OCTOBER

Where are you going, my children?

Down autumn's leaf-strewn lanes.

To find Jack Frost who tiptoed by

And touched our window panes.

I see storm windows that must be hung,

You see frost tracings in early sun.

I see the leaves to be raked in a mound.

You see tumbling mats on the ground.

Where are you going my children?

Just down the road a way

To see the tree where the hoot owl sits

And a field where rabbits play.

I see small boots to be marked and mated,

You see a world newly decorated.

Oh, let me come with you down that lane,

And see October as a child again.

The trees in this picture are in our front yard. The trees are right outside our kitchen window. When we eat meals, we are able to partake of their beauty. Every fall, the leaves turn the most beautiful colors for us to enjoy. Fall is my favorite time of year....there is peace in the air....and a sense of anticipation of the fun holidays ahead. Oh! to be a child again..but the older I get, the more I realize that the secret to real happiness is to keep the child in your heart no matter how old you are.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Whoever is open, loyal, true; of humane and affable demeanour; honourable himself, and in his judgement of others; faithful to his word as to law, and faithful alike to God and man...such a man is a true gentleman.

I have a plaque hanging in our family room which says:

INTEGRITY is doing what is right even when the only one who will know is God.

TRUST ~ TRUTH

I was browsing through the dictionary and came upon these two words Trust and Truth. They are right together in the dictionary....so they must complement each other. I wonder sometimes if society today understands that trust and truth are so important. I also wonder why is it some people can get by with not telling the truth. Don't they understand they are hurting people. If someone does not want to do something, then have enough integrity to say so, but don't kill the messenger !!!

The dictionary says TRUST is the firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing.

The dictionary says TRUTH is consistently telling the truth, being honest.

I have been reading the book by Sheri Dew 'Telling It Like It Is. ' A writing in her book made me think:

"Every relationship-husband and wife-parent and child-best friends-colleagues-is dependent on trust. It is not possible to have a relationship with someone you cannot trust. The only thing you can have with someone you can't trust is a strategy."

• Why do we have to develop a strategy?
• Why do we have to always feel like we need to watch our backs?
• Why do we have to feel distrust in our daily dealings?
• Why do we always have to be on guard?

My parents always taught us kids that our word was our bond, and that when you say will do something, carry through. These are the childhood lessons that have guided my footsteps in this life. Have I made mistakes ~ OH YES ~ but I realize we are merely humans and carried on. Every day I thank my Dad and Mom for the lessons they taught us.

Blessed are those who have been given Holy Parents.

NAMI WALKS FOR THE MINDS OF AMERICA

Tomorrow is the NAMI WALK. I want to thank those who supported me: My sweet hubby Ned, Lura, Janet, Allyson, Everett, Marcy, (Ward S, Dale D, Bob H, Bob T. These are my hubby's coffee buddies), Anonymous, and my daughter Debby. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated so much. As I walk, I will be thinking of you.....God Bless...and thanks again.....

On September 26, 2009, I will be walking for the minds of America. The National Alliance on Mental Illness and NAMI state sponsors the yearly walk. I will be walking for our daughter, as many of you know, who suffers from Schizophrenia. This is a cause I am committed to, and participated in for the last 3 years. It is a major fund raiser for NAMI State, so they can continue to provide our FREE EDUCATION programs, such as Family to Family class, BASICS, Bridges, Support Groups, and many more programs. The walk is a fun event, even in the rain.

We found out we didn't melt !!

Mental Illness is a medical illness. No one is immune. About 60 million Americans experience mental health problems in any given year. One in 17 lives with the most serious illnesses, such as Schizophrenia, Major Depression and Bipolar.

Treatment works, but it can take 10 years, between the onset of symptoms and getting help. Half of cases begin at age 14, but less than half of children or adults get help when they need it. People with serious mental illness (SMI) live 25 years less than other people. (NAMI-NIMH)

I would like to share some facts and numbers published by the National Alliance on Mental Illness:

• One in four adults-approximately 57.7 million Americans-experience a mental health disorder in a given year. One in seventeen lives with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder, and about one in ten children have a serious mental or emotional disorder.

• About 2.4 million American, or 1.1 percent of the adult population, lives with schizophrenia.

• An estimated 5.2 million adults have co-occurring metal health and addiction disorders. Of adults using homeless services, thirty-one percent reported have a combination of these conditions.

If these statistics don't raise awareness of mental health issues, nothing ever will. People would never discriminate against someone who has cancer, diabetes or similar diseases. Mental illness is a disease of the brain, the most important part of the whole body.

Please support me as I walk on the 26th of September. Simply click on the link below to make an on-line donation. Any and all amounts are welcome. Thank you for lightening my steps as I WALK FOR THE MINDS OF AMERICA, and for helping me along the way. God Bless...

http://www.nami.org/walkTemplate.cfm?section=NAMIWALKS&template=/customsource/namiwalks/walkerpage.cfm&walkerID=100213

HAPPY LABOR DAY 2009

Have a wonderful Labor Day 2009. Let's all pray that soon everyone has a job, that the economy turns around, that people start to feel good about our country.

OH HAPPY DAY !!

Your smile brightens my day !!