Spread the Word to end the Word- the R-word

Tuesday March 31st is a very important date. It is the day designated to Spread the Word to End the Word. The R-Word.

****WARNING****

I'm on my little soapbox but this is SO important to me and to others out there.

Special Olympics is an organization that is very close to my heart and has been for many years.

The R- word is the word retard. I have to tell you that it is a very difficult word to even type.

I can also tell you first hand, that having a child that has "worn" that label for years has been tough.

Especially for him.

What has been interesting to me, is the fact that children didn't seem to consider someone with

intellectual disabilities all that different, but many adults did. It was almost as if it was

"contagious" and should be avoided at all costs.

Words have so much power. They can make someone feel great or totally destroy someone.

The R-word is a word filled with hate and how sad is that?

There are so many words filled with hate. I was in line at the grocery store the other day and a

darling child was sitting in the cart. She was probably 3 years old at most. She pointed to a

magazine that had a prominent couple on the cover and what came out of her mouth was pure

hate. This was coming from a child that obviously didn't even know what she was saying but she

had heard those words before. This innocent child was picking up words of hate and didn't even

know it. Very, very sad. This is our future.

I so admire what Special Olympics has done over the years and what they are trying to do with

this day of awareness.

God Bless them for trying to make a difference.

Finally..... The Giveaway

Thank you for entering. The giveaway is closed.

The winner will be announced on Monday.

I think this Smart Car would make a fabulous giveaway.
I know I would love to win one! Years ago, when I saw my first, I was smitten.
While I can't give a Smart Car, I can give you the next best thing.
O.K, maybe not the next best thing (depends on how you look at it) but still maybe some items that you might just fall in love with.

In a previous post I mentioned that I have an occasional cosmetic related gig. All those years with Clinique as a REM paid off I guess-hehe.
As a result, I receive some fabulous products to try. This girl can only use so much so it is time to share again.

The giveaway includes: a Bobbi Brown Limited Edition cosmetic bag.

A Bobbi Brown limited edition Shimmer Brick in Copper Diamond.

A Chanel Professional Eyeshadow Base in Lumiere Bright.

From Darphin (an incredible line from France), Arovita C Line Response Firming Serum.

A Trinket made by moi.

And last but not least, A Shimmer Brick Compact in Apricot from Bobbi Brown.
When I was telling my youngest about the giveaway and deciding what to give, he suggested that I add an additional Shimmer Brick. So, this extra item came from his input.


It is very easy to enter. Just leave a comment on this post.
If you don't have a blog, please leave your email address so you can be contacted.

The giveaway will end on Sunday April 5th (7 p.m. AZ time)
The winner will be announced Monday April 6th.

If you would like to be entered TWICE, just link my giveaway to your blog.
Please let me know if you have done so. Since my sweet one is still in the hospital, I haven't been visiting blogs on a regular basis.

So, that is it! Good luck.

I can't wait to see who wins! Yay!!!

Smells heavenly around here

Remember a while ago I shared that I love bottles?

Last night I was going through some of my goodies and decided to make some diffusers.


I still have quite a few bottles of essential oils and fragrance oils (from the bath and body products line) so I thought I would use them. Since the oils are not diluted, the fragrance is strong and true.

Very easy- just decorate your bottles, pour the oil in the bottle (vanilla extract works nicely also)
and place the reed sticks in the bottle. The sticks can be found at any craft shop.
It is a good idea to flip the sticks over occasionally (in the beginning anyway).

My house smells FABULOUS! The large bottle holds an orange oil, and the smaller bottles hold an Amaretto fragrance oil. Yum!

I am still working on my little giveaway. I hope to have something posted later this week.

A very welcome gift from Anita

Have you ever noticed that when you least expect it, (and when you really need it) wonderful things can happen?

Last month, I received an award from Anita that just made my day. Anita has an enchanting blog- I just adore it. She writes the most beautiful posts and she has a truly lovely spirit. I feel very honored to call her my friend. Thank you so much Anita!

As things were a little crazy at the time, I am just getting around to passing on the award.
The award is: "If the shoe fits wear it". I tried on the shoe and it did fit although the glass slipper did crack a little bit-hehe. Anita, your thoughtful kindness did make me feel like a Princess and for that I am very grateful. I am still wearing the glass slipper and feeling very Royal.

You know, I have met so many wonderful people through blogging. You all ROCK!
There are several people I would like to pass this award to.
2 are Princesses that live across the ocean and 2 are Princesses that live right here in the USA.
I am also awarding this to a non-blogging Prince.

Let's begin with the Royalty from across the ocean.

BARBARA: Your posts are gorgeous. Your spirit is even more beautiful.
You bring beauty to everything you touch. Thank you for sharing your world with us.


ELIZABETH: You have been through so much and always have such a positive attitude. I always enjoy your posts-FAB!
Thank you for taking us along on your French journey. If you ever need a "boarder", I'm all over it-hehe.


TATTINGCHIC: Can I just say that you have inspired me from the first time I visited your blog.
I learn, I laugh, and I have even cried. Your sense of humor is a gift. I treasure our friendship.


ANGIE: You are one of the sweetest gal's out there! You my friend, are a winner. Your faith comes shining through. You have a lot on your plate but you wouldn't know it. Good things are in store for you. I can just feel it!

And now the PRINCE. If you tried on the glass boot, I just know it would fit.
Hubby, you came in to my life when I least expected it. You have been there for me through the good, bad, and downright ugly. You are loved and appreciated more than you will ever know.
You certainly make me feel like a Princess (o.k, maybe a Queen).
Thank you for being you.


Ladies, enjoy your award and if you should have a crown at home, wear it.

HOPE

******UPDATE******

Doing the happy dance!!!! My son may be discharged at the end of the week or the beginning of next week. The word HOPE is even more beautiful now.
Thank you GOD.

HOPE is a word that has received a lot of bad press
in the news recently.

To me the word HOPE is beautiful.
I believe in order to have HOPE, you need to have FAITH.
I also believe that FAITH allows us to have HOPE.

We have a lot of HOPE around here.
While my son is still in the hospital, we know that God is working miracles.
His spirits are strong and he has a sense of peace.
I can't ask for anything more than that.

At first, I was not so pleased that the hospital is an hour away from us (on a good day with no traffic).
That drive is precious now. It gives time to think about what is truly important and has become a time of joy for us. That in itself is a miracle-hehe!

Thank you for your continued prayers. All of us appreciate them!

While I haven't been able to carve out time to visit blogs, I have been able to do some work and that is therapeutic.
It has been a true blessing.

I pray everyone has a week that is just overfilled with HOPE.
HOPE is a gift.

hugs and more hugs!


P.S. Thank you sweet Angie!

A New Day

This has been a week of many changes.

This verse rings true for us.

Say to them, may the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace.
Numbers 6:23-26

My sweet son has been in the hospital for 3 weeks. Once he is stable enough to be discharged, he will be going to a long term medical facility. His heart was broken (mine was too).
Those words are very difficult for a parent to hear. You want your children to live life to the fullest and be able to accomplish their dreams.
I know that God is holding my son in His hand. When we saw him yesterday, he had a calmness, a peace about it. We also have that peace.

Thank you for your prayers. They have made a difference as they always do.

I feel so fortunate to have the people that I do in my life. My hubby has been a God send in many ways. He is always there for me, through the good and not so good. He loves my boys as if they are his own flesh and blood. He knows when I need an extra prayer or a hug. God sent the right man at the right time. I am very blessed.


I hope to catch up with some blog reading this week as well as work.
I hold you all close to my heart. There are some wonderful people in blogland and I feel very fortunate to have you in my life.

XOXO