Wednesday Wisdom!! How to be happy....

Wednesday Wisdom!!  How to be happy....

Chinese Proverb: 

If you want happiness for an hour....take a nap. 

~ If you want happiness for a day....go fishing.

~ If you want happiness for a month....get married.

~ If you want happiness for a year...inherit a fortune. 

~ If you want happiness for a lifetime ............................................   help somebody.

 I didn't make my notes on "Treasure Yourself Tuesday" this week.  Time escapes me with much going on.  (~my music link: Time in a bottle!!!! ENJOY!!! ~ )...I hope you all took Great Care of "YOU" this week and gave yourself some personal time.  If not....the week is still young my friends!  I believe it is key to the above Chinese proverb as well.  You can not possibly help anyone else if you have nothing to give.  You need to start by taking great care of "YOU!"  So, go out ...stay in...whatever it takes!  Take care of you!

Jim Croce - Time In A Bottle (1973) Below link enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHDt2t0oO7g&feature=player_embedded#

 

 

Stories From The Yard:

 

Yesterday: Tuesday March 30th 2010

While walking around I was approached by a couple of kids.

"Mrs. Sharpe...Mrs. Sharpe!!! You gotta see this!!!!" So we three go running out to the back field.

Out at the back field there is a student who has captured a baby field mouse! He is holding it in by the head between his forefingers and supporting its body with his other hand.

I remained CALM. Much like I had to remain CALM when disposing of a half eaten gopher. I told him that he needed to let the poor thing go because it needed to be back with his family. He said he wanted to keep it. I told him that it could bite him and he started to walk toward me to let it go!!

I told him: "NO! NOT BY ME!!!" (Please note that I sprung into a dance like motion that resembled Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Willie!) "Over by the fence..... Careful.... Please!" I told him.

I then told him to go wash his hands .....With SOAP. Then instructed all the students to "step away from the rodent."

I don't really get freaked out by these things. However, I do recall my mother and I standing on a table when we saw a mouse run across the floor. Now...I ask ya? Can mice run up and get on the table? If so.....what good does it do, to stand on a table? I think back and just laugh! I think of when my dad flushed the tiny babies (eyes not even open) down the toilet and I was standing there throwing cheese in with them. Just in case they survived the trip!

Ya just gotta love growing up in the country!!!

Have a GREAT Day!!!
keepitbubbly!
xox~Jeri

Oh Happy Day....(Always A Song In My Heart)

Oh Happy Day....(Always A Song In My Heart)

I am so impressed by the talent of the kids at the school where I work.  They all have such wonderful gifts and beautiful voices.  I hope they continue to be encouraged "to make a joyful noise" throughout their lives.  Their theme of the event was about Disney and making your dreams come true.    I feel that with a song in your heart and being true to yourself, all your dreams can and will come true.  If there is something you want to achieve then you must go out and get it.  Follow your passion and make your luck happen.  You can set out to get the things you want if you "GO FOR IT!"  I like to say; "'Nothing' happens while sitting back & doing 'Nothing.'"  Just as we are taught to take the reins of a horse when we first learn to ride, we need to do this with our dreams.  We need to take our confidence by the reins and get to it.  If we get bucked off a horse we are told; "Saddle up!  ....The day is not over yet!"  If our plans do not turn out as we had liked, we can either adjust, or move forward and keep the wheels turning on the wagon of success!   How many times have you heard that there is no dress rehearsal for life?  "So.....Pony Up the day is a~wastin'!"  Don't wait to find that lucky horseshoe...four leaf clover....or for prince charming to rescue you!  Remember your dreams and stay the course!
There is one thing I must add to this.  I do believe that there are some areas in our life where we need to let it be.  If things are meant to be, then they will turn out for the best.  I really believe that things come back around for that chance to make it right.  You can not force someone to do anything.  "If they care....there they be!!! Right with you & they have your back without question!!!  You do not need to ask them to be your friend,  they are and always have been.  It is about acceptance...love...devotion...trust & hope.....

~My mom sent me an email and I want to share it with the world.  So here it is.....(I am not sure who sent it to her but it is lovely!  It is my hope that it inspires you the way it has me!)

email from my mom~ I love you all & this is easier than email! Enjoy! :)

Jeri,

There are some powerful messages in this, read it slowly, quietly and I Believe it will touch your soul

Love,

Mom

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born
A Death Certificate shows that we died
Pictures show that we lived! Have a seat . Relax . . .And  read  this slowly.

I Believe....
That just because two people argue,
It doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
It doesn't mean they do love each other.

 
I Believe...
That we don't have to change friends if
We understand that friends change.


I Believe....
That no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...
That true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.

I Believe...
That you can do something in an instant
That will give you heartache for life..

I Believe....
That it's taking me a long time
To become the person I want to be.

 
I Believe...
That you should always leave loved ones with
Loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe.....
That you can keep going long after you think you can't..


I Believe....
That we are responsible for what
We do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe...
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe....
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs
to be done, regardless of the consequences.
 



I Believe....
That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I Believe....
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down
will be the ones to help you get back up.


I Believe...
That sometimes when I'm angry
I have the right to be angry,
But that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe....
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had
And what you've learned from them and less to do with  how many
birthdays you've celebrated.

 

I Believe...
That no matter how bad your heart is broken
the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe....
That our background and circumstances
may have influenced who we are,
But, we are responsible for who we become.


I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager to find
Out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I Believe....
Two people can look at the exact same
Thing and see something totally different.

I Believe...
That your life can be changed in a matter of
Hours by people who don't even know you.


I Believe....
That even when you think you have no more to give,
When a friend cries out to you -
you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...
That credentials on the wall
do not make you a decent human being.


I Believe...
That the people you care about most in life
are taken from you too soon.

I Believe...
That you should send this to
all of the people that you believe in, I just did.



'The happiest of people don't necessarily
have the best of everything;
They just make the most of everything they have.

(I LOVE YOU MOM!!! Thank you for being my Mom! We need OUR trip to Italy......  xox ~jd)

(Like i said before, I am not sure where my mom got this.  I love it though and I love all of my friends!)
 "There Ain't No Mountain High Enough," song I posted below is my way of telling you all how I feel!  You are awesome and go for it!  Get the things in this life that you want!  If you need me......I'll be there in a hurry....and you all know how much I love hiking!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQQIbMdfis0

Have a great weekend!  keep it bubbly ..... xox ~Jeri
http://centralcoastsoaps.com/

(If you like what I have written & posted, please add yourself to my Follow List.  I am working my way up to posting on my blog at least twice a week. :) Treasure Yourself Tuesday or Wednesday Wisdom,   & then A Weekend Post of Sorts...Enjoy! (: Thank You!  I would also enjoy reading your thoughts! :) .)
Have a great week and don’t forget to subscribe!
A BIT MORE INSPIRATION FOR TODAY BEFORE I'M OUT AND ABOUT:    :) Enjoy!
Check out the below link and song are for Deborha Daniele
my Pirate Writing Pal! The creator of  The Pirate Balthasar!  I am so inspired by the work she does!
http://thepiratebalthasar.blogspot.com/http://thepiratebalthasar.blogspot.com/
Deborha,  You are very talented!  I saw the video with this song and thought of your blog!  So I thought I would share it with all my other friends!
:) xJeri
P.S.  I have not forgotten.  I am still going to post those pics of the California coast for you!!  :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgAdSMMdFmI&feature=player_embedded#

Sunday Funday......A Peaceful Easy Feeling

Sunday Fun~day!......A Peaceful Easy Feeling.....
 (By now...I hope you know that if I give reference to a song, I am going to try and post the song! ~ Please Enjoy the below youtube link to The Eagles: Peaceful Easy Feeling.  I woke this morning with this song in my head.  Love the Eagles....Always have ...Always will!)  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44_rtJxPg0s&feature=player_embedded#

It was a busy Saturday of cleaning my house, a quick outing of visiting, then out to dinner with my family at "C.J.'s Cafe" in Arroyo Grande.  Waking this morning with my house mostly clean, and my laundry done, I can honestly say that I have a bit of myself back. 
Cleaning my house is something that happens on a regular basis.  It may not be always perfect, but we do the best we can under the conditions we are given.  The trick these days has been training my children to clean their own rooms.  I am now working with the idea that if I keep doing it for them, they will NEVER do it on their own.  The line in the carpet has been drawn and I am holding the line.  My daughter seems to think that "looks clean" and "clean" are one and the same.  A quick peek under her bed and you will find out why she is so quick at cleaning her room.  Meanwhile, my son won't lift a finger to make his bed unless there is something in it for him.  I have found however, that taking away his Nintendo ds is a good bargaining tool.  He has also come to know the power that money holds.  Last week he paid my daughter a dollar to make his bed.  A job she has yet to be paid for and I have told her she needs to start charging him interest.  
These days I find it better to eat at home rather than eat out because I am trying to eat healthier.  We do go out now and then, but it is easier to eat whole fresh foods when you eat at home.  I had never been to C.J.'s Cafe before, but in the past few years I have had several people tell me that they liked it.  My husband wanted to take us out because he had done well in his fishing tournament.  So off to C.J.'s we went last night where I enjoyed a fresh green salad and a tender tri-tip sandwich on a french roll with really yummy barbeque sauce.  They make the sauce there and I think next time I will try a the barbeque beef sandwich with thinly sliced beef.  My friends were right, the cafe was clean, the people there were pleasant, and the food was good. 
Even though I enjoyed getting my house in order and going out to eat was a treat, the highlight to my day was not found in either one.  The exception and excitement to my Saturday came serendipitously by my brother in law taking care of my kids for a couple of hours.  This allowed me to steel away a bit of time for myself and go out and about visiting.  Sometimes all we need to "feel good" is to break away, do something for ourselves.  To do this is bliss.  If you are able to do this in the company of people you care about it is even better.  It is good to let go of the tension that has been getting the best of us and gain back a bit of who we are deep inside.  It really isn't hard to relax and be ourselves when we are with friends who show genuine care and concern for how and who we are.  We compromise our health and well being on daily basis by giving pieces of ourselves to people who don't really care and make us feel uncomfortable in our own skin.  By taking time out to restore our balance and well being we can again feel whole. 

So this morning I woke with a Peaceful Easy Feeling.   I am lucky to have good friends who accept me for who I am without judgment and know that I do the same for them. They restore my hope and faith in this life and help me to keep it bubbly!   It will be a busy week! Inventory, reworking my website & making summer soaps this week!  I hope you have a great week  xox~Jeri

Treasure Yourself Tuesday, ..A New Day, ..A New YOU!

Thank YOU Jamie, Adrian, Tom, Kath, Keri Renee' ~ Alana, Maili (of K~JAM!), Marcie, MOM!!!, Linda, Robert, Paul, Susan, Pam(good to see you at the store today! & Danette! & Nathan good to run into you too!)  & the list could go on all day....We get by with a little help from our friends!!

We all have our ups and downs and I am so thankful that everyday is a new day! In this life we have our family and our friends to share in our joys and hopefully lean on for caring support in times of sadness.  So often I hear from my friends and I feel this myself that the lines between the two become marred, because you feel so close to your friends that they become your family. A hectic schedule and a mess of issues going on in my life, I found myself forgetful to wish a dear one happiness on his special day. His kind words in reply to my note reminds me of how lucky I am to have such wonderful friends.  He is a man who shares in the love and respect that I have for the outdoors.   I share with all of you the picture above & poem below.  In his honor......"Happy (belated) Birthday Jamie."

[Picture above~ A Natural Heart by Jeri Sharpe "~ 3/17/2010]
A Natural Heart~
I always find my true self
I always find my heart
When I return to nature.
The feel of dirt beneath my feet
Smell of pine & sage 
For me the call of the red tailed hawk is sweet.
No sounds of city
No sounds of streets
Only wind through the trees
& babble of the creek.
This is my bliss
This is how I begin to breathe
I walk ....I run  ....I climb
I feel my heart beat
I am alive!  I am free!  I am ME!


I look up to Jamie and all of my friends.   Some of you on my facebook page have known me from birth and some have known me from when I was just 12 years old and started at Los Alamos Elementary School/ or just after that for my year at Jamestown Elementary in Colorado.  That is an amazing 30 years ago!  "Wow!" to the changes in my life that have gone on between then and now.  My friends/family, you are awesome!  I look to you and often find such wonderful inspiration.  I find that you have great character and strength.  You have all lived such amazing lives already and there is so much living to do still!.  Even if you don't think you have, "we have all come a long way."  You never know the difference you have make in someones life.  A simple smile and "hello" in the store, or to see you help someone get that door may restore hope.
I love how all of you have always taught me something, given me hope and encouraged me to "keep on the path!"  Most of all, you have cared for me and given me your true friendship.  For that I thank you with all my heart!

Today, for "Treasure Yourself Tuesday...A New Day A New YOU!"   I give to you a couple of books I have found lately and I am currently reading....
 (Keri Renee' & a few others have me on a health kick!  It is funny because before I married, I had given up junk food.  Slowly over the years I had allowed it to creep back in and then slowly I just started giving it up again.  For instance I no longer drink soda and I really haven't for a long time.  I would mostly get tea or lemonade anyway and then never finish it.  All other things I have given up in bits.  A food snob I am not, because now and then I really want a Cheeseburger and Chocolate Cake!  These days with my health kick (& my pledge to have sixpack abs by summer), I find myself wanting to learn about health, fitness, and business.  I have so many things to learn that I really am looking to my friends to help in the continued education of me.  I really enjoy reading too. (It keeps me from bending your ears! Ha Ha Ha)  So here are the books I am reading...Let me know if there are any you recommend!  Thanks in advance!   Enjoy the links! Hope you enjoyed your day!  It is never too late to take care of you! Take time to Treasure Yourself Tuesday/today!.... Keep it bubbly! xox~Jeri

http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Healing-Foods-Michael-Murray/dp/074348052X

http://www.amazon.com/YOU-Owners-Insiders-Healthier-Younger/dp/0060765313


http://www.amazon.com/Rework-Jason-Fried/dp/0307463745

(Theses are kinda fun and why I picked up the book Rework)Review trailers about the book Rework:

 http://37signals.com/svn/posts/2137-rework-trailer-1-staying-late

http://37signals.com/svn/posts/2160-rework-trailer-2-conference-call-meeting

Marvelous Monday!!! Tickle me it is ...........

Marvelous Monday!!! Tickle me it's ........tax time! At this time of year we are all bogged down with paperwork. It is the time of year that everyone could use a good tickle, laugh or something to raise our spirits. In our household, taxes seems to be my job. I always seem to be the one to keep the paperwork together. So while everyone else headed off to Margarita lake for a morning of fishing fun, I was at home pouring myself more coffee searching for yet another receipt. To put the final finishing totals in check so we can pay someone to do our taxes for us! I know it is funny, but I would rather be really sure! I did this until I was cross eyed. I finally gave in to an an afternoon of relaxing fun with my Mom, some NASCAR, and some Chinese food. Thanks MOM!!! (Next time I am driving your Corvette like nascar to get that food instead of my car! **See above picture and my beautiful MOM!!)

Now back to taxes! If it is set up to get a refund, or if a payment is to be made........there is not a difference in the eyes if the government! We all have to file on time! Did ya get that? We ALL have to file on TIME!!! It really makes no difference who you are, death and taxes is the two that they say we must all do! Getting them filed can bring out the best, or worst in our character. I prefer to just live with no regrets and with little drama, so.....I like all else that must be done....try to just get mine filed far before the due date. The less DRAMA in my life the better. Having a daughter adds enough drama, I need not bring more to the party! For me....the past years have taught me so much. All I have ever wanted was a simple life. I do not require much to be happy. Roof over my head, food to eat, and people that love me to share my joy. I require faithful loyal friends that to be sure I have been truly blessed with. I feel that life is too short to worry for the small insignificant muck that people like to drag you through, so I like to stay out of it as much as possible. In fact, for me the less complicated and the more simple I keep my life the better.
Recently, however I ran into an old friend that reminded me that complicated is sometimes worth having. I had been working so hard to rid my life of drama. Some people live for the drama, I run from it. In my running from it and on my quest for my new career, I had lost my passion for what I want. "I thank you my friend! (You know who you are.) You make me want to be a better person. You reminded me of who I once was as a young naive girl full of dreams and big ideas, combined with the woman I have become. You have helped me see that I still have a lot of living to do & you have re-lit a fire in me to make me want to complicate my life and find that passion again!"
As I have veered away from drama there is one thing that I stand by although you will hear me apologize from time to time. Please do take them all as heartfelt because clearly I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it. However, I don't like people to apologize to me for things beyond their control. Nor do I like to be made to feel that I must apologize for something beyond mine. I try to live within the lines of not doing things that I have to apologize for. I follow my heart and do what feels right, good and true. I know who my friends are. You who are my friends......thank you for being my friends!
Now to that...I say.....Have a Marvelous MONDAY!!! GET THOSE TAXES FILED early!!!! I am almost done!!! WooHOOO!!!

The Purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

keepitbubbly
xox~jeri
take care of you!