Live Ever After: October 2010

Happy 1st Year Anniversary Live Ever After!

>> Thursday, October 28, 2010

Happy 1st Year Anniversary Live Ever After!

We have reached the end of our Anniversary Celebration! Thank you so much for visiting. I really enjoyed hosting and creating a festive experience, I hope for everyone. I think I will have posted 17 posts in one day when this is over. Is 17 in one day a record? I don't know, but I did have fun. Thanks for all your earlier comments and for my new followers. I really appreciate your support on the launch of Live Ever After's second year of incredible posts. Thanks to my husbands secret, guest post of kind words and to my children for interruptions of paint accidentally falling on the light carpet, yells of he hit me, mommy save me, I don't want food for dinner just make me pancakes at 7 pm tonight, etc. I love them. They totally are the life source of this blog.

*Update: Melissa Rheinlander is # 27. Thanks Melissa. Don't forget to email me your address at **** (time has lapsed) for your free gift.

Good night everyone and I saved the best music video for last. It reminds me of the feelings most women have about themselves and being in love with their significant other. All the best to you, your family and your blogs. Keep bloggin'.

I leave you with Beyonce......

Give Aways. We have almost reached the end of our celebration. 4 more followers need.

Now we are back to our selection of music by Musiq, the Soulchild who sings, in my opinion, some of the most romantic songs. He can be deep so be prepared. The first two videos are disabled from viewing but the last one can be seen. It is my favorite of his songs. Enjoy.

I know. Why don't I put a picture of myself or state a blog name that would better suit my avatar. I was going to post a picture of myself at 20 years old when I was modeling in the Miss Caribbean pageant, but who am I fooling. I am still uncomfortable puting a picture of myself online. I am now 20 years older since the picture was taken, and the most I could do is show the picture below. So this is me. I was sitting in starbucks drinking passion tea (I hate coffee), thinking about the anniversary issue. I just bought these shoes and was meeting my husband later. It was nice to put them on instead of my sneakers. I should have put more lotion on now that I look closer, anyway it is what it is and I am what I am, but for now this is me.

Congratulations honey on the one year anniversary of your blog. I am proud of you. Hang in there and more people will recognize the value of what you're sharing. They will see how much you have to give and offer in terms of valuable, encouraging, and honest advice when it comes to relationships. Not just because you have degrees from college for it but also because you speak from experience and from the heart. Love ya.

Your Hubby

I have more music for you. But first do not forget there are four prizes left for following "Live Ever After". Click to follow on the lower right hand side of blog, then email me your address at ****(time has lapsed).

Here is Anthony and Sara:

You Can't Change Them...or Can You?

This is my post for today. Even if it is the anniversary issue. Changing ones spouse is one of the most popular ideas since the dawn of man. It's funny how we rarely think we should be the ones to change or even the source of the problem. It has to be the other spouse. Well I am not writing about change for ourselves because I think you have heard it all before. I want to focus on the other person for a change. Do I have your attention now? You. the other half is the secret to the change but it is not just about changing your behavior but helping your spouse to be a better them. You saw the best of them, remember? When you were dating and when you were on your honeymoon. You may be saying where has that person gone? Well, I first want to say that it was you who brought the best of them, out of them. How? You were probably much more gracious, patient, romantic, vulnerable, gentle, ambitious, kinder, etc.

They then reciprocate. Your other half is probably saying (about you), "where has that other person gone" as well. Help your other half to be better from the things you did at first. Be more supportive, less critical as you used to see no wrongs, buy or make their favorite desert and wrap it up, the way you used to. Build up their confidence if that is what they need. Study them and apply what they need. Be more consistent in kindness. In some cases do the opposite of what you have been doing. Ex. I used to talk alot around my husband. Now I say much less as I discovered he needs peace. He thrives on quietness. He gets refueled that way. Now I noticed that honestly there was a lot that I just didn't need to say. I was talking just to talk. Now I have more meaningful conversation. Make your own discoveries about your spouse by observation and stillness, then apply what you have learned. You will find that they will be a better them as they have changed, without realizing so have you.

the adviser, MHC

My favorite blogs are listed to the right labeled. "Highlighted Blogs". These are my absolute favorite blogs. I just noticed I did not include the new Lady Jennie as she has become my favorite over the last 6 months. She won a new blog design and was once called Miss Welcome.

Our Trip to Ethiopia is my other favorite blog which encourages philanthropic giving. I love any site that encourages people to help needy persons. Especially children.

My third favorite site is a blog but a photography blog. It is a collection of pictures taken in NYC. I am close friends with the photographer. We used to be neighbors and our children love each other. This is one of her photos of a dancer, taken in the streets of New York.

Lastly, this blog is useful as it is a tutorial. I learned how to make my own button for my blog. Check out Oikology 101. Go grab her button and take some tutorials. She makes it soooo simple.

Give Away Update:

Yeah. The Munoz Family has just won a free gift! Only 4 more friend/followers to go to reach our goal of 30. If you sign someone up and they are the lucky 27, 28, 29 and 30, you will win a free gift, courteous of Live Ever After's Anniversary.

Just email me at ****(time has lapsed) with your PO Box or mailing address. All information is confidential.

Thank you Munoz Family.

#25, LaDonna Rae, still awaiting your confirmation of gift. You still have time, up to 11pm tonight.

Let's continue with some more of my favorite selections: Whitney, Sugarland,
& Brandy

The Ultimate Favorite Posts for "LEA" Over The Year
Click to view

http://liveeverafter.blogspot.com/2010/07/jealousy-2.html

http://liveeverafter.blogspot.com/2010/05/translator-please.html

http://liveeverafter.blogspot.com/2010/04/his-eyes-dimmed.html

http://liveeverafter.blogspot.com/2010/03/corporate-americas-communication-style.html

http://liveeverafter.blogspot.com/2010/05/10-common-mistakes-parents-make.html

http://liveeverafter.blogspot.com/2010/03/na-wa-ti-natiye.html

http://liveeverafter.blogspot.com/2010/02/parisian-love.html

http://liveeverafter.blogspot.com/2010/01/nctw-3.html

http://liveeverafter.blogspot.com/2009/12/mud-or-stars.html

http://liveeverafter.blogspot.com/2009/11/what-did-you-say.html

The Give Aways!

Even if you are a follower you can still participate in this event. Just get someone else to follow and that is just as good! Then email me at ****(time has lapsed) with your address or PO box.

I am now looking for friend/followers 26-30.

Also LaDonna Rae, #25 don't forget to send me your address as you started following LEA at
12:02 am today.

*All information is confidential*

Justin B, Mya, and Mariah...I'm going to get my hair done for this anniversary event. I'll be back in a few. Until then, these are my other favorites.

Okay, let's get to our give aways. The give aways are based on friends/followers. I wanted to have 6 new followers by the end of today.

Yesterday there were 24 people following and someone joined at 12:02 am. So in all fairness #25, LaDonna Rae, will be getting a prize but she must contact me before 11pm tonight, when the party is over.

So for the next 5 people who follow, Live Ever After, I will be receiving a free gift for their participation. It's a simple goal I had in mind. I think 30 followers by today is doable.

Just email me your address or PO Box to ****(time has lapsed) Please put in the subject: "LEA free gift". That way I know it is you.

Let's continue with some more music, in a few minutes. Also please feel free to make comments. I would love to hear what you have to say. Enjoy.

How was "Live Ever After" Created?

I was working at my former job and in the office, was myself and another full time employee. There was also two students. We all have a great relationship. Coming to work was always fun and very productive. The other full time worker is a professional Jazz Singer and Songwriter. She would tell us of all her travels and gigs to which we visited a few. She also has her own website and blogs about her adventures. One day she showed us her blog and said how easy it is to create one. That day we all started a blog calling ourselves the "office bloggers". Of course we blogged after work and checked out each others site when we had the opportunity.

One of the students who worked in the office blogged about love and dating from a male perspective. It was very interesting. The other student incorporated her major for advertising with her love for fashion. That one was also a big hit. Mine, took a few days as all the names I wanted for my blog was taken, so I had to be creative; Live Ever After (happily). This was the birth of my blog as a wife and mother. Then there was our songstress, Tessa Souter. She is becoming a sensation is Europe, specifically, Russia. You can find her blog here. You can also visit her website at Tessa Souter. Feel free to buy some of her cd's and check out her latest gig in the states as well as abroad.

*Tessa, darling, thanks for helping me to start this wonderful blog. You are an amazing person and I am very grateful for you. I wish you much success and happiness in you singing career. Lots and lots of love.

Let's check out Sade and Joss...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY "LIVE EVER AFTER" !!!

Today is Live Ever After's 1 year anniversary. I have enjoyed the last year as a blogger. I blog about life with a husband and two children (which is always humorous) with a mental health twist as that is my profession.

There is a lot in store for you today. Live Ever After will be giving away prizes which I will tell you more about, later. For now let's play some music. My selection throughout the day are some of my favorite love songs. Some like Mariah I couldn't show you as this is a family blog ; )Maybe I can dig up something.

Stay tuned for more...

They Make Me Laugh

>> Sunday, October 24, 2010

I love writing about what kids say. My children specifically. They crack me up and sometimes they are so deep you just think, this is proof that they have lived here before. As parents I know you know what I mean.

My oldest is 7 and he is the one I told you about, sometime back, who came to me asking, "Mommy there is a black thing that continually follows me around and it comes out only in the sun". I had to think like a three year old to figure out he was talking about his shadow. Since then he has come up with a lot of great sayings and expressions. I keep thinking, where does he get this stuff? For example:

1. (Dinner almost burned) "Mommy run like the wind"!

2. His teacher emailed me saying she received a good laugh in class after he made a mistake in a math problem he belted out "Ah, fiddlesticks".

3. During bedtime my husband called him to clean up a mess he made (as he is one sloppy kid at this age). I stated to my son, "You are already in bed. I'll clean it up". After 3 minutes, he looked up at me and said, "Are you an alien?" I did not understand. He asked again. Then he asked, "What planet are you from?" Again I was aloof. He finally said, "If you were really my mother you would have sent me to clean up". Oh my goodness I broke out into one of those deep laughs that you seem not to be breathing, as it is almost silent and within one exhaling breath. I might have done two of those while stated "oh, oh, wooo". That was a good one.

4. Another time, interesting at bedtime again, he said "Mom, what was I like as a baby again?" I told him how sweet he was and out of the blue he says "Are there milk in those things?" I said "no!" He said, "Well I think there is chocolate in them." with a confident expression and shaking of the head in mini yes movements.

My youngest is 5 and he can say some shocking things as well. When he 4 we were looking at the Funniest Videos television series. Someone fell out off of their bike and out of nowhere he says, "That's gotta hurt". Here are some more of his sayings:

1. When putting him to bed one night, "He said you know, you should really give ____(name of my older son) A spanking when he..........He needs it. I then said not everything deserves a spanking. Sometimes you can talk with people as I do with you. He then says "Yeah, but he needs for you to talk to him and then spank him".

2. We were eating at a restaurant when he was 3 years old. Three adults, two male and one female walked through the door. My son looked up at the first man to walk in, pointed at him and said "Teacher". I couldn't resist upon our leaving to tell the gentleman what my son said. He looked at my son and said, "You are right. I am a Professor at a university". (I do not know what this is suppose to mean, but he looked nothing like a Professor). My son said nothing then I reintegrated what the Professor said. My son looked at me and said "I know". (I am the one that told you. Can we leave now?)

3. (He was in the back seat of the car three days ago when he said this. I had to write it down). Both of my boys were having their usual play and conversation in the back seat when they started talking about God. They were both saying some good things that I could not correct nor interrupt. My husband was listening as well. Then my youngest son said, "I love God. He is helpful and friendly. He makes good choices". (My husband and I did a sharp look at each other).

Unconditional Love-Finale

>> Tuesday, October 19, 2010

We have come to the end of our series on Unconditional love. It has been lots of fun having interviews, hosting guest bloggers, writing about love of self, being young and in love, reporting about headline news of a hero and a baby who died and came back to life after two hours of being held by his mother. It has been a great journey. Even better than my last series on Jealousy.

In writing each post I tried to present a variety of interesting topics on the subject matter. This is one topic I did not present-Spirituality. Although this is a humorous blog on family with a mental health twist, I don’t usually write directly on spiritual health. Unconditional love is also about your plug in to Source/God. As there are four states to every human being; Mental, Emotional, Physical and Spiritual, I saved the best for last. Whether you are spiritual or not these scriptures will enlighten and encourage you. They are my favorite uplifting scriptures I have read in the bible. They are motivational and inspiring. I read them when I need a quick pick me up and when I become thankful for all that I have. I like to ponder them, allowing me to be confident and giving towards others. It helps me to also give love due to reading about unconditional love being given to me. I hope you will like them as much as do. Enjoy.

(I took this picture as I was in the passenger's seat, crossing over a highway, aiming through a sunroof, at a total cloudy sky except for this one area, ten days ago.)

In the New International Version (NIV): Book, Chapter:Verse

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him

(God works for our good. He is not out to harm us as I used to believe).

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

(God wants us to succeed but there are always other forces at work as well).

1 John 5:14-15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

(I Love this).

Psalm 116: 5-8 The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you. For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling.

(This one really encourages me).

Psalm 34: 17-18 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all

(Righteous: those who do good or try to do what’s right..Please deliver me from my troubles & I have been broken hearted a few times so it’s nice to know he is close to me).

Matthew 6:25-27 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life.

(It’s comforting to know that I am being taken care of by the Creator and author of Life. This helps me not to worry).

Hebrews 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

(There are really angels looking out for us)!

James 1: 2-5 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

(Good reminder that problems are not all bad but they help to build good character).

Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things

(I love this when it comes to setting my mind as I can be a worry wart).

Hebrews 5:7 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

(Sometimes we need to pray and cry or both. Even Jesus felt the need to pray and cry. That always blows my mind).

Romans 12:9-21 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head”. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

(One of the ultimate scriptures on true love, which can be a bit challenging)

1 Corinthians 13:1-7, 13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres…. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

(The other famous scripture on love. It doesn’t matter what my talent is or how smart I am, to love like this (unconditionally) is the most important thing I can do).

Unconditional Love-By Lynn G.

>> Friday, October 15, 2010

What is Unconditional Love

We all have some concept of unconditional love. Maybe it’s the romantic unconditional love often seen in movies or in music, or maybe it’s the pure unconditional love between a parent and child.

As I was thinking what I wanted to write today, I did a quick Google search to get an idea of the most common definition of unconditional love. The general consensus was that unconditional love is the kind you give without requiring anything in return. One quote in particular I stumbled upon stuck in my mind: Unconditional love is to love someone for who they are, who they were, and who they will be (Chris Moore).

But what does it really mean? We say we love our husbands and our children unconditionally, and that love is real in our hearts. But often, we let our daily lives and other emotions get in the way. We experience anger, we become frustrated, we get into petty squabbles – and when we lose ourselves in those moments, we forget to show that unconditional love. This leads to the appearance of imagined love – when love is shown only when something good is done, or as a reward.

Unconditional love is all the time. It’s kindness. It’s respect. It’s appreciation. It doesn’t go away when you’re fighting with your spouse or disciplining your children. And you can manage these things while still showing love.

This is something I struggle with a lot. I have a very defensive side, and I tend to lash back at critical comments without thinking first. I love my husband more than words can describe, but unfortunately he is the most frequent victim to this and at times our relationship has suffered because of it. That is not how unconditional love is expressed. I don’t intend to treat my husband that way, and I don’t want my son growing up thinking that is appropriate. I do want to show them the love I carry for them in my heart, and I do want to set a good example of true, unconditional love.

Unconditional love is to love someone for who they are, who they were, and who they will be. Despite the ups and downs of everyday life, we should all aspire to remember that quote, and to practice it in our daily lives.

*Lynn G. is also a SITS member (The Secret to Success is Support). Please stop by and visit Lynn G.'s blog site for more insights at www.lostandholdinghands.blogspot.com you can also follower her on twitter/getlostwithlynn

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