Z end of April A-Z challenge

Here we are, the very last day of April and I did not quite get to the end. Never fear though, I will not disappoint and I intend to finish what I started.

I have been a bit behind in the last week due to coming back home to Colorado and resuming my life after a month of being gone. There has been a lot go on this month and I am behind in everything!

So, having said that, I will resume my post as of (hopefully) tomorrow until I am finished. I think I was on "U". So, I will start there.

I may double up on post but I will finish. I promise!
Next week I will back to my regular routine and that will make some folks happy with me again. *smiles with toothy grin*

Thanks for all of you that follow and sticking with me. Until tomorrow. ~Naila Moon

Review and Giveaway of CoSaMo Hair Color

If you're like me, you have a few (or uh-hmm a lot) of gray hair that you would just rather not have. If you're also like me, you cover it up with a nice hair color because you cannot afford the salon.

I was really happy when the company CoSaMo contacted me to try out their "Love Your Color" hair color products. 

They asked me what color I wanted and I chose dark brown as my natural color is almost black.

As you can see I was in need of some major help!

The company boast that the products have none of that nasty ammonia, peroxide, or PPD (this is a chemical used for permanent dyeing)  that many other products have. Which is really nice because I hate it when my hair has that after smell or feels itchy.

What I really found to be great was that the color came in one bottle and not two like other products. All I had to do was shake the bottle and apply on my hair which I was able to do easily by myself.

The instructions on the box said to apply from the roots out and use every drop if possible, which is exactly what I did. Besides the usual plastic gloves the company provides a plastic cap. This cap had to be put on top of my hair once I finished applying. Apparently the cap helps to heat the product naturally. Then I had to wait 20 minutes.

20 minutes! That was unbelievable since I have always had to wait 45 minutes to an hour. However,  I waited the allotted time and...

Well, what do you think?

The color is non-permanent and last for up to 12 shampoos which is very nice too.

Thanks CoSaMo! I will definitely been using your products again!

------------------

Would you like to try out CoSaMo for yourself? Well, you could buy directly from the company or better yet win it! Enter in the Rafflecopter below.

Disclosure: I was given a full product in exchange for my open and honest opinion. The views here are 100% my own.

Just The Stuff Ya Know/Once Upon A Time/Naila Moon is not responsible for prize shipment.

CoSaMo USA is exclusively responsible for prize shipment.

Winner has 48 hours to respond to an e-mail or an alternate winner will be drawn.

This giveaway is not affiliated with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or any other social media.

Giveaway ends on 5-10-2013 and open only to US

a Rafflecopter giveaway

T is for...

T is for...

"Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time." ~Marthe Troly Curtin

Have you ever laid in the grass and looked up at the clouds to decide what the shape of them were?  Or have you ever sat in rocking chair and day dreamed? How about sitting in a window seat and reading a book?

There have been many times that I have just sat and meditated on those things of life. Some might say I was wasting time when I could have been doing A, B, or C.

I suppose in another person's mind maybe I was. Maybe I could have been washing the laundry or cooking dinner or any number of things.

Actually, I think not! Sometimes, I just enjoy doing nothing or at least what seems like nothing. It makes me happy and at peace with myself.

So, I ask you, what is wrong with that?

~Naila Moon

S is for...and Mondays Music

S is for...

" Sometimes people are beautiful."~ Markus Zusak

photo source

In all the ugliness the world has seen in recent years, months and even just last week, it seems that Mr. Zusak's statement is quite true.

I have seen many act of kindness and heroism that gives hope to humanity and indeed makes some people beautiful.

There are other times that I have seen people as being beautiful.

The child who offers their twice licked ice cream cone to another sibling. Or the lady next door who rescued an abandoned cat from the side of the road.

How about the guy who mowed his elderly neighbors grass. Or the kid who picked flowers out of his yard to give to his mom.

photo of my grandkids by my daughter, Natasha

What about the lady who went to the senior citizen home and sat and talked with the residents. Or how about the student that took mentally handicapped students with them to prom.

How about that hippy dude that goes around hugging trees. Or the kids who make signs from recycled cardboard to sell lemonade to passer-byers.

Yes, all of these people are beautiful.

You see to me, beauty is not what is on the outside but truly what is on the inside.

Are you being beautiful today?

---------------------------------

PS. As you know by now, today is Earth Day. 

It is also Mondays Music and the theme is Earth Songs or something related. In keeping what I have said here and this theme, I offer you these two videos.

~Naila Moon

Where to Follow me on Bloglovin'

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R is for...

R is for...

"Rooms without books is like a body without a soul." ~Marcus Cicero

I could not imagine never having books. They have always been in my life from the very youngest time I can remember.

My parents knew that reading was important and the very essence of being able to be productive in society. We had Little Golden books, Dr. Seuss and a variety of other books to look at and read.

I have mentioned before a separate room in our house my parents called the "library". It was full of music and housed our piano. More importantly, it was the place you could find books, books and more books!

My Mother being a teacher and Dad a journalist, there was a vast differences in books that could be found. There was also the classics too.  In fact, up until last year, my parents had owned an original set of books by Mark Twain.

So, yes, books as other things in my life have been heart and soul.

This brings me back to the original quote though. 

It is easy to forget that some people around the world have absolutely no access to books. There are women of the world who could even be killed for learning to read. That is hard for me to fathom but, it is true.

Is their body and soul empty because of it?

Well, I think in some ways the answer has to be yes.  Think of the things we learn from books.  Think of the lives that could be improved just by being able to read.

If you can read my words, then you can read.  A book could  be in your hand right now. You can be learning something new.

We are so lucky, aren't we?
~Naila Moon

Q is for...

Q is for...

"Question isn't who is going to let me as to who is going to stop me."

When we were kids we thought we can do anything in the world. We were invincible. We generally would try anything especially if we were double-dared. Oh yeah!

Of course not having any common sense the only persons to stop us from doing something incredibly stupid would have been our parents.

As we got in to teenage years, we would take on the world with sharp tongues and an attitude to match. The only ones to stop us was other friends who thought we were idiots.

When we became adults, we worked hard, raised families and made our place in the world. We took pride in the things we did.

Spirituality was a part of us. We went to church. We went shopping. We planned parties. We went to PTA and football games.

The only ones to stop us was... 

us.

Now, isn't that the truth?
~Naila Moon

Another open letter to Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,

It has been so kind of you to post your well thought out comments to my blog. However, the time has come that I must break our friendship.

It is me, not you.  I can't stand that the comments you leave have nothing to do with my blog.  I also really have no desire to come visit your blog about loans or dating or something totally arbitrary. Also, if you had a photo or another name, well, it might have made it better.

Sorry, this is the end and now, you are blocked. Goodbye.

~Naila Moon

PS> I am sorry to the other real bloggers who now are stuck with being a registered user including open ids. It just had to be this way.

P is for... and Thankful Thursday and A Song

P is for...

"Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart."
 ~Mahatma Gandhi

photo source

Prayer is an integral part of my life. I rely on it as much as I do other things.
I don't just pray when something tragic happens. I pray in thanksgiving too.

I think it is interesting that Mahatma Gandhi says that, ..."daily admission of one's weakness."
I truly never thought of it that way. I rely on prayer because my human weakness does not trust enough. 

Thought provoking!

I also believe that when people pray together things happen. It does not matter what religion the individual are, it is a collective thought process and coming together in agreement.

Today I want to just say how grateful I am to have prayer in my life and the need I have for it.
~Naila Moon

If you would like to join me and my blog pal Xmas Dolly in Thankful Thursday, link up below.

O is for...

O is for...

"One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain."  ~Bob Marley

photo source

I know I talk about music a lot on my blog but truly I believe it is part of my soul.

I think that might be what Bob Marley meant when he said this. Being a musician, he could feel music all the time in everything he did. However, some of it just resonated within him that he knew it was right.

Earlier I spoke that music speaks to us in such a way depending on our mood, the time of year, the season, on and on.
Bob Marley knew this and trusted in it and literally felt no pain when he sang it.

How does music make you feel? Tell me.
~Naila Moon

N is for...

N is for...

"Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love." ~Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa's quote could not hold more true today in light of the happenings in Boston and other tragic events around the world.

In Boston, reports came in about runners who just kept on running to the hospital to give blood. The news reporters captured yet other runners helping other people. I personally saw on TV, one runner who took his shirt off to stop another person from bleeding.

"...small things with great love."

How about this example. We have all heard the story of the teacher who shielded her students from the gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary and lost her life by doing so.  Was she just doing her job or was it more than that?

"...small things with great love."

Here is yet another example. Many of us have heard about different soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan holding babies or other children whose parents have been killed. We have seen photos of soldiers handing out chocolate or small gifts to Iraq and Afghanistan children that may have never had such things. We have seen soldiers playing games with these same children too.

"...small things with great love."

I want to take it one further step. We hear everyday about people being hurt in one form or another right in our own backyards. We also hear of the unsung heroes that come to their aid also in one form or another.

We see someone take a sandwich to a homeless person or give a blanket to someone on the street. Or maybe even drop a few coins in a bucket for someone who is just trying to survive.

We see a door held for another coming out of a building.

We see people rushing to help re-stack cans that were knocked over by a person who was in an electric scooter.

We even see messages of comfort left on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites to those who have lost someone or a loved animal.

"...small things with great love."

My question is, are all of these things done out of obligation or are they done out of love for humankind?  

Mother Teresa was right when she said small things could be done with great love. Yes, the things that many of these people were indeed great but a small act done out of great love for another human being.

I see it every year, every month, every day and it gives me hope.

What do you think?

~Naila Moon

M is for... AND Mondays Music

M is for...

"Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent. " ~Victor Hugo

I find it ironic that the letter "M" falls on  Monday which just also happens to be tax day, otherwise know as money day.  If you know me at all, it is also Monday's Music Day for me.

A lot of  " M's" there!

I was excited when I found this quote by Victor Hugo because it fits so perfectly for today.

As I have mentioned before, I love music. It really does help to express those things of our minds and hearts when we cannot seem to express them in words.

Who hasn't played a love song for another or a song when there has been a break up?
What about when you have been happy or sad?  When you are angry and want to calm down?
How about wanting to dance?


I know I have played music and sung at the top of my lungs more than once for all of these incidences.

So, today the theme for Monday's Music is none other than money. Let me stop blogging here so you can start listening.

*WARNING...not for children*

This next last one is for my Tamirisc...

~Naila Moon

L is for...

"Life is a gift wrapped in a miracle."

I truly think that just getting up and breathing in the morning air is a miracle that happens everyday. Our mere existence is a miracle.

My grandchildren

Having said that, when I saw this quote I could not help but think of babies. Our whole beginnings of life starts with the formation of fertilization. Our bodies continue to grow, move and breathe within our Mother which of course ends with our birth.

We are bundled up and presented. Ah, the miracle of life!

Sometimes we truly are miracle babies. A personal case in point. After the birth of my first child, I was faced with the very real possibility of not having anymore children. Since I was only 19 at the time, this was pretty devastating.

However, two years later I gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. This in itself was a miracle but even more so because my son and I almost died during childbirth due to a botched C-section.

Miracle baby indeed!

There are also those who have felt the pain of miscarriages, like my daughter but eventually able to conceive and enjoy motherhood.

My daughter's son

There are also those who cannot have children for a myriad of reasons but someone, somewhere, has decided to allow an adoption.

Oh yes, miracles of life! How precious. How true.

I am glad to have this miracle and this gift.
~Naila Moon

K is for...

Photo source

"Knowledge speaks. Wisdom listens."

I have been around for 45 years now. I have had some of the finest professors in college and met top notch speakers.I have heard countless people speak or lecture on various topics. Some topics would even blow your mind.

I am not saying these things to toot my own horn.

All of these people, some as young as two years old, have great knowledge when they have spoken. I have learned something from each and every person I have ever met and listened to.

Yes, I truly believe everyone has something to teach me. Some things I have learned from others of what I do not want in life. Others have taught me important lessons. Yet, others have just informed me.

I listen. I gain wisdom.

What about you?
~Naila Moon

Thankful Thursday and A Song- April 11, 2013

I goofed up today and forgot to post the linky for Thankful Thursday in the early part of the day.

 Forgive me! My brain is in 20 different places this month.

 I am grateful for all of you that come by everyday to chat, leave a comment, enter my giveaways, tell me about your day or simply to say hello. So grateful!

 It is really late for the linky but please go by my gal pal Xmas Dolly who helps me with this and say hello.

 too.

Giveaway $25 Paypal Cash

There is not a single person I know of that couldn't use a little cash. Couldn't you use some too?

Well, guess what? Away We Go Media is hosting an easy...and I do mean easy... giveaway for $25 Paypal Cash.

 Enter in the rafflecopter below for you chance to win and put a smile on your face.

Disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored solely by Away We Go Media.
Just the Stuff Ya Know/Naila Moon is not responsible for prize delivery.
Open to US only. Ends 4/21/2013

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

J is for ...

J is for...

"Just happy little accidents." ~Bob Ross

photo source

I don't know about you but I always did like watching Bob Ross paint on PBS TV.  His voice was soothing as his brushes of paint were fascinating. I often wanted to be lost in those painting of far away cottages and his "happy little trees".

If I really think about it, Bob Ross was probably someone I could say I looked to when it came to creativity. I loved the way his painting made you feel dreamy and happy. His excitement over his "happy little accidents" in his paintings made me want to paint and see what would come of it.

I wonder sometimes if the world would be a better place if we looked for the "happy little accidents", you know, those things that surprise us. Maybe we would speak softer, be nicer and hope for good things for each other.

Maybe Bob Ross' approach to life in his paintings was spot on.

What do you think?

~Naila Moon

I is for...

"It's your story. Write it with wild abandonment."

If I was to literally write my story with wild abandonment then I would have to start at the fact I was born in a blizzard. Really I was!

I was trying to take my first entry in to the world as my Dad drove frantically to the hospital through all that snow.  My Mother says to this day that Dad's driving scared her more than actually being in labor with me.

My story brings me twin brothers a year and a half later and yet, five years later another brother. These boys drove their sister crazy but I loved them dearly. Well, except when they stole by Barbie dolls to play war games but that is another story.

Later years, I was seen as a 'good girl' with an alternate identity of rebel child. Nobody but my truly closest friends knew that girl. Teen pregnancy would eventually be a part of my story and my parents would come to know that rebel girl. My first marriage would follow and divorce right behind it. I was now a single mother with two children under the age of three.

I went on to become a youth minister and was in puppet ministry for several years. However, I eventually left that part of my life for good as questions of faith became urgent and the need to seek became more apparent.

Among that same time was loneliness, confusion and issues with mental health. All of which combined drove me to about madness.

But oh, I could write my story with abandonment!

I eventually found a new love and a new marriage within a few months of meeting.

I found home in another state that was far removed from my home state of Missouri. More over I lived in the city, somewhere I never thought I would ever live because after all, I was a country girl.

I am now a young Grandma to two special grand-children and life is generally happy.

Is my story over? Oh, no! I have so much more to live and so much more to tell. It is MY story and I can write it any way I want and I will!

~Naila Moon

Carole P. Roman New book Celebration & Giveaway: Signed Book and $200 Toys R US Gift Card

Hi there,

I am so excited to be hosting yet another book launch and giveaway by Carole P. Roman. 

I absolutely love her children's books. They are colorful, engaging and informing. I love her books!

Children's author, Carole P. Roman, has once again diversified herself with her newest book 

If You Were Me and Lived In Mexico.

This children's book, already out on Amazon, is the first in a series of many more to come.

About the book:

"If You Were Me and Lived in ...Mexico-A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World" is the first entry in an exciting new children's series that focuses on learning and appreciating the many cultures that make up our small planet. 

Perfect for children from Pre-K to age 8, this book is a groundbreaking new experience in elementary education. Interesting facts and colorful illustrations help children realize that although the world is large, people all over the globe are basically the same.

To celebrate the launch of this new series, Carole P. Roman is generously giving away a signed copy of this book and a $200 Gift Card to Toys R Us. Awesome! Enter below.

Where you can find Carole P. Roman:

Facebook

Amazon

Disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored by author, Carole P. Roman.

My blog, Just The Stuff Ya Know/Naila Moon and the blogs hosting and co-hosting are not responsible for shipment. Carole P. Roman is responsible for prize shipment. 

Gift card is being provided by the author and not affiliated with Toys R Us.

This giveaway is also not affiliated with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or YouTube.

Giveaway is open to US only.

Giveaway ends: April 24, 2013 at 12 AM. 

Winner has 48 hours to respond after notification via e-mail or forfeit prize and another winner will be drawn.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

H is for...

"Heaven is under our feet...as well as over our heads." ~Thoreau

A couple of years ago, right before Christmas, my Mother was invited to Mexico to speak to some people about her ministry. She is a part of RCWP and you can read about that here if you wish.

She was invited by a student who had originally attended St. Louis University and was now home in Mexico and attending the university there.

She, along with some other women, were to speak to several university students. She was then asked to say Mass for those gathered.

Before the gathering she took off her shoes. She told the people that they were standing on holy ground and she had taken off her shoes to be present in the holiness of it. The people present were honored by such an act.

Was heaven under their feet? You could say so. The Christmas season was upon them and the festivities of the season were taking place everywhere.  

Even though my Mother spoke little Spanish her act was understood by everyone and heaven was certainly under their feet as it was above.

~Naila Moon

Special invite for a Q and A

Hello everyone,
I am sending all of you a personal invite to join a Q and A about  "Help for students at risk for heart failure".
This will be hosted on my blog here:
http://weighin2010.blogspot.com/

I believe it is important to be in the know even if you do not have kids.
~Naila Moon

G is for...

"God gave us music that we might pray without words."

A long time I go I used to be a youth minister and all I ever listened to was praise and worship music. This was one of the ways I certainly did pray. God gave us music indeed and the ages have sung the praises for all time.

Even though my spiritual journey has gone in an interesting direction, I once in awhile still like to listen to this area of music.

If you keep up with my blogs at all then you would know that I love music. There is not much I don't like in the music arena.  I guess maybe acid rock I am not too fond of and I only like the old school rap.

Today however, I want to share with you some of the music that I found myself praying with. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

~Naila Moon

P.S. Just a bit of a side note: I usually post for Mondays Music this day. So, I am cross posting for both.



Today's theme is music my parents would have listened to. In keeping with my quote. The first song is someone they would have definitely listened too. The song was popular in the churches at the time.

GIVEAWAY: Introducing Michael Phillip Cash...Giving away $300 Home Depot GC and Solar Power Emergency Weather Radio

Giveaway from new author, Michael Phillip Cash

I am truly excited to be hosting and introducing to you this new author. I am not one to usually care for thriller books but, I can tell you I am wanting to read this book by this author. One of my friends has had a pre-read and said that I need to read it too! If she said it, then I know I do. I cannot wait!
Check this out!
_________________________

Are you prepared for the invasion of Brood X? It is coming and you want to be ready. Nothing will stop this 17 year swarm from happening. All humanity can do is hope that they will not stay around long.

Introducing brand new author, Michael Phillip Cash who has written a Thriller book called Brood X. It is coming soon to Amazon and online book stores near you.

Here is a synopsis of his upcoming book:

Seth is laid off from work. His wife Lara just found out they are expecting a baby this summer. Seth plans on documenting the entire pregnancy with his brand new digital camcorder.

During an evening home watching television, the news reports that a swarm of cicada (Brood Ten) are expected to overwhelm the entire Northeast.

Brood Ten is vicious and ready to invade.

During a sweltering summer night, Brood Ten emerges and wreaks havoc with the electric grid, phone and cell service, wi-fi, food and water supply. Civilization as they know it is gone.

Seth and Lara are thrown back to the stone age in their own home with trillions of cicada trying to deposit their eggs and breed.

Will Seth grow up and take responsibility for his family? Or will the devastating bugs destroy humanity?

-________________________

Author, Michael Phillip Cash wants to introduce himself and help you prepare for an emergency of any kind. He is generously giving away a $300 Home Depot Gift Card and a Solar Powered Emergency Weather Radio for one lucky reader. 

Where you can find Michael Phillip Cash:

Blog

Facebook

Please enter in the Rafflecopter below.

Disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored by author, Michael Phillip Cash. 

My blog, Just The Stuff Ya Know/Naila Moon, the blogs hosting and co-hosting are not responsible for shipment. Michael Phillip Cash is solely responsible for shipment.

Gift card is being provided by the author and not affiliated with Home Depot.

This giveaway is also not affiliated with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or YouTube.

Giveaway ends: April 21, 2013 at 12 AM. US

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Prepare For The Invasion of Brood X (Code)

NOTE: If you come by everyday and enter the code for that day. You will get 10 bonus points at the end.  You must enter  all of the correct codes everyday to get the extra points. 

7th. Michael Phillip Cash

8th.Cicadas

9th. 17 years

10th. Bugs

11th. Noisy

12th. Red-eyed

13th. Winged

14th. Havoc

15th. Brood X

16th. Prepare

17th. Invasion

18th.Swarm

19th. Life Cycle

20th Bonus Points!

F is for...

"Faith, hope and love...the greatest of these is love." ~Corinthians Chapter 13

I grew up with this verse firmly planted in our home. I do mean quite literally.

My Dad had the entire verse printed on large paper for my Mother on the occasion of their 1st anniversary. It of course was said, at their wedding the year before.

These few lines were more than just words though. It was a thought process lived out in my parents.

We grew up in faith of our Creator who formed us and fashioned us in the children of the world.  We attended church always and it was an important part of our growing up and it was expected.
My Mother quite literally still has a strong faith and is pastor of a church in Sedona, AZ
We children have grown in different ways of faith but still it is very much there.

Hope was something that was instilled in us.  If we hoped for a future then the future could be ours.  We never did not have hope. It saddens me to think of the people who are living now with no hope for something brighter or happier.  It does not mean that we were lead to believe that things in the world were sometimes not so good but we could always have the hope that they would change.

My parents loved each other from the very first moment they met. Their love for each other culminated into 4 of us, later grand-children and great-grand children.

When my parents got to be much older and a bit crabbier, they could often be seen just sitting quietly in the kitchen talking to each other. Their love did not waiver even up to the time my Dad passed on almost two years ago now.

Yes, they made mistakes as parents will do, but in the end their faith, hope and love for us has always been there.

The framed verse is still hanging in a predominant place in my Mother's home. Still a testament to what has always been.

~Naila Moon

**"G", I hope I see you on Monday for another week of the A-Z challenge.

E is for...

"Every minute you are angry, you lose 60 seconds of happiness." ~Emerson

I used to think this quote was rather dumb. Then I realized how brilliant it actually is.

I have cursed the ignorance of others when they could not see what I was trying so desperately to tell them.
I would stomp or run off hoping that a brick would fall on their heads and it would become clear.
All the while I am fuming as my face is turning red. They were confused at my response.


Sadly, one time I was so angry that I threw a plate across the room hoping to hit the person I was aiming for.
Although in truth, I aimed for the wall behind them but was ticked even further when it did not hit them. They ducked any way.


I have been so angry that my body has shook from all the synapses firing off.

I have cried until I have heaved in utter exhaustion and nothing was left.


I have been angry many times but more at myself for being so stupid.

Every time I was angry, I lost out on being that much happier.

I strive to be happier now and keep my 60 seconds for it is good for me and good for others.

~Naila Moon

Thankful Thursday and A Song

Hello one and all. Welcome back to another Thankful Thursday. Link up below and my pal Xmas Dolly and I will come visit.

Today I am thankful for knowing what to do.  I know that may seem odd but bare with me a minute.

A friend of my Mom took us out for breakfast this morning to a local eatery called, The Coffee Pot. It was nice to be out for my Mom and I plus it was just beautiful.

Anyway, I was just about to get in the car when I turned to see an elderly man had fallen on the hard and uneven asphalt.  I could see he was bleeding, so I grabbed a few tissues out of the back of the car.

When I reached him people were standing around but not sure what to do. I immediately grabbed the napkins other people were holding and got down on my knees to help this man.  My adrenaline rushing I put the napkins on his bleeding forehead and pushed.

I started assessing if he was hurt anywhere else, which he said he was not.  Someone had already called 911 so that was not a concern for me.  I began talking to him, asking him questions and making sure he did not pass out on me.

Another person brought a wet cloth but I did not want to remove my hand. Insisting, I did and his head bled immediately. I pressed hard on his forehead again.

When the ambulance got there, I let them do their thing and went to wash my  hands.

Upon coming out, I saw a woman whom I immediately thought to be his wife. No one was talking to her so I put my arm around her and assured her he would be ok but probably need some stitches. I tried hard not to shake because she was shaking enough.

When I felt she would be ok, I left and came back with Mom and her friend.
I am now shaking and needing to calm down but I know in my heart he will be alright.

So, long story short, I am grateful that I knew what to do to help out another person today.
~Naila Moon

D is for...

"Dreams are illustrations...from the book your soul is writing about you." ~Marsha Norman

I have always had big dreams since I was a little girl.

I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher from the time I could talk.  Being a teacher was the only career I ever wanted to have. Seriously, nothing else! I could see it at such a young age.

Like many other girls my age, I also wanted to be a Mommy. It was not a pressing dream but one that I am sure was there. After all, I had a few hundred dolls that all had names and personalities.  I took care of them until I was probably much to old to play with dolls.

As time went on my dreams did not waver much.

I eventually went to college to become a teacher but got side tracked when I had children . It took me 10 years just to complete my Associates. After all these years, I still do not have my Bachelors.

Oh yes, my dream of being a Mommy came true but at the very young age of 19.
Being a Mommy certainly was not like it was when I was dreaming about it. I mean my dolls did not need changing or fed at the un-godly hour of 3AM.

Then when they were teens, worrying that they were ok while they were out with my car and friends.

 No, this dream was quite different and the illustrations I had for myself is not what my soul was living.

However, I still had the dreams.

I ended up teaching pre-school for 15 years. These years brought an interesting perspective to my life full of play.  I also was an assistant teacher in an elementary school for two years.

Those two years were the closest I ever came to the dream I had had since I was a youngster.  I am sorry that I left it but this again is not where I was supposed to be.

I would move on out of teaching for my children were older and needed things that I needed more money for.  I worked hard and paid the price for some things but the Mommy dream had taken a forefront.

The story in my soul changed many times over the past years. Sometimes taking turns that I never expected. Some roads when off the path of my dreams so far that I never thought I would be able to get back on them.

Some, I never will again.

However, my dreams are still there. Holding on with its last ounce of security.

Now, I am a young grandma and my children are in their 20's. Both of them are considering homeschooling and guess who they want the teacher to be?

A new chapter in the book of my soul and a dream to just maybe come true.

~Naila Moon

C is for...

"Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles not tears. " ~John Lennon

I turned 45 in January.  I spent the day in somewhat of a slump.
I honestly could not believe that I had just turned FORTY-FREAKIN'-FIVE.
I certainly was counting my life through tears.

However, the number of my age is true and I simply just had to face it.

Then, I saw this quote by the great, John Lennon and I had to smile.

My life has been no crazier or worse than anyone else's and full of smiles.  I have spent the last 30 of it with two of my very best friends in the world, Debra and Kelly.

I have mentioned them time and again throughout my blogging history but they are worth the mention again.

If I count my age with my true friends, the friends I know outside of Blogger or Facebook, then it totals up to just three...Debra, Kelly and of course, Tamirisc.

Three. I can handle that!

Think of the things three year olds do.

I can play on the swings, while someone pushes me. I can squish play dough while singing silly songs. I can read books while sitting on the big stuffed teddy bear, all the while wearing my tutu and cowboy boots. I can take naps, on the cot,with my favorite stuffed animals and pink blanket that hasn't been washed for two weeks.

Yeah!

I can make mud pies outside with that boy Tamirisc, who is older than me but willing to play.  He is very nice.

I can play puzzles with that girl Kelly, who is younger than me but is so smart. She can do puzzles pretty well. She will also want to play school with me because I know she and I want to be teachers when we grow up.

I can make castles out of tables, chairs and blankets with that girl Debra, who is younger than me. We will then hide under them. We certainly will use markers and things to decorate. Someday, I may bring her flowers because she likes them.

Yeah, I will count my age by the friends I have and my life with the smiles they have brought me.

Then tomorrow, when I look in the mirror and see a 45 year old's face, I will smile and dream of what I can do again because I am really only 3.

That is the truth and it makes me happy.
~Naila Moon

B is for...

 "Believe the best of everybody." ~Rudyard Kipling

My Mother actually carries this mantra.

She has always believed, as I do, that we are all born decent people. It is only circumstance where people become either horrible or fantastic.

It really comes down to choices that we make or in some a biological deficiency.

My Mother always told me that she trusts everybody until they give her a reason not to.

Some might think that is a naive approach but truthfully, I don't think so.

Why should we think the worst of someone based on appearance or attitude or what we heard about them?

Have we taken the time to know the real person? Or do we want to?

Believe it or not, I have had this happen to me more than once. Someone thinks something of me based on what they see or what they heard about me. However, they did not take the time to know me or know my circumstances.  If they had, they would have actually found out that I am a very decent person. At least I try to be.

Maybe, just maybe, our world needs to take the thought from Mr. Kipling and simply believe the best of others, implant it right in the old brain.
We might possibly just live in a more peaceful world by doing so.

What do you think?
~Naila Moon

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PS>By the way, today is World Autism Day. Take the time to give a shout out to those living with autistic children. My second cousin is a high functioning autistic 14 year old. I love you, Cousin!

*Make sure you come back tomorrow. I will "C" you then.