suegraber's Blog

Hi Ladies...

Over the long holiday weekend, I was able to spend one day JUST with my mom; every time I go "home" I feel so at peace in my life. My mom is still living out in the country and thankfully is healthy enough to take care of a very large yard with a garden and flowers everywhere. We always "reminesce" when I am there, sharing memories from all my growing up years. Much has happened, some very happy things and some very sad things, but together we encourage each other and find the blessings to be thankful for in every circumstance.

I miss the stories my Dad would always tell whenever I went home....he loved people and was always known for his "stories." When my parents were first married, they lived in a house without a bathroom. My mom showed me a picture in the "Reminesce" magazine of the way she used to get a perm: seriously, it was like hooking yourself up to a large machine and "frying" your hair!! We both had to laugh.

Life really was much simpler then. All the technology we have today is wonderful but every now and then I long for the "good old days" when pretty much everything in life was very simple. Time was spent working hard and then spending time with loved ones....not to say we don't work hard or spend time with our family today....but we have so many distractions....Sometimes I just long for the "good old days!"

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Edited by suegraber at 07/07/2009 10:52 AM EDT

January 1 -- AGAIN -- every year at this time I get so excited. For some reason, I feel that if I start a new habit, a new eating plan, a new "anything" on the 1st of the year or 1st of the month or even the 1st of the week, it's more likely to work!! However, I've finally come to realize that every minute of every day is really a new beginning, a fresh start....I'm not going to beat myself up if I go over my planned
caloric intake for one day, fail to exercise, journal, or whatever else my "resolution" might be. It's my desire rather than I will make a decision each day as to the priorities that I need to address, and when "life happens", I simply will smile knowing it is to be expected. I will never give up in following the dreams I know God has placed in my heart. Blessings will always come, even amidst trials and tribulations. I am so thankful for this new year and excited about what God has planned for me!

Ever since I have been welcomed into the world of network marketing I have heard these two little words which are really so powerful.....Doing a "little something every day" and never giving up...regardless of what it is in your life...can make such a huge difference. It gets you into a habit -- a good habit -- of being disciplined enough to know that each day you must do SOMETHING!! And, the secret of getting ahead is getting started! SO WHAT DO YOU NEED TO GET STARTED WITH TODAY? Give it a whirl....Jump in with both feet and do the same thing tomorrow, and the next day....Soon it will be so natural and you will feel so good about being so disciplined!! The results will come if you don't give up!

I heard a great message today that has given me a lot to think about. The reference was from the Bible (Ecclesiastes) and was about King Solomon who had much wealth, more than probably we can even imagine....However, he reminds us that all of this is really meaningless and doesn't satisfy the soul. It is like "chasing the wind" -- Is what you are pursuing in life really "satisfying your soul"? Stop living for the things "under the sun" that can't satisfy your soul. Don't wait for someone to love you first or to deserve your love -- love unconditionally...Start living for what lasts...FAITH - HOPE - LOVE.. God has the power to change our lives...It's never too late to choose love...Relationships are more important than "things"....Eternity is forever. Live for the things that are eternal.

I was blessed to be able to spend time with all 3 of my daughters yesterday (as well as my husband, 2 sons-in-law, and little grandson). Each year I realize more and more what a gift my family is -- both my immediate family and my extended family. Right now my mom is going through some serious health concerns. My sister and I have been taking turns staying with her as she is not able to be totally on her own.....She spent "years" taking care of my dad and never complained..... She is grieving still over his passing last year as they were a couple who totally were there for each other for almost 62 years.

Today, I'm asking for prayers for my mom as she will be seeing a lung specialist on Wed morning....Several weeks ago she fell and since then she has developed an inflammation of the lniing around her heart, pneumonia, and now just isn't recovering from the pneumonia as fast as she should. Praying that the specialist will be able to help her and get her on the road to recovery. More than anything I am praying that she feels the peace in knowing she is loved greatly by God and family/friends -- that she will continue to be the "fighter" that she has always been.....

My heart is breaking as I ask also for prayers for a young family who last week experienced an accident where the mom and 3 little ones were hit broadside by another vehicle. Two of the children were killed (age 5 and 5 months) -- the mom is in critical condition and they believe the other child (3) will survive.......As I was enjoying my children yesterday, I couldn't help but have a "lump" in my throat for this family who on Mother's Day the mom lay in the hospital not even knowing she had lost her two precious little angels.....I hugged all of my family just a little tighter yesterday.... reminding myself just how precious life is.... reminding myself to live each day being the best person I can be -- loving others unconditionally, trying harder to be patient and kind.....letting go of the little things that normally may irritate me ......

Thanks in advance for praying for these special people......

Sue

It's been several months since I've been on the site to blog....I realize how much I miss not expressing myself through my blogs... A lot has happened this past week. My mom was taken by ambulance to the hospital last week, thinking she was having a heart attack; as it turns out, it is inflammantion of the lining around her heart, but still very concerned for her and asking for prayers for a complete recovery for her. This is a hard time of the year for her; my brother's birthday would have been yesterday; he died at age 40 almost 15 years ago already. She recently had to say goodbye to my dad as well....Time does heal to a certain degree but the emptiness is always present when we need to say goodbye "for now"; I've learned that it's okay to grieve, it's okay to care, and it's okay to talk about that person that we miss. By not allowing others to keep these special loved ones in their thoughts, we are acting as though they didn't exist -- or didn't matter. I think sometimes we are uneasy ourselves -- don't know what to say - so we say nothing -- I believe we ALL need to be more compassionate, more caring, more loving, less judgmental..... showing unconditional love and acceptance..... Thanks for all of you who believe in the power of prayer and are praying for my mom. It's the best gift ever.

My heart is very heavy tonight as I am watching a young couple grieve over their baby; what went wrong ? She carried the baby to full term and then having it not survive; no answers yet.... So many of us take so much for granted when we are able to conceive a baby, carry it to term and have all that joy that comes with childbirth and a new miracle of life. But sometimes it doesn't turn out that way....no matter how positive you may be, there are trials in life. I know that we grow stronger by the challenges we face, and I know God loves and cares about what we are going through. Hopefully, compassion can shine through each of us when someone like this is placed in our path. Loving others through the tough times is I know what we are meant to do... Don't avoid others who are experiencing pain, but rather embrace and love them through it.

Today our little 10-month old grandson reminded me to look at the simplest things and smile. His mommy and daddy didn't put up a Christmas tree this year for obvious reasons; thus, he loves coming to Grandpa & Grandma's house so he can enjoy those little "extras" -- He spent so much time just looking at and trying to touch the lights on t\he tree, pulling off a few red Christmas bulbs and just "oohing and "aahing" over the tree in general. He has just as much fun pushing a box around on the carpet as playing with a lot of the fancy, expensive toys that are out there....My husband and I, too, have really been humbled these past few years after his downsizing and some health concerns, I've had, that we really are "okay" without so much of the materialistic things in life and it's not necessary to spend excess $ on Christmas gifts; we enjoyed so much more our Thanksgiving this year with our kids helping feed the homeless downtown and just spending time together. .... Regardless of what the media and society in general might try and convince us of....simple is good.....relationships come first....and a smile cane come through by just staring at a lit up Christmas tree and just enjoying the beauty of the season.

As I watched the football players on the field this afternoon training for the upcoming season, it reminded me how essential "training" is no matter what we do. Athletes in general train on a daily basis.

In order to be successful, we also need training - whether we are working in a traditional job, as an entrepreneur, in network marketing, etc -- We won't become successful overnight. We need to put into place what we have learned; we need to follow certain action steps -- we need to "train" and as we do we will become stronger and stronger -- and more successful. "Wanting" something to happen will not make it happen."Trying" is not the same as "training." By daily "training," we will gain confidence, knowledge, skills and the experience we need to move forward.

It's a great big world out there -- I marvel every day when I wake up at the beauty of all creation.... I want to be the very best that I can be so I need to be in "daily training"!!

Blessings

Sue

What are you doing "new" today to add a new "health pattern" to your life -- make the decision and like any habit, once it is followed consistently for 21 days, it will become natural to you - AND you will feel better and better as you choose healthy ways of living. It might be going to bed a little earlier to ensure that you get adequate sleep, getting that exercise routine down, drinking adequate water each day, cutting out processed foods, etc -- It's worth it!! You're worth it!!! Feel better so you can be all you were meant to be. It all starts with one little step and the commitment to follow through.


Blessings

Sue

Hi Ladies,

It's been way too long since I've blogged and some of that has to do with me feeling a bit discouraged lately. I know it's human to feel this way at times but I also know it's NOT the way I want to be.... Today I realized that the best way for me to FEEL encouraged is to encourage others. I actually had the opportunity to meet with two of my very good friends in the past few days to just catch up on a personal and business level. Both of them are going through some stressful times. After spending time with them, I was "encouraged" myself when they each sent me a note telling me how much it meant to them to have me to listen to them without judgment and just "be a friend." -- Thus, by giving them the gift of encouragement, I actually have been blessed with that myself -- knowing that "yes, it does make a difference" to be that listening ear and give that encouraging word, unconditional love, compassion etc -- I WANT to intentionally encourage someone each day --- and it feels good to be the giver!

Blessings to you all

Sue

Hi Ladies ~

I had forgotten a little bit how much patience it takes with babies/small children (actually all children!) -- but spending more time with my little 5 month old grandson this past week ( his daddy is out of town so I'm helping out a little more) - -has reminded me just how precious babies are AND how dependent on another human being for really everything. I think this little guy is going through a teething stage at present, but he really has not slept well for long periods of time too much of his life.

When I watch my daughter with him and the patience that she exhibits, even when I know she is so very tired herself, it makes me proud and also causes me to want to model that same type of quality with other people in my life, whether family or friends or even strangers --

When we are challenged in life and have lots going on, it's sometimes easy to "lose patience" -- but what a wonderful "fruit of the "spirit" to display to others -- PATIENCE!

Blessings!
Sue

I've been reading a devotional called "Listen to the Heart" which includes story meditations on the Fruits of the Spirit, one of these being LOVE.

I immediately thought about Alane Brown, one of our Braveheart Sisters and what she has recently gone through with a major surgery. It's so evident from reading the comments to her blogs just how much love she has radiated to so many women and now we have a chance to "love" her back with all our words of encouragements, prayers, etc.

Sometimes it's hard to "share" our deepest struggles, but it is so important to allow others into our lives so that they can have the "privilege" of encouraging us and building us up. I consider it at a true privilege to encourage others and especially to include Alane and her family in my prayers as they deal with this "tough time" in their life. What a blessing that God has given us each other to bear each other's burdens.

What a wonderful community of women who truly "love" one another in the tough times and the joyful ones!!

Blessings to each of you!

Hi Braveheart Sisters and Happy 4th of July!

My husband and I attended a "Tea Party" on the grounds of our State Capitol this afternoon and it was very thought provoking to hear the speakers talk about our freedom and what our founding fathers might think of what's going on right now in our country.

We were told that each of us needs to be a "Walking Declaration of Independence." We cannot become complacent, but rather be educated and knowledgeable so that we can take a stand for what we believe in. Liberty requires action. We need to be calling and writing our senators, congressmen and other government officials and speak up. We don't work for the government but rather the government should be working for us.

Freedom allows individuals and their families to pursue their own dreams and build their own lives. We have the freedom to choose what we do with our lives. What a gift this is ~~

It's important that we know what our Constitution says, and that we are willing to talk to others about freedom and what it really means to us. There's so much information that we can digest and pass on to others... Let's all do our part... and remember always to thank those men and women who are serving our country to preserve our freedom.

May God continue to bless America, the home of the free and the brave.

Sue

Why is it that we try so hard to "put on a front" for people we don't know -- we sometimes want so much to be a part of something that we pretend to be someone who we're really not. Funny thing is, by being transparent and allowing ourselves to share our "true" selves, we definitely draw people to us ~~ we are then much more approachable to others.

I'm certainly not perfect and don't pretend to be. Every valuable lesson I have learned in life has come after a struggle of some sort...but it has made me a stronger, better person. I'm realizing that by "taking off my mask" and being just me (the me God created me to be) -- I can share my struggles/weaknesses and hopefully help others to do the same. Writing about our weaknesses can really be invigorating as it helps us take that first step: admitting something that we need to change.

I have a lot of areas I need to change and it honestly does feel good to know I can admit those weaknesses here, have others share their insights, take steps to initiate change with a plan of action, and be accountable to someone.

Hopefully, you will realize that admitting your weakness is a turning point to making a change -- becoming stronger -- and helping others along the way!

Enjoy the beauty of the day BHW ~~

Sue

Hello Braveheart Sisters...

It's Monday morning, the sun is shining and there is a wonderful breeze outside....I woke up to the chirping of birds....it was wonderful to have the A.C. turned off and the windows open to breathe in all that fresh air.

I just got done having coffee with a good friend of mine who has shared some of the same challenges that I have. In fact, she was a great encourager to me as I went through my expereince with breast cancer over a year ago.... The encouragement I received from her I would like to pass on to any of you out there who are facing any kind of challenge in your life. I truly believe God places people in our paths on our journey here to be that support and encouragement that we need along the way.

Encouraging others is a gift you can give yourself. Helping lighten the burden of someone else gives a sense of peace and overall wellbeing.... Who can you encourage today? I've decided to actually write down the names of people who I KNOW need some encouragement in their lives and be purposeful in being that encourager. It really is a good feeling....

Have a wonderful day...I hope the sun is shining outside for you, and even more importantly, I hope it's shining INSIDE!

Blessings!
Sue