When I think of how much our Veterans sacrifice for our freedom, I am just filled with admiration.

There is no perfect country.  Every country has its challenges.  But our world has changed.  With technology and the ability to connect with people via the internet in seconds, we have learned that there are benefits and challenges to progress.

Uprisings and horrific treatment of people on the other side of world, is now front and center in our lives.  We learned after 9-11 just how vulnerable we are, but we quickly forget the negative.  In fact I heard our Country be called the “United States of Amnesia,” and I believe that is fairly accurate. 

We have to remember that the rest of the world does not think like we do.  We have to pay attention to people who have hate in their history and in their heart, and their sole purpose is to kill us.  Just because we have a different philosophy.  Just because we try to tolerate and appreciate the differences among us. 

There are daily examples of how individuals are not tolerant of each other.  It is painful to see senseless acts of violence.  But this is where we are as a society, and we have a lot of work to do to improve. 

The point is that we are given the luxury of managing our lives and our social issues, because we have a team of men and women who love what this Country stands for. 

We stand for Freedom. 

We are the most compassionate people in the world, and give to causes that matter.  On this Memorial Day take a moment to pray for the safety of our heroes that allow you to lead the life of Freedom that you have. 

                                                                            “Now let’s get going!”  xo Sally

How many times do you give yourself a second chance?

When things don’t work out the first time do you try again?  The good news is that you can try again.  You can try as many times as you allow yourself to.  We usually stop ourselves from trying things again.  We talk ourselves out of it.  We decide that we don’t have the time, or we tell ourselves that whatever we are trying to do, is not worth the effort.

But is it worth more effort?  How do you decide that it is?  What makes something worth trying again?  Why do we give people a “second chance” when they are treating us poorly? 

We give things and people a “second chance” when we care about the outcome.  We invest more energy in people and things when we have the perception that it is worth our time.  Life gives us time.  Each day we have 24 hours to spend.  That breaks down to 1,440 minutes or 86,400 seconds. That is each day, every day.

How will you spend your 86,400 seconds today?  You get a chance to do something important every second of the day.  You also get a chance to give things a “second chance.”  Make your seconds count today and every day.  You can do amazing things when you put your mind to it.  You are amazing.  You just have to believe it! 

                                                                           “Now let’s get going!”  xo Sally

Do you ever think about your reputation?  The perception others have of who you are? How would people you know describe YOU?

It is a question that some people think about, some could “care less,” but we all should pay attention to what we do and what we say, because that is how our reputation is built. 

You don’t have to share what you think.  Because in the big scheme of life, what you think should be part of the total picture.  What you think should be the driving force behind how you act.  How you act=your reputation, because that is what others see. 

If you want to have a reputation you can be proud of, that allows you to be an instrument for good in this life, develop it.  You make choices every day, and those choices become instrumental in making you who you are. 

Care about what you say and do.  Realize that it is very important, because it all comes full circle.  Tolerance is critical.  People have a right to their opinions.

Be that person who listens and tries to see the other side. Grow. Nurture. Evolve.   

                                                                             “Now let’s get going!”  xo Sally

It is important to realize that what you are telling yourself, whether it is about yourself or others, becomes your reality. 

What are you listening to each day?  You have control over what you listen to.  There is a lot of noise out there.  Some things that are being said are not worth listening to, but some of them are.

You need to pick and choose what information you tell yourself is important, just like you need to choose what type of people you associate with and spend time with.  Time is a precious thing.  Don’t waste it on doing things or being with people that are not positive or able to teach you something worthwhile. 

Over the next few days pay attention to what you are telling yourself.  You are believing yourself…so if you are telling yourself that your life is horrible, or that you dislike being a caregiver, or that you feel your days are filled with emptiness, you are reaffirming that negative thinking into YOU.

When you hear what you are saying, you need to listen well.  Is it the message you want to believe?  Is it who you are?  Stop the negative thinking and don’t allow yourself to believe it.  Your life has a purpose and you need to speak to yourself in such a way that you listen to possibilities.  You can do anything…you are amazing!

                                                                                     “Now let’s get going!”  xo Sally

Caring for a loved one with ALS is a challenge, because a there is so much that you have to learn.

First of all the disease is unpredictable.  Because this is a condition that affects the brain and ultimately changes a person’s ability to function, you need to be paying attention to what your friend or loved one is experiencing and report that to the medical professionals you are working with.

Symptoms of muscle weakness in the hands and legs seem to be some of the first changes that people notice.  There can be sensory changes that go along with that as well.  Muscle twitching is another symptom that physicians familiar with the disease, usually take note of.  As the disease progressives, changes in walking, balance, and coordination impair the person’s ability to function.  It is an emotionally trying situation, because as each stage of the disease incorporates an additional decline, more functional limitations are experienced.

Here are some ideas to consider as the need may arise:Look for support groups in your area that may be familiar with the disease. 

1. Go to the ALS web site and ask for local resources in your area, to make sure you have not overlooked any possible help that is out there. (www. http://www.alsa.org/).
2. There are some medications available that are being used by neurologists that are being evaluated for their effectiveness in slowing the disease progression, so make sure that you go to a neurologist that specializes in movement disorders.
3. When you are seeing a limitation in the ability to hold eating utensils securely, send us an email and we can direct you to some resources.
4. For bathing ideas and grab bar placement, send us an email and we will send you a guide to grab bar placement.

The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone.  There are resources out there to help you.  There is no good disease to have.  Every disease has its limitations and difficulties.  Education is the key to making things easier.  We are here to help you.  Let us know what you need. xo Sally

ALS (amyotropic lateral sclerosis) is a neurological condition that is often known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, in that the famous baseball player developed the disease in his 40's, and brought national and international attention to the condition. The information below was taken in part from http://www.alsa.org/

ALS is a difficult neurological disease. It is important to put things in perspective when facing the management of a progressive neurological disorder. First of all, if you or a loved one has been told that that they have the diagnosis of ALS, be sure to get a second opinion. When you read statistics, like the ones below, a grim picture is painted. But, reality is often not a very pretty picture, especially when it comes to managing a condition in your home that affects everyone in the family.

The important thing to keep in mind is that there are ways to manage each change that evolves due to the diagnosis. No two people have the same problems in the same time frame. Treatment has to be individualized and the involvement of therapists is critical to good home management. These are the basic statistics:

The following statistics are published by the ALS organization: ALS is a disorder that affects the function of nerves and muscles. Based on U.S. population studies, a little over 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year. (That's 15 new cases a day.) It is estimated that as many as 30,000 Americans have the disease at any given time. According to the ALS CARE Database, 60% of the people with ALS in the Database are men and 93% of patients in the Database are Caucasian.

Most people who develop ALS are between the ages of 40 and 70, with an average age of 55 at the time of diagnosis. However, cases of the disease do occur in persons in their twenties and thirties. Generally though, ALS occurs in greater percentages as men and women grow older. ALS is 20% more common in men than in women. However with increasing age, the incidence of ALS is more equal between men and women.
There are several research studies – past and present – investigating possible risk factors that may be associated with ALS.

More work is needed to conclusively determine what genetics and/or environment factors contribute to developing ALS. It is known, however, that military veterans, particularly those deployed during the Gulf War, are approximately twice as likely to develop ALS. Half of all people affected with ALS live at least three or more years after diagnosis. Twenty percent live five years or more; up to ten percent will live more than ten years. There is some evidence that people with ALS are living longer.

If you or someone you love is managing this condition, and you have questions or need help problem solving an issue, please send us an email through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We will be more than happy to help.

Insecurity.  No one likes how it feels.

When we feel insecure, we are unsure of what to expect.  We feel vulnerable and out of control.  We rarely function at our best when we feel that way.

There is a lot to be said for getting out of your comfort zone, and allowing yourself to experience new things.  That is how we all grow and learn to adapt.  But when we think our abilities or skills do not match the people we are around, we may feel insecure, but should we?

How often do you allow yourself to feel “less than” someone else, because you are not where they are?  Just because someone has more expensive clothes, a larger home, or a new car, does not mean that they are free of insecurities.  We put ourselves there.  You have no way of knowing how another person is feeling, even if you think their life is “better” than yours.

Live your best life.  Work on improving yourself.  Don’t worry about what those around you may think.  As long as you are moving forward, you are going in the right direction.  Stop the comparing and the feelings that freeze you in your tracks. That prevents you from growing!  You can reach your goals.  Believe that you have what it takes, because you do.  “Now let’s get going!”  xo Sally

Mothers have a list of “jobs” that never ends.  No matter how old your children may become, their happiness and their sorrow becomes yours.  Raising children, whether they are yours by birth, adoption or additions to your family by love, they are the best gift that you will ever receive. 

Our lives are busy, but out children are our investment in the future of this world. It is easy to keep your children busy when you are busy.  Handing your children things to play with instead of spending time with them is a big mistake.  Teach your children the power of communication.  Show them how to be kind.  Give them memories that will help them understand the importance of family. 

Mothers matter.  Raising children is a privilege that should be taken seriously.  There are too many children that are missing the chance to be loved and have the gift of a giving Mother. 

For all of the Mothers out there…this is your day to be recognized for all you do.  If you can provide mothering to additional children, do it.  My home always had more children living there than my own, and it was a blessing to have them there.  Happy Mother’s Day!  Have a wonderful day! 

                                                                                             “Now let’s get going!”  xo Sally

We all have things that we recognize in ourselves that could use some change and/or some fine tuning.  Sometimes it is a behavior that we know we should change, or sometimes it is a habit that we need to work on getting rid of.

Change starts and ends with you.  Change is about making a choice.  You can blame your behavior on someone else or something else, but at the end of the day, it is all about how you handle what you are given.

Maybe you are in a bad relationship, or your family is not helping you care for your parents.  When we are aggravated, we tend to blame our behavior on things that are handy.  It is easier to tell someone that their behavior “makes us act this way,” than take responsibility for our own behavior.

Well, the reality is that no one “makes us” act a certain way.  It is our reaction to their behavior that we need to change, and that is totally under our control. 

Decide to change some behavior that creates friction.  Decide that you are better than the person or situation that you are reacting to.  You can create less drama….by changing your reaction to it.  Try it.  Let me know what happens.  “Now let’s get going!”  xo Sally

Feel rich today!  Your pocketbook may not reflect much money, but you can feel “rich” anyway!

Concentrate on all that you have, that money cannot buy.  Your family, friends, the love of your pets, there are many things. 

Usually the things that matter most, including the people that are in our lives every day, we don’t pay as much attention to as we should.  We tend to take people and things for granted, when they are around us. 

Don’t fall into that trap today.  Look around you and be grateful for those things that money can’t buy.  Smiles.  Kindness. Love.  Let those things be your focus today, and enjoy your day.

Try not to stress about things you can’t control.  Do your best.  Fight the good fight.  Remember what matters.  Add life to your years…not years to your life.

                                                                                           “Now, let’s get going!”  xo Sally