Reach For the Stars- And Follow Your Dreams

I woke up a few Saturdays ago to an overcast sky followed by rain all day.   A perfect day to be lazy, which in our home on a September Saturday meant watching football games or catching up on reading, that particular day I choose catching up on some reading.  I looked at the various magazines displayed on my end tables in the living room made a selection and settled into a comfortable chair.  I am sure that you can surmise that I had selected a woman’s magazine.  I have been reading this particular woman’s magazine for quite some time and the one thing that has been consistent with this publication is that it continually inspires women to reach for the stars and follow their dreams.  One article in particular just seemed to stay with me; it was the story about I had a simple idea that ended up becoming a viable successful business with the strong inner confidence and strength displayed by the women along with the support from her family members and friends to follow her dream.

As women we all have dreams and for whatever the reason may be we find ourselves putting our dreams on a shelve labeled one day, not now.   And trust me that is ok, but what is not ok is to leave those dreams on that shelf and be satisfied with simply talking about once I had dreamed of doing this. I believe that we are all capable of second acts; we simply need to believe in ourselves and surround ourselves with people we can trust to tell us the truth and to ask us the tuff questions that we wouldn’t ask ourselves.

If you are truly interested in reaching for the stars and following your dreams, whether it be now, tomorrow, or a year from now don’t give up on your dreams. Read those stories about other women who have followed their dreams… their stories are out there. I know that I have been inspired by their stories and I am on the path to following my dreams.

Trish

Enjoy every minute of your second act it will be quite an exciting dance!

*A woman named Holly Robinson Peete with a very special organization:
http://www.hollyrod.org/
Read about her story.

*October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month*
Please remember to schedule your Mammogram!

Keep your heart with all diligence… Ponder the path of your feet. –Proverbs 4:23, 26

*Photo: Dream Window by LJN

Trish Nicholas Photography @
www.wix.com/TrishN/Trish-Nicholas-Photography

Photos For Purchase: Courtesy of Redbubble @ http://www.redbubble.com/people/tmeian
*Also please feel free to contact me with any enquiries regarding commercial use of my photographs.


Follow my Photography Journey @ http://hubpages.com/hub/A-Photographers-Journey
Seventh Installment coming soon!

A New Blog

A few weekends ago when my girlfriend and her husband were visiting with us I had one of those “light bulb” moments. The guys were engaged in guy talk and we were, of course, having some girl talk and catching up with one another. My light bulb moment occurred when my girl friend was telling me about a ministry, (mercyministries.org), that their church was sponsoring. That’s when it hit me, I said to myself ‘that’s it’ a Blog dedicated to .orgs! Since I have been a .org junkie for quite some time this was a perfect idea for me to pursue. I have been keeping a list of .orgs and from time to time I have included various organizations in my Blog postings. Starting a new Blog dedicated to bringing awareness to others about organizations that were helping people in need would definitely satisfy my inner desire to let people know about these organizations.

The debut of my new Blog dedicated to .orgs will be coming soon. I will start by introducing to you Mercy Ministries. I am thankful for my light bulb moment that God has given to me. I pray that this .org Blog will inspire others to give, to write, to pray and to do something. We are living in difficult times and there are many people in need and the time to act is now.

Trish

ABOUT MERCY MINISTRIES
Since 1983, Mercy Ministries of America has provided hope and healing to generations of desperate young women who are seeking freedom from life-controlling issues such as: physical and sexual abuse including sex trafficking, eating disorders, self harm, drug and alcohol addictions, depression and unplanned pregnancy.

Please logon to Mercy Ministries for the full organization profile:
Mercy Ministries:
http://www.mercyministries.org/


Also check out the Mercy Ministries YouTube Video:
http://youtu.be/MboCd4teXQk

Mercy Minister Founder Nancy Alcorn's Blog:
http://www.nancyalcorn.com/

To those of you, who can give, then give
To those of you who can pray, then pray
To those of you, who can write, then write.
But please do something!

Mercy Ministry Photo: Photographer Unknown

All Other Photos: Courtesy of Family Archives

Trish Nicholas Photography @ www.wix.com/TrishN/Trish-Nicholas-Photography
Also please feel free to contact me with any inquiries regarding commercial use of my photographs.


To Purchase Photographs: Courtesy of Redbubble @ http://www.redbubble.com/people/tmeian

My sixth installment about my Photography Journey on HubPages @ http://phototljn7.hubpages.com/hub/Photography-Blog

Burnt Bagel… Really!

I usually start my morning off with a cup of regular java, no sugar, cream or milk and a nice bagel. The other morning that “nice” bagel turned out to be a burnt bagel thanks to our finicky toaster, which I keep saying that I am going to get rid of. I had taken my attention from toasting my bagel and began opening up the mail that I had just brought in from the mailbox, when I heard the bagel pop up, I knew that my nice morning bagel had turned into something less than desirable to put into my mouth.

After getting mad at the toaster and myself, I began scraping the burnt pieces of the bagel into the drain so that the bagel could become somewhat eatable. As I looked at the scraped bagel on the plate my mind flashed to the news story about the Somalia famine, the images of the Somalia people suffering began to flood through my mind. There were men, woman, infants, children and the elderly starving to death, no food, no water, nothing, leaving their war torn homes and struggling to make their way to a place where they could get food and be safe… I said to myself a burnt bagel Trish… really!

Hopefully after reading this you will remember that there is someone in the world who is starving and would certainly take that burnt piece of toast or bagel with or without the burnt pieces being scraped off. Yes, it would have been very easy for me to have tossed my burnt bagel into the trash and toasted another one, but in my house growing up we were taught that we did not waste our food, so I knew that I would be eating this bagel.

If you are not into scraping off the burnt pieces of your toast or bagel and eating it like I ended up doing, don’t throw it away toss it into a zip-lock bag, scrape the burnt pieces off later and then turn that bread into bread crumbs… Win! Win!

Trish

You can help the people in Somalia
For a list of charitable organizations click on the MSNBC nightly news link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43841708/ns/nightly_news/

Somalian refugees disembark a bus in the registration area of the IFO refugee camp which makes up part of the giant Dadaab refugee settlement, July 23. The refugee camp at Dadaab, located close to the Kenyan border with Somalia, was originally designed in the early 1990s to accommodate 90,000 people but the UN estimates over 4 times as many reside there. (Oli Scarff / Getty Images)

A severely malnourished Somali child receives Oral Rehydration Salts [O.R.S.] at Mogadishu's Banadir hospital, on July 28. (Mustafa Abdi / AFP - Getty Images)

Farhiya (centre) holds her 7-year-old sister Suladan by the hand as they follow their mother and brothers at the reception center of the Dolo Ado refugee camp near the Ethiopia-Somalia border on July 19. Refugees are being housed at the transit center while a new camp is being set up by the Ethiopian goverment and international aid organizations. Thousands of Somalis have fled in recent months to neighbouring Ethiopia and Kenya in search of food and water, with many dying along the way. (Roberto Schmidt / AFP - Getty Images)

Children drink water from the same place as cattle at Liboi, Kenya, on July 27. UNICEF says it is trying to vaccinate more than 300,000 children in Kenya in an emergency program designed to prevent an outbreak of disease as refugees stream into northern Kenya from famine-hit Somalia. (Schalk van Zuydam / AP)

"WATCH: Iman On Somalia's 'Heartbreaking' Famine:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/31/_n_911190.html


The Global Enrichment Foundation.com:
http://globalenrichmentfoundation.com/



Save The Children:
http://www.flickr.com//photos/savethechildrenaustralia/sets/72157627050884977/show/


Proverbs 27:7 “A person who is full refuses honey, but even bitter food tastes sweet to the hungry.” (NLT)



Proverbs 31:8-9 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (NIV)

To those of you, who can give, then give
To those of you who can pray, then pray
To those of you, who can write, then write about Somalia's Famine
But please do something!

Trish

TLJ Nicholas Photography With A Personal View: I am So Proud of You

TLJ Nicholas Photography With A Personal View: I am So Proud of You: "A few weeks ago I watched the series premier of a new TV show, which I might add I thoroughly enjoyed watching. The next morning I found my..."

I am So Proud of You

A few weeks ago I watched the series premier of a new TV show, which I might add I thoroughly enjoyed watching. The next morning I found myself thinking about that show, especially the interaction between the mother and daughter, which we know at times can be challenging for both parties. The battle back and forth between the mother and daughter ended when the daughter demonstrated to her mother how really proud she was of her.

Let me state here that I am not a trained professional in mother and daughter relationships, but I am a daughter and a mother of two daughters. Drawing from my own experiences I noted that when I saw the daughter express her approval of her mother’s accomplishments, it was the first time the daughter saw her mother other than that of “mom” there was a true understanding of her mother as the person, the woman, who she really was. This particular scene reminded me of the very moment when my oldest daughter told me how proud she was of me… wow! I can recall that day as if it happened yesterday. This is a special recognition for both a mother and a daughter, it is a time when the battling back and forth ends and a new richer mother daughter relationship begins.

Do you have a special I am so proud of you moment mom that you would like to share? If you do I would love to hear about it!

Being a mother is learning about strengths you didn't know you had, and dealing with fears you didn't know existed. ~Linda Wooten

We're daughter and mother
not so long ago.
We give and take
and take and give
along times endless row.

Love is passed
And love received
to be passed on again:
A precious heirloom
Twice, twice blessed,
a spiritual cardigan.


I'll put it on
And treasure it,
The me I have received,
And when the roles
Reverse again,
I'll have what I most need.


So may our love
go on and on,
A hundred thousand years;


Mothers and daughters,
Daughters and mothers,
through joys and other tears.
- Anonymous

Thanks, Mom, for being a Christian,
and showing me how to be;
I’ll follow your example
for all eternity.
By Joanna Fuchs

The best conversations with mothers always take place in silence, when only the heart speaks. ~Carrie Latet

Nothing is more sacred or powerful than the bond of a mother and daughter. Mothers and daughters go through thick and thin together and are an inseparable duo that makes life worth living for the other. - By: Wayne Hemrick

“And still it’s from her that you learned that whatever she has chosen to become, you’ll still feel proud of her simply because she has the key to your heart forever.” - Author: unknown

All Photos: Courtesy of Family Archives

Trish Nicholas Photography @ www.wix.com/TrishN/Trish-Nicholas-Photography

Trish Nicholas Photography Photos For Purchase Courtesy of Redbubble:  http://www.redbubble.com/people/tmeian

My Photography Journey @ http://hubpages.com/hub/A-Photographers-Journey

My love to all Mother's and Daughters!

"Mama exhorted her children at every opportunity to 'jump at de sun.' We might not land on the sun, but at least we would get off the ground." - Zora Neale Hurston

God gave us Seashells

As my husband and I were leisurely strolling on the beach I began picking up every beautiful and uniquely shaped seashell that caught my eye, one of my favorite beach things to do since childhood, so much so that my grown children would bring me back seashells from their trips to the beach.

For me seashells remind me that I am apart of an awesome creation and play an important role in it. I believe the enjoyment of it all is discovering who you are and how your presence on this earth makes a difference.

There are many things happening in our world today some things that are good and some things that are not so good, it is up to us to choose which part we want to play in it. We can covet our own little world and each day remain on the side line of life or we can choose to make a difference.

About a year ago NBC nightly news incorporated a segment into their broadcast called, you guessed it “Making a Difference.” The segment became so popular that the network decided to stick with it, instantly it became a hit. I believe that many of us want to do good things for our families and for other people and once in awhile we enjoy hearing a good news story.

I know that whatever our economic situation may be we can find a way to be a vital part of this creation because we have been beautifully created and we are uniquely different… God gave us Seashells.

Trish

You can “Make a Difference”…


http://www.servicenation.org/


http://woundedwarriorproject.org/


http://www.soles4souls.org/


http://www.kidsdonations.org/


http://www.locksoflove.org/



Let us not grow weary while doing good. – Galatians 6:9

Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, for all the people you can, while you can. - Our Daily Bread 6/6/11

*Congratulations to all of the high school and college graduates!

*Photo: Beach Seashells- Photographer Unknown

Photos by Trish @ www.wix.com/TrishN/Trish-Nicholas-Photography


Photos for Purchase Courtesy of Redbubble: http://www.redbubble.com/people/tmeian


Follow my Photography Journey on HubPages: http://hubpages.com/hub/A-Photographers-Journey

Human to Human Contact

I recently read an article about a photographer named August Sanders (1876-1964). Through his view finder he captured the many faces of the German society in which he lived. Writer David Propson wrote in the Wall Street Journal that he captured “A universe of humanity in his restricted space.”

As I continued reading the article, I couldn’t help but recall a conversation that I had a few weeks ago with my daughter Morgan. I told her about a conversation that a woman engaged in with me at the grocery store meat counter. This was the second time that a complete stranger engaged in a conversation with me, only before it was in the produce department. Each conversation ended with “you have a nice day”! Morgan said that when she moved to Virginia she had the same thing happen to her, “I believe that is a “Southern thing.” We both agreed that we could hardly ever remember a complete stranger engaging in a conversation with us at the grocery store back home.

I am not sure if this engaging grocery store conversation by complete strangers is a “Southern thing”, but I would like to say that it is a very human thing. Each day we live our lives and connect with one another through an array of technologies, cell phones, Skype, Twitter, Facebook and hey check out this video on You-Tube. Along with internet news sites and Blogs that provide us with a wide range of topics. With the click of a mouse we can participate with a comment or chose to remain anonymous. Has all of this instant information/communication technology lessened our human contact?

Perhaps the reason why I was so startled by a complete stranger engaging in a conversation with me at the grocery store has more to do with the “old form of human to human communication, which is becoming so rare these days. As we continue to embrace and keep up with the ever changing technology that is apart of our day to day lives, I hope that we will still cherish the irreplaceable human to human connection.

The tomatoes are extremely ripe today…

“Wherever we live, we cross paths with people from many backgrounds and beliefs.” – Our Daily Bread 4.26.10

“Each contact with a human being is so rare, so precious, one should preserve it.” – Anais Nin

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. - Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)

http://www.servicenation.org/


Photos by Trish: www.wix.com/TrishN/Trish-Nicholas-Photography

Photos For Purchase Courtesy of Redbubble: http://www.redbubble.com/people/tmeian

A Photographers Journey: http://hubpages.com/profile/PhotoTljn7