100th POST: I CAN DO IT?

Looking back...I think my most fulfilling posts have involved making a difference. We all have problems, stress, money issues, family issues...it's amazing when you finally stop spending all your time thinking about yourself. The what if's, how come, why me, it all doesn't matter. I can say this because as we go through one of the most trying times in our life right now, I know that the monetary things are not the most important. I feel at peace...I spend my time trying to help others and not think of myself. Things are out of our control, so I choose to take control of the situations I can. Finding ways to help other people. On the day of my 100th post...I was able to be a part of something special.


OGGI'S PIZZA & OC PIZZA donated ALL the Food~100% of Profit benefitted the Gane Family!

Owner of Oggi's in the striped shirt with Al & Maria

Jr. Midget Team Fundraiser Dinner

Raising money to help a family with a sick child is something that far out weighs our situation! I keep praying for a purpose in my life...being the change in someone's life has given me a direction. "I am only one person...what can I do?" This question was one that I often asked myself, which was followed by, "Nothing I guess, so I wont do anything." Year after year, excuse after excuse, I would repeat this. Until I realized, I can do small things that might make a BIG difference to someone else.

If you have been pondering this...I'd like to encourage you to start with SOMETHING! No matter how small, the little things will lead you into bigger things, before you know it, you've changed someone's world. The less time you spend focusing on yourself the better you'll feel.

Today our team gave of our time and money to help relieve the burden for a family with a sick child. Small but meaningful, rewarding and encouraging...I can make a difference in someone's life...one small act of unselfish giving at a time. I would like to challenge you and ask that by the time you reach your 100th, 200th or 500th post...you write about something that inspired you to be the change in the world!

I have attached a few of my favorite posts from the past year...I hope they will inspire at least one person to reach out~I started with a true story about an amazing experience that changed my life.

MY CHRISTMAS MIRACLE - A TRUE STORY
http://searchwarp.com/swa278027.htm

DOES SOMEBODY NEED YOU?
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/05/does-somebody-need-you.html

INSPIRATIONAL POEM ~ PUSH AHEAD
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/04/uplifting-poem-push-ahead.html

THIS WILL GIVE YOU CHILLS
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/03/this-will-give-you-chills.html

CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A DAY
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/01/can-you-make-difference-in-day.html

THE EDISON BUM
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/07/edison-bum.html

INSPIRATIONAL STORY FROM DR. IN SOUTH AFRICA
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/07/inspirational-story-from-dr-in-south.html

AN ATTEMPT IS EVERYTHING
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/06/attempt-is-everything.html

THE INVISIBLE MAN
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/05/invisible-man.html

PLAY VOCABULARY GAME ~ HELP THE HUNGRY
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/04/play-vocabulary-game-help-hungry.html

I HAD A REALLY COOL EXPERIENCE
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/03/i-had-really-cool-experience.html

SKID ROW
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/02/skid-row.html

HELP KIDS IN AFRICA
http://lisapetrarca.blogspot.com/2008/02/help-kids-in-africa.html

I would like to close my 100th Post with a story:

Cherokee Indian Legend

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage? His dad takes him into the forest, blindfolded and leaves him....alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night...and not take off the blindfold until the ray of sun shines through it. He is all by himself. He cannot cry out for help to anyone.

Once he survives the night he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience. Each lad must come into his own manhood. The boy was terrified-could hear all kinds of noise...Beasts were all around him. Maybe even some human would hurt him. The wind blew the grass and earth...and it shook his stump. But he sat stoically - never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could be a man.

Finally, after a horrific night...the sun appeared and he removed his
blindfold. It was then that he saw his father sitting on the stump next to him...at watch...the entire night!

We are never alone. Even when we do not know it, our Father is protecting us...He is sitting on the stump beside us. All we have to do is reach out to Him. Joshua 1:9

Uplifting Poem- PUSH AHEAD

I always try to post something uplifting and encouraging in my Blog, however my previous post was a little out of the ordinary. I have been going through a tough situation lately and really needed to get some things off of my chest. I felt bad after I wrote it and thought I need to re-post the poem I wrote for my son...and read it again myself, hope you find it inspirational!

PUSH AHEAD

Your courage and strength is your crowning glory

They can never take away your personal story

You and God determine your destination

Push ahead, without hesitation

Try as they might to break your spirit

Your heart and faith will keep you in it

Believe in yourself and your path will be clear

Push ahead, your dreams are so near

Fear and doubt will creep inside

You sometimes want to just run and hide

You’re scared of failure and all it entails

Push ahead, and you will not derail

The road ahead seems long and tough

The twists and turns sometimes seem too rough

Your goals are worth the struggle ahead

Push ahead, your hopes and dreams are worth the tread

Reach high above and look toward the sky

It sometimes takes just one more try

Your steps are sure and your way is clear

Push ahead, and you’ll overcome your greatest fear

Perseverance is what it will take to shape and mold

You and God will decide what your future will hold

All your dreams inside are about to unfold

Push ahead, the story of your life is yet to be told