YOB: #27. Get A Massage

By Beth

Who doesn't like being pampered? I mean really? I'm not sure I know anyone who would not like to just relax and have someone ease their stress a little. That being said, I have to admit that I had some qualms about getting a massage. Sure, I like having relaxed muscles and have had people give me neck and shoulder massages in the past. But I was married to that person, or in a serious relationship with them. Apart from those type of relationships, I really don't like being touched. I'm not a germaphobe or anything, I just like having my own personal space. My friends understand this about me and love me anyway. But it was with some trepidation that I entered the spa that August afternoon.

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We Interrupt This Post For An Important Announcement.....

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

Allow me to wander from my usual musings in order to provide a brief commercial message for a coffee shop in Constant Friendship. This may seem a little strange but allow me some leeway on this one. Those that know me know my one major vice is a good White Chocolate Mocha. I really do not like coffee but I do have one of these pretty much on a daily basis. Back in the early 2000's a shop appeared in Constant Friendship called Huckleberry's. It was my place of choice and began my addiction. After awhile it went out of business and a new Huckleberry's appeared. This version lasted for much longer and then closed down this past January. I was planning on doing a night of Compassion there with music and a possible presentation. However, it just never happened. In July of this year, a new coffee shop opened and I want to encourage you all to give it a shot..... (no pun intended). Let me explain why....

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All News, All the Time

By Alan

More and more, people are either supplementing their news gathering from both TV and newspaper by reading articles and headlines on the Internet.

The New York Times recently published results from a study that showed more people are checking the Internet as part of their morning routine. Breakfast Can Wait. The Day’s First Stop Is Online. It's quite apropos that the Times was writing that story, since they have quite a transition with their newspaper changing from traditional physical paper to online content.

However, going online for news doesn't always mean that people are getting their news from traditional journalistic sources. Many of those surveyed are checking with email, Facebook statuses of their friends, checking Twitter for the latest microblog comments, as well as browsing web news articles from traditional news organizations and non-traditional news sources like blogs.

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It's Back To School And Time For New Routines

By Renee, LSWA

We are in full school mode in our household.  All of the supplies have been bought, my husband and I have completed the ream of paperwork that was sent home for our homework and we are getting used to our “school schedule.”  As a working mom outside of the home and in the home, organization is critical to combating the chaos that can often surround the busyness of school and school activities.  I know some of this may be common sense, but I thought I’d share how our family tries to keep our children thriving and learning and life up and running amidst our new schedules.

1.  Set reasonable bedtimes.  My kids can be growling bears in the morning if they don’t get enough sleep.  This can make wake-up time stressful.  There is nothing worse than having to pull your child out of bed, throw clothes on him and push him out the door to the bus stop all in 10 minutes!  Not how I like to start my day and probably not the recipe for a successful day of learning.  Now there is no magical formula for this. You know your child best but the recommended hours for children ages 6-9 is 10 hours of sleep, ages 10-12, 9 hours of sleep and 8-10 hours for adolescents. For more information go to Kids Health.

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Is God Your Hero?

By Kevin (Shooting The Breeze)

Out of the blue at dinner the other night , my youngest daughter who is four said ”God is my hero!”  To which I replied “Why?”  And she responded “Because He saved me.”

Now, I can’t say that I have described God as my hero before but as I pondered it some more I realized that this was indeed a very profound and proper way to describe God.  I decided to look up the definition of hero.  Here are some definitions that I found:

1. Remarkably brave person: somebody who commits an act of remarkable bravery or who has shown an admirable quality such as great courage or strength of character .

2. Somebody admired: somebody who is admired for outstanding qualities or achievements.

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