You may remember spring cleaning the way I do. Everything was scrubbed, scoured, dusted, cleaned and aired. Today spring cleaning isn’t always done as extensively as it was when I was a child. I remember washing windows and blinds, searching out any cobwebs that formed during the winter, opening all the windows and letting fresh air in. I also remember cleaning everything – whether it was nailed down or not. Spring cleaning was a major undertaking, often requiring several days to complete.

I do my spring cleaning still. I search out cobwebs, bring in fresh air, and wash windows, curtains and the like. One thing I don’t do today is put slipcovers on all the furniture. I don’t know very many people who do that any more. But in a way, I miss it. I remember putting fitted slipcovers in light and bright colors on all the furniture for the warm weather months. It completely changed the look and feel of the rooms. It was a nice change. When the cleaning was done and the summer slipcovers were on the furniture the whole house felt fresh and clean and new.

Another part of spring cleaning was cleaning out things we no longer needed. When we were children, we collected the toys we had outgrown, clothes that no longer fit us, and anything else we no longer wanted or needed. I have been thinking about those days for the last few months. I recently cleaned out my garage in anticipation of spring cleaning. I was amazed by the amount of stuff I had collected. I was also surprised – and a bit nostalgic – about the things my children had stored in the house.

All this thought about spring cleaning, however, also makes me think about how important it is for all of us to engage in a little spring cleaning of the mind and heart and soul. I don’t know if my mother consciously thought about other kinds of cleaning when she attacked the collected dirt of winter, but I find that my cleaning and scrubbing is a good time to think. I have been using spring cleaning as a time for reflection for a number of years now. I use that time for reflection to try to do a little spring cleaning of mind, heart and soul.

What I mean is this. We gather, and often nurture, feelings and thoughts that clutter our minds and souls, making them dingy. I love using that house cleaning time to think about and deal with things that I need to free myself of in order to be happier. We often don’t realize that deep in our minds and hearts we still carry, and even nurture, old anger or resentment. We often don’t realize that we are carrying guilt and frustration and various kinds of hurt. I think spring cleaning is the perfect opportunity to think about and free ourselves of these kinds of thoughts and feelings.

As you do your spring cleaning this year, I would challenge you to do a little spring cleaning of your heart, mind and soul and enjoy a fresh breeze invigorating your happiness. While you are scrubbing, think of old resentments, anger and guilt. And focus your mind on dealing with them and removing the clutter they have created. While you search for cobwebs, search out your frustrations and your fears. By the time you finish your housecleaning, you can also create an unfettered and uncluttered mind and soul that is ready to embrace the promise of a brighter and lighter season.

Know the different Acura key chains available and also have a quick glance of what the Acura is known for.

There are several brands of cars available in the market, but when you think of a fast, elegant and Japanese made car, it narrows down to nothing but the Acura! Acura is a division of Honda Motor Company, introduced in the year 1986. Acura debuted in North America as the first Japanese luxury marquee and was followed by a decade of research. It has been one of the most used luxury cars.

Acura is also the maker of the world-famous Acura NSX, which holds the distinction of being the “car of the year” in the year 1991. Apart from that, Acura also has some models that your heart will surely fall in-love with! From sport cars to SUV's, there is a wide range to choose from. Similar to that, there is a wide range of key chains to choose from the models released by Acura.

Driving an Acura anywhere in the world would definitely make quite a few heads turn. Acura, for some people is the perfect blend of luxury and the sporty trendy looks all in one. Most of the Acura cars have a V-8 engine with looks that could look

A key chain could be made of any material ranging from metal to plastic. With a keychain you could also hang your key bunch conveniently to your belt. The chain is often retractable, and therefore, it may be a nylon rope, instead of an actual metal chain. The chain ensures that the keys remain attached to the person using them. This makes accidental loss less likely, and saves on wear and tear on the pockets of the user, if the key chain is attached to the pockets or belt.

The Acura Teardrop key chain is made of stainless steel and measures 3.5” by 1.2”. It is chrome-plated and has the Acura name and logo. Both are permanently laser-burnt to the metal. The Acura Teardrop key chain is one that has both looks and style.

People buy key chains for many reasons. Some are just collectors. Even though they don't have an Acura or a car for that matter, they would buy key chains for collection. These Acura key chains are perfect for collectors. The design is elite and will definitely be an eye catcher to those, who look at the collection. It would be a very valuable possession in your key chain collection. Acura key chains are also best for those, who own an Acura. They can match their key chain to their car. You could have a great Acura key chain that goes with your car and make a great pair together.

Acura key chains are not only luxurious, but also a symbol of prestige and style, not only to Acura owners, but also to anyone having it. The Acura key chains are sure to be a attention grabber and would be a possession you would truly be proud of.

“A few more days then I’m gone again,” I answered. We walked for a little while then sat on the sand watching the tide come in. There are times when words are grossly inadequate to describe a moment, times when the best thing to say is nothing. It was as if the first person to utter a sound would be guilty of breaking the magical spell. So it was, as we sat there that evening hardly saying a word. Finally, it was time to return to the hotel. I got up, brushing the sand away as she stretched her arms, motioning me to pull her up.

“This evening, ”I quipped,“Henry Herbert Knibbs, was out there somewhere,” as I drew her up, effortlessly, closer to me. She looked into my eyes, smiled and held my hand for a while. Tenderly, I moved my fingers through her golden hair, drew her face a little closer as her half-opened lips reached upto mine. And out there somewhere on a foreign strand the full moon peeked out from behind the clouds.

There are seconds when all eternity is condensed into an instant, when an instant reaches across eternity into glorious universes. There are moments whose feelings you want to freeze into emotional ice cubes, to be defrosted and savored at some future time. The kiss, passionate and tender at the same time, permeated my entire being leaving me breathless, caught between time and space in an aura of light and darkness, between two realities. Such was the mystery of this enigmatic woman who I held in my arms.

Ever so slowly she drew away until I could see her face by the dim evening lights. The wind blew a little stronger and a slight chill filled the air as I smiled at her and whispered, “That was wonderful.”

We stood, arms around each other, quietly looking toward the ocean. Here again was a chance to make this moment into something more permanent. I knew I wanted to take her back to the hotel or, perhaps, just stay with her on the beach for the rest of the night. But once more, just like the other times before, I felt the urge to move on. Exquisite as the moment had been, it was only ships passing in the night.

“What are you thinking?” I asked. “That was nice . . . really nice,” she replied.

“Strange how things turn out, don’t you think?” I said. “Yes,” she responded, and then added, “you know, every once in a while, wherever I am I’ll wonder if you ever found your Penelope out there somewhere. Ships passing in the night. Good night, John. Happy journeys.”

She turned and walked slowly back to the hotel. I didn’t follow, but stood watching her move farther and farther away. Before disappearing over a little ridge, she looked back, threw me a kiss and was gone. I never saw her again. We hardly knew anything about each other — the type of work we did, where each other came from, what were our likes and dislikes, only that for a brief moment in time, two souls met in their journey in the Fields of Forever.

Every bride and groom who decides to have their wedding outside of a church usually already have a good idea of where they want their ceremony preformed. Many couples have planned their wedding in a park or beautiful garden area. If you are trying to decide where you want to make your memories, here are a few considerations to think about if a garden wedding is on your list.

Many things should be thought about before planning your garden wedding; however the biggest factor that could ruin your dream garden is the weather. It’s okay to go ahead with your plans as is, however you should have a backup location chosen or be prepared to set up a tent in the event the weatherman has made a mistake! You can also talk to your florist about weatherizing flowers and helping to protect them in the event bad weather should become a factor. Mother Nature cannot create magic, so using common sense is necessary.

When planning a garden wedding, remember that the weather can also take its toll on food. If you intend to have dairy products, such as butter, cheese or mayonnaise, hot weather may spoil them and leave you with hungry guests. Think about serving hot food that will stay preserved in hot weather. You can also create ice bowls, in which you place dishes in bowls of ice, keeping them cool and helping them to last longer.

Another factor to take into consideration when planning a garden wedding is the noise level. Visit the garden and listen before making your decision. Is traffic going to cause a problem? It is not romantic to say your vows while horns are honking and tires are squealing! Also, is the garden located in a busy park? Will there be children playing close by and families picnicking? Stop and listen for sounds that may become a problem in making your day special.

Wedding attire is another thought to be considered when planning your garden wedding. While choosing attire for yourself and your wedding party, keep in mind that with hot climates and sticky temperatures, heavily lined dresses may not be suitable for the outdoors. A sweaty wedding party will not compliment your big day and will create misery for those who want to help make this day special. Also keep away from heels, which can sink into grass, making walking down the aisle awkward for everyone.

The guests also need to be thought about when planning your garden wedding. Although they will be sitting comfortably listening to you and your groom exchange vows, think about restroom facilities. Are the restrooms clean and free of unpleasant smells? If not, you may think about renting clean, portable facilities for the day.

Even if you take all of these things into consideration when planning your garden wedding, mishaps may still occur, however using these tips can help to make your day just the way you want it to be: memorable.

Some years ago, new residents in town, we ventured into church one Sunday. There were five of us: a set of parents, sufficiently presentable to fit in well in just about any club, and three cute-as-a-button children: fourth-grade Chrissie, second-grade Chuckie, and Rachel, my three-year-old niece who had just come to live with us. Just your normal All-American family goes to church scenario.

Noticing an area of empty pews, we made our way down the aisle and, the children arrayed between us, took our seats. Only later would we learn we had elected to sit in no-man’s land, signaling, for all the world to see, that we were rank newcomers.

The service went passably along, and after the hymns, they asked the children to come forward for the children’s sermon. Our three kids eagerly joined their compatriots up front.

The smiling minister had no idea. Nothing got past Chrissie, but she typically didn’t share any public expressions of her observations. On the other hand, Chuckie, while noticing far less, often recognized a need for his contribution to the discussion at hand. He had, for good or for ill, also inherited my voice which, unmodulated, carries to the next county. Rachel, tow-headed in extremis, had already learned how to get attention and how to work a crowd. She considered these activities her favorite hobbies, in fact.

In telling his little sermonette, the minister asked a rhetorical question. Chuckie, unacquainted with the concept of rhetoric, answered the question quite fulsomely. His voice carried to the rafters, of course, so the entire congregation received the benefit of his knowledge. Unaccustomed to a participatory children’s sermon, the minister none-the-less soldiered on. At which point Rachel started to make faces at the congregation, much to their amusement. Their laughter fell on her ears as music, urging her to greater effort. Manfully ignoring the distractions, the minister continued by, unfortunately, asking another rhetorical question. Again, Chuckie leapt into the breach with a wonderfully complete answer, helping in the best way he knew how.

The rattled minister wrapped up the children’s sermon in short order and sent all the children back to their parents. Chuckie came down the aisle flushed with the success of having helped. Rachel followed, working the crowd as she came. Chrissie finished up our trio, rolling her eyes at the other two. Judging from the laughter, her silent appraisal didn’t go unnoticed.

After the offering, as the sermon began, the sun suddenly flooded through the large window–at least twenty feet tall–immediately behind the minister, blinding us. And we, just as suddenly, understood why that little island of pews had been left empty. “I see the light” took on a whole new meaning. Only first-timers ever sat in those pews.

A quick check revealed all the non-blinding pews to be comfortably full. I saw no indications of any willingness to squeeze us in anywhere, so we sat, unseeing, in the sun.

You want obvious? Between the kids and our choice of seats, we crafted an entirely new, enhanced definition of obvious. Nobody missed the fact we were in attendance that day.

At the end of the service, our eyes thankfully regaining their ability to see, we joined the others downstairs for the “coffee hour” so we could meet members of the congregation and learn more about the church.

Nobody said a word to us. We smiled as people passed by, but they hurried on their way without a response. We were aliens in a strange land, and they apparently didn’t speak to aliens. Or smile, either.

People cut a wide arc around us as they passed by, lest we accost them with a friendly “hello.” My husband mumbled something about deodorant, but I didn’t catch it all. We stayed for maybe twenty minutes as our children finished their snacks, but nobody gave any sign that they even saw us.

And that’s the way it is in many churches nowadays. So, if church members reward your attendance by ignoring you, don’t worry for a nanosecond that their snub is about you. We brought the circus to town, and the church still managed to ignore us.