The Link Between Cleanliness & Godliness

~ A wonderfully wise contributor to an LOA forum I'm a member of said in one of her posts ~

"LOA exercises are not rocket science. Be a little imaginative & most
of all consistent.
But the bottom line is this: You can do all the
prosperity exercises & affirmations, but if you are roaming around
in sweat pants, unkempt hair, cluttered home .. you are negating the
prosperous vibes. Every moment of your life should represent abundance ..
tidy home, nice decor (whatever you can afford & surround yourself with),
neat appearance etc. etc."

I love the part about sweat pants and an unkempt home!

I don't think a lot of people realize what their immediate surroundings and personal appearance contribute to their mental/emotional well being and vibration. I've always been a touch to the lazy side myself. I call my home, "lived in" because that best describes it. Not UN clean, but even though I'm a homemaker who doesn't work outside of my home, I can't bring myself to clean the way society dictates that I'm SUPPOSED to.

Don't get me wrong. If someone called me and said, "I'll be there in 15 minutes!", I could totally whip the living areas (living room, dining room & kitchen *all connected at my house*) into company presentable shape, but there is dust bunnies in the corners and MAN do my ceiling fans need cleaned. Anyway.... yes, I am going to make a point lol... I used to be worse.

Back in the beginning of my Law of Attraction and Spiritual discoveries, I was searching online for tips on organization because I was feeling very overwhelmed in my messy state of living.

I found Fly Lady.

Fly Lady helped me to find some semblance of order in my surroundings. Over the years, I've worked on being more organized and clutter free and clean..... but also on accepting myself as I am and only moving toward change when I was doing it simply in the pursuit of joy. In other words.... I worked on training my habits into a more organized way of being.... but only because I knew I would find relaxation and joy in the organized cleanliness.

I'd always cleaned because it's messy AGAIN and no one else is picking it up and *martyr* complain* whine* resist*. Now I clean because I want to bless my home. I want to cast a spell of organized peace and spiritual free flow on my home. I want to create, in my home, a space for all the wonderfully positive energies of the Universe to channel into my life and permeate the physical space that I hold sacred and personal.

It sure changes the way you feel about cleaning when you shift your perception on it. I know I've mentioned this before, but I also LOVE to "clean to the tune of gratitude". This is when, say, as I vacuum the carpet.... I embrace thankfulness for the abundance of shoes that we own that brought all the dirt in and the wonderful little feet that occupied some of those shoes!.... and my most awesome dog, Charlie... who is the best dog I've ever met in my life... he tracks a lot of that dirt in and I couldn't be happier that he does... He brings such light into my life.. he can track in all the dirt he wants to!... and the MAN.. the gratitude I feel in my heart for the man who tracks grease onto my carpet when he comes back home to me at night is enough to reduce me to tears if I focus fully upon it.

I WANT to clean my house! It's like walking around and taking stock of all the amazing abundance that I have in my life. When I've finished cleaning and I sit down and look around... I feel more bliss than I can express.

I'm just not a perfectionist. There are things on my table and dishes on the counter and there's a towel on the bathroom floor and shoes strewn about the front door and I REALLY need to vacuum. These things used to cause me stress. They were just more crap I had to do. A source of stress because I felt like I wasn't good enough because I couldn't seem to manage to stay on top of these things.

Now, I'm thankful that we can afford the pile of shoes and I give them away to anyone who needs them when my kids grow out of them (they grow so darn fast at times, I've given away nearly new shoes!). If there's a pile of clothes that needs folded, I don't worry about it... but I focus on how blessed we are to have them all and that I even own a washer and dryer to get them all clean and how I was able to give away my old dryer when we moved here because it was gas and we needed an electric, so we were able to buy a brand new electric one and blessed someone elses home with a nearly new gas dryer that they needed.

SO ANYWAY..... (I know I'm long winded... it's endearing... love me for it! lol)...

And the sweat pants... While being vain may not be the best... it does help one much to look at themselves in the mirror with acceptance and affection and appreciation. This is easier to do if you maintain an appearance that is pleasing to you. You know when you look good. You also know that when you feel like you LOOK good... it boosts your self confidence. You are the MASTER of your Universe. And whether you create strong, confident, joy filled WIZARD or meek, weak willed, self deprecating couch potato can very easily stem from your appearance and how the way you see yourself makes you feel. Fly Lady also covers this a bit.

I'm not saying I got ALL of this from Fly Lady.... but it was a jumping off point for me.

Her site is mainly about how not everyone was born organized and how the rest of us who struggle with our organizational skills can keep up and feel good about it. She has a yahoo group but it's not a discussion group. It's an email reminder mailing that comes throughout the day to help you in your quest for peace and lack of clutter.

If anyone has trouble with keeping their home de-cluttered or organizational skills I very highly recommend this site. http://flylady.com/ If you look around your house and don't like what you see... you are not alone... everybody's houses don't look as clean as the ones on tv either LOL.

But the way you feel about your surroundings could easily block your conscious LOA success. I don't subscribe to fly lady anymore... I simply don't need to anymore... but she really did help me... and I KNOW that my home was a spot that was blocking my progress because as soon as I got a handle on it...and got a handle on how I FELT about it by shifting my perception on it a bit... It all started flowing a LOT easier for me.

Now I'm manifesting rather quickly. I've been pretty happy with myself and my manifestations in the last few days partly because I'm manifesting very cool things but mostly because they're on a larger scale than my norm and they're manifesting at a speed that's really got me struck speechless..lol (I know... ME.. speechless... what are the chances!?!) BUT.. that's a whole different post...

I Am So In Love & Grateful

Hello Friends!

Yesterday was one official week that our new dog Charlie, that I rescued from the APL, has been here with us. I am so (as the title suggests!) in love with this dog.

As a rule, I hate dogs. I've never met a dog that I liked for more than 10 minutes. I'm an animal lover in general, so I'm very kind and gentle with ALL animals, but dogs just rub me the wrong way. You can't stand in front of one without having your private areas totally explored.... most dogs you can't pet without being licked to death (I can't STAND being licked by a dog!).... they jump all over you, no matter what's on their feet.... they bark at EVERYTHING and always start when you want them to be quiet most... they get excited and pee.... you can't pet a MALE dog too much without finding out just how much he likes it.... I'm just not a dog person and I never have been. I love cats. I have 2.

If I don't like dogs... why on EARTH did I go looking for one?!?!

The truth is, lately, I've found myself feeling unbearably lonely. The kids go off to school.... Hubby goes off to work.... and here I am.. alone. There are multiple reasons that I'm not going to go into for me being unable to get a job. I've wanted to find a job for a couple years now, but the main reason I don't is because my family demands so much from me, that I WILLINGLY give, that I can't see me splitting my time like that. But still, I'm lonely.

I don't have any friends that are home during the day that I can spend time with and the loneliness I've been feeling has been getting heavier and heavier on my heart. I decided, out of desperation really, that I wanted a dog. A specific dog. A beagle. An adult beagle that doesn't lick or invade my personal privacy every time I'm within reach. One that doesn't lick excessively or chew things or bark. One that will get along with my 2 cats, and one that my 2 cats can tolerate. My cats are very "Queen of the House!" type cats. As a rule, they don't like other animals. We've fostered other dogs and we've had other cats and both of my girls are very hissy and unfriendly towards them.

Then (as I wrote about previously) about 1 week after I decided I wanted this specific dog... on 1/11, on the full moon.... the signs seemed pretty big to me... and I went to the A.P.L and there, in cage #11 was a 4 year old beagle named Copper (the name of one of our previous dogs). The only thing that I wanted that he didn't fulfill is that I'd wanted a female, simply because girls don't do that THING that boy dogs do when ya scratch their bellies, wink wink. But this dog was neutered and they told me he shouldn't do that thing.

So here we are, one full week later. Well, one week not counting the 4 days he spent on the run (See the "Everything Happens For a Reason" post). One full week from the day we got him back. I can't believe how PERFECT he is. If you'd told me a month ago that I would get a dog and love him so completely, I wouldn't have believed it.

We walk 1 mile, 2 times a day together. He hangs out on the couch with me and watches TV. He only barks when he has to go out. He's gentle and loving, yet playful and funny. He loves riding in the van and I take him everywhere with me. The kids love him, my Husband loves him, and believe it or not (I still don't quite believe it and I definitely don't understand it) my cats take no issue with him. He sniffs them and plays with them a little. They'll hiss if he starts to get rough and they feel threatened, but honest to GOD.... they don't even seem to care that he's here. I'd have never believed it if I wasn't seeing it with my own eyes.

It's things like this that happen to me that continue to reinforce my belief in the law of attraction... or really, intention/manifestation. I didn't focus on anything... I didn't obsess or visualize or go to any great lengths to find this unbearably perfect dog. I just decided that I wanted a dog and what I wanted him to be and HOW I wanted him to be. I prayed and asked for him, intended to have him and then I told my Hubby, in these exact words... "I've decided to allow a dog to come into my life so I can love him." One week later, he was here. And one week after that, I couldn't love him more.

So, that's my latest success story. I see minor things happen so constantly I don't even notice them anymore at times, but this was HUGE for me. I'm still in awe.

Happy manifesting :)

Allowing the Calendar :)

I had the most perfect case of allowing yesterday.

I bought this desk calendar. You know the type... flat, no pictures, little plastic corner pieces that you tuck the bottom of the page into... made for sitting flat on your desk top. I can never find a good place for this kind of calendar, but I like them so much better than the standard calendar with the big picture and laminated pages that can be difficult to write on.

So... we normally hang the calendar on the basement door (right in the dining room) but I don't like it there. It's a pain when ya walk by or open and close the door. So I have this desk calendar and I don't want to put it in the old place, but I don't know what else to do with it, so I hang it half hearted, on the basement door just to keep it safe and dry.

I want a place to hang this where I'll see it all the time and it's safe and dry and not in my way. As soon as those words floated through my head, I knew it was the "intention".

I went back about my business of cleaning up the kitchen and doing laundry. I ended up digging in the junk drawer.... which BTW I think should be renamed the treasure drawer because seriously, there's ALWAYS neat stuff in there..... I don't remember what I was looking for, but there in the back of the drawer was a big roll of forgotten magnet. "I don't know what on earth I'm every gonna use that magnet roll for.." I thought, and went back to what I was doing.

I must mention that I've recently set an intention to "make peace" with where I am and what I'm doing. I've been having some trouble with that so I've been trying to do whatever needs done... and do it happily. So, I intend a place for this calendar, then turn my focus back to what I was doing, and go HAPPILY on my way.

Eventually, I was looking at our big black fridge. It was so messy. No room for anything. I started taking things down and reorganizing and wiping it all down. It's been a long time since I did this. So, as I'm cleaning and organizing it, I'm going through my gratitudes in my mind, "Thank you for this wonderful fridge that always works and keeps our food cold etc.." And as I cleaned the side that faces the dining room, I ended up with this big bare space that was the exact size of that calendar.

"Wow. this would be a perfect place for my calendar! How on earth could I hang it on the fridge without hurting the fridge?" I thought.I pondered this for a few minutes, but some kind of magnetic hook was the best I could come up with, but I don't have anything like that, that'd be strong enough to hold a calendar to the fridge. *Shrug*

And...on to the other sides of my messy fridge. I cleared them all, wiped them down and reorganized the things that were going back up. It looked so pretty when it was done. And really bare. I had so much crap on there. It's easy to collect a ton when ya have 2 little artists and A students in the house!

ALL DONE!! I walked over and sat in my chair. I sit at the dining room table, picture window right behind me, facing into the living room, large hutch to my right about 4 feet away and side of fridge to my left about 6 feet away. I turned in my chair and looked at the fridge. "That would be SUCH a perfect place for my calendar!" I thought....."But how??!"

Then it hit me... the roll of magnet in the TREASURE drawer! It's not really strong magnet, but if I put 2 or 3 long strips across the back of the calendar, it should hold it!! So I did...and it did... perfectly! Now I have my favorite kind of calendar, in the coolest style, in the most perfect place I could have imagined!

Contrast: I have a new calendar because I don't like the old one. I want a new place to hang it because I don't like the old one.
Intention: I want a place to hang this (calendar) where I'll see it all the time and it's safe and dry and not in my way.

Vibe Management: I went HAPPILY about my business. I didn't fret or worry or complain or give it anymore thought at all. I walked around my kitchen, dining room and laundry room "Cleaning to the Tune of Gratitude" (as I've coined it) and gave great thanks for everything around me and focused on feeling happy.

Take Inspired Action: I've wanted to clean off the fridge for weeks, but never seemed to get to it. Yesterday, I was on a roll and I just REALLY felt like having a clean fridge. I truly felt INSPIRED to do it. At the time, I thought the inspired feeling was coming from the other intention to "make peace with where I am" and maybe it partially did, but it WAS inspired action, and that's the point. I wasn't forcing anything. I was definitely inspired to act.

Get Quiet and Listen: After I cleared out the old and made room for the new, I sat and looked at it. I knew it would be a perfect space and I knew I wanted my calendar there. I focused in on it and cleared my mind and the answer I was seeking came right through. Then I saw the roll of magnet as the coincidence that it was, when I'd missed it at the time.

I know it may sound trite, but this was truly an awesome experience. It rolled together so fast, I was able to look back at the whole process. I believe that everything works in this way. Anything you want to bring into your life can flow in as easily as a perfect calendar space. The trick though, is that I wasn't attached to the outcome. I didn't really care where it ended up, so long as it wasn't where it's been. Something new, something fresh..... then I let it go. Let go of how or where or when. I knew I'd get there, and that knowing was all I needed to move on and continue with my day.

Everything you ever ask for is on it's way the moment you ask for it. The key is getting out of your own way and allowing it space to flow into.

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LOA & Weight loss

I'd set an intention to lose 10 pounds between September 22 and Octber 22. It didn't happen. I lost my focus about a week and a half in and I lost only 3 pounds then I gained all 3 back. Then I cycled into some PMS which made it all come to a screeching hault. I wasn't upset about it because I KNEW I'd lost my focus... I knew when it happened... and I let it go. I figured I'd get to it, but now's just not the time.

Last week, I wrote an article for my homepage and blog. An article about how LOA works through our bodies and how making a backup plan is as much of an intention as the plan you're backing up was. The funny thing is, I wrote this HUGE article... probably 3000 words easily, and then as I was submitting the changes to my page, my server logged me out and I lost my WHOLE article! I started to get angry and caught myself. I decided if I had to rewrite it, there must be a reason.... and I set out to rewrite this HUGE article as best as I could.

I tried to remember as much as I could and reconstruct what I'd previously written. I'm happy with the result, although it IS different than the first one. Not better or worse... just different.

As I was rewritting this article, I started REALLY thinking about what I was writing. I mean, I'd put a good amount of thought into it before I'd started, but it was hitting me different this time. My perception shifted slightly and I had the most amazing idea. If you haven't read the article I'm talking about, this might not mean as much to you, so ya might go read it if ya want. It's right on my homepage, and I believe it's the next post under THIS one.

So... I was writing about how our bodies work and how the Universe organizes all our cells and makes them swing into action to take us where we "intend" to go. And if the Universe organizes all the cells in my body to move me around and take me where I want to go simply by me intending to go there, why can't I depend on the Universe to organize all my cells to weight the weight I intend to weigh??

What a profound idea... I thought. That was when I decided (Thursday morning @ 171 pounds) that no matter what my body is doing, inside I weight 160 pounds. I'm 5'10" tall and 160 is a great weight for me and inside, where I am.... I weight 160 and anything extra that's there is just emotional baggage that I don't need anymore.

I have not eaten differently. I eat healthy food anyway. I'm trying to raise my kids to live a healthy lifestyle. I also have not exercised. Not at all. I've even been having my period up untill this past Monday. Last Thursday morning, 11-6-08, I weighed 171 pounds. This morning, Wednesday, 11-12-08, I weight 164. I have lost 7 POUNDS of un-needed emotional baggage from my body with LITERALLY NO EFFORT on my part, apart from the decision that I weigh 160. That's MORE than a pound a day... WITH NO EFFORT!!

I decided that, that is just the way it is and KNEW... KNEW... KNEW.. that the Universe would organize my cells to do exactly what I wanted because that's what it does everytime I move, so I KNOW beyond the shadow of a doubt, that it's capable.

SOOOO here I am, 6 days and 7 pounds later. I am SOOO in love with this life! At this rate, I should see 160 by the end of the week. I am SO PSYCHED!!!

Peace & Love,
El

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A Synchronistic Life

Back on October 16th, I posted here about "Confronting My Ego Monster" because I had a sudden urge to prove I was right when someone disagreed with me about The Law of Attraction. I am going to quote him here because I want you to understand the rest of this post.

Here's the comment that pissed me off:

*"I’m a great believer in positive thinking, I think affirmations and visualization can be very useful tools for personal development. But talk of a “Law” of attraction is just twaddle, there is no scientific justification for such claims. Proponents quote quantum physics, but there is no evidence that by sending out magnetic vibrations we can influence events - and get a parking space!!But if others find it useful, fine, so long as they do no harm to others (or start suggesting those suffering disease or famine haven’t been thinking properly)."*

So.... I ranted a little with some of my LOA friends, and I wrote a blog post about it. I needed to embrace and understand my irritation as opposed to burying it and letting it fester. I figured the best way to release my anger was to allow myself to FEEL it. Denial never served anyone.

The thing I kept thinking through it all was: I wish I knew MORE about quantum physics and the scientific angle of LOA so I would be able to explain it to someone who was so completely missing the point. Of course, in retrospect, that sure sounds like setting an intention. I didn't even realize I was doing it at the time. It wasn't a conscious intention. I was just angry and I'm not used to being unable to articulate exactly what I mean.

Now, I'm a member of Audible.com. I signed up for a free trial and forgot to cancel after 30 days. Isn't that just how it always works? LOL Audible sells downloadable audio books. On October 20th..... 4 days after I sent out the intention to know more and be able to explain quantum physics... I get an email from Audible. My new credits are available. CRAP! I forgot to cancel again. I browsed their metaphysical and self help sections and found nothing of interest to me which is why I'd intended to cancel in the first place.

Of course they won't allow you to cancel and give you back your money. You have to use your credit, then cancel. So I might as well go and see if I can find SOMETHING of interest. So I went. I got to my account page and there was a recommendation for me. They recommended *The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire - By: Deepak Chopra* I've read one other Deepak Chopra book and had enjoyed it, so I figured.... what the hell, nuttin to lose, and traded my credit for this book and downloaded it.

OH MY GOD! I began listening to it as soon as the download finished and I ended up sitting here for the full 6 hours and listened to the whole thing. Of COURSE the whole first half of the book was a dumb ass friendly explanation of quantum physics and how it related directly to The Law of Attraction. I now feel SO much more confident about my knowledge of quantum physics. I've never been a science person, so every other explanation I'd ever gotten was just slightly beyond my understanding. This book could not have been more perfect for me at this time. I really did get exactly what I wanted. And I didn't do anything to get it except to ask.

Of course I'm now going to very highly recommend this book! It is fantastic. The second half of the book was also just was I needed. I've felt kinda stuck. Not sure where to turn next. Wanting to further my personal and spiritual growth, but really unsure how or what to do now. Deepak walks you through, step by step. Tells all about how to get where and what to do once you're there. I found it to be one of the most enlightening books I've EVER read. I'm almost done listening to it for the second time and I ordered it from Amazon because I want to have it in print. Referencing specific chapters will be easier in print. It should be here today or Monday and I can't even TELL you how excited I am. If you have ANY questions about personal development or quantum physics, you have got to read this book.

I've also ordered a bunch of documentary style movies that are spiritual in nature. I will post about them as I watch and let yall know if they were worth the hype. I'm starting with "A Course in Miracles".

If you click this box, it will take you to a place where you can read an excerpt from the book.

Happy Creating,

El

Visit my homepage at The Smiling Spirit

Much Better Now!

I've really loved writing in my blog since I started it, but I couldn't seem to find a blog template that really made me happy. Nothing that I found made me feel like myself. I know it's just a website, but it's kinda hard to express yourself when you look at your finished product and don't really feel like it does a good job of expressing who you are.

I was doing some writing last night before bed in my gratitude journal, which I do every night, and I was suddenly struck by the impulse to ask the Big U for a template for my blog that would make me feel more aligned with my purpose. I'd browsed a bunch of templates online before, but I hadn't actually ASKED for help. So, I flipped to my "Intentions" section and wrote these words: I want a blog template that I feel expresses my personality in as great a way as this Gratitude and Intention Journal does. Please help me make this easy to do.

I should meantion that my Gratitude journal is a 3 subject notebook with a sturdy plastic green cover (Green is one of my favorite colors!). This notebook is home to my Gratitude Journal, my Intention/Manifestation Journal, and my Dream Journal. I have all kinds of little drawings and stickers on the front and tiny post-it notes marking pages and entries.

I woke up 45 minutes early this morning, so from 5:15 am till 5:45 am, I just layed in bed and did my gratitude meditation. Then I remembered my intention to find a new template and my request for help. It made me smile to think of finding what I wanted, even though I didn't have a picture of it in my head. I figured God knows what I'm like and can manage to send me something that screams "EL!" without me giving specific instructions.

At 5:45, I got up and shut off my 6am alarm before it went off and headed out to turn on my coffee. I sat down at the table in front of my laptop and started browsing light heartedly while I waited for my brew.

It didn't even take me 10 minutes to find this template, and when I did, I almost yelled out loud. LOL I've looked here n there for months. Some of my regulars can attest to how many times I've changed the look and feel of this blog. This is the one though. It even LOOKS like my Journal. I don't think there's another background and set up in the world that is more "Me" than this one. I'm SO THRILLED!

I hope yall like my new digs! I feel SO much better about it now. I love the feeling of being aligned with your purpose.

Happy Thursday!

El

Visit my homepage at The Smiling Spirit

Fantastic Day

Hi Everyone!

I am having just a FANTASTIC day and I thought I'd share it.

I headed out my door to go grocery shopping first thing this morning.I slept well last night and we had a smooth morning, so I was singing to myself and in a really happy mood. When I got to the store, I parked way in back (Thank you for strong legs that work!) and as I was walking through the lot, there was an older lady putting the last of her bags in her trunk, so I walked right up to her and said, "Good Morning!... I'll take that cart for ya!" She smiled pleasantly and thanked me and I walked away with "Have a great day!".

So now I have my cart, and into the store I go. I'm shopping and singin to myself and about 15 minutes later, I passed a lady in an aisle. She was at least 55, and the 2 yr old in her cart was obviously her grand daughter. I smiled at them both and said, "Now,what aisle did you find that in? (pointing to the baby) I've been lookin for one of those and I didn't think you could get them here! "They both smiled and the lady took the opprotunity to brag a little about her angelic looking grandchild.

And, off I go... to continue my shopping. A couple aisles later, I encountered these 2 ladies, probably each at least 70. They smiled fondly at eachother and embraced in a quick hug as I was passing and I turned and said, "You giving those away for free today?".... "I sure am!" the lady closest to me said.... then she grabbed me and gave me a big hug! Her companion looked utterly stunned! It was hysterical. I hugged her back and told her she made my day. She agreed and said, "Can't be a bad day if you're happy enough to hug astranger!"

And, off I go... again... I finish my shopping and get in line at the check-out. There's this frazzled looking young mother. Probably no more than 20, with a cart filled to the top, and a very distraut 2 yrold begrudgingly buckled into the cart seat, screaming her little head off. So, I got in line behind them. I stood there and played with the baby and tried to keep her happy while her exhausted mother was unloading her cart onto the conveyer belt.

Finally I was out of the store, pushing my cart full to my van. I loaded everything into the back, got in, turned the key.... nothing. It did this the other day. Hubby said turn it on, off, on, off. Something inside the starter is freezing up. If it does it again,we'll get a new starter. Before, I turned it on and off and couple times and the starter kicked in and the van started. This time, no such luck. I called my Hubby (Thank you for a Husband that drives a tow truck!) at work and he said to keep trying it and if it starts,call.... and he'd be on his way in about 10 minutes.

I forgot I have 2 insulated freezer bags in my van, so I dug them out and got in back and stuffed all my frozen and fridge stuff in them. I got a small snack and sat in silence watching the people go about their lives, periodically trying to get the starter to unfreeze. I've been intending to attract a good sized lump sum of money recently and yesterday, our tenants called to say they were moving and wouldn't be paying next month. I didn't let my brain panic. I thought... whatever happens will help us and be good. Then shortly after, the idea to advertise the house for sale struck me so we're doing that. (My lump sum maybe?) Then I realized October is a 5 Friday month. There's an extra $500 for the month. Cool!

Now I'm sitting here wondering how needing a new starter for my van fits into receiving money. Seems more like a quick way to get rid of some. Then I thought... No, there might be an opprotunity waiting or a person to meet.. I know the Universe is on the right track and I will not judge the means! Then the sexy tow truck driver arrived (Hubby.. obviously). He climbed under the van and gave the starter a WHACK to see if it would unfreeze.... nothing. He's quiet a minute, then says, "Start er up babe!" I turned the key and it started right up. He stood up and said, "Just a loose wire. I'll take off the bolt and tighten it all up when I get home."

YAY! I don't need a new starter! He smiled and said the call out was going to run me 2 kisses. I paid the man, and headed home with a big cheesey grin on my face. I arrived home and started unloading bags. All my frozen foods were outside of a freezer for almost an hour and a half total... still frozen solid in my insulated little bags!

It's A Wonderful Life!
El

The Remedy is the Experience

* At 5am this morning, I woke from a dream I was having. I don't remember specifics, but in my dream, I was going about a normal day, but everything I did seemed to go wrong or fall apart. I kept telling myself (in the dream) that everything happens for a reason and there's a higher power at work here and I kept laughing off whatever thing had gone wrong, but it was getting harder and harder to laugh because I was becoming irritated as things continued to be different from how I wanted them to be.

I woke up to my alarm at 6am after dozing in and out for an hour after that dream. I thought about how I hate having days like the one in my dream and hoped I wasn't getting ready to have one today. My Hubby got called to work at 7, so I took my boys down to the end of the driveway and put them on the school bus. Hubby arrived back as the boys were leaving so we hung out and talked for half an hour. I'd planned on going to the bread store (where the bread's cheap) this morning to get a bunch of bread for my freezer, so as Hubby left for work, I followed him out of the driveway and headed off on my way.

* I get 8 miles from home..... 1 mile from my destination when a voice in my head tells me to look in my purse and make sure I have money. I grab my purse as I'm sitting at a red light and dig through real quick. I not only have no money, but my wallet isn't inside, so I don't have a debit or credit card either. I had to turn around and go back home.

As I head in the direction I just came from, I decide there's no way I'm driving all the way back up here today. My Hubby is very gas conscientious and would have a stroke anyway. I'm a little annoyed with myself because if I'd checked before I left, this wouldn't be an issue. Then I think of the dream I had. *Everything happens for a reason... there's a higher power at work here* I say to myself and continue home.

I have a mixed CD in my van. I call it my "power mix". It's just a bunch of songs that I love that make me feel good. One of the songs is by Jason Mraz. It's called "Remedy". I was listening to it during the last 3-4 miles of my trip home. The first line of the chorus is... "The remedy is the experience." Here's where it all got a little weird. LOL The following is the thought process that blew through my head at lightning speed. Please excuse me if I go in a circle at any time. Thought processes get you from point A to point B, but it's rarely a straight line!

I mulled this phrase in my head for a moment and decided.... the remedy to an experience really IS the experience. It's through the denial of your current circumstances that you perpetuate the negativity to reoccur. When you accept what's happening and actually allow yourself to experience it, good or bad, you free yourself of the cycle.

Need an example?

**A woman gets beat by her husband. She's miserable and wants out. When she accepts the fact that she's in an abusive relationship and that he doesn't really mean it when he says he's sorry, she can begin to break the cycle and remedy her situation. When she accepts the apology and denies the abuse, she perpetuates the negative cycle.

**When a person finds themselves going in circles and chasing their tails by dating the same kind of person over and over, they're in a cycle. They say they're an "asshole magnet" but the truth is, if they could look at and experience what's really there they'd see the pattern. Most continue on in their patterns though and blame the world because "All the good ones are married".

I believe that a situation will repeatedly repeat itself until you experience it fully and take away the lesson you've been trying to learn from it. If you can see a pattern in your life, there's a belief or thought process you should be examining. Shifting the belief or process to serve you will dissolve the patterns and cycles.

But it's the belief that creates the experience in the first place. So if you're miserable in your experience, the things you believe to be true are to blame. And changing the belief to serve your happiness will change your experience to suit you better.

So.... your beliefs.... beliefs being: thoughts you think over and over and identify with in some way, therefore seeing them as irrefutable truths... your negative beliefs create an experience.... you use the negative experience as PROOF that the belief you hold is true... and you struggle against the situation until you are through it... and then you say... SEE, that's why I know that (fill in the blank with the belief) is TRUE! And so as you believe what you are saying.... you are busily creating another experience to PROVE you right again. There's the pattern.

The remedy to the experience is experiencing what you've created as it IS, instead of as you've already labeled it, or as you saw it last time, or as people SAY you should see it. When you see it for what it is, it can't continue being what you used to think it was because when you don't believe in something, it can't BE.

So the thoughts and beliefs that you hold in your mind and heart that are negative and self sabotaging are like the poison..... but the experience those thoughts and beliefs create is the remedy when you experience it as it is. It's almost like the Universe reflects back your beliefs and God's saying, "Oh honey, now look how yucky you feel from creating this for yourself. Well now you'll know to do it different next time." But we don't GET that message. So we go RIGHT back out and recreate the experience again. The life you live is like looking out at a reflection of your mind. When you truly change a belief, you WILL see your world begin to change to accommodate your new belief.

*As my thoughts are wrapping up the rampage they went on, I remembered my "dream mantra".... Everything happens for a reason. There's a higher power at work here.

NOTE: This is by far the most hysterical synchronicity I have ever seen happen in my life. You can't make this stuff up! I laughed the whole last mile home!

I pulled up to the stop sign at the end of my road and was waiting to cross the intersection and into the last mile of my journey back home. A truck turned off of the main road and onto MY road heading in the same direction I was. As this white, dually truck turns in front of me... there on the tailgate, in black bold letters it says, "Higher Power". Cross my heart, hope to die.. stick a needle in my EYE...THAT'S WHAT WAS ON THE BACK OF THE TRUCK!!! (Hey K... have you ever seen this truck around?!)

Anyway, I laughed. I see synchronicities quite a bit... and I ask for parking spots a lot as we leave and get them... and I started shaking my hands and saying "Booga Booga" at the kids. They laugh. LOL So that was my morning adventure. I hope your morning adventures were fruitful.

Peace & Love,
El

Who Are You?

* I recently realized that I've changed SO much over the past 2 years, that no one in my life knows me anymore, except my Hubby. Funny how alone it makes you feel when you realize that every single person who's ever known you thinks of you very differently than you are. I mean, I USED to be that person. They're not REALLY far off base. But I'm night and day to that girl now.

My friend K uses a word that I love. It's... surfacey. Yeah, you read that right. It's a word to describe the pursuits and concerns of people who are completely wrapped up in ego and who live their lives seeing themselves as separate from the rest of the life on the planet. People who live their lives only on the surface, and cut themselves off from their own peace. That was the girl I was. We'll call her "Surfacey El".

So, I realized quite suddenly one day that every person in my life, outside my husband and children, doesn't have the slightest clue who I really am. I think I've always behaved in an individually, specific way around different individuals in my life. Not meaning to really, but this person laughs at these kinds of jokes, and that person enjoys my dry wit, while the other person enjoys my quick sarcasm. The things about all these traits is, they went away. I mean, not completely, but most of my jokes, wit and sarcasm came from a negative, disconnected place. And that negative, disconnected space in me doesn't run my life anymore. I'm not "Surfacey El" anymore. Well... most of the time. LOL

I'm still learning to cultivate emotions of love and connectedness to my fellow man, but for the most part... I manage to stay connected. I don't automatically criticize people anymore. A silly looking pair of pants and a bright hat would send me into a frenzy of "OMG! Why would someone want to wear that, bla bla bla, etc, etc." I've been learning through my children though. My 8 yr old dressed up in a way that I wouldn't, but when he asked how he looked, I asked him how he felt. He said he felt good, and so I told him ... "If it makes you feel good, then you look GREAT"

That was a powerful sentence in my life. Since then, when I see someone looking like what I would have labeled as STUPID before.... now, I think, WOW... they must feel FANTASTIC! I think the people in my life are actually disappointed when I don't come off with the same old wise cracks that I used to, but I just don't FEEL it anymore.

So here I am. This fantastic new person and I don't have anyone to share me with. Everyone expects me to be different than I am and I'm tired of switching from Surfacey El to Real El all the time. But the thing is... I didn't realize I was tired of doing that, or even that I was really doing it. It was almost unconscious. No.... it WAS unconscious. Because I'd be talking to someone and there's be moments of clarity when I would actually HEAR the things I was saying, and I'd think... WHAT!? What the hell are you saying that for?!... but then I'd get sucked back into whatever drama I was hearing about and the Real El was again forgotten until the ride home.

Then, one day not too long ago... I came out of my LOA closet. You may remember the blog post about it. To recap, I was at my friend T's house (HI T!) and we started having a spiritual/religious discussion and I totally outed myself. Told her what I thought and my ideas on the Universe and God and creation and conscious living and loa and intention/manifestation. I questioned my sanity at the time, but on the ride home, I decided that I wasn't going to be Surfacey El anymore! I'm not her anymore. I was unhappy when I WAS her. No more going back!

The funny thing about all of it though, is that, when I decided to stop being anyone other than who I am now, the Universe compensated by sending me my friend K. I asked the Universe for a friend that was more like the Real El and less like the Surfacey El 6 or 7 months ago, but I was still "popping in and out of consciousness" if you will and I couldn't have her yet. Then I decided there'd be no more popping in and out to suit the expectations of whoever I was around, and suddenly, there was the friend I'd asked for. I committed to being myself no matter what, and God sent me someone who would love, accept and understand me for the new person that I am.

Who do the people in YOUR life think you are? Are you your authentic self, or do you put on a mask? I'm so much happier being my happy, laid back, peace filled self.

Here's to having the courage to be yourself!

Peace & Love,
El

Where on Earth Have I Been?!?!

This has been the question of the hour lately! LOL I'm getting emails left and right inquiring as to my well-being. It's so wonderful to feel missed! I love you all and thank you for your concern.

I have been having a very busy life. As many of you moms out there already know (insert happy dance!) another school year has begun. My strapping young men are in first and third grade this year and we've been trying to find our groove. It can take a little time to adjust to change, and going back to a school schedule from a summer schedule takes patience and persistence. Our schedule has evolved from last year too because I felt it could be a little smoother AND my third grader is learning to manage his own time, so his shower and computer time have become his own to complete when he so desires. The little guy still needs Mom over his shoulder.

Another time stealer of mine has been a very welcome change in my life. About 6 months ago, I set the Law of Attraction to work on finding me a female companion that I had TONS in common with, who shared my thoughts and views, who I could be good friends with.... and she's here!! Hi K (waves!) I made a list on paper and man o man... it's NUTS. I've tried to find the paper just to let K read it because it's almost CREEPY how accurate it is, but I can't seem to find it anywhere.
Have ya ever seen one of those talk shows where identical twins, separated at birth, reunite after 30 years and find that they're living VERY similar lives and think the same? And they instantly have this connection that almost goes beyond what you can accurately describe. That's what it's been like for me, getting to know Her. We've spent an amazing amount of time saying the phrase... "REALLY?! Me too!". And of course (Big Gratitude here), we couldn't have met at a more perfect time in our lives. We both seem to be in a place where the other person is exactly what we needed. All things in perfect time. Amazing.

Anyway, I'm back. Got my time and my family all settled back down... and I have things to tell yall too! It'll have to wait for the next post though. My mini men are due through the door momentarily. I hope you're all having a fantastic Tuesday! See ya soon.

Peace & Love,
El

My Communication with Mother Nature

I had a very cool experience the other night and I wanted to share it with yall.

Right now, I'm listening to Deepak Chopra's book, "The Book of Secrets" on my MP3 player. In the section I'm in, he talks about how, you ARE the Universe. The Universe is IN you as much as you are IN the Universe. And how the Universe is a writhing sea of life. The Universe itself is alive, and you should build a personal relationship with the Universe the same as you would with another person.

Well, he says in this section to contemplate this idea: When you're driving down the road and you see a beautiful sunset and you think, "Oh, what a beautiful sunset!", consider that you and the sunset are NOT simply existing within the same fragment of time and within view of each other. Instead consider the idea that the sunset is natures way of catching you intention. That it's actually JUST for you, because no other living thing will see that sunset in the same way as you. Whenever something catches your attention, or you see something out of the corner of your eye that causes you to turn your head, it was meant specifically for you to see. The Universe and Nature are trying to send you lovely images to appreciate.

So, all that being said, here's the coolest thing that's ever happened to me.

After that section of the book, I walked around like a grinning fool for a while. I looked out my window at the trees a moment or 2 longer than usual, and when a bird in flight or a falling leaf caught my eye, I stopped and watched it and applied the thought that it was happening specifically for me. This became an almost overwhelming idea. It made me feel like the whole landscape was a stage where the Universe was acting out these wonderful dances just for my amusement. I smiled warmly and told the Universe how beautiful I thought it was and thanked it for doing it's dance for me.

About 6pm (note:Still very light out. Not even close to dusk yet.) Saturday night, my Hubby and boys were all outside and I'd been doing housework all day trying to catch up from being sick and tending the sick. It was time for a sit, so I walked into the dining room to open my laptop and sit at the table. As I walked past the picture window, frantic movement outside caught my attention and I stopped and looked out.

The huge Maple tree in my back yard was blowing in the breeze, but I swear, it looked like all the leaves were waving at me! They were all straight up, like a hand, and waving back and forth in an almost unnatural way... WAVING! I couldn't help but smile and giggle, and not sure what to do, I lifted my hand and enthusiastically waved back at the tree. And I said, out loud, "I see you trying to get my attention out there!! You're beautiful and perfect and I appreciate you so much!"

Then I saw it. The moon. Beautiful crescent moon, glowing way brighter than it normally would be given how bright it was outside. It was really breathtaking. The moon was, from my perception, hovering in the sky, just to the right of the waving tree. And I said to the tree, "Wow, thank you for getting my attention! I'm glad you waved me down to see the moon... it's BEAUTIFUL!"

Now, this alone was pretty cool. I was ginning like a fool as I thanked the tree for showing me the moon (There's a sentence I never imagined myself saying!), but the next part is what made it amazing to me.

As soon as I said my thanks to the tree, out of nowhere, and seemingly in answer to my thanks, a HUGE hawk flew into my view and began to circle the moon! Not literally circling the whole moon obviously... and not flying in a horizontal, lazy, soaring circle, as though circling prey, but flying up into the sky to above the moon on the left, over the top, down the right side, around the under side, and back up the left side.... in a great big circle...around the moon!

I was speechless.... and it was breathtaking! It circled the moon a full 5 times, as though thanking me for my love and attention, and then it was gone. I didn't even see which way it flew off... and I looked for a dark spot in the sky, but it was totally gone.

I stood in the window, almost in tears, completely awed by what had just happened.... and positive that it had, in fact, been a display of nature that was intended specifically for me. Deepak says, (enter paraphrase) the universe responds to every single thought you think, and if you pay attention to your thoughts, and to the Universe around you, you will see the response that's given just for you. I thought it would be a little weird to think of spontaneous nature as acting out just for my attention, but WOW... I decided to adopt the perception and really feel it.. and I'm just stunned.

I would have to say... it's very easy to keep your vibe up and happy when you think of life and nature in this way. I found that every time I turned around all day, nature was giving me something to smile about. And you're SWIMMING in feelings of being perfect and loved and special when you really feel like it's all a play happening on the stage of the Universe...just for your pleasure! It was really an amazing day... and I think it's leading into an amazing time in my life.

Much Love,
El

My Reality is Shifting

Ever since I had that really profound "Ah-Ha" moment (see the archives) things have really been rolling for me. I can feel these amazing perception shifts happening inside of me. Most things are things I've always known, but now they're just resonating deeper within me.

The concept of all people being One. Me and my brothers and sisters. Branches on the tree of life. Separate in our paths, but eternally connected at our base. This has been exploding within me. I've known this all my life on an instictual level. Anyone who's known me will tell you I was always a kind and sweet child (of course I was a pain, but I'm talking about my nature LOL) and I always wanted to help. I've always had that "Good Semaritan" in me. I will always shine brightest in the service of others because I know that to spread love and kindness to my fellow human being is to bring that love unto myself.

The thing is.... it's been hitting me... DEEPER, if you will. I mean, I'll sit and contemplate it because I can't seem to focus my mind anywhere else. I feel so connected to life. The reality of the Universe and Life and Love and the astounding perfection of it all is frankly, overwhelming to me. As I sit and contemplate my love for nature and my life and the wonderful people in my life and my indivisible connection to it all, it nearly reduces me to tears of pure, unadulterated Joy.

I've been really enjoying my feelings of love and acceptance and connectedness, but here's the thing..... My reality is shifting before my eyes. In a noticable way! Yesterday, everybody I encountered while I was out running errands was enthusiastically friendly. In the past, I've kind of avoided eye contact with people. Not to be unfriendly or anything.... but I find that when people talk to me, esspecially strangers, I don't know what to say on the spot and have more than once walked away thinking, "My GOD they must think I'm an idiot!" LOL.

Well yesterday, as I left the house... I had this amazingly light feeling. I felt connected to everyone and everything around me. I felt happy and boyant and inspired and with head held high and a ridiculous smile on my face, I ventured out into the world. I'm telling you straight... every single person I encountered.... on the street, in the library, at the grocery store, on the sidewalks, in parking lots... EVERYONE.... was smiling and happy and friendly.

I stopped at my Hubby's work to pick up his check on the way to the bank. The boss' wife gave me the check. She's not "unfriendly" by any means, but we don't talk much to eachother, other than... "Is he here?"...."Yeah, he's over there". Well I took the check to my van and was endorsing it to take it to the bank and she came out to my van and tapped on the window. When I rolled down the window she started saying that she'd heard I'd gotten a new van and it's really nice and it must have been a good deal and that's really cool for us etc.... with this warm and friendly smile on her face. We chatted for a minute or two and said goodbye, and as she walked away, she turned back to me and with so much warmth, smiled and said "Hey... You have a great day!" I was just stunned as I drove away. I was so connected to the moment, I was able to smoothly reply, "I intend to. And you do the same!" but as I drove away, all I could do was smile this big goofy smile and say my thanks to the Universe for the great start to me day.

The whole rest of my excursion was exactly like that. I haven't encountered many people today as I've only left the house once to run and pick up pizza for dinner, but I encountered the same friendly, welcoming smiles as yesterday. I've been very much in love with everything around me lately and now it seems that everything around me is in love with ME!

Catch a Smile and Spread the Joy,
El

The Most Profound "Ah-Ha" Moment of My Life!

Please forgive me for how long I know this post is going to be. I've had one of the most profound moments of realization today. I've seen so many posts recently from people floundering in their lives and having such a hard time with LOA and I just know this experience will bouy their faith.

Abraham says:
People want to go from sick to well, from negative to positive, from mis-aligned to aligned.... right now, this instant... but you can't do that. Energy must be moved a little at a time. That is why you should always reach for the better feeling thought. Eventually the best feeling thought will be your default. Then you will be in alignment and things will flow right to you.
(I'm not quoteing here... I'm summing up LOL)

Here is a brief (brief as I can) story about why I know that is true.

I started looking for God when I was 19 and met my Hubby.
(OMG Just typing that just gave me another AH HA!!)
My Hubby didn't believe in God. Period. "God is an invisible man that people blame their lives on to avoid taking responsibility for themselves."
(My AH-HA was: My Hubby and I started our marriage with opinions on God that were polar opposites and through eachothers thought contrast, we've both found "Truth".... *I hear the words everything happens for a reason echoing in my head*)

Anyway....

I started looking for "God" when I was 19 and met my Hubby.

I was raised Free Methodist and had the religion fundamentals instilled in me. When I was 7, my Gram moved and no one made me go to church anymore, so I stopped going. I always believed in the basic ideas... don't steal, don't kill, love your brother, be a good person, etc... But I was raised "old school" religion... Gram taught me.... women wear dresses and you don't wear make-up and you don't do ANYTHING on Sunday...EVER!... The more "hard core" kind of doctrine that is usually responsible for the beliefs of the "Bible thumpers" that chase you down and try to "save your soul".

I left religion behind because even at 7-8 years old, I couldn't quite unterstand why God, who they told me was all encompassing, all knowing, all loving, creator of everything I can see, and even things I can't... why would he care if we wore make-up or pants? In his infinite wisdom of all that is... wouldn't me saying a swear word be insignificant? So I went away from church, and at 19, I started looking for God again.

I began looking into all kinds of religions trying to figure out where I fit in. I learned all kinds of very interesting things about lots of religions, but I couldn't make my peace and truely believe what they believed. It seemed to me that the Buddhists had the best take on things, but I just couldn't see "worshipping" the way they do. Buddha was still a man. That was my issue with Jesus also. Why did I have to find God by worshipping a man?

Then I had a dream that changed my life. I had an online friendship with a married couple that lived in England. We were members of an online Yahoo pool league and chatted outside the league sometimes. Long story short... I dreamed that the husband's sister called me asking if he was here. I told her no, took a message, and went next door (from Ohio to England LOL) and told the husband that his sister called and said she really needed him to call her. She said it involved a great distance. While I was at their house, the husband was holding a baby wrapped in a blue blanket whom he kept referring to as "My Boy".

When I woke up in the morning, I knew in my heart (although this had never happened before) that I had to get online and tell this man to call his sister. I ended up online with his wife. I told her about the dream and she was FLOORED! She said that her husbands only sister, who he hasn't talked to in 7 years, had called one hour before (STUPID 5 HOUR TIME DIFFERENCE!) and told him that she was stopping to see him on her way out of town. She was moving to Africa the next day!!!!! AAAAAAAAAND.... She also told me that the two of them had decided to try for a boy one last time (they had 2 girls) and she was 1 day late for her period. She took a pregnancy test while we were talking and it was positive. Nine months later, they had a baby boy. All during her pregnancy, she called me "Psychic to the Stars" LOL.

So now I became slightly obsessed with dreams. I was really into lucid dreams and psychics. While browsing online looking at sites about "developing psychic powers" I happened across StevePavlina.com and if you've never been there, I highly recommend it. It's a personal developement site and it's fantastic.

Steve Pavlina's site is the first that introduced me to "intention manifestation" I got pretty good at getting the synchronicities going right after I'd set an intention, but that's where it all seemed to fizzle. It wasn't really a lifestyle for me. More or less, it was just something fun to play with.

Then I found Steve's article on "subjective reality vs objective reality" and I was introduced to the concept of being God. He uses a video game analogy. How even though while playing, you identify yourself with the avitar in the game, it isn't you. The real you is outside the game giving the avitar what he needs to win. I probably didn't say that all that well, but you get the point.

By this point, I was about 26. For the next 3 years, I practiced looking on the bright side. I used intention manifestation almost as a game. I never got more than a couple synchronicities so it didn't mean alot to me. It was mostly just fun. When I tried for bigger things, I was always disappointed so I stopped trying. I always believed in karma. What goes around, comes around.

I had come to think of "God" as... The Universe.

Deep breath! I'm almost done LOL! It's faster from here.

(Sept of 2007)

My weight hit 205 pounds. I'm 5' 10" tall, and I carried it well. No one ever believed I weighed what I did, but I knew, and I wasn't happy about it. Losing weight after babies can be so hard. I was determined to get a grip on my life though, so I joined a gym and changed the way my entire family eats. I started being much more respectful of my body. I was more aware of what I put in it and I started to feel really good about the exercise I was getting.

The gym I joined was a "women only" kind of place. I thought it would be nice to be around and meet other women. It turned out to be a place where all these women got together to endlessly complain to eachother about anything and everything. I had set a goal for myself. I wanted to weigh 160 by my birthday in April. One day while working out, I was chatting with a couple of women and we got to talking about why we joined the gym. I said that I wanted to be at my goal weight by the time I turned 30. When women turn 30, their whole body changes. Our hormones shift, gravity starts to kick in, wrinkles usually start to appear... and above all, losing weight gets HARDER! they started making fun of me. "Oh yeah... you're so ooooold!!!" "Hope you can afford the gym on your social security check" etc... That lead into... "Wait till you turn 40... 50... (these were older women) THEN you'll know what old is!" they said.

They gave me a hard time for about 5 minutes. Just mocked me and made fun. I just exercised and smiled. Finally I said..."Hey, I'm not saying I'm old... I'm just saying I accept my age. I can't change it. No amount of complaining will make me younger. Besides, each stage of life is great for different reasons. How can you enjoy the stage you're in if you don't first accept that you're there?"

And that moment was my first shift. (January 2008)

I learned that acceptance is key. My own words rang in my head the rest of the day. "How can you enjoy where you are if you don't first accept that you're there?" I thought about my husband, kids, life.... I accepted those things. I also accepted my body. I decided I was going to start each day being thankful for everything I have. And I did. Every morning, I woke up and said a brief prayer in thanks for another day and everything in my life.

After a month or so of doing this, I started to get this weird feeling. Everytime I read about religion or spirituality or LOA (I'd watched the Secret by now) I had this peculiar feeling like I was sitting right on the verge of something unexpected and big. Not a THING, but an idea or an epiphany of some sort.

A short time later, I heard Oprah talking about her webcast with Eckhart Tolle and his book "A New Earth" on tv and I was captivated! I didn't even WATCH Oprah! I went online and watched all 10 webcasts. They were on like, the final 2 webcasts by the time I learned of it, so I watched them all within a couple days. I ordered the book online by webcast 3, and watched them all before the book even got here. Then it arrived and I read it twice! This was it. My epiphany!

This was my second shift. (April 2008)

I learned to live my life NOW instead of in tomorrows or yesterdays.
Eckhart's book just blew my mind. This was it. I knew I was reading the truth. I began living my conscious life.

I started to meditate every night before I went to sleep. I'd lie in bed on my back, eyes closed, relaxed, and just FEEL my hands and feet. Feel the life, the energy under my skin. It didn't take long (maybe a week or 2) before I could feel my own energy all over my body, and manipulate it. I'd move it around and build it up and wind it down.

(So now, I'm meditating on my energy at night and saying prayers of thanks every morning. I've completely accepted my life and my current place in the world. And I've begun to live as much of my life as I can, in the NOW.)

Within weeks, I found Abraham-Hicks on youtube and started to watch. I enjoyed the book, "The Astonishing Power of Emotions" but in my opinion and experience, you don't really get the full impact of Abraham's message untill you watch Ethster channel Abraham and hear their words.

(End of May 2008)

I heard a Beatles song on the radio. I became mildly obsessed with the Beatles. LOL I downloaded a ton of Beatles tunes and started listening to them constantly. Around the same time, I asked the Big U to hook me up with some like minded people. Within 2 days, I found this very LOA group. And within the first day of my joining, someone posted the lyrics to "All You Need is Love". I knew I was in the right place, and thanked the Big U for the sign ;)

Again, I started to get that funny feeling. I was on the verge of something again. This time I was excited about it! Last time this happened, it changed my life.

This time I grabbed a hot meat thermometer and gave myself a MINIMUM of a second degree burn on my thumb and forefinger. It was by far, the worst burn I've ever had. And I've cooked in restaurants since I was 14! Three days after I got the burn, it was healed to the point that all that was left was a slight line around the outter edge of where the HUGE blisters had been. By the morning of day 4, it was like it had never happened. I realized that while I was feeling the energy in my hands and manipulating it at night when I'd meditate, I'd healed my burns. Wanna talk about leaving yourself speachless.

This was my third shift. (June 2008)

I learned that energy is all there is, and I am the master of my own energy. This experience showed me that I am a powerful being, beyond anything that anyone had ever taught me before.

(Notice how the shifts are happening more frequently. I'm in the zone! And they're all things I already knew on an intellectual level)

I walk 2 miles every morning. My kids are on summer vacation, so I can't get away to the gym. I walk the outter perimeter of our yard. Eight times around is 2 miles. I have a big yard. LOL!

So, I'm walking one morning, and clear as day, I heard a voice say to me.... "What would make you happy today? Always ask."

Yeah, now I'm hearing voices. I know... But I started to ask.

I wake up in the morning, say my prayers of thanks, and ask myself.... What would make you happy today. Oddly, I found that most of the things that I feel like I HAVE to do, I still do. I think... Well, it would make me SO happy to have a nice clean kitchen today! Suddenly chores aren't so dreaded anymore. I'm actually making myself happy by doing them! What a concept!

(More practice for living in the NOW and going with the flow!)

In the end of July, I read and reposted "Raising Children: Why Do We Have to Make Them Miserable?"

This was my fourth shift (July 2008)

I learned that you can't make people do what you want them to. If they're happy doing whatever they're doing, then who am I to take that away from them?! I am seeking peace and joy in my life, and essentially, so is every other living thing on the planet. It's not acceptable for me to take someone elses joy away. Find a way to share in the joy around you or move your joy to a place that feels more aligned to the experience you're seeking to have.

This brings us to August.

I wrote a New Moon Check for $500 on the first. On the third, my son pointed out (on a completely different subject) that there's 5 Fridays this month. There's my $500. That was quick.

Then on the third, I asked the Big U for some time alone. My Hubby was gone to the county fair with our kids for half the week. Wow!

Then on the nineth, I found the mini van from my vision board. WOWW!

On the tenth, I was taking my morning walk and heard that voice again. This time it said... "Are you ready for the shift? Because if you're not ready, it can't happen." Well, that was an odd thing to say. I don't get it... I thought, puzzled.

The eleventh was when I started seeing the posts popping up on this group about resistance and it seemed like suddenly so many people were having such a hard time. My heart was really going out to everyone, but I didn't know what to say.

On the twelfth, after my walk and shower, I was dressing in my room and heard the voice. It said, "You will live the exact life you want to live." That was a very profound statement. And it sunk in to the point that it brought tears to my eyes when I acknowledged the powerful truth in it. Moved to tears... that's new.

This morning I was walking in the yard and that silly little, make me feel like a crazy person, voice was there again. Again I heard, "Are you ready for the shift? Because if you're not ready, it can't happen." I suddenly had that really giddy weird feeling again.
Somethinng's gunna happen!

I decided that painting my porch would make me happy today. Painting can be very meditative and I figured if something is comming, that might be the best state of mind to receive it from. So I set out to paint my porch.

I was about halfway done when it hit me.

This was my fifth shift (August 13, 2008)

(This is the big one. The reason for the post)

You have to be ready for the shift because if you're not ready, it can't happen!!

Suddenly (almost like my life flashing before my eyes), the whole story I just told you flashed through my head, and I realized the places where I "shifted" (I've never used that word to describe it before today)... and I remembered the Abraham-Hicks video I watched this morning and posted here about "Allowing Your Vibrational Escrow" and the Abraham-Hicks summary at the beginning of this post ... and all the struggling people I've been wishing I could help..... and all the things I learned when I shifted...that I had heard a million times and already knew... but I didn't absorb them fully and actualize them in my life untill I was ready to shift there. Then there was more of that new "moved to tears" bit. Incredible amounts of emotion. It was almost painful. Like... when you look at your baby, and you love them so much, your chest aches with it. That's what I felt.

So that's it. Now you all know WAY more about me than you ever thought you would and I've TOLD you way more about me than I ever thought I would LOL. Believe it or not, this is the briefest summary of my life that there is.

The point is... Abraham is right... once you find the flow, and reach for what feels good.... you do get where you want to be... and it does happen over time.. (in shifts, if you will LOL)... I didn't realize how far I've come in such a short period of time. Once it all REALLY started to click... it really rolled.

There is hope. You WILL find your way. You are exactly where you are meant to be. Start where I did and realize... how can you find joy where you are if you don't first accept that you're there?

Sorry again for the length. If you made it this far, pat yourself on the back and have a cookie!

Loving This Life!!
El Baugher .... Master of the Universe!

Gratitude Begets Gratitude

This has been just a phenomenal week for me! It started last Tuesday when my Hubby took our boys and went to our local county fair for the entire evening. I was really ready for that break. Then on Wednesday, they did it again! Two whole evenings from 6pm till 11pm all alone in a quiet house. SUPERB!

I expressed a great deal of gratitude and appreciation to my Hubby and the Big U for those evenings and that time alone. I got a lot of things done in the time I had also. I was really in "The Zone" both nights and the hours of seclusion proved to be quite productive.

Then on Saturday, my mother wanted to take my boys for the night. I'm not one to say no to an evening alone with my Hubby so I packed up a few things for them and off we went to my mother's house. I expressed a great deal of gratitude to the Big U for the time to spend alone with my Hubby because we don't get a whole lot of that.

Here's where we found the mini van from my vision board on the way back home (Check the August 10, 2008 entry for that story!). I'm STILL super excited about my new van. I've expressed MORE than a great deal of gratitude to the Big U for my beautiful new van.

Then Sunday, Hubby took the boys AGAIN and went back to the county fair because the boys wanted to see the truck shows and tractor pulls. They left at 11am and didn't get back until 9pm. And for me.... yes, another SUPER productive day.

I've just been ooooozing gratitude and appreciation for the last week.

Those are the bigger things that have happened this week. I have to mention how I don't think I waited at a single red light this week too. I also found great parking spaces and things I wanted on sale. Three different times with three different songs, I had a song in my head and turned on the radio and the song was playing.

Today at the grocery store, I couldn't find the tortilla chips I wanted. I bent down and grabbed a bag of pretzels and when I stood back up, there was the chips I wanted. It was the only bag in the whole aisle, it wasn't where it belonged, and I would SWEAR it wasn't there when I looked 2 seconds earlier.

Even this post brought me a synchronicity. I was thinking about how powerful the Law of Attraction is as I typed the post title "Gratitude Begets Gratitude". Then I thought... hmmm begets? ... is that the word I want?.... So I typed it into Yahoo search and clicked the Dictionary.com site that was the first in the list. Here's the definition that looked back at me...

"to cause; produce as an effect: a belief that power begets power."

I just laughed. I love a synchronistic life!

Seems that everything in my life has been effortlessly falling into place this week. I've been very grateful and very relaxed. "Going with the flow" as Abraham would say.

The more gratitude I feel, the more the Big U sends my way for me to be grateful for.
Gratitude begets gratitude. I hope you're all leading the life you want.

Peace & Love,
El Baugher

My Vision Board - July 08 Update

Hello My Friends!

I am SO excited today! Well, it's actually excitement that's carried over from yesterday. You may recall that I made a vision board and posted it here on my blog to share with you all back on July 6th (one month and 3 days from yesterday).

Here's my vision board again to refresh your memory.

That LOVELY picture, in the bottom left corner.... The white Dodge Caravan.... I GOT IT YESTERDAY!!!!

The one in the picture is a 2008. I wanted one a little older.

I requested:

2000 to 2003, white, Dodge Grand Caravan, with the 2 sliding doors, no running boards, no luggage rack, tinted windows, 3 rows of seats, 4 captains chairs, cup holders out the wazoo, CD AND cassette players in a good sounding system, power everything (seats, windows, locks, etc..), great running, very well cared for, like new, and getting a MINIMUM of 25 MPG.

**$4000 or less**

That is EXACTLY what I got. To the letter! My new van is a 2000, everything listed above, getting 28 MPG! and we paid.... drumroll please..... $3000 ... AND, that's not $3000 plus sales tax, title fees, notary, etc.... That's $3000, tax, title, out the door price. I literally counted out $3000 in 50 and 100 dollar bills onto the desktop and was handed a receipt!

It runs fantastic! The only issue was a tierod end. Being married to a mechanic (BIG graditude here!) helpped there. We stopped at an auto parts store on the way home and bought a new tierod end for $15. We also grabbed 5 quarts of oil, an oil filter and an air freshener. Owning cars I've learned that maintanence is key! Hubby took less than half an hour to change the tierod end and oil, and check all the tire pressures (tire's pressure? LOL).

And let me say..... I WAS NOT HUNTING FOR A NEW VAN! I knew I wanted one. About once a week, we'd cruise through a car dealer or 2. We never talked to the dealers or anything. Just kind of drive through and see what's there, knowing that when the time is perfect and the van is perfect, it'll be there.

We dropped our sons off at my Mother's house yesterday afternoon around 3pm because they were going to spend the night. On our way home, we were going to drop off a bunch of recycleables, so we came through town instead of by way of the interstate. On the way through town, we drive by this one car dealer. We've purchased 2 vehicles from him in the last 10 years. He's a good honest guy. Hubby pulled in just to see if anything looked good. It's a very small place and you have to walk through. Not enough room for the truck. So, he got out and walked around the corner to see if any of the maybe 15 cars in the lot were what we wanted.

After a couple minutes, he pops his head around the corner from the inside of the building's garage and motions for me to "come here". I got out of the truck and walked into the garage and there, up on the lift is "The Van"! It was BEAUTIFUL! Was freshly washed and still dripping. Stuck inside the window is a sticker that says, $3995. I walked up to it as Hubby said to the man, "I'm not happy with that price. What's your bottom price, tax, title, out the door? I'll pay cash today." The guy said $3000!! Hubby said, "$3000 total price?" The guy said, "Total price." And Hubby said, "I'll be back in 30 minutes with the money..... Come on Honey" and we walked out the door!

I was stunned! It literally happened THAT fast. I no sooner layed eyes on it and I found out it was MINE! I was in total shock the whole way home. Just stunned into silence. Once we got home, I'd snapped out of it some LOL. I got on Kelley Blue Book's website and looked up this van. We found out dealer price was close to $6000. It even pulled over $4000 as a trade in! We got the money and went back to the dealer. Once we were there, it had been backed out of the garage and we took it for a test drive.

My Hubby, being a mechanic, is pretty picky about vehicles. He drove it down the road and jerked the wheel around and really gave it some hell. Then he pulled over in a parking lot down the road and did a walk around, popped the hood, climed underneith... the whole deal. It had the one bad tierod. That's it. We took it back, paid and drove it home.

Here she is:

I still can't quite believe it's mine! Thank you Big U for sending me this van! I really really love it!

Well, that's my latest vision board/manifestation story. Hope it inspires you to consciously create in your own life.

May You Manifest Your Dreams,

El Baugher

Eminations and Ghosts and Orbs, OH MY!

The most awsome thing happened to me last night! Bear with me a moment while I give a little background information.



I got this book called "The Orb Project by Miceal Ledwith, DD, LL.D & Klaus Heinemann, Ph.D." I read the whole darn thing in a day. It was SOOOOO interesting. This book caught my eye because 3-4 years ago, I ended up with a picture, 2 actually, in a roll of film that I didn't recognize. By the angle, I figured out that the picture was taken while the camera was sitting on top of my microwave, which is where it had been sitting for a couple weeks. I didn't take the picture and my husband and children all say that none of THEM snapped that picture.








You can see the Orb above the red coat on the door..... And the pic below is just a strange white fog. Again, no one in my house took these pictures. We don't know where they came from.





I LOVE these pictures. I've shown them to lots of people. After we bought our house in 2004, we found out that the man and woman who lived here had both died here. Not at the same time, but according to the Grand Daughter, they both passed away within a year of eachother and they both passed away laying in thier bed in the master bedroom. I'm not squeemish about this and neither is my family. Well, our first morning in our new house, I wandered out into the cluttered, box filled kitchen to make some coffee and there stood a 6 ft tall old man in blue jeans and a red flannel shirt. We hadn't heard about people having died here at this point, but I'm no dummy, and put it together pretty quick. My husband isn't a NON believer, but he's much more proof based. He denied for about a year that the old man's (Arthur) ghost was here and during this time, (I've laughed at this so many times!) of denial, it seemed that every single time my hubby filled a glass or bowl with liquid, it spilled. He dumped EVERYTHING... constantly. I even told him..... I think Arthur's a little annoyed with you... but he'd just brush it off and refill whatever had spilled.


Well, this one night, we had this whole long discussion about ghosts and spirits and things of that nature and of course, Arthur came up. He's a playful old man. He was a Grandpa and all the kids loved him. He likes to turn lights off on me or open cupboards. Silly playful things. Never threatening. Well.... it was the next day that I took this roll of film to develop and found these fantastic pictures. I told Hubby.... I think these are meant for you darlin... He's still not a blind believer, but he's much much more accepting... and the spills stopped after we got the pictures.


So... this brings me to the super cool thing that happened last night.





In this book, The Orb Project, Dr. Ledwith, among many other things, describes how he discovered that Orbs react to your intentions. The more he "INTENDED" to see them, the more there were. I thought that was very very interesting. We know that our thoughts are measurable energy, and we know that our world and worlds BEYOND ours are made of pure pulsating energy. So I suppose it stands to reason that Orbs (which the Doc refers to as Spirit Eminations.... not the spirit or ghost, but the energy that eminates from it.) can hear (?) see (?) feel (?) the energy of your thoughts and respond in kind.


Here's the experiment I decided to try:

We've lived in this house for 4 years now. All the holidays and birthdays and silly just because pictures that we've taken have never had ANYTHING funny in them. Believe me, I've looked. Since those odd pictures (up top) showed up, I've always examined every picture for Orbs or energies or whatever. Never a single thing. I decided that, if Orbs respond to intention, and Orbs are pure energy, and energy is quite litereally and completely EVERYWHERE, then if I intend to take a picture of Orbs, I should get a picture of Orbs. So I closed my eyes and pulled that wonderfully warm loving feeling into the pit of my stomach (like when I set an intention to use the Law of Attraction) and set my mind to seeing and taking pictures of Orbs in my livingroom. Then I picked up my camera and snapped a picture...... this is what was on the picture.

Upon examination, I counted 25 separate Orbs of varrying size. I was (and still am) completely FLOORED by this. Never have I seen anything like this in my home before. I continued taking pictures just for the fun of it. Many of them featured my son. It says in the book that Orbs are most often seen in lighthearted atmospheres and around children. Boy was that accurate. They loved my son.

I hope you enjoyed my pictures. I'm still so excited. I may take more pictures today. This is a fantastic example of how our surroundings and surrounding energies respond to our thoughts. I know it's sure given me a slightly different perception on The Law of Attraction. It was like having instant proof that I can create what I intend and think about. All that was used for these pictures is my Kodak Easy Share C643 camera. There HAS to be a flash. (For more on WHY you need the flash, get and read this fantastic book!) Give a try and take some pictures and see what YOUR intentions can come up with!! I'd love to see your pics and hear your feedback!

Happy Creating,
El Baugher :)

My Vision Board - July 08 Update

Ok, I took a look at my vision board while writing my last post and was AMAZED at what I saw. It's actually funny that it didn't click until I looked at it. I'll tell you what the pictures represent to me as I see evidence of them manifesting. Here goes...

• The peace sign is for increasing my inner peace.




• The woman with the measuring tape is for increased health and stamina.




• The bowl of veggies is to produce many veggies in my garden.




• The laptop with dollar signs is to increase my household income, from home, online.

The increased inner peace showed up today. Check out my "Knee Jerk Reaction vs Inner Peace" post.

The increased health and stamina showed up YESTERDAY! I jog a mile every morning. Well, I try to. It's hit and miss. Every day for a week, then not at all for 2 weeks. I've gained about 6 pounds since the kids got out of school for the summer. Monday morning, I jogged my mile... but when I was done, I felt like I just had more to give... so I ran another quarter mile!! Then this morning, I weighed myself and am down 2 pounds!! AWSOME!

Many veggies happened today. We have really thick clay in our yard. We've added compost and manure and even SAND to our garden the last 2 years. My plants have been growing... mostly. My tomato plants aren't growing at all. My zucchini is growing and flowering, but no fruit yet. Same with the pumpkins. My green beans are scrawny and not producing much. The snap peas are growing, but no pods. It's rained here so much, I couldn't go weed. If you walk out there when it's damp, you sink right in. So it was all weedy. I go out and look at everything everyday at least once. Today was beautiful, and after meditating at the playground, I was in the mood for some gardening. I went out and found green beans that were almost as big as the 6" tall plant they hung from. IT BLEW ME AWAY! I have pea pods all over the place. Still no zuchs or pumpkins but I'm VERY positive they'll be showing up shortly!! The tomato plants still looked pathetic. I worked until a thunderstorm was rolling in. I came in and washed my hands in the kitchen and there on the window sill was an 8" tall tomato plant sticking out of a glass of water!! Last week I pulled out some little tomato plants that were trying to grow double next to another plant. I didn't want to just throw them in the compost, so I stuck them in a glass of water to deal with at a later date. I forgot all about them. THEY GREW sitting in the kitchen window in water. BETTER, in fact, than the others outside! So I'm going to get my tomatoes after all. I potted 5 tomato plants and put them on the porch.

The increased income has happened today and yesterday. Traffic to all my websites has increased along with ad clicks and donations! Now, I'm not saying OMG and now I'm rich!! But, increase is increase! More is coming. *There is always more than enough!* I think this is my new mantra.

I am so grateful for the many blessings surrounding me and I hope you are too!

Many countless blessings to you,

El Baugher :)

Knee Jerk Reactions VS Inner Peace

I have moments where I'm so completely zen and at one with every energy around me, it amazes me. I do, however, have the "knee jerk" reactions sometimes. They happen FAR less frequently than they used to. One year ago, the knee jerk was the only reaction I had. Now, I try to be more loving and kind, no matter what's happening. We are, after all, connected to everyone and everything around us.

Well! When someone does something that's totally inconsiderate, it bothers me. I'm learning to find peace in these moments.... I'm growing. When someone does something that's totally inconsiderate and then lets you know that they KNOW they're being inconsiderate and that they did it just to be a jerk....?.... That more than bothers me! That makes me so darn mad that I feel like I could just spontaneously burst into flames. I'm learning to find peace in these moments too. I'd have to admit though, that the process has been a little slower in this area. But, hey... ya have to get a grip of the small things first. No mountain climber has ever started with Everest!

So.... here's what happened to me today!

I took my boys to the local elementary school playground this morning. They went off to play (it's SO cool that they're older now!) and I was going to sit in the truck and listen to the book on CD I'd brought along. It was about 10am. The sun was warm and inviting and the birds were chirping and I felt so calm, so instead of doing what I'd planned to do, I grabbed the towel in the back seat (never know when the beach could happen!) and folded it to sit on, and climbed in the bed of the truck. I sat cross legged in the yoga "easy pose" and turned my face into the sun and meditated for about 15 minutes. I felt SO fantastic when we left there! Totally at peace.

We were almost home and we came up to pass the truck stop and a semi pulled out RIGHT in front of me. I was the only vehicle on the road. There was no one else to wait for, but he pulled out from a complete stop and made me stop in the middle of the road and wait for him. This used to wind me up pretty good, but I've been looking at it from a different perspective lately. I figure, it can't be easy to pull 85,000 pounds that's 30 feet long out into traffic, and I keep my peace. Even when there's no one else on the road!! I figure, well, some people just don't realize the impact they have on others, and I keep my peace.

This guy though!! THIS guy pulls out and makes me stop, and I looked up at him as he came around, and he looked me right in the face, grinned, and gave me the finger!!!

I did something I've never done before in my life. I smiled at him... the warmest, friendliest smile I have.. and made the peace sign with my left hand out the window. This was absolutely a divinely inspired action! I've never thought to do ANYTHING like that before, but when I saw him, it just happened! The look on his face made me laugh. I've never been able to react from such a peaceful place before.

AND just a few minutes ago, as I was writing this story, I realized something funny. I made that vision board on Sunday morning and posted a picture of it. The peace sign is for increasing my inner peace! I guess the universe got my request! MAN, I just went and looked at that post from Sunday to paste the link and I'm going to have to end this post and start another LOL!!! See you there!!

My Vision Board - July 08

Hey Everyone!

I hope your weekend was fantastic! Mine was. I thought about a vision board for a couple of days. I even cut a 3 foot piece of brown paper off the roll I have and set it aside with the intention of "getting to it". This morning, while I was drinking my coffee and watching some Abraham-Hicks videos on YouTube it occurred to me.... I want to make a vision board for my desktop! I'm on and off my laptop all day. What could be a better place than on my desktop where I can look at it periodically all day every day?

So, here goes. As promised, below is a picture of my current vision board. I think I'll sit down and revise it at the beginning of every month. I'm also going to use my brown paper to make a material vision board for my gym. Can't think about the things your intending too much now can ya!!

Have a happy Monday! May you receive everything you're attracting!

Peace & Love,

El Baugher :)

An Abundance of Cats?

Greetings!

I had an interesting experience with the law of attraction today and I wanted to share it. I found it amusing.

I was sitting at my diningroom table this morning drinking my coffee and working on my laptop. I sat back in my chair and turned away from the screen to give my eyes a break and looked out the picture window into the back yard.

Now, we live in the country. If you see an animal in the back yard, it's one of our 3 cats or something wild (deer, turkey, squirrel, chipmunk, groundhog). Today, it was a black cat. I'd never seen this cat before and it high tailed it out of here when I called to it out the window.

"Huh *shrug*" I thought. That was different.....

When I went back to my laptop, I found myself drifting back to the cat in my mind. I wonder where it's from? I wonder if it has a home? (Wonder how we ended up with 3 cats? LOL) Weird to see a cat outside. I never see cats in our yard. Etc...

About two hours later, my boys wanted to go to the park and play, so I grabbed a book and off we went. I was sitting in my truck with the windows down enjoying the book I was reading. When I looked up to locate and check the status of my children, I found myself looking at a black cat being led through the playground by my six year old.

It made me chuckle. Spirit has an interesting sense of humor I think. LOL

Peace & Love,
El :)