Today is a Day to Celebrate!

Hey all today is a great day! It's my hubby's birthday. He's 41 today and I have to say he makes 41 look fantastic!

Birthdays are definitely something to celebrate. So today our family is celebrating BIG TIME! The kids are excited, they were up early with cards and gifts at the ready. The singing voices are tuned and tonight we will relax, enjoy and celebrate that their dad, my hubby was born.

The world is a better place, indeed, because Philip Sohn was born.

Just thought I'd share a piece of my day with you.

Susan

A Challenge for All!

Hey all I've issued a challenge to everyone this week (via my radio show) and would like to issue it here as well. The challenge is simple, it's a pay it forward kind of challenge and I really hope you will all join me. 

I heard a statement this weekend and it really resonated with me and I instantly knew I had to share it and encourage everyone to try. The statement is as follows:

'Live Passionately, Love Freely and Give Generously'.

Could you imagine what the world would look like if we all did just that? The cool thing about that statement is it's all about our ability. As I tell my children (and remind myself almost daily), the only person you can control is yourself. So, if you choose to control yourself and live in such a way I believe 100% that everything would look different and everyone around us would respond to us differently.

So friends, let's give it a go for 1 week and at the end of this week (Friday) email me, post a comment or call into our radio show (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/susanjsohn) and let me know how your world has changed and how you have positively impacted those around you. I know you will see a change.

I can't wait to hear all about it. Go for it and remember YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS BIG WORLD. Use your life, spend it well and live the strong, confident life you've been given.

Susan xo

PS:

Check out http://www.thefamilyroomaustralia.blogspot.com and read a great article about entertianing 25 Adults + Children!

Hello everyone. I hope this week has been amazing for all of you. Some exciting news to share with everyone ~ some of you may already know and if you do I hope you're listening and enjoying. If you don't know, I hope you'll join me on this endeavor. 

I have started hosting my own online radio show and I would love you to join the conversation. You can listen LIVE or ON DEMAND. There are three ways to join the conversation. It's TALK radio so you call, there is a webchat going on during each show (you just need to sign in and it only takes seconds to do) or you can simply listen. Just treat it like you would your favorite radio station and simply log in to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/susanjsohn and enjoy!

The show is on weekdays (mon-fri) at 9:30am mountain standard time. Hope you'll join us

Now for today's post......

Our Home
Last week my family and I spent a few days with my parents in their new home. The kids had time off school, busy schedules were relaxed and the homework put on hold (whew)!

I found myself in their new home, surrounded by the sights and sounds of their small town (to learn more about their picturesque town visit http://www.wolseleyonline.com) different to what we were used to on the farm. As I sat taking everything in I was quickly taken back to days of old.

This past Christmas I had the joy of spending a few hours at our family farm with my father. Those few hours I will remember forever. I spent my time in the house, allowing every one of my senses to be ignited by days gone by. In those moments a poem was birthed.

I hope you enjoy my personal journey.

Our Home by Susan J Sohn

Ticking Clock.
Smiling faces on the wall.
'God Bless this home' calls out to all.
A gentle reminder of the place I cherish, 'God gave men
all earth to love, but since our hearts are small,
ordained for each, one spot should prove beloved over all'.
No dog, it's sound, awaiting me.
The familiar smell, still holds the scent of our family.
Creaking floor beneath my feet.
Kitchen table stands strong... the memories.
Mirrors that once held our reflection, void of our pictures.
No roaring fire. Fireplace stands still, bare and cold.
Places we left, that mark our memories still remain.
I stand before the door, prepared to say good bye.
My heart is full
Forever, this will be our home.

Hey everyone I hope this week has been amazing for all of you. 

Some exciting news to share with everyone ~ some of you may already be aware and may be listeners, if so, thank you.... For those unawares I have started hosting my own online radio show and I would love you to jump on, have a listen and call in and have a chat with me ~ it's blog talk radio so I want to hear from you. It's super simple and it's as easy as listening to you own familiar radio station.

So jump online and join me Monday thru Friday at 9:30am (mountain standard time) on http:www.blogtalkradio.com/susanjsohn. I can't wait to hear from you.

Something I promised on the show and in yesterdays article were 'helpful tips to survive tough economic times'. I put the question out to a few trusted friends that I know will be navigating their way through these times well.  Below are some of their responses. I hope these suggestions help, if you have others to add please do so.

Susan

Jane says:
I'm really conscious of using what's in the fridge or the cupboard before going out and buying new stuff. I'm also signed up with my Franklins card and get $20 off each shop when I get a certain number of points, plus it's cheaper there anyway.
I'm comparing fruit and veggie markets, I still want organic where possible and good quality but I'm finding the places that do it for less. And as always I love my once a month trip to Aldi to see what's there, I always find something way cheaper. They do a great organic range!
I really need a new handbag but I'm waiting until the mid year sales bc I won't die without one, and I'm thinking about everything before I buy.
In it all though, I'm choosing to do all this cleverly and not stingy. I want to be a generous person and always have a bag of groceries or a gift ready to give away if needed.

Catherine says:
Well said Jane, "I'm choosing to do all this cleverly and not stingy."
I'm working on packing a lunch during workdays rather then going out.
I'm also trying out the "cheaper brands." I'm loving Costco (in North America) that carries "Kirkland," which is cheaper brand that does its research before putting out a product, so you know it's good quality and a little more inexpensive then your mainstream brands. As well, Superstore (in Canada) has the "No-Name" brand which is considerably more inexpensive as well.
My husband and I also recently decided to put ourselves on a budget for our date nights. Traditionally we generally don't put a price on our time together, but we're realizing how quickly our dates can add up.
Through it all I'm with Jane though in wanting to be a generous person.

Annie says:
I agree with all of you.It's all about getting a little creative isn't it?
I always ask myself-"what would my nanna have done?" She used bicarb and vinegar to clean. She grew her own vegies and she knew the difference between a need and a want!
In short the kinder we are to the environment the more cash in our piggy bank at the end of the month.

Eleanor says:
Coupons. Use them. Saves lots of cash on the simple things.

Joyce says:
I say hand me downs. I remember as a child receiving a box of clothes from my 'city cousin'. Oh, the joy.
These days clothes are thrown out or tossed in the 'good will' container which I wholeheartedly agree with. However consider passing them down to a sibling, so they are a year late. Seriously, who cares.
Just a thought from an old girl on the hill.

Quick Tips to Survive a Troubled Economy

Hello everyone I hope today finds you all REALLY well. It's been a good day for me, rather busy after a weekend with family, however my day thus far has been very productive. I love productivity. 

Following today's show I would like encourage us all to share ideas that will help all of us navigate our way through this economic stretch. As I write this President Obama is, in fact, signing the document to boost the US economy (by the way if you would like to listen to the show ON DEMAND you can simply go to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/susanjsohn) let's hope this injection will take us forward. I heard it said today that this could be the shaping of Obama's leadership. What he may be known for in the chronicles of time.

In light of all this I am asking for our establishing community to contribute to one another. What are you doing, what changes or adjustments (if any) have you made to walk through this time confidently?

I am excited to hear and look forward to sharing your comments on tomorrow's show. I always stand amazed at how there could be one thing that someone says or does that can help another. Let's hope that some of our ideas do exactly that ~ lend a hand in time of need.

What am I doing? I'm shopping smarter, I'm cooking and preparing with consideration and mapping out my week wisely. I'm also simply trying to 'use less'. We consume so much in every area of life so I am trying my best to simply cut down (or cut the fat as it's said) everyday.

I can't wait to hear from you.

Susan

PS - Our conversation on tomorrow's show will surround Nadya Suleman ~ Mother of the new Octuplets. Hope you'll join us and let us hear what you have to think.

LOVE

Hey there everyone, Valentine's Day is on the way!! the stores are covered in red hearts with messages of undying love all over them. Be Mine Valentine, Your's Forever, Love You...and the list goes on.

We live in a funny, funny world and the message of LOVE seems to have become confused. As individuals, we are falling into love, falling out of love, being hurt by love, being hurt by no love. It's complicated. Strange how a four letter word can evoke such emotion from people.

As I've been thinking about this and talking to family and friends about the meaning of love I thought I might open my morning show 'Coffee with Susan and Friends' with the conversation of LOVE. Join us for a great chat surrounding all the angles of LOVE.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/susanjsohn

Look forward to hearing from you.

Susan

A Prayer for Children

Hey all, would love you to jump onto http://www.thefamilyroomaustralia.blogspot.com and have a read of my hubby's post today. 

His post is called 'A Prayer for Children'. It's amazing, confronting and challenging. Have a read, let it soak in and then move forward and make a difference in this big old world.

Also, remember to jump on http://www.blogtalkradio.com/susanjsohn if you missed today's show. You can listen LIVE or ON DEMAND so jump on and enjoy.

I better run now, I'm getting ready for dinner. We're having an early birthday dinner (for me) since we will be traveling on the actual day (the 11th hint, hint). Super excited to spend the night with my kids, laughing, cooking and celebrating for a great reason.

Love to all.

Susan xo