Day 190 ~ Our 2011 Angels

After watching The Year with Katie Couric on ABC tonight, I was left a little melancholy.  After being reminded of all the great, talented and innovative people we lost this year, I saw how our lives were richer because of them.  

Loosing both Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Russell, was like loosing two wonderful aunts.   Growing up to Jack LaLanne exercising on television... thinking that it was such a silly show, and yet somehow I  found myself exercising each time.  These are some of the many memories I have of these great icons.

Then there was Steve jobs... how blessed are we to have had him in our lifetimes?

All these people have done some amazing things in their lives, leaving behind legacies that generations to come will be able to enjoy.

I dedicate this post to all of them.

• 445 Military deaths in 2011 
• Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor, 1950s Hollywood bombshell Jane Russell, pioneer of health and exercise- Jack LaLanne, journalist Andy Rooney, First Lady Betty Ford, modern day inventor Steve Jobs, Super Glue inventor Harry Coover Jr., father of Mattel- Elliot Handler, e Street Band's Clarence Clemmens, young music legend in the making- Amy Winehouse   

God bless.

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.  ~From a headstone in Ireland

A human life is a story told by God.  ~Hans Christian Andersen 

For some moments in life there are no words.  ~David Seltzer, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory 

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me,

...   two ceiling fans, 

...   our little girl we call Calley

Blessings to all!!

175 days weeks to go...

PS... I love and miss you boys.  To the moon and stars above and back.  You are my sunshines.

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied.  All accounts herein are written by Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life.  Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.

Picture credits... images courtesy of Bing images.

Day 142 ~ Life's Jewels

Liz Taylor shows off the 33 carat
diamond ring Richard Burton gave her in 1968 

• Can you imagine that your daily wear would include a 33 carat diamond ring! Which is only part of $100s of millions worth of jewelry... WOW... One thing for Liz (Taylor), when she did it, she did it big!  

• Imagine building possibly one of the largest homes in the country ...90,000 square feet... being asked why, and replying... "because I can!"

• Or owning a house with 29 bedrooms and a basketball court.

• 560' foot super yacht ... A yacht that is two football fields! in length, has its own missile defense system! ... (rumored to have cost $1 bill dollars ..). 

I just finished watching 20/20 tonight, with Barbara Walters, on which she had shared with all of us what some multimillionaires own...  

I am going to be very honest with you...

I do see success in my future.  And with that said... I do want to live in a really nice home, Dean and I drive nice cars, great education for Calley, nice necessary things for my family, important things, comfort, our retirement, take care of my family... and then of course we can't take it all with us ... (wink, wink)

I do not see us spending money on ridiculousness... or on diamond studded collars for our girls (dogs) ...

I do see us giving back and "helping" those who have had it tough like us, help them (learn) to get ahead... and I do see a nice family (reunion) vacation (wink, wink)... 

This is what I see as my diamond ring..

I do see us leaving a legacy for our children.

How's that for believing in myself?!

I was at the point of my post that I quote something motivational, inspirational that coincides, as I do every evening... my way of paying it forward per say... and I could not have come across a more appropriate quote, which in turn prompted me to write this last paragraph.  This quote was written by Louise L. Hay, yet comes from my heart!  In other words, I could not have said it better!!

I have the power to change my life for the better and I am doing so now.  I love all of the good mental habits I am learning and I watch my life respond to my positive thoughts.  If I had a known how easy this would be, I would have started this process years ago.  I am in awe of the power of my own thoughts to heal my body and my  life.  ~ Louise L. Hay

Blessings to all!!

223 days to go...


All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied. All accounts herein are written by Cali-Gal/Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life. Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.

Day 91 ~ Paying It Forward

We may have just said good-bye to Nana, however this afternoon we celebrated her life.  There is something to be said about being with family at a time like this... especially the sharing of stories of times gone by.

I can not imagine being in the position of having lost a family member and not having anyone to grieve the loss or celebrate their life.  Must be horrible.

I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful people at a time like this... as I am sure they are too, especially since their loss is far greater than mine being that I married into the family.  I think I feel the loss for my mother in law, Gene... meaning I feel her loss.

I may have not known Nana that long, but I know what she means to Gene and the rest of the family.  And knowing that makes me sad.  This is not to say that Nana didn't mean anything to me, because she did.

Uncle Jim, Gene and Nana

All of this speaks volumes about Nana.  Especially knowing the people she raised.  Uncle Jim and Gene are wonderful people, with kind hearts and faith to no ends - to say the least.  All the qualities that were given to them by Nana, have now been given to their own children, and to theirs as well.

Dean spoke very eloquently about Nana today, and said something that has stuck in my mind ever since... "Great parents make great children."  This not only says something about Nana, but it also says something about Uncle Jim and Gene, and the rest of our family.

Thank you Nana!  We will take your teachings with us and pay them forward for generations to come!

Blood makes you related.  Love makes you a family.  ~  Author Unknown

Family:  A link to the past and a bridge to our future.  ~  Author Unknown

You don't choose your family.  They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.  ~Desmond Tutu 

Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.  ~Anthony Brandt

Blessings to all! 

274 days /  39 weeks to go

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied. All accounts herein are written by Cali-Gal/Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life. Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.

Day 90 ~ Saying Good Bye to Nana

Tonight was the first of a two part homage to Frances, better known to her loved ones as Nana.  For such a little lady, she has left big shoes to fill.

It has been an emotional night.  Tomorrow will be the the grave side service... which that in itself will be so final.

So many emotions, which only leads many of us to think of our own mortality.  And being such a nut myself, I have no idea what my family will do with me when it comes to my time.  Why, you ask... well... I do not want to be buried in a coffin... claustrophobic - just the thought of it drives me insane... I know ... you are probably saying, "you will be dead... what will you know?".. I'll know!  and I do not want to be cremated because they have to put you in a box to do so... I know ... you are probably saying, "you will be dead... what will you know?".. I'll know!  

When discussing my dilemma with the family tonight, my solution was to have Dean send me to a taxidermist!  We all laughed!!

Just joking of course.  Actually, I am hoping someone comes up with a new method by the time I go!!  ;)

Seriously now...

Nana, you were an amazing woman!  I know I have learned a lot from you, and I will pass it on to Calley.  We love you!!

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.  2 Timothy 4:7-8

Blessings to all! 

275 days to go

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied. All accounts herein are written by Cali-Gal/Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life. Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.

Day 29 ~ "1,000 View Milestone"

I've been blogging for four weeks now... can't believe it!  I know that this blog is not the book I always wanted to write, but the fact that it has taken a life of its own for me~ that it has given me something to look forward to each day and the way it is lifting me up...I know I've said it before ...well... I AM LOVING IT!   

The book will come... all in due time... all in due time  :)

I can't believe it... I just  got happy tears! as I wrote all of that.  This blog... makes me happy!  Is that crazy?  Can just sitting down each day with my thoughts and sharing myself help me feel that way?... and actually if you think about it (please, I am not condescending or trying to sound as if by any means..) I am also leaving "my self", "my thoughts", "my history" on cyberspace so that my children will one day know the woman I was and how much they meant to me and how much I love them... "to the moon and stars above!" 

Courtesy of Bing images

And with that said... yesterday my blog reached a new milestone... 1,000 views!!  Before you ask... my personal views are not included in the count. lol   It counts each time a post is viewed on my blog, not number of people that have viewed my blog... I wish!!  maybe one day!

I did a little research online (thank you, Kenya! ...never thought of doing so until you mentioned it  ~ also on my "Dream Team"!) and  I registered my blog with a blogging community, bloggers,  where people from all over the world read and review each other's blogs ~ who knows I may reach that "one person".  I've been on Facebook for what seems the beginning of it all (way, way before it was cool) And I finally went and did it... I'm now on twitter too!  LOL!!

In as much I have discovered that my blog has been read from people as far away as Ireland and India, as well as Canada.  I don't know about you?...  But all I have to say is ... this is pretty cool!   :)

Not only that, but I am getting the best comments. "Dream Team" material~ which makes you part of my "Dream Team"!!  Very supportive, caring and inspiring!  I would love your comments, if you are reading this, to become a part of my blog... meaning that It would be awesome if you all would leave your comments on my posts so that they become part of my blog, so that one day my children may read how my wonderful friends supported me!  

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime;  weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.  Psalm 30:5 

Blessings to all!

336 days to go.



All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied. All accounts herein are written by Cali-Gal/Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life. Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.