Would you cross the ocean?

Lately everything in my news feed has been about loving others. This quote popped up today and it's perfect. 

I also read this story about a homeless man that went out of his way for a stranger. The part that stood out to me is when he said “the truth is that I wouldn’t have even thought about helping him until he went out of his way for me”. Here is the story as told by Tony Biggs the author...

This is Jesse, he is a drifter who live near the bridge in my area. He owns nothing but a bike, a bird and a bag with about 10 items. Yesterday, while I was riding my bike down around the beach, I got a flat tire. I had no choice but to turn around and walk my bike the long walk home.
A few people rode by and didn't really pay me any attention and I didn't expect them to, but as I started walking, headphones in my ears, I noticed the homeless guy from under the bridge saying something to me. At first I thought he was going to ask me for something so I popped my headphones out and asked him what he wanted.... He then replied "I don't want anything bro but I've got a new tube in my bag and you can have it if you want Shocked at first, I said no thanks but he insisted. So I walked over the his little clearing where he had his things and his pet bird sat in a busted cage. 
He opened up his empty bag and gave me the tube (which was one of the very few things he had) helped me change the tire, even pumped it up. I asked him how I could pay him back and he said to me "don't worry about it bro, this is what it's all about. 
The enormity of this situation and the fact the he went out of his way to help me was so humbling. I mean this guy was willing to give me his stuff and didn't want anything in return. To you and I, a bike tube would probably net mean much but to a guy with so little this item must hold enormous value.
I could go on and on about how selfless this guy was to give me, a total stranger, clearly in a much better position than him, some of his possessions...While people like us are so selfishly attached to all our useless crap.
Anyway I just wanted to show you a pic of Jesse with his new Versace lenses, some fresh shoes, a full belly and a cold beer....
Felt good to do something for the dude. I also bought him a couple of weeks worth of food and some seed for his bird.
Man he was ecstatic even had tears in his eyes and couldn't thank me enough. But amidst me sitting there proud of my good deed, and him singing me praises, I suddenly felt pretty bad because the truth is, if he didn't go out of his way to help me, I wouldn't have done anything for him. I ride past this guy all of the time and never even think twice. It really knocked me off of my high horse. Even though we sit around with all of materialistic needs and pass judgement, this dude has something that none of us can buy. I guess what I'm trying to say is thanks for the lesson in humanity. 
Tony Biggs 

I hope this touched your heart like it did mine....Let's go out and change the world by loving everyone!

Time...

Time is something that you can give someone that you will never get back. Time has a way of healing. We all have the same amount of time in each day, and when we give some of our time to others, we are blessed. Time is the most valued gift I can think of. Time is the most precious gift you can give.Time is what it takes to make something wonderful. Time is precious. Time is what it takes to help us to grow. Time can make someone feel important. Time can pass quickly, or slowly. It can be used poorly and can cause regrets, or it can be used wisely and bring blessings. Time can soften hearts, and strengthen testimonies. Time can bring people together and create memories. 

There's time alone, and alone time. Wasting time and time to study. Family time, summer time and vacation time. Time is cherished, and sometimes kept to yourself. 

You hear the saying that it was the perfect timing. You may have a goal in mind, and you know it will take time. Once thing is for certain, time will pass either way. You will either accomplish the goal or the time will pass you by. Time passes quickly, you don't even notice it until it begins to show. 

I've told you my forgiveness story, and about how time softened and healed hearts. You can read my story here http://smallthings2.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-miracle-of-forgiveness.html One of my greatest blessings is truly learning how to forgive. If you are struggling with someone, pray for them. Forgive them! Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons. You still have to forgive them. When you hold onto hate, it's like drinking poison and wishing the other person would die. I've been there and it is so destructive. I promise if you will take the time to truly pray for that person, you will be able to forgive them. Forgive them not because they deserve it, but because you deserve peace. 

2nd chance for a first impression

I started this post in 2017, however I thought it was worth finishing and posting. 

Last week was interesting. I was at Smith & Edwards and Santa was there. You could take a picture with him using your own camera or just sit by him and tell him your Christmas wish. There were a couple of kids that were mesmerized by him and they were really happy that he had a real beard. One little girl started singing with him and he sang along. There was a little girl in line that loved his "real beard". I even decided to sit down and tell him what I wanted for Christmas and had my picture taken. I posted it online and my daughter saw it and thought he was a scary Santa. She only saw the picture and didn't have any of the information that I had. I have thought and thought about this. Isn't it interesting that we look at someone and base our opinion of them based on how they look on the outside? I know this isn't always the case, however I know I am guilty of this. This Santa was such a kind soul. He was so happy to play the role and interact with the kids. Often times we trust someone who looks professional and other times there's trust put into a wolf in sheep's clothing. Judging comes way to easy, when our hearts should be full of love. Let me remind you, I am guilty of this. 

In 2016 for #LighttheWorld the challenge was to show humility. One of the ideas was to talk about a time you were wrong about someone. I kept thinking about this subject and decided to write this post about it. I decided a few years ago that I wouldn't base my opinion of someone based on what others have said. Often a first impression is wrong. I hope that I can see others through different eyes. There's so much information about just loving someone. I'm going to work on this and my hopes are that you will too! 

Was it a coincidence?

Last week I went to El Matador to get chips and salsa to take home. When I walked in the door, there was a gentleman there picking up chips and salsa. I placed my order and then waited. The previous gentleman walked back and asked for another order. He stated that he was taking the salsa to a celebration for his grandson that had just returned from an LDS mission. We both waited in the lobby. There was another gentleman who told the gentleman waiting for salsa that he looked familiar. He stated that he was in construction and worked for Nilson homes, and introduced himself as Bruce Nilson. They talked about the grandson and how he had just returned from his mission. Mr Nilson stated that he had served an LDS mission in the 60's in Australia, and then stated that recently a young missionary had just died in Australia. The gentleman pointed to the other couple in the lobby and said, oh yes and right there are his grandparents. Mr Nilson showed so much kindness to this couple it was so neat to listen and watch. On the way there, I listened to a talk by Elder Rasband titled by Divine Design. It talks about how sometimes seemingly small coincidences are really by divine design. Heavenly Father can put us in situations with specific intent in mind. He is in the small details of our lives and those incidents and opportunities are to prepare us to lift our families and others.

My story doesn't stop with just overhearing a conversation. I attempted to contact Mr Nilson through his construction page on Facebook. I sent a message with no response. I could tell the message had been read, and yet no response. I decided to send a second message with no response. 

Fast forward one week....

I made a couple of stops after work. One stop was to Costco. I had a few things on my list, and then decided to wander for 5 minutes. When I started walking to the cash register, Mr Nilson was walking toward me. We made eye contact, and then I realized that it was him. I turned around to go and find him. I asked him if he picked up chips and salsa for his grandson the week prior. He stated that yes, that was him. I told him how I was trying to contact him and tell him thank him for being so kind. It was truly an honor to listen to his conversation and watch him comfort the missionaries family. I told him how I listened to the talk about divine design, and that it was important to me to tell him thank you. Everything had to be just right so that I would see Bruce at Costco. I love that because it was important to me, it happened. 

Was this just a coincidence? No way!

So you feel invisible?

I have been thinking about this for a while. It might be my mom heart, or maybe it's just part of my gift to try to include everyone. As I listen to the people around me say they feel alone, it makes me sad. So many people feel like they don't have any friends. Kids can be mean, and they don't usually try to include everyone. If you are a teenager, try to include everyone. Elderly people feel like they don't have purpose. Have you ever tried to say hello to an elderly person at the store? Usually they light up and for one second they feel like they matter.  

Think back to a time where you had to walk into a new space, new activity or maybe even a regular activity. Were you met with welcoming eyes, smiles and warmth, or were you met with glares, rolling eyes and a cold shoulder? Sometimes we feel like everyone is staring and wondering why we are there. Eye contact makes someone feel included, but withholding eye contact can signal exclusion. If you find yourself in a situation where you feel like you are invisible or rejected, remember how you feel at that very minute. In the future when you are in familiar territory and someone new walks up looking for acceptance, be the person you needed in that situation. Remember how it feels to be rejected, or excluded so that you can help someone to feel included. We all want to belong and be welcomed, and made to feel seen. Do you realize that it only takes one person to take away that feeling of being invisible? Life gets busy and we get into our comfort zones but don't ever forget that you the power to change lives. You can use your hands as a voice! Use your hands to serve! Reach out to others.Never let someone feel alone in a crowd. There's room for everyone. 

My work theme for 2018 is "Together".  I have been thinking about this all day. Did you know that you can take someone from outsider to insider, from outcast to included member, from feeling invisible to feeling loved. Don't underestimate the power you hold as ONE person to save the life of another. All it takes is to notice. You can ask others to join you, send a text to invite. Sometimes you may feel like you are hugging a cactus, but that's ok because you can instantly make a difference. While some will teach you who you DON'T want to be, others will teach you who you DO want to be. Together we can make this world a better place. We can be Heavenly Father's hands and be the answer to a prayer. 

Shine on

I've been quiet on social media for months for so many reasons.  In the past, for me, social media has been a way to bless lives. I watch what people post to send gifts, or send messages to brighten someones day. For many reasons I felt like I needed to keep quiet. I didn't want to be part of the negativity or have to battle through someones negative post so i stayed quiet. I wasn't paying attention to the fact that I wasn't shining. Through my lack of sharing I missed some valuable shining moments where I could help someone along the way.

 It seems like we judge our lives according to what others post. Maybe we think that the picture shared make things look all too perfect. I've had this conversation with Kiersten. We've talked about how sometimes the angle the camera is held makes all of the difference but if we were to turn the camera in the opposite direction it might show a mess, or something quite opposite of what we just posted online. 

I've noticed that people judge and get caught up with things that really don't matter. Comments can be misread or misunderstood. Think before you post. Is it kind, does it build the other person up? Hopefully we can all learn a little something and think about our comments. Let's build each other up. We all have gifts that can help someone else. I hope we can unite together and show strength in numbers. Make kindness a movement and flood the world with amazing acts of kindness. Let's make others feel good and know they have someone who truly cares. Kindness is always the best! 

 If I don't share light, who will? How can I be part of a movement if I am quiet and don't share my light? It's easy to get discouraged and to do the all too familiar dance with the adversary. He has been working on me and tricking me into thinking that being quiet is better than shining. I've had thoughts in my mind that I wonder who wants to hear from me again, or I bet everyone is sick of hearing about what you did to make a difference. Satan is real! He wants there to be contention and negativity and to misrepresent our own purpose. He wants us to be jealous. He wants us to compare ourselves to others. He wants us to have self doubt and not see the positive affect that we might have on someone through social media. But if I don't push through and share light, where would glimpses of hope be for someone who is having a bad day or someone who needs a friend? What each one of us does, matters! Sharing goodness is needed! My hopes are that we can all be a little kinder, and share our light a little brighter. Let's flood social media, with one goal in mind to help someone else feel light or happiness and shine on!

HSA Handicapped Scuba Association

I learned something new this week. Did you know that there is a handicapped scuba program? I didn't either. We went diving in Maui this week and had the privilege to dive with a gentleman named Michael who was in a wheelchair. I had no idea that there was a program designed for this. It is called the HSA handicapped scuba program. (You can read about it below, and here is the website.... www.hsascuba.com)

 I later noticed on the side of the dive boat that there was a picture so you would know that they are HSA certified. 

I spoke to him to let him know I thought he was amazing. His mom was named Jana and she told me about the program and how she was really afraid of water but wanted to learn to do this with her son. They go diving at least once a year. 
I was really impressed with watching him and how this program allowed him to see the awesome world in the water. 

Here's Michael diving.....

 Here are some pics of some of the fish we saw on our dive

 Here's some fun pics of Troy, Karlee and me...

 Here is the information from the HSA website. Enjoy!

The Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA) had its genesis in 1975 at University of California-Irvine (UCI) as a research program looking at self-image changes for scuba diving students 'with disabilities' learning together with students 'without disabilities'. Participants were required to perform all physical performance standards for Scuba certification, even if they had to do them differently. The results were amazing! Everyone, with and without disabilities, grew in ways we could not measure and went on to more full and exciting lives.

• Participant Larry Thompson, paraplegic, became an avid and skilled Scuba Diver earning his certification as a NAUI Assistant Scuba Diving Instructor.
• Participant Adolf Flores, paraplegic, said "when I did what my Doctors said I couldn't do (Scuba Dive) I knew I could go to College", something he thought he couldn't do. He earned his BA Degree in Counselling.
• Participant Jim Gatacre, paralyzed right arm, founded the Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA) 5 years after graduating from UCI. The HSA is now the world's leading authority on recreational diving for people with disabilities.
  

The Handicapped Scuba Association, HSA (USA with an H), was named in the parking lot of US Divers Corporation on June 22nd 1981 when Gatacre received the first equipment donation for the new organization. The donation was authorized by John Cronin, President and co-founder of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), and marks the founding date of HSA.
In 1986 the Handicapped Scuba Association became an independent diver training and certifying agency. Our prestigious diver education programs for people with disabilities, Dive Buddy Course (DBC) and Instructor Training Course (ITC) are internationally recognized and unequalled by any other programs in the industry. These programs were developed in conjunction with two major certifying agencies, Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) and the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI). Our specially trained members form a worldwide network of over 5000 HSA Instructors and Dive Buddies located in 45 countries.
In 1984 the Handicapped Scuba Association conducted their first accessible international dive trip to the island of Bonaire off the coast of Venezuela. A group of intrepid divers with disabilities, and support divers, headed into the unknown not certain if the resort, dive boat or island facilities were accessible. The resort was very receptive to our needs and made adjustments to help increase accessibility. The dive boat was, by chance, accessible and the island businesses did whatever it took to get us into their establishments. It was a total adventure! And it set the theme for HSA Travel, which continued to far flung places such as Fiji and Papua New Guinea. Everywhere we went the people reached out to us, helping to make our trips not only exciting but also warm and friendly. Today divers with disabilities travel to these places, and many more, thanks to the HSA pioneers who dared to face the unknown!