Comes The Dawn
A Poem by an unknown author
sent in by Sedona
After a while you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,
And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes open,
With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child,
And you learn to build all your roads
On today because tomorrow’s ground
Is too uncertain for plans, and futures have
A way of falling down in mid-flight.
After awhile you learn that even sunshine
Burns if you get too much.
So you plant your own garden and decorate
Your own soul, instead of waiting
For someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure . . .
That you really are strong
And you really do have worth.
And you learn and learn . . . .
Summer Time Blues
End of Summer Blues
What is there about the end of August that tends to bring about a heavy sigh? I mean, the kids will be back in school soon, learning, growing by leaps and bounds. Instead of boredom, their lil noses will be pressed into books, sponging up information by the digest full. Backpacks... lunch boxes and big yellow school busses in the morning.
Chalk dust, homework, pretty pictures to hang on your refrigerator late afternoon. Those sound like good times, don't they?
What adult with children couldn't use six to seven hours without hearing, "Mom? I'm bored! Dad? There's nothing to do!"
Yes, the thoughts of sending the kids back to school brings about feelings of elation for good ole Mom and Dad, sweet, sweet freedom! Yet the thoughts of sending the kids back to school, brings about its own form of sadness. Why is this?
Ahhh yes! The kids going back to school also indicates the end of summer. Those carefree days of suntan lotion scented afternoons at the beach, pool parties, barbeques, camping, bonfires and whiling away hours with the kids fishing, baiting hooks and unsnagging lines are replaced with homework after dinner, baths, early to bed and packing lunches.
The end of August, though joyful in many aspects, still brings about a bittersweet sigh that I call, "The End of Summer Blues"
It happens to us all, at one time or another, you are not alone
But what can we do to lessen those, end of summer blues? Saying good-bye to a warm weather friend and welcoming cool nights, brightly colored leaves and depending on where you live, that fluffy white stuff we call snow, is not an easy task, but we can make it easier on ourselves and make it fun too!
Those fun summer days can be kept alive all year long. How? That's easy! And, it doesn't have to cost a fortune either. With some dollar store construction paper, glue, stickers, glitter, a photo album and summer pictures, you and your family could enjoy a "Decorate the summer scrap book party".
With each member of the family adding, their own special touch to the album and signing the last page, you are not only saying good-bye to summer together, you will have something to open and appreciate for many years to come. As a matter of fact, you could do this at the end of every season, creating a "Seasons of Our Lives" library full of happy memories and fun times shared.
Making scrapbooks isn't solely for families with children either. You and your partner can work together to create memorable albums that both you and your family and friends can enjoy as the seasons of your lives come and go.
Closing up the cottage party, closing down the pool party, getting your child's friends together for a back to school party where each brings a wrapped dollar store item for a backpack to exchange, getting together with friends to put on a non-alcoholic "say good bye to summer bonfire" each bringing a plate to pass, where there will be singing and each person sharing their fondest memory of summer
Saying good-bye to summer is a sad time for all, but with some creativity and a positive outlook, your end of summer blues may be just a little bit brighter
Shanti
Dangers of Co-Sleeping
The Australian Broadcasting Commission's news website reports that ....
Coroner examines dangers of co-sleeping
The deputy Western Australian coroner is examining the dangers of babies sleeping in bed with their parents.
The coroner is examining the death of one-month-old Ethan Visser in November last year.
He died when his mother rolled on top of him while she was sleeping with him on a couch at the family's Noranda home.
Today Amanda Visser said she had slept with her baby most nights because she considered it normal and natural.
She said no-one had ever warned her about the dangers of co-sleeping and she had even read an article in a parenting magazine this year that recommended babies sleep with their parents for the first three months to save money on buying a bassinet.
Mrs Visser said while new parents were bombarded with information about sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), there was very little literature about the dangers of co-sleeping.
She said she would now set up a website in memory of her son that warned people about the risks.
Creating Change
Creating Change In Your Life
By Summer Rivers
If you don't like something; change it.
If you can't change it, change how you feel about it.
But, please, don't just complain about it!
I will qualify that last statement just a little bit. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. You have to let your wants and needs be known.
If your spouse or kids drive you crazy because they are so inconsiderate of you, sulking in silence will not resolve the problem.
A problem that is nurtured in the darkness grows.
A problem pulled out into the daylight where it can be seen, examined, and discussed, can be resolved.
If you feel someone is inconsiderate, tell them. It may be that they were not even aware of what they are doing. In fact, that is frequently the case. Making them aware of it solves the problem instantly. Brooding over it solves it never, and poisons the relationship, by poisoning yourself.
If there is something you do not like about your life, don't brood and moan over it. Bring it out into the light and examine it. WHY do you not like this thing, event, person, relationship. WHAT can you do to change it into something that is positive for you?
Sometimes examining a problem is painful for a time. But ignoring it and allowing it to slowly poison your every moment is far more destructive in the long run.
Read More.....
The Healing Tree
The Healing Tree is one woman's journey into self healing through writing, visualization and sharing of experience. To help accept and overcome an abusive past, Serenity created a mental vision in which she and her inner child hug, play and sit together, beneath the healing tree, reflecting, releasing emotion and accepting the painful events in their lives.
For each bad memory, a blossom grows, turning bad into good, renewing hope, giving strength and healing of self. The Healing Tree is about loving oneself, overcoming obstacles and is a safe haven for all who desire healing and seek the happiness in life that is rightfully theirs.
With real life experiences, articles, links to healing tools, affirmations, suggestions and understanding, may the healing tree help you to heal the hurts, conquer your fears and help you to rise above your experiences, not bitter, but with strength and confidence to live your life to it's fullest.
The Healing Tree - Where healing begins and hope blossoms
Serenity
Journaling
Journaling is brought to you by Toni... We will try to help you, as you explore your innerself by following the us and the way we have managed to cope with our fears, our anguish, our sadness, depression throughout the years...
Journaling is not for everyone but you can at least try....
I have been told that sometimes when you put things down on paper, it relieves the pressure building up inside us...
Keeping A Journal. - Part 1
Journaling or diary keeping, goes back to as far as I can remember. Look at all the men and women who kept journals throughout the war, men would write in it each day so that if they should pass, others could read what happened to them. Explorers kept diaries or journals ensuring that what they did went down in history and many journals are now a part of history and a part of us.
We can look in bookstores, the local library or places like Amazon online and you will find many books on journaling. Many people have documented their lives for us...
Ok so many of you are going to say, why should I keep a diary or a journal? I had often wondered that myself and on the odd occasion when I was having a bad time or something wasn't going right in my life I would make notes. Sometimes those notes made no sense but today when I sit back and read some of them I realised that I was crying out for help but the only person I could open up to was my journal.
Around May 2000 I attended a conference for those affected by adoption. The many speakers were very good, some a little boring but that happens everywhere, but one lady sticks in my mind... Nancy Mac Isaac...
I remember sitting and listening to everything she said. Her words rang out around me as I let it all sink in. I admired her for what she had been through and she had survived and you guessed it... Nancy survived because she not only had the strength in her heart to do so but she kept a journal.
Her journal was her friend. She would write all the good things and the bad things in it. Nancy's ups and downs were documented in a way that was her; her expressions, her sadness, her happiness... everything that Nancy felt... was documented in her journal.
Nancy shared with us her book titled, Healing The Hole In A Heart
Welcome To Sensual Woman
We at Sensual Woman hope to bring something to all women around the world by sharing our personal experiences with you.Every woman is an individual and every individual is different.
We want to share our true life experiences with you. We will supply information on health issues that are close to our hearts along with other articles that will be of benefit to you. Weekly and bi-weekly topics will keep us on our toes, giving you lots to think about.
The team at Sensual Woman, Toni, 9 - 5, Cilla, Summer Rivers, Kelli, Shanti, Sedona and several men will provide true life experiences in a hope that they will help others...
Our special ask the team page is where you can ask any of the team a question. If you don't specify a team member we will ensure that we all have input into the information that you are seeking. We as a team will try to answer as many questions as you can throw at us.
We will give you answers that some of you may not want to hear, but our responses will be from our own experiences, which we are willing and very happy to share with you.
I'd like to add that some personal experiences may upset you and you may choose not to read them. In which case it is up to you to hit the back button or choose another link. Some of the articles that the team writes are very close to the heart and their experiences maybe somewhat disturbing to others.
To some the truth hurts to others, they will learn from what is shared.
Toni