Life

“Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful” said Annette Funicello; a person who lived with a debilitating disease until her death. Through her darkest hours and final hours it is written that she remained focused, calm and positive. Her words ring loud, true and for us all. Despite expectations, directions, or deviations; your life can be wonderful (if you choose it to be!)

I can be the change I seek in this world… I can remember that I am the author of my own life story.

I offer this prayer for us all… “God of Love, Spirit of Life, Guardians of Light, grant us an understanding heart, equal vision, balanced mind, faith, devotion and wisdom. Grant us strength to resist temptation and passion to share ourselves. Free us from what ails us. Keep us safe, secure and healthy. Let us behold Thee in all these names and forms. Let us serve Thee in all these names and forms. Let us ever remember Thee. Let us ever sing Thy glories. Let Thy Name be ever on our lips. Let us abide in Thee for ever and ever. Amen.”

Who can individuals, couples and families turn to when they need care & services traditionally found by a place of worship? US! We are Inclusive Life, and we serve all without exception. We know that up to 70% of the population in America does not attend worship on a regular basis, so we are here to provide care & services to everyone regardless of they attend worship or not. Wedding Officiant’s-Premarital & Couples Coaching-Funeral Ministers-Pastoral Care.

(402) 575-7006 www.inclusivelife.org [TEXT ‘ceremony’ to 90210 for TEXT info!]

Inclusive Life is very proud to be a member of “All About Weddings”, a local organization focusing on bringing together premier local vendors that provide wedding services. Inclusive Life is a member in good standing with American Association of Wedding Officiant’s. We receive training from the International Association of Faith Based Counselors.

www.inclusivelife.org Inclusive Life Wedding Officiant’s-Premarital Coaching-Funeral Ministers

www.ulcnetwork.socialgo.com Universal Life Church Social Network (and information)

www.2grooms2brides.com 2 Grooms 2 Brides Same Sex Weddings for Council Bluffs, Iowa

www.weddingsinomaha.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Omaha area

www.weddingsinlincoln.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Lincoln area

www.weddingsincouncilbluffs.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Council Bluffs area

www.spiritualfriendsofnebraska.org Spiritual Friends of Lincoln Nebraska worship & fellowship

www.funeralministers.org Inclusive Life Funeral Ministers serving Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa

www.ceremonyofficiants.org Wedding and Ceremony Officiates

www.allaboutweddings.com All About Weddings

Be Still And...

Surely it's no coincidence that the word "listen" is an anagram of the word "silent". Being still, silent and taking time to stop is important. Not just to hear those who are important in our life, but ourselves too. That also means no cell phones, no computers, no mp3, no technology. It means being still, being silent, being open to what is presenting itself to you in that moment.

Some time ago, as I was told, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, “This is for you, Daddy.” He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found the box was empty.

He yelled at her, “Don’t you know that when you give someone a present, there’s supposed to be something inside it?” The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, “Oh, Daddy, it is not empty. I blew kisses into the box for you, Daddy.”

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness.

It is told that the man kept that gold box by his bed for years and whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

I can be the change that I seek in this world… I will remember that if you always do what you have always done you will always get what you always got. That change starts with me. Now.

Who can individuals, couples and families turn to when they need care & services traditionally found by a place of worship? US! We are Inclusive Life, and we serve all without exception. We know that up to 70% of the population in America does not attend worship on a regular basis, so we are here to provide care & services to everyone regardless of they attend worship or not. Wedding Officiant’s-Premarital & Couples Coaching-Funeral Ministers-Pastoral Care.

(402) 575-7006 www.inclusivelife.org [TEXT ‘ceremony’ to 90210 for TEXT info!]

Inclusive Life is very proud to be a member of “All About Weddings”, a local organization focusing on bringing together premier local vendors that provide wedding services. Inclusive Life is a member in good standing with American Association of Wedding Officiant’s. We receive training from the International Association of Faith Based Counselors.

www.inclusivelife.org Inclusive Life Wedding Officiant’s-Premarital Coaching-Funeral Ministers

www.ulcnetwork.socialgo.com Universal Life Church Social Network (and information)

www.2grooms2brides.com 2 Grooms 2 Brides Same Sex Weddings for Council Bluffs, Iowa

www.weddingsinomaha.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Omaha area

www.weddingsinlincoln.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Lincoln area

www.weddingsincouncilbluffs.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Council Bluffs area

www.spiritualfriendsofnebraska.org Spiritual Friends of Lincoln Nebraska worship & fellowship

www.funeralministers.org Inclusive Life Funeral Ministers serving Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa

www.ceremonyofficiants.org Wedding and Ceremony Officiates

www.allaboutweddings.com All About Weddings

Books

We all experience pain at one time or another in our lives. It may be physical injury, emotional hurt or maybe a combination of both. Reading can conquer fear, they can take us places we have never visited, explore ideas we have never thought of, lead us to places that are safe, familiar and comfortable. Sharing a book is a great way to allow someone a vacation, and might help make things better in their world.

I can be the change I seek in this world… I can share books with friends, family and those whom need a “vacation”…

Who can individuals, couples and families turn to when they need care & services traditionally found by a place of worship? US! We are Inclusive Life, and we serve all without exception. We know that up to 70% of the population in America does not attend worship on a regular basis, so we are here to provide care & services to everyone regardless of they attend worship or not. Wedding Officiant’s-Premarital & Couples Coaching-Funeral Ministers-Pastoral Care.

(402) 575-7006 www.inclusivelife.org [TEXT ‘ceremony’ to 90210 for TEXT info!]

Inclusive Life is very proud to be a member of “All About Weddings”, a local organization focusing on bringing together premier local vendors that provide wedding services. Inclusive Life is a member in good standing with American Association of Wedding Officiant’s. We receive training from the International Association of Faith Based Counselors.

www.inclusivelife.org Inclusive Life Wedding Officiant’s-Premarital Coaching-Funeral Ministers

www.ulcnetwork.socialgo.com Universal Life Church Social Network (and information)

www.2grooms2brides.com 2 Grooms 2 Brides Same Sex Weddings for Council Bluffs, Iowa

www.weddingsinomaha.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Omaha area

www.weddingsinlincoln.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Lincoln area

www.weddingsincouncilbluffs.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Council Bluffs area

www.spiritualfriendsofnebraska.org Spiritual Friends of Lincoln Nebraska worship & fellowship

www.funeralministers.org Inclusive Life Funeral Ministers serving Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa

www.ceremonyofficiants.org Wedding and Ceremony Officiates

www.allaboutweddings.com All About Weddings

Kindness

St. Francis of Assisi wrote “Wherever you go, preach. Use words of necessary.” How true that is regardless of our religious, spiritual or nonreligious beliefs! We need to live, breath, walk and talk the change that we seek for this world. Being intentional about life and love is something we all can do that requires nothing more than doing it…

Regardless if we are Christians, Islamic, Buddhists, Hindu, a religion not listed, spiritual, or nonreligious we all are connected as we are human beings, we have the ability to be connected by what some call light, energy, spirituality, life, or…

The Golden Rule is to treat others as you want would wish to be treated. Perhaps a 2011 spin on that would be perhaps we do not treat others in the same way, we ourselves, would not like to be treated.

It costs us nothing to smile, say hello, say thank you, to offer a hand, to open the door, to commit those uncommon, intentional acts of kindness. You know… those acts of kindness that are the right thing to do, not necessarily fun or easy!

I can be the change that I seek in this world… A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.

Who can individuals, couples and families turn to when they need care & services traditionally found by a place of worship? US! We are Inclusive Life, and we serve all without exception. We know that up to 70% of the population in America does not attend worship on a regular basis, so we are here to provide care & services to everyone regardless of they attend worship or not. Wedding Officiant’s-Premarital & Couples Coaching-Funeral Ministers-Pastoral Care.

(402) 575-7006 www.inclusivelife.org [TEXT ‘ceremony’ to 90210 for TEXT info!]

Inclusive Life is very proud to be a member of “All About Weddings”, a local organization focusing on bringing together premier local vendors that provide wedding services. Inclusive Life is a member in good standing with American Association of Wedding Officiant’s. We receive training from the International Association of Faith Based Counselors.

www.inclusivelife.org Inclusive Life Wedding Officiant’s-Premarital Coaching-Funeral Ministers

www.ulcnetwork.socialgo.com Universal Life Church Social Network (and information)

www.2grooms2brides.com 2 Grooms 2 Brides Same Sex Weddings for Council Bluffs, Iowa

www.weddingsinomaha.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Omaha area

www.weddingsinlincoln.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Lincoln area

www.weddingsincouncilbluffs.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Council Bluffs area

www.spiritualfriendsofnebraska.org Spiritual Friends of Lincoln Nebraska worship & fellowship

www.funeralministers.org Inclusive Life Funeral Ministers serving Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa

www.ceremonyofficiants.org Wedding and Ceremony Officiates

www.allaboutweddings.com All About Weddings

Right vs. Easy

I consider my health (mind, body & spirit), relationship & general life success; they are the sum of the choices I have made. I have had to adjust because of changes that I may or may not control. Sometimes I have had to choose the harder path or what I didn’t want to do like: Walking when I don’t feel like it, forgiving someone, feeling the fear and doing it anyway. Do what is right, not what is easy!

I am on path to lower my weight, improve my health and reduce the number of medications I take. Recently I weighed 360 pounds. I am down to 336 right now and continue to make changes. Not diets but changes in eating habits which includes exercise. There are days that I just don’t want to eat better, that comfort food calls my name, screams my name! There are days that my legs and feet say NO NO NO!

If I am disappointed in any area of my life, whatever choices I have been making aren’t working and I need to adjust, I need to do the right thing, not the easy thing. Easy things could be: Going along with the gossip, surrendering to peer pressure, saying yes to needless obligations, submitting to the crying demands of children, starting your new program on “Monday” (instead of right now), reacting in anger, holding a grudge, giving the ‘silent treatment’. Doing the right thing may include: going to the gym or exercising when you don’t feel like it, forgiving someone, feeling the fear and doing it anyway, admitting you were wrong and apologizing, ordering the salad when you want the burger and fries, saying no to (yet another) shot of… or beer, or bowl of ice cream!

I can be the change I seek in this world… I can care enough about myself, invest in myself, love myself enough to do the right thing, now.

Who can individuals, couples and families turn to when they need care & services traditionally found by a place of worship? US! We are Inclusive Life, and we serve all without exception. We know that up to 70% of the population in America does not attend worship on a regular basis, so we are here to provide care & services to everyone regardless of they attend worship or not. Wedding Officiant’s-Premarital & Couples Coaching-Funeral Ministers-Pastoral Care.

(402) 575-7006 www.inclusivelife.org [TEXT ‘ceremony’ to 90210 for TEXT info!]

Inclusive Life is very proud to be a member of “All About Weddings”, a local organization focusing on bringing together premier local vendors that provide wedding services. Inclusive Life is a member in good standing with American Association of Wedding Officiant’s. We receive training from the International Association of Faith Based Counselors.

www.inclusivelife.org Inclusive Life Wedding Officiant’s-Premarital Coaching-Funeral Ministers

www.ulcnetwork.socialgo.com Universal Life Church Social Network (and information)

www.2grooms2brides.com 2 Grooms 2 Brides Same Sex Weddings for Council Bluffs, Iowa

www.weddingsinomaha.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Omaha area

www.weddingsinlincoln.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Lincoln area

www.weddingsincouncilbluffs.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Council Bluffs area

www.spiritualfriendsofnebraska.org Spiritual Friends of Lincoln Nebraska worship & fellowship

www.funeralministers.org Inclusive Life Funeral Ministers serving Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa

www.ceremonyofficiants.org Wedding and Ceremony Officiates

www.allaboutweddings.com All About Weddings

R R R

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle… three words that CAN make an impact if WE choose! Some in the US embrace the 3-R’s and some do not. Some companies need a lesson in the 3-R’s. In countries that are forced to do more with less, they may offer us all a lesson or two… Using drinking bottles filled with trash to make walls for schools, homes and other buildings! How do you embrace the 3-R’s?

When former Peace Corps volunteer Laura Kutner was asked to help find funding to finish constructing two classrooms in the elementary school where she worked in Guatemala, she decided to reuse common pieces of trash. She used what was known in environment-friendly circles as "eco-blocks" -- plastic bottles stuffed with inorganic trash -- and encased them in chicken wire. Once covered in a few layers of cement, the bottles provided cost-efficient and eco-friendly insulation for the classroom's walls.

"They stay cooler than traditionally built schools and have even inspired new community initiatives to find everyday solutions to trash management," Kutner said. "In development, if a community does not want it or does not need it, the project is not going to be successful," said Kutner. A community has to be able to invest in itself to be sustainable - and that, after all, should be the goal of grassroots development, she said.

I can be the change that I seek in this world… We won't have a planet if we destroy the environment with unnecessary necessities.

Who can individuals, couples and families turn to when they need care & services traditionally found by a place of worship? US! We are Inclusive Life, and we serve all without exception. We know that up to 70% of the population in America does not attend worship on a regular basis, so we are here to provide care & services to everyone regardless of they attend worship or not. Wedding Officiant’s-Premarital & Couples Coaching-Funeral Ministers-Pastoral Care.

(402) 575-7006 www.inclusivelife.org [TEXT ‘ceremony’ to 90210 for TEXT info!]

Inclusive Life is very proud to be a member of “All About Weddings”, a local organization focusing on bringing together premier local vendors that provide wedding services. Inclusive Life is a member in good standing with American Association of Wedding Officiant’s. We receive training from the International Association of Faith Based Counselors.

www.inclusivelife.org Inclusive Life Wedding Officiant’s-Premarital Coaching-Funeral Ministers

www.ulcnetwork.socialgo.com Universal Life Church Social Network (and information)

www.2grooms2brides.com 2 Grooms 2 Brides Same Sex Weddings for Council Bluffs, Iowa

www.weddingsinomaha.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Omaha area

www.weddingsinlincoln.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Lincoln area

www.weddingsincouncilbluffs.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Council Bluffs area

www.spiritualfriendsofnebraska.org Spiritual Friends of Lincoln Nebraska worship & fellowship

www.funeralministers.org Inclusive Life Funeral Ministers serving Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa

www.ceremonyofficiants.org Wedding and Ceremony Officiates

www.allaboutweddings.com All About Weddings

Home

"I hear her voice, in the mornin’ hours she calls to me. The radio reminds me of my home far a-way. And drivin’ down the road I get a feeling’. That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday. Country roads, take me home.” Where is home for you? Where is that place that is comfortable, safe, all knowing? What is your definition of home?

As I get older, my mom gets smarter. She is 93 and I care for her. She lives with us. I love that. I remember growing up in Bellevue, Nebraska and there always seemed to be these kids coming in and out of our home; all hours, all days, all the time. In the early 70’s mom was “the” emergency shelter for law enforcement for the county. If a child had been abused or needed “loving custody” instead of protective custody, they were brought to our home until the courts made their decisions.

I also remember that it was just mom and I growing up. I also remember neighbors who needed food, clothing and love. Our pantry always had extra food for those who needed some, mom always had things to share and always had MORE than enough love to give out.

Home is where you make it, it is where you share unconditional love to others, without exception.

I can be the change I seek in this world… I am mindful that home may be that place that I grow up wanting to leave and as I get older a place I want to return to.

Who can individuals, couples and families turn to when they need care & services traditionally found by a place of worship? US! We are Inclusive Life, and we serve all without exception. We know that up to 70% of the population in America does not attend worship on a regular basis, so we are here to provide care & services to everyone regardless of they attend worship or not. Wedding Officiant’s-Premarital & Couples Coaching-Funeral Ministers-Pastoral Care.

(402) 575-7006 www.inclusivelife.org [TEXT ‘ceremony’ to 90210 for TEXT info!]

Inclusive Life is very proud to be a member of “All About Weddings”, a local organization focusing on bringing together premier local vendors that provide wedding services. Inclusive Life is a member in good standing with American Association of Wedding Officiant’s. We receive training from the International Association of Faith Based Counselors.

www.inclusivelife.org Inclusive Life Wedding Officiant’s-Premarital Coaching-Funeral Ministers

www.ulcnetwork.socialgo.com Universal Life Church Social Network (and information)

www.2grooms2brides.com 2 Grooms 2 Brides Same Sex Weddings for Council Bluffs, Iowa

www.weddingsinomaha.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Omaha area

www.weddingsinlincoln.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Lincoln area

www.weddingsincouncilbluffs.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Council Bluffs area

www.spiritualfriendsofnebraska.org Spiritual Friends of Lincoln Nebraska worship & fellowship

www.funeralministers.org Inclusive Life Funeral Ministers serving Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa

www.ceremonyofficiants.org Wedding and Ceremony Officiates

www.allaboutweddings.com All About Weddings