I post this because there are many out there, missing a lost loved one… you should listen with your heart, not just your ears. God Bless You.

Never Alone (Jim Brickman F/ Lady Antebellum)

May the angels protect you
Trouble neglect you
And heaven accept you when its time to go home
May you always have plenty
The glass never empty
Know in your belly
You’re never alone

May your tears come from laughing
You find friends worth having
As every year passes
They mean more than gold
May you win and stay humble
Smile more than grumble
And know when you stumble
You’re never alone

Chorus:

Never alone
Never alone
I’ll be in every beat of your heart
When you face the unknown
Wherever you fly
This isn’t goodbye
My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you’re never alone

I have to be honest
As much as I wanted
I’m not gonna promise that cold winds won’t blow
So when hard times have found you
And your fears surround you
Wrap my love around you
You’re never alone

Chorus

May the angels protect you
Trouble neglect you
And heaven accept you when its time to go home
So when hard times have found you
And your fears surround you
Wrap my love around you
You’re never alone

Chorus

My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you’re never alone

Thanks to my friend, Mike, for sharing this story with me. (that’s right, I did NOT write this)

THE SITUATION
In Washington DC, at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.

About 4 minutes later:

The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

At 6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

At 10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent – without exception – forced their children to move on quickly.

At 45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

After 1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the DC Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities.

This experiment raised several questions:

*In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?

*If so, do we stop to appreciate it?

*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made . . .

How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?
Never take a single day for granted…

The sun sets upon us, and the massive light in the sky serves as a reminder for us to ponder the events of our day. Just as the light reflects upon the earth and the water, we must reflect upon our lives and the blessings in which we’ve been given. We must identify our strengths, our weaknesses, and that which pulled us away from meeting our goals for the day. For, we can only change or make better that which we acknowledge.

Then, as the sun sinks completely beyond the clouds and the dark of the night falls upon us, let it remind us that our today is gone. We cannot change it, we cannot go backward; however, what we CAN do is, like the darkness forgets the color of the earth for a few hours, forgive ourselves and our peers for the negative events of the day. Holding onto angst only hurts us and holds us prisoner to negativity.

Finally, as the sun comes up in the sky tomorrow, we need to take a few moments to ask God to make us a light upon the world. Ask Him to use us for good, just as He uses the sun to light his universe. We must not forget our mistakes or the lessons of yesterday, only forgive and know that it is a new day. For, just like yesterday, the sun will set again, giving us yet another chance to begin…tomorrow.



“Perhaps it will seem to you that everything has a new charm. At least, I believe this is always the result of a deep love, and it is a beautiful thing. Read the rest of this entry »

“DON’T TREAD ON ME!”

The Gadsden flag is a true symbol of the American Spirit.   An article I just read states that the Official Alex Jones Fan Page was shut down on Facebook, apparently because the Historical Gadsden Flag has offended 
    someone.   Are you kidding me?

Read the rest of this entry »

When I finally stopped to take a breath, I realized that the mundane scenery was beautiful once more…
I was so determined to go make my mark on the world… everyone would know my name and love me. After all, I am pretty lovable!  There is a phrase in Italian that describes that feeling within me. It goes like this: solo la promessa a me una cosa non dimenticare mai di me  (google it).
At the time, I didn’t realize that my mark was already made…

As I embark upon a new journey in my life, I thank God every day for the people that he has brought to my door and the blessings they have brought into my life.  While it is easy for me to regret mistakes in my past, those very mistakes are what have brought me to the place in which I now stand.  The clear mind, the thankful heart, the forgiving spirit, and the inner strength, have all been building along my way.  If I am sad for what is no more, then I cannot be truly grateful for what is in directly front of me, nor can I be open to the things that are to come.   Of course it is human nature to feel sad as we close a door behind us!  I am just choosing to be excited about all of the other doors in this hallway!  I don’t think I’ve seen so many doors in all of my life!

Now, for the “WHY”…
My children are first and foremost in my life, and have always been, at least in my heart.  Going to work each day, building a business, and trying to be a partner in providing for the family is an honorable goal and a reality for most American families.  Leaving my post as a full time Mom meant that Hailey and David would need to learn more about responsibility and team work and, while the guilt kicked in a bit, I know that it really was what was best for them.
I honestly think that giving young children responsibilities helps to build character and work ethic very early on.  I also firmly believe that children with the highest of self esteems are those that have had family chores, helped out in the community, and have had their feet held to the fire when it comes to these things.  Self esteem must be built, and telling a child that he/she is great doesn’t do it!  They have to find their own “greatness” by working toward something!
All of those things are subjects for another day, as I have LOTS to say about that (believe it or not)!

The journey to my successful career was one that had many sacrifices. While I really believed I was still spending the time with my family that they deserved, black and white lines turned to gray, then eventually became one big blob of fog.  My need to care for my family and friends spilled over into my business world and became overwhelming.  While worrying about the needs of others was something that set me apart from others in my business, I failed to see that I was beginning to neglect the needs of my family.  Of course, the gray area is that I THOUGHT I was doing it FOR my family when, ultimately, my children were suffering.  Did I scar them forever? Not at all!  I have the two most balanced, beautiful, sweet natured children you could ever imagine.  My years of being a stay at home Mommy and helping to guide and mold them certainly weren’t wiped away by some late hours; however, the chaos and lack of order within the house because of me being away so much was certainly causing a bit of uncertainty in their day to day lives.

I am learning, day by day, how to better balance my world.  By working on being a better mom, wife, friend, daugher, sister, aunt, and child of God, I am learning more and more about who I am and who I want to be when I grow up.  So, as I go out into the world once again, I will keep in mind that these beautiful children care not about the amount of money I make or the clients I secure.  They do, however, notice when I stop to make someone smile with a kind word, when I have extra time to leave them a love note, when I promise them their special day each week and don’t let ANYONE come before them, and when I’m home each and every night to tuck them into bed.  They are noticing the peace within our home once again that I could not give them while running in and out the door a million miles an hour every day.

All I did was close my eyes, and they are now 13 and 11.  I don’t want to lose sight again..I don’t want to work so hard FOR them that I forget that all they need is my time.  My time is what I WANT to give them, for they are the most precious gifts in my life.  I will always want to care for my friends and family, as well as the poor stranger on the street that needs a hand. This part of me, I cannot change; however, I will not close my eyes again.. I will not miss another moment of even the mundane. I will not wonder if they’ll still be awake for me to kiss goodnight…

My name is Keri Simpler and I have made my mark upon the world.  I have 2 beautiful people in my life that call me “Mommy”.  That is and will always be enough…

When I finally stopped to take a breath, I realized that the mundane scenery was beautiful once more…
I was so determined to go make my mark on the world… everyone would know my name and love me. After all, I am pretty lovable!  There is a phrase in Italian that describes that feeling within me. It goes like this: solo la promessa da me una cosa non dimenticare mai di me  (google it).
At the time, I didn’t realize that my mark was already made… Read the rest of this entry »

   The word ‘Arizona’ used to bring to mind thoughts of the Grand Canyon and warm, dry climates; however, those images, for most of us in America and around the world, have been replaced with tales of boycotts and political chaos.  Even those people who generally don’t follow politics are highly aware of the controversy that state has created by taking the bold steps necessary to secure her borders.  Our liberally slanted media wants us to think of Arizona as a place of racial profiling and hatred, while Conservatives are giving them a “thumbs up” for their effort to take care of themselves.

So, the question is, will Arizona stand alone Will other states join in the fight to show our government that the states CAN protect themselves, even if the feds will not?
Read the rest of this entry »