Places to Visit

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Successful Entrepreneurs


Republished by EntrepreneursPro  

A successful entrepreneur has certain characteristics that compel them to succeed. They have an innate ability to push for a new way of life and are dedicated to that dream. Entrepreneurs move on a vision by taking action, and accepting full responsibility for the outcome. They are not conventional thinkers but innovators of new ideas.

Here is a list of 5 characteristics of a successful entrepreneur.

  •  Optimistic – Seeing situations in a positive way leading to positive outcome even when faced with a difficult situation. Successful entrepreneurs view difficult circumstances as opportunities while others may see difficulties as barriers or stopping blocks. Successful entrepreneurs see failed ventures as a learning experience and necessary in the trial and error of true optimization.
  • Creative – Entrepreneurs are innovators and see day to day life as an endless means to develop ideas by creating value. By visualizing an idea and embodying that vision entrepreneurs create and market new ideas. The idea might be something as simple as packaging and marketing a rock known as the “pet rock” or applying glue on small pieces of paper and creating sticky notes. And now a days creating software that will save time and money.
  • Energetic – Successful entrepreneurs are dynamic and driven by their ideas and are willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen. The drive that propels entrepreneurs is closely related to passion and enthusiasm and is displayed as unstoppable energy to succeed. A successful entrepreneur is 100% committed to his vision and has an intuitive belief in it.
  • A Risk-taker – Diving into the unknown with full force and being unafraid to get completely immersed. Successful Entrepreneurs are synonymous with founders or someone who carved out a niche that never existed before.
  • Manages Resources Optimally – Discipline and organizing resources to work for them successful entrepreneurs ask what is important and in what order and how to implement those resources. Change is a constant.

I believe entrepreneurs transcend the confines of tradition, opening individuals up to innovative styles of consciousness. They develop ideas and view those ideas as flexible. And by pitting those ideas against the rest of the world this helps them to create and better define their own values and goals. And through public perception they develop a positive spin debunking myths and creating unique selling points.

Monday, October 29, 2012

The Homelanders by Andrew Klavan

"Charlie West just woke up in someone else's nightmare."

Charlie West goes to sleep one night as a 17 year old karate loving highschooler.  He has three close friends, a distant friend who is struggling, and a sweet girl he wants to get to know.  He goes to sleep happy and looking forward to tomorrow. 

Until he wakes up in a white room covered in blood and bruises and tied to a chair.  Someone outside the door orders his death, and Charlie's nightmare begins.  He soon learns that a year has passed and he has acquired many enemies.  A group of terrorists is trying to kill him, and the police are after him for the murder of his friend.  Where are his parents?  His friends? Where is Beth Summers?  Are they really engaged?  And how will he escape alive?

This series is a great adventure read for young men and women of all ages.  I really enjoyed it as a light read and my sisters love it.  Andrew Klavan's sense of humor and his uncanny ability to write the thought pattern of a highschool boy is amazing.  

Meet an amazing cast of characters.  The cold and heartless Detective Rose with a hidden motive.  The calm and trusting Beth Summers who believes in Charlie no matter what.   His three cohorts Josh, Rick and Miler whose wits and dedication to their friend are amazing.  And the wise Sensei Mike who mentors "chucklehead" as Charlie works through this puzzle.

Charlie himself is a great guy.  Charlie is a Christian who love his Lord and his country.  Charlie is wonderfully dedicated and patriotic.  He can't believe that he really turned himself against American and joined the terrorists.  But why else would they be trying to kill him?  They must have been betrayed by... him. 

There is some violence in this series (mostly relating to the terrorist group), but nothing uncalled for.  Parents can proof read for their children's reading level when it comes to the violence.  One thing that struck me was the respect that Charlie has for life.  He does not hunt the "bad guys" with a gun and have a shoot out: killing hundreds.  Charlie is a black belt karate kid and he uses his brains and skills to outwit them.  

The Last Thing I Remember (The Homelanders)
The Truth of the Matter (The Homelanders)
The Truth of the Matter (The Homelanders)
The Final Hour (The Homelanders)

Thursday, October 25, 2012

A Year Ago...

Isn't it funny that you remember the minute details of un-important events in your life?  Yet the important, life changing events pass in a blur.  (I'm praying I remember my wedding better than I remember a lot of life changing events) 

Take October 25, 2011.  Big Blur.  Big Event.  Follow Me. 


I had a terrible, I repeat TERRIBLE, cold.  I was lying in bed (laying? lying?) sniffling.  I couldn't even get up.  I decided to spend the day in bed asleep so that I could knock this cold in the head and get over it before the busy week ahead.  (God, by the way, has a sense of humor)

Okay, I'm in bed.  My dad leaves for a meeting somewhere far away (okay, not that far away.  He stayed in the state).  My siblings and my mom where having a tea party downstairs.  (Michael loves to cook, so we let him have his outlet with tea parties.)

Wait, you need to know something.  We had friends down the highway from our house.  We saw them once a week at Bible Study, but other than that we didn't know them that well.  (Again, God's sense of humor) They have 8 kids and Mrs. S. was pregnant.

My mom arrived in my bedroom.  "There's an email.  Mrs. S. collapsed.  I'm going to go see if I can help".  I love my mom.  She takes off.  I rouse myself out of bed to dress and brush my hair.  Downstairs I found the house in less than perfect condition.  Mom calls.  "I'm bringing the kids home.  They're really scared.  Little Miss needs an insulin shot.  Call Mrs. P." 

She's using that tone.  The tone that only your kids recognize in their mom.  Hopefully the S. kids didn't pick up on that tone in the 15 passenger she's driving back.  It means: sadness, scared, danger, warning.  Something was wrong, dreadfully wrong.  Dear Lord be with us now.

Phone calls alert the dads.  A mother collapsed.  She's dying, here and we can't do anything.  The baby?  How is the baby. 

8 dear people arrive on our steps.  We love them, but they are petrified.  Terrified.  Tears roll unheeded down cheeks, and big sisters comfort little brothers.  Their beautiful brown eyes were haunting me.  Asking me.  "What are they saying?  Where's my mommy?"  Begging me to make it better. 

The next 6 hours:  phone calls, emails, text messages.  Tears and crying.  Storming the gates of heaven on our knees and in our hearts.  "Lord, save the mother and the baby.  Is it to much to ask?"  Emergency surgery.  Father bent over sobbing.  Friends calling.  Hugging sisters and brothers in Christ. 

Hearts knit together as the big, "what if" hangs over our heads. 

Mommy came through great.  The Lord saves.  He is mighty to save.  Different side effects came and went  and sustained hearing loss remains.  A week at our house bonded us tighter than ever before.  I feel like I'm the oldest of 17 now.  :-)

The week was an inspiration as the Body of Christ came together.  Friends delivered 3 hot meals a day, for 7 straight days.  Friends brought paper products and craft supplies.  Friends drove them to the hospital.  Friends gave shots, prayed, comforted, and helped us. 

And today we wish Tiny Lady a very Happy 1st Birthday!!!  And we remember a day of the birth of a baby, the birth of a wonderful friendship, and the birth of story of God's protection. 


Wednesday, October 24, 2012

We're Waiting...

Only a select few no what we're waiting for... but we're waiting!  :-)

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Great Men



There is a great man who makes every man feel small.  But the real great man is the man who makes every man feel great.
G. K. Chesterton

Thank you Lord, for the great men in my life!

Monday, October 22, 2012

Friend's Faces
















Thursday, October 18, 2012

Learn the Tune

Not without design does God write the music of our lives.  





Be it ours to learn the tune, and not be dismayed at the "rests".  They are not to be slurred over, not to be omitted, not to destroy the melody, not to change the keynote.  



If we look up, God Himself will beat the time for us.  With the eye on Him, we shall strike the next note full and clear.  If we sadly say to ourselves, "There is no music in a 'rest,'" let us not forget "there is the making of music in it."  

The making of music is often a slow and painful process in this life.  How patiently God works to teach us!  How long He waits for us to learn the lesson!  John Ruskin

Monday, October 15, 2012

A Rich Young Man




The Getty's new CD is mixed with American Bluegrass (demonstrated above).  A style that I LOVE!

Classical hymns mixed with mandolin and fiddle.  Old themes mixed with upbeat music.  Wonderful, inspiring music!

Friday, October 12, 2012

Lunch and Smiles

A picture at our church's picnic. 
Oh, I love those two girls who were born right after me.  I, with the shy, retiring personality, am constantly amazed with the outgoing, bubble spirit of my sisters.  Erin and I might as well be twins as often as we dress alike and look alike.  And Rachel and I balance each other with looks and comments. 

They have a twin bond that goes stronger than our sibling/sister bond, but we're close all the same.  More often than not we finish each others sentences, dress alike, act alike, and rib each other mercilessly. 


I love you Rach and Erin, and I can't wait to see where the next years of our life lead us!

P.s. no, it's not their birthday.  that's next month.  :-)

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Homeschooling Humor

I laughed so hard at this... it couldn't be more true.  :-)

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Heritage of Hope Ball part two

Thanks to Mrs. Kathy, I have some more pictures from the ball. 

A row of sweet little girls who are very excited.  I love all the little people who come participate!

My really cute mom and dad

A panorama of the first dance... The Gay Gorden.  (personally, my favorite dance)

Same back and ditto

A dance that was good, confusing, and interesting.  At the same time!

Circle Waltz

Line Dancing!!!

Line dancing gets everyone onto the floor!

Even those who don't really know what they are doing, but who are loving every minute.

My sweet mom and her sweet friend

Sweet smiles

I believe this is the Virginia Reel

And another set of the Virginia Reel

More line dancing

And more line dancing.

And... can you guess... line dancing!!!

Gay Gordon again!




Monday, October 1, 2012

The Heritage of Hope Ball

Some very good friends of ours hosted a costume ball to raise money for their adoption.  It was a wonderful night of good old-fashioned family fun.

As I looked around the room I was reminded that families have fun as families.  Our culture thrives on separating parents, siblings, and children.  Proms are specifically "teen" events. 

Going back to family dances where I can dance with a 6 year old, a 15 year old, a 20 year old, my sister, and my dad in succession is a jewel missing from modern day moments.  If you shudder when you think about dancing with families... you are missing something special.


Olga (or Heidi) the Irish Milkmaid

Roy Rogers

Sally Washington

Kate - from a book by Emily

A lady from the Titanic 
Somebody... I don't know who.
Cute guy. 




Almanzo and Laura Wilder


You can now see Lucy and Susan Pevensie.