And the email began “Federal Judge Carter sets Trial Date for Obama’s Eligibility! The expedited trial has been set for Jan. 26, 2010!”

We worry about the economy, complain about the national debt, argue about appropriations for education and then we want to invest precious resources in continuing this debate on PRESIDENT Obama’s birthright.

Dear heaven, the man was elected by the American People. He inherited a plethora of challenges befalling a nation at war (sorry but don’t use the “military action” definition with Afghanistan and Iraq when there are deaths in the thousands), a nation who’s education system is tied up in tests and tenure, and foreign soil owns more of America than Americans where the national debt is growing faster than most of us can even think.

And we (as a nation) want to spend money trying to prove that this man doesn’t have a right to serve in the position we elected him to?

On the other hand, maybe this whole birth certificate ordeal is a gift in disguise. Maybe it is time to change (yes I know – talk about spending money). Maybe our laws need to be focused on the best person for the job and get rid of the first qualification that says you have to be an American BY BIRTH by amending Article 2 Section 1 of the Constitution.

“Birthright” has nothing to do with “qualification”. On the one hand you have Nidal Malik Hasan, born in Virginia and his recent activities at Fort Hood. On the other hand, this country could have had no greater advocate than my Mom – a naturalized citizen that took great pride in her right to vote and participate in all this country had to offer her. She believed that this country was a place where we had the opportunity to make our dreams come true and it was up to each of us as individuals to pursue those dreams with dedication and heart.

Since I’ve met classmates of Mr. Obama from Hawaii – I’m completely satisfied with his right to serve – and yes I voted for him as the best person for the job. While he may have had opportunities to make different, possibly better, decisions – in my heart I believe that any judgment call can only be made by walking a mile in his shoes.

It seems like we may be talking about bigger issues here.

• There are those that are still challenged to simply look at the heart rather than the color of the skin, the size of a bank account or even the size clothes someone wears.
• We still have those that refuse to believe we have poverty in this country. I’ve met them. They are like the ostrich with their head underground.
• There appears to be a consensus that our children are better educated in public schools. But wait, teachers are forced to spend time teaching tests rather than exciting a child’s desire to learn and explore, and question “WHY”! Furthermore, if tenure is involved they can be derelict in their duties and get a promotion (put in administration just to get them away from the students).
• Some believe doing “business as usual” has nothing to do with who you are at the core, that it isn’t personal, it’s “just business” …
• …and it goes on.

While it may seem like I’m harping on the negative, I want it clear that I know some beautiful advocates for equality and peace, some passionate and caring teachers (I’ve had both in my lifetime) as well as many integrity driven business associates.

The point is there are MANY other investments of our resources than to try to remove someone from office under these circumstances / accusations.

In keeping with “choice” I’m setting a rule in my Outlook email deleting all emails that have “Obama and birth certificate” as I know I won’t change some folks’ minds. That is why we live here – they have a right to their beliefs and the freedom to express it.

I’m just choosing to move forward along the path before me.

In Harmony,
Kira

Today is Veteran’s Day so we remember those that have served our country in times of peace and war. As a former Marine I was blessed to have never been in any conflict…but many of my friends were not so fortunate.

Now the flip-side is that it’s “Day 3″ which reminded me of the freedom as a gift of personal sacrifice by one man and on the third day He returned and confirmed the fact that death had no power over Him. Christ came and set an example of peace. He preached a gospel of peace and love for our fellow man. The “law” that advocated a time for war was prior to his birth. I wonder what it will take for mankind to embrace the grace that has been imparted.

I am most grateful for the grace. It is because of that love, the mercy of a God who knows that I have one heck of an ego and sometimes get very full of myself – and still loves me while helping me to see the truth that I can close my eyes and night and rest. I would have a hard time sleeping at night otherwise.

There’s an incredible freedom in that knowledge – and I’m grateful for that too!

What is it that you’re grateful for today?

Kira

As I listened, laughed and watched their banter, I was reminded of my parents (both John and Larry Gassman have a build similar to that of my father – though my apologies to the brothers as they are much younger and very much alive .

My parents were very much in love with two very active little girls and both of them blind.

As the music continued over the course of the day, I found myself reflecting on our time together and many of the lessons they taught me through their daily living. Moreover, even though they have passed on, there are insights that are reinforced every day.

Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing some 50 lessons that I have learned from either them at the time, or as a result of hind-sight.

Starting with something close to home – Happiness is a choice that we make every moment of our lives.
My parents had plenty of opportunity for choices..

My (Russian) mother was born in Shanghai and spent much of her youth in a convent while both of her parents worked. Actually, when she was born, my grandmother cut off her own braid and would leave my mother in her crib with the braid and a bottle. The doctors couldn’t make up their mind if my mother was smart enough to be educated since one would come through and say put her in school, and then the next would say that her blindness affected her intelligence and it was a waste of time. In the 40’s their family escaped on a refugee ship to the Philippians and finally landing in California.

On the other hand, my father was born in Oklahoma and enjoyed sports and looked to the possibilities of serving in the Marines until he had a stroke at the age of 17, which resulted in a severe loss of sight. The endless search for answers and cures took their toll on my grandparents and yet – their faith that the answer was there somewhere kept them going. Over time, they too moved to California.

With their vision challenges as well as my father’s ongoing health issues associated with the brain tumor, my parents still took the time to show each other and us how they cared very deeply for each other. I know there were times when it was hard for them with hospital appointments, young children and so many other distractions that accompany raising a family. However, they still had their faith in God, love for life and a belief in the possibilities. They made a choice to be happy and make the most of every moment they had together. They made a choice to give my sister and I the same opportunity. They would fill our home with friends and relatives, laughter, love and music until the day they died.

I think it was a pretty good lesson on how to live and how to choose to be happy.

Stay tuned for the second installment!

In Harmony,
Kira Wagner

Royce isn’t your typical human – she really understands that everything in life is interconnected. Not only that, but through PLA (Perfect Love Awakening), she teaches others a step-by-step process to experience the same joy and freedom.

This next week she will be hosting a free seminar in Redondo Beach and if you are ANYWHERE in the area I can’t urge you enough to make sure that you are there!

Here is what she has to say -

Perfect Love Awakening presents

“The Foundation Seminar…”
for life answers and so much more!

• Why can’t I seem to be fully present, living as who I really am?  What keeps getting in the way of feeling powerful and deserving in my life?  Why does it always feel like something is missing?
• I am struggling all the time!  My dreams seem to elude me.  I hunger for my life to change, yet I feel the influence of my past determining my future.  Why? What can I do to free myself?  What is my soul trying to communicate and why can’t I hear it?

Perfect Love Awakening is an accelerated inner transformational method that opens you to you, clearing out what gets in the way of fully loving yourself and your life!

PLA offers valuable life-keys to unlock what’s keeping you stuck in joyless, repetitious patterns.

Shift from fear to trust, anger to love, numbness to joy by discovering and releasing self-sabotaging core inner programming that’s getting in your way. 

Deserve to create the life you were born to live!

Attend this free introductory class to find out what PLA offers. 

Tuesday May 12th at 7 p.m. 
Please R.S.V.P. to reserve your space!
PLA Center location: 
235 Avenida Del Norte,
the Riviera Village in Redondo Beach.
The PLA office is in the back building upstairs.

Go to www.placlasses.org for detailed directions and further information about PLA, or contact Royce at  310) 791-7104 daytime or (310) 543-2343 to leave a voicemail message anytime.

OK – so there you have ALL the “Who, What and Where”…

…you know the Why…it’s in your heart as you’ve read this post. So call today and make the most of all of your tomorrows!

I did.

When Christ hung on the cross as intercession for each and every one of His own he stated, “It is finished”. He had paid the price and guaranteed our place in Heaven.

But, we still had a fear that death would consume us. Mankind saw him die on that cross and, just like today, most of us only believed what we “saw”. The question of “what if…” crept in. Then three days later his body was no longer confined to that tomb and he walked among us once again.

Today, Easter Sunday, we celebrate the assurance that death has no power. Those three days that He laid in the tomb were a time of transformation.

Because of His caring, His unconditional love, you and I are free today to choose our path. We have the ability to rejoice in a state of gratitude and know that we are blessed beyond measure.

We have the beauty of sun, moon, sky around us every day. Even when we can’t see it – we know it’s there.

We have the choice to, as Bobby McFerrin sang, don’t worry, be happy”. 

Yes, there are situations that we have created in this world that are less than pleasant, created out of fear. However, we have the choice to change those things and slowly, we’re doing so.

So take a moment today and reflect on the wonderful freedom that you and I share. The freedom that allows us to be at peace within, regardless of the circumstances without.

Share a smile today, be grateful for the state of grace you find yourself in and give thanks to the one who made the miracle possible.

Happy Easter!

Love,

Kira

Last night my husband and I entered into a discussion over the Presidential Determination stating that the US will “…furnish assistance …in an amount not to exceed $20.3 million from the United States Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund…to humanitarian needs of Palestinian refugees and conflict victims in Gaza.” (You can read the complete text here http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog_post/relief_for_gaza/) A question had been posed, “Are we supporting terrorists?” in providing this assistance.

I found myself thinking about competition, taking a stand, being “right”, war, protection, and the list goes on. These ideas remained on my mind and my heart until I fell asleep working on updating my Blackberry software. When I woke the idea of “going first” came to mind and I share this with you…

You can listen to the poem here -

Going First

I can’t possibly go first I’ve been taught so well you see
If I drop my guard, you’ll take advantage of me

I can’t go first for that tiny spark of fear
Will ignite a blaze so strong, the hate will be all they hear

I can’t go first – what a silly, senseless thought
I’ve seen how it’s done and in your web I’ll soon be caught

If I go first in the name love and open up my heart
Will you share your heart with me – or will yet another battle start

If I go first and upon the ground, I lay down my arms
Will it all be in vain and the world still come to harm

If I go first and to my home invite you to enter in
Will you see to my demise and with my death declare you win

I must go first and starting now, relinquish all control
For I had none to begin with, you see love’s the only goal

I must go first and free of fear, open up my heart
For on that road to peace and love – I’m only doing a small part.

I must go first – for truth be told I’m not really the first you see
The foundation has long been laid – long before you and me…

I’ll go first and light the way for my heart has made its choice
I know you’ll walk beside me and we’ll hear each other’s voice

So first or last it matters not when the goal is clear for all
That peace and love may reign supreme as we hearken to the call

Kira Wagner 2/16/09

Looking more closely at this statement McCain is saying that Republicans were victims of some kind of corrupt conspiracy. They had no choice. They had no say. By his continued inference that the members of congress residing in federal prisons are there NOT because of their own choices but because of some evil plan that involved “earmarking and pork-barrel spending” we must assume that Republicans cannot think for themselves.

It appears that while he also said, “We’ve got to start also holding people accountable…” he does not realize that the two go hand in hand. I cannot be held accountable if I have no choice in the matter.

The truth is I always have a choice. I may not LIKE the options but I do have a choice.

McCain talks about continuing the fight overseas to “win” and bring back our troops in victory. That bringing them back now would mean defeat. To him, maybe so. The question is, “Did they go over and do what was asked of them INDIVIDUALLY?” If yes – then each and every one of our military personnel were a success in his or her own right. They did what they believed was right and just. There is no winning in war. There is only a temporary stopgap in the violence.

Senator McCain went on to slam Senator Obama for his stand on meeting other foreign powers without precondition. With all due respect to his age and his history, Senator McCain is either too old or too afraid of responsibility to see that humanity will only achieve a state of real peace when we let go of the need to defend ourselves and “make someone out to be the bad guy”. Whether we agree or not, everyone has a reason for their actions. Telling them their wrong or that they can’t do something because we said so, won’t promote good will, understanding or peace.

Senator McCain’s choices to:

• Fall back on military force to keep the peace
• Do away with the corruption in government without accepting that everyone involved chose to be where they are
• To promise to take care of the veterans and make sure our military on active duty overseas get to come home with a “victory” to their credit

These choices all demonstrate a lack of understanding.

They demonstrate a lack of understanding that the basic truths are:

• Force will not and never has kept “peace”
• Accountability will only (really) be achieved when we learn to hold ourselves accountable and not hope for someone else to do it for us
• Respect for our veterans will be in place as long as the American nation (government, media and individual) support each other for acting in accordance with their beliefs and their intent was for the good of humanity

As a registered Republican and a USMC Veteran – I’m glad I have a choice and a voice in this country. I’m glad that millions of Americans still believe they can make a difference.

Join me won’t you – speak up for what you believe in…today.

Kira Wagner

On September 21, 1981, the United Nations declared an International Day of Peace. In 2002, the General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent date for this momentous occasion.

As a habit then, I believe that peace starts within, within our own hearts and souls. World peace will only be a reality when we find ourselves at peace individually. We can make this happen one moment at a time. I don’t know anyone that rides the Love Train 24/7 – 365 days a year, but we can begin the journey together and find ways to embrace the peace and love. 

One morning a few days ago, I woke with two tunes going through my head. One was a line from the song by John Lennon – “all we are saying is give peace a chance”. It repeated incessantly. It was overlaid by another tune and the following poem, which I wrote and share with you today –

I feel love in every day; I feel love in every way

I feel love deep in my heart, in every day there’s a brand new start.

I feel the peace flowing through my soul I feel the love that makes me whole

I feel peace I know I’m free I feel that peace deep inside of me

I feel peace of ages past; I feel that peace – I’m home at last

I feel the peace flowing through my soul I feel the love that makes me whole

I feel peace I know I’m free I feel that peace deep inside of me

I feel peace of ages past I feel that peace – I’m home at last 

I won’t kid you and say that I always feel this way. In fact, I’ve really begun to understand that the more I think I know, the further there is to go.

Nevertheless, it is a start and it is part of what allows me to know moments of total freedom. Something so ingrained that I know no one can take it from me. That if I “lose” it – it’s because I’ve chosen to give it up.

Thank you all for being part of my journey to freedom!

Love,

Kira

In all of your tomorrows – should there come a time where you need a hand to lift your spirits – may you find it here. With the help of a few friends and some time I’ve compiled a list of songs that help me “get through” the tough times.

May 2008 be a GREAT year.

These songs are simply arranged in alphabetical order and if the embedding option didn’t exist I left the link so you just have to click on it to listen/watch.

With 33 selections you’ll find the selection fairly eclectic – just like I am – ranging from Opera to Broadway and Rock to Rap.

God Bless and Happy New Year.

Love,
Kira

Amazing Grace Leann Rimes http://youtube.com/watch?v=iT88jBAoVIM

Angels Among Us Alabama http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMB62g-A3Hk

Calling All Angels Train http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAKF3_hCSNs

Can You Feel the Love tonight Elton John  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkGDrV_2ehI

Candle on the water (Pete’s Dragon) Annaliese Van Der Pol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW5ZGLEiW1o

Don’t Rain On My Parade (Funny Girl) Barbara Strisand http://youtube.com/watch?v=JAVlk4F2qkw

Everybody Says Don’t Anyone Can Whistle http://youtube.com/watch?v=tJOwbrbswyc

For Good (Wicked)    Wicked    http://youtube.com/watch?v=05jdB1tGE_g

Friends    Michael W Smith    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOCJAVlESEo

From a Distance    Bette Midler    http://youtube.com/watch?v=i5_YAj9lCQc

Hero    Mariah Carey    http://youtube.com/watch?v=PWlS8Oerx8o

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands    Tanya Tucker    http://youtube.com/watch?v=guyrERfsCB8

High Hopes    Frank Sinatra (Flower Drum Song)    http://youtube.com/watch?v=mlsitMRQAdA

Hope    Twista    http://youtube.com/watch?v=Vv1sRFbsKDY 

I Believe    Elvis Presley    http://youtube.com/watch?v=YztqE6QzCww

I hope you dance    Lee Ann Womack    www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTQfERb9HVk

If You’re Reading This    Tim McGraw     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7ixC-LYDGc

Imagine    John Lennon    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEOkxRLzBf0

Impossible (Cinderella)    Lesley Ann Warren & Celeste Holm    http://youtube.com/watch?v=JKK_tq-VBk8

It’s My Life    Bon Jovi    http://youtube.com/watch?v=gi-c6USo8fQ

Live Like You Were Dying    Tim McGraw    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mHaFMqde6A

One Moment in Time     Whitney Houston    http://youtube.com/watch?v=8EbYmMb4lR4

Somethings Coming    Westside Story    http://youtube.com/watch?v=xu7sRdRrm_w

Talk To Me    Angelix Listen to the audio on myspace

The Impossible Dream (Man of La Mancha)    Sung By Donna Summer     http://youtube.com/watch?v=yZvtcuTeJ4I

The Prayer   
Celine Dion & Andrea Bocelli http://youtube.com/watch?v=db1-IlnW2YY

The Rose    Bette Midler    http://youtube.com/watch?v=PIBUaMe37B8

This Little Light of Mine    Sydney Ellis Gospel Quartet    http://youtube.com/watch?v=6Vn6HJRiVyE

Waiting On The World To Change    John Mayer    http://youtube.com/watch?v=hKnF9CCYQPQ

When You Walk Through a Storm    Katherine Jenkins    http://youtube.com/watch?v=ffBIOTP5vtg

Wind Beneath My wings    Bette Midler    http://youtube.com/watch?v=9d9l8K7xOYM

Wonderful World    Louis Armstrong    http://youtube.com/watch?v=vnRqYMTpXHc

You Light Up My    Debbie Boone    http://youtube.com/watch?v=wxo0lsJnx-U

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah    Song of the South    http://youtube.com/watch?v=LcxYwwIL5zQ