A CONSPIRACY OF KINDNESS IN LIFE

Pink nylon cleaning brush - “Dreams are like the paints of a great artist. Your dreams are your paints, the world is your canvas. Believing, is the brush that converts your dreams into a masterpiece of reality.”

My friend Randy Jessen tells this true story of love and kindness. It is a little longer than our usual fare, but I think you will find it well worth reading!

If you had to choose one word to describe Kevin, it might be "slow." Kevin didn't learn his ABCs as fast as other kids. He never came in first in the schoolyard races. However, Kevin had a special rapport with people. His bright smile and big heart won him plenty of friends.

When Kevin discovered that the pastor at his church, Randy Jessen, was putting together a boys basketball team, his mother let him participate. And soon basketball became a center of Kevin's life. He worked hard at practice. While the other boys practiced dribbling and lay-ups, Kevin shot baskets. He had a special spot near the free throw line. He threw and threw the ball, and it occasionally went in! When that happened, Kevin raised his arms and shouted, "Look at me, Coach!"

The day before their first game, Coach Randy gave each player a bright red jersey. Kevin was number 12. He scrambled himself into the sleeves and wore that jersey almost every day. One Sunday morning, the church service was interrupted by Kevin's excited voice. "Look, Coach!" He lifted his gray wool sweater to reveal the red jersey underneath with number 12 on the front. Nobody minded the interruption; the church knew Kevin and loved him.

I'd like to be able to tell you that the team did well. Actually, they never won a game that season -- except for the night it snowed and the other team never showed up. At the end of the season, the boys played in the church league's tournament. As the last-place team, they drew the unfortunate spot of playing against the first-place team -- boys who had never lost a game all year.

The game went as expected, and near the end of the fourth quarter Kevin's team stood nearly 30 points behind. It was then that one of the boys called timeout. "Coach," he said, "this is our last game and Kevin's never made a basket. I think we should let him make a basket." The team agreed. Kevin was instructed to stand at his special place near the free throw line and wait. He was told that when he was given the ball, he should shoot.

Kevin was ecstatic. He ran to the floor and waited. When the ball was passed to him he shot -- and missed. Number 17 from the other team snatched the rebound, dribbled down the court for an easy lay-up. But a moment later Kevin got the ball again. He shot -- and missed. Number 17 repeated his performance for another two points. Kevin shot a third and fourth time with the same result.

But then the other team seemed to figure out what was going on and the next time they snatched the rebound, they threw it to Kevin! Kevin shot...and missed. But now every rebound came to him and he threw and threw toward the basket.

BOTH teams had circled Kevin by this time and all of the boys were shouting, "Kevin! Kevin!" The crowd took up the chant. Soon everyone in the gym was shouting for Kevin! Coach Randy was sure the game should have been over by this time and he glanced at the clock. It was stopped at 4.3 seconds! The timekeepers were standing by their table shouting with the crowd, "Kevin! Kevin!" The world had stopped for Kevin. He shot and shot and finally one of his shots took a crazy bounce on the rim and...went in! Chaos reigned! Everyone stood and cheered as if one boy had single-handedly won a world championship. Kevin's arms sprang up in the air and he shouted, "I won! I won!" His team escorted him off the court, the clock ticked down and the game was over.

That day an undefeated team retained their perfect record. But everybody won. Everybody! Because everybody had participated in a crazy conspiracy of kindness, a simple act of mercy, that was so compelling, so powerful, that I'm sure all of heaven rejoiced!

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

DIRECTTV TRAVEL

I recently I got an opportunity to travel to Singapore for work. After a strenuous workday it is best to wind down in the hotel room and watch some movies. It is then that I realize how much I miss my DirectTV back home.

The hotel offered a few limited selection of channels but that is barely scratching the surface of what my Directv Service has available. There are about 20 channels available in total, with only 4 of which which interests me. Then again it is asking too much for the hotel to provide Direct TV for all of its guests. Such a pity, really. A spanking new plasma screen tv with not much to look forward to.

Truth be told I kept my hotel room tv set tuned to either HBO or StarMovies most of the time but it can be very inconvenient for me to stay up late just to watch some movie of interest. That is because I had to get up early the next day and be ready for work. Besides, nothing starts your day all wrong than a pounding headache all due to lack of sleep. Another strong point which makes me miss my Directv System's DVR which can record my favorite shows on demand. Luckily for me I have set it to record so I can go back home and catch up on my favorite shows on my Direct TV system. Yup, can't wait to get home.

Like Kumar (as in the Kumar in "Harold and Kumar") says: Freedom is nothing if you're a slave to regular programming.

Now the only thing missing is for someone to invent a portable Direct TV Service which can be accessed from across the globe. Then I'll be sure to bring it with me wherever I go. Nice.

A GLORIOUS TRIP FOR LIFE

Ladders for sale - “Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.”

An ordinance in Dallas, Texas, forbids "walking about aimlessly, with no apparent purpose, lingering, hanging around, lagging behind, idly spending time, delaying, sauntering and moving slowly about." (PRESUMED IGNORANT, by Leland H. Gregory III).

Some of my best days were spent like that!

But then, I wonder how many of us live life with "no apparent purpose...lagging behind...idly spending time...delaying" and generally "walking about aimlessly"? In other words, does your life lack a clear direction, focus and purpose?

It is a mistake to think that moving fast is the same as actually going somewhere. And it is also an error to believe that doing many things is as good as doing the right thing. People who are the most satisfied with their lives actually go somewhere because they spend more time doing the right things.

News commentator Dan Rather had a vital question he asked himself several times a day. Largely because of this one question, he became one of America's leading journalists. Rather wrote the question on three slips of paper. He kept one in his billfold, one in his pocket, and one on his desk. The all-important question he constantly asked himself was this: "Is what you are doing now helping the broadcast?"

If the answer was yes, then he continued with his work, project or idea. If the answer was no, then he stopped what he was doing and put his efforts into something else. He discovered years ago that if he did not focus his time, he would end up in a job that under-utilized his potential.

What if you were to ask yourself such a question several times a day?

You might ask, "Is what I'm doing now helping me succeed?" Or, "Is what I'm doing now helping me reach an important goal?" Or, "Is what I'm doing now helping me grow?"

Write the question you choose on small slips of paper or on the back of a business card. Carry it with you. Post it on your desk. You might even affix it to a conspicuous spot inside your car.

Read it several times a day. That one question will focus you. Before you know it, you'll find yourself actually headed in the direction you want to go. And even if you never fully arrive, it will be a glorious trip!

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

DECISION IS DESTINY FOR LIFE

Wild bamboo shoots for sale - “The taller the bamboo grows, the lower it bends.”

Mommy, what happens when a car gets too old and banged up to run?" a little girl asked.

"Well," her mother said, "someone sells it to your father."

I think I have bought a couple of cars like that! Like most people, my life is punctuated by decisions that did not turn out the way I'd hoped. But we cannot always be expected to make the best decisions. Sometimes we simply don't have enough information. And other times, there just isn't a good decision anywhere to be found! All we can really do is make decisions the best way we know how and act on them. Things change only when decisions change.

Before his rise to political fame, Maryland Congressman Kweisi Mfume walked a path of self-destruction. He dropped out of high school. A few years later, he robbed a pedestrian in order to join a street gang. Mfume spent the following years drinking and troublemaking with the gang.

A turning point came one summer night when he abruptly decided he could no longer continue on his present course. He decided to earn his high school equivalency certificate and later graduated magna cum laude from Morgan State University in Baltimore. He then went on to earn a graduate degree at Johns Hopkins University.

When Mfume ran for Congress in 1986, his opponents tried to use his old mistakes against him. But his achievements since he left a troubled past behind captivated an electorate who voted him into office by an overwhelming 87 percent. He was on a collision course with total failure until he made a decision.

What changes your life is not learning more, though education is important. What changes your life is making decisions - the best decisions you can make - and acting on them. It's been accurately said: "Your decisions determine your direction, and your direction determines your destiny." Or put another way, "The decisions you make… make you."

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

FACES OF MERCY FOR LIFE

Fun fair bonanza stalls - “Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work.”

Do you know what an L.L.B. is?

When people traveled more often by train than by air, one mother found herself in need. She was traveling with two children, one of which was a fussy baby. It seemed that nothing she did would settle the child down.

However, seated next to her was an older gentleman who offered to take the infant so she could tend to her other child. He bounced the baby on his knee, cooed and whispered and finally stood up and paced the aisle. In a little while the infant fell fast asleep and he sat down again. The mother was amazed. "You must be an M.D.," she exclaimed.

"No," he smiled. "I'm just an L.L.B."

"An L.L.B?" she asked. "What's that?"

"A Lover of Little Babies!" he said.

In America's aftermath of Hurricane Katrina we are discovering L.L.B's, as well as Lovers of Older Folks, Lovers of Life's Victims and even Lovers of Lost Pets. Some of these good-hearted people open their homes. Some scour the streets of New Orleans for stranded residents. Some volunteer at shelters around the country, some organize support in their own communities and some send supplies and money. Some pray. It is these lovers of humanity that will, in the end, help devastated lives through the crisis and give us all enough hope to keep doing what we can.

You've heard it said, "Blessed are the merciful…" Mercy takes on several faces. Sometimes it may look like an L.L.B. But today it looks like many of you. May you be truly blessed.

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

LOVE WITHOUT MEASURE FOR LIFE

Native handicraft carry basket - “Art is not a handicraft, it is the transmission of feeling the artist has experienced.”

Freda Bright says, "Only in opera do people die of love." It's true. You really can't love somebody to death. I've known people to die from no love, but I've never known anyone to be loved to death. We just can't love one another enough.

A heart-warming story tells of a woman who finally decided to ask her boss for a raise in salary. All day she felt nervous and apprehensive. Late in the afternoon she summoned the courage to approach her employer. To her delight, the boss agreed to a raise.

The woman arrived home that evening to a beautiful table set with their best dishes. Candles were softly glowing. Her husband had come home early and prepared a festive meal. She wondered if someone from the office had tipped him off. Or … did he just somehow know that she would not get turned down?

She found him in the kitchen and told him the good news. They embraced and kissed, then sat down to the wonderful meal. Next to her plate the woman found a beautifully lettered note. It read: "Congratulations, darling! I knew you'd get the raise! These things will tell you how much I love you."

Following the supper, her husband went into the kitchen to clean up. She noticed that a second card had fallen from his pocket. Picking it off the floor, she read: "Don't worry about not getting the raise! You deserve it anyway! These things will tell you how much I love you."

Someone has said that the measure of love is when you love without measure. What this man feels for his spouse is total acceptance and love, whether she succeeds or fails. His love celebrates her victories and soothes her wounds.

He stands with her, no matter what life throws in their direction. He may say that he loves her to death. But he doesn't. He loves her to LIFE. For his love nourishes her life like nothing else can.

Upon receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, Mother Teresa said: "What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family." And love your friends. Love them without measure.

Love them to LIFE.

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

WHAT DO YOU NEED IN LIFE?

Flashing horns head decors for sale - “Life is a constant oscillation between the sharp horns of dilemmas.”

Do you know what you really need? I'm not talking about material things. I mean, what do you need to make your life all you want it to be?

Author Stephen Covey says that people all share four basic needs: the need to live, to love, to learn and to leave a legacy.

We need to live. Not just to breathe but to live life fully. Dr. Philip Humbert asks, "What remarkable, extraordinary and amazing things will you do with this wild and wonderful miracle, your one and only life?"

We need to love. We also need to be loved. As anthropologist Margaret Mead puts it, "One of the oldest human needs is having someone wonder where you are when you don't come home at night."

We need to learn. And not only for a few years when we are young. We must be life-long learners who never stop growing, never cease to improve. For when we no longer grow, we stagnate. And when we stagnate, we die.

Finally, we need to leave a legacy. It is a basic desire to want our lives to count for something. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson: "To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a little bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

These are four needs that must never be neglected. Live fully, love completely, learn constantly and leave something worthwhile behind. It is the path to success. And to joy.

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

WHEN YOU HAVE PROBLEMS IN LIFE

Triton truck on display - “He who runs behind truck is exhausted, he who runs in front of truck is tired.”

A humorous story tells about a speeding motorist who was caught by radar from a police helicopter in the sky. An officer pulled him over and began to issue a traffic ticket. "How did you know I was speeding?" the frustrated driver asked.

The police officer pointed somberly toward the sky. "You mean," asked the motorist, "that even He is against me?"

It's like the man who said, "It feels like the whole world is against me...but I know that's not true. Some of the smaller countries are neutral."

When we have a problem, it can often feel as if everything in our life is going wrong. We may tend to think that everybody is upset, that nobody cares or that everything is falling apart.

To think more clearly and to solve your problems more effectively, try letting go of these destructive beliefs:

* Let go of the idea that your problem is perma­nent. Few troubles last forever. And those that can­not be solved can usually be managed.

* Let go of the idea that your problem is pervasive. Few problems affect every area of your life.

* Let go of the idea that your problem is personal. There is nothing wrong with you because you have a problem. All capable, lovable and suc­cessful people have plenty of problems.

Remember, worms cannot fall down. But human beings can -- and will. Let go of these de­structive beliefs and you may be amazed at how much better you feel already!

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

THIS MAGIC MOMENT IN LIFE

Hifi speaker - “Deep listening is miraculous for both listener and speaker. When someone receives us with open-hearted, non-judging, intensely interested listening, our spirits expand.”

Writer H.G. Wells once noted, "Man must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind him to the fact that each moment of life is a miracle and a mystery." Do you live as if each moment is a miracle and a mystery?

A golf enthusiast listed three mental techniques to improve anyone's golf game. (Even mine, and I golf about as well as a slug wages war....) These techniques are not just about golf, however. They are mental attitudes that can help you live as if each moment were truly a miracle and a mystery. Here they are:

1. Resist the urge to add up your score as you go along. If you anticipate your score, you'll be distracted from the task at hand.

In other words, don't let your preoccupation with whether you are succeeding or whether you are achieving your goals distract you from being aware of the present moment.

2. Focus. Concentrate on hitting great shots rather than worrying about bad ones or what others will think if you miss. Visualize the ball going to your target.

This is a terrific technique for daily living. Focus. Concentrate on doing the next task well rather than worrying about past failures or about what others will think about you if you should "mess up." And get a picture in your mind's eye of the target you're trying to hit.

3. Keep your mind on the hole you're playing. Don't think about how you are going to play the 18th hole.

Thinking about the present will help the future take care of itself. This moment is full of magic and wonder. Give it your full attention.

Speaker Steve Sobel says, "I have learned from speaking to many cancer survivor groups that (when you have cancer) the watch on your hand no longer says, 'Tick, tick, tick.' It now says, 'Precious, precious, precious.'" When you come to know how precious is the present moment, you'll understand the mystery we call life.

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

WHEN THE WORLD SAYS, "NO!" IN LIFE

Staircase floor tiles - “Love is the thing that enables a woman to sing while she mops up the floor after her husband has walked across it in his barn boots.”

When Henry Ward Beecher was a young boy in school, he learned a lesson in self-confidence, which he never forgot. He was called upon to recite in front of the class. He had hardly begun when the teacher interrupted with an emphatic, "No!" He started over and again the teacher thundered, "No!" Humiliated, Henry sat down.

The next boy rose to recite and had just begun when the teacher shouted, "No!" This student, however, kept on with the recitation until he completed it. As he sat down, the teacher responded, "Very good!"

Henry was irritated. "I recited just as he did," he complained to the teacher.

But the instructor replied, "It is not enough to know your lesson, you must be sure. When you allowed me to stop you, it meant that you were uncertain. If all the world says, `No!' it is your business to say, `Yes!' and prove it."

The world says, "No!" in a thousand ways:

"No! You can't do that."

"No! You are wrong."

"No! You are too old."

"No! You are too young."

"No! You are too weak."

"No! It will never work."

"No! You don't have the education."

"No! You don't have the background."

"No! You don't have the money."

"No! It can't be done."

And each "No!" you hear has the potential to erode your confidence bit by bit until you quit altogether. Though the world says, "No!" to you today, will you determine to say, "Yes!" and prove it?

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

BE A GOOD ONE IN LIFE

Fun fair challenge stalls - “If we don't see a failure as a challenge to modify our approach, but rather as a problem with ourselves, as a personality defect, we will immediately feel overwhelmed.”

Pablo Picasso, the great Spanish painter and sculptor, once said this about his ability: "My mother said to me, 'If you become a soldier, you'll be a general; if you become a monk, you'll end up as Pope.' Instead, I became a painter and wound up as Picasso." No lack of confidence here!

But he would have agreed with Abraham Lincoln. "Whatever you are," said Lincoln, "be a good one." He demonstrated the wisdom of that advice with his own life. And in this present age, which often seems to be contented with mediocrity, his words summon a yearning for improvement and growth.

I think it helps to remember that excellence is not a place at which we arrive so much as a way of traveling. To do and be our best is a habit among those who hear and understand Lincoln's admonition.

Viennese-born composer Frederick Loewe, whom we remember from his musical scores that include "My Fair Lady," "Gigi" and "Camelot," was not always famous. He studied piano with the great masters of Europe and achieved huge success as a musician and composer in his early years. But when he immigrated to the United States, he failed as a piano virtuoso. For a while he tried other types of work including prospecting for gold and boxing. But he never gave up his dream and continued to play piano and write music.

During those lean years, he could not always afford to make payments on his piano. One day, bent over the keyboard, he heard nothing but the music that he played with such rare inspiration. When he finished and looked up, he was startled to find that he had an audience – three moving men who were seated on the floor.

They said nothing and made no movement toward the piano. Instead, they dug into their pockets, pooled together enough money for the payment, placed it on the piano and walked out, empty handed. Moved by the beauty of his music, these men recognized excellence and responded to it.

Whatever you are, be a good one. If what you do is worth doing, if you believe that who you are is of value, then you can't afford to be content with mediocrity. When you choose the path of excellence through this life, you will bring to it your best and receive the best it can offer in return. And you will know what it is to be satisfied.

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

MAKING THOSE OBSTACLES VANISH

Fresh pineapples for sale - “If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance for you. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down.”

American President John Quincy Adams once said, "Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." It's true!

Look what happened once to a North Carolina church that wanted to purchase some property. The church regularly suffered from high tide flooding. But when the church was built over a hundred years ago, they couldn't afford better property.

They finally decided to relocate to higher ground. An ideal piece of property was empty - actually the highest ground in town. It belonged to a man named Sam. Officials from the church went to see Sam about selling the property. He politely told them it wasn't for sale; that he had other plans for the land.

The church looked elsewhere, but nothing satisfactory could be found. So they went back to Sam and made another offer. Again they were refused.

Then an unusual thing happened. One of the worst coastal floods in memory struck the town. As water rose, the church began to float. It left its coastal lot and started inward. It floated down the main street, turned a corner and eventually landed right on Sam's empty property.

Sam gave in. He allowed the building to stay and, if you ask the members of North Carolina's Swanquarter United Methodist Church how they came to acquire their land, they may relate what Sam said about the transaction: "I guess if the good Lord couldn't move me to give the land to the church, he would move the church to the land."

The member's persistence, combined with a little outside help, paid off. Persevere - you may by surprised at how your obstacles vanish!

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

TAKING CHANCES, MAKING CHANCES FOR LIFE

Satellite dish receivers - “It was a wife's duty to be interested in whatever interested her husband, whether it was politics, books, or a particular dish for dinner.”

Lecturer Charles Hobbs sometimes tells about a woman who lived in London over a century ago. She saved what little money she could working as a scullery maid and used it one evening to hear a great speaker of her day. His speech moved her deeply and she waited to visit with him afterward. "How fine it must be to have had the opportunities you have had in life," she said.

"My dear lady," he replied, "have you never received an opportunity?"

"Not me. I have never had a chance," she said.
"What do you do?" the speaker asked.

She answered, "I peel onions and potatoes in my sister's boarding house."

"How long have you been doing this?" he pursued.
"Fifteen miserable years!"

"And where do you sit?" he continued.

"Why, on the bottom step in the kitchen." She looked puzzled.

"And where do you put your feet?"

"On the floor," she answered, more puzzled.

"What is the floor?"

"It is glazed brick."

Then he said, "My dear lady, I will give you an assignment today. I want you to write me a letter about the brick."

Against her protests about being a poor writer, he made her promise to complete the assignment.

The next day, as she sat down to peel onions, she gazed at the brick floor. That evening she pulled one loose, took it to a brick factory and asked the owner to explain to her how bricks were made.

Still not satisfied, she went to a library and found a book on bricks. She learned that 120 different kinds of brick and tile were being produced in England at the time. She discovered how clay beds, which existed for millions of years, were formed. Her research captivated her imagination and she spent every spare moment learning more. She returned to the library night after night and this woman, who never had a chance, gradually began to climb the steps of knowledge.

After months of study, she set out to write her letter as promised. She sent a 36-page document about the brick in her kitchen and, to her surprise, she received a letter back. Enclosed was payment for her research. He had published her letter! And along with the money came a new assignment - this time he asked her to write about what she found underneath the brick.

For the first time in her life she could hardly wait to get back to the kitchen! She pulled up the brick and there was an ant. She held it in her hand and examined it.

That evening, she hurried back to the library to study ants. She learned that there were hundreds of different kinds of ants. Some were so small they could stand on the head of a pin; while others were so large one could feel the weight of them in one's hand. She started her own ant colony and examined ants underneath a lens.

Several months later she wrote her findings in a 350-page "letter." It, too, was eventually published. She soon quit her kitchen job to take up writing.

Before she died, she had traveled to the lands of her dreams and had experienced more than she ever imagined possible! This is the woman who had never had a chance.

Some people wait for opportunity to come knocking. Here is a person who sought it out, proving again that we can be more than victims of mere circumstance.

If given a chance, will you take it? If given no chance, can you make one?

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

CARS AND AUTOMOBILES IN LIFE

I drive a 1980’s Subaru station wagon and that car has been in the family for as long as I can remember. It’s a trusty old car, but it does get cranky and start acting up every once in a while – especially when it rains. Over the years, however, I have grown accustomed to its temperament (the break down and overheating, especially) but there are times when I just can’t help but toy with the idea of trading in the car for something newer – and better.

I think what stops me from doing just that is plain ol’ sentimental value. Like I said, the car has been in the family for quite some time now and parting with the car is simply easier said than done.

Now that I’ve decided to keep the car AND buy a new one, I would have to save up for some time before that happens. Having said that, I’ve been eyeing several models for some time now and I’ve narrowed it down to these four:

My first choice is the toyota prius. Having driven a Japanese car for over a decade, my partiality to a Japanese make is owed to none other than familiarity, and of course the oh-so-famous Japanese efficiency.

I’m torn between that and the gmc sierra. I’ve always wanted to own a pick up truck. I think the 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 Hybrid is mighty sweet.

Oh, have any of you guys seen the 2010 lincoln mkt review? Mean, flamboyant and classy. The reviews have been pretty decent on this one. A bit on the pricey side though.

My last pick is of course the statement-making cadillac. I don’t have any particular model in mind – as long as it’s a cadillac, I’m sold.

SHOPPING FOR BABIES AND KIDS IN LIFE

My cousin just gave birth to a baby girl a few weeks back. As may be expected, we are all super excited with the new addition to the family!

The new baby is going to be one month old come a few days’ time, and the family is throwing a huge party to celebrate. The new mum and dad, however, have not set up a gift registry anywhere, so we were left to figure out what kind of gifts to bring along.

You see, hand-me-downs are not uncommon in our family – don’t be surprised if you see the same bib or mitten or jumpsuit being circulated around for years! But seeing that the previous baby in the family was my other cousin who is now 18 years old, I doubt that any of the baby stuff that remains somewhere in the storeroom like the baby car seats and baby bags are gift-worthy.

After giving it some thought, I’ve narrowed down the list to either nappy bags or baby carriers. My cousin suggested that I try ShopWiki, as he had just recently purchased a pair of water shoes for his colleague's kid through the site and found the site extremely useful. He told me that he has been relying on them to source for travel and outdoor items for kids whenever an occasion requires it.

I’m glad he told me about the site! The amount of shops that were listed is a lot more that those listed in some of the other sites that I’ve visited. I was seriously spoilt for choice and could compare the products that was within my budget with ease. In the end, I decided to get them a stylish nappy bag over a baby carrier. Sure hope that the new parents find it useful to keep the nappies close by and ready to use.

LIFE BONUSES IN THRILLS AND EXCITEMENT

Some of us tend to get bored with the mundane daily routines of ordinary life. We would seek out something that will flare up a little thrill and excitement to build up an adrenaline rush. It could be a thrilling physical experience like white water rafting, bungee jumping, paragliding or speed climbing. But what about those who are not inclined to physical thrills?

Well, a little gamble with some credit risks on the table can provide similar mental and emotional thrill and excitement. The internet is filled with a lot of online gaming operators and it can be a difficult task to pick out the best from the rest of the lot. FlopTurnRiver.com is one of the better deals out there with its offering of a special PKR Bonus Code. The PKR Bonus amount offered is substantial and more than enough to kick start the endeavour of the average thrill seeker. For those who are still skeptical about the whole experience, FlopTurnRiver.com has got its own PKR Review section where users can post their reviews for all to see. Just remember to do things in moderation and learn when to call it quits after you have had some thrill and excitement.

TOLL ROAD TO SUCCESS IN LIFE

Plenty of food for a feast - “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

An airline passenger struck up a conversation with a stranger who was sniffling, apparently due to a recent head cold. "Look at me!" he said. "Never a day's sickness in my life, and all due to simple food," he boasted. "Why, from the age of twenty to that of forty I lived an absolutely simple, regular life -- no pampering, no late hours, no extravagances. Every day, in fact, I was in bed regularly at nine o'clock and up again at five in the morning. I ate a plain meal at noon and, after that, exercised for an hour, then..."

"Excuse me," interrupted the sniffling stranger in the next seat, "but what were you in for?"

Some people can go overboard with a rigid routine, but a certain amount of self-discipline is necessary when traveling this road of life.

Undisciplined people will end up doing what others determine. Disciplined people set their own daily schedules.

Undisciplined people are led around by immediate desires. Disciplined people pursue long-range goals .

Undisciplined people never accomplish anything significant. Disciplined people make beautiful dreams come true.

Mark Twain gave some advice about discipline. "Do one thing every day you don't want to do," he suggested. It's a price we pay for success. Then leave some time to do something you WANT to do, too. The first gets us where we want to go; the other makes the traveling more fun.

The road to success is a toll road. Pay that small, daily fee, and you'll be able to go most anywhere you want. Leave some time for fun, and you'll enjoy the ride.

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

NO ROOM FOR FENCES IN LIFE

Green motorbike parked by the roadside - “Life is a pilgrimage. The wise man does not rest by the roadside inns. He marches direct to the illimitable domain of eternal bliss, his ultimate destination.”

You may know that Jackie Robinson was one of the first African Americans to play major league baseball. In his first season with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Robinson faced hostility nearly everywhere he traveled because of his race. Pitchers threw fastballs at his head. Runners spiked him on the bases. Brutal epithets were written on cards and shouted by players in the opposing dugouts. Even the home crowds in Brooklyn saw him as an object of reproach.

During one game in Boston, the taunts and racial slurs seemed to reach a peak. To make matters worse, Robinson committed an error and stood at second base humiliated while fans hurled insults at him. Another Dodger, a Southern white man by the name of "Pee Wee" Reese, called timeout. He walked over to Robinson and, with the crowds looking on, put his arm around his friend's shoulder. The fans grew quiet. Robinson later said that arm around his shoulder saved his career. Jackie Robinson eventually went on to become one of baseball's all-time greats.

An arm around his shoulder made the difference. It said to the crowd and anyone who cared to notice, "We are one."

Though we have made headway, race still divides us. As does religion and politics and ideologies. And, though we are learning better how to "put our arms" around people who are different, our global community is not yet unified.

It's been said, "There is just enough room in the world for all the people in it, but there is no room for the fences which separate them."

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

TO CHANGE YOUR LUCK FOR LIFE

Large China porcelain decorative pottery - “If ifs and ands were pots and pans there'd be no work for tinkers”

A band of young car thieves thought they'd found the perfect plan. They set to work stealing cars in a mall parking lot on one of the busiest days of the year. Unfortunately, their first choice was their worst choice. They spotted a nice-looking van and began picking the locks. In no time at all the door opened, and inside they found … police officers, who were using the vehicle as an undercover surveillance van!

One might say that they ran into some bad luck. (Or maybe stealing cars was a bad decision to begin with and luck had nothing to do with it.)

Many people DO try to manage their luck, however. So they believe in rituals and talismans to aid in their success. According to Jeanne Ralston ("What's Luck Go To Do With It?" Ladies Home Journal, Jan., 1999), athletes, as a group, are often superstitious. Home-run king Hank Aaron wore the same shower shoes for twenty years because he thought they brought him luck, and basketball great Michael Jordan felt more confident with his University of North Carolina basketball shorts under his Chicago Bulls uniform.

Some of us go for four leaf clovers, a superstition from the Druids of medieval Europe who believed that the plant imparted to those who found them special powers to see invisible witches and evil spirits. Others may carry a rabbit's foot. It was because of the great bunny-making capabilities of rabbits that ancient Celts believed they should be associated with luck and prosperity. Still other people speak of knocking on wood, a custom that seems to have grown from a belief that the noise may prevent evil spirits from hearing you mention your good luck.

I understand that basketball player George Underwood once said this about luck: "I have just two superstitions. One, don't call someone a bad name if they have a loaded pistol. Two, don't call your girl friend Tina if her name is Vivian."

Robert Collier instructs that all of us have bad luck and good luck. But the one who persists through the bad luck - who keeps right on going - is the one who is there when the good luck comes. This person, says Collier, is the one who is ready to receive that opportunity when it is presented.

In other words, luck really does favor the prepared. And those who persist and work hard. "The more I practice," said golf pro Arnold Palmer, "the luckier I seem to get."

To change your luck, change your attitude from pessimism to optimism. Something good really IS around the corner. Then work hard and be ready. When that next opportunity comes, you'll be the one to seize it a MAKE something happen. It can be your next lucky break!

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes

BE STRONG IN LIFE

Building construction site - “The whole difference between construction and creation is exactly this: that a thing constructed can only be loved after it is constructed; but a thing created is loved before it exists.”

Someone made the statement: "To err is dysfunctional, to forgive co-dependent." I sometimes wonder if we believe that. True forgiveness is still one of the most remarkable traits a human can possess!

A few years ago, Hildegard Goss-Mayr of the "International Fellowship of Reconciliation" told this true story.

In the midst of tragic fighting in Lebanon in the 1970s, a Christian seminary student was walking from one village to the next when he was ambushed by an armed Druze guerrilla fighter. The Druze ordered his captive down a mountain trail where he was to be shot.

But an amazing thing happened. The seminarian, who had received military training, was able to surprise his captor and disarm him. Now, the table was turned, and it was the Druze who was ordered down the trail.

As they walked, however, the student of theology began to reflect on what was happening. Recalling the words of Jesus, "Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; turn the other cheek," he found he could go no further. He threw the gun into the bushes, told the Druze he was free to go and turned back up the hill.

Minutes later, he heard footsteps running behind him as he walked. "Is this the end after all?" he wondered. Perhaps the Druze had retrieved the gun and wanted to finish him off. But he continued on, never glancing back, until his enemy reached him, only to grab him in an embrace and pour out thanks for sparing his life.

Mercy often wears the face of forgiveness. And though it usually isn't an enemy in uniform that we are challenged to forgive, we have opportunities for mercy everyday. Family members and friends, co-workers and neighbors and even strangers have need for our forgiveness. You know who they are.

As Mahatma Gandhi said, "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." Be strong. Forgive.

From Lifesupport.

Lifesigns Life Quotes