My Bucket List

When you are overwhelmed at work, tired of hearing the kids cry, or at odds with the hubby, it can be really hard to focus on the good little blessings in life. But as Joyce Meyer's, Christian author and speaker, says "Your future is not determined by your past or present." Look beyond today and into the future and realize that things can and will improve. There is much to look forward to.

In examining my own future, I've decided to create a "Bucket List," a list of things I would love to do before I kick the bucket. I found the little exercise inspiring because I got the opportunity to see all the wonderful opportunities for enjoyment and personal and professional growth. And it serves as a visual check-list of things I want to do with my life.

If you aren't familiar with a Bucket List, rent the movie "The Bucket List" starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson.

Curious what's on my Bucket List? Here it is goes. Hang on, it's a long list!
1. Write a book(s)
2. Write my own column
3. Write for newspapers or magazines regularly.
4. Run a successful blog (hopefully this one!) that earns money some of which will be donated to charity.
5. Provide a scholarship for a college student.
6. Go on a hot air balloon ride.
7. Go on a helicopter ride.
8. Become a mother.
9. Teach in some capacity.
10. Learn to cook better and make elaborate meals for others.
11. Be helpful at church.
12. Grow a vegetable garden.
13. Take a Gondola ride in Venice. (I was there and wouldn't you believe we couldn't do it! It was raining and hailing so they weren't in operation! So close!)
14. Be an inspiration to others.
15. Read the Bible from cover-to-cover.
16. Visit all 50 states (I've been to 21 as of 7/09)
17. Visit southern Italy.
18. Be content with myself and my life.
19. Go skydiving.
20. Go hand gliding.
21. Go to the Greek Isles.
22. See the French Riviera.
23. See the Mexican Riviera.
24. See the American Riviera.
25. Visit Yosemite National Park.
26. Visit Lake George.
27. Visit Quebec and Toronto.
28. Visit Cape Cod.
29. Visit Sweden.
30. Visit Denmark.
31. Learn more than one crochet stitch.
32. Own a dog.
33. Be a successful freelance writer.

I've got a lot to do and I plan on doing most of it if not all, God willing!

So what's on your "Bucket List?" Feel free to share it with me.

Wishing you "Blessings from Above,"

If you were blessed by this post, please leave me a comment or share it with others by clicking on the "Share" button.

Tuesday - Blessing Others - suggestions how you can be a blessing to others.

Learning is one of my favorite things to do - it's become quite a hobby actually. I've been in school in the structured school setting for my Associate, Bachelor's and Master's degree. And all the while I was taking those classes, I was taking classes for fun in my spare time. My life was and sometimes still is, one big class. Basket weaving (yes, seriously!), Financial planning, photography are among my top favorite.

After I achieved my Master's degree in Writing in May of 2007, I swore I'd never take another class. Those who know me well knew that wouldn't last long. Before I knew it I found myself in a training class to be a volunteer at a local animal shelter and I often attend trainings at my job (at a University of course!) that I am not even required to take. Then of course there are wine classes and the possibility of glass blowing courses in my future. Like I said, I really love to learn.

But what does this have to do with blessings? Well for starters, God has given me the ambition to learn new things and better myself. Without realizing it my life has really been improved because of these classes. I've made new friends, embarked on many social outings, written articles on my new found knowledge, and created beautiful things I can be proud of and pass along to future family.

I am also very future that we have access to such wonderful things in our country. Many in other areas of the world are struggling just to survive and here, I have so many things to take advantage of. I don't have a long enough life to explore all of the things that I could!

And finally, and post importantly, I blessed by those who have the knowledge and better still, are willing to share it. Today's theme is how to be a blessing to others and that's exactly how you can do it - by taking the time to share something with someone else that could ultimately help improve their lives, get a better job, or maybe just make a new friend. To you it may just be transferring knowledge from your brain to someone else's, but to someone else, that knowledge can be life alter.

And you don't need some biggie big skill to teach others. It can be a simple as teaching how to do domestic chores efficiently or grocery shopping 101. It really can help someone else. Be a blessing to others - be their teacher in some way.

Thanks to all the wonderful teachers that I've had and that are currently in my life. You are a blessing.

Wishing you "Blessings from Above,"
Denise

Dee's Blessings - Blog Blessings

Monday (ok, this is a little late!) Dee's Blessings - people who know me well call me Dee and you can too. Here you'll find the many blessings in my life in hopes of inspiring you to recognize these things, and others, in your own life.

Dee's Blessings is something I usually like to do on Mondays and in case you have't noticed, today is Tuesday. But hey, better late than never right?

This may seem like an odd thing to consider a blessing, but that's what this blog is to me for so many reasons.

• It gives me the chance to express myself
• It gives me an opportunity to write and showcase my skills
• It requires me to step up and be a better Christian by forcing me to recognize my blessings.
• It helps me to point out the blessings in others lives which hopefully impacts their lives in some way.

It's so ironic that not all that long ago I couldn't possibly understand what benefit a blog could be to me. It was only after I started playing around with one and falling upon uses for it that I found it of such value.

I love that it's such an instantaneous thing. I can have a thought and see it online immediately. It's the way to go for me. And although I still try and find writing jobs in hard copy publications, I find it frustrating. I still haven't heard from a few of the publications that I contacted last year, despite emails from the editor expressing a vague interest. At least with the blog I have control over what I do and when I do it. And this way I don't have to pester an overwhelmed editor to get my work seen by the public!

Thank God for this wonderful technology. When it is working properly and utilized properly, it really is a useful tool.

Wishing you "Blessings from Above,"
Denise

Biblical Blessings - The birth of Jesus

Today is Friday - Biblical Blessings - This will focus on blessings found throughout the Bible and how they can apply to our lives today.

While the Bible is filled with many blessings that apply to our lives today, I thought I'd focus on the birth of Jesus Christ with Easter just around the corner. That's when we lost him, but we'll focus more on that when we get closer to the holiday.

For now, let's remember just what a blessing it was for all of mankind that Jesus was born. God cared enough about us to send his one and only son to forgive us of our sins. Now we can live sin free and can have fellowship with God because of Jesus.

And think how miraculous his birth was. God planned his birth for centuries prior to it's actual happening. He orchestrated so many things it's amazing. And then he planted Jesus in a virgin, Mary, and gave her the responsibility of giving birth to him. And there was nothing King like about the night that he came into the world. He was born in a manager and didn't even have a bed to sleep in. Yet he made such an impact on the world he lived in and the rest of humanity to come. Millions and millions will have been blessed by his prescense.

Why was Jesus a blessing for me and for you?

• Now you can converse openly with God.


• Once you accept Jesus into your heart you are saved and will go to heaven to enjoy eternity with God.


• He saved us from our human sin.


• His life was an inspiration on how we should live and treat others.


• We can live because he died.

Thank God for the blessing of Jesus and all he did. We should be so thankful!

Wishing you "Blessings from Above,"
Denise

Today's Blessing Expert - Leslie Sansone

Thursday - Blessing Experts

Everyday I "walk" with Leslie Sansone to try and shed some pounds. Leslie is the creator of the Walk at Home program, a wonderful exercise routine that allows you to "walk" in the comfort of your own home. If you keep up to the pace of her music, you'll have "walked" one, two, three, or four miles in your own living room.

I love utilizing these DVD's because first, I stay in the comfort of my own home. This works out nicely when I the weather is bad, it's dark out, or I truly just don't feel like getting out of my jammies to walk outside! Second, Leslie is such an uplifting blessing to my day. She's enthusiastic and encouraging.

Leslie's Walk the Walk series is a spiritually focused workout set to positive Christian music. During the exercise routine, comprised of four basic movements, Leslie praises her Creator and counts her blessing.

So what does Leslie see as a blessing? She only says three blessings during her Walk the Walk tape (yes, I've had these tapes for a long time!), but boy they are big ones:

Her customers that walk with her - without us she wouldn't be in business and wouldn't be as successful as she is - at least not in the exercise industry.

Her health - this is truly important and is something we should all be grateful for. Your health is one of those most precious gifts you can have and often we don't realize that until we're sick. Once you become unhealthy, particularly if you have an lifelong ailment, it can make the day-to-day routine extremely difficult. Perhaps the illness keeps you from working on a regular basis or maybe it isn't life threatening, but just down right inconvenient. Either way, getting through the day can be tough. While you are healthy, enjoy every minute of it. Live your life to the fullest because you never know what our bodies have in store for us.

Her family and friends (everyone you love) - it's smart of Leslie to recognize that the people she holds most dear are a blessing. They'll be there during your darkest hour and will help you when you just need a little lift. They are the people that are most likely to stick with your through thick-and-thin. Don't take them for granted. They are important and they can be gone in a flash.

Leslie is a wise woman and I am blessed every time I workout to her DVD. She truly is a blessing in my life. She's helped me lose weight in the past and she's working with me again to lose what I gained in recent years from medication.

Check out her website if you have time. Leslie is bound to be a blessing to you too!
Blessings!
Denise

Blessings Inspirations - Psalm 128:2

Wednesday - Blessing Inspirations - a look at Bible verses and quotes on the topic of Blessings.

I love what Psalm 128:2 in the National International Version (NIV) of the Bible says. It reads:

"You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours."
- The Bible (NIV version)

I believe that verse is saying to us that if we work hard at whatever we are doing we will be blessed in many ways and will really enjoy those blessings. As my previous Pastor, Pastor Russ, use to say, "Bloom where you are planted," meaning that we should work hard at whatever we are doing and do it well. As we can see the Bible says, in so many words or less, work hard and God will reward you.

I can see this reflected in my own life as I've worked hard at establishing a new home within the last few years, I've gone on to obtain a Master's degree in Writing, I've worked hard at establishing relationships at church and on my job, and I've taken on the role as a wife. After approaching these things with positiveness and determination (most of the time anyway!) God has blessed my with a wonderful part-time job at a local university that I've always wanted to work at, has given me the time to start on a new goal of freelance writing, has provided me with many new and wonderful friends, and has given me a really great marriage.

What things have God rewarded you with for all your labor? Do an inventory and I bet you will see a lot of things God has done for you.

Wishing you "Blessings from Above,"
Denise

Blessings Others - Dog Sledding

Tuesday - Blessing Others

I've been away for several days in the Poconos Mountains in Pennsylvania so I haven't been able to blog for a while. That's ok though. I had a great trip and was richly blessed while I was away. This works nicely since Tuesdays are "Blessings Others" day on my blog.

While Nick and I were away we did several fun activities including snowmobiling and dog sledding - that latter being my favorite! What a wonderful thing to do that you can't find every where. When I found out they run a business at the Pocono Manor Inn Resort, I just had to do it. Sure it was a little pricey but that didn't matter to me. And I am glad we did it! We were blessed to have had the chance.

Seven sweet Siberian Husky dogs and their owners took us out on the snowy terrain for a fun-filled ride that lasted a little over an hour. We heard a little bit about the dog's past and had fun watching as their owners picked one-by-one who would be the lucky ones that would have the honor pulling our sled. Each howled and scratched their paws in the snow to signal they wanted to be one of the chosen ones.

After all six runners were in place, the lead dog took his place in the very front to do the leading, but not before checking out who was part of the pack! He checked everyone out to see who he was leading.

Not only were we blessed by this wonderful experience and these sweet dogs, we were blessed by an act of kindness from the owners of the business. You see, the day we went, the sun was shining and it was 50 degrees. Much of the snow had started to melt affecting our ride and slowing down the dogs. Although we weren't complaining a bit, the owners felt bad and decided to give us a free ride next season. How very nice! We'll remember them and surely go back.

They blessed in a tremendous way by giving us memories and by offering a chance to make more memories, free of charge. See? Small acts of kindness is all it takes.

Next Tuesday we'll take a look at identifying ways to bless others.

Wishing you "Blessings from Above,"
Denise

Charles Dickens was a wise man. Long before I ever started this blog, Blessings from Above, and before I was even a twinkle in my parents eye, Dickens knew the premise of what I am saying - looking for the blessings in your life. He said,

"Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many - not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some”

This is so true. Everyone, men and women, have problems in their life. That's unavoidable. Inevitably you'll have health issues because of your environment or genes. Financial problems will come you way. Your job will give you a hard time. It's just the way it is. But don't focus on solely on these issues. Look for the good in your world.

Wishing you "Blessings from Above,"
Denise

A Schedule for my blog, "Blessings from Above"

As I delve deeper into this new world (it's new for me anyway) of blogging, I am learning quite a bit as I go along. I've read more blogs than I can remember and have been reading "Clear Blogging," by Bob Walsh which I'd highly recommend if you are new to blogging (and even if you are experienced!)

Much of what I've read and seen says it's important to set up a schedule for everyday of the week rather than just posting things at random. So here goes....this is what you'll now find on Blessings from Above:

Monday - Dee's Blessings - people who know me well call me Dee and you can too. Here you'll find the many blessings in my life in hopes of inspiring you to recognize these things, and others, in your own life.

Tuesday - Blessing Others - suggestions how you can be a blessing to others.

Wednesday - Blessing Inspirations - Insightful quotes, Bible verses, and poems on the topic of Blessings.

Thursday - Blessing Experts - here's where I will share with you what Christian leaders, authors, musicians, and speakers, have to say on blessings. My post about Joel Osteen would fall under this category.

Friday - Biblical Blessings - This will focus on blessings found throughout the Bible and how they can apply to our lives today.

Saturday and Sunday - A breather from the week with an occasional posting - anything goes on the weekend!

Enjoy!
Wishing you "Blessings from Above,"
Denise

Joel Osteen Says Bless Others

Joel Osteen, a Christian author and Pastor of Lakewood church, a church with 38,000 people in attendance every week, recently published the book Become a Better You. You can get it in most bookstores or online as an audio version through iTunes as I did. Everyday, Joel and I work out together while he ministers to me.

In the chapter titled "Being good to people," Joel suggests waking up and not only looking for blessings in our lives, but to be a blessing to others. He believes that you'll end up with so many blessings of your own, you won't know what to do with them all. His thought it that if you bless others, God will bless you.

And it doesn't have to be some monumental thing. Simply holding the door open for someone else or complimenting them can be a blessing to them.

Joel is right. We're all on this merry go around of life together so why be so selfish or self-centered? Why not help someone else along the way?

In an effort to walk the walk, I stopped to talk to a person I know from church in the supermarket. I don't know her real well, but that doesn't matter. I knew she was new to our church and I wanted to make her feel welcome. I even complimented her on her newly done hairdo which looked particularly good that day. Hopefully I brought cheer to her day in some way.

Give it a try. See how many ways you can bless others and then take note of all the wonderful things God does for you as a result.

Wishing you "Blessings from Above,"
Denise

Cardinal Blessings

This past Thursday, February 21st, 2008, I put a post on how to recognize a blessing: slow down, take it one thing at a time, and write down all the good things that have happened to you.

Now I'd like to share in this posts, and in future posts, the many blessings that I've recognized in my life that you may not think of as a blessing.

I love the color red. Anything red catches my attention. So, it was no surprise, when I opened up my bathroom window while my bath water was running, I saw a pair of red cardinals sitting in a a leafless tree on our property. My bathroom is on the second floor and sits up pretty high. The tree itself has grown pretty tall as well making it as high as our house. The two birds, male and female, were perfectly placed just outside my window. One was facing me and the other was facing the other direction. But, both were in my line of site. I know they were perfectly placed there by God for me to admire. Fortunately, I noticed them. Sometimes it only takes a minute to appreciate these little things. Had I been rushing around like I often do, I probably would have missed them.

What piece of God's art work have you noticed lately?

Wishing you "Blessings from Above,"
Denise

Wear Sunscreen by Mary Schmich

When I found this little book written by Mary Schmich, I was thrilled. It includes the lyrics to a very short-lived song, by Baz Luhrmann, that I think we could all stand to hear. It offers basic advice in life that we should all live by. Thank God for these talented writers and singers for bringing the words before us.

Again, these are lyrics, as written by Mary Schmich in her book Wear Sunscreen. All the credit goes to her. Enjoy!

Wear Sunscreen

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.
The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.
I will dispense that advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth.
Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded.
But trust me, in twenty years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.
You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future.
Or worry,
but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.
The real troubles in your life
are apt to be things
that never crossed
your worried mind,
the kind that blindside you at
four p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you.
Sing.
Don't be reckless with other people's hearts.
Don't put up with other people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.
Don't waste your time on jealousy.
Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind.
The race is long, and
in the end,
it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive.
Forget the insults.
If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters.
Throw away your old bank statements.
Streeeetch

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life.
The most interesting people I know didn't at twenty-two what they wanted to do with their lives.
Some of the most interesting forty-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium.
Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't.
Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't.
Maybe you'll divorce at forty, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on y our seventy-fifth wedding anniversary.

Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either.
Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body.
Use it every way you can.
Don't be afraid of it or what other people think of it.
It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.
Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines.
They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents.
You never know when they'll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings.
They're your best link to your past
and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends
come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on.

Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle
because the older you get,
the more you need the people
who knew you
when you were young.

Live in New York City
once,
but leave
before it makes you hard.

Live in Northern California
once,
but leave
before it makes you soft.
Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths:
Prices will rise.
Politicians will philander.
You, too, will get old.

And you do,
you'll fantasize that when you were young,
prices were reasonable,
politicians were noble,
and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you.
Maybe you have a trust fund.
Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse.
But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair
or by the time you're forty it will look eighty-five.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patience with those who supply it.
Advice is a form of nostalgia.
Dispensing it is a way of
fishing the past from the disposal,
wiping it off,
painting over the ugly parts, and
recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

By Mary Schmich

How-to Recognize Blessings

It's easy in the everday scheme of things to get lost in all the hussle and bussle, making it difficult to recognize the blessings that exist in our lives. So how do we go about it? Here are a few easy tips:

• Slow down - for whatever reason the world has programmed us to believe that we must do things at lightening speed. Well I am here to tell you that that really isn't necessary. If something, short of providing life saving medication, doesen't get done, I promise life will go on. We need to slow down and stop barreling through life to see things a little better, including blessings.

• Take it one thing at a time - we're surely going to miss a blessing if we're talking on the phone while checking our email, or driving while text messaging (which I DO NOT support by the way!). If you are a multi-tasker and the thought of slowing down the pace to doing one thing at a time drives off a bridge, give it a try at least once in a while. You'll feel less stressed and your mind will be clearer to pick up on the nice little things that God does for you that you may not realize.

• Write down all the good things that have happened to you - choose a time period, whether it be a day, a week or a month, and just write down every good thing that happened to you. The visual list may help you to stop dwelling on the bad and start focusing on the good. You'd be surprised at how many good things are in your life. Start zeroing in on these things and spend time enjoying them.

Look for my list of blessings, coming as a post sometime soon.

Wishing you "Blessings from Above!"
Denise

Transportation

My husband and I have a Corvette that we've always wanted. Not because of how nice it looks or how fast it goes, but because of the places it takes it. We love all our cars for the same reason. They give us independance.

Because of our cars we can:

• Go places we wouldn't get to go otherwise


• See family and friends we wouldn't be able to see.


• Learn new things


• Get goods for our everyday lives that we wouldn't get near our home.

As much upkeep as cars and other modes of transportation can require sometimes like oil changes, keeping pressure in the tires, and other bigger maintenance jobs. It's worth it for the freedome we get from cars. Next time you are at the gas pump stressing over the cost of gas, be thankful for the car that God gave you. It's really a great invention.

Wishing you "Blessings from Above,"
Denise

Deuteronomey 28:1-14

The Bible mentions "blessings" repeatedly. I love Deuteronomey 28:1-14 - I think it in itself is a blessing! Enjoy the verse below.

Deuteronomy 28:1-14
1 If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: 3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. 4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock--the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. 5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. 6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. 7 The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. 8 The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. 9 The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in his ways. 10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you. 11 The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity--in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground--in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you. 12 The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. 13 The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. 14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.

Got your health? You got it all

Two years ago I suffered from depression. I'd swing back and forth between high panic attacks that had me pacing the floor to low depression that prevented me from getting out of bed some days. It was scary and lonely. I thought for sure I was losing my mind.

Fortunately with the help of intelligent doctors, much needed medication, and of course, prayer, I am better. Ok, I have my days - we all do, but now I can step back and smell the roses, as they say, a little more. I have more of a "just do it" attitude because I can do it. If I feel up to it I might as well visit that attraction I've been interested in seeing, tackle that hobby I've been curious about, make a new friend, since there was a time I couldn't. That horrible time in my life has helped me to appreciate life, and my health, so much more.

Wishing you good health and "Blessings from Above,"
Denise

Tapper II

Those who know me, know I LOVE my precious, Tapper, a sweet fuzzy little bunny rabbit, so it's no surprise that I am writing about him for a second time. And I hate to say it, but you'll be hearing about him again and again.

I can't help it. He makes me laugh and cheers me up when I am feeling a little down. I mean, how many rabbits do you know of that hop up on the couch or jump in the toilet just to see what's in there? Rabbits don't take baths so you can imagine his reaction that first time when he felt water on his fur. He jumped out just as fast as he jumped in the toilet and let me tell ya, there was water everywhere as he tried to shake it off him. Then there was the "puberty period" when he found "romance" on my wrist, my bathrobe, a decorative teddy bear and just about anything he could climb up on. Boy does his tail wiggle fast when he is excited!

Of course it is so sweet when I make kissy noises which prompts him to lick my face, my nose, my arm or whatever. He almost does it on command now. And then there is the bunny sprints and leaps he does in the air when he is out of his cage having a good time.

Tapper is such a joy to have around. He really brightens my day. I have an angel living in my house and he has fur!

Wishing you "Blessings from Above,"
Denise

Lost skills found

I always get upset over my paternal grandmother moving and then passing away so early on in my life. She was an Italian woman with a lot of talents. She could cook a delicious meal for an army in a half-an-hour or less and I still have all the blankets she crocheted and the Christening gown she made for me 33 years ago. Not only do I miss her, but I feel like I could have learned so many of these wonderful things from her in my adult years.

Three years ago this March I took on a new job at a local University. I thought the only benefit was going to be earning cash to pay the bills. It turned out to be much more than that. I make money, friends, and learn new things to help me in my job and my personal life.

Three of my co-workers and I have become good friends. We've spent many evenings in the Sahm Craft studio eating, drinking wine, and learning new things. They've taught me all kinds of things from creating beautiful stained glass pieces, to scrap booking techniques, and crocheting. Not only do I bond and make memories with them, I am able to learn the things that my grandmother was never able to teach me and turn around and use it for good. Right now I am crocheting a blanket to keep the animals warm at the animal shelter and I hope to teach others my new skill when I get a little better at it.

Wishing you "Blessings from Above,"
Denise

Bibles

There are six Bibles in my house and only two people live here. Think how fortunate we are to have one Bible, let alone six. People in other countries are often persecuted if found with God's Word. Add to that the fact that I can read it because of a good education and have the willingness to accept what it says, you can see how lucky I am.

Although I've yet to read the Bible from cover-to-cover yet, I plan on it. For now, I read it in bits and pieces, grateful for it's words. A verse that I came upon recently is a favorite: "The Lord bless you all the days of your life." Psalm 128.5 I truly wish that for you and your family (and mine too!)

Wishing you "Blessings from Above,"
Denise

Steven Curtis Chapman

Steven Curtis Chapman, a Christian singer, is one of me and my husband Nick's favorite singers. His songs are always upbeat and positive. For Nick's birthday I bought him Chapman's new CD and surprised him with tickets to his concert a few weeks later. While we were at the concert, Chapman talked about adoption, a topic close to his heart since he adopted several Chinese girls. During the show, he casually asked that we drop change in designated buckets if we wanted to - all proceeds would go towards adoptions. What we didn't know until the end of the concert was that the money we raised that night would go to a family in Lancaster, PA (where the concert was) that Chapman had already selected. They had applied for his grant that would help them with the fees of adopting their baby boy and show-goers would be a part of helping. Chapman brought the couple, their children, and the one month old on stage and announced that we helped to raise $2,000 that night. Chapman would do the rest.

Not only was I impressed with Chapman's singing, I was impressed by his compassion. I felt touched that night as I realized that there are still caring people in the world. Now that baby boy has a family - now that's a blessing.

Wishing you "Blessings from Above,"
Denise