[Andrea Barnett Budin]

I thank God every day for "sustaining me and enabling me to reach this day". That's a line from a Hebrew Benediction that I was honored to be given to read in front of the congregation one Sabbath in June many many moons ago. I was being confirmed (at age 15).

After my dx in '95, one of my favorite prayers has fresh and even sweeter meaning. I lived to see my baby dghtr marry. I lived to greet not 1 but 5 !!!!! grandchildren into this world. Those blessed words of the benediction filled my head with each occasion, bringing more goose bumps than *normal* people feel at such times.

And, now I believe that my favorite day of the week is -- EVERY DAY! I know well that each is a gift. I take none for granted. I celebrate every sunrise...

I am also ever grateful to have learned that God has given me a sacred Soul. With wisdom and foresight, God has empowered me. We each are blessed with the power of choice and the power of determining our destinies -- with fervent belief, an open heart and passionate determination. My Intention is clear, as is my Expectation.

My prayers, and my mantras, call my deepest desires to me. The Universe responds to such impassioned supplications. We are each meant to evolve to claim this wondrous birthright. It is a precious Enlightenment.

I believe God's will is for us to continue to grow and progress, to become personally empowered and seek out our dreams. We are a definitive part of our dance with supposed predetermination. This Awareness is what I wish for all my Sisters and Bros...

Though we must learn to become One with What Is, at the same time, we have been given the power to alter unwanted realities. We need not be victimized by our thoughts and fears. We can go deep within, in silent meditation and communion, and connect with our divine Essence. And, in so doing, we can make manifest miraculous results. We can re-author the internal dialogue we dwell upon all day -- KNOWING that what we focus our concentration and energy on will be drawn to us. That is a remarkable Universal Law it has been my honor to stumble upon.

Of course, we must always add our: Unconditional Love, compassion, tolerance, acts of kindness and inclusion, generosity of Spirit and humble appreciation for our many blessings.

We are here to serve one another, to respect each other's beliefs and support one another. That's when we choose to be our Truest Selves, in reaching for our Higher Selves.