Brothers

My Uncle passed away last week. Yesterday was his funeral service. It was a sad, yet a wonderful time to reconnect with family and remember what is truly important. His unexpected death gave us all a wake up call to the fact that we really never know when someone will leave us, or when we ourselves will be called home. After the funeral, I had the great pleasure of riding back home with my brother, my only brother. We were together for over 8 hours in his car. Just me and him. Some may think this as a terribly long drive to make, but it was so wonderful to have that time with him to just talk. I don't think I've ever had that long of a time alone with my brother, and I most likely will never have it again. How grateful I was to be able to catch up with my brother. Maybe I was a little more in tune with how people don't last forever. They leave us, just as my mom's brother has left her for a short season. So, I was extremely grateful to have time with my brother, to reconnect and to express my love and appreciate for him. To laugh, to discuss, to cry and to grow. Thanks, Brother for the drive and thank Heaven for brothers.

21 Day Happiness Advantage Project

I'm joining a friend in a project to re-wire my brain for optimism, allowing myself to find greater happiness and success in both my personal and professional life.

THE PLAN

In the video above, Shawn discusses five items that are key to creating lasting positive change. If these are done for 3 weeks he says there are noticeable improvements. I plan on doing these five key actions every day for the next three weeks and document my process.

THE FIVE KEY ACTIONS (Completed Daily)

   * Three Gratitudes
      I will write down three things that I am grateful for

   * Journaling
      I will write about one positive experience that I had during my day

   * Exercise
      I will exercise for at least 30 minutes

   * Meditation
      I will spend at least 10 minutes silently contemplating happiness

   * Random Acts of Kindness
      I will find at least one opportunity to serve someone whom I might not normally help.


I thank Steve for his invitation to join in this, and I pass along my invitation to each of you to join to along with us.

Gene Simmons on The Challenges Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses Face

"I want to start a business, so I go and I borrow and get myself deeply in debt. I'm going to make 'popcorn farts' -- that's going to be my product. I have to pay rent or buy a building. I'm on the hook for that. I have to hire people, I have to pay their salaries, worry about their retirement plans and, in case one gets pregnant, I have to worry about the pregnancy plan; I have to pay for their vacations and overtime. Then, I have to buy equipment and insure the place.


"Finally I make the first popcorn fart. It costs me a dollar to make, that's the cost of goods, and if I'm lucky I can get $1.40 to $1.50 for it. The store, the distributor and everybody else will make much more than I do, and all they do is sell it. Everybody else gets paid first, if there's a profit I get paid last. If the business goes under, I am fully on the hook for it. And, after I make my first dollar, I have to give 50% to the government if I'm lucky. After that, if I want to leave it to my heirs I get beaten up again. At what point do they just simply come clean and say, 'I have a gun to your head, give me your money.' The capitalist system is not in good shape. The American dream is not what it used to be, and that is why the people who become high-net-worth individuals have to be much more diligent that they ever have been before."

Feel the Rhythm, Feel the Rhyme, Get on up its Olympic Time!

In Honor the impending Winter Olympics, my son and I sat down and watched the great movie "Cool Runnings". I am sure most if not all of you are familiar with this classic movie about the first Jamaican bobsled team. I did a bit of research today and found this great video of their final run in the 1988 Olympics when they crashed and ended their chances of continuing. Enjoy!



Another great Olympic moment, perhaps even the greatest in history...The 1980 US Hockey Team defeating the Soviet Union. MIRACLE!

Top Ten Things I'm Most Thankful For

1. My beautiful bride, and the woman I love, Erin.
2. The three most amazing children in the world; Nicholas, Natalie, and Katie.
3. Parents that have raised me and taught me principals of righteousness.
4. The knowledge of a living and loving Savior, Jesus Christ.
5. A great job that provides for my family.
6. A house that is truly our Home.
7. My health, and the overall health of my whole family.
8. Living in a country which allows so much freedom and opportunity
9. Technology
10. Indoor Plumbing (you know you're thankful for it too!!)

Can You Pass?

Created by Auto Insurance.org

Too Many Secrets!

For those of you who love a little secrecy, Enjoy this website about secret passageways!
I recommend clicking on the video section and watching all of the videos of this company. ENJOY!

www.hiddenpassageway.com

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