An Apple a Day....

"Any fool can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the apples in one seed."

I love, love, LOVE the quote I found for today's entry.  It really has me thinking tonight.  A 3 year old can count the seeds in an apple, a 93 year old can count the same seeds in that same apple.  But only God knows how many apples that one seed could produce.  Only God knows how many apple trees and orchards a single seed has the potential of creating. We can use this analogy for other things - remember, there are always two sides to everything, one obvious and maybe one not so obvious. Sometimes we just need to think outside the box.  

Use this idea in your relationships this week.  Work really hard to see where the other person is coming from.  At work, at home, in your friendships.  Instead of only seeing the number of apple seeds, look at the bigger picture right in front of you.


Today's Starfish
You might be wondering - what's with the apples?  Well, let me just tell you.... Drum roll please.  I am typing this week's blog on my brand new Apple MacBook Air.  I am not one of those "Apple" people (yet) but I am pretty excited about my most recent purchase!  I have a lot of learning to do....but who knows, maybe I will end up trading in my Droid for an iPhone one of these days.

Today's thank you card is being sent to my friend who works at Apple and got me all set up with this awesome new laptop.  He went above and beyond, giving me his friends and family discount, encouraging me to sign up for one-on-one training (let's face it - I need it!), and getting everything set up for me.  I am so grateful!

*APPRECIATION*

"Make it a habit to tell people thank you. 
To express your appreciation,
sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. 
Truly appreciate those around you,
and you'll soon find many others around you. 
Truly appreciate life,
and you'll find that you have more of it."
~Ralph Marston

I was just searching "appreciation quotes" on Google for the perfect quote to go with today's Starfish and found this one in 2.2 seconds.  Definitely meant to be :) 

But really, just think about it for a second.  How TRUE are those words?  "Truly appreciate those around you and you'll soon find many others around you."  It's pretty self-explanatory, I think, but I'll lay it out for you.  People want to be around people who want to be around them.  Your friends are your friends because they appreciate who you are and what you bring to their life.  The more appreciation you show the people in your life, the better.  And I know this is cliché, but you never know when may be the last time you see someone you love.  Speak more kindness, hug more often, and love more loudly. 


The last part of the quote is my favorite - "Truly appreciate life, and you'll find that you have more of it." When we truly, TRULY, learn to appreciate the beauty of life - the beauty of the sun rising in the morning, the beauty in a child's laugh, the beauty in a flower blooming, the beauty in the love shared within a family, the beauty in the stars, the beauty of friendships and relationships - our hearts will be softer, our words will be cordial and our zeal for life will sore.  What if we all lived our lives like every person we came into contact with just found out today is their last day on earth?

Ah!  Challenge of the week for you - spend one day doing just that.  Treat EVERYONE you come into contact with like it is their last day here.  See how they react to your kindness and see how it makes YOU feel.  :)  And then report back to me - I'll be curious! 

 
 Today's Starfish

I had a girls' weekend back home with some good friends for Guthrie's River Ruckus.  For those who don't know, it is a big country concert in small town Guthrie Center.  We had the best time!!  There is nothing better than going back home, enjoying good country music and sitting around a bonfire into the wee hours of the morning.

River Ruckus, like any event, takes a lot of work - planning and implementing. OH yeah, and the impossible - trying to please everyone!! Most people love to give their own two cents on what should have been done to make the event better or more successful or more fun or whatever.  But what we forget is all of the work that is put into something like this to make sure WE have a good time!  So for today's Starfish I am sending 2 thank you cards.  One to my mom and dad for being awesome hosts to my friends and me (as always) and one to the River Ruckus crew for putting on another great show and to show appreciation for all of their hard work.  Because let's face it - I wouldn't have had such a great weekend with my friends if my parents weren't such great hosts and if there had been no concert :)

I'm Baaaackk!

So it's been awhile, huh? 


I was astonished by the number of people who asked me why I stopped writing.  "Umm, Teri, your blog didn't go up again."  "Did you run out of people to thank?" (you will NEVER run out of people to thank).  "Is the starfish dead?"  "I miss it!!"  "Are you feeling ok?"

When you make a habit of doing something every Monday, people begin to expect it.  I thank you all for your concern.

So many times in life we do things for the wrong reasons.  I am a people pleaser - always have been and always will be. It's in my nature. But in my 26 years, I have only recently learned a very important thing.  Sometimes, you need to do things for you.  I stopped writing because life got in the way.  My Monday night ritual was interrupted by my 3:45am wake-up call.  But when you truly love something, you find a way to make it happen.

I am not writing this blog post because I feel like I owe anyone.  I am not writing to make anyone happy.  I am writing for me.  Writing makes me better. Sometimes, it's the only way I can express myself. And if you are reading this, THANK YOU!  If my thoughts encourage you, even better.

Today's Starfish

I recently went on an awesome vacation to Vegas and Santa Barbara.  It was absolutely amazing.  Today's thank you goes to one of my very best friends, Lisa, and her mom and dad who opened up their home to me in CA and made my stay exceptional.  I had the BEST coffee, the BEST wine and the BEST seafood EVER!!!!!  They truly made me feel like part of the family.  I am very blessed to them in my life!  I picked out a lovely thank you card for the Wolfe's although a card will never express how grateful I am!

Heroes in a Tragedy

 

 

I am sure we are all asking the same question as we always do when something so tragic and terrible happens in our country. 

 

WHY? 

 

WHY would someone do this?  WHY do people want to hurt others?  WHY is this even happening right now?  WHY does God let this happen?  WHY???

 

We asked that question after the tragedy at Sandy Hook, after 9/11, after Columbine, after Virginia Tech, after the Aurora movie theater shooting, and the list goes on and on... but WHY?  The world is a scary place.

 

I could go on for hours with this seemingly simple question, but that is not what I want the focus of my blog to be about.  Let's try to focus on the positive and good in a world full of evil and hatred. 

 

Instead of throwing all your attention on the "who" behind this horrendous act, focus your attention on the "who" of the victims and the heroes.  When you read news stories or watch the events unfold on TV, pay close attention to the victims' stories and pay even closer attention to the people who were there helping. 

 

These people are true heroes - the people helping the injured, the people comforting the weary, the people staying strong for those who can't.  The people who put their own safety at risk to help others. 

 

And ask this question -

WHY? 

What drives people to help others rather than run from dangers before them? 

 

 

Today's Starfish

 

 

I am writing a thank you card to the Boston Fire Department thanking them for their bravery during this deadly attack.

 

Please keep this city in your prayers.

 

 

 



 



Thank God!

"Let thankfulness temper all your thoughts.  A thankful mind-set keeps you in touch with Me.  I hate it when My children grumble, casually despising My sovereignty.  Thankfulness is a safeguard against this deadly sin.  Furthermore, a grateful attitude becomes a grid through which you perceive life.  Gratitude enables you to see the Light of My Presence shining on all your circumstances.  Cultivate a thankful heart, for this glorifies Me and fills you with Joy."
1 Corinthians 10:10; Hebrews 12:28-29

See - even God wants us to be thankful!  With this being Holy Week, what a perfect subject for my Starfish - and the above came from my daily devotional.  So it was just meant to be :)

As most of my readers know, my faith has grown deeper in the past couple years. It has been quite a journey, but with Alpha, teaching Sunday school classes, meeting some wonderful women, feeling welcome in a humongous church, prayer, awesome pastors and of course being able to drink coffee during the sermons has made my journey a bit smoother - and I am proud to report I am at a strong point of faith in my life and hope to continue growing! But I do know I need to thank God more often for all of the blessings he has given me and for the amazing people he has put in my life. 

  

"A grateful attitude becomes a grid through which you perceive life."  So if we truly count our blessings and thank God to be where we are and have what we have and shower those around us with gratitude and thankfulness and kindness, it just makes sense that we will see life in a different, more positive light...right?  I think so!

So, the challenge this week - Be more aware of the blessings in your life.  Thank God, or thank your lucky stars, or thank your parents or your friends or whoever helped you get where you are. 

Today's Starfish

Today, I am writing a thank you note to the head pastor at Hope - Pastor Mike.  His messages always make me think and he has such a powerful way of protraying God's love for us.  I want to show him my appreciation for being welcomed into his church, making me feel comfortable enough to attend alone, and unknowingly helping me during some of the toughest times of my life. 

Afterall, church is like... wait for it.... A PARTY!  (You know who you are!)

Mother Nature - Hello? Are You There?

"I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks."
William Shakespeare





Who is ready for SPRING?!  Who was surprised to wake up this morning to a snow-covered ground?  I thought I was done having to scrape snow off my car and shovel the sidewalks and wear my Uggs to keep my feet dry!  And on top of the snow we woke to this morning, I heard on the radio that we may get some more on Friday! AHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Mother Nature - Don't you realize that the first day of Spring is in TWO days?  Don't you know Selection Sunday was last night and March Madness has arrived?  Can't you hear my flip flops screaming from the depths of my closet and the grass roots crying for sunshine!?  Don't you see the sandals, tank tops, capris and shorts lining the shelves and clothing racks?   Are you ignoring the shrieks from my tastebuds begging for summer cocktails and patio weather????

Mother Nature - DID YOU FORGET ABOUT US?????

It sure feels like it this winter, but before we know it - we will be complaining of the heat and the humidity and wishing for sweatshirt weather and changing leaves.  So, enjoy this while (IF) you can, because soon enough we will be wishing for Fall.

Today's Starfish

As most of you probably know - I hate driving.  Driving in general but even more hatred for driving in SNOW.  I know I know, I need to learn and practice or I'm never going to know how to do it. Now that I have a vehicle that is all wheel drive, I will start driving more in the snow - next year. :)

Since we have had some questionable mornings these past few months with icy roads and wintry conditions, I have had the great PRIVILEGE of having one of my friends drive me to and from work.

Now that winter is *fingers crossed* over, this week's "Thank You" goes to Kim Praska.  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for relieving my driving anxiety this winter. 

Gratitude is an Attitude

“Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.”
-Brian Tracy

I've been reading a book that tells me to go back and re-read something that maybe I skipped over or something that maybe went over my head.  So I am telling you - if you didn't read the above quote, go back and read it.  And if you did read it, read it again.  And again. 

"Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation."

Print this and hang it in your cubicle.  Pin it on Pinterest.  Make a Facebook status with it.  Add it to your journal.  Set it as your desktop wallpaper.  Remember this quote and visit it often.  It is so powerful.

And how true it is!  Appreciate everything that happens to you, good and bad, and know that every step you take, no matter what you are facing in life, is a step toward something bigger and better than where you are now. 

So give thanks.  Thank God that you were able to wake up this morning.  Thank Him for having a job you can go to and family and friends who care about you.  Thank the person in the Starbucks drive thru for making your coffee just the way you like it.  Thank the person who held the door open for you on your way into the work building.  Thank whoever made another pot of coffee when the last one ran out.  Thank your coworker for doing something they didn't HAVE to do and thank a client for being a client and thank your family and thank your friends for being in your life.  See where I am going here?

My challenge to you this week - spend a full day living by the words of today's quote.  Thank everyone you can.  See how different your day is and pay close attention to the reactions of others.  And let me know how it turned out :)

Today's Starfish

Yesterday I went to Best Buy to get a new cell phone since I was ready for an update.  Jon, the mobile manager and also a personal friend, made the whole process as easy as possible for me.  Luckily, he saw me waiting in line and took me back to a different area so he could a train a new employee on the whole cell phone process.  He made the switch very easy and he even was able to change the phone plan to save a little money each month!

I am sending Best Buy C/O Jon a thank you note.  I want to share my "attitude of gratitude" and make sure Jon knows how much I appreciate his help!

Father Knows Best

"Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary."
~ Margaret Cousins

My dad gets pretty excited when I even mention that I might want to get a different car.  I had the thought a few months ago....and I would get a phone call every now and then that went like this... "So I found this SUV at such and such place.... and I talked to the salesman and I think you should go look at it."  And this was before I even decided FOR SURE that I wanted to trade in my car!!!!

So I am sure you can only imagine the reaction when I decided again that I was thinking about trading my car in just a few weeks ago.  My dad went to about 4 different car places, found a few that I might like, then spent a Saturday afternoon with me in the freezing cold going from place to place just looking - JUST LOOKING! 

We narrowed it down to 4 different cars - at 4 different dealerships.  My dad spent an afternoon while I was at work getting the prices at each place, figuring out how much they will take for my car.... etc etc.  Then he brought the numbers back to me so I could make a decision.  (I hadn't even decided for sure yet if I wanted to get a different car at all!!)

One dealership was offering me the best deal...so we went back there just to look again.  By now, I decided this would be in my best interest...and NOW came the hardest part....which color!?!?!

So my dad asked the salesman to line up 4 cars in a row for me to look at - all different colors (both interior and exterior). 

It is quite a process...this whole car buying thing.  I am glad I don't have to do it very often!  I did decide on one and I just picked it up on Saturday.  I love it!

Today's Starfish

I am blessed to have a father who is willing to do the heavy lifting for me (in most aspects of my life - not just car buying!)  One thing I have learned about the relationship with my dad is that everyone shows love in different ways.   We have a very unique relationship.  Some dads help you with your homework and tuck you into bed.  Some dads are non - existent and maybe send you a card on your birthday.  Some dads offer advice on every single aspect of your life. 

MY dad makes sure I don't get screwed over by a salesman, picks me up for doctor appointments so I don't have to drive by myself, calls me just to say hi, let's me have a drink of his Coca Cola in his pick-up truck and makes sure all my paperwork is in order for my insurance, registration and all that other stuff :)

I love MY dad.  I don't have enough words to even begin to thank him for everything he has done to make my life better.  But I hope a little hand-made thank you card in the mail will make him smile.

I'm also going to send the salesman at the car dealership a thank you this week - for being patient with me while I chose which color I wanted and for making the process as painless as possible for me!

Coffee Queens

A little appreciation and a "Good Morning" goes a long way to building a good relationships with your co-workers and getting results.
-Unknown


Webster defines co-worker as:

n

a fellow worker; associate

synonym

colleague

 

I define co-worker as:

 

Someone you see every day.  Someone who shares a printer, water cooler, and boss with you. Someone you help and someone who helps you.  Someone who knows if you are in an bad mood and can lift you up with a few simple words of kindness.  Someone who is truly interested in what you did over the weekend and how your dog is doing.  Someone who turns their music up a tad louder than normal so you can hear.  Someone who invites you to do things outside of work.  Someone who brings you socks so you can go walking over lunch. Someone who knows how you take your coffee.

 

Someone who has turned into a friend.

 

Hopefully, most of you can relate to my definition of co-worker in one way or another.  I am lucky enough to work with a whole department full of these wonderful people!

 

 

Today's Starfish

 

One of my cubicle neighbors, Angie, and I share a love for coffee.  Not just any coffee - Caribou, Starbucks, you name it.  The warmth, the smoothness.  The caffeine and the taste.  The lattes, mochas, skinny drinks and Americana. The extra shots and the mugs and the delicious aroma. Yum Yum Yummmm.  There is nothing like a marvelous cup of coffee to start off your morning..... or for lunch........ or for a nice evening treat.

 

If Angie is running early and has time to get coffee, she texts me to see if I am interested.  Am I interested?  HELLO have you met me!  And vice versa if I am running early or sneak to Starbucks on my lunch break.

 

For today's thank you, I am writing to Angie to thank her for getting me coffee today (and numerous other days!).  It was a nice way to start a cold, windy Monday.  And she didn't HAVE to get me a coffee.  She didn't HAVE to think of me, take the time to send me a text and ask what I wanted.  But she did. 

 

 

 

Thank Your Favorite....

“Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you’ll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you’ll find that you have more of it.”
Ralph Marston

 

 

Do you have a favorite hair stylist?  Favorite Starbucks bartista?  Favorite waiter?  Favorite manicurist? Favorite salesperson?  Is there someone you ALWAYS ask for when you go out to eat or go to a store or go pamper yourself?

 

Do you say thank you with a 15% tip?  A quick "Thanks, see ya later"? 

 

Or do you ever go above and beyond to express your gratitude?  Maybe leave a generous tip or compliment your favorite person by telling their manager how much you appreciate them? 

 

Just as the above quote reads... “Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you’ll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you’ll find that you have more of it.”

 

My challenge for you this week - think of someone who helps you often, someone you purposely look for or ask for.  And instead of the usual quick thank you or small tip, do something a little more meaningful.  Something that will show this person that you truly do appreciate them!

 

 

Today's Starfish

 

I had a horrible headache all weekend and I thought maybe a massage might help me out!  So this morning, I called my salon and just by chance my favorite masseuse happened to have an opening right after work!  Just my luck :) 

 

I am sending her a thank you in the mail.  Yes, I did leave her a nice tip and yes I did say thank you after it was over, but I am going to go the extra mile and make sure she knows how much I appreciate her!

 

~Rekindle~

"Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel."
Author Unknown

One of my New Year's resolutions this year was to be more "in touch." More in touch with myself. More in touch with my family. More in touch with my close friends. And more in touch with people I used to be close to, but maybe not so much anymore.

Ever notice how friendships end? Or dwindle? Of course, relationships do run their course... people grow and change and move. We make new friends with similar interests.  And we plain grow apart.

I lived on an all girls' floor my freshman year at Drake.  We had some of the best times - some of my most favorite college experiences were with those girls.  After sophomore year, we grew distant... I moved into the sorority house and others moved into apartments and houses.  We didn't take the time to get together as often as we should have.  It got even more difficult when we all graduated - some were furthering their schooling, some moved out of state, and it felt like some just dropped off the face of the earth!

With technology these days - facebook, email, texting, skype - it shouldn't be so hard to stay in touch!  And it's really not...  you just have to make the effort.  And that is something I am really trying for!  I had a lot of friends in college that I don't hardly speak to anymore, besides my core group of friends.

My challenge to you - reach out to someone you used to friends with, but maybe haven't spoken to in awhile.  Not only will it make you feel great, but you'll be passing that happiness along to that friend. :)

I plan on continuing this "rekindle" for the rest of the year - either a phone call, a text message, a facebook message.  It should be one of the easiest New Year resolutions!

Today's Starfish

In the last month, I have gotten together with two of my old friends from my freshman dorm.  One was my friend Pooja, who lived right next to me and the other was my friend Leigha who was my freshman year roommate!  It was so great to catch up with these girls over coffee at Starbucks and dinner/coffee at Smokey Row.  

For today's Starfish, I sent both of them a thank you note for spending time with me.  Everyone has such busy lives - but it is important to spend time with people you care about!

 

 

Thank Your Friends

"A friend is one who knows us but loves us anyway"



For those of you who really know me, know that I am very blessed with an amazing group of close girlfriends, but most of them are scattered across the country doing awesome things and I miss each and every one of them very much.

I am lucky enough, however, to have one of them right here in good 'ol Iowa with me.  Although we don't really see each other as much as we would like, we can never "just have lunch" or "just go grab a cup of coffee."  We might plan that, but it always turns into an all day affair. 

I'm sure most of you can relate to this.  Maybe it's your spouse or maybe it's your sister.  Or maybe you have a friend like Brooke. 

It may seem like a no-brainer, but have you ever thanked your friends for being your friend?  Have you ever thanked them for being the type of person who will never turn their back on you, no matter what?  Or thanked them for being the type of friend you would feel comfortable calling at 4am to ponder life with? 

Challenge of the week - pick one of your best friends.  Thank them.  Easy huh!?

Today's Starfish

I went to church Saturday night and got a cup of coffee.  They put a little sticker over the mouth hole (which I've never seen before) and it had the above quote on it.  It really got me thinking about my friendships and how lucky I am.

My regular Sunday School helper texted me late Saturday night to let me know she was sick and wouldn't be able to make it.  I don't like being in charge of a bunch of 4 year olds without someone else in the classroom with me, so at 11:00 on a Saturday night, I texted Brooke and of course she said yes!  So... Sunday School then turned into margaritas then margaritas turned into 3 hours of hot tubbing in the freezing cold! 

I am writing my thank you to one of my best friends - Brooke!  She has been there for me in my happiest and in my darkest times and I couldn't be more thankful to have found such an awesome friend.  Love you Brooke!!



Who Do You Need to Thank?

"What if you gave someone a gift and they neglected to thank you for it - would you be likely to give them another?  Life is the same way.  In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have."
~Ralph Marston

So... if you gave someone a gift and they didn't offer any sort of gratitude in return, how would you react?  Would you be upset and never give them anything again?  Would you try to give them the benefit of the doubt?  Would you be offended?  What would you do?

I am going to be straight forward - when I hold the door for someone and they don't say "thank you" or when I let someone go in front of me on the road and they don't give me a courtesty wave, I get a little offended.  I know, I know... that is not the POINT of being nice, but it helps a little to at least know someone appreciated the tiny gesture. 

This is something I am working on, though.  Maybe when we do something nice for someone else, they don't realize it at the time.  But when they have a chance to pay it forward by opening a door or letting someone go in front of them at Starbucks, they do it.  Something triggers in their mind and says "OH yeah, someone did this for me, I can do it for someone else."

Or maybe they never pay it forward and they don't even realize that you just did something for them that you didn't have to do.  And that is ok too.  Because you should feel good about doing it :)

Challenge of the week - Think about someone you don't thank enough.  Maybe it is your spouse or your friend or your dog or whatever.  Someone who is there for you regardless.  Maybe it has become second nature to count on them.  Don't forget to thank them.  Don't take them for granted!

Today's Starfish


I have been thinking hard about someone who does things for me who I don't really thank very much.  There is always my mom and dad who I will NEVER be able to thank enough for everything they have done for me - especially for giving me life!

But my mind does wander to one person who I have a hard time showing gratitude to... my brother!  He does a lot for me - everything that an older brother is supposed to do.  Of course we do have our little tiffs and scuttles, but at the end of the day he is my big brother and would do anything for me.  Like he lets me live in his house.  And puts things together for me that I have no idea how to start.  And fixes the TV when I press the wrong button.  And lets me have a bunch of girls over to his house for crafting, baking and wine drinking. And he tells me when I am dating a loser.  And brings me Starbucks (like tonight) when I am in the middle of reading, writing and organizing.  So yes - he definitely deserves a small token of gratitude from me.  And plus, I won't have to send this in the mail since he is right upstairs :).

The Year of the Thank You

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. 
~G.K. Chesterton

It is a new year folks!  That means it is time for a fresh start and new ideas.  My blog for the last year was absolutely wonderful and opened my eyes in so many different ways - teaching me how to truly let God's light shine through me and helping others, surprising people with random acts of kindness and opening up my head and my heart through writing. 

This new year is going to be the year of the "Thank You."  I am changing the focus of my blog; however, it will still occur on Mondays and will still remain titled "Starfish Mondays."
Each Monday, I am going to write an old-fashioned thank you note.  Not a quick email or a facebook wall post or a a text.  A real, thank you card that is put in the mail with a stamp and everything.

When I was a young girl thank you cards were important in my home.  My mom would have me sit at the ktichen counter and first write my thoughts on a notecard and put those thoughts into sentence form and then, very carefully, with a ruler so my lines would be straight, I would write my thank you note (in pencil first in case there were mistakes, then I would write over it in ink). As you can imageine,this was a very painstaking process.  But it was all worth it in the end, when I licked that envelope closed and stuck it in the mail box.

Now, I am not trying to "bring back the old days" when people actually sent things through the mail.  But how wonderful when you get the mail for the day and all you see is junk, bill, junk, junk, bill, AHHH A HANDWRITTEN CARD!!, junk junk junk?  And then you open the card and someone has actually taken the time to write thoughtful words to YOU. 

So, keeping the idea of the Starfish (see below for a refresher on the Starfish Story), each card I send each week will make a difference for that one person who receives it.  I am excited for this new year and the new focus on my blog.  As always, if you (my loyal readers) have any suggestions or comments, feel free to contact me!

The Starfish Story

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, "What are you doing?"
The youth replied, "Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them back, they'll die."

"Son," the man said, "Don't you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?
You can't make a difference!"

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said
"I made a difference for that one."

Today's Starfish

First of all, I know this is Tuesday but I have been sick with the flu and I couldn't wait til next week to start my new adventures!

My first Thank You Starfish of the new year is being sent to Diane at LensCrafters.  I got new glasses recently and she was a tremondous help to me when choosing my frames and lenses!