Love Flourishes in a Happy Heart!

"We love to the degree we're happy. While we are unhappy and attending to our fears, we are not loving. The self is always crying out for acceptance. When we deny it that acceptance, things get hairy. Our attention gets sucked into a void inside ourselves, leaving nothing left to give to another." ~Jennifer Hautman

How true it is...

When I am happy, my heart overflows with love..

I think of how much more loving I am after I have received a warm note of appreciation.

I think of how much more loving I am when I am well rested.

I think of how loving I am when I have taken a break and strolled around a reflecting pool of water.

I am much more likely to greet that stranger with a smile, take time to encourage my teenager, or give my husband a hug.

When I am crying for acceptance, I begin to draw within..

I think of how unloving I am when I have been criticized.

I think of how unloving I am when I am hungry.

I think of how unloving I am when I am struggling with an assignment and feeling inadequate.

I am much less likely to make eye contact with the office intern, listen to the complaints of a colleague or volunteer for another project.

If this is true for me, I am sure it is true for many of you. It is also true for our husbands, our children and our colleagues.

If you want to be happy and be able to share love, begin by nourishing yourself. Begin with a full cup, so you will have much to share.

I Believe in a Ray of Hope and I believe your cup will be constantly replenished....

Start loving yourself today!

Connor Doran Flys High as Mom Stands By!

"Children with special needs don't have an illness, so there is no cure and it's not contagious. They want what we all want - to be accepted." My friend, Brenda Nyland Baker had copied these words down after reading them somewhere. She shared the idea with me in honor of Special Needs Week. It had resonated with her and when she shared it with me, it struck a cord, and touched my heart. Brenda and I share many memories and many similar thoughts. Somethings are so good, they must be shared!

Brenda helped me to bring my two youngest children home from an orphanage in Latvia 15 years ago and my life has been enriched beyond measure. While I have been raising my children and looking for answers, Brenda has placed over 1,600 kids into the loving arms of parents who desperately wanted them.

Like me, Brenda knows first-hand what it is like to have a child with special needs and to see that child struggling for acceptance. That child wants acceptance more than anything and it’s a joy to see acceptance in motion. That very idea inspired me to share yet another discovery with you.

Did you watch America's Got Talent last Wednesday night? If you saw the beaming smile of Connor Doran as he was applauded on the stage, your heart must have melted as you saw him enjoy full acceptance.

As I watched his mom enjoy his moment in the spotlight, my eyes filled with tears of joy and recognition. Truly, this is every Mom’s dream… to see her child be recognized and appreciated for his gifts.

We are more alike than we realize and we all have gifts that need recognition and appreciation.

Watch Connor now and see your spirits soar!