Happy Birthday Mom and Abraham Lincoln

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Today is my mother's 82nd birthday. She thinks it is really great that she is turning 82 on 02.12.2012 (that is quite a lot of twos!). To celebrate, we are taking her up to see her great-granddaughter. That little girl is the joy of her life right now.  

She is not one to want a lot of attention placed on her ... so we are playing it down. In fact, we are pretending to celebrate this guy's birthday instead of hers ...

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We have stove pipe hats to wear instead of party hats and we may have apple pie instead of birthday cake (I hear it was his favorite).

While I was searching for an image of Mr. Lincoln, I came across a blog post written by Jason Baudendist entitled, "Why Your Business Should Be Modeled After Abraham Lincoln's Life" via this blog. I liked it so much I am going to share it with you - I don't think it has to pertain just to business - I think it can be applied to the way we live our lives:

1. Be honest and fair in all your dealings. -- Lincoln prided himself on his character and honesty.
2. Work hard and bury your heart in your passions. -- Lincoln had a sincere love of people and although depressive and shy he made a career out of making a difference in others lives.
3. Always find ways to laugh enjoy life and relax. -- Lincoln medicated his depression with laughter he believed it was better to laugh than allow himself to cry.
4. Build your business around something you believe in. -- Passion fuels desire and helps to drive you. If you pursue a passion your business processes will never feel like work.
5. Never stop learning. -- Lincoln had very little formal education. He became a lawyer almost completely off of reading and self educating himself constantly.
6. Never believe where you came from matters. -- Lincoln grew up in severe poverty and had to quit school to help support his destitute family however he never let his circumstances stop him from striving toward greatness.
7. Treat failure as a learning experience. -- Lincoln had several businesses fail. He went bankrupt and had his fiancé leave him. He also failed two times to get elected to senate. He never let his disappointments stop him from moving forward.

What great words to live by. Right up there with, "keep your hands to yourself" and "chew with your mouth closed".

My mom with her oldest grandchild and only great-grandchild

Happy birthday Mom! May God bless you and be with you. May pure be the joys that surround you, and may true be the hearts that love you. 

I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me.  They have clung to me all my life.  ~Abraham Lincoln