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Angel Notes>
A Series of Unfortunate Events
March 20, 2007
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FROM THE PUBLISHER
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A series of unfortunate events. That describes last week’s
saga as a Christian Work at Home Mother. Along the way I
discovered unexpected angels and hope rekindled.
Last Thursday promised to be a great day. I was eager to
face challenges, no matter how difficult, and get some
crucial things done. I had just finished one tiny
long-neglected project when I got a call from my son’s
school—he was throwing up and needed to come home. Okay, I
thought, I’ll adjust. After my husband brought him home
from school, I dashed to the store to get a few needed
ingredients for a potluck dish I was going to bring to a
meeting my husband and I were supposed to go to that night.
I called the baby sitter and canceled her services,
thinking that I would go alone and my husband would stay
home with our son.
When I returned from the store, I found that my son was
fine! My husband went back to his office and I attempted to
do some much-needed work online. This was the next
unfortunate event—bad news that was not pleasant to find
out. I got up from my computer, still agitated, and checked
on the dogs, whom I had put in the front yard. They were
gone! Somehow they had found another escape hole in the
fence!
In a panic, I asked my neighbor to watch my son, who, as I
said, was just fine and playing quietly in the family room.
I walked around the block at a fast clip and finally found
them in a neighbor’s backyard. I was so grateful! She had
found the dogs wandering by the major street and penned
them up in her yard and immediately put up signs. All those
times of rescuing lost dogs paid off! She thought the way I
did—how awful it would be for the dogs to get run over or
caught by the Humane Society!
I started walking them home, and when I turned the corner,
I saw my neighbor leave my gate. He had just checked in on
my son, so I yelled his name and hurried to catch up with
him. He heard me, turned around, and started to walk toward
me.
Then the really unfortunate event happened: I sped up even
more, so much so that I think my head got going faster than
my feet, and I toppled over, crashing to the sidewalk,
skinning my knee, twisting my ankle, and straining the arm
that reached out automatically to catch my fall! I cried
out in pain, frustration, and embarrassment. My neighbor
helped me to the gate and I limped inside my house, went
straight to the phone and called my husband, gasping in
pain and tears. “Come home now,” I choked out, explaining
to him my fall. It hurt like crazy. I laid down on the
couch and my son, who had seen me crying horribly when I
walked in, tried to help me. What a sweet little angel he
was being now, when mere moments ago, before he had seen I
was hurt, was acting like a little devil! He got me an ice
pack and held my hand. The pain was terrible. We waited for
my husband to come home…
MORE ON THIS STORY NEXT WEEK! FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
IN THIS SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS!!
Dana Susan Beasley
Principal/Publisher
AngelArts
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ANGEL TIPS
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Top 3 Ways to Be An Angel To Someone In Crisis:
1) If you’re comfortable with dogs and you sense it is
safe, put it in your yard or house, put up signs or call
your Humane Society to see who the dogs belong to. Your
neighbor will be very appreciative and this is a simple way
to reach out and spread a little bit of kindness to
someone’s life!
2) Pick someone up when they fall. This could be literal or
figurative. If they’ve fallen, help them to their house.
Get them an ice pack or whatever they need.
3) Hold someone’’s hand when they’re hurt. Sometimes you
need to squeeze hard!
Top 5 Ways to Ask for Angels When You're in a Crisis:
1) Cry when you need to cry. It’s okay.
2) Ask for what you need. Do you need a break from your
children? Ask someone reliable to watch them. Do something
for you! In the long run, you will be a better parent.
3) Refocus. If something's not working, draw back and do
something else.
4) When you’re down, let someone pick you up and walk with
you.
5) Hold on to a friend’s hand and squeeze!
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REACH NEW HEIGHTS IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS!
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Kindness is often repaid and the Golden Rule still applies
today, even though it was over 2000 years ago after Jesus
spoke the famous words, “Do unto others as you would have
them do unto you.”
But sometimes we get so busy that we can’t see the forest
through the trees. We need to lift our heads and see the
needs out there. Is a friend going crazy because she never
gets a break from her children? Offer to baby sit to let
her have some much-needed time out. Then perhaps when
you’re in that same kind of desperation, you will receive
the same kind of kindness.
Perhaps you have a friend who just recently lost his
mother.
Think how it would lift his spirits a little bit to receive
a sympathy card to let him know you are thinking about him!
Especially when mail these days is inundated by junk mail
and bills and personal letters and cards are few and far
between. Then maybe when you are grieving, you will
experience the same kind of thoughtfulness.
Is a family member going through a difficult time? Spend
time with her! Offer to do little things that need doing.
Listen. Pray. Hold her hand! Let her cry on your shoulder.
Perhaps when you experience pain, a friend will be there
for you.
The needs are all around and we only have to hear the cries
for help, the cries of loneliness, the cries of pain.
Sometimes the overwhelming stress of everyday life can lead
us into isolation and we are adrift from one another and
cut off. Sometimes we are stingy with our time and talents
because we want to protect what’s rightfully ours and not
risk rejection. But generosity begets generosity! How much
we miss when we don’t open our eyes.
Let’s open our eyes today and experience how we can reach
new heights in relationships!
This column reminds me—I must go now and send a card to a
grieving friend!
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REACH NEW HEIGHTS IN YOUR HOME!
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A little at a time and much patience!
That’s what’s required when overwhelmed with overwhelming
tasks in the home.
Sometimes it takes tackling one tiny baby project after
another. Like dusting one corner of a room that hasn’t been
dusted for months. Or cleaning one shelf in a messy fridge,
or perhaps even half a shelf. Or organizing one section of
a closet. Or installing one piece of trim in your bathroom.
It’s a matter of letting go of expectations and giving
yourself a break! And if a project isn’t going well,
stepping back, taking a rest, and tackling it another time.
Your environment is also very important, like listening to
uplifting music during the day. Or watching your favorite
DVD while you sort out papers in your office.
No matter how you tackle the overwhelming tasks around the
house, remember what the house is for. The house is a home,
a haven, a refuge. The house is for your friends, for your
family, and for YOU!
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REACH NEW HEIGHTS IN YOUR LIFE!
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Ever considered the benefits of virgin coconut oil? This is
a new idea that so far is yielding great results for me. My
skin tends toward rosacea and I could not find any products
to help and was considering going to a dermatologist. Then
not long ago, a family member was visiting and she told me
about the benefits of coconut oil. She said a friend of
hers went to a dermatologist and spent a lot of money on
medicines, but found virgin coconut oil solved the problem
much better and for far less money.
Another family member had praised its virtues to me a few
months back and I had read some interesting things about
it.
So I decided to try it. I purchased a bottle of extra
virgin coconut oil from my local health food store and it
cost me $9.74. I’ve put it on my face in the morning at
night and so far I am having great results! The dry red
spots are becoming less rough and less red. I put more on
these red areas and I believe it’s getting better. It’s not
all solved yet, but so far I am very happy with it.
A week after I was told about coconut oil and rosacea, my
family member visited me again. She said I seemed to have a
healthy glow now under my skin!
Now I am by no means a skin expert or a nutritional expert,
but I’ve seen the benefits of the coconut oil. I know it’s
beneficial in many other areas, too. I did a Google search
on coconut oil and found information and recipes. One site,
http://www.coconutdiet.com/skin_health.htm, talks about
using coconut oil as a hair conditioner. I think I’ll try
that next. According to Nature’s Blessings, Inc., coconut
oil can be used for cooking oil, salad oil, hair
conditioner, and massage oil. I’m sure there’s many other
uses I haven’t thought about. Maybe I’ll buy some handmade
soap and try that, too! I think that would be a fun soap to
make!
My mother told me that her chiropractor buys whole coconut
and grinds it and uses it!
So many interesting things to try. That reminds me. I love
the taste of coconut on Indian Curry Chicken. I might have
to make that this week!
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REACH NEW HEIGHTS IN YOUR BUSINESS!
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What motivates you to work hard in your business?
For me, it’s the continual ability to stay at home with my
child. I am so grateful that I am home with my child and I
don’t want to lose this freedom. It’s so important. Being
there for my child I know is life-changing. I was reminded
of this again today. After he came home from school, he
asked me to cuddle with him on the couch while he watched
PBS Kids. Of course, I had many things to do, including
finishing this newsletter, which I am late publishing. I
agreed gladly, however, to cuddle with him and we snuggled
together and played.
Suddenly he began to ask me some thought-provoking
questions: “Will I see you in heaven, Mommy?” and “I want
Jesus in my heart!”
“Would you like to ask him in your heart right now?” I
asked. We had conversations like this many times but never
so specific. Maybe this was the time!
“Yes!” he agreed, so I asked him to pray after me and he
did.
“Dear Jesus,” I prayed as we cuddled next to each other on
the couch, the TV fading in the background, “please come
into my heart. I know that I have done wrong things and I
need you. I ask you to come into my heart as Lord and
Savior. Thank you for dying on the cross for me.”
The moment passed like any other—fleeting and seemingly
unimportant. But it was a step forward in a wonderful
journey of faith, a step I also had taken as a young child,
having heard on the radio how I could ask Jesus into my
heart and it would be like a candle that would never burn
out.
I told my son this story and then the fleeting moment was
gone and his quick mind was asking me other questions. But
I was filled with joy and grateful that I could have this
special memory with him, started by a simple act of
cuddling with him.
What motivates you in your business? Money is necessary and
it’s nice to have recognition, but what really motivates me
is being able to stay home with my child, and most of all,
being a vehicle for God’s glory, imperfect as I am!
Now I will work extra hard to finish this newsletter and
publish it!
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WHAT'S NEW
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- Just added! A beautiful collection of Colorado scenic
cards. Colorado like you've never seen it befor! Check the
cards out at http://www.angelartswebstore.com.
More Colorado Collection cards coming soon, as well as
prints, gift sets, magnets, and more! Check back
frequently!
- We are pleased to announce the debut of our message
board! Become an Angel Network member by registering today!
Are you an art enthusiast? Photographer? Writer? Painter?
Crafter? Jeweler? Sculptor? Musician? Whatever you do, come
join us! We are building a community of inspirational
artists who desire to use their art to the glory of God.
You can find a specific group for whatever genre of art you
are in involved in. Join several! Coming in the near
future-articles, seminars, online shows, workshops. The
sky's the limit. If you have an idea, please share. Better
yet, if you have an area of expertise and you would like to
submit an article, please do! Send them to
dbeasley@angelarts.biz.
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ON SALE THIS MONTH
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Our Grand Opening Sale is still going on! Use the discount
code ffp276 and you will receive a 25% discount on any item
in the store. This coupon is available until April 7.
Special items for sale include the EBooklet "A Seed of
Love" poem/art for only 99 cents
(http://www.angelartswebstore.com/catalog/item/4209472/4308784.htm)
and all the Blooming Original Collection prints
(http://www.angelartswebstore.com/page/page/4207962.htm.)
Receive a FREE EBooklet that we just published called
"A Blooming Original." This devotional on the character of
Jesus will inspire you to use your talents for him. Please
feel free to share the EBooklet with friends and family! Go
to http://www.angelartswebstore.com/page/page/4388550.htm
to sign up for it.
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SEASONAL INTERESTS
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- Available soon--a beautiful Mother's Day card that will
inspire a life! Check back soon! Check out our products for
unique Mother's Day gifts. The Victorian Rose Collection
includes some beautiful sets. They come complete with a
glass angel pendant and a packet of seeds! Check it out at
http://www.angelartswebstore.com/page/page/4209472.htm.
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JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
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BOARD! Cultivate community, network, and make new friends!
Go to
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register!
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ANGELARTS NEWSFLASH
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Our product, the Victorian Rose Art & Poetry Card, was
recently reviewed on CWAHM.com. Here's what the site owner
had to say about it: "These are gorgeous, high quality
cards that your friends and family will love to receive.
Neal's artwork is outstanding and Beasley's beautiful poety
compliments it perfectly." — Jill, CWAHM.com.
You can see the review for yourself at
http://www.cwahm.com/activities/wahmproductreviews.htm
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NEWSLETTER DETAILS
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- Feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone
enthusiastic about inspirational arts. Inspire a life
today!
- Discover our past newsletter issues at
http://www.angelartswebstore.com/page/page/4356715.htm.
- If you are interested in advertising in our newsletter,
contact Dana Beasley at dbeasley@angelarts.biz.
- We need article submissions! Have an inspiring story
about how someone was an angel in your life? Have a unique
tip on how to be an inspiration to others? Real-life
experiences about how someone touched your life profoundly
and inspired you to greater heights? Have a personal story
about how you overcame a seemingly unbeatable obstacle or
experienced an incredible miracle? Please submit articles
to Dana Beasley at dbeasley@angelarts.biz. Great way to
gain exposure for your business!
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