“Up from the ashes, grow the roses of success.”
Ok, don’t hate me. But I think this might be my song for 2009. “When it gets distressing, it’s a blessing.”
Most people are starting their New Year today. I hope it is a blessed start to an adventure filled year.
Happy Monday!
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Happy New Year! I do hope that you are able to surf this adventure filled year with blessings, joy and love. Together we move toward a new horizon.
And today, we move toward our own mutterings. I still love this exercise. More than anything, I love to read what you have to say. You gift me with by playing along. Just leave your answers to these word prompts (created by LunaNina.com) in the comments.
My responses:
Happy Sunday! Happy New Year!
If you play, I’ll post your link here
Filed under: About Claudia, Meme | 20 Comments »
CHAPTER THIRTY
Tuesday Morning, 8 AM
Jacob looked across his dining table at Jill. He worried that last night’s disaster would catch up with her today.
But she seemed happy.
Her matted hair was covered in a yellow bandana which brightened her face. She was beautiful. When he came up the stairs to have breakfast with them, she and Katy cheered. Jill set out bowls for cereal then settled Katy on her booster seat.
“What cereal would you like?” Jacob asked.
“I like the one with the smiley guy on it,” Katy said.
“This one?” Jacob pointed to the box. “Captain Crunch.”
“Uncle Mike calls it ‘the Cap’n.’” Katy clapped her hands together as if she made a joke.
“You have good taste,” Jacob said. He poured her a bowl of cereal. “What would you like, Jill?”
Standing next to Katy with the milk in her hand, Jill looked up to smile at him. Her arched eyebrow sent a shiver through him.
“Mommy?”
“Just a second Katy,” Jill said. She tapped her top lip as if she was making a difficult decision. “I must decide what to have.”
“But Mommy, you have to look.”
Jill’s head jerked to Katy. After last night disaster, Jill was on alert for any potential danger. Katy pointed to an object in her cereal.
“There’s something in my cereal.”
Filed under: denver cereal | 1 Comment »
I hope your year is filled with joy an prosperity. We have such adventure in front of us : a new president, reparations of our international relationships, and economic challenges. I remain deeply grateful for the opportunity to share this time with you.
Many blessings!
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I’m not one for vacations.
Honestly, I can’t remember the last one I took.
But my kindness for this week is for myself. I’m going to take a break from the blog for a couple of days.
No drama. No problems. Just a break.
I’ve missed so much of your lives in the last year. I need to get caught up with you. That’s what I’ll do for the next few days.
I can’t think of a kinder thing to do.
Filed under: About Claudia, Kindness | 9 Comments »
“We cannot all do great things,
but we can do small things with great love.”
–Mother Theresa of Calcutta
The coming years are going to require greatness from each of us. I plan to focus on all the tiny acts I can do with great love. How about you!?
Happy Monday!
Filed under: Inspiration | 4 Comments »
Our holiday was quiet, warm and fun. Truly perfect. How was your holiday? I hope you had a delicious time.
What are you wishing for this new year?
One of my wishes is the continuation of our on-going community activity - Unconscious Mutterings (created by Luna Nina). Please do play by leaving your answers to these word prompts in the comments. I will link to your site! 
My responses:
Happy Sunday! Happy New Year! Thanks for playing!
Who played? Well, I’ll tell you:
Filed under: About Claudia, Meme | 18 Comments »
“I’m sorry,” Jacob said. “I’m not sure what you’re saying.”
“Mr. Ashforth states that you attacked him in his office. He states…,” the Denver Police Detective read from a piece of paper. “He states that you threatened his children and wife. He claims that you were out of control, wild eyed, and so violent that he felt he must stop you before you reached your car.”
“Or what?” Jacob asked.
Jacob looked over to at his lawyer, Samantha Hargreaves. She shook her head slightly as if this was to be expected.
“It’s our understanding that you have a black belt in a martial art and certainly we know that you are wealthy. He states that he felt you were a danger to his family and the community.”
“In the first place,” Samantha said, “a black belt doesn’t mean anything. I have a couple myself. Unless you can prove that my client was an immediate danger to specific persons, you have to let this drop. Jacob Marlowe was attacked by Mr. Ashforth, from behind I might add, after he terminated his contract with Ashforth Pipe Supply. You should be prosecuting Mr. Ashforth, not vice versa.”
“This has become a major departmental situation, Ms. Hargreaves. Mr. Ashforth was wounded by two Denver Police Officers,” the police detective said. “These officers are currently suspended from duty while we investigate. It’s important that we pursue every line of inquiry.”
“He was shot?”
“Yes, Mr. Marlowe,” the detective said.
“I don’t remember any of that,” Jacob said.
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Today, more than any day of the year, it’s worth taking a look happiness.
Decades of happiness research are clear. Happiness is created when we:
1. Know what we want
2. Believe we can achieve it
3. And are able to do the work to make it happen.
So why aren’t people happier??
I’ve posted videos from Dr. Dan Gilbert before. (link) This is a brand new video where Dan Gilbert discusses the struggle to accurately evaluate value. Thus, we tend to make choices that don’t make us happy.
Dr. Gilbert speaks for 24 minutes, then there is a good question and answer after that. This entire video is 33 minutes long. But hey, it’s Friday. And a holiday in the United States.
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Whether you celebrate Chanuka, Kwanza, Christmas, Ramadan, the Solstice or the simply joy of the day,
may you and yours be showered with blessings in the year ahead.
Filed under: Thoughts on being human.... | 10 Comments »
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