Is something bothering you?

Warning: This is valid only for women who can handle the truth!!!

A store that sells husbands has just
opened in New York City , where a
woman may go to choose a husband.
Among the instructions at the
entrance is a description of how the
store operates. You may visit the
store
ONLY ONCE!

There are six floors and the
attributes of the men increase as the
shopper ascends the flights. There is,
however, a catch . . . You may
choose any man from a particular
floor, or you may choose to go up a
floor,
but you cannot go back down except to
exit the building! So, a woman
goes to the Husband Store to find a
husband. .

On the first floor the sign on the
door reads:

Floor 1 - These men have jobs and love
the Lord.

The second floor sign reads:

Floor 2 - These men have jobs, love
the Lord, and love kids.

The third floor sign reads:

Floor 3 - These men have jobs, love
the Lord, love kids, and are
extremely good looking.

“Wow,” she thinks, but feels compelled
to keep going.

She goes to the fourth floor and sign
reads:

Floor 4 - These men have jobs, love
the Lord, love kids, are drop-dead
good looking and help with the
housework.

“Oh mercy me” she exclaims, “I can
hardly stand it!” Still, she goes
to the fifth floor and sign reads:

Floor 5 - These men have jobs, love
the Lord, love kids, are drop-dead
gorgeous, help with the housework, and
have a strong romantic streak.

She is so tempted to stay, but she
goes to the sixth floor and the
sign reads:

Floor 6 - You are visitor 4,363,012 to
this floor. There are no men on
this floor. This floor exists solely
as proof that women are impossible
to please.

Thank you for shopping at the Husband
Store. Watch your step as you
exit the building, and have a nice
day!

It’s a nice one huh?!?! I must admit, we (women) are SOMETIMES hard to please. But, I was able to handle the truth that’s why I’m sharing this with all of you dear friends.

I asked my hubby, “What shall we do this weekend dear?!?! Fancy going to the cinema?” He said, “Yeah that would be nice” and so I said “Let’s go then.”

This is not just an ordinary cinema day… this is extra ordinary cinema day. Wanna know why?!?

Sometimes going to the cinema is a bit unexciting, a routine type of activity. So, I thought of giving it a bit of sparkle. I printed a movie guide time from Vue Cinema for Sunday 8 July 2007.  I worked out that we can actually see three, yes, three films one after another!!! How we did it?! TIMING… you need to be at the cinema at the right time.

The First film which start at 14:25 was Are we done yet?

Starring: Ice Cube, Nia Long, John C. McGinley

Synopsis:

This sequel picks up as the newly formed family of Nick, Suzanne, Lindsey and Kevin move from the city to the suburbs in the pursuit of an idyllic life. A renovation leads to chaos, however, as Nick clashes with the eccentric contractor who bonds with Suzanne and the kids. Nick also has to deal with a pregnant wife as well as a raccoon who proves impossible to catch.

The film finished about 16:15 just enough time to buy popcorn and a drink for our next movie which was Die Hard 4.0

Starring: Bruce Willis, Timothy Olyphant, Maggie Q, Justin Long

Synopsis:

In this action-packed sequel, John McClane no longer works for the police department, but his job chasing down dangerous hackers for the Department of Homeland Security still places him directly in the line of fire. When an attack on America’s vulnerable infrastructure begins to shut down the entire nation, McClane is assigned the dangerous task of capturing the mysterious figure behind the act of terror and preventing chaos and catastrophe.

Wow!!! A marvelous action-thrilled movie. Love it!!!

But before going to the next screen we still managed to get ourselves a hotdog and an ice cream, nice combination?! Ha!ha!ha!

Now for the finale, La Vie En Rose

Starring: Marion Cotillard, Sylvie Testud, Pascal Greggory, Gerard Depardieu, Emmanuelle Seigner.

Synopsis:

On stage she was a singing legend. But for Edith Piaf, life was the greatest performance of all.

From Director Olivier Dahan comes the long awaited biopic of the legendary French chanteuse Edith Piaf. Starring Marion Cotillard (A Good Year, A Very Long Engagement) in the lead role, this impressive film reveals the extraordinary life of one of the world’s greatest performers.

From the streets of the cutthroat Belleville district of Paris to the dazzling limelight of New York’s most glamorous concert halls, Edith Piaf’s life was a constant battle to sing and survive, to live and love. Raised in abject poverty, surrounded by hookers and pimps, Edith’s magical voice made her a star on both sides of the Atlantic. Her passionate romances and friendships with some of the greatest names of the period - Yves Montand, Jean Cocteau, Charles Aznavour, Marlene Dietrich and boxing world champion Marcel Cerdan - made her a household name, as did her memorable live performances and beautiful renditions of songs that were listened to by audiences across the globe: La Vie en Rose, Hymn To Love, Non Je ne Regrette Rien (I love this piece of music) and many more. But despite her determination to deny her tragic destiny, the “Little Sparrow” - as she was known - flew so high that she could not fail to burn her wings.

All three films were great in their own categories. The first film was a comedy movie. The second film was an action movie. The third film was a true to life drama movie.

Nice timing to see all three films in one day!

The first step to obtain an Indefinite Leave to Remain or British Citizenship is clearing the “Life in the UK” examination, as per the rules set by the Home Office. 

Since 2005, everyone who applies to become a British citizen has had to show their knowledge of the English language and of life in the United Kingdom in one of two ways. They can take a special ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) course, which uses teaching materials based on the practical meaning of citizenship. Or they can take the new Life in the UK Exam, which consist of 24 questions about important aspects of life in Britain today. 

I took my exam last Monday 9 July 2007 at the Learning & Enterprise Centre in Chester. I arrived ten minutes before my appointment time feeling a bit nervous but at the same time confident that I will pass the exam.  Prior to my exam date, as I was reading the handbook Life in the UK: A Journey to Citizenship (Edition 2), I thought of looking for a site wherein I could actually do some practice test. After spending five minutes searching for the right one, alas! I found lifeintheukonline.co.uk which really helped me to prepare and it boosts up my confidence in taking the exam. Reading the book is not enough so I would recommend this site for people who will be taking the exam in the future. 

I am now a proud owner of a Pass Notification Letter. Hurray!!! I’m looking forward to getting my indefinite leave to remain visa next month. J

Life is so hectic that I often feel that I just live to work. We tend to forget the reason why we were created by God. We tend to neglect our purpose in life. We tend to focus more of thinking on how to become a millionare than to think of ways on how we can be closer to God. 

We can be successful in becoming a multi-millionare, a good entrepreneur … but have you ever stop to think that when we die, we cannot take all this material things with us??! You work for what?!!? MONEY!!! MONEY!!! MONEY!!! Is that all that matters?!?!?!

Many people are driven by materialism. Their desire to acquire becomes the whole goal of their lives. This drive to always want more is based on the misconceptions that having more will make them more happy, more important and more secure, but all three ideas are untrue. Possessions only provide temporary happiness. Because things do not change, we eventually become bored with them and then want newer, bigger, better versions. It’s also a myth that if you get more, you will be more important. Self-worth and net worth are not the same. Your value is not determined by your valuables, and God says the most valuable things in life  are not things!!! The most common myth about money is that having more will make you more secure. It won’t. Wealth can be lost instantly. Real security can only be found in that which can never be taken from you— your relationship with God. [The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren]

A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree. [Proverbs 11:28]

Dear Friends

It is with great joy that we announce the return of the Baha’i Song Writing Contest which was successfully launched in the City of Chester on 19th November, 2005, in remembrance of the late Christopher Goharriz Junior (03/11/90 - 19/11/04).

Therefore, please note that:

The SECOND Christopher Goharriz Junior BAHA’I SONG WRITING CONTEST

Will be held as part of the Bahá’í National Festival at Warwick University on 2nd - 4th January 2008.

So if you write songs, or would like to, then your are warmly invited to enter the above contest by either composing a new song for the event or by just submitting a song that you may have written some time ago.

The contest is open to any Baha’i resident in the British Isles.

The music and lyrics must be original and the song should have a Baha’i theme or one in keeping with the teachings of the Faith.

There will be 2 age categories: up to 16 and 17 and over.

The permanent trophies which were awarded to the winners of the 1st Contest will be awarded to the winners of the 2nd Contest, together with prize-money for each category.

The deadline for entries is: Saturday, 3rd November, 2007.

The final stage of the contest will be a live performance to be held as one of the events of the National Festival followed by a performance of the winning songs in the main hall.

For further information and entry forms please write to or email:
Katie Goharriz
The Bahá’í Song Writing Contest Secretary
Gateway House 78 Northgate Street
Chester CH1 2HR
Mobile Number: 0781 466 3306
Email: katiegoharriz@aol.com

We eagerly look forward to receiving your entries.

It’s up to you to make your life the best it can be.
This life is the only one you’re given.
Look for opportunities to grow,
and never be discouraged in your efforts to do so.
Replace your weaknesses with positives;
take life’s broken pieces and re-create your dreams.
Never measure the future by the past;
let yesterday become a memory and tomorrow a promise.
Begin each day by focusing on all that is good,
and you’ll be in a position to handle whatever comes along.
Take responsibility of your actions;
never make excuses for not being the best you can be.
If you should slip, be comforted by the thought that we all do at times.
Determine your tomorrow by the choices you make today,
and you’ll find yourself living in joy and triumph.

***

Don’t ever try to understand everything-
some things will just never make sense.
Don’t ever be reluctant to your feelings-
when you’re happy, give in to it! When you’re not, live with it.
Don’t ever be afraid to try to make things better-
you might be surprised at the results.
Don’t ever take the weight of the world on your shoulders.
Don’t ever feel threatened by the future- take life one day at a time.
Don’t ever feel that you are alone-
there is always somebody there for you to reach out to.
Don’t ever forget that you can achieve so many things you can imagine- imagine that! It’s not as hard as it seems.
Don’t ever stop loving, don’t ever stop believing,
don’t ever stop dreaming your dreams.

Let me share this simple yet real thought to everybody and see what you think.

Verily I say unto ye……….

Money…

• It can buy a house… But not a home

• It can buy a clock… But not time

• It can buy you a position… But not respect

• It can buy you a bed… But not sleep

• It can buy you a book… But not knowledge

• It can buy you medicine… But not health

• It can buy you blood… But not life

Money cannot buy happiness. Money cannot buy real friends. Money cannot buy inner peace of mind. Money will not give you contentment. Money distance you from God.

 YOU SEE, MONEY ISN’T EVERYTHING. And it often causes pain and suffering. There’s more to life than MONEY!!!

“O ye that pride yourselves on mortal riches! Know ye in truth that wealth is a mighty barrier between the seeker and his desire, the lover and his beloved. The rich, but for a few, shall in no wise attain the court of His presence nor enter the city of content and resignation. Well is it then with him, who, being rich, is not hindered by his riches from the eternal kingdom, nor deprived by them of imperishable dominion. By the Most Great Name! The splendor of such a wealthy man shall illuminate the dwellers of heaven even as the sun enlightens the people of the earth!  ~ Bahá’u'lláh, The Hidden Words, Arabic 53 - 54, p41

A group of students were asked to list what they thought were the present “Wonders of the World”. Though there were some disagreements, the following received the most votes:

1. Egypt’s Great Pyramids

2. Taj Mahal

3. Grand Canyon

4. Panama Canal

5. Empire State Building

6. St. Peter’s Basilica

7. China’s Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noticed that one student had not finished her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list.

The girl replied, “Yes, a little. I couldn’t quite make up my mind because there were so many.” The teacher said, “Well, let’s see what you have and maybe we can help.” The girl hesitated, then read: “I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:

1. To see…
2. To hear…

3. To taste…

4. To smell…

5. To feel…

6. To laugh…

7. And to love…

The room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.

The things we overlook as simple and ordinary and that we take for granted are truly wondrous!

The most precious things in life cannot be built by hand or bought by man

The GREATEST WONDER OF ALL IS: GOD’S LOVE!!!

O SON OF BEING! My love is My stronghold; he that entereth therein is safe and secure, and he that turneth away shall surely stray and perish.- The Hidden Words by Baha’u'llah

We all seem to be bothered with so many things in life. In fact, we may often feel we’re caught in a tornado. At times, our lives seem to be whirling out of control.

Why don’t we have a break for a moment and endeavour to gaze at life in a diverse point of view.  Let’s glance at life in a lighter mode and start to structure our mind to what we consider irrelevant experiences to be important and the most fulfilling reality of our daily life. 

“Blessed are they that have soared on the wings of detachment and attained the station which, as ordained by God,  overshadoweth the entire creation, whom neither the vain imaginations of the learned, nor the multitude of the hosts of the earth have succeeded in deflecting from His Cause…” ~ Bahá’u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u'lláh, XIV, p34