Friday, December 22, 2006

Border Agents headed to prison for doing their jobs

12/22/2006

Two U.S. Border Patrol Agents have been sentenced to a
decade long prison terms for apprehending an illegal
alien at our border!

Almost as outrageous is that the illegal alien drug
smuggler, who was given immunity for testifying against
the agents is now suing the U.S. for $5 million, claiming
he was permanently injured!

I have just signed a petition calling for the President
to pardon these two Border Agents and I'm asking you to
join with me by clicking here for the full story and the petition:

http://www.grassfire.org/142/petition.asp?PID=12097290&NID=1





Thanks!


Debra Estep




To read more on this:




Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Midnight Mass Sermon

Midnight Mass Sermon




They come……. often uninvited but not wholly unwelcome…..
But they will surely come…..
As soon as the Christmas tree is lit this evening….
As soon as the Christmas dinner is served tomorrow….
As soon as the presents are unwrapped…. They will come….

Who are they? They are the ghosts of our Christmases past.
Not some scary spooks from out of a Steven King movie,
nor some dour figment of Charles Dickens imagination….
No…. these ghosts are neighbors, who have moved away,
grandchildren, too busy to come home,
childhood friends, long since lost touch with,
and all our beloved dead.

These ghosts come to us at the holy time, tinged with
sadness, but so much a part of our Christmas memories
we could not banish them if we would want to….
but who could wish something so dreadful!

Our memories, and the ghosts they conjure, are as much
a part of today's celebration as the packages sitting under
the tree this very minute or as the lights that beautify our
church this very night.
They are a part of us and they are holy.!





They come back to us….. served up in special Christmas
recipes they hand down….. unique Christmas ornaments that
were theirs, and those special songs of the season that they
loved to sing. They are our special holiday friends.
Aunts smelling like lavender, Grandmother's who baked the
best bread in the world, small friends who shared their newly
arrived red wagons, and brothers and sisters who wrapped
their Santa's workshop gifts with all the love their small
hands could muster. They are our special holiday friends,
these ghosts of Christmas.





For you see…. they are part of our history, and our history
is holy. For if this Christmas celebration means anything at all,
it means that when God became a part of our human story,
our lives took on a part of the divine story.
The moments of our lives, each one of them, bears the mark of
the divine life. And therefore, the people of our lives,
all of them, are holy images of God among us.
These ghosts who visit us, trimmed in evergreen and glowing in
Christmas lights, these ghosts remind us that our story is a part
of God's story…. For God touched our lives on this holy night.

We need not fear them, these ghosts of love and laughter,
these ghosts of family and friendship……
We need not fear them, for they are our own history,
coming back to reminisce in this holy season.



Our history, made holy, by God becoming one of us.

And so, as I drive down the turnpike tomorrow to celebrate
with my family, they will come back to me,
the ghosts of my own Christmases.
My Grandfather fussing to make sure the house is spotless,
my Grandmother standing in her apron in front of the stove
cooking macaroni.

I hope yours visit you, and when they do, when those memories
of people not with us this day come to reminisce,
remember, they are signs to us of how holy our history is….
Our own history that is made holy by God who took on
our history when he came to Earth this very night.

Greet those ghosts with love for they are signs of God's love….
Greet them with love…. welcome them home…..
and Merry Christmas to you and to all who are with you.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~




By Father Patrick Ferraro



St Joan of Arc – Streetsboro Ohio



December 2003





This sermon was given at



my parent’s Church.



I thought it was so touching I had my Dad ask



Fr. Patrick for a copy to send to Vinny who was in Iraq at that time.



.





Sunday, December 10, 2006

~ Crystal Garden ~

        We had about 10 inches of snow this past week.



I had to find SOMETHING FUN to do with the icicles



and  ~~~~~ I created a garden on my patio table on the back deck.



For the night scene, I dropped some candles down in the snow.  :)



                   



      Crystalgardendec92006



      Img_2692_1



Saturday, December 9, 2006

Tagged

My bro, David, "tagged" me to write 5 things about
me that most folks don't know.   



Hmmmmmm 



  1. I have a pen addiction.  I have to stop myself
    when walking through a store so I don't GO
    into the pen area, or else I HAVE to buy something.


  2. I am very challenged when it comes


    to being organized.   But it does not bother me too much.  LOL 


  3. I collect quotes.   


  4. ?


  5. ?


I am drawing a blank on what to add for 4 and 5.



I was now supposed to tag 5 more folks, but honestly I
don't know 5 more people who blog.



 



Monday, November 20, 2006

Military Poem

                                 GIVING THANKS





‘Twas the night before Thanksgiving, in the cold desert air,


He adjusted the night scope and gave the ‘all clear out there’.


No campfires were burning, not one single glow.


Heat from his thermos is the only warmth he will know.






The men in his unit volunteered for this post,


Orders aren’t needed with ‘seasoned young pros’.


The bad guys are rumored to travel this way,


He and his brothers will stop them today.






His mind drifts away to a family back home,


Fond memories of kin gathering when ‘Tom’s’ finally done.


Mom in her apron, with flour on her nose,


And Dad with his eggnog, telling boring old jokes.






The men settle down when football began,


Laughing and cheering, placing bets when they can.


The children are playing games in the yard,


With smells from the kitchen, waiting on dinner is hard.






Grandpa fell asleep right there in his chair,


Mischievous brothers would grease up his hair.


Grandma was knitting her sweaters for gifts,


With sharp needles flashing, she’d blow them a kiss.






A radio crackles, ‘Echo 2, we’ll stand down.


Intel reports there’s no bad guys around.’


He shakes away memories like the sands from his face,


What lies ahead in this faraway place?






Off to the east, the sun starts to rise,


What would he give for one taste of Mom’s pies?


“Lord, let them know, though we’re far apart,


I’m right there beside them, giving thanks from the heart.”






"Dedicated to Every Hero Who Proudly Serves"




                      



Lynn Price © November 18, 2006


















Saturday, November 11, 2006

Remember Them

Some where in the United States one or many military
Mothers are waiting for a call that will never come.



They KNOW the call will never come, yet they wait for
a phone call from their child.

I'm not just surmising this, I've been told this by
Gold Star Mothers. 
Another Gold Star Mom I know continues to pay her
son's cell phone bill just so she can call his number
and hear his voice mail.

Please remember these heroes.

I've created a web site where you can find the
date and also reflect on the heroes we've lost
on that day.
Bookmark it and visit it often ~ to remember.



http://fallenheroes.topcities.com/USFallenHeroes.htm

I also would encourage you to visit the
military area of Legacy.
There you can post a message of
condolence that I guarantee you the family
will read.







Legacy has also created an area where folks can
post memorial photos and words of the Fallen Heroes.








Just please........ Remember.



Thursday, November 9, 2006

Our Fallen Heroes ~ Day by Day

At one point I had started a database to show


day by day the Fallen Heroes of a specific day.




That undertaking was just too much.




I have located this site: Military City


You can look up by year and month


the heroes we have lost on specific days.


http://www.militarycity.com/valor/honor.html



~ A Prayer ~











xo xo


Deb Estep


Proud Air Force Mom and Air Force Mother-in-Law


SrA Vincent - Operation Iraqi Freedom Vet


SrA Dana


(revised: 3-12-07)


Friday, October 20, 2006

"Taking Care of Yourself"....

Taking Care of Yourself:

An Unselfish Act

"If we don't take care of ourselves, we won't be capable of taking care of others. It's as simple as that. So why do we go on and on and give and give until we're emotionally and physically exhausted"?

by Beverly Smallwood, Ph.D.

I just read this quote today and Ohhhhhhhh does
this ever
hit home for me. !!!



A few months ago, I removed myself from the
Air Force Parents Support site that I had been a
member and moderator of for nearly 4 years.

This was a step in the direction of taking care of Deb.
It was such a difficult choice for me.    I am still working
on the taking care of me part.   :)
But I know the decision was a correct one for me. !!

Is there something you need to DO in order to take
better care of yourself ?



Wednesday, October 18, 2006

What Are the Best Decisions I Have Ever Made?



On October 17th, my online friend,






Actually, the question arose on at the site of an online



friend of his: Scott Young

What Are the Best Decisions I Have Ever Made?



So here is my list..... In the coming days I will
expound upon this list in greater detail.



THANK YOU Scott and Phil for encouraging me to
think about my life and encouraging me to take
a critical look at the decisions I have made.
WOW !!!!!!!!! Was this ever enlightening.
I'm sure my list will change or there will be more
add ons when I give it even more thought.




#1 - Choose my Mother and Father
#2 - Marry my first husband Mark
#3 - Quit my job with a lawyer to take personal care of his elderly Mother
#4 - Choose not to end my life in suicide
#5 - Purchase a MAC computer and get ONLINE - early 1994
#6 - Seek out a personal therapist/psychologist
#7 - Divorce my first husband Mark
#8 – Marry my current husband Michael
#9 – Take our son Kevin to Miss T for in home day care
#10 – Quit my assembly/shipping job to be a – Stay home Mom
#11 - Start painting again
#12 – Follow my intuition
#13 – Learn to have NO DOUBT
#14 - Start Blogging




Now.... would you ask yourself this same question. :)








Sunday, October 15, 2006

~What My Children Need To Know~

Children:


There is no particular order to this list.
Just know that ALL are things that
define me. Things that I have tried to live. :)

Love Mama


The Golden Rule
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

You can not control another’s actions,
you can only control your re-action.


Everything in my life that has happened to me
had to happen in just the way it did, for me
to be the person I am today.
D. Estep



You must be the change you want to see in the world. “
Mahatma Gandhi
(1869 - 1948)

Have NO DOUBT”
Expressed to me by Mel when I told her
that I had doubts about sharing my
thoughts with others.
Melanie Smith – 2006
MAKE IT GREAT”
Phil Gerbyshak

How are your fears preventing your
forward progress” ?
Dr. Linda McGraw – My talk therapist - 1994

I always knew I was different,
but I did not always realize that different was GOOD”
D. Estep
This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Lord Polonius to his son Laertes
William Shakespeare – Hamlet Act 1 Scene 3




Sweet





Saturday, October 14, 2006

~Fortune Cookie~

 


                                          Cookie


Friday, October 13, 2006

Losing My Marbles ~ NOPE ~ I Give Them Away



For me, there was always something quite
magical about marbles.   Perhaps it
was the way colors seemed to be suspended
in time, within the marbles.    Or maybe, here
you were a kid playing with something glass
that could not hurt you.    Whatever my
attraction was, I have never lost it.

Long before any electronic game held the
attention of children, there were marbles.

Many times in my life I have said to myself…
“ahhhhhh I’m losing my marbles”.
Whatever the reason of the lament, I shook
it off and just kept going.

I had a thought about marbles that they
would make a wonderful gift, for any friend 
of who was going through a rough time.

Fancy marbles can be purchased at craft stores.
Simple plain old cats eye marbles can be picked 
up an any dollar store.

And some dollar stores and craft stores have
different shaped glass for sale.
I found glass sea shells at a local dollar store.
I collect tiny glass jars. Baby food jars are
perfect and my 10 year old is getting a kick 
out of eating baby food fruit to add to my 
collection. 

I spray paint the lid and add marbles to
 the jar. Sometimes I add a tiny ribbon bow
just around the neck of the jar.
With transparent tape I always add a tiny
 label to the underside that says From Deb
along with the date I give someone a jar.

Just this past week, a friend of mine found
out she has breast cancer. She stopped over 
one morning on her way to work.

I handed her the jar. Her response was….

“awwwwwwww marbles”.
I said to her….. “Take these with you to
work, set them on your desk, and anytime
 you ~feel~ like you are losing your marbles
 just glance right over here and you will see them. !!!


“You’re not losing them at ALL”
Both of our eyes welled with tears.

Simple marbles – STILL bringing joy. !!!



Marbles



A History of Marbles:
Marbles were originally made from clay or
marble, hence their name.
Marbles are often mentioned in Roman literature,
and there are many examples of marbles from ancient

Egypt.

They were commonly made of stone, metal, or glass until
the 18th century, when ceramic marbles become more common.
Ceramic marbles entered mass production in the 1870's,
starting inexpensive mass-production.


Glass marbles entered mass production in the early
20th century, when WWI cut off their importation
from Europe, causing American innovation to be applied
to the task, producing a mechanized method of glass
marble production which became the most common
system in the world. Glass marbles, too, became the most
popular variety, and have remained so to this day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marbles






















































Thursday, October 12, 2006

"Soul Graffiti" Artist

Everyone has the potential to be a ~~~ Soul Graffiti Artist


A few weeks ago I was web surfing info for Nicole, (my daughter).
I came upon a book by Mira Kirshenbaum: Too Good to leave,
Too Bad to Stay. I ordered the book which was supposed to help
one make the decision about staying or leaving a relationship.



At the same time, I reserved 2 library books by Kirshenbaum,
as they looked pretty interesting.


The too good book arrived in the mail a couple of days ago,
AFTER Nicole had made the choice and ended her 3 year relationship.



After flipping through the book, both Nic and I agreed
that the book was still very worthwhile as it contained some good
info on relationships and communication within them. :)


I went to the library last night and picked up the 2 books that
I had reserved.
The one is Everything Happens for a Reason - finding the true
meaning of events in our lives.
It's not as IF this title was some revelation for me. LOL
I've believed it and it's been a part of my life for a VERY long time.
Yet, I am certain that the book contains some useful information
for me and it will be good to read.


This morning in looking at the back cover I spotted a web address
for Mira Kirshenbaum:



Upon going to the site - I surfed over to another site called:
Soul Graffiti



Sometime within the past 2 years upon sharing the drawing
I did of an Angel and Soldier with my dog's allergy vet
she said to me .............
"Ohhhhhhhh you're an artist".   


When I heard Dr Alice say that, I thought to myself....
'Monet, Van Gogh, and Renoir were artists" --- "I only paint".


This thought happened at nearly the speed of light....
but my outward response was..........


"Well, I guess you could say that".


That conversation STUCK and STUCK in my head.



Until finally I came to KNOW and UNDERSTAND......


"YES" !!!!!!!!!!!! "I am an artist" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I've thought about and tried to explain my reluctance
at calling myself an 'artist', I suppose it has much to do
with my previously underdeveloped self esteem.


Today, I am quite comfortable in calling myself...



"An artist". I know my ability to paint and draw and be
creative is a God given talent.


So........... here today I jump to the Soul Graffiti web site,
to see a description of Soul Graffiti.


Soul Graffiti (sol graf - fi – ti) V. the conscious act of
performing kindness to another soul, resulting in leaving
an everlasting imprint on another's life.


I read that definition and BAMMMMMM it hit me:"I am also a Soul Graffiti Artist" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Whooooooooooo who. I am on a cloud at this realization / revelation . :))))))))




Deb



Dr Joe Powers has this on his web site:



As Maya Angelou once wrote, "when we cast our bread upon the waters we can presume that someone downstream whose face we will never know will benefit from our action, as we who are downstream from another will profit from the grantor's gift." It is likewise my hope that through Soul Graffiti™ we can together lift our spiritual brushes to paint upon the lives of others with acts of kindness and compassion - ultimately bringing true permanence to our own lives and a beautiful mural upon the soul of humankind.






Joe Powers
Founder and Graffiti Artist







So.......... please do surf over to the site:
Soul Graffiti



http://www.soulgraffiti.com/












Wednesday, October 11, 2006

~ Up Words ~




Try one of these on ....  Today





Words2


Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Coming Un-glued is GOOD

We've all had moments where we feel like our shoulders are glued to our ear lobes. 

Most times we don't even 
realize this is going on. !!!



Many moons ago I came upona quick and easy relaxation tecnique.   I even taught my young children this and together we 'went to level'.


Hold the thought that your body is an elevator.   Your stress has you on an upper floor.


As soon as you recognize the stress take a breath and start thinking of bringing your elevator to a lower level.


Repeat the following to yourself...


#3  #3  #3
#2  #2  #2
#1  #1  #1



Deeper healthy level


Now take the elevator lower....
Breathe again.



Slowly count down from 10 - 1
feeling your body relax as you
~Go to level~



Do you feel it ?   :)))))


Your shoulders are UN-glued.


I've created a graphic that
you can save and print out
as a reminder for yourself.



My children were elementary
school age when we first started
doing this....  Over time and with
repetition....  I could just say...



'Go to level' and instantly they
calmed their bodies AND minds.



Relax5


I just came across a tiny card of this
that I had taped to the dash of my car.
Something I need for my OWN shoulders
and no doubt my now adult children's. 



Tuesday, October 3, 2006

~ UP Words ~




You've heard the saying....

"You are what you eat"

The same must be true about what you read....

"You are what you read"

I've created a new category
where I will be adding UP words.



Find one that ~speaks~ to you and
copy it down. Hold it as a thought....... :)



Words_1


Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Kindness

I was checking out today at a store
in my local neighborhood.   I said
'Hello' to the cashier.   The young man
shook his head and said...


"It's a bad day, it's a bad day".

I responded to him....

"Try saying I'm having a bad
moment".   "If you continue to
say bad day,  your whole day
could indeed be bad".


He stopped, looked me in the
eyes and said.....'You're right
I'm having a bad moment'.
A smile came to his face and
he said....'that's a great way
to look at it'.   :)


I smiled and thought of
Phil Gerbyshak....

MAKE IT GREAT !


The young man handed me
my receipt and I asked him
what his name was.....
He stumbled a second and
said...'Christian'.


I said to him.......
"Christian, I am going to
send you GREAT vibes for the
rest of the day".   


He smiled an EAR to EAR grin
and said....'THANK YOU'.


It takes just the simplest
of kindness to make someone's
day....... 
Hopefully it made Christian's
and in the quick communication
IT MADE MY DAY GREAT.



Tuesday, September 12, 2006

How to Grow A Life Long Learner


Over at Rosa Says Talking Story with
Say Leadership Coaching all month
27 authors are posting articles about learning:



This started me thinking just where does this desire to learn come from ? 
Children are inquisitive by nature.  Spend anya mount of time with a 4 or 5 year old and
you will know just what I am talking about.
When they ask questions answer as honestly as you can.   Offer just a little something more that goes
beyond the original question and you are teaching them how to construct their
own puzzle of learning.
If you don’t know the answer, grab some age appropriate book and find out together.
The ~ beauty ~ of this approach is that you teach them that you really don’t know
everything, but you put value and importance on learning yourself.
Children are like tiny little sponges, they are very curious by nature.

When you answer their questions or seek out answers together you are
teaching them that they are worth your time.    You also fertilize and
foster a mindset that just wants to know more and more.

Catch them young and nurture that seed of learning, and you set up your childto be a life long learner.










Friday, September 1, 2006

~ Breathe ~

                         


I've emailed this to a few friends today.


It's a gentle reminder that I had created last year for
a group of Air Force friends and myself.



Many have printed it out and have it sitting nearby. 
It's just a visual to ourselves to take a breath
and re-center our ~spirit~.
 






                                Breathe       





Seasoning of life

Seasoning of life

Sprinkle on a generous amount of gratitude and
all of life becomes more palatable.   
footnote:   May need constant reapplication 
of gratitude for fuller flavor.

D. Estep   9-1-2006


Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Prayerful Remembrance


Prayerful Remembrance



The word anniversary is derived from the Medieval Latin word,

anniversarium, which means the ~ turning of the year~.



Every day when you awake military families are also waking.

For them it is no ordinary day, today is the turning of the year

of the passing of their loved one.



The turning to this very month has brought them painful emotions.

Then the days count down until it become, 'the day'.

As this day dawns, for some it is the first year.

For others a second and sadly for others perhaps

decades have passed.



Please join me in starting off your day with a prayer.



Dear Lord we ask you to be near this family today.

May they know that there are only one set of footprints

in the sand.............

Yours Our Heavenly Father as you continue to hold them close.



~Amen~


Debra Estep - 11- 2005