The Magical Bank!!

Imagine that you had won the following prize in a contest:

Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400 in your private bank account for your own use. However, this prize has rules, just as any game has certain rules.
The first set of rules would be:
1) Everything that you didn't spend during each day would be taken away from you.
2) You may not simply transfer money into some other account. You may only spend it.
3) Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another $86,400.00 for that day.
The second set of rules:
1) The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can say,"It's over, the game is over!"
2) It can close the account in an instant and you will not receive a new one.
What would you personally do? You would buy anything and everything you wanted, right? Not only for yourself, but for all the people in your life, right? Maybe even for people you don't know, because you couldn't possibly spend it all on yourself and the people in your life, right? You would try to spend every single cent, and use it all up every day, right?
Actually, this game is a reality, but not with money!
Each of us is in possession of such a magical bank. We just don't seem to see it.
The MAGICAL BANK is TIME!
Each morning we awaken and receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life, and when the day is done, any remaining time is gone and NOT credited to us. What we haven't lived up to that day is lost forever. Yesterday is forever gone. Tomorrow isn't promised. You only have today. What did you do with your 86,400 seconds? Did you waste some of it in anger, jealousy, impatience or did you use it in kindness, forgiveness, love, God? Did you have time for your loved ones? Did you kiss them? Each morning the account is refilled, but the magical bank can dissolve our account at any time....WITHOUT WARNING.
SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds? Think about that, and always think of this: Enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than we think. Take good care of yourself & your health and enjoy life. Live each day to the fullest, be kind to one another, and be forgiving. Harbor a positive attitude and always be the first to smile.
Here's wishing you a wonderful, beautiful day, each and every 86,400 seconds.
This email doesn't have one of those pass it forward or you'll have bad luck for a period of time, but it was worth reading that I thought I share it with you guys, really wishing you all the best 86,400 seconds of your day! hugs, cheryl

Leaves Fall...love this one! Took the Picture at Starved Rock!

Life 101

Guess since I have been on my blog so many things in my life have changed! Now I wish I had kept writing but sometimes life just throws so many curves at you that you cannot figure out where life is going next! Kerry and I got divorced in May...very tough time for all of us! We were married for 26 years and went out for three years! Never, ever did I think this would be me six months later alone in the house of my dreams...I am doing ok and the girls have survived so much this year! I am proud of who they are and what they have been able to go through in life! I think it has made us much better people and will be forever! Kerry lives in Ottawa and yesterday got a phone call that he is looking at moving to Florida...I guess you get the pit feeling inside and I am like most people I will always care about him...I don't love him like I did when we married but caring is something deep inside and I know he is the Father to my girls...he was such an awesome dad before he fell and broke his back! Tears are running down my face as I write this...Life sure isn't what we always dreamed of but we have to keep going and I am...

Very thankful for the friends that have been there for me in the good and the bad times...I am blessed more than I ever imagined! I have met so many new friends and I am so happy to have them in my life! I have so many that would drop what they are doing to help me if I needed them...I have more than I can count on my hands...

I have about five more months in my house till I have to move out but thankful that I have had time to heal and deal with the pain, loss and emotions that go into Divorce...I have to say it is probably harder than death in a way! I now have more sympathy for those that have gone through divorce and now will be that friend to others as they have no clue what it is like! Honestly it is a pit feeling so hard to describe...but I am making it and day by day it seems to get easier! Do I still have crying days? Oh Yeah...do they last as long...No! Thankgoodness!

I have been dating and going places...I never thought this would be me...when I got seperated I honestly didn't think anyone would want to date me...well it doesn't seem to be a problem! Now I just want to find one guy to enjoy life with...Life is going by so fast and the weeks are flying by tooo fast! I am in a Divorce Group in Naperville and Singles groups...they have been amazing support! Meetups.com was a lifesavor for me! I have joined a photography group, wine tasting groups, dating groups! Who would have thought that at 49 life could be honestly good!!! Not me at least ...A year ago I would not have ever thought this is where Cheryl Brown would be at in 2010...kinda now looking forward to 2011 !!! I turn 50 in January and gonna really make a difference in others lives...I have had so many help me that now I want to return the favor! I am planning on going to Africa in May with my church! How awesome to be going to the ends of the Earth and than to be able to give back to people that have nothing! Well, I am back and ready to start sharing my new adventures...I am also being creative and enjoying making things again! Hugs, cheryl

Craft Storage Area

Craft Storage Area, originally uploaded by thegoinggreenboutique.

My craft room...:-) so hard to pack all of my stuff up but moving forward!

My Painted Lady is for Sale! :-(

I thought I would be in my home till I grew old but life changes, children grow up, plans changes, divorce happens, and we have to go forward! It has been a time in my life that I never thought would happen to me but I can see so many new doors opening that I know we will be ok...God has taken care of us for the last 12 years and I know he is not going to leave me now! Packing up my craft room today and so hard to see this happen but I will be able to start again....Please pray for us and here is our posting of our home for Sale!
http://www.homesbylender.com/chicagosouth/listings/plainfield/

My daughters had an awesome time!!

Mallory and Natalie spent 13 days in Amsterdam, Italy, and Spain! It was a trip of a lifetime for both of them. I was happy to have them land and come back home for sure but so thankful they got to go and travel and do things that I have yet to experience! Here are a few of their pictures....Some day I will go to Italy!

My girls....Mallory and Natalie leaving for Amsterdam, Spain and Italy!!!

The four of us.....

My three daughters!

With their Dad!

Mallory and Natalie with bags and passports!

I am back...

Cannot believe it is March and almost Spring! Has been one heck of a winter and never dreamed all that I would endure these past few months...Kerry and I are getting divorced and just something I never, ever dreamed I would be going through! I started going to a divorce care group in Naperville and it is very helpful....started going back to Church! Losing weight and taking care of me! I am thankful for all my friends and the people that have kept me going through these difficult days...I started back to Bikram Yoga and love it...best thing I did for myself and what a workout!!! 105 degress and 90 minutes of sweating! Amazing you can feel so good after working out but you really do!~ Cannot wait to get my bike out again and start riding again! I feel like this winter was never going to end....Please keep us in your prayers and thanks for checking on me...hugs, cheryl

A Book I made for my Mom!

I made this out of an old book and took a picture of my Mom, Aunt and their friend from when they were teenagers and created a neat altered book out of it!!! One of my favorites!

Quote for today!!!

Life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself.

A mismatched couple.

A mismatched couple., originally uploaded by BEAT NIK.

It is sooo cold in Chicagoland!!! BBBRRRRRR!!!!

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. ~Sophia Loren, Women and Beauty

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! -- Corinthians 5:17 We all like "do-overs" or second chances. God does much better than that! He allows us to become new again. Being the "God of new things" he can even make us new.. Let's use the opportunity of a New Year as a s...pringboard for living a life fresh and new and alive for God!

My other goal is to read the Bible all the way through! I have joined a group on Facebook that is doing this!!!

Here is January's!! If you want to join in...let me know!

Chronological Bible in a Year
1-Jan	Genesis 1:1 - 3:24
2	Genesis 4:1 - 5:32; 1 Chronicles 1:1-4; Genesis 6:1-22
3	Genesis 7:1 - 9:29
4	Genesis 10:1 - 11:26; 1 Chronicles 1:5 - 27
5	Job 1:1 - 3:26
6	Job 4:1 - 7:21
7	Job 8:1 - 10:22
8	Job 11:1 - 14:22
9	Job 15:1 - 18:21
10	Job 19:1 - 21:34
11	Job 22:1 - 26:14
12	Job 27:1 - 29:25
13	Job 30:1 - 31:40
14	Job 32:1 - 34:37
15	Job 35:1 - 37:24
16	Job 38:1 - 39:30
17	Job 40:1 - 42:17
18	Genesis 11:27 - 15:21
19	Genesis 16:1 - 18:33
20	Genesis 19:1 - 21:34; Genesis 25:12 - 18; 1 Chronicles 1: 28 - 31
21	Genesis 22:1 - 24:67
22	Genesis 25:1 - 26:35 1 Chronicles 1:32-34
23	Genesis 27:1 - 28:9; Genesis 36:1 - 43; 1 Chronicles 1: 35 - 54
24	Genesis 28:0 - 30:43
25	Genesis 31:1 - 32:32
26	Genesis 33:1 - 35:29; 1 Chronicles 2:1 - 2
27	Genesis 37:1 - 39:23
28	Genesis 40:1 - 41:57
29	Genesis 42:1 - 44:34
30	Genesis 45:1 - 46:9; 1 Chronicles 5:1 - 6; Genesis 46:10 - 12; 1 Chronicles 2:18 - 55
31	1 Chronicles 4:1-23; Genesis 46:13; 1 Chronicles 7:1-5; Genesis 46:14-18; 1 Chronicles 7:30-40; Genesis 46:19-25; 1 Chronicles 7:6-12; Genesis 46:26 - 47:12

Vintage Postcard ~ Chubby Angel

Vintage Postcard ~ Chubby Angel, originally uploaded by chicks57.

Just the neatest postcards!!! I love em all!

joy

joy, originally uploaded by pam garrison.

For my friend that has brought so much Joy into my life...:-)

CHRISTMAS REMINDERS

CHRISTMAS REMINDERS
-May the Christmas presents remind you of God's Greatest GIFT -- His Only Begotten Son!
- May the Christmas candles remind you of Him Who is the -- LIGHT of the world!
- May the Christmas tree remind you of another tree on which -- He died for YOU!
- May the Christmas cheer remind you of Him Who said, -- "Be of good cheer!"
- May the Christmas feast remind you of Him Who is the -- Bread of Life!
- May the Christmas snow remind you of the cleansing -- POWER of CHRIST!
- May the Christmas bells remind you of the glorious proclamation -- of His Birth!
- May the Christmas carols remind you of His glad tidings which we proclaim -- to ALL mankind!
- May the Christmas season remind you in EVERY way of -- JESUS CHRIST your King!!!

Neat blog..check this out!!!

http://www.wearethatfamily.com/2009/11/diyp-cheesecloth-rosette-pins.html

What are you thankful for???

This month on Facebook many of us have been writing something to say each day what we are thankful for! I have really enjoyed this as I feel we need to do this each day...what a difference it is to wake up and think about what are you thankful for to start your morning off!!! It sure makes even the tough days so much better!!! Thankful for my family, my parents, our home, our health even though somedays we are falling apart, thankful for the doctors that have been so awesome to us! Thankful for Food Pantry's that have helped us for so many years...the list goes on! hugs, cheryl

November???? Where is the time going?

I honestly had so many plans and dreams for this year! It seems it has been a year filled with hospitals, doctors and surgery's! I am still in a mess with my husband and his spine! Not sure what will happen this week. He has a huge mass on the outside of his incission and now looks like it will have to have another drain put in it this week. Please pray for Kerry and all that is happening here! Hopefully I can get creative this week. hugs, cheryl

Pumpkin Prayer.......

Dear God,
As I carve my pumpkin help me say this prayer.
Open my mind so I can learn about you (top of pumpkin).
Take away all my sin and forgive me for wrong things I do. (clean inside)
Open my eyes so Your love I will see (cut heart shaped eyes)
I'm sorry for turning my nose up to all you've given me (cut cross shaped nose).
Open my ears so your word I will hear (cut Bible shaped ears) Open my mouth so I can tell others you're near (cut fish shaped mouth)
Let your l ight shine in all I say and do! (place candle in and light it)
Amen
http://myhomespunthreads.blogspot.com/2008/10/pumpkin-prayer.html