Byrdy's Eye View

I just did my workout. 30 minutes of Hip Hop Abs. It is an awesome fun workout. You sweat and its fun! You can crank up the music and just dance. You don't even realize your workout out. I love it!
Check out a clip of it.. If you would like to buy it go to

http://teambeachbody.com/byrdy

Being pretentious, hiding your weaknesses and failing to reflect on yourself will only limit your growth and potential.

We have both a weak self and a strong self; the two are completely different. If we allow our weak side to dominate, we will surely be defeated.

Those who are always complaining about their circumstances find that success continually eludes them. As do those who speak ill of others or who make excuses for their failures.

When your determination changes, everything will begin to move in the direction you desire. The moment you resolve to be victorious, every nerve and fiber in your being will immediately orient itself toward your success. On the other hand, if you think, "This is never going to work out," then at that instant every cell in your being will be deflated and give up the fight. Then everything really will move in the direction of failure.

It is not difficult circumstances that defeat one, but one's own weakness.

Being pretentious, hiding your weaknesses and failing to reflect on yourself will only limit your growth and potential.

These words of wisdom really mean something to me. I will be looking at these everyday for a daily boost. I hope it helps you too!

"So many of life's conflicts find their origin and cause in envy. Envy ruins and destroys people's hearts."

I have been through many crazy things in my life. I have learned a lot, grown a lot and even failed some. Right now, I have this tornado whirling around inside me. I have tried to make sense of it all for many years, searched for a solution or a way to control my emotions. I've turned to the internet, books and yes I have prayed about it. I will admit that I have looked to the internet and books more often than I have prayed about it.
So I can say Im blessed even during my storm because God hasn't let me fall or given up on me. I can tell he's waiting on me to do something. I can feel a cover of protection over me. It's like when you teach a baby to walk or teach your child to ride a bike or skate. You know they're going to fall and you even let them to an extent but you won't let them get hurt.
That's waht God does for us, that is, if we do our part. He provides His love, help and protection but it's up to you to seek Him and get it.

For a while, because of the songs I listen to sometimes, the articles and books I read, I felt that I lacked confidence in myself,no self esteem, I was too dependent on others, didn't want to be alone, and didn't know what I wanted or kow what my goals were. That is, until now. I tried to map out my goals on paper but I never could figure out how. It never made sense to me. Well, guess waht...Who cares!

I can tell you this..
I know what I want in life. I want a whole lotta things. I want to be a certified personal trainer and nutritionist. I wnat to help others make the weightloss struggle a little easier. I want to be there for someone who may feel alone or lonely. I want to help someone that doesn't catch on or just doesn't get it right now. I want to be a coach to jr. high or high school teams. Do I know which sport? Nope! I'm sure GOd will put me where He feels I', needed most. I'm going to be an online teacher. That way I can do whatever else I want to do or don't want to do during the day.
I will have my own gym built one day. There will be more activities and programs for kids to get involved in. I will have my own house built and will have a car in the garage that I paid cash for.
I am working on starting a book club for the kids in the community I live in, by January. Last but not least, I want my own bookstore, with a books written by me on a display table, hoping I can get more copies in because they are flying off the shelves!

I know what I want in my life, without a shadow of doubt. I also know it will take a lot of hard work, discipline and prayer. I can't do it by myself.
I also know that I dont need a man to make me feel confident or complete but I do want my life partner to share my good and bad days with me. I feel that is the missing ingredient in my life. I know that God hasn't forgotten about me and he will show up in due time.
Maybe I will do everything I listed and more. Maybe I'll only accomplish one or 2 things. Maybe I'll accomplish something that I never thought I would be going. Whatever it is, I know I will succeed in it.

I was fighting back tears when I started writing this and have been for the last few days. I was feeling like I didn't love myself enough or wasn't confident enough or didn't have enough faith. What I know now is, If I didn't have confidence, love or faith, you know good and well I would not be here right now. I also felt like God wasn't by my side and thought he had forgotten about me. Maybe He just alloed me to feel this way for a moment so I can get this out. Maybe this message right here is for you. Maybe this is the message you needed to recieve to help you get to the next level in your life. Maybe this isn't about me. It's about you. He's there with you this very moment. Stop beating yourself up. Be unique, be different. If your a blogger, blog you. Speak from your heart. Stop spending hours and energy reading people's books and blogs about how to make yours better or how to make six figures or become a millionaire through your blog. You don't have to change the way you write or what you say.
Let what worked for them, work for them. Write from your heart, your mind, your experience. Your blessings will follow. Be you!

This is an amazing song. Just listen to it, let it speak to you.

I know it's not summer anymore but I just had to let you know about an awesom product I came across online a couple years ago. It's called Cold Seat.
It's a frozen car seat cover you but on your childs carseat in the summer time. Like if you go to the mall or somewhere for a long period of time, you put this frozen cover over your child's carseat before you get out so when you get back in the car, you don't have to worry about the hot seat burning your childs legs. This product is worth it and I would buy it all over again. Check it out!

http://coldseat.com/what.html

My baby is in the spolight! Check it out..

KandyLand: Interview-With Lauren

My daughter has an assignment she is working on with another student. I know they had to pick a topic and she said her friend chose "Why we shouldn't have homework." As I read it, I thought " I have got to share this with you!" ( I typed this exactly how she wrote it. She is 10 years old.)

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www.teambeachbody.com/byrdy

Father,

So many today don't have enough food or money to get food for a good Thanksgiving. I thank You, Father, for Your blessings to me and my family, but my heart is heavy for those who don't have enough. Please, Lord, in Jesus name, I pray You would pour out Your blessings on those who have none. Remind me of my wonderful blessings so I will share what I have. If I see a need, whatever it may be, if I can supply it, move me to supply it. Thank You, Lord,
In Jesus name,
Amen

(I got this through a yahoo group I'm in and thought I would share.)

Prioritize your Priorities:
What’s more important?

"Child, car, bank account in the plus? The little things on the side that you want?
Music components? Clothes when you get ready?
Money to come home when you want or have?
Look before you leap.
Think before you speak.
Use the best gift God gave you.
And that is common sense.
Remember, that a fool and his money will soon depart. Don’t let that be you."

Dad



My dad wrote this a few years before he died. He really cared for me, siblings just as much. I was the baby of the family. My dad always said I was hard headed. I didn't quite understand this at the time. It didn't mean a whole lot to me because I didn't think I had really experienced life to this level yet. Everything my dad has said and taught me makes sense now. I just wish he was here now to see how the seed he planted sprouted so beautifully. He belived that if you train up a child in the way he ought to go, he won't depart from it so that tells me he knows!

Today my dad would be 64. He died a few years back. Although he isn't here. he left so much for me and my siblings. I thank God I had him as my dad. If you ask anyone who knows me well, they would agree that I'm a bit of a daddy's girl. I really miss him. I thought I would allow you to read something my dad wrote for me a while ago.

A Father’s Love


"The bible says that a hoary head, which is to say a grey head, is a crown of wisdom is it’s found in the way of the Lord. Well my head is white, and I’ve been with God quite a few years.
My children are the crown of my creation, if God will permit me to put it that way. The bible also says to raise up a child in that way they ought to go, so that when he/she is old they won’t depart from it. Many times during that endeavor, the kids think that you are crazy, or maybe even don’t love them.
Never deviate from right just to prove that you love them. To them, sometimes right seems cruel or wrong. Sometimes love is tough.
A dad can’t be a buddy, a partner , a friend.
In a father, all of these virtues are found; they are factory built by God to matter to a child at the point of life when it means the most. When it pays dividends to the child that never made an investment."
James Byrd

1.Time management skills

2.Don't take things personally.(This one is important!)

3.Take smart risk.

4.Set clear boundries

5.Do the unexpected!

6.Be unforgetable.

7.Learn now to create passive income.

8.Be able to forgive yourself.

9.Learn to make quick decisions.

10.Learn to cook at least the basics.

I came home from choir practice and looked up the song we sang "Worthy is the Lamb." I normally do that so I can practice at home. I love the harmony in that song.
I looked on You Tube for the song and I found a video with clips from Passion of Christ and the song was playing in the background. I was listening to the song and was pretty zoned out. My son came up and was watching the video with me. After the video was over, my son had this look on his face, like he was stunned at what he just saw. I wasn't thinking while the video was playing that he shouldn't be watching this.
He asked "why did that do that to Jesus? Are they going to do that to me?" He was scared and at the same time "worried about Jesus." I did my best to explain how God sent Jesus to save us. Jesus knew this was going to happen and He was brave enough to do this for us. I told him this wasn't going to happen to him, God will protect him. From then on, my son was scared to be upstairs alone, sleep alone, even shower in the bathroom with the door shut. He thought these people were going to come for him.
This was the turning point in his praye life. Prior to this, he was asked pray on youth sunday in front of the church. I never told him what to say. He did really well. After that day, I would have all my kids come together and i would have one pray, they would say amen, and i would have the next one pray, until we all prayed. I did this to show them you can pray about anything and everything. People pray and talk to God many different ways and say many different things. I wanted my kids to know they can talk to God about whatever was on their minds.
After the night of seeing the Passion of Christ video , he prayed every night and every day. He would come to me before bed and ask "Mom, can we pray?"
Now if any of you don't know, this is a moment when the devil feels like stepping in. See, when your household and your life is all unorganized and chaotic, your confused, depressed, everyone arguing nd fighting, the devil is satisified. His work there is done. But when we began to pray and seek God, the devil wasn't having that. I started getting more frustrated. Some nights when my son would ask me can we pray, i would tell him I'm busy or not right now and I would tell him to go lay down and say a pray to himself.
It was brought to my attention by my spiritual father, my counselor, that  this was the devil trying to disrupt the good thing we had going on. That was THE moment I NEEDED to pray. You can't let the devil win. That's how you fight back. That moment your down and out, or broken, don't feel like praying or seeking God, that's the moment you must do it. If you want to get out of that hole your in, you have to reach out.
When your going through your day and things happen, something comes up, things go wrong, don't think the worse. Don't say why me? Here's an example. Let's say your getting ready for work in the morning and you can't find your keys and you get really frustrated and angry because you are going to be late for work. I'll tell you what I would think... What if that was God's way of stalling you to avoid that accident or some other type of disaster? If you didn't get that job or promotion, maybe it's God saying you arent ready or maybe he's protecting you from something or someone. Maybe he has a better job, a better promotion just waiting for you. He puts us right where he wants us for our blessings, we just have to listen.
Keep praying. Keep holding on. God does not force us to come to Him. He does not force us to take his hand or His help. He is always right there, with you, beside you, waiting for you.

If you had no fear of anything at all, what 10 things would you do?

You may be suprised to know that there is a difference between weightloss and fatloss. I was reading this article below and thought it explained it perfect.
Focusing on losing fat will help you reach your goal. There are 3 main ways your body loses weight: Dehydration, Lean weight loss which is from muscle, and fat loss. You want to target fatloss and combine it with increased lean mass. Check this out..

Fat Burning Fitness Program Free Workout Videos Weight Loss Tips and Tricks: Weight Loss 101

If you could have been told one thing that you weren't told when you were a teenager, what would you like to have heard?

(You can use this for your personal writing or you can respond right here!)

The next time you munch on a bag of delicious potato chip, you are snacking on one of the world's most popular snacks and guess what? It was invented by a black man.

George Crum was a half Native American and half African American man who lived in Saratoga Lake, New York. He worked as a chef at a restaurant at the Moon Lake Lodge resort in Saratoga Springs, New York. French Fries were very popular at this restaurant. One day on August 24,1853 Crum was doing his job, cooking and serving up food to customers, when one particular customer kept complaining about the french fries being way too thick. Eventually Crum became extremely frustrated from the rudeness and complaining so he decided to get back at the customer. Crum sliced the french fries so thin, you couldn't even pick it up with a fork, over fried them and added extra salt to it. Crum did this in hopes to annoy this customer. He then served it to the complaining customer who suprisingly loved them. This marked the day that Saratoga Chips became popular. Crum's chips were originally called Saratoga Chips and potato crunches. They were soon packaged and sold in New England. In 1860, Crum opened his own restaurant, where he placed a small basket of his famous potato chips in a basket on every table in the store. It wasn't long at all before Crum was selling his potato chips to many wealthy clients. Crum's restaurant closed around 1890 and he died in 1914 at the age of 92.

"Back in those days, African Americans were not allowed to take out patents on their inventions" says Grant-Britton, author of the textbook Holt African American History, so it was never patented. Crum didn't live long enough to see his invention become a popular grocery store item by Herman Lay begenning in 1895.

                    What is your favorite thanksgiving dish and tradition? 

Do it for health, strength and for the love of yourself. You deserve it!

"For anything worth having one must pay the price; and the price is always work, patience, love, self-sacrifice"

All relationships require work, 100% from both or all involved, but it takes a special kind of love to withstand the challenges that come in a long distance relationship.
• The first and #1 thing I would tell you before getting into a long distance relationship is to make sure you have a partner whom you know for sure, without a doubt that they will work just as hard as you in making and keeping the relationship strong, at a distance as well as in person. Don’t ask if a long distance relationship can work. Anything can work if you make it work. Again, you will get out what you put in.
• You both need to discuss and agree on expectations. Make it known and be clear about what you expect and what’s important to you.
• Have a plan. How long will you two be separated? Depending on what has caused your distance, come up with a plan whether it be 3 months, 6 months or even longer. It is important to have a goal in mind. It’s something to focus on. When times get a little tough, you get to missing each other you can at least count down the days. Be creative!
• Communication is imperative in any relationship. Always let your partner know how you feel, what you’re thinking, even your likes, dislikes, wants, needs, anxieties, worries, fears, etc. Be open in communicating. Do not assume your partner can read your mind or knows what you’re thinking and feeling. Have your important conversations on the phone or even video. Your partner can’t hear the emotion coming from the words you type. You might say something in a joking way but your partner might take it seriously and vice versa.
• Raise your trust level as best as you can. Keep the lines of communication open. If things don’t add up, it will come to light. Lack of trust can be your downfall in your relationship.
• Be creative. Take pictures, this allows your partner to feel more connected and more involved in your life. Write a letter, send a card or post cared. Writing letters are more personal. Make a love journal or scrapbook. 100 reasons I love you, write a letter a day, write about your day and when you thought about them, write lyrics to a song or poem that made you think about them.
• Schedule a weekend or a time to visit each other. Plan a mini vacation. Make it special. Be creative. Put some thought into it. Let your partner know they are special and really mean something to you and your life.
• Don’t let your negative thoughts or the negative thoughts and comments from others affect your relationship. This is your relationship. Think positive. Keep busy but stay focused on the goal. The goal is to unite with your partner and carry on with your life together.
• Share each other’s passions. Get involved. Show concern about their day, their night, work, school or whatever it may be. Stay connected at all times. Don’t leave anything you do to be questioned by your partner. Unless of course it’s a wonderful surprise for them!
• Put your partner and your relationship first. You have to schedule your relationship into your life. Make it a priority. Make the necessary sacrifices for your partner and relationship. Protect your relationship. Never forget, what you put in to your relationship is what you will get out. Do not let the enemy take what’s most important to you.
• Last but certainly not least, don’t give up on this beautiful relationship. You are blessed to have your partner. Fight for it, work for it, work through it. Don’t let it go!

"Things that are easily acquired, obtained, or maintained, without any effort or sacrifice lack value...it's human nature."

I wake up this morning and the first thing I did was turn to msnbc. I don't normally do that but for some reason I did without hesitation. I see a mother heart broken, telling her story about her innocent 18 year old teenage son's brutal, senseless beating.

A couple girls were given permission to have a house party and were only expecting about 10 people. Turns out that about 60 to 80 people showed up instead. The parents of the teens began telling people to leave. Supposedly, a coupele girls got in a fight. Witnesses say that one of the girls hit a guy. The guy said he wouldn't hit a girl but he would hit the next guy that walks by. Bobby TIll man shows up to the party, being the "next person" that walks by,
A witness says one of the suspects asked Bobby "What you lookin at?" Bobby says, "What you looking at" and eventually they went after him.
The suspects had already been in a fight prior to Bobby's arrival. A witness said one of the suspects said the next person that walks by will "feel my wrath". As one of the suspects started beating on Bobby, others joined in on the beating. There were many people who stood by and watched. No one helped. Even a neighber stood watching out of his window and in his interview he said "I thought he was hurt. I never though his life was ending." He did call the police. Should he have done something more? Was calling the police enough? If he would have gone outside to help, do you think he would have made a difference or could it have gotten worse?
Bobby Tillman died from blunt force trauma to the head and a rupture heart. The coroner said that the type of injuries Bobby suffered from were injuries you see in a car accident. Bobby was about 5'6" and aboout 125lbs. He was stomped, kicked and punched to death.
Bobby was described as "a sweet young man destined for greatness." Bobby's mother recently moved from Los Angeles to Atlanta, Georgia thinking it was safer.
The police are still looking for more suspects. Of course, the 4 suspects they have in custody are all pointing the fingers at eachother.
One thing I can't stand is a coward. What is wrong with our youth? Is it the fault of the parents? The community? The songs on the radio? What can we do to ensure things like this doesn't happen? Bobby's mother says she doesn't want his death to be in vain. She wants the suspects to get the justice they deserve. She also wants to reach out to our youth, give them, show them strength to stand up to bullies like this or even prevent this from happening. Even if we can make a difference in just one person's life or help change one person's attitude.
This is a time when we all need to pray about this. This is something we can not do alone. Always pray for our youth, our community, our world period. This broke my heart as well seeing this. We see things like this many times on the news, and you never think your child's face will be the face you see posted all over the place. Let's keep this family and the rest of our communities in our prayers.

How do you define an Independent Woman? Here are a few responses..

"An independent woman is one that does not have to factor in finances when considering marrying a man or when divorcing one. Way too many marriages are ones not out of love, but out of the need for convenience and financial need. An independent woman usually has worked for some time to be independent or has a certain set of special skills that has allowed her to obtain financial freedom.
When I think of an Independent woman it is hard to not think about money or a job, but that is not all that makes an Independent woman. A woman who is strong in her convictions, lives rights and is not easily swayed by the status quo is also an independent woman. Many people will refer to a woman like this as a "Bitch" but in reality it comes out of spit, Jealously of the fact that she is not someone who can be controlled or manipulated."

"an independent women to me is some one who got they head on they shoulders doin somthin wit dey life off rip,a go getta she can make somthing happen without relying on another muthafucka to do somthing for her. If she got a man hopefully a good man she can meet him at the table 50/50,...she not cocky or sadety just confident,basically knows how to provide for her self,hold her own down."

"handling her business, classy, makin it happen regardless (meaning with or without a man) keeping her self up. last but not least patience this is an important factor b/c a woman that has all these qualities wont b independent 2 long we all know good things come 2 those who wait."

"what makes a women independent hmmm...... knowing she can do anything she wants and doing it all by her damn self."

I love these responses! Now for my opinion..
(Confident, Assertive, Decisive, determined, perseveres, ethical, strong sense of self, common sense, stands up for self, godly, educated, just to name a few.)
I believe an "Independent woman" is one who can go through each day of her life and face the good and bad, go through her storms and still come out smiling and ready to take on whatever comes next. Many people, especially men feel a woman isn't independent unless she is financially stable on her own. Is this the true definition of an "Independent Woman?"
Women face many situations and challenges in life each day. Sometimes women get themselves in these situations, sometimes it's only by circumstance. Some women don't have a choice. Take myself for an example..
I graduated from high school and went straight to the military. I got pregnant and got married while at my first duty station and got out soon after. I spent about 10 years being a stay at home mom. My spouse was always deployed or Tdy. I spent more than half those years being a single parent to 4 kids. It was tough raising 4 kids and moving from this place to that place with 4 kids. Some were in school, some weren't. Instead of working, I decided to at least go to school, start on a degree and I did home daycare during all of that. That was a lot for me at the time. I didn't know then as much as I know now so all I could do was work with what I had. Eventually, after 10 years we separated. I got up one day and decided to leave. I went home and stayed with my mom for several months. I was completely dependent on my mom and kids father for financial support. I had a hard time finding a job that will benefit me financially and also finding hours that fit me and my family as well. I didn't have a job for 7 months. Keep in mind, although I am financially dependent on someone else (like most of you who have jobs, you DEPEND on your employer to pay you right??) I still have to raise my 4 kids pretty much by myself, keep the house tidy, keep shoes and clothes on their back, pursuing 3 different certifications in Personal Training, Fitness Nutrition and  Fitness and Exercise Therapy, while in the middle of pursuing a degree in Strength, Nutrition and Personal Training. I also was in a car accident where my car was totaled and the crazy people who hit me at 60+ mph ran from the scene and all I had was a busted black swollen eye. I was pretty much knocked backwards. I felt like I failed myself, kids and anyone else I cared about. I had to realize that God wasn't done with me because if he was I would not be here to tell about it. I am right back where I started and pretty much dependent on someone financially, for a limited time only but I sure as hell believe I fit the "Independent Woman" status because I have been through so much and I am using it as fuel for my life.
I am always taking on a lot more than the average woman, all at one time and all I can do is thank God for the strength,  my health and those who love me and encourage me everyday and I pray that I do the same for someone else.
I Corinthians  11:11,12
"But remember that in God's plan men and women need each other. For although the first woman came out of man, all men have been born from women ever since, and both men and women come from God their creator."

I'll end this by saying, remember we all need each other. We will all need some type of help or support from one person or another in our lifetime. Don't knock down that woman in your life whom you know does the best she can ever day, gives her all every day, loves you no matter what every day, stays strong and gets back up every day no matter what crap comes her way. Always let her know she is appreciated, Independent or not!

"Accomplishment, leading to self-esteem, is not just about doing something.. it is about the courage to persist through pain, failure, and self doubt." These are the words from Laura Schlessinger from the book Ten Stupid Things Women do to Mess up Their Lives.
Many people, as well as myself are always looking for that quick fix or that magical pill or even magic period, to change things in our lives. Folks these days don't want to work for anything, don't want to put any time and effort into anything. It's like this world is impatient, lazy and people are taking the value and worth out of life. There is advice, encouragement, motivation and tips and how-to's for everything in life but what it boils down to is you. You have to make a conscious effort to change or improve anything in your life wether it be losing weight, passing a class, or changing your financial status. How bad to you want the changes and improvements you need in your life?
My biggest downfall in life period is fear, and not knowing. I now understand what it means to feel the fear and do it anyway. You aren't always going to meet everyone's standards or do things the way someone else would. I am some what of a perfectionist. When I do something or prepare to do something, I want it to be awesome right then. When I started blogging, I wanted to skip the beginning, I wanted to skip going through what it takes and just jump right to the end. I wanted to see that I was making a difference in someone's life immediately. I wanted instant success, but I know things don't happen this way.
My whole point is that we have to find our strength and esteem within God and ourselves first. When I fail or don't meet someone else's standards, I have to know within myself "hey, I know that didn't work out but that doesn't mean Im not good enough or good at all." You have to be able to fail and stand back up and do what you need to do to make it better next time, adjust, dust yoruself off and re-focus. It takes work, hard work, perseverence and determination among many other things to keep yourself in the game and going strong. Please don't give up or quit. If one road or way doesn't get you there, take or make another route. You will get there if you keep going!

"Yesterday I dared to struggle. Today I dared to win."

I am very passionate about my relationships, especially with the one I love. The beginning of a new relationship is always the best and the easiest part. Growing and maintaining a healthy relationship is a bit more difficult for a lot of people. It doesn't have to be so difficult.
Think about it, of all the things that we deal with and go through each and everyday, your relationship with your significant should be the last thing you have to worry about. When you go home at the end of the day, that relationship, your partner should be your comfort, your safe haven. A relationship is not 50/50. It is and should always be 110/110. If you put in anything less than that, that's what you should expect to get out of it.
In order to have a successful , life long healthy relationship, it must include some important ingredients. You must first love yourself and also know what your needs are. You have to be confident in yourself and know your own worth before you can be in a successful relationship.
It's imperative to to seek God first for all of your needs and wants. He already knows what we need and the desires of our hearts. If you seek Him first, everything else will fall into place. You can even ask Him to show you how to love your partner, to love them through you. He will do it! All you have to do is ask and have that desire in your heart. That is when the seed of a healthy long lasting relationship is planted. It is then up to you to nurture and water that seed so it will continue to grow.Special nutrients are needed to ensure this precious seed given to you and planted for you, grows strong and stays alive.
There of course is no such thing as a perfect person or a perfect relationship.If you have this mindset, that will be a big downfall for you. You must do more than your best, put in all you can humanly possible into your relationship.
The most important nutrient is prayer. Pray for your partner as well as yourself. Ask God to show you what you are missing. Ask Him to show you things you need to see or what you need to know about yourself and your partner. Pray together, stay together.God does work in mysterious ways. He works in His time but on time.
Value and respect your partner. Be certain your partner always knows without a shadow of doubt that of course after God, he/she comes first. In my relationship, I have to know that I am number one. I'm not saying he would have to ditch everything he's doing for me. If I love him I definitely wouldn't expect that. But when it comes down to it, I have to know that no matter who walks by or no matter what anyone says or does, Im the one and the only one. Your partner should not have to ask or wonder how you feel about them. Let him/her know you appreciate him.
Keep the lines of communication open. Wether good or bad don't hesitate to tell your partner how you feel. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Always do it in a respectful way. We are not good mind readers. Don't be too quick to assume or jump to conclusions. This is another downfall in relationships. Actions always speaks louder.
Intimacy is extremely important with me. It is essential in relationships. Intimacy is more than just sex. It's when you experience a closeness with your partner. Pillow talk, hold hands, cuddle, dinner and a movie. Do something special for and with each other. This strengthens your bond as well.
There are many creative ways to let your partner know how you feel about them. A few of my ideas are:
1. Make a love journal or scrap book. I have a one and the first page I used stickers to say "I found my smile again." As I start to eventually fill in the pages, my partner will see what makes me smile! I have also made a love journal. This is good especially when you don't live with your partner or maybe if they are deployed or just away. It's still a good idea even if you see him everyday. Write the things you never said, the things you don't express everyday. You will be amazed at how love makes you a poet or an awesome writer.
2. Make a cd with songs letting your partner know how they make you feel and what you think of them, Think of it like an audio love letter.
Go out of your way, be creative, be original. Flirt, date, make little love coupons for your partner to use anytime. One of my favorite sites to get ideas from is loving you.com.Always continue to add value to your relationship. It's not always about the money you spend but the thought and the effort you put into it. Remember you get what you give. These are only a few things that holds the foundation of your relationship together. Don't give up on your partner. Don't give up on yourself.

Partnership of Success
+++++++++++++++++++

Success is a partnership between thought and action. One
Without the other will not get you anywhere.

If you think about what you do and how you'll do it, but do
Nothing, the result is failure. If you rush into getting it
Done without putting any thought into it, that will just as
Surely bring failure.

It's crucial to put some good, solid thinking into what you
Wish to do. Be careful, though, not to think yourself out of
Ever getting it done.

Whatever your objective, it's absolutely necessary to take
Action. Yet it is also vital to take appropriate action that
Is well thought out.

You can think and you can do. Each is challenging in its own
Way, and yet every valuable thing you've ever accomplished
Has utilized these two skills that you most certainly have.

You have what it takes to reach whatever goal you choose.
Think and do, then think some more and do some more, and
Steadily work your way toward success.

~~Ralph Marston

Ive been saying and planning for so long to start a blog. I have so many ideas and things to do with it but guess what, all it is right now is words on a piece of paper. I can sit here and think and plan and come up with all these amazing ideas but these ideas are not going to jump off the paper and come to life by itself. So guess what im doing.. the damn thang! I am one who over thinks things. Im sure there will be many times in my life when it's best to over think and re think things. I found as I sit with all my journals and notebooks full of words and plans, nothing happens. It will eventually be something interesting for those that know me to see all my juicy secrets when im gone lol, but right now I want to bring it all to life!
I have also let fear hold me hostage for too long. I fear so many things and I end up either over preparing to make sure certain things don't happen or I avoid it. Kind of like this blog. Im not afraid to write. I love writing! I just don't feel that my writing is awesome enough to put out there for millions of people to read, but I always hear others tell me I should write a book. Sometimes, many times we don't always see the beauty in ourselves, but listen to others when they tell you about it. Im really hard on myself. I'm kind of like a perfectionist. Not that i'm perfect but I want everything I do to be perfect. If I don't feel I can make it perfect, I won't do it at all until I feel I can make it perfect. I noticed that nothing gets done that way. There is no waiting for the right time or the perfect time. Our "right time" may pass us right on by. Do it now... Just do the damn thang!