HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

Memorial Day, a holiday in the United States observed in late May. Previously designated Decoration Day, it was inaugurated in 1868 by Gen. John A. Logan for the purpose of decorating the graves of Civil War veterans and has since become a day on which all war dead are commemorated. (The Columbia Encyclopedia. Copyright © 2001-09 Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.)

We are so blessed in the United States to have the freedoms that we have because of the service men and women, who took an oath and risked their lives to fight for our country. Although memorial means to commemorate, let’s not just honor those veterans who died, but to celebrate the lives of those who still continue to fight for and defend The United States of America!

So during your cookouts and other festivities, remember to celebrate responsibly! Peace & Blessings everyone!

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

Celebrating Mom – “Happy Mother’s Day 2010!”

“The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.” - Rajneesh

As we reflect on Mother’s Day 2010, we are reminded of the gift of childbirth and canal of life that God allowed us to travel through from our mothers. We would like to wish all of our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, stepmothers, Godmothers, nieces and friends a fabulous and Happy Mother’s Day. Please join me with the following children who are celebrating the memory, the life, the love, the lessons, the discipline, the sacrifices and the legacies of their mothers.

I want to thank everyone who entered the Celebrating Mom Book Give-a-way Contest last month. The winner of the contest is Mrs. Carrie Saine Sherard. She shares some special reflections about her mother with us. You may view her profile at http://diversitiesofgifts.blogspot.com/2010/05/carrie-saine-sherard-wins-celebrating.html.

* Vicki Perry is honoring her mother, Madie Ellis

* Marjorie Gordon DeLee is honoring her mother, Violett Gordon

* Carolyn G Murray is honoring her mother, Reatha M. Graham

* Lydia Crawford Boynton is honoring her mother, Sallie M. Crawford

* Kelly Hutchinson is honoring her mother, Bernice Washington

* Peggy Rosebora is honoring her mother, Helen Lucille Elliott

* Yvette Clapp is honoring her mother, Barbara Jean Struchen

* Ketra Lewis is honoring her mother, Mrs. Harris

* Desiree Scruggs is honoring her mother, Francene Marie Morris

* Tori & Randi King are honoring their mother, Joanne B. King

* Rev. Dr. Lee C. Bines is honoring his mother, Julia M. Bines

* Felecia D. Rivers is honoring her mother, Frances Darden

* Pastor Charles L. Webber is honoring his mother, Ruby M. Webber

* Frances D. Rivers is honoring her mother, Felecia D. Rivers

* Polly McKee, Sharward Moore, Sr. and Sandra Burton are honoring their mother, Hazel J. Ellison

* Atty. Alia S. Bines is honoring her mother, Shirley G. Bines

* Kyle and Kameron Gordon are honoring their mother, Courtney Gordon

* On behalf of my sister Shirley and brothers Kevyn and Sheldon, we honor our mother, the late Henrietta P. Gordon

Happy Mother’s Day to all of our mothers and to those who stood in the shoes as a mother for someone else’s child. God bless all of you!

My mom is a never-ending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune. - Graycie Harmon

Carrie Saine Sherard Wins the “Celebrating Mom" Book Give-a-way!

Congratulations to Carrie Saine Sherard for winning the “Celebrating Mom" Book Give-a-way Contest. We also want to thank all of the fabulous people who took the time to enter this special contest. Carrie received a copy of my latest book “Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit” and a copy of “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Mom," along with several other goodies for her reading pleasure.

Carrie Saine Sherard is a registered Dental Hygienist and homemaker. She is passionate about reading, cooking and traveling. Carrie loves spending time with friends and family. She is the mother to a 21-year-old daughter and a very spoiled Miniature Schnauzer. Here are some beautiful sentiments that Carrie shared with me about her mother, who she undoubtedly loved, respected and adored.

“Betty Saine was an amazing woman not only because she was my mother, she touched the lives of so many people. She was an outstanding teacher and artist. She gave unselfishly to others. She often gave money to people in need. Growing up I watched her buy shoes, clothing and food for her students and their families that were in need. She encouraged her students as well as me to be the very best person we could be and to do our very best in all endeavors. She helped develop artistic talents in her students; some were artists and didn’t even know it until she introduced them to art. I have gotten emails from former students that have told me that she changed their lives for the better. She saw the best in everyone while everyone else saw the worst. Betty was an awesome grandmother to my daughter. She instilled the same values, morals and encouragement in her that she did in me. Unfortunately, we lost my Mom in December, 2002 to brain cancer, but she lives in our hearts forever.”

Thank you Carrie for sharing this beatitude of how special your mother, Betty Saine was to you and how she inspired and touched the lives of so many people around her. Continue to celebrate her life because her legacy will definitely live on in your heart and many others. Congratulations again for winning the “Celebrating Mom" Book Give-a-way! I hope you enjoy your “good reads.”

An Exciting Contest: Review Rewards Sweepstakes from Barnes & Noble

As many of you know, reviews are a very crucial component in the success and credibility for the books, music and screenplays written by authors, songwriters and artists. I want to invite all of you who have a copy of “Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit” to write a review on both or either Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com. You can copy/paste the same review for both sites. I will also be posting many of the reviews on my website as well.

As an added incentive, Barnes & Noble currently has a “Review Rewards Sweepstakes” currently in progress. Write a review of 100 words or more for any product available on bn.com and you will receive one entry into this sweepstakes. No purchase necessary to enter or win. Making a purchase does not increase your chances of winning. Promotion ends June 1, 2010 at 11:59 PM EST. Official rules and contest guidelines can be found at http://my.barnesandnoble.com/communityportal/reviewsweepstakes.aspx. Scroll down to the box that says “Find a Product to Review” and type in Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit. It should link you to a search page where my book is listed first.

You do not have to be a professional writer to write a review, but I would suggest that before you post, write the review in your Word document, use your spell check for any grammatical errors, then copy and paste your review in the designated areas on these sites. Feel free to also post a review for other books you read previously or may currently be reading.

Thanks a million everyone and good luck in the contest!

From Behind the Pen,
Kym Gordon Moore

http://www.kymgmoore.com/

Today’s Charlotte Woman Magazine Snapshot!

I have the honor and privilege of being selected as one of the women interviewed and featured in the Snapshots section of Today's Charlotte Woman online magazine. I am in the company of some of our area's phenomenal women: Carolyn Flowers, Kim Brattain, Annie Carlano, Monica Wackerhagen and Alyse Kelly-Jones.

I want to thank Karsen Price, Assistant Editor with Today's Charlotte Woman Magazine for doing a wonderful job with my interview. You can read more on my interview with Today's Charlotte Woman Magazine at: http://www.todayscharlottewoman.com/features/537-kym-gordon-moore-snapshots-april-2010.

http://www.kymgmoore.com/

Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day: April 22, 2010

More attention is being placed on our accountability and responsibility for taking care of Mother Earth. We have to honestly look at ourselves to see if we are being as responsible as we should be, in order to build a cleaner and healthier environment for the generations to come.

According to the Columbia Encyclopedia, Earth Day, which is April 22, is a day to celebrate the environment. The first Earth Day was organized in 1970 to promote the ideas of ecology, encourage respect for life on earth, and highlight growing concern over pollution of the soil, air, and water. Earth Day is now observed in 140 nations with outdoor performances, exhibits, street fairs, and television programs that focus on environmental issues.

To learn more about the official Earth Day Campaign, go to this website: http://www.earthday.org/earthday2010

Let's unite to make EVERY DAY, Earth Day! Let us continue to fight for a healthier environment because it’s all up to us! Our future depends on it!

7 Reasons for Surrounding Yourself with Healthy People

We live in an age of low carbs, low fats, more proteins and more fiber in our diets, yet staying fit is not only crucial in the physical sense, but collectively encompasses your healthy mind, body and spirit! One affects the other whether it's positive or negative and all work hand in hand. Not only does a healthy lifestyle affect you, but it also affects those you are around and vice versa.

Our society seems to be saturated with a double portion of extreme "busy-ness," stemming from overworking, overindulging and sometimes over achievement. Unhealthiness can be produced by this busy-ness, causing us to lose our heart, to that which is important for our survival.

Here are seven reasons why staying around healthy people can be a life saver:

1. Edification: Teaching, learning, exploration, and knowledge by building up each other.
2. Empowerment: Positive motivation and support for greater productivity and spiritual development.
3. Encouragement: Helping to overcome obstacles and strongholds in your life.
4. Exemplification: Examples of good character and morals.
5. Exchange: Giving and receiving positive energy flow for greater creativity.
6. Enjoyment: Having fun, being happy and enjoying life!
7. Empathy: Comfort during disappointments, discouragement and grief stricken moments.

Unhealthy relationships can become a toxic disaster with tragic consequences, if you aren't careful! Do not confuse unhealthiness with a momentary bad day experience. Healthy people have to occasionally spit out some unsavory thoughts, situations and emotions that would hinder their physical, spiritual and emotional development. This is a part of life's growing pains. If your mind, body and spirit are not healthy, then your character will possibly emulate the same.

Your circle of influence plays a major role in your habits, spirit and overall lifestyle. Who you surround yourself with now, can greatly affect your destiny. To avoid vanity or bitterness, do not compare yourself with others. You will become a product of your environment, whether it's positive or negative. Junk in - junk out! Surrounding yourself around healthy people and living in a healthy environment, can affect your physical, mental and emotional well-being.

o Healthy begets healthy

o Success begets success

o Happiness begets happiness

Simply put, unhealthiness promotes negativity, selfishness, discouragement, abusiveness, sadness, destruction, constant complaining and ultimately death. Healthy habits yield a healthy return, just as unhealthy habits yield an unhealthy return.

http://www.kymgmoore.com/