For all the women out there...

I thought you'd appreciate this...

I'm so glad I was not the parent on duty when this happened.

Regards,

M.

World Clock (totally freaky)

Take a look at this world clock - it depicts the rate of births, deaths, HIV infections, cancer infections, etc by the year, the month, week, day and minute.

It's seriously freaky.

http://www.poodwaddle.com/worldclock.swf

Regards,

M.

Eastern Gifts - News & Events

Afternoon,

Things are changing and growing at a phenomenal rate at Eastern Gifts and Things cc and we would like to take this opportunity of telling you about our latest news.

First of all, our newsletters: we have moved across to a new database system and we cannot carry the names over from our previous database to our new database without seeming like we are promoting spam. Eastern Gifts and Things cc does not, in anyway, promote spam. So, if you are still interested in receiving our newsletters, we ask that you log onto our site, www.easterngifts.co.za and register for the newsletters (the link is on the right hand side under “Information”). You can unsubscribe at any time and you do not have to register as a client in order to receive the newsletters. If you are already a client of Eastern Gifts and Things cc, simply update your profile to subscribe to our newsletters. If you do not subscribe to our newsletters, you will not receive any further communication from Eastern Gifts and Things cc.

The newsletters contain information pertaining to home décor tips and ideas, gift ideas, recipes, planning your wedding, what to do for Christmas and so much more. We’ve also included some information for all the future online entrepreneurs out there. Do you need specific news or information? Why not e-mail us your requests and we will be happy to oblige for future newsletters. Newsletters are e-mailed once a month.

Secondly, Eastern Gifts and Things will be hosting our own affiliate’s program very shortly. Why not make money from all the leads you send our way? More information pertaining to the affiliate’s program will be available in due course on the site, so watch this space. If however, you are interested in becoming an agent for Eastern Gifts and Things cc, please click here.

Thirdly, our new shipment of stock is due within the next couple of weeks. We have the most beautiful figurines and gifts and home décor items coming in. And we have added some stunning Christmas decorations to our new range – yes, Christmas is right around the corner! We are also in negotiations with new suppliers of wooden and ceramic crafts and linen for our site. Eastern Gifts and Things cc prides itself on offering you genuine handmade quality items. We will be sure to keep you up-to-date with all the happenings on our site. Remember, for family, friends, colleagues – across the country – we deliver direct for any occasion, be it birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, Christmas. You can have up to five delivery addresses under your profile, which can be edited and updated at any time.

And finally, why not check out our blogs? We have two blogs that offer a day-by-day account for Eastern Gifts – from business learning, to inspiring articles, jokes, pictures and so much more. Our blog addresses are: http://easterngifts.blogspot.com or http://www.easterngifts.iblog.co.za.

That’s all for now – please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any queries in this regard.

Regards,
M.

Soul Searching

Soul Searching

The other day, an acquaintance asked me why I always post inspiring messages on my blogs. I did not have an answer then, but having taken a couple of days to think about it, I believe I have uncovered three main reasons with a whole host of subsidiary reasons. The person wanted to know why I never post jokes or express my sense of humour. So, well, here goes…

Firstly, I have such a whacked sense of humour, I would never be able to express it adequately in words. This could result in my being given a rather stylish, but tight fitting white jacket and placed in a small square room where I couldn’t hurt myself. KiddingJ. I love Terry Pratchett’s humour, but mine may be even more over the top and I have unfortunately not been given the grace or eloquence with words that he has been given. Therefore this may result in numerous misunderstandings of said whacked sense of humour. Therefore, I simply refrain.

Secondly, what I post on my blogs, I find inspiring. Every message or quote or biography quoted has inspired and motivated me in some way. I truly believe that we all receive messages or go through situations in our life that aid us in become so much more than what we currently are and that lead us to who we are supposed to be in this life (way deep, I know…) and that continually shows us our life’s path. Every quote, message or biography has aided a deeper understanding of who I am and where I want to be in this life and the next.

Which leads me to my third reason – that if I can help someone by inspiring or motivating them by the blogs I post, then I feel like a good thing has been done. Almost like that movie with Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Orsmond in Pay it Forward – where if you have a good turn done to you, instead of paying the person back that did the good turn, you then pass that good turn onto someone else who needs it. And they in turn pass it onto someone else. If someone can inspire me and I can use that message to inspire someone else, then we can all become what God intended for us to be – healthy, wealth and wise. Hope I’m not confusing the point I’m trying to make or sounding arrogant or anything like that.

Anyway, maybe, when I’ve experimented a bit more with trying to express my sense of humour adequately in the written form, I’ll be brave enough to try these on the blogs. Who knows? Maybe the men with white jackets won’t pay me a visit after all… You just never knowJ!

Regards,
M.

Out of the mouth of babes...

Oh, man, I found this so funny and so cute. Not sure how true it is, but I had such a good laugh – enjoy!

KIDS IN CHURCH

3-year-old Reese: "Our Father, Who does art in heaven? Harold is His name. Amen."

A little boy was overheard praying: "Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it. I'm having a real good time like I am."

After the christening of his baby brother in church, Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy replied, "That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, and I wanted to stay with you guys."

One particular four-year-old prayed, "And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets."

A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they were on the way to church service, "And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?" One bright little girl replied, "Because people are sleeping."

A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. "If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.' Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus!"

A father was at the beach with his children when the four-year-old son ran up to him, grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore where a seagull lay dead in the sand. "Daddy, what happened to him?" the son asked. "He died and went to Heaven," the Dad replied. The boy thought a moment and then said, "Did God throw him back down?"

A wife invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?" "I wouldn't know what to say," the girl replied. "Just say what you hear Mommy say," the wife answered. The daughter bowed her head and said, "Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"

Quote for Today

"We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems."
- John W. Gardner(1912 - 2002)

Make over your marriage

Marriage is not for the faint-hearted. It takes hard work and commitment. We asked a long-time happily married couple, a marriage counsellor and a divorce lawyer for tips and advice for marriage makeovers that work.

Happily married

Val and Monty Mildren from Durban share a powerful bond born of an abiding friendship since primary school. 'I had my eye on Monty from as far back as Standard 3!' laughs Val.

After a long courtship, the Mildrens were married in 1958. Forty-eight years, three children and five grandchildren later, the couple says that for them, the time has 'flown'. Monty retired in 1997 and instead of battling with the adjustment as many couples do, the change of lifestyle brought them closer together. 'Apart from being more in love than ever, we are compatible and share the same values. I think marriages today are under a lot more pressure. For starters, money doesn't buy what it used to, and most couples need two salaries. Working couples with young children have very little time to relax and enjoy their home or spend time together,' says Monty.

Val says, 'I was privileged not to have had to work outside the home, which I think made a difference – I was able to spend a lot of time with Monty and the children without having to juggle a home with a career. 'Also, we have never placed any importance on "keeping up with the Joneses." Our children didn't always get everything their friends had, but we are a very close-knit family. If both partners don't share the same values there are bound to be problems. Total respect for each other is also very important and a sense of humour is a must. Monty and I always seem to find something to laugh about.'
'Finances are also a big issue,' Monty adds. 'Many marriages have ended because of arguments about money. It's important that couples agree on a target, such as your plans for retirement, and live according to a budget that falls within your means.'

The counsellor

Cathy Haselau is a social worker in private practice. She specialises in marital and family therapy. A former counsellor at the Family and Marriage Society of South Africa (FAMSA), Cathy has 19 years of relationship counselling experience. 'In most cases, problems arise when couples fight as a result of misunderstanding each other and poor communication. Issues can include the in-laws, one of the partners having an affair, money matters, chores, child-care responsibilities, and parenting methods and the demands of step-parenting.
'Often an argument arises over a small issue and escalates because both partners are feeling hurt and they become reactive and defensive. They then begin to use destructive, hostile communication such as blaming, contempt and ignoring each other. This obviously increases the hurt and the reactivity and so the vicious cycle gets worse,' according to Cathy.

'Couples need to affirm each other. The American psychologist and author John Gottman did research that shows that in a good marriage it takes five positive communications to balance just one negative one. Therefore, if you have a fight and you use 100 negative communications, you will need 500 positive communications to balance it out. Couples need to look out actively for the positive energy in the marriage, build it and not take it for granted.'

The divorce lawyer

Roger Knowles is an attorney, lecturer and author, specialising in divorce and family law. 'My views are based on failing relationships, as I rarely see people in healthy relationships. Most marriages break down for a combination of reasons, such as communication and preconceived expectations. People don't communicate very well. Couples need to listen – really listen – with a genuine willingness to try and understand each other. Also, most people seem to have an idea of what marriage as an institution should be, and have never really asked themselves or their spouses what is possible or desirable or best for them. They may try to impose what a marriage should be onto the relationship, without taking into account the fact that individuals, times and circumstances constantly change. Couples also need to understand how far removed the wonderful madness of romance is from the real world. A lot of relationships don't survive that transition.'

According to Roger Knowles, these are some of the most common reasons cited in divorce summonses:

• lack of communication
• constant arguing
• no longer sharing common interests
• infidelity
• physical abuse
• emotional abuse
• substance abuse
• lack of a sexual relationship.

Makeover tips for marriages

• Always show respect and kindness towards each other. Monty Mildren says that while he and Val do have disagreements, they have never used unkind words towards each other.
• Learn to communicate effectively and allow your partner to have different views without taking offence or making offensive remarks. Be gentle and tolerant with each other.
• Ensure that you set goals together and plan ahead – this includes a budget.
• Newlyweds need to learn to balance their time so that each has individual time as well as couple time.
• A new baby can really disrupt a relationship. Don't be afraid to ask for help from family or friends, or find a babysitter so that each person has personal time, and there is space in your schedule for couple time together. And don't forget that in the chaos a new baby brings, it is okay to have an untidy house.
• Do things together as much as possible. 'Each partner must have a life, but they must also spend a lot of it with their partner,' says Roger Knowles. 'Time and time again I am told by tearful about-to-be divorcées that their spouses are forever working, or playing golf – or going out without them.'
• Don't allow your marriage to become boring. 'Make sure you have fun time alone together, without children, family or friends. Don't take each other for granted. Give each other fun surprises. If you have fun outside the bedroom you are more likely to have fun inside the bedroom,' advises Cathy Haselau.
• Laugh often. Share jokes and recall funny situations. Laughter is a great connector and it's hard to stay angry when you're laughing.
• Share chores. 'This can become a problem when chores and child care are allocated according to tradition, and one person carries more of the load and resents it. The couple needs to negotiate so that both contribute fairly and equally,' says Cathy.
• Stay faithful by expressing your needs and concerns to each other directly. Be open and honest, and put energy into your marriage. Solve problems in the marriage, not outside it.
• Children leaving the nest? One or both of you retiring? Look at it as an opportunity to rekindle your relationship and set new joint dreams and targets.
• 'I would recommend marriage counselling as soon as problems occur,' says Cathy. 'The earlier these problems are addressed the easier it is to sort them out. Even if your partner refuses to go, it's important to go on your own to help you to cope.'

Ref: http://www.women24.com/Ideas/ContentDisplay/Ideas_ArticleDisplay/0,12069,10132,00.html