BLESSINGS.....ASK AND ALLOW

I am a private person, to a fault,  when it comes to sharing about my journey of being a single woman. My personal journal knows all about that journey but my family and friends may not. I had some time last night sitting in quite peace and began to look back at where I was and where I am now and marvel at all that we have been through. How does one endure? How does one find happiness again? Is there peace is being single?

I married what I thought was the man of my dreams. I never thought in a million years that I would one day be divorced. I was sealed to my husband in the temple and thought our marriage was eternal. We struggled off and on but there was never anything that we could not endure together. Then the dreaded day came where I came to terms with the fact that our marriage was over. Feelings of betrayal swept over me. I felt alone, lost, ugly, embarrassed, rejected, and completely worthless. There were days where the thought of getting out of bed was unbearable but I knew I had to anyway. . I didnt feel like I had anyone to turn to. Part of that was because of my pride and part was because I didnt know anyone that would truly understand. The loneliness was unbearable at the time. I kept a lot of my feelings hidden from the world but that didnt mean they were not here. My heart ached for my kids and how their lives would be turned upside down. I knew they would be thrown into a world that most kids would never understand or have to endure. I ached for my son  who was a young teen and my daughter who we had just adopted who was just turning 2.  I felt like the odds of survival were stacked against me but I have never been one to fall in defeat so I held my head high as I took my son and my daughter and walked away from our home to a new life.

The struggle was real! The mask of happiness that I would put on did not reflect the torment of my soul. I didnt want my kids to see me cry so I would spend my days being their rock and my nights filled with tears. I became so exhausted with the charade that I could no longer go on. It was when I was at my darkest point of despair, anger and sadness that a lesson that I had had in seminary flooded into my mind. We were learning about the atonement of Christ. I remembered my teacher saying that the atonement was not just for Christ to take on the sins of the world but that Christ also suffered and bled from every pore to take on our pain. I remembered him saying that when we have struggled all that we can struggle, then we can lay our burdens at the feet of our Savior and he will endure the rest for us.  That though kept playing over and over in my mind to the point that I dropped to my knees beside my bed. At that moment I felt like I was not just kneeling down but had sunk lower into the floor than humanly possible from the weight of my burdens. I was at a place that I had never felt before and cried out loud to my Father in Heaven for Christ to take my burden away. I told him that I had endured all that I can endure and begged him to endure the rest for me. I begged for a heart of forgiveness, to feel peace again, to be happy again, and to be able to feel love in my heart again. I laid by my bed and cried well into the night and as the tears flowed, the thought came into my mind that I needed to not only ask for Christ to carry my burdens but that I also had to allow him to. I could not ask and then not allow.  I needed to find strength and happiness again on my own and not dwell anymore on my pain because HE had taken it from me. I felt a warmth come over me as if  I was wrapped in the arms of all the angels in heaven. I felt like my mother's spirit was there, and that for the first time in a long time I was going to be ok. I rose up from my pleading as a new person, like the weight of the world had been lifted from me. I left as light as a feather but most of all, the anger was gone and for the first time, I had forgiveness in my heart toward my ex husband.

I have found so much strength  in the journey. I found  that I am much stronger than I thought possible. I learned it was OK to be vulnerable again and to open my heart again. I do not know where my future will take me but one thing I do know....that I am OK! I am a  survivor who has found myself and has gained courage to walk in my own shows again. I may never have the chance to fall in love again but have peace that my life as it is now is one of happiness and blessings on my own.

4 MORE WEEKS!

I apoligize in advance.....this is going to be a rambling unorganized post! The last few weeks have been an emotional roller coaster for me. My son Darin has been serving an LDS mission for the past two years and will be home in exactly 4 weeks. In a way it was the slowest fastest two years of my life! I remember dropping him off at the airport as if it was yesterday watching him walk through security and turning to me for that one last wave goodbye. At the same time it feels like an eternity ago! Words can't exactly express my gratitude to my Father in Heaven for entrusting me to raise my son. This past week I have been looking back through pictures of the little guy that was my buddy!! We were truly inseparable until it wasn't exactly cool to have his mom tagging around, although I would have if he would have let me!! I have great memories of the countless books we read together each night, how he used to make me sing the same songs over and over to him every single night as I lay beside him in bed trying to get him to sleep. Sneaking out of the room trying not to wake him  up when he finally did. Our daily walks at UTPB and jumping into the pool after each morning. Walking all over Guadalajara and taking him to watch the tortilla man on the corner while drinking soda our of a bag! haha  Cooking with him in the kitchen and playing board games as a family. The proud mom moments of watching him pitch, making the all star team for baseball, hearing him play the violin, making the honor roll, being the star student in grade school, being the top AR reader and watching him achieve his goals and becoming an Eagle scout.  The memories are just too many to tell. Things weren't always easy for Darin. We moved around a lot which can be hard on children but Darin had a knack for choosing good friends and adapting to new places. I am sure this contributed to him being able to adapt so quickly on his mission to a new country and culture.

 As I have read his weekly emails from Honduras, I have been able to see how his life experiences have helped him on his mission. I have also been able to see how much he has grown mentally and spiritually. It is almost measurable. His letter home today was so touching and had me in tears. Although we realize as parents that our children will never truly understand how much we sacrifice for their well being, we hope that they will at least someday appreciate a few things along the way!  Every important decision I have ever made in my life has been with my childrens well being first in mind. When Darin was younger, he was very tender-hearted and so grateful for all he had. Even though it wasn't much, to him it was enough. I remember one birthday, his Grandpa Bradshaw came and he told Darin that he had a gift for him for his birthday. He then handed Darin a box of hot tamales expecting Darin to complain about the small gift or to see it as the joke it was intended to be. Instead Darin looked his Grandpa straight in the eyes and thanked him for getting him a gift. His Grandpa was supersized at Darins response and turned to me and said, "Never let him lose that tender humble heart". I don't think that was something that was taught to him, he was born with that tender spirit.

When David and I got divorced, Darin really struggled. I worried so much about him and tried so hard to be strong and to be there for him. I tried my hardest not to let him see my personal suffering or to see how broken I was feeling. As he was trying to sort out what in the world was happening to our family, he lost a bit of his spirit. I could see it. I have never prayed so hard. When I read Darins letter today, I could see that I have the old Darin back but even better. His tender heart and  grateful spirit shone through his email and touched my heart. He is truly filled with the spirit of Christ as I think all missionaries are. 

I have a strong testimony of missionary work. There is no better place for a young man to be then calling people to repentance and bringing souls unto Christ, if they are able to serve. It has been amazing to be a part of the missionary mom "community" and to hear and share experiences of our children who serve all over the world. It is a mighty work that the world needs to hear. The world needs to know one simple message more now than ever. That message is that each person on this earth is a child of the same God. He is the one and only God for all who have ever walked the earth. He loves us more than we can understand. He wants us to be tried and tested and to grow while here on this earth so that we can become all that we can in the life to come with our families. He sent us here to learn not only happiness and joy but also sorrow and pain. What an honor it must be to Darin to be able to see lives change when they find out who they really are and where they came from. Darin challenged me at the beginning of summer to re-read the Book of Mormon before he gets home. As I read the last few versus my soul burned with a strong witness of its truthfulness. It was a witness that I needed to feel at this time in my life. I am so grateful for my Savior. For his sacrifice for me personally. He is the only one who will every truly understand the pain and joy we feel in this life. He is one of the only people that I personally can count on as I travel the road of life. I was especially touched today by the words of a missionary who sent an email to his mom today his words were, " I love the last few verses of the Book of Mormon spoken by the prophet Moroni and this would be my final invitaion to all.....

32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot."

I know that this is true. I know that Christ can cleanse us of all our sins. I invite all to test it, to know for yourself of his love and truth.

I am truly counting my blessing tonight and all that I have been given. I am the luckiest woman around! 

TO YOU!

I read this post on Facebook this morning and to be honest....it was a tough read for me. These things not only pertain to a marriage but to finding the one you want to spend the rest of your life with if you are single.  As I date, a lot of these things are on my list of what I want my future spouse to be....and after reading this, I have added a few more!

 

This Guy Got Divorced And Said This About His Ex-Wife... And I Agree With Him.

Gerald Rogers got divorced after 16 years of marriage. Recently he wrote a eye-opening public confession on his blog... after I saw it, I'm totally with him. He writes:

''MARRIAGE ADVICE I WISH I WOULD HAVE HAD:

Obviously, I'm not a relationship expert. But there's something about my divorce being finalized this week that gives me perspective of things I wish I would have done different... After losing a woman that I loved, and a marriage of almost 16 years, here's the advice I wish I would have had...

1) Never stop courting.
Never stop dating. NEVER EVER take that woman for granted. When you asked her to marry you, you promised to be that man that would OWN HER HEART and to fiercely protect it. This is the most important and sacred treasure you will ever be entrusted with. SHE CHOSE YOU. Never forget that, and NEVER GET LAZY in your love.

2) PROTECT YOUR OWN HEART.
Just as you committed to being the protector of her heart, you must guard your own with the same vigilance. Love yourself fully, love the world openly, but there is a special place in your heart where no one must enter except for your wife. Keep that space always ready to receive her and invite her in, and refuse to let anyone or anything else enter there.

3) FALL IN LOVE OVER and OVER and OVER again.
You will constantly change. You're not the same people you were when you got married, and in five years you will not be the same person you are today. Change will come, and in that you have to re-choose each other everyday. SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO STAY WITH YOU, and if you don't take care of her heart, she may give that heart to someone else or seal you out completely, and you may never be able to get it back. Always fight to win her love just as you did when you were courting her.

4) ALWAYS SEE THE BEST in her.
Focus only on what you love. What you focus on will expand. If you focus on what bugs you, all you will see is reasons to be bugged. If you focus on what you love, you can't help but be consumed by love. Focus to the point where you can no longer see anything but love, and you know without a doubt that you are the luckiest man on earth to be have this woman as your wife.

5) IT'S NOT YOUR JOB TO CHANGE OR FIX HER...
Your job is to love her as she is with no expectation of her ever changing. And if she changes, love what she becomes, whether it's what you wanted or not.

6) TAKE FULL ACCOUNTABILITY for your own emotions:
It's not your wife's job to make you happy, and she CAN'T make you sad. You are responsible for finding your own happiness, and through that your joy will spill over into your relationship and your love.

7) NEVER BLAME your wife If YOU get frustrated or angry at her, it is only because it is triggering something inside of YOU. They are YOUR emotions, and your responsibility. When you feel those feelings take time to get present and to look within and understand what it is inside of YOU that is asking to be healed. You were attracted to this woman because she was the person best suited to trigger all of your childhood wounds in the most painful way so that you could heal them... when you heal yourself, you will no longer be triggered by her, and you will wonder why you ever were.

8) Allow your woman to JUST BE.
When she's sad or upset, it's not your job to fix it, it's your job to HOLD HER and let her know it's ok. Let her know that you hear her, and that she's important and that you are that pillar on which she can always lean. The feminine spirit is about change and emotion and like a storm her emotions will roll in and out, and as you remain strong and unjudging she will trust you and open her soul to you... DON'T RUN-AWAY WHEN SHE'S UPSET. Stand present and strong and let her know you aren't going anywhere. Listen to what she is really saying behind the words and emotion.

9) BE SILLY...
Don't take yourself so damn seriously. Laugh. And make her laugh. Laughter makes everything else easier.

10) FILL HER SOUL EVERYDAY...
Learn her love languages and the specific ways that she feels important and validated and CHERISHED. Ask her to create a list of 10 THINGS that make her feel loved and memorize those things and make it a priority everyday to make her feel like a queen.

11) BE PRESENT.
Give her not only your time, but your focus, your attention and your soul. Do whatever it takes to clear your head so that when you are with her you are fully WITH HER. Treat her as you would your most valuable client. She is.

12) BE WILLING TO TAKE HER SEXUALLY...
To carry her away in the power of your masculine presence, to consume her and devour her with your strength, and to penetrate her to the deepest levels of her soul. Let her melt into her feminine softness as she knows she can trust you fully.

13) DON'T BE AN IDIOT...
And don't be afraid of being one either. You will make mistakes and so will she. Try not to make too big of mistakes, and learn from the ones you do make. You're not supposed to be perfect, just try to not be too stupid.

14) GIVE HER SPACE...
The woman is so good at giving and giving, and sometimes she will need to be reminded to take time to nurture herself. Sometimes she will need to fly from your branches to go and find what feeds her soul, and if you give her that space she will come back with new songs to sing... (okay, getting a little too poetic here, but you get the point. Tell her to take time for herself, ESPECIALLY after you have kids. She needs that space to renew and get re-centered, and to find herself after she gets lost in serving you, the kids and the world.)

15) BE VULNERABLE...
You don't have to have it all together. Be willing to share your fears and feelings, and quick to acknowledge your mistakes.

16) BE FULLY TRANSPARENT.
If you want to have trust you must be willing to share EVERYTHING... Especially those things you don't want to share. It takes courage to fully love, to fully open your heart and let her in when you don't know i she will like what she finds... Part of that courage is allowing her to love you completely, your darkness as well as your light. DROP THE MASK... If you feel like you need to wear a mask around her, and show up perfect all the time, you will never experience the full dimension of what love can be.

17) NEVER STOP GROWING TOGETHER...
The stagnant pond breeds malaria, the flowing stream is always fresh and cool. Atrophy is the natural process when you stop working a muscle, just as it is if you stop working on your relationship. Find common goals, dreams and visions to work towards.

18) DON'T WORRY ABOUT MONEY.
Money is a game, find ways to work together as a team to win it. It never helps when teammates fight. Figure out ways to leverage both persons strength to win.

19) FORGIVE IMMEDIATELY and focus on the future rather than carrying weight from the past. Don't let your history hold you hostage. Holding onto past mistakes that either you or she makes, is like a heavy anchor to your marriage and will hold you back. FORGIVENESS IS FREEDOM. Cut the anchor loose and always choose love.

20) ALWAYS CHOOSE LOVE. ALWAYS CHOOSE LOVE. ALWAYS CHOOSE LOVE.
In the end, this is the only advice you need. If this is the guiding principle through which all your choices is governed, there is nothing that will threaten the happiness of your marriage. Love will always endure.

In the end MARRIAGE isn't about Happily ever after. It's about work. And a commitment to grow together and a willingness to continually invest in creating something that can endure eternity. Through that work, the happiness will come.

Marriage is life, and it will bring ups and downs. Embracing all of the cycles and learning to learn from and love each experience will bring the strength and perspective to keep building, one brick at a time.

These are lessons I learned the hard way. These are lessons I learned too late.

But these are lessons I am learning and committed in carrying forward. Truth is, I LOVED being married, and in time, I will get married again, and when I do, I will build it with a foundation that will endure any storm and any amount of time.

If you are reading this and find wisdom in my pain, share it those those young husbands whose hearts are still full of hope, and with those couples you may know who may have forgotten how to love. One of those men may be like I was, and in these hard earned lessons perhaps something will awaken in him and he will learn to be the man his lady has been waiting for.

The woman that told him 'I do', and trusted her life with him, has been waiting for this man to step up.

If you are reading this and your marriage isn't what you want it to be, take 100% responsibility for YOUR PART in marriage, regardless of where your spouse is at, and commit to applying these lessons while there is time.

MEN- THIS IS YOUR CHARGE: Commit to being an EPIC LOVER. There is no greater challenge, and no greater prize. Your woman deserves that from you.

Be the type of husband your wife can't help but brag about.''

The Season of Giving

I absolutely love this time of year!!  Everything about it gets me feeling giddy... the lights, the food, the traditions, and even the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping! I grew up in a home where Christmas was filled with many wonderful memories of baking for others and making homemade candy. Fondu and breaking the homemade pinata was always the highlight of Christmas Eve. I have carried these traditions on to my family. I suggested one year that we change things up a bit and not do fondu. It warmed my heart when my son responded by saying, "No way mom....we can't have Christmas without it"!  He loves that tradition of my childhood.My heart is full tonight as I reflect on what a great example my mother and father were in giving so much to others this time of year.
It is in that spirit that I write this post about an experience I had that has forever changed my view on the giving of Christmas.

Three years ago was my first Christmas as a single mom. I found myself in a situation where I had gone from being the wife of a doctor where money was no issue, to not being able to afford
Christmas presents for my kids for the first time ever. I was heartbroken and worried what my son would think as a teenager where "things" are pretty important....where everyone goes to school after and brags about the latest and greatest gadgets and electronics that had been left for them under the tree. I sat my kids down to let them know that this Christmas was going to be different. It was my intent to tell my kids, especially my son, how sorry I was and how I had felt like a failure and that somehow I was going to make this right even if I had to go sell my blood for money!! The tears began to flow (as usual) as I told my kids and asked them to tell me how they felt and maybe we could make a plan. My son gave me a hug and reminded me in his humble way that Christmas isnt about getting a bunch of gifts. I honestly dont know why I was worried to begin with because Darin has always been very grateful for the things he has been given no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. We came up with a plan that instead of giving gifts to each other, we would do an act of service every day through the month of December.  Suddenly, all of the guilt and sadness left our home and it was replaced with excitement and planning and LOTS of baking!!! We shoveled peoples drives, left goodies on doorsteps, babysat so friends could shop without their kids for Christmas and various other things. There was not a shortage of people to help as we really opened our eyes to what was going on around us. We spent the evenings together as a family watching Christmas movies and drinking hot chocolate instead of fighting the crowds at the stores. I was relaxed, not stressed about getting everything on my list. It was truly the most amazing Christmas as the blessing was returned to us by a giving family that made sure my kids received gifts under the tree on Christmas morning.

I have often thought of this experience and what a peaceful loving feeling was in our home that season. I have wondered how it would affect the world around us if we all went into the Christmas season with the idea of doing service each day of the season along with a few gifts under the tree. I can't think of a better way to honor the most influential man that has every walked this earth, our Savior. He has done more for man than any single person and still continues to do so this day.  So, my challenge to anyone who is reading this post is to take some time this season to TRULY honor the person whose birth we celebrate by giving of your heart to those around you. Take some time to listen for those who are in need and give of your time this season to make someones life a bit brighter. Merry Christmas to all of you. May your homes be filled with love and the spirit of giving this holiday season.

Elf on the Shelf Jesus Style

I love this time of year. I have the most wonderful memories of the house filling up with the smell of homemade candy, looking through the catalogs to make my Christmas list to send to Santa, watching Christmas Vacation with dad and hearing his infectious laugh, and gathering around as a family to learn about the birth of our Savior. When I was younger, we didn't have an elf that would visit our house to watch our every move then return to the North Pole at night to report our behavior to Santa. All we had was my mothers look, that only a mother can give, that put the fear of death into us letting us know we were out of line. I am positive that my mother would have gone nuts if she had to come up with a creative way to pose the elf each night as she had enough on her plate with us 5 (and sometimes 6) kids. I have to admit that I have dove into the Elf on the Shelf idea for Emma. Last year was the first year that our elf came from the North Pole to watch Em as she went about her day. It was so much fun for Darin and I trying to figure out new funny ideas and it seems that our Elf was getting into more trouble than Emma was. We would wake up to find him fishing in the toilet, Putting a puzzle together with Baby Alive, and the Elf standing at the top of the stairs rolling toys and toilet paper down each step. We even found him sitting in Darin's airplane hanging from the ceiling fan as it was spinning around. We have a lively elf!

 

This morning I was looking on Facebook and came across the idea of Elf on the Shelf Jesus style from the blog www.crayonmarksandtigerstripes.com. So tonight for family night, our Elf is going to arrive with the first letter from Santa. It is going to say:

Dear Emma,
I know you are excited about the Christmas season.  I am too!!  My elves are working hard to prepare for Christmas Day.  
Speaking of elves, I have sent one of my dearest friends to help you prepare for Christmas.  It is a lot of fun to look at Christmas lights, sing Christmas songs, set up the Christmas tree, go shopping and get gifts. 
But there are some very important things that I want you to remember about Christmas.

• It is better to give than to receive.
• God loves you so much!
• You can help others because you have Jesus in your heart.
• We have Christmas to celebrate the birth of Baby Jesus.

Your elf friend will help you to learn and remember these very important things about Christmas.  Together, you can show others Jesus’ love by singing songs about Him, giving to others in need that don’t have as much as you, and being nice to others.
It is our job to show God’s love to others through our gifts, nice words and loving actions.
Every night your elf friend will come visit me and I will send him back with a new activity that you can do together to help you learn and remember the true meaning behind Christmas.   Each morning, look for your new friend.  He will be in your home waiting for you to find him so you can do the activity together!
Please take care of my friend and together, you will learn about our awesome Savior, Jesus Christ.  You will learn about how God sent his only Son to live with us, and in us.
Have a blessed Christmas season!
With much love,
Santa

 As part of our advent activities, we will be using Elf on the Shelf to teach about Jesus.  We will be talking about what our daily lives look like when we have Jesus in our heart.  Each morning, our elf will be found doing something that will teach our little one what it looks like to have Jesus in our heart.  One day, the elf will be reading the bible to some of his stuffed animal friends.  Another morning, he will be found praying.  Another day, he will have a task from Santa to take food to a local food bank.  We have alot of fun activities planned for this advent season and I know Emma is going to love it.

When I read about this idea on the blog, it took me back to a few years ago when I had just gotten divorced and for the first time ever, I couldn't buy gifts for my kids. I was heartbroken as I love to spoil my kids rotten with gifts. I sat Darin and Emma down and with tears streaming down my face I talked to them about what was happening. I thought I would be dealing with disappointed kids. Instead, Darin was comforting ME and together we came up with a plan that instead of buying gifts, we would start on December 1st and do some kind of service project each day for someone in our community. We threw a few ideas out there to get us started. The first week we made homemade goodies like banana bread or cookies and took them to a family each night of the week. This continued on until Christmas eve. Let me tell you what this did to our Christmas spirit that year. I can't begin to tell you how much this brought the love of Christ into our home. Instead of frantically shopping like a mad woman, I was blessed with peace. Instead of worrying about not being able to buy gifts, or feeling sorry for our situation, we had love in our home. As I watched and listened to how my friends and family were scurrying around trying to fill their wish list, I became so grateful and blessed. We spoke kinder to each other. We were more mindful of those around us that were in need as we were actually seeking them out. We prayed as a family about who we could help and bless.  It was truly the most memorable Christmas that we have ever had. In return, we were blessed also by being on the receiving end  of another families act of service toward us. So, tonight for family night our elf is going to appear at our home with the letter from Santa. We are going to bring back the true meaning of Christmas by serving others each and every day.  This is truly what Christmas should be about. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with gifts but I think there is more "room in the inn" for Christ in our homes during this time of the year.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and will always remember to make room for Christ and to bless the lives of those around you who are in need.

JOIN THE RANKS OF THE LOSERS!!

My good friend Christy Dreiling posted a great post a while back on Facebook. It was a reminder to keep on going even when we are feeling like there is just no hope or when others are telling us we are not good enough or smart enough or not knowledgeable enough when pursuing what we want. Many have been told these things but pushed on. They took these negative comments and used it as fuel to keep going in life. So to this I say, join the ranks of these "Losers"

Jimi Hendrix and his band opened for the Monkeys once and got booed off of stage. They were consequently dropped from the tour. Can you imagine?

Emily Dickinson gave her poems to Thomas Wentworth Higginson to review, and while he was impressed, he advised against publishing them because they were too peculiar. She was totally enamored of him anyway and replied to his criticisms by saying that she had "few pleasures so deep as your opinion, and if I tried to thank you, my tears would block my tongue."

Winston Churchill failed the Royal Military entrance exams twice.

Colonel Sanders : The founder of KFC. He started his dream at 65 years old! He got a social security check for only $105 and was mad. Instead of complaining he did something about it.He thought restaurant owners would love his fried chicken recipe, use it, sales would increase, and he’d get a percentage of it. He drove around the country knocking on doors, sleeping in his car, wearing his white suit.Do you know how many times people said no till he got one yes? 1009 times!

Albert Eistein: He didn’t speak till he was four and didn’t read till seven. His parents and teachers thought he was mentally handicapped. He only turned out to win a Nobel prize and be the face of modern physics.

Thomas Edison: No list of success from failures would be complete without the man who gave us many inventions including the light bulb. He knew failure wouldn’t stop him. "If I find 10,000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward."

Stephenie Meyer: The author of the crazy Twilight series said the inspiration from the book came from a dream. She finished it in three months but never intended to publish it until a friend suggested she should.She wrote 15 letters to literary agencies. Five didn’t reply. Nine rejected. One gave her a chance. Then eight publishers auctioned for the right to publish Twilight. She got a three book deal worth $750,000. In 2010, Forbes reported she earned $40 million.

Theodor Seuss Giesel: Dr. Seuss gave us Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham. Books every child reads. At first many didn’t think he would succeed. 27 different publishers rejected Dr. Seuss’s first book To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street.

Vincent Van Gogh: He only sold one painting in his lifetime! Just one to a friend. Despite that he kept painting and finished over 800 pieces. Now everyone wants to buy them and his mostexpensive painting is valued at $142.7 million.

Richard Branson: He’s a billionaire mogul of Virgin but has had his share of failures. Remember Virgin Cola or Virgin credit cards? Probably not. He’s lost hundreds of millions of dollars but has not let failure stop him. When you’re rich like him you can rent his private island for $53,000 a night.

Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind was rejected by 38 publishers before it finally got green-lighted.

Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw was writing for nine years before he hit it big "“ and reportedly only made $20 from his writing for those first nine years.

Lucille Ball got sent home from acting school in New York because the teachers thought she was too shy and would never make it as an actress.

Walt first tried to get MGM studios to distribute Mickey Mouse in 1927, he was told that the idea would never work because a giant mouse on the screen would terrify women.

Jerry Seinfield: the first time the young comedian walked on stage at a comedy club, he looked out at the audience, froze and was eventually booed off of the stage.

Fred Astaire: In his first screen test, the testing director of MGM noted that Astaire, "Can't act. Can't sing. Slightly bald. Can dance a little."

Sydney Poitier: After his first audition, Poitier, who grew up poor in the Bahamas, was told by the casting director, "Why don't you stop wasting people's time and go out and become a dishwasher or something?"

Three-time Oscar-winning filmmaker Oliver Stone dropped out of Yale to write his first novel, which was later rejected by publishers. When it was finally published in 1998, the novel was not well-received and Stone moved to Vietnam to teach English

Steven Spielberg was rejected from the University of Southern California School of Theater, Film and Television three times.He eventually attended school at another location, only to drop out to become a director before finishing.

When The Beatles were just starting out, a recording company told them no. Decca Recording studios, who had recorded 15 songs with the group, said "we don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out. They have no future in show business."

In 1973, Stephen King was working as an English teacher in Maine and selling short stories on the side to make ends meet. That same year, he accepted a $2,500 advance for his first novel "Carrie" to Doubleday but after 30 rejections, King decided to give up on the book.At the urging of his wife, King later resubmitted the manuscript and now, after having hundreds of books published, King is one of the best-selling authors of all time and "Carrie" is on its second movie re-make.As of 2011, total sales for King’s books were estimated to be between 300 and 350 million copies.

After being cut from his high school basketball team, a young Michael Jordan went home and cried in the privacy of his bedroom.But Jordan didn't let this early-in-life setback stop him from playing the game and the basketball superstar has stated, "I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

Steve Jobs was a college dropout, a fired tech executive and an unsuccessful businessman.At 30-years-old he was left devastated after being unceremoniously removed from the company he founded.In a 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University, Jobs explained, "I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life."

Before he was Wolverine on "X-Men" or a Broadway star, actor Hugh Jackman got fired from his cashier job at 7-Eleven."I got fired after six weeks because the (boss) said I talked too much to the customers," Jackman explained to Us Weekly.

In 1954, Elvis was still a no-name performer, and Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, fired Elvis Presley after just one performance telling him, "You ain't goin' nowhere, son. You ought to go back to drivin' a truck."Elvis went on to become the second best-selling artists of all time

Oprah Winfrey was fired from one of her first jobs because she was "unfit for TV.

What is holding you back from getting what you want in life? Go get it!!

DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS!

I'm not sure who wrote this but I found it on FB and had to share. I am a Texan at heart so this one hit home!

 

Only in Texas

Just Texas
Pep, Texas 79353
Smiley, Texas 78159
... Paradise, Texas 76073
Rainbow, Texas 76077
Sweet Home, Texas 77987
Comfort , Texas 78013
Friendship, Texas 76530

Love the sun?
Sun City, Texas 78628
Sunrise, Texas 76661
Sunset, Texas 76270
Sundown, Texas 79372
Sunray, Texas 79086
Sunny Side, Texas 77423

Want something to eat?
Bacon, Texas 76301
Noodle, Texas 79536
Oatmeal, Texas 78605
Turkey, Texas 79261
Trout, Texas 75789
Sugar Land, Texas 77479
Salty, Texas 76567
Rice, Texas 75155
Pearland, Texas 77581
Orange, Texas 77630
And top it off with:
Sweetwater , Texas 79556

Why travel to other cities? Texas has them all!
Detroit, Texas 75436
Cleveland, Texas 75436
Colorado City, Texas 79512
Denver City, Texas 79323
Klondike, Texas 75448
Pittsburg, Texas 75686
Newark, Texas 76071
Nevada, Texas 75173
Memphis, Texas 79245
Miami, Texas 79059
Boston, Texas 75570
Santa Fe, Texas 77517
Tennessee Colony, Texas 75861
Reno, Texas 75462
Pasadena, Texas 77506
Columbus, Texas 78934

Feel like traveling outside the country?
Athens, Texas 75751
Canadian, Texas 79014
China, Texas 77613
Dublin, Texas 76446
Egypt, Texas 77436
Ireland, Texas 76538
Italy, Texas 76538
Turkey, Texas 79261
London, Texas 76854
New London, Texas 75682
Paris, Texas 75460
Palestine, Texas 75801

No need to travel to Washington D.C.
Whitehouse, Texas 75791

We even have a city named after our planet!
Earth, Texas 79031

We have a city named after our state:
Texas City, Texas 77590

Exhausted?
Energy, Texas 76452

Cold?
Blanket, Texas 76432
Winters, Texas 79567

Like to read about History?
Santa Anna, Texas 76878
Goliad, Texas 77963
Alamo, Texas 78516
Gun Barrel City, Texas 75156
Robert Lee , Texas 76945

Need Office Supplies?
Staples, Texas 78670

Want to go into outer space?
Venus , Texas 76084
Mars , Texas 79062

You guessed it. It's on the state line.
Texline , Texas 79087

For the kids...
Kermit, Texas 79745
Elmo, Texas 75118
Nemo, Texas 76070
Tarzan, Texas 79783
Winnie, Texas 77665
Sylvester, Texas 79560

Other city names in Texas, to make you smile......
Frognot, Texas 75424
Bigfoot, Texas 78005
Hogeye, Texas 75423
Cactus, Texas 79013
Notrees, Texas 79759
Best, Texas 76932
Veribest, Texas 76886
Kickapoo, Texas 75763
Dime Box, Texas 77853
Old Dime Box, Texas 77853
Telephone, Texas 75488
Telegraph, Texas 76883
Whiteface, Texas 79379
Twitty, Texas 79079

And last but not least, the Anti-Al Gore City
Kilgore, Texas 75662

And our favorites...
Cut and Shoot, Texas 77303
Gun Barrel City , Texas 75147
Ding Dong, Texas
West, Texas (it's in Central Texas )
and, of course,
Muleshoe, Texas 79347

Here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about folks from Texas...

If someone in a Lowe's store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you may live in Texas;

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in Texas;

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in Texas;

If 'Vacation' means going anywhere south of Dallas for the weekend, you may live in Texas;

If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Texas;

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in Texas;

If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you may live in Texas;

If you carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you may live in Texas;

If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph --you're going 80 and everybody's passing you, you may live in Texas;

If you find 60 degrees 'a little chilly', you may live in Texas;

If you actually understand these jokes, and share them with all your Texas friends, you definitely live in Texas .

Here are some little known, very interesting facts about Texas .

1. Beaumont to El Paso : 742 miles
2. Beaumont to Chicago : 770 miles
3. El Paso is closer to California than to Dallas
4. World's first rodeo was in Pecos , July 4, 1883.
5. The Flagship Hotel in Galveston is the only hotel in North America built over water. Destroyed by Hurricane Ike - 2008!
6. The Heisman Trophy was named after John William Heisman who was the first full-time coach at Rice University in Houston .
7. Brazoria County has more species of birds than any other area in North America .
8. Aransas Wildlife Refuge is the winter home of North America 's only remaining flock of whooping cranes.
9. Jalapeno jelly originated in Lake Jackson in 1978.
10. The worst natural disaster in U.S. history was in 1900, caused by a hurricane in which over 8,000 lives were lost on Galveston Island .
11. The first word spoken from the moon, July 20, 1969, was " Houston ," but the Space Center was actually in Clear Lake City (South of Houston) at the time.
12. King Ranch in South Texas is larger than Rhode Island .
13. Tropical Storm Claudette brought a U.S. rainfall record of 43" in 24 hours in and around Alvin , TX in July of 1979.
14. Texas is the only state to enter the U.S. by TREATY, (known as the Constitution of 1845 by the Republic of Texas to enter the Union) instead of by annexation. This allows the Texas Flag to fly at the same height as the U.S. Flag, and may divide into 5 states.
15. A Live Oak tree near Fulton is estimated to be 1500 years old.
16. Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state.
17. Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885. There is no period in Dr Pepper.
18. Texas has had six capital cities: Washington-on-the Brazos, Harrisburg , Galveston , Velasco, West Columbia and Austin .
19. The Capitol Dome in Austin is the only dome in the U.S. , which is taller than the Capitol Building in Washington , DC (by 7 feet).
20. The San Jacinto Monument is the tallest free standing monument in the world and it is taller than the Washington Monument .
21. The name ' Texas ' comes from the Hasini Indian word 'tejas' meaning friends. Tejas is not Spanish for Texas .
22. The State Mascot is the Armadillo. An interesting bit of trivia about the armadillo is they always have four babies. They have one egg, which splits into four, and they either have four males or four females.
23. The first domed stadium in the U.S. was the Astrodome in Houston ..

Cowboy's Ten Commandments posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Fairlie , Texas :
(1) Just one God.
(2) Honor yer Ma & Pa.
(3) No telling tales or gossipin'.
(4) Git yourself to Sunday meeting.
(5) Put nothin' before God.
(6) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal.
(7) No killin'.
(8) Watch yer mouth.
(9) Don't take what ain't yers.
(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff.

Y'all git all that?

Lord, keep Your arm around my shoulder and Your hand over my mouth.