Tuesday Tools

Good morning. On yesterday we celebrated the men and women who sacrificed themselves for our freedoms. Don't allow those freedoms to be exploited because you don't take part.

Today's tool is the US voter registration site. People we have got to vote this fall. Primary and regular elections are so important. 
What happens on the local, county and state levels are a direct result of our vote or lack thereof. Make sure that you are registered.

https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote
And remember to live Blessed

Monday Motivation

Good morning,

The History of Memorial Day
Originally called Decoration Day, from the early tradition of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths and flags, Memorial Day is a day for remembrance of those who have died in service to our country. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868 to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of Gen. John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former Union sailors and soldiers.

During that first national celebration, former Union Gen. and sitting Ohio Congressman James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who were buried there.

“We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.”
James A. Garfield
May 30, 1868 Arlington National Cemetery

This event was inspired by local observances of the day that had taken place in several towns throughout America in the three years after the Civil War. In 1873, New York was the first state to designate Memorial Day as a legal holiday. By the late 1800s, many more cities and communities observed Memorial Day, and several states had declared it a legal holiday. After World War I, it became an occasion for honoring those who died in all of America’s wars and was then more widely established as a national holiday throughout the United States.

When Is Memorial Day?
In 1971, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act and established that Memorial Day was to be celebrated on the last Monday of May. Several southern states, however, officially celebrate an additional, separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead, sometimes referred to as a Confederate Memorial Day: January 19 in Texas; third Monday in Jan. in Arkansas; fourth Monday in Apr. in Alabama and Mississippi; April 26 in Florida and Georgia; May 10 in North and South Carolina; last Monday in May in Virginia; and June 3 in Louisiana and Tennessee.

Memorial Day is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery each year with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Traditionally, the President or Vice President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. About 5,000 people attend the ceremony annually.

And as always...remember to live Blessed

Friday Findings

Good morning,
Just want share a cool finding,  Super Beets.
The circulation superfood in a shot – one teaspoon of SuperBeets® contains the Nitric Oxide equivalent of three whole beets! Our patented drying process helps retain nutrient integrity and dietary nitrates from our beets. These dietary nitrates convert in the body to nitric oxide, which may help:
*promote improved natural energy and stamina
*support heart health & healthy blood pressure levels
*promote extended exercise endurance support healthy circulation

SuperBeets is easy to mix – no hassle, no mess. Best of all, it tastes great! Choose between the Original (with natural apple flavoring) or Black Cherry flavors.

Each canister contains (30) 5g servings.

www.karenhunterbeets.com

Thursday Thoughts

Good morning
Wow seems like May just began and we are already to the end.
We are coming up on Memorial weekend, please don't forget to check on friends and family that recently had losses. Firsts are always hard. The first time they go to the cemetery to visit can be pretty traumatic. 
Please watch for signs of depression.
Mood changes
Lack of interest in things they like
Sleep pattern changes
Weight loss
Lack of appetite
Speed change
Lack of energy
Worthlessness
Changes in cognitive ability
Suicidal thoughts
If any of these things pop up please get medical attention. Depression is nothing to play with.
One final thing. Good, bad or indifferent,  family is family. Talk to them, love on them and make sure they are ok during the holiday.
And as always... remember to live Blessed

Wednesday Word

Good morning,
Wow, these storms have been crazy, but I am so glad that God can keep us right in the midst of the storm. Literally and figuratively he is right there for us.

As I watched the lightning and heard the thunder, it just makes me awe at the handy work of God. How beautiful, yet destructive nature can be. How beautiful our lives can be, but how the enemy can can sweep through like those tornadoes and turn us upside, if we are not anchored in the Lord.

Take some time today to sit still and hear from God. Don't ask for anything. Just sit still and hear from God. Yes, you will have to cast out all of those random thoughts but see what the Lord has to say to you. Right in the middle of the storm your answers can be made clear to you. Stop talking and listen.

And as always...remember to live Blessed

Tuesday Tools

Good morning,
Wanted to share what I think is going to be pretty cool. Always trying to improve our lives.
So this is our tool for today.

The Ultimate Content Calendar Template
Still Posting Updates On Social Media ''As You Go''? When it Comes to Social Media, Having a Game Plan Makes All The Difference. Stop Wasting Time, Get Organized & Plan Your Posts Ahead of Time.
Easy-to-fill-in content calendar templates.
Plenty of space to organize your ideas.
Bonus cheat sheet to help organize your content instantly.

Check her out at:
http://kimberlyannjimenez.com/

And as always...remember to live Blessed

Monday Motivation

Good morning,
This morning I just want encourage you and I to wait on the Lord for direction before we make a move. It is so easy to make plans and have them all together and then ask God to add a blessing them, but God is not obligated to bless your plans. He is only obligated bless his plans.

Wait on the Lord and hear his voice clearly before you make your next move. It will be the difference between peace and confusion. Psalm 27:14 says,  Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. I know waiting for an answer can seen like an eternity but isn't it better to get it right the first time?

Life is all about timing.  Are you in sync with the timing of God? Are you moving with the plan that he set before you? Don't try to substitute your will for his and call it blessed. Not so. We have to hear clear and move in his timing if we want to walk in the freedom that comes from God alone.

And as always...live Blessed

Friday Findings

Good morning, 
Again we are sharing about mental health awareness. Today's story is about the bipolar brain.
Too often we write people off because they have issues but we need to get them help to combat the things that are going in their minds. Check out the story below.
https://www.nami.org/Personal-Stories/Bipolar-Brain
And as always...remember to live Blessed

Thursday Thoughts

Good morning, 
I'm not really sure how I feel about today. It is the last full day with my kiddos. Tomorrow they will have their promotion celebration in then they are off to high school. 
This is bitter sweet.  Did I share everything I needed to with them? Was I enough of an example? I am sure that some of these, like others that have gone before, will pop back up in my life but are they ready for the world? I have seen real growth in some and others I pray that spirit of maturity hits them. Lol
Wow this is it. No more 8th grade classes for them or for me. I am excited about all of our futures. I don't know what either of them holds but I pray that God be the leader and guider of it all. Pray for the future. 
And as always... remember to live Blessed

Wednesday Word

Good morning,
Wow only two more days of school after today, its getting real.
Today I want to share with you a happy memory.  As kids growing up on the farm,  yes the farm, my grandma used to hum and sing all day. One time I ask her why. She said well, if you sing about Jesus yiu keep on your mind in your heart. If you do that, you don't have room for all the other stuff.
Hum,  so if I am singing praises and meditating on God's word, my heart and mind will be so filled with his praises that I won't have time to be distracted by the devil. Sisters he is going to come by,  but we don't have to be distracted by him. That is shouting ground right there.
So find you a real song(s), not just something that makes you want to buck, but a song(s) with substance that can speak to those places that nothing else can.
Let the words walk and talk with you all day. And as always...remember to live Blessed

Tuesday Tools

Good morning,
This morning I wanted to share a cool sharing tool with you. It's called hootsuite. I know some of you already use it, cool. I have it awhile and just really started using it recently. 
Hootsuite allows you to post on twitter, facebook, google+, and LinkedIn all at the same time. So no more posting the same thing on different applications separately.  it also gives you one dashboard to monitor your feeds. It's pretty cool and will save you time. There is an app for your phone and a download for your computer. 
Enjoy and as always... remember to live Blessed

Monday Motivation

Good morning, 
As a I have watched my news feed I was filled with pride to see so many graduates. I'm sure of you joined me with that same pride, while others began to get that disappointed feeling. I should have done more, I need to do more.
Well, I just want to encourage you to get started.  No matter what the project the first step is to start. Don't necessarily focus on the big picture right now but a class or two at a time. It won't be easy but nothing worth having is totally problem free.
Keep pushing and give yourself small praise breaks along the way. Nobody should be more ex item about your victory than you.
You go girl and push someone else to come too.

And as always... remember to live Blessed

Friday findings

Good morning,
May is mental health awareness month.  I will spend some time this month sharing information and acknowledging the elephant in the room. 

Step 1-Educate Yourself and Others
Everyone knows a little about mental health issues but knowing the facts about mental illness can help you educate others and reject stigmatizing stereotypes. They are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing. Understanding mental health isn't only about being able to identify symptoms and having a name for these conditions but dispelling many false ideas about mental health conditions as well.

As a part of step 1 watch the 30 sec clip below.
https://youtu.be/T8hFE-kXMmc

And as always... remember to live Blessed

Thursday Thoughts

Good morming
So as many of you know I received my doctorate on Saturday and to the surprise of some others I posted my retirement (technically I'm not old enough to retire but when you've been around almost 20 yrs they don't let you walk away quietly) from USD259.  
So there has been alot of pressure on what is my next move. I don't know. I am sure there are some of you out there saying she plans everything,  what do you mean you don't know. Well, I don't.  I have lots of ideas swirling but me and Jesus haven't wrapped them up in a tight little bow yet. So, when I know I will let you know. In the meantime just know that I know, this is the plan of God for this season of my life. I am at total peace with my decision.  Pray for me that I will hear the next steps clearly. Love ya to life.

And as always... remember to live Blessed

https://youtu.be/b_gQ_mhDb_s

Wednesday Word

Good morning,
Wow, I watched the news last night and the only news story that wasn't about someone being killed was about leeches.  This is ridiculous. It is only May and every single day someone is getting shot or stabbed. Then there is this other group of people who are just going to sleep and not getting up.
We need to seek the Lord like never before. On the flip side of this murder situation is the absolute destruction of our school system.  Please realize,  because they smile in your face does not mean they have Jesus in their heart.
Systems are crashing all around us and where are the prayers, the seers, and the watchers?  While we sit back silent the enemy is still moving, working and getting stuff in place to lull is to sleep so we will accept the foolishness that is on the horizon.

And as always...remember to live Blessed

Tuesday Tools

Good morning,
I just wanted to share a new tech tool that I just learned about it is ifttt. This a an app that links all of communication pieces together to help you interface them quicker.
Just check it out and see if it's right for you.
https://ifttt.com/

Monday Motivation

Good morning,
I saw this saying the other day and wanted to share, because I think it's true.
What vibe do you give off? Are you negative or optimistic? Do you have a hustle about you or are you barely dragging? Is your goal to attain the best or just settle for the leftovers?
What message do you send the world, because those are the people you will attract around you. If you don't like your company,  you might change your perfume. IJS
And as always...remember to live Blessed

Friday Findings

Good Friday morning,
Today,  I wanted to share some information about lupus. I have several friends that suffer from this disease and I wanted make you aware of it.

May is Lupus Awareness Month! Get to KNOW LUPUS and help create a future with NO LUPUS by visiting lupus.org/awareness. There you’ll learn more about this cruel and mysterious disease and learn how you can take action this month in the fight against lupus.

Did you know that 90 percent of people diagnosed with lupus are women? Learn more about the signs and symptoms this Lupus Awareness Month by visiting lupus.org and test your knowledge by taking the KNOW LUPUS challenge at lupus.org/know.

Did you know chemotherapy drugs are sometimes used to treat lupus? Test your knowledge by playing the KNOW LUPUS game at lupus.org/know and challenge your friends to do the same. By spreading awareness, you can help us get one step closer to a future with no lupus.

http://www.lupusawarenessmonth.org/

And as always...remember to live Blessed

Thursday Thoughts

Good Morning,
Wow, this week is almost over. Yesterday we laid to rest a phenomenal woman. She was a teacher, a mom, a motivator, a person who loved the word of God and serving his people. I was so privileged to know Denise Nickens-Randle.
As I reflect it makes me want to do better, motivate more, be more intentional, love harder, use all of my creative juices. When I leave I want to leave empty. I want to have given out everything that God put in me. Don't have time to be selfish.
Wow, my world is changing, the challenge is keeping up with it. Riding life like a wild bull and getting off at just the right moment to answer the call.
God, more than anything, I want to be ready and I want to be empty.
My prayer today is, God let us see and seize every opportunity we are afforded. Keep us from second guessing your plan.
Help us to hear you plainly and walk therein.

And as always... remember to live Blessed

Wednesday Word

Good Morning,
This song came to me this morning. So many of us are going through a plethora of conditions/situations that seem as if we are going down never to rise again. The enemy will make you believe that you are all alone and that you are in this thing alone. However, when you are riding with Jesus he will make it alright.  As Yolanda Adams says,

The storms of life will blow, they're sure to come and go
They meet us all at a time when I'm calm and doing fine

But the Captain of my soul he's always on board
He rocks me in His arms while riding through the storm

While riding through the storm Jesus holds me in His arms
I am not afraid of the stormy winds and the waves

Though the tides become high he holds me while I ride
I find safety in the masters arms while riding through the storm
I have no fear of the raging seas knowing Jesus will forever be right here with me
He can speak to the wind to my enemies and to the waves
And he make them all behave

All power's in the masters hand when I'm on sea or dry land
I found safety in the Master's holding arms while riding through the storm

Relax and let Jesus be the captain. Releasing control to God can be one of the hardest things to do but it is necessary if we are going to get through the storm that we are presently in. The best part is that storms can't and don't last always, and after every storm this is a rainbow to remind us that the storm won't take us out. Be encouraged.

And as always... remember to live Blessed

Tuesday Tools

Good morning,
I pray this morning you are found blessed and highly favored.
I would like to remind you to thank a teacher. Teachers are over worked and under paid, yet they come to work and give their time and attention to your child/grandchild. No, teachers aren't perfect,  they are human, quiet as its kept you aren't perfect either. Yet they come back day after day.
So during this week of teacher appreciation,  tell your child's teacher how greatful you are for what they have done. With everything that is going on with funding and cuts it would be nice to just get some positive notes, emails or cards from the families that are served.
Remember, in just 16 more days they are going to be yours for the summer.

As always...remember to live Blessed

Monday Motivation

Good morning, 
I want to encourage you this morning not to give up. I know that many of us wear lots of hats and juggle a lot of task but don't give when you don't get pats on the back. Most people won't give you praise when you're gettin your hustle on, but God sees all and he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him.
People can and will be fickle,  stay focused, put your blinders on, and push towards the prize.
And as always... remember to live Blessed