Every Monday Matters - Have AMBER Alerts Sent to You

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The AMBER Alert™ Program is a voluntary partnership between law-enforcement agencies, broadcasters, transportation agencies, and the wireless industry, to activate an urgent bulletin in the most serious child-abduction cases. The goal of an AMBER Alert is to instantly galvanize the entire community to assist in the search for and the safe recovery of the child.

FACTS

AMBER stands for “America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response” and was created as a legacy to 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, kidnapped while riding her bicycle in Arlington, Texas, and then brutally murdered.

76% of abducted children who are murdered are dead within 3 hours of the abduction, 88.5% are dead within 24 hours, and 99% are dead within 7 days.

443 children have been reunited with their families because of AMBER Alerts.

Nearly 100% of cell phones are eligible to receive Wireless AMBER Alerts as text messages.

100% of computers can have the AMBER Alert ticker downloaded onto them.

AMBER Alerts are active in all 50 states.

TAKE ACTION TODAY

Pay attention to AMBER Alert signs on the freeway or on TV.

Sign-up to receive AMBER Alert text messaging on your cell phone.

Download the AMBER Alert Ticker onto your computer.

If you see or receive an AMBER Alert, don’t take it lightly. The perpetrator might be closer than you think.

YOU MATTER

Protecting children from abduction and locating those who have been abducted is the twofold purpose of AMBER Alerts. They increase the number of people who can help locate an abducted child or deter predators, and they have caused perpetrators to release the abducted child after hearing or seeing the AMBER Alert. Remember, those first three hours are everything to that child and his or her family. Your eyes and action could mean the difference between a life lost and a life saved.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children  
Missing Children USA Government Resources
A Family Survival Guide for when your child is missing

"I remember standing in the middle of the chaos thinking, I wish I had a book to tell me what to do." -- Colleen Nick

What is the Every Monday Matters program?
Monday used to be the least favorite day of the week, but that is changing. EMM is based on the idea that every Monday people can make a difference in their life and the lives of those around them. No matter how big or small the actions, they matter. And not only do people have the power to make change, they have a social responsibility to do so. Not out of guilt, but out of an appreciation for every living thing in the world. Together, each person can make a difference in the world and raise the collective consciousness, thereby creating a legacy worth participating in…one Monday at a time.
For more information about the EMM movement visit: http://www.everymondaymatters.com/
 

I Am Your Friend ...

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I Am Your Friend

You may not see me now

But you know that I am here.

You can feel me in your heart

As you enter each new day.

I will always be there for you

I am your friend.

Someone to share the good times

As well as the bad.

I make no judgments by what you say

I just listen with my heart and

Hope to be of help in anyway I can.

I will be there for you now and forever

And always please remember

I am your friend!

- Author Unknown



123Greeting.com

True Friendship

True friendship isn't seen with the eyes, it is felt with the heart.

When there is trust, understanding, loyalty, and sharing.

True friendship is a rare feeling, but when it is found

It has profound impact on our well-being, strength, and character.

True friendship does not need elaborate gifts

Or spectacular events in order to be valuable or valued.

To ensure long-lasting quality and satisfaction,

True friendship only needs a few key ingredients:

Undying loyalty, unmatched understanding, unsurpassed trust,

Deep and soulful secrets, and endless sharing.

These ingredients, mixed with personality and a sense of humor,

Can make a friendship last a lifetime!

This is just a thank you, my friend, for all the wonderful and colorful

Special ingredients You've brought to my life!

- Author Unknown

Pass this on to such a friend!

 

Too Many Connections in Brain May Explain Autism Learning Disability... By: Deborah Huso

Researchers from the University of California have discovered that autistic children carrying a common autism risk gene show greater brain connections in the frontal lobe when compared with non-autistic children who do not carry the risk gene.

The study, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, also showed that this increased brain connectivity in the frontal lobe was associated with fewer connections to other parts of the brain, leading researchers to believe that this latest risk gene may be responsible for "rewiring" of the brain.

The gene variant known as CNTNAP2 was also present in some of the non-autistic children in the study, and those children showed greater activity in the frontal lobe with weaker connections from there to other parts of the brain as well. But those kids did not have autism, meaning that this single gene variant is likely not responsible for the disease itself.

"We have known for some time that in most cases a single gene is not causative for autism," one of the study authors, Dr. Susan Bookheimer, professor of cognitive neurosciences at the University of California, told AOL Health. "These risk genes are fairly common." She says autism is caused by a variety of factors, including other gene variants, gene-to-gene interactions, as well as environmental factors.

"The major finding here is in finding a direct link between a gene and the functioning brain in autism," adds Bookheimer. "Another way to think of it is that genes such as this may bias the brain towards a certain mode of information processing--local processing at the cost of long-range interaction and connectivity that we see in autism."

Dr. Isabelle Rapin, professor of neurology and pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a member of the American Academy of Neurology, did not participate in this latest research but is intrigued by the findings. "Autism has multiple causes," she told AOL Health, "and any papers that show another gene related to autism are helpful." She is quick to add, however, that parents of autistic children shouldn't get too excited about this latest study. "It's premature to say it will be useful in diagnosis or treatment."

Dr. Tom Frazier, director of research at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Autism, agrees, noting that the study would have to be repeated using far more subjects, but he told AOL Health he'll be interested to see if this brain abnormality is specific to autism. "Anytime you find a gene variant associated with a condition, you want to know if it's a modifier or a cause," he added. "In this case, I think they've identified a modifier."

Study author Bookheimer is hopeful her team's research will lead to more promising outcomes in the future. "The primary goal here is not diagnosis but rather understanding mechanisms that cause autism," she says. "It is possible in the future we will be able to identify a collection of genes which together lead to severe enough connectivity deficits to cause autism."     This article from AOL.com is by: Deborah Huso

More on Autism:
Autism Causes, Cures, Controversy
Autism Exams and Tests

Half Full & Aloha Friday! Special Edition!

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“When you express your gratitude, you will bring joy to others’ lives.  When others know joy, your life will be filled with happiness.” ~ Arthur Dobrin

Half Full Friday is a series of weekly posts that Eye Girl originally started in June 2009.We believe that a lot of our happiness is determined by our attitude about the things that happen to us. So by participating, we are deciding to see the glass as half full, instead of half empty. We are choosing to concentrate on the positives, instead of dwelling on the negatives. Our Half Full Friday posts are a way to do just that. They are a list of the things in our life that have brought us happiness over the past week. We are determined to find the something good in every day. Are you?

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have." ~Frederick Keonig

For the next week, we challenge you to keep a list of at least one thing that brought you happiness each day.

"Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open." ~John Barrymore

This is what I'm Happy for this week:  Special Edition, because it was quite a Special week!

• I was Surprised & Very Happy a Great blogging Friend 'Sprinkles' had me as her 'blog of the week' last week!  I teared up of course..... So sweet of her!!  She is the person who directed me to these 'Half Full Friday' post and link up.  She has taught me so much about blogging and life!!  Love her!!  Go check her out at Wyldechylde! 
• Happy and Honored for a "Blogger of Note" Nomination @ Words of Wisdom!
• I'm very happy and humbled by Vanessa of Optimal Optimist for the WOW nomination!
• I was surprised & happy to see my blog post on Samhein was featured on both Exclusive Drops.com and D Buzz!
• I am happy & honored to receive another blogging award from a great blogger & friend, Yvonne @ Welcome to my World of Poetry!  She is the sweetest lady EVER!
• I'm happy that my blogging friends don't get upset with me for not being a good 'award' promoter.  I barely have time to visit you all.  However, someday I will make tons of money from my future book 'Velvet Over Steel'... so I can write full time & be a better blogging friend, right?! Dreaming and Believing here! :-)
• I'm very happy that Yvonne has decided to publish her second Poetry book!  We all can't wait!  Her poems are the best & we love her so much here in blogging world! :-)
• I am happy my followers have stuck around during all my 'growth' in both myself and my blog.
• I'm happy my post Living a Lie..., touched so many lives this week.  Lots of heartfelt comments and private emails.
• I am happy my son likes his new mentor!
• I happy my son has a Voc worker who believes in him and actually helps him now! 
• I'm happy I could be there for a friend.  We 'get' each other & we all need that sometimes!
• I'm happy to go to my mother's retirement party on Friday!

"A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery while on a detour." ~Author Unknown

It's also "ALOHA FRIDAY" Everyone!!

If you want to join in the fun? Post your own question on your blog and leave your link at the Aloha Friday post at An Island Life. Then you can visit the other participants if you wish...It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends or see what people are thinking about this week and join in a conversation or two if you like.

"Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

My question:  What or Who has inspired you?

My answer:   I was inspired by a person I met who was passionate about their career.  Truly loved their job.  Seeing someone with a positive attitude and outlook, inspired me to find my passions in life.

“To succeed you need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you.” ~Tony Dorsett

I hope I inspire my followers at least a fraction of how much you ALL inspire me!  I love you all!
~ Coreen
 

Unwind at Work in 5 Minutes By: Holly Allender

I remember an editor once said to me “I love the sound of deadlines as they go whooshing by.” This has always caused me much stress – why would you let a deadline get by you? Wouldn’t you control it? As an overachiever with Type A personality and a project manager and writer, I constantly stressed about meeting deadlines and expectations. Usually, I fell short, and I let myself down. On some level, I knew I was being unrealistic.

I’ve learned from yoga that when life throws you off center, find center within yourself. The following asanas (exercises) helped me stretch my tightly wound back, release my shoulders and hips, and relax my neck. By relaxing my body, my mind would disconnect from the stressors, and I would feel more balanced.

As with any exercise routine, do these exercises at your own pace, and follow your intuition.

Pelvic Tilts
1.Sit upright in your chair, feet firmly planted on the floor. Place your hands, palms down, on your knees.

2.Inhale through your nose and draw the breath into your belly. Tilt your hips forward, causing a curve in the lower back. Look up towards the ceiling.

3.Exhale through your nose, squeezing the breath out of the belly. Tilt your hips back, causing your lower back to curve outward. Allow your chin to rest on your chest.

4.Repeat three times.

Sit and Twist

1.Sit upright in your chair, feet firmly planted on the floor. Turn your body to the right.

2.Place your right hand on the cushion side of the chair and your left hand on the back of the chair.

3.Slowly twist from your lower back. Continue the twist up your spine and into your shoulders. Lastly, turn your head and look over your right shoulder. Hold the pose as you slowly inhale and exhale two to three times.

4.To come out of the pose, slowly release your head, shoulders, arms, and spine.

5.Sit with your hands resting on your knees/legs. Inhale and exhale two to three times.

6.Repeat two more times and then switch to the left side.

Leg-Crossed Forward Bend

1.Sit upright in your chair, feet firmly planted on the floor. Place your left ankle on your right knee. Place your hands, palms down, on your left knee and ankle.

2.Exhale and drop your chin to your chest. Slowly roll down, folding at the waist.

3.Bring your nose over your bent leg, feeling a stretch in the hips and lower back. Hold the pose for two to three breaths.

4.Inhale and slowly roll up.

5.Repeat two more times and then switch legs.

Meditation
Sit upright in your chair. Place your feet on the floor, and rest your hands gently in your lap. Breathing slowly, imagine yourself sitting next to a swiftly flowing river. As the river flows by you, drop any issues you have into the river. Watch them float away. Know that there is no need to interact with them. As they drift away, feel yourself relaxing, releasing, and becoming more centered. If the issues return, turn and look downriver to a waterfall. The issues float down the river and over the waterfall. Continue to breathe slowly, and when you’re ready, open your eyes. ~ By: Holly Allender
 

Meanings ... a poem about believing!

Standing for what you believe in,
Regardless of the odds against you,
and the pressure that tears at your resistance,
... means courage.

Keeping a smile on your face,
When inside you feel like dying,
For the sake of supporting others,
... means strength.

Stopping at nothing,
And doing what's in your heart,
You know is right,
... means determination.

Doing more than is expected,
To make another's life a little more bearable,
Without uttering a single complaint,
... means compassion.

Helping a friend in need,
No matter the time or effort,
To the best of your ability,
... means loyalty.

Giving more than you have,
And expecting nothing,
But nothing in return,
... means selflessness.

Holding your head high,
And being the best you know you can be
When life seems to fall apart at your feet,
Facing each difficulty with the confidence
That time will bring you better tomorrows,
And never giving up,
... means confidence

By : Author Unknown

"I truly believe that compassion provides the basis of human survival." ~ Dalai Lama

"Bravery is believing in yourself, and that thing nobody can teach you." ~ El Cordobes

“Dreams do come true if you keep believing in yourself. Anything is possible.” ~ Jennifer Capriati

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." ~ Anatole France

"Believe in yourself, and the rest will fall into place. Have faith in your own abilities, work hard, and there is nothing you cannot accomplish." ~ Brad Henry

"Sometimes you cannot believe what you see. You have to believe what you feel." ~ Morrie Schwartz

“Believe in yourself. You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you stop to look fear in the face. You must do that which you think you cannot do.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

http://www.endangeredspecieswomen.org/2010/08/12/words-of-wisdom-believe-in-yourself/

 

Living a Lie....

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http://www.myspace.com/herlyingheart97

Have you ever lived a lie?  There was a period in my life where I was.  Although I denied it for a long time.  Then when unhappiness was taking over and consuming my life... I realized that I was living a lie.  However... eventually, as with most lies... the truth came out.  Here is my story:

My ex-husband and I were together for 15 years.  Married for 13 of those.  It had been a very rough ride from the very beginning.  We should had remained friends and raised our son as a team, instead of getting married.  At the time, we both wanted to be a family and 'make things right' we thought. 

I cared about my husband and I feel I was a good wife, while being the best mother I could be.  We all do our best, right?  However I never had that deep, trusting, soul connecting and understanding love that I know I should have had.  Then when things in our marriage continued to be full of turmoil and even abuse... what feelings I had faded until there was nothing left but emptiness and sorrow. 

After a while I felt I was just going through the motions.  Other people looking at me from the 'outside' thought I had a normal, happy family and marriage.  Because for one, I didn't tell anyone anything that was really going on behind closed doors back then.  The truth was... I was far from happy and my marriage was not a loving, trusting, supportive one.  I was living a lie.  Which in a sense was because I would try to care, try hard to make us a happy family, mostly... I would try to love him.  I even said I did .... and every time I felt enormous guilt. 

He wasn't 'all bad' of course... no one is.  He was a good provider financially and took care of things outside of the house; yard and vehicles.  He always allowed me to take care of the boys the way I saw best, taking care of our home the way I wanted, able to stay home with the boys and have a home daycare for extra money... even when he worked nights and had to sleep during the day.  I appreciated my son's dad for those things very, very much and always told him that. 

However, along with feeling no love in my heart and the continued verbal and emotional abuse...  I moved further and further away from feeling anything.  All it seemed he wanted to do was argue and fight... all the time.  Just to get what he wanted and to get it his way.. no matter what.   He didn't care if the kids heard the horribly things he said or if they got in the way.  He could be very manipulative and blamed me for 'making' him mad when I didn't agree with something.

"Love comes when manipulation stops; when you think more about the other person than about his or her reactions to you.” ~ Dr. Joyce Brothers

Somehow the times when things got abusive, were always my fault according to him.  I truly believe that either consciously or subconsciously, he did and said things in front of the kids because he knew how much that upset and even devastated me.  I grew up with my parents fighting most of the time; so it was the 'last' environment I ever wanted for my own children to grow up in.  This was the 'bright red button he pushed' to upset me even more. 

I felt back then that he wanted to fight because he had to have complete control of me.  When I didn't agree with something or didn't want him to do something that I knew he shouldn't, he would start a fight as a way of wearing me down.  Like a child does when they want something their parent has told them 'No' or it's too dangerous.  At times this computer IT professional, school board member and sport ref and coach... could be very immature.  In my opinion at least. 

That last year together I was so tired and so done.  I never wanted to fight, I grew up with that.  And I certainly didn't want to fight anymore in front of my children.  I remember locking my self in the bathroom with the shower running trying to drawn out his yelling, abusive insults and pounding at the door.  While I sat on the floor shaking, crying and praying for him to stop.  I just wanted the fighting to stop! 

Realistic or not, I would like to live the rest of my life without ever 'fighting' again.  I know I will never live in a situation where or with someone who wants to fight or has to get their way all the time.  That's not realistic or normal.  Life is too short to be so unhappy... let alone be in an abusive and/or loveless relationship.

Which brings me to what ended up being the hardest time for me at the end of my marriage.  It was telling my husband that I didn't love him anymore. That he had killed whatever feelings I had had for him.  There was no 'unconditional love'  from either of us by that point.  So I felt I needed to be honest, for both my own conscious and to lay the foundation for my wanting a divorce.

"Life is too short not to love and be loved!!  Nor not to be in a great loving relationship with someone who not only brings out the best in you... but also fills your heart and soul with happiness!" ~ Me...

At first, he would not 'accept' how I felt or didn't feel.  Then he refused to, or couldn't, accept that it was because of anything that he did.  He decided that there must be someone else.  What??!!  I would have had the time, energy, self-esteem for that...When?!  No... I barely had the emotional balance to get up in the morning by then and all the energy I had through out the day was trying to keep my job and take care of my sons.  I was so drained and again so done!  In fact I was told later that I was 'cold' and wasn't trying anymore. 

Well, I thought.. he's right, I wasn't trying anymore.. because I had and nothing had changed.  I was done.  Maybe that is why I seemed cold, because I was finally done.  I think that is the emotional calm when you are ready and need to take care of things and more on.  Mostly for yourself, but in my situation I needed to also move on for my sons.  The fighting and yelling had never been good for them and my youngest was being pulled in as a pawn, I felt.  That was probably my breaking point when I realized just how much damage was being done to my children.

"Many times people stay in bad or loveless marriages because of the fear of the 'unknown' and because at least is has a sense of familiarity. Some people feel that is better than nothing.  I would rather be alone and happy, than to be with someone whom I'm not happy with." ~ Me..

Finally, over time, I got stronger and less afraid of leaving. Less afraid of the 'unknown', the financial realities and less afraid of his threats... what he would or wouldn't do.  He could be very unpredictable and obviously out of control at times.

I was also becoming much more confident in my self.  Confident that I could take care of my boys and that I could stand up to whatever lies he would say later in court, or what dramas he would cause or play out in the small community in which we not only lived, but also both of us grew up in.  That is when I was so ready to have peace in my life and home.  I was finally able to let myself be just a little be selfish and think a little bit about myself for once in regards to my own happiness.   

I always put my children first or consider what any decision, one way or the other, would effect my children.  It was hard for me not to... that is the type of parent I am. They were always my main concern and responsibility.  However in the end, I felt that I had to finally think about myself, and my own happiness at least a little bit.. to do what I needed to do.  Otherwise, I may have never left or been truly happy with my life.. ever. 

I don't regret trying though.  Not at all.  I can honestly say that I did try and anyone who knew me then knows that.  Even my ex-husband realizes that now.  After all these years we finally get along... although apart.  Letting go of the past and forgiving releases us, which allows us to move forward into a better life.

I've known many people in the same situation... where a tiny bit of selfishness and a little bit of concern for their own happiness... would actually do them a great deal of good.  However I understand first hand how hard that is for those with the heart and character that put their children first (like I have).  I respect and understand what they are going through and love those persons so very much... for who they are. I understand!

Many people never make that decision.  The decision that life is too short to live in an unhappy home or be in a loveless marriage.  This is the reason I now write and tell these personal stories of my own life.  In the hope of giving strength, encouragement and  the belief that any situation can get better.  That we can all get stronger, heal, grow, have a better life and above all Be Happy!  We all deserve to be happy!

“This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.” ~ Quote from Thinkexist.com

More Powerful Post:
Betrayal has many forms...
Living the Truth
Silencing Verbal Abuse

The Narcissistic Co-dependent Marriage/Relationship Symptoms

Manipulative People: Covert Aggressive Personality Disorder