Bittersweet

After living in Tatui, in the state of Sao Paolo in Brasil, my family and I are packed up and ready to move back home to Michigan.

This has brought with it many heartfelt good-byes, tears and “of course, I’ll keep in touch.  You have my e-mail, right?”

Sitting down to dinner a couple of nights ago, my husband and I were talking with our son about all of the people and things we would miss about Brasil, as well as all of the things we are looking forward to when we go back home.

The best way to describe the feeling associated with this time in our lives is

Bittersweet: pleasure mingled with pain or regret: the bittersweet of parting.

We have had the pleasure of meeting some truly wonderful people here in Brasil, who have made our time here most enjoyable.

Just to name a few; Egle, Lida, Ana Paula, Marcella, Heather, Eliu, Austin, Evan, Braden, Carson, Christiane, Gyro, Leticia, Enrique, Simone, Roberta, Guillerme, and Penha.

We will never forget the fun we had here.  We will miss all of our friends.

And now on to the next adventure!

Tchau,

Pam

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Baby, you’re a rich man

It’s Monday which means time for the Inspirational song of the week.

This week I’ll be packing up the house, doing the final clean-up and moving with my family back home to Michigan!!  The song I’ve chosen for this week is one of my all-time favorites!

Baby, you’re a rich man by the Beatles

Beatles
Magical Mystery Tour
Baby, You’re A Rich Man
How does it feel to be
One of the beautiful people?
Now that you know who you are
What do you want to be?
And have you travelled very far?
Far as the eye can see.
How does it feel to be
One of the beautiful people?
How often have you been there?
Often enough to know.
What did you see, when you were there?
Nothing that doesn’t show.
Baby you’re a rich man,
Baby you’re a rich man,
Baby you’re a rich man too.
You keep all your money in a big brown bag inside a zoo.
What a thing to do.
Baby you’re a rich man,
Baby you’re a rich man,
Baby you’re a rich man too.
How does it feel to be
One of the beautiful people?
Tuned to A natural E
Happy to be that way.
Now that you’ve found another key
What are you going to play?
Baby you’re a rich man,
Baby you’re a rich man,
Baby you’re a rich man too.
You keep all your money in a big brown bag inside a zoo.
What a thing to do.
Baby you’re a rich man…

[ Beatles Lyrics are found on www.songlyrics.com ]

Have a Marvelous week!!!!

Pam

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Packin’ it up for the troops

for our troops

July 10th in Ortonville Michigan, was a very busy evening at Crossman Park.  Market Manager, Debbie Baker counted well over one hundred people in the park to come help fill boxes for the BB&E Packing Party .   People of all ages brought in granola bars, pop-tarts, baby wipes, beef jerky, canned fruit, gum and candy, as well as personal items such as toothbrushes, and toothpaste.

In order to help our GI’s feel remembered and appreciated, we need to raise the money needed to ship these boxes out to Iraq and Afghanistan.  Donations are lovingly accepted by Molly Lalone, our  DDA executive director at director@ortonvilledda.com or you can call her at (248) 627-8070.

I talked to Debbie at the BB&E this evening and she said that she will be doing a 50/50 raffle for the next couple weeks to help raise the necessary funds.

I am looking forward to being back in Michigan as my family and I are moving back home next Wednesday (yeah!).  If you’re in the area and would like to come on by, I would love to meet you and say Hi.

6pm - 9pm  Friday nights in Crossman park Beets, Beats & Eats farmers market.

See you there!!!!

Pam

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Why is life so hard?

I pass these flowers every day on my walk around the perimeter of my neighborhood, here in Brasil.    On the day that I took this photo, I was particularly struck by the vibrancy of these flowers.  Their petals took on an extraordinary significance and my finger longed to reach up and touch them.  The small, yellow orchids behind the larger, white ones practically screamed for my attention.
That’s when the realization hit me.  The menacing sky in the background encouraged me to focus my attention upon the beautiful blossoms right in front of me.  Although I passed these flowers everyday, the intensity of their charm wasn’t truly apparent until I saw them contrasted against the threat of the oncoming storm.  It was an epiphany!
Life is going to be hard sometimes and it is during these times when the truth is revealed.  What really matters is the focus of my attention.  Although it is important to recognize the approaching storm and prepare accordingly, I will not allow my fear to blind me to the amazing splendor of this planet.  Instead, I choose to use that fear as an amplifier, a distinguishing feature of the landscape, a contrast to better accentuate the glorious effects along my path.
So with this knowledge, I choose to focus on the beautiful. I will recognize the challenge of the difficulty as an opportunity to see the extraordinary in the mundane.

What do you think?  What is the beautiful thing in your life can you focus on?

Peace,

Pam

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Equanimity

A very dear friend of mine suggested I do the Wednesday word of the day.

Equanimity

Thanks to dictionary.com for this information.

I have used this word to help my son and I get through our daily life.  Because my son is 9 years old, to help him understand this concept more clearly,  I have made up my own definition, which is as follows;

Equanimity is the relationship in your life between what is happening to you and what you are doing about it.

For instance, if the back of your hand itches and you scratch it, you are demonstrating equanimity.

Doing something about it, instead of whining and waiting for someone else to fix it.

You get out of life whatever you put into it.

So whatever you focus your attention on the most will define what kind of a life you end up with.

It’s imperative to make sure you decide what kind of a life you want, and then be determined to live it.

*I have learned that focusing on someone else’s faults, quirks, habits and misbehavior is counter productive and toxic to both of you. I strive to practice kindness because ultimately it will come back to serve everyone. Find balance and others will thank you for it.*

My family and I are determined to have a happy life together.  No matter where we live, ultimately, we love each other by showing respect for one another.  It’s a healthy cycle that defines our daily life and allows light and love into our home.

Although we have had some very challenging days (as if home-schooling weren’t enough, throw in the fact that we live in Brasil), overall our adventure here has been wonderfully full of friends and fun.

We are getting ready to move back to Michigan next Wednesday.  We will spend our remaining time hanging out with our friends, eating our favorite Brasilian foods and marvelling at the beauty of this country.  We will also be filling out paperwork, packing up the suitcases and cleaning the house.  Busy, busy, busy!

Have you ever heard of this word before?  Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!  I look forward to your opinions!

Tchau for now,

Pam

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Life’s a dance

It’s Monday, which means time for the Inspirational song of the week.

Life’s a Dance by John Michael Montgomery

This is a very nice song with an up-tempo beat.  Nice for tapping your toes to.

My favorite part of the song is “Don’t worry about what you don’t know.  Life’s a dance.  You’ll learn as you go.”

It’s a nice reminder that I don’t have to have all of the answers today. I just have to keep dancing and have faith in myself to figure it out as I go along.

Brilliant!

Have a wonderful week!

Pam

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Success

“Success comes from knowing what you want and believing you can have it”. Norman Vincent Peale

I was reading through PicktheBrain and came across this article by Hunter Nutall.

“By looking for the good side in everything, you’ll make the most of what life has to offer. And by periodically acknowledging what’s not working for you, you’ll keep up the motivation to work towards what you really want”.

I want to live a happy, successful and fulfilling life.

I will commit to living well, despite the distractions.

I will recognize what I need and not feel guilty for going after it, with gusto!

I promise to encourage others to do the same.

I will recognize the challenges of my daily life and promise to focus on the opportunities made available by working through them.

Amen,

Pam

BTW, go check out Gretchen Rubin over at the Happiness Project blog .

I’m not ashamed to admit, her blog is what got me started reading and eventually writing my own blog.  She is just the coolest!  My hero!!!  She has a new book coming out soon.  I hope I can get her to sign my copy one of these days.  (okay, no more gushing)

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Peace

Peace

I strive to be an instrument for change.

To express a positive influence.

To show appreciation for this opportunity
To interact peaceably with my friends.

To sustain myself with the knowledge
That my actions and intentions are worthwhile and
Ultimately fruitful.

To create a positive vibration.

I live for peace.

Pam

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Pink

Today is Monday, which means it’s time for the Inspirational song of the week.

Pink by Aerosmith

I’m not exaggerating when I say this song changed my life.

I hope you enjoy the sincerely sexy Steven Tyler sing……

Pink it’s my new obsession
Pink it’s not even a question,
Pink on the lips of your lover, ’cause
Pink is the love you discover

Pink as the bing on your cherry
Pink ’cause you are so very
Pink it’s the color of passion
‘Cause today it just goes with the fashion

Pink it was love at first sight
Pink when I turn out the light, and
Pink gets me high as a kite
And I think everything is going to be all right
No matter what we do tonight

You could be my flamingo
‘Coz pink is the new kinda lingo
Pink like a deco umbrella
It’s kink - but you don’t ever tell her

Pink it was love at first sight, and
Pink when I turn out the light
Pink gets me high as a kite
And I think everything is going to be all right
No matter what we do tonight

I want to be your lover
I wanna wrap you in rubber
As pink as the sheets that we lay on
Pink it’s my favorite crayon, yeah

Pink it was love at first sight
Pink when I turn out the light
Pink it’s like red but not quite
And I think everything is going to be all right
No matter what we do tonight

Ohhhhh yeah!  Have a Fabulous week!  MUWA!

Pam

[ Aerosmith Lyrics are found on www.songlyrics.com ]

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Lil’ dancing marionette

Check this out!  titiritero_champetero

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