Day 536 ~ What's Next? . . . In the Near Distance

Sooooo . . . At the bottom of my more recent posts I have left you a teaser per say- "What's coming up?   Hmmm.... I think I see another challenge off in the near distance. "

So here are the details.  

On June 19th I started to write about a challenge I was participating in... "I Am Second 22 Day Challenge" . . . a life altering challenge.

In October I was contacted by Doug Bender (Doug is part of the I Am Second movement and has shared part of his life's struggles and how he discovered God- you can click on his name to find out more about him).  Doug had read my blog and saw that I shared my challenge on my blog.

Doug shared with me that he wrote a book for the I Am Second movement and it is being published- Live Second: 365 Ways to Make Jesus First   The book will be available at all books stores and online week of December 9th.

Doug asked me to read and blog about this book that same week.

After reading what I have written thus far, I see that this is not a challenge, nor is it a review-  I'll be writing four posts that week, sharing my thoughts, experiences and how I Am Second.

As cheesy as this may sound, I am honored to have been asked to do this.

Thank you Doug for reading my blog and asking me to participate.  I am looking forward to it.

I am thankful for good books!!


What's coming up?   Hmmm.... 
I think I see another challenge off in the near distance. . . December 9th - 15th

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

I am second..

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 425 ~ #17 of My 30 Days of Truth

My 30 Days of Truth challenge   I will admit that I changed one question and changed a few curse words... other than that the challenge is intact. 

Day 17:  Name a book you've read that changed your views on something...

4 words...

"The Five Love Languages"- How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate... by Gary Chapman

I can not speak highly enough about this book.

I strongly feel that ALL couples BEFORE they get married MUST read this book - TOGETHER!!

This book really has opened my eyes to a new way of understanding humans, love and relationships.  

Unbeknownst to me, not everyone speaks the same love language and this book helped me .. first, know that... secondly, understand it... and finally, interpret it.

I would not want to spoil it for you... 

I can not tell you enough how much it has changed my life!!

I KNOW it will do the same for you.

My love language, acts of service and receiving gifts.  My husband's, quality time and physical touch... he loves back rubs.  :)

What's yours?

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues,they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  ~ 1 Corinthians 13:5-8

Where I've been and where I'm going next...  

Day 01 : Something you hate about yourself.

Day 02 : Something you love about yourself.

Day 03 : Something you have to forgive yourself for.

Day 04 : Something you have to forgive someone for.

Day 05 : Something you hope to do in your life.

Day 06 : Something you hope you never have to do. 

Day 07 : Someone who has made your life worth living for.

Day 08 : Someone who made your life hell, or treated you horribly.

Day 09 : Someone you didn't want to let go, but just drifted.

Day 10 : Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.

Day 11 : Something people seem to compliment you the most on.

Day 12 : Something you never get compliments on.

Day 13 : A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough days. (write a letter.)

Day 14 : Write a letter to a hero that has let you down.

Day 15 : Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you've tried living without it.

Day 16 : Someone or something you definitely could live without.

Day 17 : A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
Day 18 : Your views on gay marriage.
Day 19 : What do you think of religion?  Or what do you think of politics?
Day 20 : Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Day 21 : (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Day 22 : Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
Day 23 : Something you wish you had done in your life.
Day 24 : Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Day 25 : The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Day 26 : Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Day 27 : What’s the best thing going for you right now?
Day 28 : Name a decision you made that caused a chain of events that would not have happened if it wasn't for that decision.
Day 29 : Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30 : A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself

Hey if you want to join along... well let me know in a comment and I'll visit your challenge each day.  We could even link up our blogs.  wink, wink.  No.. seriously we could.

Here's to 30 Days of Truth!

I am second.

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 312 ~ My Glass, Half Full!

We're half way there!  Really?  Wow... it's been a hair shy of two weeks already?  How time flies when you're having fun!  Honestly, I knew I just finished with the 13th letter, "M"...  
However it did not dawn on me that I was half way through my little challenge (Blogging A to Z...).  In other words even though it was staring me in the face, I did not see it.  Make sense?


BTW... tonight, Sunday is a bye night... we take a break from the "bet" (short for "alphabet", trying to sound hip.  LOL! trying being the operative word. 


Moving right along... 


This has been a fun experience... and one that has had me looking at things in a more "positive" light.  Just as I ask my five year old daughter... "don't you get tired of whining?"  


I swear, each time I hear those words come out of my mouth... well let's just say that it keeps me in check!  As a matter of fact, anytime I hear words come out of my mouth which are directed at Calley to better herself as a person... I give it a second thought.


What I lacked as a child, structure, love etc...  I  am seeing to that Calley will will never have to endure the same..


With that said... Is my challenge halfway over OR am I almost there?  That question is no different than asking if the glass was half empty or half full... 


Now, you can choose to look at this one of two ways.. 


(1) It's half over.  The glass if half empty...  Sounds so negative... as if you do not have anything to look forward to after it's over.


OR


(2) The glass is half full.  I am halfway there.  I have so much to look forward to, so many possibilities with this choice.  Even if that's no the case, it put a positive view on it.


Excuse me... I just want to interject something a little off subject here...  


I would like to make something perfectly clear here.  I do not enjoy being negative.  Nor do I enjoy bringing up my past... I can not help that I have been through quite "an adventure" in my life (trying to put a "positive" twist on this.. wink, wink.)


Also, keep in mind (directed more so to those reading TBML for the firs time) I want to leave this for my children, family and friends.. those I know and those I have yet to meet,  A handbook on "How & Why is Carla, Carla?"  A "how to" of sorts... or better yet... Carla for Dummies!    


After all what I write in my posts is about my life, my thoughts and/or my experiences, etc... and are all my accounts, memories and my truths.   


I was challenged once by a family member against something I had written.  However, as far as I am concerned this person "challenged" me with their opinion being based on "hear-say".  


All I had to say to that was ... "it was and is my life. I was there, this is what I saw, this is what I felt, this is what I experienced.. you were not there..."  That's it. There's no argument.  Zip.


I have nothing to gain by not being honest here, only credibility to loose.  As is I can not control who reads and doesn't read my blog.


No one has said anything to me to suggest anything of this nature... however... my blog has received over 23,000 views and 421 total comments.  You do the math.  Okay, I'll do it for you... 17% of readers leave me a comment.  If you haven't done so yet... please leave a record of your visit by commenting.  Become a part of my blog.


What I am trying to say is that not everyone of the 23,000+ views have left me a comment... 


Leave your thoughts in the comment area below each post.  As opposed to Facebook.  You'll be helping me put my book together.  It'll be easier for me to print out my complete blog.  Fear not... your comment left on Facebook will still be included in my blog-  I just have to look it up and include it that way. Whether you agree or not. Even if you think I may be crazy, or not... I want to know what you think, and I get to hear from you.  .       


Back on subject...


I am choosing to see the "glass half full" and to look forward to the next 13 letters of the alphabet.  Most importantly i am excited to see what I will be learning about myself the  second half of the alphabet.      

Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow.  

~Doug Firebaugh

If you aren't sure who you are, you might as well work on who you want to be. 

~Robert Brault 

Blogging A to Z Challenge April 2012... What will "N" have for us tomorrow?

Blessings to all!!

53 days to go...  (This is starting to become bitter-sweet)

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Taking Back My Life ~ Making It My Own.  U.S Copyright laws apply.  ©