Gratitutde: Sal's 2010 New Year Reflection

Sal's Reflection of 2010

{http://www.angelfire.com/mn/saldapal/reflection.2010.html}

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Picture: My younger brother took this picture at on of the Battle Creek trails in St. Paul, Minnesota on October of 2010

Happy New Year..2011!! Wow, what a year! What did you thought about 2010? Before we enter the "new year", I (Sal) would like to take some time to reflect on God's blessings (share them here) of this past year. We sometimes easily forget what we did each year unless we STOP and think about what happened in our "busy" lives. During these holidays, I like to take advantage of the "break" and share with others "what happened in 2010"..

Some highlights this past year..

-January:
Hired some friends from my local church (Morris, MN) to help do the major work or remodeling my basement.
-April:
Went to my "first Minnesota Twins game" at Target Field
-July:
Joined 3 of my students (ESL) on a 3-day weekend trip to the scenic places around Mount Rushmore, South Dakota

-August
Seeing our community opening their resources by starting new weekly church services for the growing "Spanish-speaking" population in making it a better place in "welcoming" them
Got the opportunity to do my passion for teaching ESL at the college I attended at for a week during UMM International Student Orientation. Many of them are from China!!
UMM International Students at the Dragon Boat Races (Meet #2)in Starbuck

-September:
Started my "flood-control" external basement project that would last 2 1/2 months

Picture: I am with a friend (Chris T.) from my local church, who was part of the annual homeschool winter play ""Genesis The Story of Creation to the Call of Abram of Ur"" (see more pics) on a "wintry" Friday (December 10th of 2010).

My New Year's Resolution is the same like every past years, which is to be more "Christ-like" (body, soul, and mind) with God's help....in my daily personal relationship (e.g. reading the Bible, prayer, fellowship, praising-worshiping, etc..)..Also, to be more of a "peacemaker" in all situations in my daily surroundings through 2010!

Today (Friday, December 31st of 2010) during my 1 1/2 weeks of "winter break", I decided to write down some "goals" (see purpose-driven life) I've been pondering about this past week. Here are some:

-praying for financial provision to finish my "basement remodeling" (e.g. finished my basement to start renting, get double-pane windows for my living room this summer, finish the north section of insulating my external basement walls, etc...) project (monthly if possible)
-continue helping "reaching out" to the growing "Spanish-speaking" community in Stevens County
-build current and future relationships (family, friends, co-workers, etc.)
-take advantage of the "opportunities" to make "peace-reconciliation" with everybody in every situation
-Give God the glory in "everything" I do (e.g. work, family, leisure, etc..)
-continue teaching what I know and learning in life with others (e.g. niece, nephew, ESL/GED students, Sunday School, etc..) "younger' than me

Gratitude: Didn't fall on my butt

I'm grateful that I didn't fall on my "butt" this morning on the slippery ice on my way to church. I woke up this morning (Sunday, November 21st 2010) expecting an inch or so of snow as it was forecasted last night. It was still green but wet outside. Well, due to recent yard work, my sidewalk was covered with dirt and gravel. Thus, I didn't realize how slippery it wasn't until later. I was putting up signs for my local church as I "try" to regularly every Sunday morning in Morris, Minnesota. When I was just close to finish crossing the street, I slipped and landed forward on the church sign. I'm just grateful that I didn't slip backwards and fall on my "butt". I guess it could've been worse-hitting the back of my head. I'm just thankful to God that He was watching me.

I started to write this after attending an evening church service (in Spanish at the Morris Evangelical Free Church) where they had a special service. They had folks come up to the mike to share about what they are thankful-grateful to God for. I guess, I could've shared this too! I also was inspired to write this as part of my daily share I plan to have on my facebook status as we head to Thanksgiving this week. I chose this particular subject after finding this video (down below) during my nightly "ritual" of reading-watching news online before going to bed.



I'm just thankful that I live in Morris and wasn't part of the minor-major crashes back in my hometown. My thoughts and prayers for those involved with the 370 reported crashes. Especially my prayer for the love ones of the one fatality. My slip this morning was very minor compared to many accidents. I guess it's all perspective on how we should be thankful to God for no matter what circumstances one goes through in a daily basis.

more..http://outdoors.goodnewsminnesota.info/fall.html

Gratitude: Fishing Provision

I just wanted to share God's faithfulness after a great day of fishing this past Saturday. I haven't fished at all because of the busy summer trying to finish my "basement" remodeling project. I decided to go fishing with my housemate because he was treating his niece and nephews (3 boys). While we were driving to the Bait Shop (Glenwood, Minnesota), I did a one sentence quick prayer-"Heavenly Father we pray for a blessed fishing day"..in Jesus' name..Amen! Well, we all remembered that prayer after our short 2 1/2 hour fishing time on our way "home". When we were all celebrating our "catches" (each kid caught at least 2 fishes), I pointed out to our prayer earlier..Praise the Lord!!!

more..
http://sports.goodnewseverybody.com/outdoors.html

Gratitude-People in My Life

Do you ever "get tired" of the people around you? I'm sure we all do in some way or form. Why? (e.g. "getting on your nerves") How can we change this "negative" attitude? Have you ever seen the recent anticipated movie..."Shrek 4: Forever After (FINAL CHAPTER)"?...

FULL HD NEW MOVIE TRAILER 2010

I just watched it yesterday (Friday, May 28th 2010) and had some deep reflections during, after, and still! I thought of not just my family, but the people (e.g. friends, church, community, co-workers, people that serve you in various ways, etc...) in my life. I'm continuing to learn that many of the people around me were put by God to "mold" me as a "better person". Sometimes, we "need to change" besides the person we "despise". Have you ever look at yourself and think that our "attitudes" toward some "annoying" individuals is because we "have our own issues" too? I "try" to pray and ask God to shape me more "like Him" daily, so I can be a "better" light or ambassador to the people He has put in my life. Also, another tip I just heard through one of my favorite local radio stations (KTIS 98.5 FM-Twin Cities) is to pray for those you "have problems with". God seems to soften your heart too to have more "grace" with that particular individual. Just try it, it has worked with me many times before.

Another similar related tip that I've blogged or written before is about changing your own perspective of people. No matter how much we "might not like" each other, I feel we can take something "positive" (e.g. characteristic) from one another. Instead of dwindling on the "negative" (e.g. personality) of the people "we get tired of", re-thing or change that attitude of that individual by reflecting on the "good".

Just like in the movie, "we won't appreciate what we got until their gone"!

Q: What are you going to do show your appreciation to that person(s) today, tomorrow, everyday??

more....GoodnewsEverybody.comBless-Thanksgiving, Thankful, etc..

Gratitude-Year of 2009 Reflection.... -Saturday, January 2nd of 2010

Happy New Year 2010! Woo hoo! Before I start sharing my personal goals for 2010, I would like to share what I'm very grateful to God for in 2009...rfir

Reflection of 2009

{Sals2009NewYearReflections.doc}

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Picture: Went snowboarding with some friends at Cougar-Tiger Hill in Morris, Minnesota on Sunday, December 20th of 2009

Happy New Year..2010!! Wow, what a year! What did you thought about 2009? Before we enter the "new year", I (Sal) would like to take some time to reflect on God's blessings of this past year. We sometimes easily forget what we did each year unless we STOP and think about what happened in our "busy" lives. During these holidays, I like to take advantage of the "break" and share with others "what happened in 2009"..

Prior to Christmas, I was making a slide show of 2009 for both my workplace (Stevens County D.A.C.) and my family back in St. Paul. I had a great time working on this video slide-show project as it helped me remember the great times this past year..

-January:
Attended my brother's birthday party at Lutsen Ski Resort by snowboarding.
-May:
It was my first time to visit Whapeton Zoo (Whapeton, Dakota), which some co-workers and I took (drove 1 hour NW from Morris, MN) some "clients" on a beautiful Sunday.
-July:
I got a week vacation to do a variety of activities (e.g. Dragon Festival at Lake Phalen and Ramsey County Fair) with family in St. Paul
-August:
Went to my first ever Minnesota Viking football training camp in Mankato, Minnesota. I went with a "client" from a group home I work part-time at. Unfortunately, Brett Farve was NOT a Viking...yet!
I joined some of my co-workers and clients to a Minnesota Twins baseball game, which would be my last baseball game at the Metrodome.
-September:
Got my ESL (English as a Second Language) Teaching Certificate after a 1-year of online courses through Hamline University (St. Paul, MN)
-November:
Went with my brother's family to the annual Hmong New Year at the River Centre in St. Paul
-December:
Saw "It's A Wonderful Life" for the first time (theatre presentation first at Glenwood, MN) and "many" great holiday gatherings (e.g. family in St. Paul during the BIG Winter Storm!

Picture: I shared this Human Rights Award with many "unnoticed" volunteers "making a difference" (e.g. working with our fairly large number of "mentally-physically challenged" population, teaching GED & ESL classes to help those in our "challenging" economy, reaching out to those in "lower-income levels", etc..) in the Morris area community, which I received from the City's Human Rights Commission on a "wintry" Tuesday (December 15th of 2009).

My New Year's Resolution is the same like every past years, which is to be more "Christ-like" (body, soul, and mind) with God's help....in my daily personal relationship (e.g. reading the Bible, prayer, fellowship, praising-worshiping, etc..)..Also, to be more of a "peacemaker" in all situations in my daily surroundings through 2010!

Overall, I'm very thankful for God, family, and friends (e.g. new ones I've made this past year)! What were you grateful for in 2009?...

http://www.angelfire.com/mn/saldapal/reflection.2009.html