cat.
Being the dumb mom I am, I started “browsing” for cats. I figure it will take awhile to find one that matches what he wants. He does not want any old cat, but a black and gray stripped one. Female. Young- so he can raise her, but not a tiny kitten who would be too lonely while he is gone to school. I figure it might take awhile. He wants a cat.
So the first place i look is the Animal Rescue online. Might as well save a cats life, right? And there she is. The perfect kitten-cat. Black and gray, female, even has a cute name. The only problem is the $300 bucks it is going to end up costing us. He sure doesn’t have it. We sure don’t either. I would need to sell a lot of books, FAST, to get that darling little kitty. He wants a cat.
Anyone wanna buy a book to save a college student and his would-be cat?? He wants a cat.
Hugs, Barbara
Author of Polka-dot Star Flowers: Real Help for Real People.
Tags: Books, Cats, Love


Shut-up will ya??July 2nd, 2008
Ok, I know that is not a title you might expect from me, but really, it caught your eye didn’t it??
The funny thing is I meant it! I have several message boards I chat on. I have noticed a trend lately. A person having a rough time of it will post asking for help or support. They lay their hearts open, asking for some loving words. What they get is a long, drawn out, rude reply telling them how their problems are their own fault. I have seen some of the meanest things said to these poor souls who were asking for help. (Not money- just sympathy- support- a loving word of understanding) The responders seem to think everytime they open their mouths ( or in this case their keyboard) they should give a sermon on the wages of sin, or tell some poor person how stupid they are for making a mistake.
Where did we get that idea? I would like someone to point out to me where it says to kick people when they are down. I have read the Bible through many times, yet seem to have missed that. The sad thing is these hateful people often do it in the name of “Christianity”. Nothing about that is Christian in the least. We are told over and over to love each other. Jesus loved, and loved, and loved. His example was pure love.
There is a time for teaching, but when someone is crying out in pain is not that time. And teaching should always be done in love anyway- not in hateful condemnation. Let’s start really being Christains again, and love each other. Let’s love like Jesus did. Fully, completely, with-out thought of ourselves.
The next time someone reaches out for a hand up, grab their hand and pull! Don’t stand and give them a lecture about the dangers of drowning. Get hold and help them to dry land! Hugs, Barbara
Tags: Christianity, Kindness, Love