In facing pain, we often shrink within. We see smiling faces, hear laughing voices, and we want to run away and distance ourselves. I can remember a time of great pain in my own life and I remember feeling very much alone.
It seems like only yesterday, I was 33 years old, felt my biological clock racing and wanted a baby to call my own, more than anything. I remember well, how I hated seeing mothers playing with their babies at that time. I dreaded going to church on many holidays because young children looked especially sweet on those days. When I saw mothers and daughters dressed in similar outfits, my heart sank and I felt a deep yearning as my pain grew.
I remember seeing mothers and babies all around me where ever I went and my feeling of isolation grew. I believed in my heart that I was the only one who felt this way and the only one who felt this pain.
My sense of isolation fueled my discontent and I became depressed and intolerant of many around me. My pain,triggered a downward spiral of emotions that left me drained and of course, did nothing to help me connect with the father of my child.
As you can imagine, this was a very trying time in my life. It was a time of transition and in times of transition, we need others and others need us. I eventually came to terms with my pain, faced it and happily brought a baby home before I hit 35 years of age. But that is yet another story.
For now, I want to show you how to connect with others and what you can do to avoid needless suffering. To show you, you must see Pema Chodron in action at the following link: Believe in a Ray of Hope
In the video, she helps you to learn about a simple practice that can help you to transform your pain into compassion. She teaches you a simple phrase, that shakes you out of complacency. As of consequence of implementing this practice, your energies are shifted, and you often start thinking bigger which benefits not only you, but those who are special to you!
May we all open our hearts and minds and remember that "other people feel this." May we all be free of this pain and this sense of isolation! May we always remember to connect with our hearts, our minds, and our humanity. This is my hope.
What are your hopes?
Friday, April 23, 2010
Life can be challenging but happiness is simple. At times we try our best to make it complicated but if we look closely happiness is really very simple. The inspirational movie, Finding Joy, is a gentle reminder of what is most important in life. Enjoy the encouraging quotes, breathtaking photography and beautiful music! It will put a smile in your heart! Go to my blog at the link below and put a smile on your heart. http://tinyurl.com/2ac5w3x
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
I love reflecting on all the good things in my life.... My family, my friends, my home, my work and my challenges. These good things strengthen me, make me bounce back and continue on my journey.
When I stop to reflect and recharge, I am often driven to action. Feeling not only blessed and energized, I can then focus on what stills needs to be done. With this short break for relection, I am recharged, filled with a new sense of urgency and find that I accomplish more in a shorter amount of time.
Sometimes, we just need a jump start and often this jump start, begins with a break! With gratitude and appreciation, I encourage you to take a break and watch this short movie. It just may be what the "doctor in you" needs to reflect on to recharge.
The book and movie, "May you Be Blessed," is about joy, gratitude, appreciation, kindness and love. Allow it to rekindle your inner light and then consider blessing someone else by sharing it with them.
To view this short movie now, link to my blog and enjoy! http://tinyurl.com/27rhtmo [Open in new window]
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Rose Gray, my mom, was a force to be reckoned with. She stood tall and was no shrinking violet when it came to raising my sister, brother and I. She was opininated and passionate. She loved to dance and sing and delighted in being a Mom. She shared our joys and sorrows and was quick to offer encouragement and to help us learn from our mistakes. We always knew what to expect and we could count on her for unconditional love through our trials and tribulations.
She had high hopes, dreamed, planned and took action with vigor. When she came into a room, you noticed a woman who was sure footed. She walked with confidence, with a smile on her face and you knew almost immediately that her family was very important to her. She knew where she was going and what was next on her agenda. Not only was my Mom, solid as a Rock, she modeled rock solid leadership.
When, I came upon this book and movie, I remembered my Mom and the legacy she left me. She led by example and was a great role model.
Rock Solid Leadership is a beautifully designed book and movie with great stories to engage your mind and your heart. These stories offer insights and inspiration on ten principles of leadership that include long term vision, discipline, and enthusiasm.
Go to my blog at the link below and enjoy this 3 minute movie and be inspired to be your best!
What will your children remember about you? What legacy do you want to leave behind?
Life can be challenging but happiness is simple. At times we try our best to make it complicated but if we look closely happiness is really very simple. The inspirational movie, Finding Joy, is a gentle reminder of what is most important in life. Enjoy the encouraging quotes, breathtaking photography and beautiful music! It will put a smile in your heart! Go to my blog at the link below and begin adding more passion into every day. http://tinyurl.com/2ac5w3x
January 23, 2010
How do you get through tough times? The Best Way Out is Through movie is a wonderful dose of inspiration to get through challenging times and envision triumph. Take a few minutes to enjoy this message of perseverance that is filled with encouragement and inspiration to stay motivated to make 2010 the best year yet!
Simply connect to this short video via this link and begin to find your strength! http://tinyurl.com/24mv2md Come back and continue your journey renewed.
Our Thoughts Create our Feelings! Change your thoughts, and the world looks different!
Take a few deep breaths. Close your eyes and think of the best thing that has happened to you this week. Where were you and what were you doing? Think about why it is so special to you.
Open your eyes and feel your energy rising. Continue to build on these positive thoughts and before you know it, not only will you be feeling better, you will be on your path to greater satisfaction.
What idea from the movie is still with you? What idea will you use when your resilience is tested next?
January 22, 2010
Over the holidays, my daughter, Sandra, came home from her first semester at college and we shared many precious moments together. We experienced the Blizzard of 2009 and found time to reconnect and do some sledding as you can see in the attached picture.
At night, we often shared space on the couch in the family room. During this quiet time, I was often curled up with a book while she was busy interacting on Facebook. I noticed her fascination with quotes and on breaks, we would often discuss those she found most meaningful.
Since I also enjoy quotes, I suggested that we keep in touch when she returned to college, with both quotes and notes via email. In the last couple of weeks, we have been exchanging emails and staying connected on a regular basis which is comforting to both of us.
Yesterday, was a challenging day for me and it was tough on many levels. You know how you can be on top of your game, feel like you are making real progress, and suddenly hear some disappointing news. Suddenly, you are not so sure and your confidence erodes. Your sleep can be disrupted and the day following is less productive than days gone by. Well, I know, first hand how this can be, since yesterday and today played out very much as described.
Today, I waited as an automated message played over and over for more than 10 minutes. I tried to be patient as I waited to be connected to a live person. When it was answered, I encountered a rude customer service representative who ultimately hung up on me before answering my question. My response was less than exemplary. My calm disolved and my anger erupted as I demanded to be connected with her supervisor. I fussed and fumed and felt my tension barometer going up as the minutes passed. I had failed miserably once again!
As I sat down at the computer, to check on messages, I realized that my daughter had sent me a special quote and note.
Suddenly, my afternoon was brighter, my mood was better and I rebounded with renewed enthusiasm. It encouraged me to write back. This is what I said:
Dear Sandra,
Thank you for sharing your love, quote and note with me. Here is the quote that came to mind, as I thought about the fine young woman you have become and the path you are on.
Quote: "As we grow older, it's not the things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn't do." Author Unknown
Note: I have been thinking about love, regrets, results, and resiliency. I think we grow most, by stretching ourselves and pursuing what we love! In reaching for the goal, we may succeed or stumble. In the long run, I realize that we succeed even when fail. The lesson is visible and can be applied to even greater success. When we get back up and apply the lesson learned, we win. Our growth is stunted when we fail to apply the lesson and fail to try new things that make our heart sing.
"Today, Dare to Dream, Work to Win, Take a Risk, Always Reach Out in Love and Your Wishes Will Come True."
D/mom
As I finished writing her back, I realized that receiving and sending these quotes and notes, were helping me to bounce back with renewed energy and commitment. When I was connecting, giving back, providing support, and sharing lessons learned, I became optimistic and resilient once again. Sure, I had my regrets, I had slipped and fell and I did not reach out in love to the customer service rep, but with with this simple connection to my daughter, I jumped back up and vowed to try again to do better next time.
If I can bounce back, I know you can too! What practice can you put into place to help you stay connected, inspired and on track when life throws you a curve?
January 21, 2010
In my last post, you saw me sliding into 2010. The holidays are now over and the new year has emerged. In the last week, I have been thinking of what I might do to make the most of the new year and the new decade. Today is January 21st and I have managed to pause and focus on what is most important to me.
As I near retirement, I am more committed than ever to make a difference. I know that I want to enjoy my family, my life and to rest comfortably each night, knowing that I brought happiness and/or delight to another. I know that to do this, I must focus on my spirituality and thus I was delighted to come across a blog posting written by Deepak Chopra which can help me and you, if you are inclined, to reach our spiritual visions.
He suggested that each of us create a list of what we envision coming into our lives in the coming months. For example, I might envision the following and add the most important to my list: Seeing the goodness in everyone; Collaborating with my family to bring hope to those who are suffering; Feeling more empathetic to those who have differing points of view; Expressing compassion daily.
Following Deepak's advise, my list will be short and include things that are most important to me. My list will help me to balance my activity with peace and serenity. He encourages us to include a few good things that are already blossoming in our lives and I will do so. I will revisit my list in the next few days to make sure that I have written out a vision that speaks to my heart's desire.
I plan to carry this list with me and to place it in my wallet where it will remain for the next 49 weeks. I will refer to it often and pull it out when encountering challenges. It will serve as a compass that will help me navigate the unforseen storms. With my list in hand, I hope to make decisions that align my actions with my values and vision. I aspire to embody my vision and unite my mind, body and spirit. Are you with me?
What will you do to make your vision come true? What simple action will you take today to make 2010 a year to remember
January 8, 2010
Happy Snowy New Year!
The message below came to me from my Dad and while he did not write it himself, he knew the special message within had to be passed along. I believe you will find it valuable. My Dad, Ray, is a strong and vibrant soul, and yes he is slowing down as he nears 83 years of age. He has been a source of inspiration to all of us and in 2009, he inspired me to create this blog, my website and Believe in a Ray of Hope, LLC.
And it's Winter before we know it.... You know, time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years.
It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all... And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams... But, here it is..the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise... How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my babies go? And where did my youth go?
I remember well.. seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like... But, here it is...my friends are retired and really getting gray...they move slower and I see an older person now. Lots are in better shape than me... but, I see the great change... Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant... but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be.
Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore...it's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will...I just fall asleep where I sit! And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!!
But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I'm not sure how long it will last...this I know, that when it's over...its over....Yes , I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done ,,,,,things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done. It's all in a lifetime....
So, if you're not in your winter yet...let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!!
Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not! You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life...so, live for good today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember...and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!!
"Life is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one." LIVE IT WELL!!----ENJOY TODAY!!!!-----DO SOMETHING FUN!!!----BE HAPPY!!!----BE THANKFUL!!!!!
December 10, 2009
Dear Parents, Educators and Advocates:
Some time ago, Joanne Cashman, National Association of State Directors of Special Education, posed a provocative question: If transition is such a good idea, why is it so hard to do? As a former director of special education for a large school system and an instructor in George Washington University’s Teacher Preparation and Special Education Department, I believe I know one important reason that helping youth successfully transition from school to postsecondary life is so difficult. During and after high school, parents are one of the most important links in the transition process, yet parents themselves often do not have the support they need in managing the many challenges they face.
In an effort to address this challenge and to assist youth with learning differences in making successful transitions, my colleague, Doreen Fulton, decided to approach the transition process from a different angle and with a unique focus. As a mother with three young adults with learning challenges, Doreen had many people counting on her to “be there.” She knew that she had to work tirelessly and with purpose and resolve. She had to work smarter, not harder. Rather than focus on the challenges of her children, she decided to focus on her own competencies, her own resources and her desired outcome.
As a human resource professional and certified Dream Coach®, Doreen had helped countless young people to move in the direction of their dreams, to get scholarships, to find satisfying careers and to embrace their strengths and innate talents while actively supporting their peers in the transition process. She decided to use these skills to help her own children and others like them who struggled with academics. She customized the proven transition process and developed a visioning course to address the specific needs of parents and educators who were facing transition with fear and trepidation.
Knowing that dreams work best when shared, she called on me to join her in this outreach activity. Doreen and I have since collaborated to create Transition Quest: A Visioning Course for Parents, Educators and Advocates. During the past year, we have had success in reaching parents and helping them gain the support and strategies they needed to enable them to reach their own goals. This success led them to see the strength in their own children and to influence them by active engagement. Many young people seeing their parents in action joined in and eagerly explored their own options and pursued their own passions and career paths with success.
We hope that you will take a few minutes to review the course material found under upcoming events. Please share this information with the families you serve. We have seen that this approach provides one significant answer to making transitions work better for young people and their families.
Sessions Scheduled for January 9, 23, February 6 and 20, 2010
Are you facing a challenging transition?
Do you worry about our youth and their ability to become independent?
Do you seek clarity, collaboration and support for your direction?
If so, Transition Quest, A Visioning Course for Parents, Educators and Advocates, may be just what you need to connect with your strength and fellow travelers.
Sessions will focus on: Intentions, Integrity, Visioning, Beliefs, Resiliency, Strategy and Teambuilding!
Collaboration Leading to Resiliency! Parents, Educators and Advocates, all seek to prepare our youth with special needs for self-sustaining jobs and independent living. This is complex undertaking and requires planning and collaboration. It is a daunting task and not a job that can be done in isolation; Parents can’t do it alone, Educators and Advocates can’t do it alone and our kids can’t do it alone! It is a job that requires initiative, persistence, concentrated effort, networking, and teamwork! Benefits from participating in the course:
It will help you form a team of support for this transition and for all the transitions to come; It will put you on firm footing as you confront the myriad of responsibilities you face as a parent, educator or advocate of students with different abilities; and You will be given an opportunity to acknowledge your abilities, to affirm your values, and to validate your goals.
Who are we? Doreen Fulton, M.Ed. and Carie Rothenbacher, Ed.D., have successfully led parents, advocates and educators in creating successful transitions. Read more about Carie and Doreen, their projects and those that have been successful on Upcoming Events!
I was reflecting on the beautiful day I encountered yesterday and realized how much I appreciate the rain! We have recently had a flood of rain. It began on Wednesday and was relentless in the days ahead. We did not see the sun until Sunday.
During this time, when I had planned to visit the ocean, I found myself at home, reading and listening to CDs. I connected with my spirit with a greater intensity and was flooded with gratitude. Since I was not driving, I found more time to journal, to connect and to align myself with my core values.
I wrote about the special people in my life and saw my sister dance across my pages. I remember the beautiful girl who lit up the room. I remember her bright eyes and engaging spirit. I remembered her warm hugs and uplifting jokes.
Throughout my life, she has added sparkle and fun to our family gatherings. In times of challenge, she has provided a home and a safe haven. She has been fierce defender and a warm companion. Her spirit literally radiates energy and we have been blessed to have her in our lives.
Without rain, the sun would not be so dear. Without challenges, my sister would have been special, but not nearly as appreciated. The darkness reveals her brilliance.
Thank you God! Thank you. Thank YOU!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
When you are tired, how do you rejuvenate?
When you are on the ground, how do you rebound?
When you feel like giving up, how do rewind?
When you are stressed, how do you regroup?
When you are wiped out, how do you get ready for the next challenge?
Expressing gratitude and appreciation help me to rejuvenate, rebound, rewind and regroup. In short order, I go from being stressed to blessed. Whenever, I feel out of sorts, I make an active effort to redirect my thoughts. Easier said, than done, you say. I respond, yes, but with practice, you can too!
The fastest method, I can think of to get out of the doldrums and into a more joyous state of mind, is to turn inward and begin thinking of my blessings. I think of my blessings and journey back to those special moments that I have shared with my creator, my family and my friends. These special memories align me with my creativity and community and often inspire me to discover new dreams and next steps.
Appreciation, seems to be the key to regaining not only energy but resiliency. When I take time to appreciate my gifts and the gifts of others, my spirit soars and I refuel. As a result of turning inward, focusing on my transition and giving voice to my dreams, I have discovered my ResiliencePoint! I can say without doubt, that my resilience begins with Appreciation.
For the next several days, I will focus on Appreciation as this is how I like to begin my week. With my journal in hand, I begin writing about where I am. I focus on my current challenges and decide, I need fortification. I remember my main job is to feel good, but.....
How will I find time to connect with my husband, my son, my family?
How will I balance my many responsibilities?
What will give me relief?
How can I feel better, get refueled and recharged?
The month of Thanksgiving, naturally leads me to focus on those who I appreciate and to those who have taught me to align myself with all that is good in me. I look back and encourage you join me.
Come back with me, and you will see a little girl. See her now; she is very shy. She is hiding behind her mother's skirt. She peaks out every once to see who is coming in to view. She is a curious child but scared of what lurks beyond her familiar surroundings. That little girl wondered even then what made people tick? She was a girl who loved to read and write.
Thanks to her mother, she was given lots of books to read, and lots of paper and pencils with which to write. Me, being that little girl,remembers now, how much I loved those instruments! I also remember the woman who opened my world through books and unconditional love. I did not always appreciate her and yet looking back, I can truly see that Rose Gray, my mother, was my first teacher and my greatest ally. She helped me to grow and develop, to trust in myself and time to fine tune my dreams.
I often think of my mom and how she helped me to overcome stress and reconnect with my gifts, talents, and blessings. When I reconnect with my core blessings, I remember my Mom, and with appreciation, I feel renewed, rejuvenated and ready for my next challenge.
In the days to come, I will continue to focus on appreciation and those I love, as they have helped me to discover my ResiliencePoint.
What gifts and talents do you have to help you on your path? Where do you often find your solutions? What do you appreciate in you? What qualities do you admire in others? What is your ResiliencePoint?
Find out more about Resiliency in Action and how you can help our youth who are at risk to find their own answers: http://resiliencyblog.com/blog
Do you want more income and energy to enjoy the good things in your life?
Do you want better health and well being?
Do you want to be your own boss?
Do you want to set your own hours?
Do you want to work on your dream?
I hope to hear from you soon!
Doreen G. Fulton 703 371 5682
FALL IS HERE and Winter is not far behind! Time is racing fast in our neck of the woods and transitions and opportunities surround us!
Our children are shining brightly, and as I think about their transitions, I feel joy and delight. They are like the pumpkins in the picture.
Our youngest, Robert, turned 18 last week, got his driver's permit two weeks ago and is so happy. This was quite an accomplishment for him and my heart swells when I think of the obstacles he has overcome! Our daughter, Sandra, is happy with her new found freedom and is enjoying her first year of college in a dorm (7) hours from home. Our oldest, Greg, continues to enjoy his life in Blacksburg, loves his job and is self-sufficient. I say hip, hip, hooray!!
My Transition: The leaves are changing and becoming more vibrant every day, and Transition continues to be front and center in my life. As you may know, I have been planning for my own transition for the last year and have been taking deliberate steps forward toward my vision.
Looking back, I have accomplished much already:
Established my niche,
Offered Visioning for for Those Living with and/or Working with Special Needs,
Identified my target audience (Parents and Educators),
Created and offered Transition BootCamp to multiple audiences, and Established my Blog, my Website and my LLC.
Despite my steps forward, I still find a large gap between my reality and my vision and until recently was not sure how I would make the leap from full time employment to my post-retirement livelihood.
With my retirement in sight, I have been searching for a way to bridge that gap. I have been trying to find a way to replace my income, trying to regain my vigor while determining my own schedule and hoping to shed unneeded pounds. I have been looking for answers and as the saying goes when the student is ready, the teacher arrives.
Just last week, that special educator arrived, as I was contemplating next steps. Heather, my long term friend and trusted confidante, who has counseled and guided our family through many difficult challenges, came forward and shared her own vision with me. I found that our reality and vision paralleled in many ways. This is what I discovered:
My Reality:
We are both tired of working hard to earn money and not having the time to enjoy it; My weight is increasing and I rarely make time for exercise or wellness routines; More and more people are losing their jobs, many young people in our lives are struggling and all the talk of recession wears us down; and My savings in my 401K plan have shrunk, my doubts and fears have surfaced and my retirement plans are becoming iffy, at best.
My Vision:
I am my own boss, plan family fun and beach time along with my own goals into my schedule. I am physically fit, visioning with my family and others and witnessing amazing results; I am full of energy, people around me are optimistic, competent, and supportive and we live the American Dream; and I retire; my income continues to increase and soars exponentially with deliberate intent and my joy is abundant.
New Opportunity:
If you share my reality, and can envision greater health, wealth and energy in your life, and believe that the time is right to take action to make it happen, I want to tell you more. Heather told me that she had taken the last several months to align herself and her vision with those of other winners. Needless, to say, I wanted to learn more!
Using the well known multi-level marketing strategy, I would like to invite anyone who wants to invest some time and energy into seeing their own dream come true, to join me in this new business venture.
Outstanding Opportunity!
When Heather put it all together for me, I saw: The opportunity to improve people's health and over all well-being; The opportunity to create an additional income stream for myself; The ability to work my own hours, at my own pace and be my own boss; The opportunity to invest in a business at a time when the recession requires all of us to be smart in what we do with our money; The combination of health, weight loss and energy - three industries of keen interest to our generation; The possibility of supplementing my income with enough money to travel, to do visioning with parents and educators routinely; and The opportunity to positively impact the lives of those with disAbilities,
I simply couldn't let the opportunity pass me by. And I want YOU to have the same opportunity. This is truly a great program and may be just right for you and those you love right now. If so, I would love to have you on our team!!
As time goes on, I will be inviting those who enroll in the proven program with me to a special beach retreat. Together, we will engage in visioning at our beach house in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We will Dream Big, walk along the seashore, rest, set goals and return refreshed and reinvigorated!
If you don't think you are interested right now, but are inclined to pass this info on to someone who might be, I would be delighted and will find a way to show you my appreciation.
Join Me!
I see us growing wise together and working together in one way or another. Please know, that you can count on me for support. I hope that you will call or email me soon.
Call me Today! I would love to hear from YOU!703-371-5682
Looking for inspiration after a rather challenging week, I decided to follow up on a lead I had received at a telecommuting conference this week. A Google representative and I chatted about the work we do and discovered that we both write policy for our organizations. He shared a tip that he found useful and encouraged me to try it. I learned that it was a great tool for finding stories on topics of interest via the Internet.
I googled Google Reader as he suggested, located the site, and typed in Abilities with Disabilities, knowing that I am always inspired by stories that highlight innate talents/abilities that help us overcome our challenges/disabilities.
Almost instantly, a wonderful link emerged that led me to the Justice for All (JFA)Blog and the remarkable story of Diana and Kathy. Diana and Kathy have been friends for 42years and living interdependently for most of those years. They met in a sheltered workshop in 1970 and they teamed up to stay out of institutional settings. Kathy who died unexpectedly just last week had severe cerebral palsy and her caretaker of 38 years, Diana, has Down Syndrome. Together, they capitalized on their individual strengths, overcame major obstacles, served one another with love and compassion, and lived fully. They not only stayed out of institutions, but became wonderful advocates and role models for those living with challenges.
Their story warms the heart and spirit and inspires us to live courageously. Read more about them and be inspired to follow the lead of these two courageous souls at this link: http://www.dianaandkathy.com/
The press release about Diana and Kathy and their upcoming movie is found here: http://dianaandkathy.com/press/dk_broadcast_press_release.pdf
You can view a short clip of their movie which will be shown on PBS in October by clicking on this link, http://dianaandkathy.com/purchase/bstrailer.php
Let me know how you will step out to make a difference this week. How will you reach out to serve another? What strength do you have and how will you use it?
Over the holidays, my daughter, Sandra, came home from her first semester at college and we shared many precious moments together. We experienced the Blizzard of 2009 and found time to reconnect and do some sledding as you can see in the attached picture. 
Happy Snowy New Year! 
FALL IS HERE and Winter is not far behind! Time is racing fast in our neck of the woods and transitions and opportunities surround us!
