In choosing one area of our lives where ‘I Believe’ we were truly blessed as a family, was our involvment in 4-H. After a long and hard prior year with Market Beef, our son’s steer won Grand Champion Market Beef. Being the proud parent and seeing the affect it had on him, made us realize that all of our support, and the support of 4H, helped shape him into a stronger, more self assured man he has become today. All his hard work and effort paid off as he not only received the top award, but was able to sell his steer at top dollar. He pushed thru the hard times of raising a beef, learned to handle a large animal and not be afraid, practiced teaching the animal to lead, fed and groomed the animal all on his own in order to show himself and us that he had what it took to accomplish this task. As it turned out, this was one of the greatest accomplishment in his young life. Knowing he could accomplish this one task set him up for many future accomplishments he would never have thought possible without this early training.

The same is true of our daughter, who won Queen at the Fair. She was involved in an automobile accident in her Senior year of High School, where she broke her neck. Being laid up most the the year in a neck brace and having to go thru surgery to fuse bones together, she still had the courage to try out for ‘Queen at the Fair’ with her horse. Not having ridden alot that year, her horse “took care of her” as she rode and she not only won Queen, but also the ‘Horsemanship Award’ and the ‘Personality Award’. The stamina and character she showed by not giving up and the follow thru she exhibited in order to accomplish her dreams, proved to us that not only were we blessed with a wonderful daughter, but we were also blessed by her example of determination and her accomplishments in the face of over-whelming deterrants.

Participating in 4-H activities helped teach us all that hard work, committment, responsibility and also persistence was a lesson worth learning and living. The rewards were outstanding and today the kids still strive to be the best they can be. They work hard, have great jobs, wonderful families and they are there for each other and will pass on those and other lessons to their children.

My hope is to be able to instill the same lessons in my grandchildren that were instilled in my children through 4-H and at home. In addition to the lessons we all learned from 4-H, we also learned that no one accomplishes all these things alone. We have learned that in addition to an organization like 4-H, friends and family are also an important support system for each of us to see us thru the tough times and the hard times as well as the good times.

So, in conclusion, ‘I Believe’ the most important lesson I feel we learned was that we are all “Family”. The kids won the awards, the ribbons, the crown for Queen, the feeling of being the Grand Champion, but we all worked TOGETHER ! We encouraged each other, we felt the sweat and tears when things didn’t go as they should, and we were happy and excited when they did. We were a “WE” and “WE” are all in this together – Friends, Family and a wonderful organization called 4-H!

If you would like to share your “I Believe” thoughts or for more information, please go to our contact page and become a part of our family. ‘We’ are all in this together and would love to share your thoughts.

Thank you for sharing your time with “Me”. You are appreciated.

From Me 2 You Online
Barbara.

My parents taught me the important values of Honesty, Integrity, Loyalty, Love, Family values and Commitment. I believe all of these can be summed up in “Life is what you make it.”

First of all I believe GOD is our stronghold for these values and helps up to follow, learn and obey so that each of us can place these core values in our lives. Our greatest gift is to instill these in each other, in our children and in our youth.

Believing in ourselves that we are strong enough to make the choices that are best for us and everyone involved is hard. As long as we make choices that do not hurt anyone physically or emotionally, we are doing our best. We can become better people, more giving and loving, more helpful, more understanding of each other and we can change our habits if we are willing to take the step to make life better. Whatever the challenge or obstacle, we have the help from GOD to carry us thru and guide us and teach us HIS will. We can overcome anything if we ask for direction and listen. HIS promise to us is that the same circumstance will never happen to us again if we trust in HIM and follow HIS lead. I believe your head, and your choices, follow your heart. Keep your heart clear and clean and your choices will be the same. Keep honesty, as your most important choice and the rest will come. Life IS what you make it as long as you are willing to take responsibility for your actions and make it a long and lasting journey.

Thank you for sharing your time with Me!

Barb M.
From Me 2 You Online

Creative Rule #1. Follow your heart and the beat of your own drum. When you listen to the suggestions of others it only brings disharmony to the garden you are trying to create. When you have a unique idea, don’t waste your time or effort trying to please other people. They will never appreciate the full measure of your uniqueness because they are never in the exact same space or mindset as you. If you notice, the usual help or advice you receive will normally come in the form of negative feedback, like “Don’t plant that kind of flower or lettuce – it doesn’t grow very well here”. If everyone listened only to the negative information, and not to their hearts, we would probably not even bother planting a garden. How sad would that be? Listen to yourself – you have all the information you need!

Creative Rule #2. Get outside and sit with your garden and your thoughts. When you are sitting quietly, in your own space, clear and relax your mind, breathe deep and allow that creative spark in you to awaken, flourish and grow. It will come. The more time you spend in your garden the more you will find your special gift of creativity. You will also soon find that others will welcome your originality more because it is uniquely yours and it allows them to see how important an asset you are; and in allowing yourself to be special, you are encouraging them to do the same.

Creative Rule #3. There is no need for fancy gadgets or tools. A true artist reduces the number of tools in their gardening shed because as we gain experience in our garden we know what works, what doesn’t, and we find we only need a few perfect tools. I have a perfect shovel, a couple of different rakes and a hand trowel I would be lost without. What more do I need?

Creative Rule #4. No garden will happen without some kind of passion. Does it wake you up in the mornings? Do you think of the flame burning in your fire-pit? What is the flower you have to have in your garden? Are there any plants you must have or your garden will be incomplete? Are you a flower child or the vegetable green giant type? Is the outdoors your passion and you really don’t care if it is a flower garden or a vegetable garden, just as long as you can be outside? That is passion and that is what will keep you going.

Creative Rule #5. Take a walk through the neighborhood and check out other gardens. Look online for inspirational ideas, pictures or through magazines and/or gardening books. You can’t force inspiration. Sometimes it hits when you least expect it, so for those unpredictable, yet inevitable moments, you might want to be prepared by having a notebook with you to record your ideas. In recording your ideas you will also discover your own style. Is it brightly colored flowers or do you like the pastels? There are so many choices, but only one will be uniquely yours.

So, again, think of all the colors in the crayon box – which ones do you like the best and which ones will you stay away from? Get your notebook, read the thoughts you wrote down and know that you are capable of creating the most beautiful and bountiful garden in both your heart and your yard!

Thank you for sharing your time with Me.

I wish you peace, joy and balance in all you do. Enjoy the garden of your life!

From Me 2 You Online.

The death card is far more likely to represent a major change of some kind, I say major because there are other cards in the deck that represent change, however, none so much as DEATH.

The death card indicates a transformation from a lower point, to a higher point, and finally the highest point. In other words the death card means you will make a change and with that change you start at the bottom and work your way up to a point where you can’t go any higher as you are now satisfied with where you are. The death card will always maintain its meaning; however, depending upon where the card is located in a spread and what the seeker wants to know will depend on what level you are at with the card.

The most common of spreads is the Celtic Cross. What each card represents will be added and then I will give a few examples of the death card based on its position in the spread.

1. The first card is the significator if used. Otherwise it represents the general tone of the issue at hand.
2. The second card goes on top of the first to indicate the basic problem, obstacle or antagonist.
3. The third card shows the foundation of the issue: worries, desires, influences etc.
4. The fourth card shows the immediate past, what led the seeker to the current situation.
5. The fifth card “crowns” the situation. It is the goal, the dreams, or the best outcome.
6. The sixth card is the immediate future. This is not the final outcome, simply the next step on the journey.
7. The seventh card represents the seeker and how they approach the situation.
8. The eighth card represents the seekers immediate surroundings – house, workplace, people, etc.
9. The ninth card represents hopes and fears. It can be the best or the worst. It can represent aspiration or warning.
10. The tenth card is the final outcome. It must, of course, be read in conjunction with the other cards in the spread.

We will use most people’s favorite ‘placements’ as these are where most people want answers, the Past, the Future, and/or the Final Outcome.
- If the death card appears in the past position it does not always mean that someone has died, it could, and more then likely does mean, you have ended something and are not going back to it, therefore it is dead.
- If the death card appears in the future position this again does not mean that you or someone else is going to die. It usually means that you have come to a decision about something and are ready to end it; again therefore the situation will die.
- Finally if the death card appears in the final outcome position it does not mean that your final outcome is a mortal death, it means that whatever has been on your mind, either in a good way or a bad, the outcome is that the situation will come to an end. Again this can either be an end in a good way, as in leaving a bad job or an abusive relationship, or it can be in a bad way as in your idea did not work out and you must let it go or the dream job you wanted you are not going to get.

Regardless of all of this you must still remember one thing, NOTHING is set in stone. You will make and change your path with each decision and these cards are only a tool to help you decide that path. And yes, that also includes the Death card.

So remember if you see it come up in a spread it may just be the good luck you were looking for.

Thank you for sharing your time with Me.

From Me 2 You Online
Blessed Be,
C.T.

Mokichi Okada’s inspired writings are practical, simple teachings of common sense that offer guidance in order to achieve health, spiritual upliftment and happiness. Johrei has been compared to Reiki, which also had its’ beginnings in Japan. They are similar in many ways but Johrei works with the energy of fire while Reiki works with the energy of water. Johrei also takes healings a step further into the understanding that we all can increase our health and happiness by bringing beauty into our lives and eating naturally grown foods.

In his lifetime, Mokichi Okada built and inspired the creation of magnificent art museums, filled with inspirational art pieces that he collected. He believed that all art of a higher inspiration or vibration should be shared with everyone and not just cloistered within the collections of the privileged few. He designed exquisite gardens and structures that he envisioned as prototypes of an ideal community. In addition to the art museums and exquisite gardens, Mokichi Okada started ‘Nature Farming’ which is now not only being practiced in Japan but all over the world.
Johrei’s healing energy is given by a Johrei practitioner directing that energy through the palm of the hand at various parts of the body. There is no ‘laying on of hands’ as there is in Reiki. Although Johrei can be received where ever you are – you do not have to be within the immediate vicinity of the practitioner – one is encouraged to receive Johrei at a Johrei Center as the vibrational energy is much greater and has a much more profound effect on the receiver.

If you are interested in receiving Johrei please contact me via email at adlbrand@yahoo.com and I will get in touch with you as soon as possible. Please make reference to ‘Johrei session’ in the subject line so it is not automatically directed to the spam folder. Thank You.

Thank you for sharing your time with ME
From Me 2 You Online
Laurie

Dr. Mikao Usui is the founder of the Reiki system of natural healing. Reiki is a combination of two Japanese words – Rei means “God’s Wisdom” or “Higher Power” and Ki means “Life Force Energy”. The practice of Reiki is actually “spiritually guided life force energy.” While Reiki is not considered to be a religion, it still imparts a need to live and act in a way that promotes a harmony with ones self and others. Reiki has no dogma attached to its principals and there are no religious beliefs you must believe in order to learn or practice Reiki. Reiki will work whether you believe in it or not because Reiki comes from a Higher Power outside of oneself.

Reiki classes are available to those seeking a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement, but it is not taught in the usual sense. It is transferred to a student through an “attunement” given by a Reiki Master during a Reiki class. It has been taught to people of all ages and backgrounds and its use is not dependent on one’s intellectual capacity or spiritual development and therefore is available to everyone. One of the most popular forms for Reiki Practitioners is practicing Reiki with Angels. Practitioners using this method follow the same format as regular practitioners but with the added benefit of calling on specific angels to assist them. Reiki has been proven to be effective in helping virtually every known illness as it works in conjunction with medical and therapeutic techniques to relieve symptoms, side effects and promote recovery. Many recipients of a Reiki treatment have stated that they feel a wonderful energy or glowing radiance that flows through and around them. They also report they feel relaxed and less stressful after a session. Reiki is designed to treat the entire person as a complete entity. This includes the body, the mind and the spirit.