When did our highways turn into a giant ashtray? Somehow people who smoke and drive have come to think that it is okay to toss their cigarette butts out the window and onto the streets and shoulders.

I noticed it before, but now when I walk and ride my bike it is amazing to see the tremendous amount of discarded cigarettes that dot the roads. There are posted penalties for littering however there must be something in the fine print that excludes butts.

If you are a smoker. If you smoke when you are driving or a passenger in a vehicle traveling our roads please keep in mind your tax dollars are going to pay for someone or something to clean up you "butt." If you will please use your ashtray then maybe we can redirect those funds and hopefully use them to make a positive difference in a different way. Thank you.

In nature it is usually Spring when everything seems to change and the plants and trees renew themselves. Sometimes seeds that were carried in the wind bloom in a new location and trees that lost branches sprout new ones.

Wait a minute, wait a minute!

Okay, I was trying to write some beautiful analogy to all the changes occurring and due to occur in the lives of the various members of my family over this summer. As soon as I started to write comparing their life changes with Springtime and nature I think I heard music building in the background. A butterfly flew by my ear and whispered compare them to me. I looked down and saw ants marching in a line carrying breadcrumbs chanting, "Talk about how hard it is for us to move stuff; it's many times our body weight."

Snapped back to reality (and a little concerned that the voices I am hearing are not just the ones in my head)let me simply say - this summer is going to be one of numerous changes and opportunities for new beginnings.

To name just a few:

Each of my sons and their families are moving. Jim, Carol, Jake and Jonah only a few miles from their current residence. Tom, Shelia, Hope and Noah will be moving to Mississippi from Tennessee.

Carol has a new church and Tom a new position and responsibilities with Nissan.

David is about to begin his quest to become the bionic man and will be receiving a new knee compliments of the Veterans Administration in return for his service in the Navy.

My sister, Wendy and her husband Lamont, having touched the lives of many through their Yoga Studio, are about to explore new and exciting ways to continue their work and passion.

My niece Caitlyn has graduated with honors from high school and will be leaving home for college later this summer.

My niece Valerie and her husband Heath and son Duncan are about to welcome a new daughter into their family.

In fact, everyone in my family is experiencing some degree of change this summer. To list them all would take pages and no doubt there would be several I would miss. Many changes I am sure I am not even aware of yet; but that is exactly the point.

Everyday there are changes occurring. Some make us happy, some are frightening, some make us sad and many weren't predicted. It is the unforecastable changes in our lives that can really throw us a curve!

May all the changes in your life ultimately take you in the direction of your dreams and bring you great happiness.

Below are a few of my favorite quotes on the subject. Enjoy your day!

Nothing we can do can change the past, but everything we do changes the future.
Ashleigh Brilliant

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.
Alan Cohen

Time is a dressmaker specializing in alterations.
Faith Baldwin

The key to change, is to let go of fear.
Rosanne Cash

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.
Maria Robinson

If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it.
Mary Engelbreit

Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.
Robert C. Gallagher

It is the ultimate "dirty job." What if no one were willing to do it? No matter what your political viewpoint, these men and woman and the ones that went before deserve your support and appreciation.

To our service men and woman and their families, a heartfelt thank you. You are remembered.

"Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip."

Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way that you expect.

Unfortunately, I am unable to go to my niece's graduation tomorrow. She has worked hard and deserves to have a wonderful and happy day of celebration.

l found this picture and imagine a scene like this will happen tomorrow. It may be a dejavue moment. I definitely hope Caitlyn once again is beaming with her beautiful smile.

Congratulations Caitlyn and the best of good fortune as you experience the fantastic adventures that are ahead.

Sometimes I think our minds must come equipped with an overflow valve. There is so much going on in the world that it is impossible to comprehend it all.

Unfortunately, sometimes we become so totally immersed in our own world that we lose sight of the bigger picture.

On the one hand, it has been difficult to relocate, moving as often as I have. It has sometimes been lonely traveling alone so much. BUT on the other hand I have had the enormous opportunity to view the world and be reminded that life has little to do with me and more to do with "us."

I have always said that I enjoy going outside that being at the beach or at the water's edge is fantastic because it reminds me that every minute things are changing. It is the natural order of things. It reminds me that I am just one of many who inhabit this planet today and certainly small in comparison to all who have come before. My problems and concerns that seem sometime to be paralyzing and insurmountable are nothing compared to what others are facing at this exact same time.

I've never been a fan of reading the news as it seems to be filled with stories of people hurting people. People at war. People being cruel to each other.

Lately the weather station has become as frightening as anything to be found in the news. The weather headlines are filled with storms, floods, fires, and death and destruction so vast it is hard to impossible to imagine.

It is more and more important that each of us respect and enjoy the moments of our lives. I truly believe we have a divine given responsibility to create happiness for ourselves and others.

We have been given an overflow valve that prevents us from being totally able to comprehend the unfortunate and horrible things that are happening in the world. It's a blessing. The even greater blessing is that we each have the power to create happiness. Often we do it without realizing it. Happiness can be found in the little things.

It may just take a smile, maybe saying hello, helping someone, paying the toll for the person behind you to make yourself happy and pass it on. Imagine if everyone did that today. It would be awesome.

A wonderful way to say thank you for not being one of the people in the headlines or effected by horrific weather or war is to make someone happy.

I hope someone makes you happy today and that you pass it on.

Happy Mother's Day to all the "moms" in the world. It is certainly a special gift to be given the blessed opportunity to be a Mom. I hit the jackpot having twins. Tom and Jim are beyond awesome.

What has made be feel especially fortunate is that I loved and liked my Mom and love and like my sons, their wonderful wives that I truly think of as daughters, and my grandchildren: Hope, Noah, Jake and Jonah.

Although my sons are "identical twins" they are uniquely individual and have each given me separate reasons to love, admire and be proud of them as they have grown up and for the men they have become.

My "daughters" have a strength that I admire.

Hope, Noah, Jake and Jonah are beyond fantastic. They each make me smile to overflowing when they share what is happening in their lives.

If I could be anywhere, doing anything today I would wish to be in the Magic Kingdom at Disney with my family enjoying a blissfully happy day.

Since that isn't possible my second choice is to go for a boat ride and then get some ice cream.

I hope where ever you are you have a fantastic, happy day. It is definitely a day when all Mothers should take a moment to be thankful for having been blessed with the opportunity to be
a "Mom."

Jake McKay scores 30.1 points and achieves Wildcat reading status.

Your life adventure has certainly taken lots of twists and turns. You have shown amazing resilence, compassion, creativity and a positive attitude. I especially appreciate that you introduced me to the book: It has been one that I need to read and re-read often. Afterall in the big scheme of things it is all "Small Stuff."

I love this quote: "There's no other love like the love for a brother. There's no other love like the love from a brother. " Astrid Alauda

Is it a man playing a horn or a woman's face.

Is it a vase or 2 faces looking at each other.

Even when something is right in front of us, we often have a challenging time deciphering what is real and what is Memorex. It is all dependent on our point of view and perspective.

Is it a picture of angels or demons????

When we arrived at the V.A. Hospital this morning we were informed that the surgeon was sick and the surgery would have to be rescheduled.

All the butterflies in my belly have retreated to their coccoons. Nothing to do but wait until the new date and time is advised. Then schedules can be rearranged. To everyone who sent their best wishes please keep them on-hold. They were appreciated and will be needed. Thank you.

It isn't a game when surgery is concerned. Especially when it is done on a Hulk sized man who has daily health challenges.

Hopefully, after this surgery he will feel so mobile that the end results will be "priceless."

I filed my taxes but I won't be getting an economic stimulus rebate check. I didn't have an income in 2008. There are other people who didn't earn any money but are recieiving a check. If you filed and received Social Security, Medicare or other government money you qualified.

Unfortunately, as crazy as it is, I fall into the same category as those who earned too much to qualify. As a fledgling entrepreneur all my savings are going into my business, Ideas Unlimited, LLC. Money earned is going into my business. I'm not to the point that I can pay myself an income.

I'm dubious as to whether the stimulus money will have a positive effect on our economy. I hope it does.

I admit that I would love to be receiving a check from Uncle Sam. with the cost of gas ever rising, I would use it to fill my car and keep moving along the road to success.

I hope you use your check to buy something you want, or need, or use it to enjoy a splurge and have fun. If you find yourself stumped and don't know what to do with it, you can purchase my little book(see the left hand column) or even better buy food and donate it to your local food bank.

I hope this works and stimulates our economy. Maybe the next thing we can try is a
program designed to stumulate kindness and being nice.

People are often unreasonable, illogical,
and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you
of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some
false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank;
people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.