Monday Motivation: Weekly Moment of Gratitude + Giveaway Winner + Moment of Silence for #Boston

What I am grateful for:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Got My Tablet! -  I wanted to thank all the butterflies who took the time to vote for me in the Autism Speaks/AT&T Voting Contest, not only is my bi-lingual Autism App being designed and was presented at Hackathon in San Francisco, California, but I got my new Pantech Tablet and I've been playing with it, and it's AWESOME! You all know how much I love new tech toys (once I have had a chance to really check out all it can do, I'll post a full review). But as a former Special Education Teacher the fact that my Bi-lingual Autism App will be designed means the world to me. It's a resource I wish I would have had in the classroom! When I designed the App for the contest entry, there was a real life student who was in my class who was my inspiration for the App.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Birthday Month Continues! - After the year I had last year I have decided that this year, ALL month is my birthday month! I can't contain the joy of NOT being in a hospital bed for my birthday like I was last year, and I want to celebrate my life all month this year to make up for lost time last year! Cherish your health butterflies, sometimes you can take care of it, and still have it snatched from you, appreciate each moment butterfly!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - A Moment of Silence Please! - Boston is a favorite City of mine (I live in the City most people really want to be in, but Boston and San Fran have a very special place in my heart), I took a moment of silence and spent time in prayer today for the people of Boston after the two bombings they experienced during the Boston Marathon today. Please butterflies, join me in a moment of prayer and send as many good vibes as you can to the people of Boston, there were many injured and I know how devastating it can be to survive a major bombing in your City. Today 9/11 flooded my memory and brought deja vu tears to my eyes as I watched the news all day following what happened during the Boston Marathon. My thoughts are with the City that has brought me nothing but positive memories. In fact this week I was actually talking about visiting there again. I tell you, sometimes monkey wrenches are thrown in our plans, and we get angry or stressed about it, but sometimes even delays are blessings in disguise. I can only be grateful that circumstances kept me from going to Boston, and my thoughts are with everyone there. I know a lot of New York City Based Fitness Bloggers who run that Marathon, and I hope everyone is OK!

Sorry it's been so long since my last Gratitude Post Butterflies, it's not that I haven't had things to be grateful for, quite the contrary in fact, but I have been taking more time away from blogging and social media and giving myself some much needed 'Me' time! I have been keeping my own daily list of things I am grateful for and taking time to acknowledge my blessings daily. A bit of concentrated focus on what you do have, instead of on what you lack or need, can make a huge shift in your life!

What are YOU most grateful for today Butterfly?

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What are you grateful for today? I'd love for you to write in and share what you are grateful for this week. The more you say it, the more you speak it, and the more you live in gratitude, the more you will find reasons to be grateful for, and the more reasons that the universe will send you to be grateful for. So join me on this journey of gratitude and inspiration. And you can post here daily (even though my list will be posted weekly).

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

It is OK to *Re-Tweet* the link to this post and You can find me on Twitter here (@Tracy_Iglesias) Twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field at Twitter:

OK to RT: @Tracy_Iglesias This Week's 'Moment of Gratitude' and Active Giveaways!  - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

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Winner!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Join me in congratulating Dawn S. who is Ascending Butterfly's We Take the Cake Giveaway Winner! Dawn was entry #341, and a delicious treat is on it's way! (We closed with 1,094 overall entries, and after all the dis-qualified entries were eliminated before drawing a winner, we ended with 840, just a very gentle reminder to follow mandatory entry instructions very carefully!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Our Featured Monthly Handbag in the Spotlight is back this week, and this month you win the bag of YOUR choice! (Although I have a strong feeling you are going to love the one I choose to feature so much you may want to pick that one!)

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Gratitude Journal Reco:

For those of you who are interested in keeping a gratitude journal this year, here is my recommendation and where to purchase it:

Make this Your Best Day ever, Bless and Be Blessed!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post, all opinions are 100% my own. Journal Recommendation uses an Amazon Affiliate Link. Questions about our Disclosure? Please visit: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html

A quick way to make a difference for multi-cultural children with #Autism

The one thing many people are very surprised to find out about me is that I was a Special Education Teacher. I taught a class with students that had a very wide variety of Special Needs. Childhood Education issues and the needs of Special Ed students is something I still keep track on the pulse of despite the fact that I no longer teach.

It was an amazing learning experience for me. I learned to sign because I had students that were deaf, I taught a class that was multi-cultural and my lesson plans were conducted in both English as well as Spanish. I could reach most of my students, but sadly not all. I had one Autistic student. A student who was a challenge to reach. And the fact the student's parents both told me their child really loved my class, made me want to try harder to reach him.

I didn't have the tech resources available to me then as I do now.

I recently participated in a contest, a very important one, AT&T put out a call for entries for an 'Autism Speaks App Idea Contest' and on a whim I entered. Well I forgot all about that whim until I got an email telling me my entry made the final round, and is up for voting. It brought tears to my eyes, while I was happy I am in the running for winning, I thought about that one student I could never fully reach.

The winning App will be featured at an upcoming AT&T Hackathon, the voting ends SOON on February 17th, so if you could take one second to vote for my App idea I would greatly appreciate it. Resources to reach Autistic children are crucial, and there isn't a ton out there for bi-lingual children either, this App would be a great resource and a great learning tool for children with Autism, their families and their teachers!

VOTING INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Press here, you will go to another window

2) You will land on the Autism Speaks Facebook Page, like them if you are not doing so already

3) Press blue tab that reads 'view entries'

4) copy and paste this into search box: Bi-lingual Autism Feelings App then when the entry loads on the page

5) on the right press the blue button that reads VOTE!

THANK YOU!, THANK YOU!, THANK YOU!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post, no monetary compensation has been received in exchange for sharing about this contest. I do not get any extra credit for sharing about it either, but if I win, I will win a non-cash prize.