Reader Discretion is Advised

     I needed to take the day to think before writing this post, to be honest with you even now, 10 hours later, i'm struggling with tears.   I try really hard to be a good person, a loving mother.  I listen when others have opinions that differ from mine trying to understand their view,  I try not to push my views on others, and every day I struggle to do what is right by myself, my family and my friends while not causing harm to anyone else.   I monitor what my child watches, what he eats, what he reads.  I teach him to be kind and loving, I'm active in his school and make sure to know his friends and their parents so that I know who is influencing him.

    My son is my world.  From the moment of conception he has been loved, wanted, valued.  I still tear up when I remember hearing the sound of his beautiful little heart beat at 9 weeks.  Of course I want to do right by him and help him to be the best person he can be.   I give my child chores as well to help teach him the value of honest work.  We keep them age appropriate (hes only 6 1/2).  Clean your room, Go to school, Make your bed, Brush your teeth, Get the mail.  Wouldn't you think these are appropriate for a child so small, so innocent?

     Thankfully this morning while I was getting out of the shower I heard the clink of the mail box closing.  I was waiting for a letter so after throwing on some clothes I raced for the mail box.  I stuck my hand in, grabbed the paper inside and screamed when I pulled it out and came face to face with what was inside.  A post card sized announcement with a real,(no photo shopped) picture of a 20 week aborted fetus.  You could see the bones of its spine broken, the limbs were disconnected, and the organs were............you get the picture.  Across the top and bottom was the message "a vote for .............. (sorry I do not wish to slander this man I do not know) and the liberals is a vote for this"

     This lovely message was provided to me by (sorry I will not do them the honor of giving their name and making them more popular) an anti abortion group.  On the back they provide me with yet another 24 week aborted fetus, their organization, and some "facts" about abortion and the liberal party.

"The preceding program contains scenes of extreme violence and should not be viewed by young children"
Warning before The Simpsons

"This show contains scenes that some viewers my find disterbing"

"intended for mature audiences only"

"parental adversary: Explicit Content"

      This are just some of the warning labels I see on the television daily.  I think is a sad day when I need these on my mail box as well.  I understand that this organisation truly feels they are saving the lives of children by publishing this slander campaign, but at the lost of how many children's innocence when they arrive home and do their daily chore of collecting the mail.  How simple would it have been to place the same message in an envelope with "intended for mature audiences only" across the front?

     I also find it amusing that this organisation decided to quote Canadian law on the back concerning abortion rights.  In turn I would like to quote the following back to them:




Section 163 of the Canadian Crimal code:
      (provides the country's legal definition of "obscenity"

163. (1) Every one commits an offense who

(a) makes, prints, publishes, distributes, circulates, or has in his possession for the purpose of publication, distribution or circulation any obscene written matter, picture, model, phonograph record or other thing whatever; or

(2) Every one commits an offense who knowingly, without lawful justification or excuse,

                     (b) publicly exhibits a disgusting object or an indecent show;

Punishment for defamatory libel
301. Every one who publishes a defamatory libel is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.

R.S., c. C-34, s. 265.

Extortion by libel
302. (1) Every one commits an offence who, with intent

(a) to extort money from any person, or

(b) to induce a person to confer on or procure for another person an appointment or office of profit or trust,

publishes or threatens to publish or offers to abstain from publishing or to prevent the publication of a defamatory libel.

  

100oz Can of Pineapple and me

    "Bet you can't use that all" my co-work said as she handed me the resterant size can of crushed Pineapple.  Now little bit of history......I was never the girl to back down from a dare when I was younger.  I've done alot of foolish things I'd rather not admit simply from the words "double dare you" being said.  My co-worker had issued an unmeant challenge and I was primed to except.

So this Sunday (today) i had some extra time and that unopened can of pineapple sitting in my cupboard.  Groceries had just been done, recipes collected, I was ready!  6 HOURS LATER I finally turned my stove off and my house smelt like heaven, my kitchen on the other hand looked like hell!  I am proud to say I did in fact use the whole can of Pineapple (smiles proudly), i'm sad to say meeting the challenge may end in an extra 10 lbs on my butt.  Good thing i'm typing, cause its hard to speak with your mouth full..........man this cake is good.

The challenge........100 oz's of crushed pineapple .................YUM, I made the challenge harder tho by not allowing myself to make more then 3 batches of one recipe.....cause really that would get boring real quick.

Bran muffins with pineapple

Mexican fruit cake with cream cheese icing............omg you have no idea how good this is.....soooooo making this again at Christmas!  Taking  one of these cakes to the boys on the dock tomorrow.

man that's a lot of pineapple gone!

Hawaiian bread and Pineapple muffins with caramel center

New Hair

Life sure aint like the movies!!

So I was half watching some show on t.v while playing Lego with my son.  I had a killer head ache that had been throbbing all afternoon in the back of my head and  my back was killing me from spending the morning in a lawn chair.  The woman on the show had a super busy house, kids everywhere, husband reaking havoc in her kitchen, so she goes to the bathroom, locks the door and runs a warm bath.  Its picture perfect, the steam is rising up, she puts on head phones, she has bubbles pouring over the edge of the tub, and she fades into peaceful slumber for a few moments while her house goes completely crazy.  She opens the door awhile later and emerges from the bathroom a loving mother and wife, relaxed, glowing, and ready for life again.

I fell for it hook line and sinker.  I asked my husband to play with our son and headed off to our bathroom, completely ready to relax and come out of the steam filled room an hour later refreshed and perfect.  I walked into the bathroom to toys from last nights bathing of my son spread over the floor and tub.  I stepped over the puddle on the floor from where I hope happened from him washing his hands and not from him getting distracted from peeing,  and started to clean up the mess.  So the woman in the show had the perfect bathroom and I didn't.......relaxation was still possible right?

I ran the bath warm. The mirror steaming up right away, which was good cause I couldn't see my devilish appearance as I undressed and threw my clothes along with the others piled beside the tub.  I admit, the warm water felt amazing!  For a few moments I was in complete heaven.  There was no bubbles, no pretty scented soaps but it was warm and felt great on my back!

I considered grabbing a book and savoring the moment when I heard the bang on the door "moooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm" came a wail from behind the wood "whatcha doing?????"  I wanted to yell "baking a cake" or yell "tunneling to China" instead I calmly told my son I was trying to take a bath.

 A few more moments of relaxation. I leaned back into the tub feeling the water come up over my shoulders and into my hair when suddenly a huge thud followed by the sound of the door hitting the wall made me jump.  There stood my husband looking like the Cheshire cat with a bobby pin in his hand.

"what do you want?" I half yelled half snapped
"came in for a peek" he grinned

After tossing a wet towel at him and demanding he close the door I attempted again to relax........again the door flew open "gotta pee" screamed my son as he ran into the bathroom and headed for the toilet.  I sighed knowing that if I stayed in the warm water that this  was how my bath was going to continue, one series of interruptions after another.  I listened to my son sing, do a little dance, and peek at me over his shoulder to smile while he peed (btw......no longer think that puddle was from washing his hands)  He then washed his hands and run out of the bathroom.............without closing the door!

I yelled for my husband who came and attempted to sneak another peek before finally closing the bathroom door.  By now I think I had more frustration then when i decided to take the bath.

 I looked around for my body wash and find it full of water............seems my son decided to make a squirt gun last night in the tub.  I was left with two options...Axe body wash or Marvel Super Hero body wash.............I'm really hope i'm smelling more like wonder woman right now then the Hulk!

All my Wishes are coming True

A dream is a wish your heart makes

When you're fast asleep

In dreams you will lose your heartache

Whatever you wish for you keep

Have faith in your dreams and someday

Your rainbow will come smiling through

No matter how your heart is grieving

If you keep on believing

the dream that you wish will come true

A dream is a wish your heart makes

When you're feeling small

Alone in the night you whisper

Thinking no one can hear you at all

You wake with the morning sunlight

To find fortune that is smiling on you

Don't let your heart be filled with sorrow

For all you know tomorrow

The dream that you wish will come true

Why would I be insulted?

     I'm a classic movie buff.  Kind of rare for a girl my age, but its just another part of little ol' me!  I can remember being small and dreaming of being Gregory Pecks wife some day.  I was heart broken when it was explained to me why that could never take place....poor Gregory was quickly replaced with Charlton Heston when I saw Ben Hur who was later replaced by Yul Brynner after seeing the king and I.

     I wanted to have the style and grace of Audrey, the class and intelligence of Katharine.  If you had of asked me what my favorite moves were when I was 8 I would have told you "My Fair Lady, African Queen, the Quiet Man, and the Bells of Saint Mary's"  I really haven't changed much.  There may be a few newer titles added to my favorite movie list, but the old black and whites still are a favorite.

     Recently someone told me that they had found a site that offered free viewing of old classic films.  "it made me think of you" they said, and then quickly followed it with "no insult intended".  I was confused to where the unintended insult was.  To be quiet honest I think I would be more insulted with a newer movie collection made someone think of me.  Sex, violence, please don't even get me started on the dialect, woman half clothed and recycled stories modernized.  Please compare me to the old movies.  Let the triple threat actors/actresses of those days (most sang, danced and acted), the eloquently spoken, remind you of me.  Trust me........I won't be insulted.......in fact right now I think i'm inspired.  I'm making a date with Gene Kelly and watching An American in Paris..............

I got rhythm, I got music, i got my man

who could ask for anything more?

I've got daisies in green pastures

I've got my man

who could ask for anything more?

Yul Brynner

Audrey

 Katherine Hepburn

 Charlton Heston

(sighs) Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday , who could not love those beautiful eyes

All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts,

Shakespeare

     All Actors want that once in a life time role.  The one that pushes them to stardom, the role that lands them that Oscar, the one role that list them among the great actors of our generation.  Isn't that true for all of us?  We play our roles, mother, professional, husband, wife, father, sister, brother, daughter, son.  Have you ever stopped to think what your  "Once in a life time" role is?  When the day comes, and you make your final exist from the "stage" , take your last bow and say good night, what is it you want the audience to say about the roles you have played?

     We've all made mistakes. all of us.  All actors/actresses have that one role they wish they could forget they took,  and none of us want to be remembered for the one awful moment on stage.  So..what are you doing to make everyone forget?  Are you continuing to choose the same roles?  

     I watched an interview with Mathew McConaughey about his Oscar nomination (and win) for best leading actor of the year.  To make a long story short he felt he wasn't getting serious enough roles, that the movies that were coming to him weren't the stories he wanted to tell.  So what did he do?  He started refusing scripts, enjoyed being a dad, and waited for the role he knew would be life changing.  Thank God he did, Dallas Buyers Club showed his true acting ability, proved he wasn't just a pretty face and earned him and Oscar win, a first in his career.  In his Oscar speach Mathew said three things that I think are needed in everyones life.. 

     There's a few things, about three things to my account that i need each day.  One of them is something to look up to, another is to look forward to, and another is someone to chase.  now, first off, I want to thank God.  Cause that's who I look up to.  He has graced my life with opportunities that I know are not of my hand or any other human hand.  He has shown me that it's a scientific fact that gratitude reciprocates.  In the words of the late Charlie Laughton, who said, "when you've got God, you got a friend.  And that friend is you."  To my family, that's who and what I look forward to.  To my Father who, i know he's up there right now with a big pot of gumbo.  he's got a lemon meringue pie over there.  he's probably in his underwear.  And he's got a cold can of miller Lite and he's dancing right now.  To you, Dad, you taught me what it means to be a man.  To my mother who's here tonight, who taught me and my two older brothers.....demanded that we respect ourselves.  And what we in turn learned was that we were then better able to respect others.  Thank you for that mama.  To my wife, Camila, and my kids Levi, Vida and Mr. Stone, the courage and significance you give me every day i go out the door is unparalleled.  you are the four people in my life that i want to make the most proud of me.  Thank you.  And to my hero.  That's who i chase.  now when i was 15 years old, i had a very important person in my life come to me and say "who's your hero?" and I said, "i don't know, I gotta think about that.  Give me a couple of weeks."  i come back two weeks later, this person comes up and says "who's your hero?" I said "i thought about it.  You know who it is?  Its me in 10 years." so I turned 25.  Ten years later, that same person comes to me and says, "so, are you a hero?" and i was like "not even close, no, no, no".  She said, "why?" I said "because my hero's me at 35." So you see every day, every week, every month and every year of my life, my hero's always 10 years away.  I'm never gonna be my hero.  I'm not gonna attain that.  I know i'm not, and that's just fine with me because that keeps me with somebody to keep on chasing., to that I say, "Amen."  To that i say, "Alright, alright, alright." To that i say "just keep living."

     Now, my purpose is not to sell you all on the Dallas Buyers Club (amazing as it was) but to show you something that Mr McConaugh already seems to know.  God is a fantastic ghost writer helping us co-write our play, but we are the play write, we can be our own hero, we can choose the role we play.  We can CHANGE the role we've been playing. With knowlege, thought, a little help and determination, we can set the story we want to live.

     I hope when the day comes when the curtain finally closes on the play of my life the audience will say "she was a good mother, she loved with all her heart, she laughed and made others laugh and she was kind"  I try hard to live my life within this role daily, sometimes I do it without thought, some days I struggle to stay within the role I want to play.....but its always my choice, my life, my stage.

     Don't blame those around you for the way your stage is set, for the role YOU are choosing to play.  A Script change is never easy on the play-write or the actor but its bound to happen.  Write your story, live the role you were meant for.  Find something to look up to.......something to look forward to.......and something to chase...........alright....alright....alright....just keep living.

(and yes, he could have sang row row row your boat and I would have loved it.......I mean LOOK AT HIM!!!!!!)

     

A Piece of My Childhood

     If you know me, then you know my grandparents were a second set of parents to me.  If I wasn't home I was there.  I had the best grandparents.  My Grandfather was well read and  had a million and one army stories...we're still trying to figure out which ones were true!  My Grandmother could cook anything, just walking threw the front door made me hungry.  They taught me a love for the classics, an appreciation for true beauty, and the art of making something with my hands.

     My brother and I would fight over who got to stay with them on the weekend.  I don't know what my brother did that was so great when he was there alone, but I had the best memories being made when it was my turn.  My grandmother and I would sneak up to her sewing room.  God I loved it there, the sound of her sewing machine going, the great big silver jar of buttons, and some how she knew the story behind almost every one , the bags upon bags of material, and that old mannequin in the corner.  I became Rasha the world famous designer, and I'd spend hours covering the mannequin in scraps while my grandmother hemmed a dozen family members pants and skirts.

Christmas one year I got an art set, I spent all day making a sign for that sewing room door.  Dangerous, Keep Out, Woman at work it said in bright bold colors.  God what a magical time when I got to be the big girl that walked threw that sewing room door with her.

Today my father came back from my grandmothers house.  They've slowly been fixing it up to sell since her passing two years ago this October.  My sewing room of memories no longer exists.  I'd be lying if I said the thought wasn't making me cry as I write this.  She was so much more then my grandmother, she was a million amazing memories, she was my second mom, and she was my best friend.  My dad surprised me tho, he walked threw the door with that 60 year old mannequin that was my world famous model and a sewing machine of my grandmothers.  Sadly I don't know how to make the clothes for my model on it.......yet, but maybe someday my grandchild will be sitting in my craft room enjoying the sound of that old sewing machine the way I did, and another Rasha will be reborn.

My beautiful grandmother holding my son a few months after he was born

2 years later and I still think of you every day

   I promised a while back that I would make a copy the the eulogy I wrote and read at my grandmothers funeral for some family members.  Instead I am choosing to write it here as the anniversary of her death nears, so that you all my share in the wonderful woman who had such a major influence in my life.

     I've never thought of a world without my grandmother before.  She was always such a huge part of my world.   To those of us that knew Nanny best she was ageless, active, outgoing and adventurous up to her last days.  

     She was a mother, a grandmother, a great grandmother, wife, friend.  A woman who never minded pushing back the furniture to wrestle one of her boys or dance when ever the right partner was near.

     She could chase you through the house and yard at break neck speed, not stopping you from causing havoc but helping you create a bit of it.  Its no wonder so many loved to be near her, and if you've ever shopped with her you know what I mean.  Every five minute trip to the mall became an hour as she greet friend after friend.  Imagine my surprise when the same thing happened in Moncton while she was visiting.

     She was active in her community, a person who could sit and discuss politics as well as the many places in the world she had been, the children she brought along, and the trouble she caused.  I know those in the family all just thought of her adventures in Egypt.

     I know everyone of us has a favorite Egypt story, and the stories never changed.  Each time it was told with humor, honestly and passion as she described how she engaged a guard in conversation and persuaded him to open an ancient scroll so she could "take a little peek".  Or how she jumped the museums velvet ropes to sit on one of the ancient thrones.  She was the strongest woman i have ever met.  She could and had put a full grown son on his back when he caught her by surprise.  A woman who when placed in a foreign country with 3 small children, made a friend, bought groceries, and made dinner within a few hours.  

     She was filled with stories and cherished and remembered everything of our past and present, keeping us all connected to one another like one of her beautiful quilts.  Her faith was unshakeable.  She prayed daily for friends and family, believing with all her heart that God was listening to every word she said.  For 8 years she prayed i would have a child, and when i shared my doubts with her she would tell me "God and I are still talking it over".  When I told her i was 3 months along she just smiled knowingly and said "I knew it would happen in God's time"

     She was ecstatic one night after praying to find her knees hurt and rushed to the phone to call one of her children to see if their legs were still in pain.  She was so happily certain that God releaved her daughters pain and gave it to her as she prayed for.  So willing and lovingly wanting to help her family from anything that troubled them.

     When my grandfather passed, I can remember my grandmother holding me, comforting me through her own grief.  She told me that no one really dies.  With a faith as strong as ever she said we will all meet each other again.  Strong, healthy, with no tears, no pain, only love and joy.  She told me that in till that day we meet them again, that they are still with us in love and memory.  I can so easily remember the comfort her words brought me and how much closer i felt to my grandfather again.

     With that in mind i'd like to share the things that will keep my grandmother forever with me.  Nanny will forever be cool soft hands against a fevered brow, honey on a peanut butter sandwich, pushing back the furniture just because you need to dance, the joy of seeing an old friend, the hope when making a new one.  She will forever be sudden bursts of laughter, a warm quilt on a snowy day, the sound of a breaking ginger snap and pancakes cooking early in the morning.  Shes long walks at sundown, church on Sunday, and cutting down a Christmas tree just to name a few.

     I will feel her every time i hug my son for no reason besides the fact i'm blessed to have him, and every squeal of delight he has on a Christmas morning (remember nanny laughing and playing with the whoopee cushion all through Christmas?)

     I can hear my grandmother telling all of us that the tears we cry aren't for her, she not in pain, and finally with my uncle Darrell and Grampy again.  She would say we are crying for ourselves and what we miss.

     As usual your right Nanny, but your an awful lot to miss.  Thank you for every moment, for everything.  I love you so much.....till we meet again.

     

Song of the Day

This Song seems to be my theme song for the day, keeps me inspired, reminds me that I'm loved!

Kept me Smiling all day

So funny, so true,!

The Militant Baker: THINGS NO ONE WILL TELL FAT GIRLS...SO I WILL

The Militant Baker: THINGS NO ONE WILL TELL FAT GIRLS...SO I WILL:  (All images by the incredible Liora K ) Things that I wish I knew earlier  Things that I've learned in real life.  Thing...

Girls Weekend 2014

     The weather was far from perfect.  It rained the whole night we were there and the wind carried a chill to it.  Needless to say unlike the years before, Girls weekend did not see the beach!  What it did see was 6 friends excited to spend a bit of time together without boyfriends, husbands, kids or life calling us away.  It say laughter that brought me home with my rips and stomach hurting like I had spent the past 24 hours in a gym.  It saw dares, and alcohol, great food, some tears, a ton of hugs, a kind of sleep you forget you can have when you become a mother, and as we left this afternoon and over all gratefulness for the unity of sisterhood.  Over all, I spent 24 hours being reminded of who I use to be, who i'm becoming and who I am through some of the people who know me the best, love me the most, and who have just always been there.  I love you all........I can't wait for next Girls Weekend.......to those who are readers of this blog, I would love to tell you more about my amazing 24 hours, lol, but what happens at girls weekend stays at girls weekend.

                                                               Song of the weekend

Great food:

                       Fruit Salad and Potatoes salad made with fruits and veggies from my garden.
          Katie had the "food" of the weekend tho with her amazing spinach dip and Banana pecan muffins.

                                                All the girls preparing for the night ahead

                                    Oh and the Cottage was as beautiful as ever even if it was raining.

                                                                 The Best of Friends

                                                          and when the drinking started

                            We broke Jen's drinking "cherry" and got her to take her first Tequila shot.

                                             What happens at the Cottage Stays at the Cottage.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path

     Ok, I know this one is going to be a touchy subject.  Let me start by first saying this, everything written in this blog is MY opinion, they are MY thoughts, MY feelings, MY questions.  I am not asking you to read, nor am I asking you to agree with anything I'm saying...lol....I'm not even saying I'm right opinions are like bums everyone has one!
   I am by no means looking to offend anyone, I'm simply looking for a place to express myself and enjoy all of you that have joined me on this journey of self exploration (not as dirty as it sounds) and growth.  So if you read this an you are looking to discuss my opinion by all means leave a comment, feel free to disagree, to agree or even question. If your reading this and look to fight about it..........keep looking, i'm done wasting my time fighting, as I said.....I'm not looking to change anyone's mind.  With all this said...........isn't sad that almost every conversation on religion must start this way?

     I was raised very old school Roman Catholic.  I attended catechism, I took my first communion, I grew up knowing the priest in my church, singing in choirs, saying my rosary (I can say a Hail Mary in under 6secs), and I actually know what the saying "putting on your Sunday clothes" means.  My mother (such a hippy at heart) believed that ones relationship with God was personal. "You tell your father you love him, I tell your father I love him, his mother tells your father she loves him, we all express it differently but its all still love for your father" she would say to me "the same is for God, choose how best to express your faith, choose what best helps you to express your faith, its all love for the same God."

     She had two requirements tho.  1.  That I continued to learn in till old enough to make the decision for myself, and 2. That it be a Christian faith.  Up to the age of 19 I attended choir practice, often sang at 3 different churches on Sunday, and attended youth group, the thought of what religion best defined me, or the thought of reading my bible for myself instead of the what was asked of me through church never really occurred to me.  It was only while attending College I began to question what I was told and what was written.  I've been privileged and open minded enough thanks to my mother to study with alot of different religions.  I've attended classes with Jehovah witnesses and the Morman faith.  I've question Priests,  Missionaries, Seventh Day Adventist,I even had the chance, which was amazing, to studied with a Jewish friend. For a year I would attend church at a different faith every Sunday, and I read, I began reading my bible every day.  I've read the Dead Sea Scrolls and studied.  If this was the bases for my morals shouldn't I know why?  I needed something more then just because the Man/Woman at the pulpit said so.

     I wish I could tell you that I've found all my answers.  That I walked into a church and my heart started to sing i suddenly felt so close to God.  (Remember when Elisabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist and Mary came to visit her pregnant with Jesus?  Luke 1:41 At the sound of Mary's greeting, Elizabeth's child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, I kept waiting for that to happen!)

  The truth is i'm nothing more then a babe to the Heavenly Father, I'm still learning and growing and figuring out whats right for me.  Till then I walk my own path and try to do what I think is best.   I keep in mind Jeremiah 31:33 "But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day," says the LORD. "I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will writethem on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Be the Change

16 YEARS I've been having this argument.  "Mary-Anne its a nice thought but one person cannot change the world" to which i always reply "BULLSHIT".  Ok so maybe I follow Lennon's song imagine a little to closely.  Maybe to some I'm naive by thinking that being honest, kind, and loving to even those that don't deserve it may change my corner of the world.  I'm the girl who will cry when shes sees war coverage on t.v, I try to save abandoned animals despite my husbands protests, and those starving children commercials kill me. 

I believe ONE person can make a difference!  I believe ONE person can set an example so strong that it leads an army of people to do the same.  True, the change normally comes when there is an army of voices making the needed cry for change, but it starts with ONE voice.

So in the effort of putting this argument to rest, here are the people I inspire to. People who changed the course of the whole world for the better with their example and their voice.



1. Jesus Christ - central figure in Christianity.  (and before someone writes me about the wars that take place over Christianity, read your bible, that may be what is taking place but that is NOT what was taught)
"But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also"  Mathew 5:39

2. Martin Luther King - NON-VIOLENT civil rights leader (which leads to another argument that the greatest leaders for change can do so without violence.  When we use violence for change all we recall is the act of violence, not the mission)

3.  Nelson Mandela -  Need I say more?

4.  Ghandi - 

5. Mother Teresa - 

6. Albert Einstein - 

Now these are My heroes, my inspiration for change, but a great many others changed the world for the better and the worse.  Adolf Hitler, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Thomas Edison, it all began with one person inspiring many, and this is where the ONE person makes a change.  

I leave you with one last thought from Gandhi that I try, and sometimes fail to live up to "BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE".  I may not change the world in my life time...........but i haven't given up the hope.

Imagine there is no heaven

It's easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today

Imagine there's no countries

It isn't hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion, too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace

You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you will join us

And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world

You, you may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you will join us

And the world will live as one

Songwriters

Lennon, John

Another Reason I love Bill Gates