Extremist Views

Ok, I consider myself to be a moderate. Moderation in all things works for me, but lately, I've become aware of a lot of extremism that may impact your world and mine. In a recent article on aol I read an article about Somalian radio announcers who are being forced to cut out all music - even intros to the news! I was saddened and shocked, to say the least. Then I read about laws being intiated in France against women wearing the burka. Although I would not be wanting to wear a burka and I understand the implications of being a phantom hiding in one of the garments (who knows what men could wear them and hurt others under the guise of a woman????)...but this is happening at home with book banning and so-called Christians fighting those who are so-called anarchists. When will mankind learn to live in dignity and harmony? I'm afraid for our nation as we lean more towards socialism. My family lived under socialism and communism and I know first-hand this is not something I wish for our country....let's pray for our nation today.

Life in the fast lane

Woohoo! It's been so long that I wrote for this blog I forgot how to get here. Took me a while to retrace my steps and figure it out. I think life is like that. Have you ever driven home and realized you don't remember crossing the bridge? You don't remember turning left to get to your own street? You were sort of on auto pilot? Well, sometimes we get to age 50 or 60 and can't remember how we got there.

I think that means we need to slow down and enjoy the life we have. How can we allow things and duties to so influence us that we forget that we are living, breathing creatures who need more than stuff. We need positive emotions. We need lovely experiences. We need to fill our lives with moments. Moments to remember. Not to slavishly endure.

Stop and take a moment to think about a quality experience you might enjoy this coming week. For one, I am going to visit my 9-month old granddaughter, Grace. I will just enjoy her smiles, her attempts at big girl crawling, and her giggle when I ask merrily, "Where is Gracie?" Then I will enjoy the Christmas gift my middle son and his wife gave to us - a dinner and movie on them at our home! To top it off, I am going to kidnap my husband and go somewhere on Sunday where no one can each us and just enjoy being with him. Now, that's quality. That's living. Those are moments I shall not forget.

Run, don't stop! Get out of the race. Plan something worthwhile and enjoyable for yourself this week.

Money don't buy you happiness - love does!

Small things can get to me, especially when they concern my family. I just don't understand how people can take an innocent statement and create drama over it. I have a few relatives who simply get mad at me no matter what I do. It's always drama time. I'm too old to take all this stress. I think I just want happiness and love in the last third of my life or quarter or ten percent of it - whatever is left - I want to be filled with love, acceptance, and kindness. You know what I mean. You make a comment and someone decides to make life miserable or negative. I don't think at sixty I like to be criticized. I have been there enough. I'm just tired. Just tired. My Mama died over two months ago and I am devastated by this loss. I miss her so. She is my sweetheart and angel. What keeps me going is that I know she is watching over me and I am trying to be the good daughter and keep her proud of me! I love her so. So, move over naysayers. Keep your criticism to yourself and learn more about love, acceptance, and nonjudgment. It's the way of the Lord. I hope I can be a good role model to you.

Happy Fourth of July!

Is this not the reason we live? A beautiful child to be treasured and loved forever. Dear Gracie, your Great Grandma Mary loved this country. I hope you will love it, too. We are proud of being Americans. We are proud of our beautiful country and I hope you loved the fireworks tonight. Grandpa and I sat on the deck watching them and thinking of you each moment, wondering if you were perhaps at the river bank watching them with your Mama and Daddy. Happy Fourth of July, precious Grandchild!
Love forever and a day, Grandma and Grandpa

I have been through many life changing situations in the past six weeks - the death of my beloved Mother, a brand new job, a new grandchild, school, make up papers, change in weather, and a total realization that I am solely responsible for my own happiness. My sons aren't. My husband isn't. My daughter in laws aren't. I am. So what can I do? If you check out the following url, you will find some wonderful people who are also looking to change their lives. Read their stories...And prosper!

http://www.squidoo.com/whostolemycheese

Who Moved My Cheese

Book Review Part II
One morning, Sniff and Scurry, raced to the cheese room at the end of Corridor C and discovered the cheese was gone. They weren't really surprised because they had been checking the room each morning and had noticed that the supply was getting smaller.Their instincts took control. Out the door, sniffing the air, and racing out into the scary, dark maze in search of a new cheese supply.Later that day, Hem and Haw showed up at the cheese room. They were horrified. "Who moved my cheese," shouted Hem, along with several other emotional outbursts. No one had the right to take his cheese. Haw stood there in a daze, not really hearing all of Hem's rants and raves. He was dumbfounded that the cheese was gone.What would he do now? His little brain whirred with all manner of thoughts. Sadly, the two little people returned home, hungry.The next day, Hem and Haw returned to the cheese room at the end of Corridor C. They rationalized: the cheese will return. Everything will be as it once was. Day after day they returned, but the cheese never came back.Far away and much deeper into the dark, scary maze, Sniff and Scurry found a NEW CHEESE ROOM with more cheese than they'd ever seen before. Back at the end of Corridor C, Haw began to have thoughts that something needed to be done. He and his friend were growing weak and very thin due to the lack of food.He suggested that the two of them probably should go back out into the scary, dark maze of the unknown and search for a new cheese supply. Hem would not hear of it. That cheese had been his and whoever took it would bring it back; it was only right. The cheese would return. Everything would be like it once was.Each morning Sniff and Scurry would race to the NEW cheese room, check all around, and enjoy the many different cheeses, many more than had been in the OLD cheese room. And, each day, the two little people returned to Corridor C. Each day found them thinner and weaker.Haw made a decision. He would go out into the scary, dark maze of the unknown alone if Hem would not go with him. And he stepped out into the darkness, leaving his friend still waiting for the cheese to return.
Who Moved My Cheese
Book Review Part III
Day after day, Haw would move through the maze of the unknown seeking a new supply of cheese. More than once he thought about returning to his friend at the end of Corridor C. More than once his thoughts bordered on despair as he grew thinner and weaker. Yet he plundered onward.His decision to change his way of thinking was rewarded when he stepped into the NEW CHEESE ROOM and found Sniff and Scurry.Along his journey, Haw had left messages on the wall. He hoped Hem would follow, read the messages, and find his way."If you do not change, you can become extinct.""What would you do if you weren't afraid?""Smell the cheese often so you will know when it is getting old.""Movement in a new direction helps you find new cheese.""When you move beyond your fear, you feel free.""Imagining myself enjoying new cheese even before I find it, leads me to it."Larry's Comments:The simple little story of Who Moved My Cheese can be a powerful one for anyone facing life changes. Its message has helped Beth step forward into the scary, dark maze of the unknown after this last major change in her life.Life changes happen to everyone. It's how we deal with those changes that is important. We can "sniff" the winds of change and "scurry" in a new direction, or we can "hem and haw" around in our misery mad at the world because "no one had the right to move my cheese."Everyone faces challenges. This book is for everyone.

My Beloved Mama....

Maria Helene Bojescul Sieren Kreis (Mary Kreis) was born in Stauceni, Romania on December 1, 1927 to Johan Bojescul and Otilia Mathilda Laufersweiler. She was the first of six children. The family left Romania in 1940 and emigrated to Germany and later on to Austria, where Mary was a student at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. The family was extremely close, with Father Johan teaching mathematics and physics and Mother Otilia teaching elementary school. Mary married William John Sieren of the United States Army and came to the United States via ship through Ellis Island. Later on her parents and two brothers Adrian and Silvius, followed her to the U.S. Mary loved the United States. Whenever anyone asked her where she was from, she said she was an American. She never looked back and never regretted coming to her new home.
After the death of her children’s father, Bill (William), Mary married Robert J. Kreis of Sacramento, CA. She is preceded in death by her husband Bob and her brother Adrian.
Mary leaves three adoring children and their respective spouses: Viola and Stephen Carlile, Evelyn Celli, and John and Leslie Sieren. She is survived by her loving grandsons and their wives: Stephen and Heather Carlile, David and Hollie Carlile, and John Carlile, as well as her precious first great granddaughter, Grace Elisabeth Carlile. She leaves behind a brother Silvius and wife Hildegunde Bojescul, a sister-in-law Miyuki Bojescul, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Mary loved singing and was an alto in her church’s (St. Lawrence) choir for many years. She lived the past two decades in California, but was in the process of moving to Oregon when she was called to her Maker. Funeral services will be in Keizer, Oregon at St. Edward’s Catholic Church at 9:30 am on Thursday, May 21, 2009 with a reception (shindig) afterwards in the church hall.
Burial will be in Sacramento, California with a second funeral mass at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Sacramento – date and time to be determined soon.
Arrangements by Golden Mortuary in Salem, Oregon.

Enough whining

Even the most positive of us all has at one time or another a period of self-pity. Ok. I'm done. Now, let's look at what is good in life. I'm relatively healthy. I have my faculties (well, I think I do!) and I just got a new job. So, what is there to complain about? There are thousands or maybe even millions in this world who have no job, no home, and no food. I have nothing to complain about. I thank God that I am so blessed. So, how can I help those who are less fortunate than I? I believe we have the mandate to help out others no matter what our circumstances are. Family, friends, and strangers - in that order. Make sure our own home is taken care of - remembering not to excess - and then to make sure our friends understand we are there for them. And, then when making our way out into the world, show love and kindness wherever you are. Yeah, that is what is important - certainly not things. Enough of this stuff - I am too lazy to get up off the computer and do something. I need to read, draw, and write for class....You don't have to like everything that's good for you - Gracie knows that! :)