Verbal abuse is still abuse!

I came across this image on G+ and traced it's origin back to an advertising campaign on child abuse. It carries a very powerful message!!
Created By:  Advertising Agency: EuroRSCG Chicago, USA
                    Art Director: Puja Shah
                    Copywriter: Eugene Fuller
                    Creative Director: Blake Ebel

Disability, Curse or Gift?

It was suggested to me to look at my disability as a gift given to have a chance doing what I am meant to.


This got me thinking, I usually look at all the things my disabilities have taken from me, such as an active social life, the ability to work and earn an income, the restrictions on my movement and consequently my lifestyle and so on.
But what if I was to do as this person suggested and turn it around and look at what the disability has given me. The opportunity to practice my photography, the time to get so much better at it, a mobile home to travel in (we only have this as it's to painful to sit in a car for long periods.) Freedom to travel as much as we want, when we want, to enjoy time with my husband, to understand others with chronic conditions and to be able to reach out and help them. A closer relationship with God as I have to rely on him 24/7 to get me through each day, real friends who have stood the test of time and an appreciation and gratefulness for the little things in life. 


So after doing this little exercise, it's up to me to decide if it's a blessing or a curse, it's all in the way we perceive it.

I am going to start focusing on the positives instead of the negatives and see if it helps my quality of life, will you join me??

Are you an angel who has lost his/her way

We are all devine beings walking this earth, but sometimes we forget where we came from or what our purpose is.

This is how I see myself sometimes, a devine being come to earth, cold in a snowstorm and yet there is a beautiful ray of light and love reaching down to me from above, letting me know I am never alone. 

Neither are you ever alone, if we will just stop for a moment and feel the love that is reaching down to us, we will be able to go on, knowing that somewhere, somehow there is a purpose and a reason for our being and it is our job to remember what that is.

May heavens light warm and guide you.

Where has Christmas gone

This came through my facebook page, so I felt I needed to share it.I don't know who wrote it, but it is very true


Twas the Month before Christmas 

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
and we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday !

Please, all Christians join together and wish everyone you meet
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Christ is The Reason' for the Christ-mas Season!

If you agree please forward

Remembrance Day

I know I'm a few days late, but I couldn't face this post till now.
Remembrance Day is about remembering all those who have died serving their country. I appreciate what these people have given us so much and what their families gave was made so much more poignant by the passing of Ruby. Yes Ruby was just a tiny dog, but she was part of our family. It brought home to me how much grief and sorrow the families of our fallen soldiers must have to endure. A grief that never ends. A hole in their heart that can never be filled.
No greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for another....this is what they have done for each and every one of us.

So to all our men and women in the armed forces, thankyou.

RIP Ruby

I am finding it hard to blog today, what do you say when your second dog in 6 mths has died.

Life seems so unfair.

6mths ago our little Amara got run over and then we got Ruby who was 7mths old to keep our other Pap, Louie, company.

He and Ruby had pups 7 weeks ago, they went to their new homes on Saturday and then she died yesterday.....why did it have to happen, why didn't it happen before the pups had gone, why do bad things happen to good people....all these things and more have been running through my head.

I know I can resist this lesson & it will be twice as hard or I can accept it even though I don't understand why. I am trying to accept, but it is overwhelming at times.

So RIP our beautiful Ruby

Ruby with one of her pups

Treated Badly

How do we handle it when people or organizations treat us badly?

I recently had a case where I had joined a greeting card company when they were just starting out. I supported them, I advertised for them, I introduced other artists to them and then when I was not putting up lots of new work as I was unwell they "deactivated" my shop and then informed me after the fact.

I was upset, more at the way they treated me. I know that when one door closes another opens & I have already been invited to start up a shop with another company and I now sell my cards through my local art gallery and make a lot more than I did through the previous company, but it would be nice to have been treated right.

I have sent them an email, explaining how I felt, but what else can we do in situations like this?

I find my internal talk is the answer. My first instinct was to feel rejected and undervalued, but then I stopped my thoughts and said, to myself, they have actually done me a favor I am now free to pursue other areas. I felt a misplaced loyalty to them & that has now been removed so I can move on.

Many people buy my cards and my art and just yesterday I had a stranger tell me how awesome my work was and how blessed they were at being able to own it. It is these comments I will now focus on and move forward with no regrets.

When one door closes another always opens.

So if you are looking for cards, please go to Greeting cards by Julia K Harwood for a selection of cards, but also any of my images are available as cards, just go to my redbublle gallery, click on the image and choose greeting cards:))