12.25.2008

Iraq Declares Christmas an Official Holiday for First Year!


Now this news is indeed an inspiring and moving news.  I believe Iraq will be the first Muslim country to do so and what a great way to make Christians feel welcomed.  Here is more from Iraq:
Iraq's Christians, a small minority in the overwhelmingly Muslim country, quietly celebrated Christmas on Thursday with a present from the government, which declared it an official holiday for the first time.

But security worries overshadowed the day for many, particularly in the north where thousands of Christians have fled to escape religious attacks.

Overall security in Iraq has improved markedly in the past year, but a fatal car bombing in Baghdad on Christmas morning was a gruesome reminder that serious problems remain.


Another good news was when I read that The EU Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering called on Arab governments to allow Christian Churches to be built in their countries.

About the picture: Shiite tribal leaders and Iraqi officials attend Christmas Day mass at Mary's Daughters Monastery in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2008. This year, Christmas Day for the first time, declared an official holiday in Iraq.
(AP/Khalid Mohammed)

12.23.2008

History of Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree originated in Germany around 1,000 years ago and was associated with mystery plays. The Paradise play represented the creation of man and the sin of Adam and Eve with their expulsion from Paradise. The Garden of Eden was represented by a fir tree that was hung with apples. It represented both the Tree of Life and Tree of Good and Evil, which stood in the center of Paradise.

When performed in the church, the tree was surrounded by lighted candles. After ending church plays, the candles and tree were taken to a home where the Christmas tree became a symbol of the Savior. Tree decorations over time changed to white wafers, then small pastries, colored paper, tinsel, cookies and other objects.   Continue to read here

Merry Christmas to you and to your loved ones even if you don't celebrate Christmas. Christmas is about the message of Love and your relationship with God. So I hope you will celebrate that. Here is an Irish Christmas blessing to you my dear readers:

The light of the Christmas star to you
The warmth of home and hearth to you
The cheer and good will of friends to you
The hope of a childlike heart to you
The joy of a thousand angels to you
The love of the Son and God's peace to you.

Christmas in Baghdad


Who said change can not come to Iraq? I was delighted to read the news that Iraqis celebrated their first public Christmas. Even the Iraqi Interior spoesman had this to say: "All Iraqis today are Christians." -

More Pictures from Christmas in Iraq click here.

More on Christians in Iraq, click here.

12.21.2008

Don't Give In To Fear!

Stop watching the news and you will feel better.  The 24/7 news cycle of doom and gloom makes people to fear of what is awaiting for them and their finances. But don't forget that every news has two side to it.  Even this global ciris has a message that we can learn. Remember you can see the stars, only, when the sky is the darkest!   As Pope Benedict XVI said Wednesday he hoped the global financial crisis might help people to rediscover the spiritual message of Christmas. He continue to say:
"Stripped of its materialistic and consumer trappings, Christmas offers a chance to welcome as a personal gift the message of hope that emanates from the mystery of Christ's birth," he added. Benedict, describing Christmas as a "universal holiday," said that "even a non-believer can perceive (in it) something special, transcendent and intimate that speaks to the heart."
So, put the fear aside and go for your dream!

Fear not, my heart,
Even the darkest night must end at dawn!
Clouds and mist may come and go,
But they cannot rob sun's radiant glow.
Look up, mine eyes, keep steady watch,
For never must ye lose your guiding star. . . .
Hold fast! Hold fast!
Rest will come when thy toil is done.


~Swami Paramananda from his Book of Daily Thoughts and Prayers

12.17.2008

Brave Afghani Women


A country, where just 6 years ago, used to beat women to death because they dared to walk in the street without a male figure is now allowing women to serve in police force. Here is a pictured of newly recruited female police officers practice with their rifles before a test on a shooting range in Pol-E Khumri, Afghanistan.
Now that is inspiring !

12.13.2008

Dear friends, 
Liberty is the most precious of gifts. 
My generation never had to fight for this freedom, it was offered to us on a silver platter, by people who fought for it with their lives. All throughout Europe American cemeteries remind us of the young boys who never made it home, and whose memory we cherish. 
My generation does not own this freedom; we are merely its custodians. We can only hand over this hard won liberty to Europe’s children in the same state in which it was offered to us. We cannot strike a deal with mullahs and imams. Future generations would never forgive us. We cannot squander our liberties. We simply do not have the right to do so."


The speech was made by the famous Dutch MP Geert Wilders who is well really famous for making the  Fitna movie.

Friendship Plant

Friendship is a plant of slow growth and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.

These wise words  applies for any form of relationship.  I think, you can only appreciate the depth of this wisdom if  you are well in your 40's .  At least it happening for me now.





PHOTO: This plant called Pilea involucrata  which means Friendship Plant.

12.06.2008

Moorish Beauty!

I have been in process of building my house for the last 15 months, so I go through a lot of interior design magazines to get ideas and inspirations. 

I am using some Moroccan elements in the house, so when I found this great picture with that moorish background I had to share it with you. Something about this pictures is so soothing! How do you like it?

Image of Lisa Fonssagrives by Irving Penn, 1951, entitled 'Woman in Palace'

12.05.2008

Happiness is contagious!

A study of the relationships of nearly 5,000 people tracked for decades in the Framingham Heart Study shows that good cheer spreads through social networks of nearby family, friends and neighbors.  Knowing someone who is happy makes you 15.3% more likely to be happy yourself, the study found.

See, you DO have the power to make a change and it's so easy. All you have to do is to act HAPPY

Los Angeles Times reports on this study:
"Your emotional state depends not just on actions and choices that you make, but also on actions and choices of other people, many of which you don't even know," said Dr. Nicholas A. Christakis, a physician and medical sociologist at Harvard who co-wrote the study."
"The research is part of a growing trend to measure well-being as a crucial component of public health. Scientists have documented that people who describe themselves as happy are likely to live longer, even if they have a chronic illness."

11.30.2008

Lovely!


“Love of beauty is Taste. The creation of beauty is Art.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

I wish I knew who took this photo, If you know please let me know. I love the elegance of this photo.

11.27.2008

Give Thanks!


There are so many things great about America and one of my favorites is Thanksgiving holiday, and this is my favorite thanksgiving poem for you:

If I hear the Ocean roar
If I see the eagle soar
If I sense what flowers say
Then this is my Thanksgiving day!

If I catch the rain drop's kiss
If I feel the sunset's bliss
If I blend with natures way
Then, this is my Thanksgiving day!

If I hear you talk to me
If I see what you can be
If I love you on your way
Then, this is my Thanksgiving Day!

Let's not forget to count our blessings and give thanks.  So, I thank YOU for stopping by my blog and for your sweet encouraging emails.



11.20.2008

By Women Civilization continue!



Of woman are we born, of woman conceived.
To woman engaged, to woman married.
Woman we befriend, by woman do civilization continue.
When a woman dies, a woman is sought for.
It is through woman that order is maintained.


~Guru Nanak and painting by Frederick Arthur Bridgman

I read this beautiful wisdom when I was helping my son with his homework on Sikism! He had to write a paper on this religion. 

It's just breaks my heart when many parts of this world, still, treats women so atrociously! Just today I got this news in my email, where I could not believe that I am reading it without being able to do anything!

How do you reconcile these two worlds together? Where in one, a Guru elevates a woman's status so beautifully about  400 years ago and then in our present time, where some men/regimes/some religions tear down women to nothingness?

Justice, Prayers, Valor

11.12.2008

LOVE

Love where you've been.

Love where you're at.

Love how you think.

Love the power you pack.

Love all that you seek.

Love all that you feel.

Love your rocking emotions and the thoughts that make you real.

11.11.2008

Ignorant Celebrities


If you don't know about Michael Ramirez's cartoons, I suggest you buy his book , Ramirez, a winner of Pulitzer Prize, is among the foremost artists and most astute political commentators of our time.

UPDATE:  Here is an excerpts from Ramirez's book that would like to share with you:

Albert Einstein once said, "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." Einstein was right.  It is this axiom that makes political cartooning important. They people who ultimately govern will make mistakes.  They are human, after all. But history has demonstrated that power can turn leaders into monsters. Editorial cartoonists will gladly point out that shortcomings of the powerful in an effort to keep them human.

11.08.2008

Smile though your heart is aching!


Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near

That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

Borrowed from HNN, thanks. Dr. Judith Apter Klinghoffer

11.06.2008


"Whose bread I eat, his song I sing."
-German Saying
 


People get over-excited or over-depressed during election times depends whose side wins or looses. I just have to remind them of this saying above. Let's not read too much into these elections.

10.21.2008

To be tolerant of others requires great strength of character.  You must be secure in who you are not to be threatened by the differences you observe.  

10.16.2008

The Golden Keys to Prosperity


1. BELIEVE. I believe that I Am prosperous.

2. FOCUS. I give my attention to prosperity and abundance.

3. INDEPENDENCE. Prosperity does not depend upon others. There is only one Source, God.

4. REALIZE. Worry, fear, anger & discontent impede my prosperity.

5. EXPECT. I expect the best and I receive the best.

6. GIVE. As I give, so shall I receive, ten fold and more.

7. DON'T GIVE UP. Be persistent in faith. There can be no limit to your possibilities.


~ Emmet Fox,One of the most influential New Thought Christianity authors of the 20th Century (1881-1951).

10.15.2008

My all time favorite book is Ayn Rand's, Atlas Shrugged and I often blogged about her.  In these global economical turmoil, I wished everyone would take time to read Ayn Rand's books:
If you ask me to name the proudest distinction of Americans, I would choose--because it contains all the others--the fact that they were the people who created the phrase 'to make money.' No other language or nation had ever used these words before; men had always thought of wealth as a static quantity--to be seized, begged, inherited, shared, looted or obtained as a favor. Americans were the first to understand that wealth has to be created. The words 'to make money' hold the essence of human morality.

"Until and unless you discover that money is the root of all good, you ask for your own destruction. When money ceases to be the tool by which men deal with one another, then men become the tools of men. Blood, whips and guns--or dollars. Take your choice--there is no other--and your time is running out."


The above is an excerpt from Atlas Shrugged, © Copyright, 1957, by Ayn Rand

I just googled and not surprised to see Ayn Rand's name has been mentioned more lately in the news. Here is just a sample.

10.10.2008

"When all is breaking up, something new is breaking through!" 

9.24.2008

Dissidents Of The World

Something about these dissidents in the picture is inspiring and moving for me. They are courageous and brave. Each one of these dissidents are fighting for justice and equality for their people. That inspires, moves and touches me and they deserve our prayers and support.
On Governors Island President Bush and first lady Laura Bush yesterday hosted a lunch for political dissidents where they discussed how to advance the freedom agenda, the protection of human rights, and the dignity of all people. The attendees included, left to right, the head of the Other Russia Coalition, Garry Kasparov; the chairman of the Adelson Institute for Strategic Studies, Natan Sharansky; a special envoy of the Dalai Lama, Lodi Gyari; a senior fellow at the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University, Xu Wenli; a member of the European Parliament from Lithuania, Vytautas Landsbergis; the minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Zainab Hawa Bangura; the honorary chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada), Alexander Kozulin; President Bush; Laura Bush; U Kovida of Burma; the president of Fighters for Free North Korea, Sang Hak Park; a journalist of Cuba, Omar Pernet Hernandez; the chairman and CEO of Radio Caracas Television, Marcel Granier; the director of international relations for Movement for Justice & Development in Syria, Ausama Monajed; the wife of Ayman Nour, Gameela Ismail, and Secretary of State Rice. At the United Nations, Bush said: ‘We must stand united.’

hmmm, Where is Iranian opposition leader? Where is Saudi Arabia's opposition Leader? Do they have one?

9.21.2008

Great Men or Women

This line has been in my mind lately:

Shakespeare has a line about some men being born great, some men achieving greatness and others having greatness thrust upon them.

8.24.2008

View from the top

If you are in pain, sad or disappointed, just imagine yourself being on top of this mountain. When you change your perspective, everything will change and maybe your pain, sadness will disappear too. Try it on!

8.22.2008

The Art of Non-Resistance

Mystics through the ages have described this spiritual principle as "Non-Resistance."  Non-Resistance is more than just an intellectual concept; put into practice, it is a metaphysical tool to deal with difficult personalities and those pesky, unexpected challenges in daily living.
 
Here is the basic idea:  "When you fight a thing you antagonize it and it hits back.  The harder you fight it, the harder it hits.  What you neglect, or ignore, begins to fade away by starvation."  An easy way to remember how Non-Resistance operates is: "What you resist, persists!" Or you can read Jesus Christ Sermon on the Mount (Matt. V) where he does talk about the art of non-resistance.

8.21.2008

What is Sympathy?

Sympathy says, “I understand what you’re going through, and what you feel is neither strange nor crazy.” Today, some call this “empathy” but the Bible word is “sympathy.” It says, “As holy people . . . be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient” (Colossians 3:12 GWT).

Every time you understand and affirm someone’s feelings, you build fellowship.

Sympathy meets two fundamental human needs: the need to be understood and the need to have your feelings validated.

Every time you understand and affirm someone’s feelings, you build fellowship. The problem is that we’re often in such a hurry to fix things that we don’t have time to sympathize with people. Or we’re preoccupied with our own hurts. Self-pity dries up sympathy for others.

Source: Saddleback.com

8.20.2008

Fellowship

In real fellowship people experience mercy. Fellowship is a place of grace, where mistakes aren’t rubbed in but rubbed out. Fellowship happens when mercy wins over justice.

We all need mercy, because we all stumble and fall and require help getting back on track. We need to offer mercy to each other and be willing to receive it from each other.

You can’t have fellowship without forgiveness because bitterness and resentment always destroy fellowship. Sometimes we hurt each other intentionally and sometimes unintentionally, but either way, it takes massive amounts of mercy and grace to create and maintain fellowship.

The Bible says, “You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” (Colossians 3:13 NLT).

Source

8.16.2008

God's Purpose

I was just watching an interview with Rick Warren, the author of "Purpose Driven Life" and he also leads America's biggest church called Saddleback church. The journalist asked Mr. Warren what is his favourite Bible verse? He responsed:

"ACT 13:36 is the epitaph for King David," Warren said. "It says, ‘He served God’s purpose for his generation. And then he died.’ And that’s my life verse. He did serve God’s purpose, that which never changes but he did it in his generation. He did it in a contemporary and relevant way. He did the timeless in a timely way. He did that which never changed in a world that’s constantly changing and that’s all that any of us can do. My goal is to serve God’s purpose in my generation and then I’ll die. Then the next guy will serve God’s purpose in his generation. And I believe God has a purpose for every life. And if you’re alive, if your heart’s beating, God has a purpose for your life. God has never done anything without a purpose."

You can hear the podcast here

8.15.2008

Does the Universe Have a Purpose?

This is indeed a "big question" and John Templeton Foundation has ask asked leading scientist and scholars to comment on it. Read their responses here, out of 12 responders; 7 said yes, 3 said no, and 2 are not sure. Here is one excerpt:

"My belief is not the result of a blinding flash of a road-to-Damascus revelation. Nor is it the imprint of a nurturing home environment. Kindergartners in their simplicity ask many profound questions, but the purpose of the universe is rarely among them. Maturing teenagers in their angst may ask, "What's the meaning of it all?" The question is existential, but the answer is subtle. Understanding emerges not in thunder, earthquake and fire, but in the still small voice of the universe itself.

Quite possibly, the purpose of the universe is to provide a congenial home for self-conscious creatures who can ask profound questions and who can probe the nature of the universe itself."
~Owen Gingerich

8.14.2008

Inspiring Book


I just finished reading , Infidel, by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Wow! what a woman she is and what an inspiration. If you have to read one book to get inspired, moved and touched; I suggest buying this book. Her famous quote is, "Tolerance of intolerance is cowardice".  Here is an excerpt from her book:
What matters is the atrocities against women and children are carried out in Europe. What matters is that governments and societies must stop hiding behind a hollow pretense of tolerance so that they can recognize and deal with the problems.

These Muslim organization in Holland are supposed to act as liaisons between Muslims and the local and national governments. But their leadership represents no one.  They're not elected. They're comfortably bloated on subsidies and produce virtually  no real programs. The men who run those Muslim groups are supposed to represent Muslim women. They know the issues, but they simply never address them.  They called me a traitor, but it is they who betray Muslims - Muslim women and children.

8.09.2008

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.

— C.S. Lewis


That's why I reject socialism and communism in any disguise they may come with. Be ware!

8.08.2008

Baby 8

A baby in Minnesota was born on the 8/08/08 at 8:08 a.m. , weighing 8 pounds, 8 ounces!!!

Read the story here

8.07.2008

One world, One Dream! is it possible?

It' s interesting that 2008 Olympics is in communist China.  Because the ancient Olympics were religious festivals. There was a gold and ivory statue of Zeus, by Pheidias, inside the presiding god Zeus' temple at Olympia. 42-feet high, it was one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World.

The first Olympic Games were held in 776 B.C.  and the last in A.D. 393, when the Christian Byzantine Emperor Theodosius I abolished them because they were a remnant of the pagan religions. 

The official motto of the games is "One World, One Dream"! Hmmm, I wonder, what the communist China means by "One Dream"? What dream would that be and if truly the whole world comes together to decide on "One Dream", what would that be? Is it even possible to agree on "One Dream"?

Ziggy the wise

8.06.2008

Godspeed



I am depressed 
from the unyielding grimness of this wasteland,
imprisoned but desire to fly.  

"To which destination do you hasten?" 
a brier asked of the breeze. 

"To where do I speed?" 
To a land that embraces me."  

"Take wing in peace but remember, my friend,
when you fly beyond this grim land 
in the name of God and destiny 
greet the rain and the blossoms for me."  
~Mohammad Reza Shafi Kadkani Translation from Persian by Sheema Kalbasi All Rights reserved by the author
Sorry for a long  absence.  Such a busy summer, as I have mentioned before that my husband and I are building our dream house and it's almost done.  I will share some pictures when we move in.  I have also started a business that I will share with you later and the kids are home and so little time to concentrate.  Thanks you for your wonderful emails.  

6.20.2008

Power To Invent

We all have the power to invent and begin a new possibilities.
To see what I mean, please
watch this video.

6.11.2008

Inspiring Afghanistan!

It's great to see how the world community is coming together to help Afghanistan to stand tall. It's an inspiring and moving article, please read this WSJ piece:

"Other nations are doing their part. In Kandahar, Canada has provided literacy training for more than 5,000 Afghans, and vaccinated more than 360,000 against polio. In Helmand, the United Kingdom has brought clean drinking water to more than 175,000 people, and provided microcredit to more than 336,000 small businesses. Training programs run by Germany and other nations have helped put more than 58,000 soldiers and 80,000 police on the streets. And in Bamiyan, I met the New Zealand troops who are providing security and promoting development.

Private citizens are eager to help. I'm proud to be a member of the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council, which President Bush and President Karzai launched in 2002. Through the council, individual American citizens have secured more than $70 million in private-sector funding for a total of 30 programs. Council initiatives have trained women judges, lawyers, entrepreneurs, midwives and parliamentarians. In fact, many of the projects I observed on my trip were council initiatives. I have met children orphaned by Taliban massacres who now have classrooms to study in and safe homes to live in. And I watched women once forbidden to leave home without a male escort now run businesses that provide for their families."

continue here

Also you can read this article Securing Afghanistan's Future in Paris and more here 

6.10.2008

World's first church


Archaeologists in Jordan have unearthed what they claim is the world's first church, dating back almost 2,000 years, The Jordan Times reported on Tuesday.

"We have uncovered what we believe to be the first church in the world, dating from 33 AD to 70 AD," the head of Jordan's Rihab Centre for Archaeological Studies, Abdul Qader al-Husan, said.

He said it was uncovered under Saint Georgeous Church, which itself dates back to 230 AD, in Rihab in northern Jordan near the Syrian border.

"We have evidence to believe this church sheltered the early Christians -- the 70 disciples of Jesus Christ," Husan said.

Continue to read here and here

6.08.2008

"THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STUMBLING BLOCKS AND STEPPING STONES IS HOW WE USE THEM."
Thanks to Daniel for sending me this quote.

6.02.2008

Faith & Courage


Fear not, my heart,
Even the darkest night must end at dawn!
Clouds and mist may come and go
But they cannot rob sun's radiant glow.
Look up, mine eyes, keep steady watch,
For never must you lose your guiding star.
Hold fast! Hold fast!
Faith and courage are His tender blessings;
He will not hold these from you when He sees
your yearning, struggling soul.
Rest will come when thy toil is done.


~Swami Paramandanda

5.27.2008

Just let it go!


Negative thoughts and feelings are like a spark that falls on your coat sleeve. Brush it off and it will do no damage, let it linger and it will burn a hole.
Let it go... 
Practice forgiveness. You practice over and over, until it becomes second nature. Everything needs practice!
Let it go..
Have you noticed that people you love can often do no wrong in your eye? and even if they do, it's easy to forgive them. The people you hate can do no right, and no matter what they do, they're not forgiven.
Let it go..
It does not matter at the end...All hurt feelings are illusions, it's our made-up stories, it's unreal.
Let it go..


5.25.2008

Mars Touchdown!


The first-ever landing of a probe near Mars' north pole happened smoothly today. Congratulations to NASA and to all scientists who have worked on this project for 5 long years.

The Mars Phoenix Lander, completing a 296-day, 422 million-mile journey, closed in on the Red Planet with a 50-50 chance of a successful touchdown on its arctic plains, NASA officials said.

What a great accomplishment for human race! So inspiring! These scientists truly inspired, moved and touched my heart. 

Read the Phoenix Lander's blog here to get daily information about this project.

UPDATE: Click here to see the first pictures of Mars

5.21.2008

What it would be like to fly over Mars?

Well, you can find out here.  It's worth spending a minute to go over this fabulous video.  And if you are more interested in the cosmos in general, you can click here to view more photo and videos.

I find these information absolutely inspiring.  Here is a picture of galaxy city. Each of these fuzzy blobs is a galaxy, together making up the Perseus Cluster, one of the closest clusters of galaxies. click here for information

5.19.2008

Inner Light of Holiness




"We feel the Presence of the Great Spirit of the Universe in silence.  The silence is not so much external silence, it is the silence of our inner being.  As long as there is turbulence and unrest within us, we can never reflect the Spirit of Holiness, nor can we penetrate to the innermost depths of our being.  Only when there is a cessation of all unrest within our heart do we feel the Divine Presence and at once arises within us a new sense of sanctity."




~Paramananda







Photo source

5.18.2008

So inspiring!


Double Amputee Sprinter Cleared For Olympic Competition

Oscar Pistorius, whose prostheses were previously considered an unfair advantage, has been given the thumbs up to compete.

Now if this does not inspire, move and touch you , I don't know what else will? Now lets send our prayer that he will too..wow! wouldn't that be great? 

Read more here

Holiday of Wesak

This week presents a rare opportunity to enjoy a second full moon in Scorpio, coinciding with the annual religious holiday of Wesak, named for the second lunar month of the Hindu calendar. This holiday became significant in 1950, when the first conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists declared this full moon as the celebration of the birth, death and enlightenment of Buddha (it's said that Buddha became enlightened during a Taurus sun/Scorpio full moon). 

The intensity of Scorpio moon times can amplify our passions, prickle our emotions and ripen long-forgotten feelings. An enlightened response might be greeting everything this week with an open heart and engaged awareness, just as the Buddha did. And you can transform any difficult passion into compassion for the natural dance of life.

5.13.2008

LOVE



"Love having no geography, knows no boundaries"

5.10.2008

Ahh...Being a mother!



My dearest sons, thank you for making me a mother. It’s me who has to acknowledge you for giving this great title to me. I am the one who has learned so much from you. You have strengthened my faith, given me peace, filled my days with humor, glory, strength, and abundance joy. Thank you!

Happy Mothers day my dear friends!

5.04.2008

Charlie bit me



I think I am the last one seeing this video (22 million hits). Please watch it, this is the cutest and the most innocent video on YouTube!! Enjoy!

Metaphysical Musings

4.27.2008

The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem. 
–T. Rubin 
Hmmm...or as my husband would say, "there is a solution for every problem, so why worry!"

4.24.2008

Understanding a nation through their women's poetry

To understand the Persians soul & culture, you have to read their poetry more than anything else. Westerners know some about Persian poetry through Rumi,  Hafez , or Saadi, but very few have any knowledge of Iranian women poet. Unfortunately, Iran's unhuman & savage regime has tried to extinguish women's voices and kill their soul.  But, if you are interested to learn more about this nation, I invite you to read some of their poetry written by courageous Iranian women.

My dear friend, Sheema Kalbasihuman right advocate, an award winning poet, and literary translator, has just published her second book called Seven Valleys of Love., This book is an anthology of Iranian women's poetry collected and translatd into English.

Let me know if you get a chance to read it.

More about this book you can click here.

4.22.2008

Life Torch


"This is the true joy in life, to being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; to being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.

I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live.  I rejoice in life for its own sake.  Life is no "brief candle" to me.  It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burm as brightly as possible before handing it on to the future generations."

~George Bernard Shaw

I am not a big fan of Shaw (Shaw was ardent supporter of the Stalinist USSR), but how can one argue about what he says here.  I love people who have passion for living! I am still dueling as to what kind of torch I am preparing to pass on? Have you thought about yours?