The Library

I can meet a perfect stranger, fall in and out of love in one day.
I can see places I've never been before, whether near or far away.
I can join with other readers or just sit by myself.
Still, my chance to enter another world is there on a shelf.

I can find well known classics or books not known by all.
And if i wanted to know my heritage, history books heed my call.
I can learn a new language; find out how to get a degree.
And I can keep up with the latest news at my local library.

I can surf the internet; research til my heart's content.
I can make each visit special, more like a spectacular event!
I can check out a video if it's something I want to see.
And if I'd rather hear a song, I can just look for a cd.

I can photocopy or laminate items; there's so much one can do
And fun, inspirational and educational events are offered too.
If you question the importance of the library, just take a look and see
How much of an impact this institution makes in each community!

C. D. Sutton 
copyright September 2009

December 14 2014

What a year in review. Looking back, I wonder what would I have done differently. What can I do in the future to bring a different outcome? The beauty of life is not living with regrets but rather learning from the past. The past cannot be changed but the future can! I vow to talk less and listen more, to continue to think outside the box. It's o.k. to be different. I will find things about myself to like rather than announcing all my faults. I will be good to me. I deserve it. I want to learn one new thing a day, and remember what I learned for future references. I want to keep in touch with family and friends and reunite with others I have gone too long not speaking to. And writing, my passion, will no longer take a back seat to everything else in my life. Did I make this same promise last year this time? Who knows. Well, I really mean it this time! What about you. What has this year taught you and what are you going to do about it!

Recently, media has given much attention to the Ray Rice video. However domestic violence has always been a growing problem. With October, being domestic violence awareness month, even more attention will be shed on ways in which we can help control and hopefully end domestic violence on all fronts. "Breaking the Silence" contains stories and tips on ways of helping to defeat this continual epidemic as it threatens to break the family bonds within our society... Get your free ebook download today! Offer ends Saturday, September 13th....


http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Silence-Victims-No-More-ebook/dp/B00G950KXC/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410441778&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=breaking+the+silence+sarah%27s+refuge+ebook+copy

NATIONAL BATH SAFETY MONTH

Remember that January is Bath Safety Month. Watch for items or actions that may cause a serious accident during bath time.  According to a survey by Consumer Product Safety Commission, an average of 370 people in the U.S. suffer bathtub or shower related injuries each day. Accidents include falls, slips, and hot water burns. People with limited mobility need to be extra cautious.

It is important that a bathroom has safety rails for elderly and physically impaired. It is also important that needed items are within easy reach of use. Safety (anti-skid) mats for tubs and showers and rugs on bathroom floor assist in preventing slipping incidents. Excessive items that take up floor space or cause clutter should be limited or eliminated altogether. Electrical switches, plugs, and items should be kept away from water.

For more tips, please visit the Bath Safety Months links. Your safety depends on you!

Excited about being a part of a new release by Sarah's Refuge, Inc called BREAKING THE SILENCE: VICTIM NO MORE. It includes stories and writings of domestic abuse victims and informational material about rape and domestic abuse. Also included is a personalized safety plan for anyone thinking about leaving an abusive relationship. The initial book signing is tonight but the message is ongoing: The best way to challenge domestic abuse is to stand up and speak out!

The Secrets to Publishing Revealed!

Check out ways to order now!

Since meeting Diane, I have been in awe at the magnitude of knowledge that she has displayed in publishing and promoting books while starting her own publishing company. For those who want to enter or excel in the  world of publishing, she presents tips that keep it simple. Writers need to be given information that they can use. Diane is your go to person, not just because of her intense research behind her presentations but because of her real life examples of how these principles actually work. I congratulate Mrs. Wolfe in the book that so many have been waiting for. Finally, it is here!

You can also visit her blog to get to know her better....

Circle of Friends

Feb. 1, 2013, marks the 10th Year of the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women^®movement — 10 years of fighting to save women's lives from heart disease. While the progress has been significant, there's a long way to go. Here's why:

 Heart disease is still the No. 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year.

 Heart disease kills more women than men, at an average rate of one death per minute.

 Heart disease kills more women than all kinds of cancer combined.

Please join the nation in wearing RED on Friday, February 1st.   Let's become more aware of heart disease and its deadly impact on women.  We can fight back by being physically active, eating a heart-healthy diet and learning about heart disease and its risk factors.

Learn more about heart attack and stroke and how you can become involved in the fight against heart disease at  

GoRedForWomen.org. 

 

"I am a writer, a writer am I.  

Why I am, why I started, I don't know why.

It's in my blood. It will always be. 

Untouchable, inseparable, my words and me!"

Although I've written all my life, it has taken me a while to understand the true power and weight that words carry. Many people speak, write, text, or email words not realizing their power is everlasting and cannot be easily taken back. As a writer, I think I have to be even more aware of where words can lead a person They can make or break a person's willpower or ability to get along with others. A writer, in order to grow, must learn how to write things that make a person not only read what is written, but feel what is being said. I guess my everyday secret prayer is for my words to continue to positively touch the lives of others....

Many women allow themselves to remain in abusive relationships or to be treated unfairly because of low self esteem. If you are someone who needs to realize your true value, please listen to the words of this song I posted on youtube....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB1c4fJtyk4&feature=channel&list=UL

A true icon that we all learned to "wish" with in "I Dream of Jeannie" and then to hate in "Dallas". He will truly be missed....

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/entertainment/15465943/dallas-star-larry-hagman-dies-at-81-family/

http://jesus-loves-you.org/?p=7173&utm_source=jly&utm_medium=email&utm_term=video&utm_content=hears&utm_campaign=5-25-12_2am

I'm thinking that a person shouldn't have to wait until they are this age or until insurance decides to cover it. They should be able to have surgery as soon as feasibly healthy. I'm glad this young lady gets to hear now.

May is arthritis awareness month.   http://www.whathealth.com/awareness/event/arthritis.html

I almost made it to the end of the April challenge. Oh, well, as Scarlett would say, there's "tomorrow" as in next year!

S is for "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious".  Yes, give me something that challenges me. Don't throw me the easy stuff. I want to know that I've done something that few people have taken the time to do.  And, I want it to be impressive. O.K. Easy is good sometimes, but anyone can do easy. It is those things that surpass the ordinary that stand out in a crowd. What makes "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" such a challenge? Is it just the spelling? Is it the fact that hardly anyone knows what it means or that there is no meaning for it? Or is the sheer power of how it sounds when pronounced correctly? We can learn a lot from this word. One, how to think and dream big. Two, how to face and conquer uncertainties and eventually overcome them. And the list could probably go on. 

R is for resilience. Resilient is defined as "tending to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change " That is my watchword for the rest of the year. Go ahead and throw those situations my way. I will do just as I have in the past and bounce back. It may not be easy. I may shed some tears or lose a few winks at night but the outcome will remain the same. I know that there is a reason for all things and most things tend to work themselves out in time. No, I am not living in a fairy tale. There will continue to be some situations that will throw me for a spin as they would for anyone. However, for every problem, there is a solution. We may not agree with that solution or outcome but in the end, we realize that we cannot control everything. So, although some things do not go our way, we can fight back with the determination to move forward, not backwards.So here's to perfecting the advice to "get back up, brush yourself off, and start all over again!"

Q is for questions. I remember a motivational speaker once said that one way to get the right answers in life is to start by asking the right questions. No question is too dumb. Questions help you to clarify the facts and often to learn something new.  Questions can help you grow. No one should feel that they are above wanting to know more.  Acquisition of knowledge is a lifelong process. And it all begins by asking questions!

P is for positive. Yes, I want to stay focused on the positive. Many times, I see myself overcome by negative thoughts and pretty soon negative words follow. I then have to catch myself and say, "Stop. Don't do it!" I am also encouraged by those who continue to be positive despite the circumstances that surround them. It is very enlightening to see that there are some who can see the bright side of any situation. It is not always easy but it is possible. And knowing that when I remain positive, it can have a rippling effect on those around me. Yes, that is one of my mid-year resolutions. To let the positive thoughts overshadow the not so positive ones.

O is for overwhelming. And yes, this has been an overwhelming week for I never would have thought that I would have fallen this far behind in the A to Z challenge. But I will not be deterred.  I will make a commitment to not let the cares of life overwhelm me to the point that I am paralyzed when it comes to accomplishing my goals.  An easy promise you might say. It is a challenge in many ways but nevertheless my desire to reach for my dreams seem to somehow always push me past potential obstacles that could lead me down the wrong path. As I look around me and see so many others who seem to be overwhelmed by the cares of life, I am more determined to not become a statistic to giving in to defeat. How do I describe myself? Overwhelmed but overcoming every step of the way....

N is for "now."  The time is now. Why do you continually put things off for tomorrow. Tomorrow should be left open for new opportunities.  If I could improve on one thing, I would choose the ability to avoid procrastination.  You may not accomplish everything that you set out to do.  However you should be able to take the steps needed to move you to the next level.

M is for......? Who would have thought that I would have begun getting "stumped" this early in the A to Z challenge.  Let's see, music, no. Magic, no. Mystery, no. I know! M is for "Make it Happen." How much time do you have left on earth?  Does it really matter if you live each day to the fullest?  We often procrastinate, waiting for the "right" time and the right time never seems to show up.  I often tell others, don't wait for good fortune to fall in your lap. Instead, make it happen!  Life is a constant battle of the wills. So the question becomes, "Will you do this or will you do that?"  I can't promise you that determination will get you everything you want but it will get you more than you will ever have without it. So do it for yourself, your family, and all those others who are waiting to be inspired by you.  The world is exploding with people who are waiting to say, "If she can do it, so can I."