TIME TO LOOK BACK

Success comes to he who is willing to work hard, fight a good fight and sacrifice everything when necessary. (Brenda A. Ysaguirre)

As we near the end of another year we are faced with many new challenges. The economical situation at home and abroad dims the festive moment. If what the analysts are saying is true, we can look forward to a new year filled with more hardship as more people lose there jobs and many others graduate into a world that offers very little for them. Only the strong will survive. Only those who know the true meaning of sacrifice will succeed. Only the fearless will attain the satifaction of a hard day's work for a well earned pay.

I do not mean to dampen the eve of New Year's Eve. I only want to make sure we all understand that there will be a lot of hardship but that we can win the battle in the new year if we use stamina and sacrifice.

Good Luck to everyone and do have a Happy New Year. Go out or just stay at home and eat some grapes (12 actually to follow the Spanish tradition of one for each month of the year. You eat them just before midnight and our ancestors believed it would give you a good year.)

Have a Blessed New Year. Remember, we can make 2009 all it was meant to be if we work hard and sacrifice when necessary.

Brenda A. Ysaguirre

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. And here's to 2009. May God Bless and keep you all in His arms always.

Have a happy new year!

Ever figured out what is going on in the world right now? So much suffering and now we are faced with the rising cost of living. There is definately a world crisis at hand and man is on the verge of making things fall apart. What a life!. Maybe it is time to go back to that time when we had so little and were happy alot more than we are today.

Life is good. Let us enjoy it.

Blessing for all my readers. Mya God be always by your side.

ABOUT NATURE THERE IS SO MUCH TO ADMIRE

LOVE, LIKE A STREAM FLOWS PEACEFULLY, AND THAT'S GOD!

ONE OF GOD'S MOST PRECIOUS LITTLE MIRACLE

THE WONDER OF GOD IS SEEN IN THE EYES OF THE INNOCENT.
THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN TO BEHOLD A CHILD ENJOYING LIFE.

REINCARNATION OF BUDDHA

KATMANDU, Nepal – A Nepalese teenager revered by many as a reincarnation of Buddha has returned to the jungle to meditate after emerging for less than two weeks, officials said Saturday.

Ram Bahadur Bamjan, 18, reappeared on Nov. 10 after several months of meditation to bless thousands of his followers, speaking to them on at least two occasions.

He made his last appearance on Friday and then returned to the jungle to meditate, said Biswo Prakash Newpane, a government administrator in the area. It was not clear when he would return again.

His followers lined up near the jungle of Ratanpur, about 100 miles south of Katmandu, to be blessed by Bamjan. He tapped the believers on their forehead but did not speak to them individually.

The followers believe he has been meditating without food and water since he was first spotted in the jungles of southern Nepal in 2005. Believers say he spent months without moving, sitting with his eyes closed beneath a tree.

Buddhism, which has about 325 million followers, teaches that every soul is reincarnated after death in another bodily form.

But several Buddhist scholars have been skeptical of the claims that Bamjan is a reincarnation of Siddhartha Gautama, who was born in southwestern Nepal roughly 2,500 years ago and became revered as the Buddha, or Enlightened One.

Rakesh, a Buddhist scholar, told the Associated Press last week that being Buddha means the last birth and the highest level that can be achieved and there can be no reincarnation of Buddha, even though Buddhists believe in life after death.

TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT OTHERS

LEARNING FROM A MOUSE

A mouse looked through the crack
in the wall to see the farmer and
his wife open a package.


What food might this contain?'
The mouse wondered -
he was devastated to discover it
was a mousetrap.


Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning:
There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!'


The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, 'Mr.Mouse,
I can tell this is a grave concern
to you, but it is of no consequence to me.

I cannot be bothered by it.'

The mouse turned to the pig and told him,
'There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!'

The pig sympathized, but said, I am
so very sorry, Mr.Mouse, but there
is nothing I can do about it but pray.

Be assured you are in my prayers.'

The mouse turned to
the cow and said
'There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!'
The cow said, 'Wow, Mr. Mouse.
I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose.'

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected,
to face the farmer's mousetrap alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the
sound of a mousetrap catching its
prey.

The farmer's wife rushed to see
what was caught. In the darkness,
she did not see it was a venomous
snake whose tail the trap had caught.

The snake bit the farmer's wife.
The farmer rushed her to the hospital ,
and she returned home with a fever.

Everyone knows you treat a fever
with fresh chicken soup, so the
farmer took his hatchet to the
farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

But his wife's sickness continued,
so friends and neighbors came to
sit with her around the clock.

To feed them, the farmer
butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well;
she died.

So many people came for her funeral,
the farmer had the cow slaughtered
to provide enough meat for all
of them.
The mouse looked upon it all from
his crack in the wall with great sadness.

So, the next time you hear someone
is facing a problem and think it
doesn't concern you, remember --
when one of us is threatened,
we are all at risk.

We are all involved in this journey
called life. We must keep an eye out
for one another and make an extra
effort to encourage one another.

SEND THIS TO EVERYONE WHO
HAS EVER HELPED YOU OUT
AND LET THEM KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE.

REMEMBER,,,,
EACH OF US IS A VITAL THREAD
IN ANOTHER PERSON'S TAPESTRY;

OUR LIVES ARE WOVEN TOGETHER FOR A REASON.


One of the best things to hold
onto in this world is a friend

CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY NIXES FEMENIST PROF

SAN DIEGO (UPI) -- The University of San Diego has withdrawn its offer of an endowed chair to a Catholic feminist scholar who supports abortion rights.

The announcement that Rosemary Radford Ruether had been appointed to the Monsignor John R. Portman Chair in Roman Catholic Theology was greeted with dismay by many Catholic and anti-abortion groups, the San Diego Union-Tribune said Wednesday. Ruether sits on the board of Catholics for a Free Choice.

University spokeswoman Patricia Gray Payton said that one person who did not object was the anonymous benefactor who endowed the chair.

"Her public position and the symbol of this chair are in direct conflict," Payton said. "This chair is a powerful, visible symbol of Roman Catholic theology, and in Roman Catholic theology abortion is disallowed."

The news that Ruether's appointment had been rescinded has created more controversy. Two Catholic women's groups have gathered 2,000 signatures on petitions asking the university to change its mind again.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

CROSSING THE THRESHOLD OF HOLD

I AM READING "CROSSING HE THRESHOLD OF HOPE" by JOH PAUL II for one of my classes at the university.

Is there anyone out there who can help me understand it? I read and read and there is no explanation as to why it does not set in my brain. Today, I was feeling so ill with the flu that I couldn't even read it. My paper is due but I will have to ask for an extension.

God Bless all my readers. I wish you all a wonderful week.

AFTER THE STORM

For the time being the rains have stopped and now we have a cold front over Belize. However, all is not over. Now is the time of recovery. The people in the areas that had the flooding ae still suffering. Many are still not in their homes and many have lost most of their personal properties.


NOW IS THE TIME WHEN WE HAVE TO GIVE A HELPING HAND.

PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY TO THE RELIEF ORGANIZERS WHO ARE GOING TO TAKE FOOD, MEDICINES AND CLOTHING ( AMONG OTHER THINGS) TO THOSE WHO NOW NEED OUR HELP.

In an effort to assist our brothers and sisters who have suffered so much in the past weeks, the YO PUEDO GROUP OF COROZAL and CCC ACE and CJC ACE have initiated a drive to collect non-persishable goods and clothing. THIS IS THE TIME WHEN WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER. LET US GIVE FROM THE HEART.

TO MY READERS ABROAD, YOU TOO CAN HELP. YOUR MONETARY DONATIONS CAN BE SENT TO THE RED CROSS OF BELIZE OR GET IN CONTACT WITH ME AT 501-607-8315 (3pm to 31am Belize time) OR AT 00521-983-131-5669 FROM 7AM TO 11AM (Mexico time).

Thank you and God Bless.

SOME OFGOD'S CREATION

THE VALUE OF FRIENDS AND LOVE

God is forever blessing us with great friends and with jobs we love. Here are a few of my students at CCC ACE giving a presentation on Communication. I love you all, Second Years. Thank you for keeping me sane. Hahahaha.
Ms B

SOME OF MY FRIENDS AT UNID IN CHETUMAL, MEXICO

God is powerful. Just when I needed to be distrated from things that seem to be pulling me down, I found 19 new friends and a new life. I am so lucky. Thank you, God, for all your blessings!

MORE WONDERS OF GOD'S BLESSINGS

THE BEAUTY OF LIFE

A PRAYER FOR MY DAUGHTER, Carolyn Angela

Dear God,
I come to you today to humbly beseech you to watch over and protect the joy of my life, my daughter Carolyn Angela. Bless her as she goes about her daily tasking of being a mother and wife. Bless her home and all those who enter it. Keep her safe so she may continue to care for her daughter and her husband. At her job, Dear Lord, show you mercy and your love by being at her saide daily as she goes about the tasks that she must perform. Give her strenght to keep on going and wisdom to know what to do in all the difficult situations that she will encounter. Dear God, bless her always and help her to sing your praise.
Amen.

A PRAYER FOR MY GRANDDAUGHTER, CIARRA

Dear Father God,
I come to you today to ask you to watch over and protect my litle granddaughter, Ciarra Alexandria. As she grows up in a world filled with hate and suffering, drugs and wars, I ask you to continue to keep her safe from all these evils. Daily, dear Lord, we see many young people suffering from starvation and abuse, just to name a few. Poverty has now become so common that it seems we are faced with far more than our ancestors had to deal with. Crime had increased because of the economical situations that has created monsters of youths, and addicts of our people. Dear Lord, please help us before it is too late. Keep our children and their children safe. Help us to be able to bring up our children to know, honour and respect you.
Amen

A PRAYER FOR MY YO PUEDO GROUP

Dear God,
Please watch over all my children. I ask you to watch over all the members of the YO Puedo wherever they may be. Help them to grow as they get older into wonderful adults, parents and friends. Bless each of them as they go about their daily tasks and keep them forever in your vision.
Amen.



My dear group,
As I sit infront of my computer in Chetumal on this Sunday evening preparing this page for tomorrow, I realize that I miss you all and the togetheness we had. I hope we can be together a a solid group again soon. Meeting is coming up and you people are not showing up for these meetings. So here is the deal, MAKE SURE YOU GET IN TOUCH. WE HAVE THINGS TO DO.
LOVE ALWAYS, Ms B

A PRAYER FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE AT THIS TIME OF BAD WEATHER

Dear God,
Like many who live in areas where there is less violence and less problems, I come to you, oh God, at this time for those who do need you and those who do want all they can of YOU.

Father God, as you know there is a lot of rain right now over us in Belize and Southern Mexico. All this rain is causing flooding and loss of property to many of my Belize sisters and brothers. I humbly beseech thee, oh my God, to help those in need. Keep them safe and protect from all anxieties. Watch over them. oh, God, and renew in them a new fate to love and survive you at this time of despair and doubt.

Amen.

MYSTERY SHOPPERS FOR DEPARTMENT STORES

The Mystery Worshipper
by Alexandra Alter
The Wall Street Journal

Department stores hire mystery shoppers. Restaurant chains bring in undercover diners to rate their food and service. Churches enlist Thomas Harrison, a former pastor from Tulsa, Okla., and a professional mystery worshipper.

Mr. Harrison -- a meticulous inspector who often uses the phrase "I was horrified" to register his disapproval of dust bunnies and rude congregants -- poses as a first-time churchgoer and covertly evaluates everything from the cleanliness of the bathrooms to the strength of the sermon. This summer, Mr. Harrison scoured a megachurch in Cedar Hill, Texas, and jotted down a laundry list of imperfections: a water stain on the ceiling, a "stuffy odor" in the children's area, a stray plastic bucket under the bathroom sink and a sullen greeter who failed to say good morning before the worship service. "I am a stickler for light bulbs and bathrooms," he says.

Mr. Harrison belongs to a new breed of church consultants aiming to equip pastors with modern marketing practices. Pastors say mystery worshippers like Mr. Harrison offer insight into how newcomers judge churches -- a critical measure at a time when mainline denominations continue to shed members and nearly half of American adults switch religious affiliations. In an increasingly diverse and fluid religious landscape, churches competing for souls are turning to corporate marketing strategies such as focus groups, customer-satisfaction surveys and product giveaways.

At least half a dozen consulting companies have introduced secret-church-shopper services in recent years. The A Group, a Brentwood, Tenn., marketing firm for churches and faith-based groups, now conducts mystery-worshipper surveys at 15 to 20 churches a year, up from a handful five years ago. Church marketing company Real Church Solutions in Corona, Calif., introduced mystery-worshipper services five years ago. "First-time guests, they don't come with mercy, they come with judgment," says the company's president, Chris Sonksen. "They're looking for a reason to leave."

LORD, BLESS ALL THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM CANCER

All you are asked to do is
keep this circulating.

Even if it's to one more person.

In memory of anyone you know
that has been struck by cancer.

A Candle Loses Nothing
by Lighting Another Candle

Please Keep These Candles Going!

A PRAYER TO MY CREATOR AND FRIEND

Dear Lord,
Watch over me today I ask,
As I go about my daily task.
Guide my hands to do only good,
As every one of your follweres should.

Take me in your arms, I pray,
And keep me safe every day.
There is much I still have to do,
That is why I truly need YOU.

So dear God, my friend and confidante,
Help me to never say "I can't".
The world is great, the world is mine,
Give my all your bless, my Friend Divine.

Brenda A. Ysaguirre
Copyright 2008 Brenda A. Ysaguirre

MIS AMIGOS DEL UNID EN CLASE de SER HUMANO

There is still chance for God to make a difference. This is my SER HUMANO class in Chetumal, Mexico at UNID. Here we are learning how moral and dignity is part of a good life. At educators and future educators we will be able to pass this on to our students.

Thanks, Prof. Daniela Lopez (in yellow blouse) for been a very caring and understanding lecturer.

GOD IS ALIVE AND WELL!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BELIZE

Dear Heavenly Father,
I ask you to protect and preserve Belize, my beloved, home. Lord, I know it is in your power and I come to you most humbly to ask you to keep us safe and free from all evil. Almighty Father, please bless each Belizean and help them in their aim for success.
Amen.
Brenda A. Ysaguirre

GRACIAS POR LOS BEBES

11-month-old Tips Off Grandma To Trouble
BRAINTREE, England (UPI) -- The grandmother of a Braintree, England, 11-month-old said the baby answered the phone and alerted her to the fact that the child's mother was in trouble.

Grandmother Linda Wight said she knew something was amiss when she phoned Elizabeth Boyle, 20, and the cell phone was answered by Wright's granddaughter, Amelia, The Times of London reported.

Wright said Amelia tipped her off that something was wrong in the home by asking, "Who's this?" and repeatedly saying: "Mama."

The grandmother phoned emergency services and Boyle awoke to find police at her doorway. She said she had blacked out in the hallway of her home.

Boyle, who had a history of passing out, was examined by paramedics, did not require hospital treatment.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

GOD SEES EVERYTHING

The picture tells it all! This is a phenomena that occurs once in a while in the skies. It is called the Eye of God and you can see why. HE IS LOOKING AT WHAT YOU DO. SO DO IT RIGHT!

WHILE NATURE DOES THAT THING IT DOES!

Father God,
Please protect and preserve this nation of ours as we entr into another month of the Hurricane season. Help our neighbours in other countries who are experincing hurricane situation as we go about our happy lives. Help u to know and love you, dear God, and to do your will.
Amen.

YOUR WONDERS NEVER CEASE - NATURE PROTECTING ITSELF

Dear God, Today I want to thank you for all the wonderful things there are in nature. I also want to thank you for my life and the lives of Carolyn Angela, Ciarra Alexandra, Miya, Abel, Triccia and all the rest of my family and friends. Bless them Oh, Lord and keep them safe at all times.
Amen.

THANK YOU GOD FOR EVERYTHING AND EVERYWHERE

Have you told HIM lately that you love Him?

GOD IS PRESENT IN FAMILIES THAT WORK TOGETHER

ALL OUR LOVE TO OUR NEW EXTENDED FAMILY,
Brenda and Abel

GOD IS PRESENT IN ALL CREATION

Even on a lagoon in a quiet little spot a water lily's beauty is untouched by nature.

NATURE TAKING CARE OF ITSELF... THAT'S GOD

IF CHICKENS CAN BE SO LOVING, SO CAN WE!

THIS MOTHER HEN AND HER 13 YOUNG ONES LIVE ON PANTO-HA RESORT IN XUL-HA, QUINTANA ROO, MEXICO

HIS WORK ON NATURE IS LIMITLESS

A CLOSER LOOK AT THAT LAGOON IN XUL-HA

GOD IS GREAT

DOWN THE ROAD IN XUL-HA, QUINTANA ROO, MEXICO. THE BEAUTIFUL SITE WE SEE IS A PART OF THE LAGOON MANY OF US KNOW FROM THE BACALAR AREA.

NATURE... GOD'S BEST GIFT AFTER LIFE TO THE HUMAN RACE

LIKE JESUS

PLEA TO ALL FATHERS TO PLEASE LOVE THEIR CHILDREN LIKE JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE ONES.

JESUS SMILING

IF ONLY THE WORLD COULD LEARN TO DO THINGS LIKE JESUS DID. LOVE CHILDREN. DON'T HURT THEM.