Spotlight: */* Dot Wiggins, Personal Assistant and Multi-talented Professional */*

SPOTLIGHTING:  Dot Wiggins, Personal Assistant and Multi-talented Professional

Highly motivated and creative freelancer looking for clients and opportunities.  Fairly priced and well valued for the services and products offered.

Search for her on Facebook and see her postings in the Marketplace http://services.facebook.oodle.com/account/listing/active/


Also see her Uniquely Organized and Utilized blog

Call (919) 219-2650 to schedule an appointment to view the "showroom" or for her to come to your space.

Please help spread the word....

Spotlight: Historical Recipes and Sandra Osborne, of Oxford,NC

A friend of mine, fellow Wife, and Mother,Student of life and higher education; Sandra Osborne of Oxford, NC and her blog and New endeavor "Historical Recipes" is today's Spotlight...

Please visit her blog, Historical Recipes as she has laid out her vision and writes very eloquently what it is she does, knows and wants to expand into.  She shares some great recipes, tips and information. Also, look for her, Sandra Osborne on Facebook and connect with her for more information. She and her blog and new endeavor are exactly what Bright Minds Helping Hands and Hearts is all about, and exactly what Cedar Creek Creative Cooperative is trying to collect and promote. 

If you are like Sandra and myself or know of someone who is, forward me their contact information, blog or website address and a paragraph or so about them and how you met or know them and I will contact them and compose a spotlight for them :).

Together we can make a difference in our families, neighborhoods, communities, States, and the World.
Utilizing and Sharing what we Know, learn, and possess.

What can you do or share?

SPOTLIGHT: Cedar Creek Creative Cooperative

Cedar's are so inspirational!  I love trees and nature, history, and tracing origins of things. Cedar of Lebanon, is mentioned in the Bible, and I love the "image" and visual definition throughout literature of a Cedar tree being "Trusted, Desired in times of trouble or discomfort, used as a "restoring place of peace and tranquity" as Thomas Cole writes and many have illustrated.

I love how the shape of the Cedar Tree is different that other trees.  With their bigger and more substancial trunks with branches far above the ground, this one "branches out from near to the ground, grows and spreads its branches, apparently simultaneously. (Up and out).

Oldest Cedar in Britan.

Thomas Cole's Cedar Grove in Catskill, NY by Jasper C.

Alot of the "spirit and inspiration" comes from my childhood and the way my parents, who were from New York near Catskill, lived and talked about their childhoods' and about my grandparents and other family members.  Our family is blue collar with ring around the collar, since many times throughout the years "time and personal comfort and image" was on no concern due to the necessary things that were more pressing.  When people were in need that was all that was needed to launch my parents into action.  Running through our house seeing if we had the items in our own household and then calling others to collect more items.  We never knew we were "low income or lacking things" because my parents carefully choose every sheet and item that came into our home.  We did not have fancy or unusable items "collections of items just because they were "valuable" our collectables were things we loved and could display when we weren't playing with them but our home was small and each child had a room mate and therefore had to consider the other.  My brother Amasa, was the older of the two brothers and I was the Oldest sister, and the Elder of the clan of 4 children.  My Sister Jennifer, was the "shadow" we all had to grow up under.  Especially at school, she overcame alot and was "Strange and annoying" with her obcession for homework and always wanting more work.  The "baby of the group, James Jr. was such a cute toddler and so moldable (until he became school aged)! but our parents drilled into our heads the power and the NECESSITY of cooperation, mutual partnerships and busy and helpful hands stay out of trouble.  We usually involved each other in our "projects" and still do to this day.  We consider family when we "come into a good deal or have an extra something, just as Daddy' rule #1~ taught us: "Family comes first and it is better to share an extra than saving it up, as nothing lasts forever".  My parents are liking walking talking scripture lessons and neither were ever glued to the book or spent much time in "Bible Study" but prayer was like breathing and that is where I come from.

As I grew up I found applying this philosophy to life and all relationships has both been challenging and somewhat costly but also brought some amazing blessings that would never had come to me, I only received the "diamond in the rough cause I got into something, chipping and chiseling and for the effort I gained assume "pearls of wisdom and a new friend/member of the Bright Minds,Helping Hands, and Hearts group.  As we worked and met people through our charitable activities, and civic projects like "Relay for Life" several other opportunities and partners were discovered in the "Business World" and a need for a Professional Organized branch of our like-minded and "big hearts" was developing and has now "Sprouted" 


Cedar Creek Creative Cooperative

Draws its name from the inspiration and power of its "branches". Several conversations with impressive people about a shared desire to see a return the "good ole' days" when people helped each other accomplish each other's respective goals. The "community and neighborhood" were tight and loving pockets of people that agreed in principles and methods and invested in each others dreams, homes, and lived together in harmony and prosperity.


Cedar = Longevity and Strength that is symbolic and beloved by local and far away onlookers

Creek = Streams from a larger and Faster body of knowledge and continues to flow and help nuturish and supply those that come to it and "draw" from its flowing, moving waters.

Creative = uses inspiration but is not bound by formal expectations or institutional rules and control.  Sometimes brand new images and ideas, other times refreshed or redesigned, but always free moving and available to enhance locations, and those that want to view and participate.

Cooperative = Everyone comes and shares and participates in the members projects, question/answer discussions and assistance requests.

Current Opportunities/Projects:
   Completing Crafts and recycle/repurposed items for sale at the Youngsville Flea Mart.

  Gardening & Canning/cooking ahead meals

  Coupon clipping bingo and swap

  Discounts & BOGO sharing and donating to collect items for campaigns.

  Book/CD/Games/Movie swap

  A,B,C  Marketing Parties and Campaigns:  Abilities, Artistians, Businesses, Barterer's, Crafters and Consultants sharing and cooperatively marketing opportunities and the products and services they provide.

Are you looking for a Tree to throw a rope in to swing for awhile near the "River of Life"?  Our branches are available... Comment below or look for us on Facebook "Cedar Creek Creative Cooperative".

For Hobby and "Just for Fun Because I Can to Necessity to be able to afford the fun

Now that we have to choose between a gallon of milk or a gallon of gas.  Cutting out recreational trips, entertainment and discretionary spending and skill having to get creative in making the ends meet are becoming more and more of a job. 

Clipping coupons, shopping around, using Farmer's Market and BJ's, splitting things with friends, bartering, recylcing and repurposing things from yardsales and Thrift stores.  Now something to put a little fun back into our lives without disrupting the delicate budget.  GROUPON, much like a coupon, you purchase discounts and then let your friends know about the awesome deal, if enough people purchase the great deal you get a reward for starting the savings "party".

Click Here to go to the groupon site and sign up :) and lets start saving together and how easy to organize social outings without alot of effort. 
Groupon

Will You Answer the Call to Serve the Families of our Servicemen and Women

Men and Women join the military to "Answer A Call" of Responsibility and Duty.  They sacrafice in many ways and accept huge risks.  Their families also sacrafice and have accepted losses and risks.  It is not an easy "tour of duty" and there are long lasting effects in numerous areas and that is just for "peace time service".  Serving in "Times of Conflict and War" like we have been experiencing since 2000.  

Today the sacrafices are becoming "LIFE CHANGING' to the entire family.  Missing the "childhood and developing stages of children they have not even met.  Missing the milestones of their children that we all plan and look forward to, missing the birthdays, anniversaries, promotions at work, awards, of their loves ones.  Financial losses, losing their jobs, their spouse being stressed beyond human capabilities "serving the family as Mother and Father" without having a backup, assistance or support.  And then we have the "GOLD STAR" families that have given the ultimate sacrafice and have suffered the loss of their service member (and social network).  The care packages, letters and momentos stop.  Visits, phone calls and offers to help stop if not immediately soon after the funneral, when they should be at the highest frequency.

There are programs and ways to help but they need to be filled with PEOPLE, (Hands and Hearts) and Money for supplies, to help with expenses, Donations of items, scholarships, supplies for businesses, jobs, Friendships that are going to last and close the huge gap that the GOLD Star represents. Not that the support, encouragement and friendships can replace the member they lost, it can help and show them that it was not a gift given to no avail.  We remember and continue to appreciate and miss their loved one too.  These families are more than just part of our military community, they are part of our communities.  They purchase things from businesses, they attend schools and churches, 4H groups, Sports teams.  The are part of US and need to know we still care and that we will never forget either.

Will you Answer the Call to the GOLD STAR Families?? 
http://www.causes.com/causes/467491-united-protectors-of-fallen-soldiers?m=b4aa541e&recruiter_id=18440775


If you blog or have websites.. please post your own "Call TO Support" or Cut and Paste this one.  Look for the group on Facebook and make sure to mention this once a week.  Together we can glose the gap and Fill our ranks with Caring and Supportive People to show that their sacrafice is not forgotten. 

Spotlight On Community Service that is in the "Building and Development Phase"

Spotlight on a Bright Mind, Helping Hand and Heart I found on Facebook, we have never met, but seems like we should have been related. 

Check out this site and see if you can add 

Kimberly Webber Young and   

Liberty Bell Stables

to your list of "Favorite Charities and Groups to support".  If you read the vision and mission and think, "Man I wish something like this were available for....." donate in their honor to make sure someone else does not have to wish anymore, the can just search for Liberty Bell Stables, "where Change is in the Wind"

They are currently "Paving the Way to Hope". click here Pave the way to Hopeto donate and write your name on the wall.  Leave a legacy and help a neighbor raise the walls to a beautiful dream and a wonderful community resource.



If you know of other Bright Minds, Helping Hands and Hearts in the Area or that would be a good asset to our Community and are accessible online  send me the 5 W & H (Who, What they are, Where, When the opened or are opening, and how you know them, found them ect.  and the contact info and I will research it and spot light them if they are interested. 

Together we can Light the World and make it "A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE".