Gifts that Ripple through Time

Are you looking for something for someone special to give them this year?  Do you know how to bless your family and friends?

It is a season of gift giving and there can be a lot of pressure to get just the right gift for each and every one and not to forget anyone either.  It can be really hard too because some people already seem to have everything and some people seem to need everything and you do want to bless and give and not offend and not forget.  May I suggest you stop and ask the Lord how to bless your family and friends.  Then you might actually ask the person who you are struggling with in your mind, how you can bless them.  You might even be surprised at the answer.

Sometimes the best gifts are family treasures passed on appropriately.  Sometimes they are the gift of time and talents and then there is a touch and a smile and a hug.  There is a loving word at the right moment.  There are planned events and times together sharing laughter and tears and memory of other special times together with friends and family — special moments that last forever!

I am wanting to give my family some little family treasures.  They aren’t gold and silver (most of them) but momentos from my mom and dad that part of the gift is researching the meaning behind the momento and documenting the story for the family.  I will share some of them here and show you what I mean over time, but right now I want to tell you about a very special gift that I received from my sister and her husband last night.  Years ago when in DC on political affairs and going from meeting to meeting trying to get Congressmen to ‘do the right things’ and build bridges to effective networks, I viewed the Kennedy Center from afar.  I always wanted to go there and last night we did.  The family had perfect seats for a wonderful musical/dance story full of history and entertainment.  We saw “Billy Elliott: The Musical.”

Paula and Tim Caswell (upper left) and Tracy and Byron Caswell (upper right); Ceiling chandelier (center) and Hall of States Flags (lower right)

It was a wonderful evening and the fulfillment of a dream for me!  

Thanks to my family for making it possible for me to go and be a part of the adventure with me!

Posted by Sandra Crosnoe for Finding Gems & Sharing Them

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A Virtual Bouquet and a Toast from afar — Happy Birthday Paula!

In a world where cats rule, floral arrangements are a hazard all their own, because some are fun to eat and not good for kitty cats and some are just fun to play with and then of course some simply require investigation and ‘tumping’ over in the process.  So I decided to create a special virtual birthday bouquet for the best sister in the whole world, mine!

First a little trip down memory lane, she was Paula Bear to our Dad who had little names for each of us.  Special names, sweet and unique and always said with love and warmth and a little bit of a twinkle in the voice.  She was always miss fashion plate and sometimes changed clothes three times in the morning before school.  She was always perfectly put together from head to toe and that includes makeup and jewelry too!  She is smart and organized and very creative.  She is a speed reader extra-ordinaire.  She reads so fast that people think she isn’t really reading just turning the pages (pre Kindle days) but when you quizzed her on content — no problemo.  Now the thing that most people won’t know is that she has been known to read while standing on her head.  I don’t remember now exactly how she pulled that off but it probably required some creative way to prop the book up while doing so.  Growing up we both had Barbie Dolls and clothes, some specially made by Mom from material left over from clothes she made for us, but Paula had the Barbie Doll house and all the accessories too.

She went to Texas Tech, majored in Marketing and worked for IBM for many years.  Along the way she met a dashing young military man named Timothy Caswell who became the love of her life and she his.  They have one son, Byron and you can read a little more about him here.  Paula has a gift of hospitality and can make you feel at home and special whenever you are with her. I will never forget arriving in England  (while she and Tim were stationed there years ago) from an overnight flight and being completely exhausted.  She drew mw a warm bath and brought me a glass of wine and put me to bed.  Just what I needed turning a difficult pass into a memorable moment!   She is a gifted event organizer/presenter and a bit of a gourmet cook (all heathy of course).  Oh yes and a dancer too — ballet, tap, and toe — and of course ballroom and whatever is the dance of the day.

I cannot mention her birthday this year without remembering her special birthday gift to me earlier this year.  She took me and our good friend Donna to Las Vegas for a weekend at the Bellagio Hotel with the dancing fountains, and Cirque du Soliell shows, Mystere’ and Viva Elvis, plus a helicopter ride over the city and spectacular dining at the Jasmine Restaurant and more.  A whirl wind trip of a lifetime for sure!  We all had a blast.

You can see the photos from the trip Bellagio — Birthday Bash 2011 via Picaboo.

So while I cannot match that trip, I can share the love and the memories and let others know of the delight she brings to every event she touches, trip she makes, and life that she touches.  Here is a virtual bouquet and a toast from afar…

Happy Birthday to the best sister in the entire world — 

This birthday card was custom made from pictures online here – special thanks for the great photos of chrysanthemums.

Wikipedia says:  Chrysanthemums were first cultivated in China as a flowering herb as far back as the 15th century BC.^[2] The plant is renowned as one of the Four Gentlemen in Chinese and East Asian art. The plant is particularly significant during the Double Ninth Festival. It is believed that the flower may have been brought to Japan in the 8th century CE, and the Emperor adopted the flower as his official seal. There is a “Festival of Happiness” in Japan that celebrates the flower.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAULA!

Hope you have a wonderful day.

Praying for the Lord’s special blessings on you and all that you set your hands to accomplish.

May you see His smile as you walk in His path and bless many in the process.

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪

NOTE: Chrysanthemum is the flower of the month for November.

Posted by Sandra Crosnoe for Finding Gems & Sharing Them

Celebrating the Resurrection!

This video was filmed in 2010 in Budapest and will occur in many places all over the world in 2011!

Jul 29, 2010         5:25           73,370 views at time of posting

You can register for the next, global dance on http://uptofaith.com/

Resurrection Sunday Dance 2010, Budapest, Hungary — Electronic Gospel Remix

Music: Ferenc Balogh Jr.
Lyrics: Shelly Matos, based on the Hungarian text by Tamas Pajor (Tompage)
Producer: Ákos Nemes
Art Producer: Tamás Pajor (Tompage)
———–
Dear Friends,

Thank you for your interest and for all your kind words! We are glad to inform you that we will start a new webpage soon called http://www.uptofaith.com where you will find other materials in connection with the dance video (e.g. a Trainer Video and The Making of the Dance). We also make arrangements with similarly high quality intellectual products: musics, flash mobs, actions, etc. These products will be also available on our webpage. Please visit us after one or one and a half month.

Till then please send our link to your friends!
We are also waiting for your comments, then we can send you advice notes about our new actions!

Best wishes,
The Resurrection Sunday Dance Team
————————-

Lyrics

Ref_1
That day will be remembered as the greatest day in history
The fate of the world changed in one glorious moment
When Life triumphed on Resurrection Sunday

Verse_1
The hope of a people searching for life
The day will be brighter
The message of freedom rings in the sky
Spreading the fire
The flag of a nation ready to fly
Taking them higher
The heart of a land that rises to fight
Full of desire
When nothing is as you want it to be
Look up to heaven
Freedom was paid for on Calvary
The chain is broken
Making a way right to destiny
Borders are open
And Jesus has granted the victory
That Sunday mornin

Bridge
Joy in this life time, utterly free
More than the world gives, beyond what you see
For nations its time to rise their hope is in Jesus Christ
If the giants come, just hold on, the advantage is now on your side
Jesus, will take the final fight

Ref
A light dawned that Sunday Morning it broke through the boundaries of time
Hearts start shining, calling to all mankind
Lets celebrate eternal life

Verse_2
When nothing is as you want it to be
Look up to heaven
Freedom was paid for on Calvary
The chain is broken
Making a way right to destiny
Borders are open
And Jesus has granted the victory
That Sunday mornin

Bridge
Joy in this life time, utterly free
More than the world gives, beyond what you see
For nations its time to rise their hope is in Jesus Christ
If the giants come, just hold on, the advantage is now on your side
Jesus, will take the final fight

Ref
A light dawned that Sunday Morning it broke through the boundaries of time
Hearts start shining, calling to all mankind
Lets celebrate eternal life

Rap
1, When something in you, says youre not through, something whispers, you need to go too
2, you say that things just cant stay this way, your heart is calling may day may day
3, world is just trouble, get out of your muddle, jump, nows the time, take your chance on the double.
4, Leave it behind, youll see you wont mind, once you meet Jesus the answer youll find
5, Dont google your noodle, or consult your poodle, just follow your heart and it will be super
6, Wake up, see the light, find new life in His life, with Him in sight He’ll take you to new heights
7, The rescues begun, now Someones come, be looking to the sky but not for Air Force One
8. The way out is up; up up and away, with Jesus today is Independence day

Ref
Hearts start shining, calling to all mankind
Lets celebrate eternal life
A light dawned that Sunday Morning it broke through the boundaries of time
Hearts start shining, calling to all mankind
Lets celebrate
Lets celebrate
Lets celebrate eternal life

2011 event coming soon — the countdown has begun on the website!

Dance Your Shoes Off  — Houston Texas 2011

He is Risen — Let His Children Celebrate (more info about Budapest event in 2010 here>>>

PS  He is coming back again — Be Ready!