When It's Time To Accept The Change Of The Seasons

This past weekend was more difficult than I expected. It has been almost 10 years since I founded my floral design company. This business was truly a work of the heart as I built it from the ground up, mostly by word-of-mouth. Those personal referrals were the best. I had never been formally trained in flowers, but I realized quickly that I loved working with them. What better job than designing a masterpiece out of God's beautiful creations? But as my husband and I welcomed more children into the family, my time became limited, and instead of enjoying my life as a mom, I was becoming frustrated with the little ones and frustrated with my lack of time to design flowers. I shouldn't be surprised anymore by God's sense of humor, because just when my business was exploding, I decided through many hard lessons, that it was time to close the doors. I needed to focus on the little ones and their needs above the needs of my brides. These days and years are just so short, I don't want to miss these crazy moments!

I truly admire the women who can do it all - the family, the career, the social life, and personal time, but I am just not one of those women. I can definitely stretch myself thin and still survive, but I don't want that type of life. So I have learned that through every phase in life, it is time to accept some things and give up others and right now I choose to give up my entrepreneurial aspirations for my family - except my writing, I need my writing! It was difficult to let go, especially since I can be a controlling person, but I can always start up the company again in the future. Nothing needs to be final, after all, there are so many phases in life. Just like the season for apple picking (which we did over the weekend). All fruits and vegetables have their own special seasons, so do the seasons of our lives. Change is good - it's just difficult to accept sometimes!

It was difficult for me to give up a company I had worked so hard to grow, but it was time. I can still get my flower design fix by creating arrangements for our church, but I do have a sense of relief that there will be no more weddings in my near future. Instead, I will have much more time with the family, sewing my quilts (a hobby I haven't tapped into for many years), time for school functions, church events, and of course, my writing. Ultimately, if I am not working towards the good of my entire family, then I am working towards nothing, because my greatest gifts are my husband and my children and if I don't treasure them first, then nothing else matters.

Please Excuse My Social Absence

            It’s not you, it’s me. No, really, it’s me. My famous last words, or more like my personal motto for the past several years – one that I was not always proud of, but one that I have learned to accept. As a mother of four children, my schedule has changed quite drastically since the birth of baby #1. With the first two children, life was relatively carefree. "Carefree" in a loose definition of the word. Yes, there were struggles; I learned how to breastfeed my babies, while also adjusting to the lack of sleep, but for the most part, life was simple. There was still plenty of time to meet friends for morning coffee, lunch, and even pedicures. It was relatively easy to find a babysitter for two kids, or even bring them along. But as each beautiful new baby joined our family, adjustments were made and it became difficult for me with four little ones to accept social invitations.

            Everyday tasks that had once been easy, now needed much more planning and occupied double the time with four children at my heels. I wanted desperately to visit with friends and have non-interrupted moments while discussing a book in a mom’s group, but this was not my world any longer and I needed to accept it. I dreamed of a night out with my friends, sans kids. It wasn’t easy to put myself first anymore, actually there was no time for myself, especially with an on-demand nursing baby. I always had good intentions, but when the clock started ticking and it was only an hour or two before meeting friends, I was just too exhausted. It sounded more enticing to get these little ones to bed and enjoy a quiet evening home with my husband. It’s not you, it’s me.

There reaches a point in every mom’s life when it is no longer easy to leave the house with those little bundles of joy. For some moms, the magic number might be one, for others it might be three, but for me it was four. I am still in awe of those supermoms who take all five children out for dinner. I salute, YOU! I just wasn’t one of those supermoms and the thought of bringing my four children, three of them rambunctious boys, out to a girls' lunch felt like a daunting task. So I decided it was best not to risk the potential failure.

It wasn’t easy for me to pass on these social invitations. Those “good times” with my friends had at one time been memorable, now I just couldn’t get myself out the front door. Caring for my wonderful children all day long was exhausting and there was very little energy to muster up for myself. I was upset at myself that I couldn’t juggle it all. Why didn’t my little ones want to spend a quiet morning at the coffee shop nibbling on a pastry? Then I had an awakening – I wanted to stay home with my little family. I preferred to stay home and make breakfast with those little happy faces rather than getting everyone packed up and to the coffee shop by 8:00 a.m.

            So for all of those frustrated women that rarely see their “mom friends". It really, truly isn’t you, it’s just the way of motherhood. Don’t stop the invitations, because one day, that mom will be able to find the energy after a long day and sleepless night to spend much needed time with her close friends. She will finally find a night to have a little bit of “me time.”

Friendship may be a two-way street, but my children bring an entirely different perspective. There will be one day when I can fulfill each one of those social obligations that I once loved, but for now I am quite content spending these fleeting moments with my children while they are still young. I don't want to miss these carefree days of childhood.

    

The Innocence of Motherhood

I watch my seven year old daughter everyday as she tries to do everything "mother-like", as she talks about becoming a mom one day. This firecracker child of mine describes into great detail how she will organize her children's playroom, or what food she will cook for them and I can't help but smile. I love the innocence. Looking back, I had this same innocence at her age. I loved the thought of staying home and caring for my family. Of course, I had no idea what was truly involved with this scenario, but I was just like her - dreaming of motherhood. I would play house everyday, even several times a day, with my younger brothers. I was always the mother, just like my little girl.

Megan Ramminger Photography

Now, as I watch her play and talk about being a mom, I realized that I have tainted my own idea of motherhood and I need to return to those innocent days. Not that it will ever be the same as "playing house", but why can't I have fun daydreaming about my children's future playroom in the house we are going to build, or why can't I love to cook dinner, just like I did when I was 14 years old? Life doesn't have to be full of meaningless and dreadful tasks. Instead of shuddering at the thought of doing a load of laundry or making beds, I need to go back to those days of innocence.

The horrors of the world and adulthood may have tainted my view of motherhood for a bit, but it won't take precedence anymore. I am determined to go back to those beautiful days of motherhood. This approach won't make my work load any lighter, but it will make it more enjoyable for myself and my family. So instead of allowing myself to get caught up in this fast-paced world, I am choosing to spend my moments with my family. This beautiful innocence of motherhood will now be part of my life once again.

Instagram @daniellemarieangelina

I Am Living the American Dream

No matter what any celebrity, politician, or media source may want me to believe, I truly am living the American Dream. This might not be the same dream my grandparents sought after or even the dream from the Baby Boomers Generation, but this is my dream. Not everyone's dream is the same, and this is what makes America great. Unfortunately, many Americans are searching for a superficial dream. At one time, parents worked to create a better life for their children. A life where their children would develop an understanding of moral and natural law. A life where their children would glow with pride at the sight of the American Flag - true model citizens.  Those dreams didn't involve new sports cars, designer clothing, and countless extracurricular sports activities. Parents were not so much worried about raising sensitive toddlers, rather their goal was to raise independent, strong, and responsible adults for the good of society.

Now that the "American Dream" has changed to unrealistic proportions, people automatically assume that it is dead, but this is far from the truth. The concepts of beauty and truth have become clouded to most of society. Instead of searching for everlasting forms of happiness, many people search for fleeting moments of happiness, whether that's a new car, the latest IPhone, a designer pair of shoes, giving into the Starbucks addiction, overnight celebrity status, laying around on a couch taking selfies,or fulling a personal void of loneliness with extravagant vacations. There is nothing wrong with these luxuries, as long as they are accepted in moderation. Our lives are not meant to be one long vacation. To earn these vacations and overpriced coffees, we must be willing to work for them.  If you believe these items fulfill your American Dream, then you are a bit misguided. It will be very difficult to find true happiness and inner peace with these destructible goods - you will never have enough.

If we begin to live like generations past, we will find the American Dream. My husband and I are living our American Dream. Is life perfect? Absolutely not, but who's life is? Instead of living for ourselves, we are living for our children. Family is what matters. We can't take any of these items with us when we die, but we can leave bits of ourselves with our children. Small precious memories that they can pass on to their children. Memories of having a water balloon fight in summer, growing a garden together, baking cookies, and writing thank you letters for birthday presents - these are small pieces of a bigger puzzle. Children will lose count of how many presents they open or how many shopping trips they make take, but they will never forget memories. This to me is the American Dream.

I am blessed with a beautiful life. After graduating from college and then working as a Paralegal, I stayed home after my husband and I had baby #1. What an amazing opportunity I was given. During that same time I also owned and operated three small businesses, wrote and had my first book published with my best friend, all while raising my children at home. Even through all those great experiences, I realized that I only wanted to be home with the little ones. I wanted my children to become model citizens, who work to better this beautiful country not only for themselves, but for everyone and for future generations. I am living my American Dream.

Not all of us have the same dream. Some Americans work extremely hard each day to further a corporate career, or run a small business, while others are striving to make ends meet at a minimum wage job. No matter or position in life, we can all strive for the American Dream. Very few women around the world are given any of those opportunities, they are trying to survive each day by getting food on the table for their family. We have been blessed with so much in America, but if our dream has become superficial and based upon personal achievements and money, then we are destined for failure, because true and everlasting happiness can never be bought. The beauty of the American Dream lies in our hearts. We choose what paths to follow, and we must live with those consequences. Don't waste a precious moment. Life is too short. Start creating your American Dream!

For the Love of Cooking

Cooking did not always come natural for me. I learned to cook from my Grandmother, Mother, and Great-Grandmother, but that didn't mean I loved doing it. Cooking dinner every night came out of necessity to feed our growing family. Simple, right? Well, it isn't so simple for an A-type personality who strives to achieve perfection. I begrudging made dinner every night and it was pretty much the same dinners in a constant rotation. For some reason, I thought that a love for cooking should come as natural as my unconditional love for my children. Well, let's just say that I came to instantly love my little babies, but cooking was an on-going love/hate struggle for many years, until I decided to make a change...

My true love is baking. My sweet tooth always gets the better of me. There's something magical and comforting about delicately drizzled chocolate over a piece of homemade cheesecake, or a moist cupcake with buttercream frosting so smooth that it melts in your mouth. For some reason it was hard for me to appreciate the art of cooking as much as I loved baking.

Something changed after baby #2, after so many years of assuming that cooking was just not my forte. I realized that it was my own fault that I was not enjoying this art. I had never learned to love the act of cooking. Instead of understanding why I was cooking, I was making it a sterile habit. My change of heart happened one night after I tried a few new recipes from a magazine I had saved months before, but didn't want to try and fail (a bad trait of my choleric temperament). The entire process of making the dinner was actually relaxing, something I would've never imagine. My husband truly enjoyed the meal and continued to compliment me throughout the night and my low self-esteem in regards to cooking was began to disappear.

I enjoy being a stay at home my with my little ones. I even enjoy doing the daily chores around the house - it's an act of devotion that helps our family unit remain organized, so there was no reason for me not to enjoy making breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Just as I nursed all my babies, and did it as an act of love for them, so I should view cooking. It was my own fault if I lived the rest of my life being only a mediocre cook.

By no means have I become an award winning chef, but I love the challenge of trying new recipes, even if they don't always turn out perfect, at least my husband is a good sport. And I do have plenty of days when I am just not in the mood to cook, so I choose something easier and remind myself that I am doing this for the love of my family and that I am very blessed to have such a beautiful family.


"Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it." ~ Julia Child


My favorite 30 minute roll recipe

Here is the original recipe, I just tweaked it a bit. 

1 egg
1/3 cup of olive oil
1 c 4 tbsp of warm water

2 tbsp of active dry yeast
3 1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar

Heat oven 400 degrees and move rack to the middle of oven

Combine water, oil, and yeast in mixer bowl. Let sit until the yeast bubbles (about 15 minutes).

Use a bread hook for the mixer and slowly add the egg, flour, sugar, and salt. Mix for about 2 minutes until smooth. 

Roll into balls and place in pan, but leave several inches between each roll so they can rise before being placed into the oven. Let them rest for 12 minutes. Depending on the size of the balls, bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown. Enjoy! 

30 Minute Rolls

Contentment is Not a Bad Word

Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and exhale. What are you missing in your life? I'm not asking what specific items you are missing, because we all have those moments of losing the keys, misplacing the cell phone, or forgetting to put socks on the two year old. No, I'm asking what you are missing from deep within the marrow of your being. Those deep caves that rarely see the light, because it's too hard to share those blemishes, those self-loathings, and those eternal moments of regret. It doesn't matter what specific circumstances created your interior struggles, it matters how you are going to get out of them. Some will always linger, and some are victory battle scars that we save to share with the world, but others need to be given up. Those internal struggles that eat at us day in and day out only to cut deeper into our self-esteem. It feels like there is no way out. But what if there was a way out? What if there is an underlying theme among many of us as we daily struggle through the complexities of life? An unspoken struggle of CONTENTMENT!

The word, contentment, has become a "bad word". It forces us to second-guess ourselves, our ambitions, and our achievements. In a face-paced world, where technology goes out of use before it was even introduced to the masses. Our lives are consumed with having the next best thing. What we have is never good enough. It's sad to acknowledge this is true. We have become a superficial society.

Contentment does not mean we are satisfied with having nothing. It does not mean that we don't have any dreams or long-term goals. Contentment gives us the ability to embrace our current phase in life. It won't be the same forever, but we need to joyfully accept the present. There was a time in history when both men and women happily accepted their lives, no matter their social class, the amount of labor, the hours of child-rearing, or their material achievements. There was a time when my widowed great-grandmother accepted her fate and worked tirelessly to support eight children as a seamstress. The loss of her husband's share of the family hardware store was heart-breaking and the family's lack of support for her working outside the home was discouraging. This woman didn't go beyond her scope in life, she didn't search to find a wealthy man and she didn't take easy street and move in with relatives. This strong, independent woman strove to create a better life and support her children, but she lovingly found contentment in it. She was happy and always believed she was blessed, because her life was beautiful in every respect. Life was not easy without a husband, especially in the early 20th century, but that didn't matter, because life was meant to be loved and lived. She found contentment in her family.

We must all search for our own contentment in life. It won't find us unless we choose to accept it. If we can find contentment, our lives will be much simpler, and yet much happier. That amazing great-grandmother of mine was right, life is meant to be loved and lived. We are social beings who desire to give and receive love. It's time that each of us takes this moment to examine our lives. Are we truly happy and if not, what would make us truly happy? If your answer revolves around material items that will only devalue with age, then it's time to do major sole searching...you have not found contentment yet. It won't be an easy task to suddenly appreciate every frustration and struggle in the name of contentment, but if you are seeking this beautiful state of life, you will find it. Contentment will never just appear. You will have to make many small steps, fill several large holes, but eventually with dedication, it can be found. The best time to start is now, so close your eyes, take that deep breathe and exhale.  Contentment is not a bad word, it's a beautiful and peaceful state of life.

Written By: Danielle Silva Heckenkamp

Living in the Moment - Not in the Future

I'm here to let you know, that I'm all in. All in for what, you may ask? I'm all in for life, for my life! I'm very much a goal orientated person, and I thrive on a challenge and achieving the end result, but I also have a choleric temperament, so I get impatient fairly quickly. Unfortunately, this forces me to have several goals at one time, maybe too many. I'm one of those people who read 10 books at once, because they are all too enticing to not be opened immediately. Isn't the best part of reading a book the beginning and the end? I know, I'm weird, I don't prefer the climax... Well, I have learned that this impatient approach to the challenges of my life isn't doing me any good and is actually inhibits me from focusing.

It was after the birth of my fourth child that I realized I could not keep running through life in circles. I needed to stop chasing "challenges" outside my everyday existence, because believe me, baby #4 was a challenge, a huge challenge! Let's just say he loved to cry...all day long...and still does off and on. But this forced me to rethink my daily goals and to start focusing on what was in front of me. It also forced me to truly discover what I love to do in my free time, which of course there isn't a lot of free time, so I needed to choose wisely. Not what I would love to do if I lived 30 different lives, but what could I do right now in this life. What fit best with our growing family of little ones running around. I needed to step away from my entrepreneurial goals (just for now) and relieve the unneeded stress. I needed to find moments I could enjoy with the children without worrying the laundry or dishes were not finished, yes, that's my A-Type personality and it sure is difficult to overcome those tendencies. And after many months of turmoil, I realized, no matter how tough it was being with my overachieving 7 year old (I have no idea where she gets it...) or my preschooler and toddler who fight, or the crying baby all day long, it was the only place I wanted to be. I didn't want anything else. It was extremely difficult for me to come to this conclusion, yet when the realization came to me, it was the easiest to accept.


For some reason, I had spent the last several years, believing I wasn't doing enough. I wasn't the best wife or mother or friend or member of society. I felt that I had been given so much, so I needed to accomplish more each day, but that is so far from the truth. I can't believe that was my thought process. I'm so happy and blessed to be a mom, and right now, at this phase is my life, that is exactly what I want to do (besides finishing my novel and a few freelance writing jobs on the side! Hey, I can't give up all my goals - writing is where I relieve stress). Even though I may have found a balance with my family, (yes, I know, everyone is trying to find a balance, especially moms), the desire to always have a goal will never go away. So now I use my children more as my goals, then my businesses. Aren't we all trying to raise good and efficient members of society? They are our future after all, and if we don't invest in them, the outcome might not be so pretty.

Motherhood has allowed me to take my choleric temperament and to find my many flaws. It's o.k. to focus solely on my children as a stay-at-home mom. This isn't for everyone, but this is for me. I have discovered that my stress level is less, my family is happier, and I have learned to love every aspect of my life, even the crazy parts, like when someone builds a castle with all my couch cushions or the boys wrestling and break a decorative plate, but I have found that balance. It isn't a balance where I can juggle everything, that's a misconception. It's a balance where I can focus on the things that are necessary at this specific phase in my life. The things that mean the most, the things that I love. Maybe it will change in the future, actually, I know it will change in the future. But I'm not looking at the future, I'm actually exhausted looking towards the future. There's definitely a truth to only "living in the moment". Don't get me wrong, my husband and I still have to plan for the future, but I have a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Now I can focus on the here and now. I have finally found my balance and I'm all in!

Grateful Beyond Belief

Written By: Danielle Silva Heckenkamp

Too often we go through life wishing for the next best thing. That's a fact of human nature; the grass is always greener. It's unfortunate, because we forget to examine our current situations and the amazing gifts we have been given. With Easter quickly approaching in three days, I thought it was perfect timing to contemplate my life and those who have made an impact on me.

This morning I was in an area of the city that isn't the best, but I saw the most beautiful thing that almost made me cry. A father was holding his child (about 4-5 months old) and wrapped in a blanket with only his face showing, because it was cold and rainy, while the dad was carrying a large bag, it might have contained the only items they owned. I didn't know where he was going, but he looked like he was on a mission. The father was very lovingly watching the child to make sure he was o.k., while also trying to not step in puddles and slip. This might not sound like much, but it was such a beautiful sign of love between a parent and child. A love that is missing in this world or hidden. We are so used to a love that only shows itself when it is self-serving. It didn't matter the economic or social conditions of this child and father, because they showed enough love and trust between the two of them.

It made me think on the drive home, through the dreary weather, that the old cliche saying is true. "All you need is love". I know, I know, me of all people who doesn't care for the corny quotes. But I think we all have those moments in life when everything is going wrong, we aren't able to control or solve the problems, and have to wait for slow fixes. Then suddenly, something happens to show how each of our lives are intertwined with one another. We don't understand it all now and won't probably until after we die. It leaves us in a state of pure confusion, but also relief, knowing that everything has a reason and purpose. It truly does, because if it didn't, there would be no point to any of this.


Little does this father know that by walking down the street at that exact moment would create such a profound affect on another person. With that thought in mind, our every action is an example of good or hurt. How do we want to be perceived in the world?

After these deep reflections, in a quiet car before picking up the kids from school and the start of spring break... I knew that it was time to think more of others, and less of myself, which of course is hard with our natural self tendencies. To do more for others in small ways, ways that we won't see the effects, or be able to promote on social media, but ways that will create a better world for all. Then maybe someday, those actions will be shown to us like a puzzle, many little jumbled pieces put together to create a wonderful masterpiece.

The freedom experiment

I am grateful for a lot of things in life, but I am most grateful for my life. The life that has been given to me with all the happiness, sorrows, thrills, adventures, friendships, family, and unsolvable problems. Because without each and everyone of these bits and pieces, it would not be my life. It might not make sense when I am going through the heartache or the celebrations, but no matter the event, each and every one of them have a sincere and utterly beautiful effect on my life and I am grateful that they have helped me develop a love and trust for myself, friends, family, and my children. Because what else matters in life than love?

An Open Letter of Thank You to ALL Moms

We spend a lot of wasteful time pointing out the differences between moms, whether that is in reference to stay-at-home moms, working moms, crafty moms, moms who volunteer, moms who bake and cook like it's going out of style, book-smart moms, street-smart moms, or whatever type of label you choose to apply, and there sure are plenty of them (actually too many). The mom "labels" are a little ridiculous, so instead of pin pointing to a specific "group", it's time to say THANK YOU to ALL moms!

In the spirit of Thanksgiving next week, and my refusal to celebrate Christmas before Turkey Day, I am writing a heart-felt open letter of thank you to all moms, no matter their talents or flaws - you are all loved!

1.   I am grateful for those moms who can play in the mud, race cars, and build castles out of pillows with their little loves - your are creating the architects, engineers, and artists of tomorrow.

2.   I am grateful to the moms who always have a spotless kitchen, clean laundry, and swept floors - you are an example of order and cleanliness.

3.   I am grateful for those moms who have piles of papers and knick knacks scattered throughout the house - you have created a safe world of distraction for your little ones.

4.   I am grateful to all those moms who kiss their sleeping children at night and tuck them in - these are the peaceful moments you will always remember, no matter how exhausted you are from the day.

5.   I am grateful to the moms who work everyday to make their child's world a better place - the fruitfulness of these efforts are long-term, but very much worth it.

6.   I am grateful for those moms who wake up each morning, still sleep deprived, but somehow reach for that cup of coffee (a true gift from God) and continue on with the day - you are teaching your little ones the value of adversity and continuity.

7.   I am grateful for all those moms who worry - those with uneasiness about their children, their husbands, their homes, their jobs, and their daily duties - those worries, no matter how stressful they seem at the time, are signs of love. It's only natural to worry for those we love!

8.   I am grateful to the moms who find time to devote and volunteer their free moments not only for their families, but also for their friends, neighbors, and strangers - you keep the world turning, burning with love. What a charitable example you are for your children and even the adults around you.

9.    I am grateful for those moms who love their husbands with an undying love, even through the difficult times, the exhausting times, and the amazing times - you are teaching your children one of the greatest lessons in life - a lesson of uncompromising devotion that can only be found in the family.

10.   I am most of all grateful to my mom, grandmother, my best friend, and all of the moms (and believe me, there are A LOT) I have ever met who devote their lives, their very essence, to the well-being of their children, their husbands, and their families. You have each made such a lasting impression on my soul and I have learned something very dear from each of you.

credit: clipartbest

I Have a Big FRAMILY!

 I have a big FRAMILY!

So we all have families, but how many of us have a FRAMILY? Framily are the people who are not related to you but are your very close friends and are as important to you as your family! I have an amazing family that I would not trade for anything, but I also have a marvelous Framily!  My Framily has different personalities, different ages, and even different religions, but one thing that they all have is LOYALTY with a capital L. My Framily is there for me and I am there for them! 

So true, this also means mess with my Framily you mess with me.......;)

LOYALTY few really understand the word!

Friends + Family = FRAMILY

Are You Busy? Or Are You Efficient?

Renoir: Dance at Bougival (1883)

Have you ever thought about this?  Are you a "busy" person or are you an "efficient" person?  Something to think about, right?  Life is full of moments where we just run, run, run and never stop to think about what we are doing.  We have become a society that can never say "no", everyone feels the pressure to have it all, do it all, but at what cost?  The cost of advancing in our careers?  The cost of our morals and traditions?  Or most importantly at the cost of families, relatives and close friends?

Credit: Sister Fiction

Life has become the ultimate competition, but unfortunately very few people understand the prize.  We work and slave to be the best at everything, to be known for everything, to attain the highest achievements and to reach the ultimate goals, but for what?  Why is it absolutely necessary to be the BEST at everything?  If you think back centuries ago, people were not motivated to be the best at everything, they were motivated to be the best in their specific area of expertise.  We no longer have top-notch writers like Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Alexandre Dumas or Mark Twain.  We now have writers who just want to be known and recognized.  Not necessarily known for amazing literature, but solely to make their name a "household name" and have those 15 minutes of fame.  And where does that take you in the end if your writings won't surpass the test of time?  What about the great artists, the Rembrandts, the Caravaggios, the Vermeers or the O'Keefes?  Yes, we have a few reputable artists currently, but I bet you can't name more than five who will make it to the future art history courses.  Believe me, I'm not saying we don't have any artistic or literary talent, because that is not the case.  My only point is that not many people are satisfied at being the best solely in our areas of talent.  We are drawn, pulled and almost dragged into becoming machines of excess.

Credit: Inspire Me

So all this rambling does lead somewhere...it leads to my original question.  Are you a "busy" person or are you an "efficient" person?  Are the activities, decisions, dreams, goals and achievements in your life a result of working to become a better person, to further the love and growth of your family or career?  Or are your actions solely reliant upon achieving a societal expectation that is completely unrealistic and almost detrimental to our well-being as individuals?

Here is my challenge presented before you.  Begin to Question.  It's not a bad thing to stop and meditate upon our lives, our motives, our achievements and of course future goals.  Have you become the person you dreamed?  Stop being cynical, try for optimism instead!  Do you love what you see in the mirror each morning, or are you upset with your behaviors, intentions and priorities?  If you are searching in life, this is the place to start, with YOURSELF!  Without changing yourself, it is impossible to change others.

Credit: Life

Make yourself an "efficient" person.  Love your passions, your dreams and your intentions and above all love life and those around you!  Stop being a "busy" person.  If you don't find a certain activity worth your time or attributing to your life in a solid good or healthy way, then drop it!  It isn't worth your time just to fill up your schedule because everyone else does!

All this rambling leads to a final point: life shouldn't be a complete void of empty activities or goals that don't lead you to where you are going.  Life is about becoming truly fabulous at what you were born to do.  This may take time, days, weeks or even years to comprehend your worth but it will happen and that will be the moment when you will be grateful you didn't waste your time being a "busy" person instead of being an "efficient" person.

Work Like An American!

Written By: Danielle Marie

Here's my little rant, with a patriotic flare...

What has made America great?  Well many things, but one of the most important traits is the value of hard work.  We all want to be successful in our jobs, with our family, in our social circles, while also finding true eternal happiness.  Unfortunately, that underlying push which was so vivid in America 50 years ago has begun to unravel.

Rosie

Have we become too accustomed to the easy life?  Some Americans are afraid of hard work, they want everything at their finger tips, instantaneously.  Others, no longer have the drive to succeed, they only want to be told what to do and in the end receive a paycheck, because, for them, it's all about the money.  However,  there is a group of up and coming Americans who are ready for the hard work, they want to earn their success, they have a heart full of passion and can't stop their drive to succeed.  These are the people who will help turn this economy around!  It's not the current politicians or the old American families, such as the Rockefellers, the Carnegies or the Morgans.  No, these people already had their time in history.  We thank them for their contributions but it is now time to advance forward.  

Andrew Carnegie

Who are these passion-driven Americans?  These are the average men and women you encounter everyday, they understand the important things in life: faith, family, friends, and work.  They want to make their way in the world, they want to be true Americans!

So what type of American do you wish to be?  Do you want to be told what to do everyday, as long as you get that solid paycheck every other week?  Or do you want to take chances, risks and work hard to help America become a nation of value again?

American

How To Create Those Special Memorable Photos

Photo Opportunities

Creating Special Ones

By: Katrina 

Family is everything, so cherish the moments with unique memorable poses.

I found these beloved photos on Pinterest

Dad,  Mom, and Baby.....do it every year to see the changes.

Dad, Mom and children Praying..... A family that prays together stays together!

Generation Genius.... Do it with before it's too late!

Before and After.....Would be super cute to do the same pose every five years.

Show some love.....brother and sister, parents, and grandparents. 

Artist engagement photos are the new trend. 

How to create an adorable photo for the Christmas card.

Maybe you are not sentimental, but you can not tell me that looking at these photos did not bring a smile to your face.

Create and record Memories today....you'll be glad you did!

"You Can't Take It With You"

Written By: Ooh La La (Danielle Marie)

Those of you who are lovers of old movies I'm sure the title of this blog post brought back memories of Jimmy Stewart, Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore and of course the amazing Director, Frank Capra, but for those of you who haven't seen the movie (or play) go rent it!  No excuses just because it's in black and white, that's what makes it even more endearing. 

"The film is about a man from a family of rich snobs who becomes engaged to a woman from a good-natured but decidedly eccentric family." ~Wikipedia

The moral of the movie is to learn that life is short, do what you love, enjoy what you do and money isn't the be all end all.  Somehow we always make it through, the good times and even the bad times!  Unfortunately, so many of us waste too much time worrying about money and only focusing our energies on material items, which in the end doesn't make us happy or fulfill those empty voids.

How much do we rely on material items, instead of time with family, friends and experiences?

Do we work only to provide extravagant items, or do we work because we have a passion, a love for what we do? If you don't have that passion, or enjoy your career, then find one you do!  You may be surprised how much more successful you will be at something you love, because now you put your whole heart and soul into it!

Now I'm not saying that beautiful items are not fun to have and enjoy, but don't let them be your undoing!  Because in the end, "you can't take it with you".

When was the last time you told your parents you love them?
How often do you give your children hugs and kisses instead of yelling?
When was the last time you held your spouse's hand? (you better not say since you were dating!)
Are you generous with the material gifts you have been given?  Would you give the coat on your back for someone in need?
When was the last time you took a family or couple vacation and spent quality time together?
How often do you volunteer your time at a nursing home, church, a homeless shelter or to a friend or lonely neighbor?

So, Word To The Wise... Love life, do what you love, care for others and be generous, because remember, "You Can't Take It With You"!