28Jan 2013 by CJ

New beginnings happen all the time you just have to embrace them

Love & Relationships, Youth
New beginnings make me think of this quote. All that is worth cherishing begins in the heart. ~Suzanne Chapin Did you ever find yourself riddled with emotions you’re unable to fully process? Lately I’ve been battling such a feeling, and it’s taken me a few days to completely figure out and understand their underlying meaning. For the last week, my sister-in-law and her three month old son have been visiting from Colorado - occupying the spare bedrooms in my house, and the empty spaces inside my heart. Though my wife and I have no children of our own, I have been thoroughly enjoying our little visitor. I think much of the credit goes to his mother, for allowing my wife and I to truly bond with her new son –…
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02Jan 2013 by CJ

See the color “blue” like you’ve never seen before

Life & Living, Love & Relationships
I’m an avid music lover who’s a sucker for poignant, inspiring and heartwarming lyrics. "Never Saw Blue" is one of those songs. Typically when I stumble upon such a song, I often play it over and over again, be it in the car, going for a walk or on my computer at work. There’s something so spiritually powerful about the composition and orchestration combined that it leaves me in complete awe. I discovered such a song the other day, quite by accident, and I’m so glad that I did. The artist is a talented young woman from New Zealand named Hayley Westenra, and the song is titled “Never Saw Blue” – here’s a sampling of the lyrics: I can't believeA month ago I was aloneI didn't know you, I've never…
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24Dec 2012 by CJ

True love means you really can’t live without the other person

Love & Relationships
On December 11, I blogged about Melvin and Doris Cornelson – a couple who passed away of natural causes within hours of each other. A sign of true love. It’s a more common occurrence than one might think, and yet still many refuse to believe or even accept the real possibility that a person’s life can cease existing because of a broken heart  - because of true love. I’m happy to offer you another real-world example. I consider myself honored and truly blessed that Nancy stumbled upon my blog post about Melvin and Doris, and wanted to share her wonderful story with me. Nancy and her family have something in common with the Cornelson’s. You see her parents, Delores and Joseph Madden, passed away within eight hours of each other…
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14Dec 2012 by CJ

Sandy Hook Elementary School Victims – our hearts are with you

Information & Education, Life & Living, Love & Relationships, Youth
My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who lost loved ones at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut today. My wife is a school teacher and I’d be a liar to say that every time I hear the mention of a school shooting, I cringe. I cannot imagine what those who lost someone near and dear to them must be going through – at Christmas time no less. What a truly senseless tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary. If the shooter wanted to take his own life, he certainly didn’t have to take anyone else’s in the process. This horrific crime just reinforces why it is so very important to live each and every day to the fullest. When you go home tonight, wrap…
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30Nov 2012 by CJ

A life of success has more to do with love than anything else

Love & Relationships
If you need a better understanding of what constitutes a life of success and fulfillment, let me be of some assistance. Now I’m no expert, but I’ve been around the block of life long enough to understand that many of the things we believe will classify us as a “success” – money, fame, power – are fleeting. You wanna know what I think constitutes a life of success? Sitting on the couch in your PJ’s under a blanket with that special someone. Watching the dazzling lights of a Christmas tree as carols gently play in the background. You talk about everything and nothing - joking around and laughing, stealing a little kiss here and there. There’s no pretenses, no conditions, no judgments – just love, affection and comfort. You could…
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