Thursday, December 8, 2011

The Eco Flock Green Directory: Green Resources for Green Living

The Eco Flock Green Directory: Green Resources for Green Living

The Eco Flock Green Directory: Green Resources for Green Living

The Eco Flock Green Directory: Green Resources for Green Living

The Eco Flock Green Directory offers a FREE listing for Green Companies in our Green Business Listings pages. You get your business name linked to your website, with a brief description of your company. These are done in alphabetical order.

You can also become a sponsor of eco-Flock and gain added exposure in the Categories Pages, Featured Items Page, Top Listings in the Green Business Listings, promotions through social media and any other promotions, possibility of being The Featured Green Product of the Week.

Be sure to utilize the Share Buttons located on all pages to share your listings and The Eco Flock Green Directory with all of your social media followers and your customer base. Help to make The Eco Flock Green Directory the largest Green Directory on the internet! This is our goal - Come along for the ride with eco-Flock.com.

Claudia Roberts
Owner / Founder of eco-flock.com
info@eco-flock.com

Monday, October 31, 2011

My Very True Halloween Horror Story - This is meant to inspire & help those who have been there

As much as I would like to say that the story you are about to read is untrue and made up, that is just not the case.  The events you are about to read are very true, very real and are meant to be an inspiration or a sympathetic circumstance for others who have been there before me.  If you know someone who has been there, please pass this along and share it with them.

It was Halloween evening, 2 years ago today, that I was just about to get my little step daughter ready to go trick or treating....  Well, let's step back in time a bit before that. Everything leading up to this day, will help put everything into perspective.

My husband, Troy and I were college sweethearts.  We got married when I was 19 and he was 20.  We were young and stupid, and needless to say we were married only 11 months when we divorced.  I myself, being 38 now writing you this story, never got over him and never got married again until I was 30, never having children of my own.  Figuring out I wanted children, how important it was to me, and that I shouldn't have negotiated that part of my life, my new husband not wanting children, we chose to split ways on good terms so that I might someday have a chance to be a mother.  Not knowing, then, what events would soon transpire.

My first husband, Troy happened to be moving back to town and we happen to both be single...  It took him from July to January to talk me into going out with him.  I knew if I did, I would be mush all over again and... I was! We got remarried 4 years ago in 2007. (Please keep in mind we are both now 38 and 39)

Troy came back with the two most adorable little girls.  Both with the prettiest read hair you have ever seen.  Immediately, I felt so loved and like life was finally putting itself back to where it belonged.  Of course, we both knew we wanted a child together.  As much as we tried, for over 2 years, it just wasn't happening.  Everyone around me... my best friend, my stepdaughters mom, my sister-in-law... all were pregnant at the same time.  They all delivered, literally back to back... Sept, Oct & Nov.  Ugh... this was killing me!  Babies everywhere!  Why wasn't it happening for us? Finally, we just gave up trying.

We soon moved into a home that hadn't been lived in a couple of years out in the country.  It needed alot of work... in fact, I remember I was working on the plumbing, just having dug a huge hole outside to get to the piping the same day I found out.  That evening, my husband was taking a nap on the couch, both of us exhausted from working on the plumbing all day, when I ran down screaming in disbelief.  I remember him thinking I had completely lost my mind.  Yep, it was true!  Who could believe it?  I was pregnant!!!!.... 6 tests later... yep, still pregnant!

My whole world was just perfect, plumbing and all... at that very moment!  I had Troy, 2 beautiful girls, and 1 more on the way!... yep, perfect!

Then spring came of 2009. The weather went crazy!  Storm, after storm, after storm.  We went out to eat and then on to the movies.  On the way to the movies, the sky turned solid green.  Stuck in the parking lot in the car with the sky bright green, is not the place we wanted to be. So, needless to say, pregnant and all, we made a run for it to inside the movie theatre.  We were so drenched, soaking wet down to our underwear.  We then waited for the storm to pass, went to the store, bought dry clothes and went on and watched the movie.  By the time the movie was over, the storm had passed over our house in the country.  The storm had just simply dumped out way to much rain for black land and living at the bottom a small hill. When we got home, exhausted from the turn of events, we opened the front door... huhhh, water started rushing out!  There was an 8 to 12 inch river running through the whole bottom floor of the house.  UGH!  Needless to say, at that point, moving to a different home and salvaging what we could was our only option, with me being pregnant.

May of 2009, we moved into a newer home, closer to my husbands work.  I was so excited... it was time to do the babies room!  Which, by the way, we had found out the first of June, was a little boy!  My family was so excited, as my parents had 8 grand-daughters and no grandsons.  We couldn't wait to do a room that was blue & brown with planes, trucks, helicopters and all kinds of little boys stuff!  I remember, setting for hours making this huge airplane that hung on the wall, that matched Cameron's comforter perfect, and had a banner flying behind it with wooden letters, that spelled out "Cameron".  It was so cute.

With me being older, 36 at the time, my doctor kept pretty close tabs on me and Cameron.  It was getting closer and closer... I couldn't wait.  My doctor was pretty sure that she was going to induce labor either the 6th or the 13th of November.  Tuesday 27th we had an ultrasound and everything was perfect.  Wednesday we had a checkup to go over ultrasound, and still everything, heartbeat, bio-physicals... all perfect!

Now... It was Halloween evening, 2 years ago today, that I was just about to get my little step daughter ready to go trick or treating. I remember, sitting on the bed and crying when my husband walked in.  I hadn't felt Cameron kick all day.  Without hesitating, Troy got us all in the car and headed an hour away to the hospital to get checked out.  I remember looking up in the sky and seeing the full moon.  Thinking to myself, maybe, just maybe the lil' guy was just resting and tons of babies are born on full moons.  The thought started getting me excited, that maybe I would just come home with my lil' guy.

Once making it to the hospital, we soon found that was not the case at all.  My lil' guy had tried to turn to be born on his own and had gotten wrapped in his umbilical chord.  We were just to late.

The rest of the night, all I could think about was going through induced labor the next day, and I would never get to hear my son cry or see his beautiful eyes.  I remember thinking, "This just can't be real.  I'll wake up and this will all just be a dream." But... it was very real.  The next week was just awful.  Instead of bringing my son home on the 6th from induced labor, I was having his funeral.  However, I was very grateful that I got the chance to meet him, hold him, play with his little fingers and toes and see how very beautiful he was.  It was the most bitter / sweet moment of my life.

My step daughters birthday is on the 5th... I couldn't even hardly focus. So, I tried to be so strong.  That Saturday the 7th, just the day after Cameron's funeral, I gave a small birthday party for my step-daughter, her mom (Troy's ex-wife, who's birthday is on the 3rd, and my grandmother (who's birthday is on the 4th).  I remember forcing a smile all day long.  I didn't want my step daughter growing up associating her birthday with Cameron's funeral.

The following days were mind boggling. Or, so I thought!  I just couldn't make myself wrap my mind around all of it.  My doctor stressed that now we had gotten pregnant, we knew now that I could.  That it would be hard to decide, but now was the perfect time to get pregnant, if it was something we still really wanted.  In our heads, we thought, well maybe we might in like 6 months or so.  Nope...again, not the case! We had Cameron Nov. 1st and got pregnant the week after Christmas.  My poor husband.  The poor guy was dealing with me going through grief and new pregnancy hormones all at the same time.  He was a rock! But, I wasn't... the next 9 months, I was a crazy nervous momma! (Of course being pregnant back to back, I was a tired nervous momma.)

Come Sept 3rd, 2010, we gave birth  to a beautiful little girl, who is now about to be 14 months old.  She is the happiest baby all the time.  She just smiles and giggles, making me smile everyday.  Now having a child here of my own, I refused to let a daycare raise her, while I worked.  But, as many of you know, it takes 2 incomes.  But, what could I do from my home office?  I wanted to do something that would help make a difference in the world.  But, what could that be?  I knew I wanted to use what I went to college for, which was art/graphic design.  But, how could I use that to make a difference?  Then, I knew.  Without a doubt!  I wanted my children to have a chance to grown up in a much cleaner and environmentally sound world.

So, therefore, out of tragedy... came life.  Out of life... came a way to sustain that life.  Out of sustainability... came eco-flock.com.

Maybe it's not a huge change in the world... but it helps!  I can do my part for my world and my kiddos.  I can help make a difference, be a great mother, and help my husband to provide for my family.

If you have been where I have been, my first thing to say to you, is how sorry I am for your loss. Although, I know first hand, that nothing anyone says to you will make a difference, for it just doesn't bring your child back to you.  My second thing to say to you, is find your strength inside.  Find a way to turn your tragedy, your anger inside, your not understanding, you not being able to change the outcome... turn all of that into positive energy and find something that not only makes you happy and that you enjoy, but that helps others in some way.  It is hard to find that strength inside you... but I promise you it is there.  You always have to remember, there are those around you who do love you, and who do worry about you... and if you already have a family, they need you!  You have to find the strength.  Hunt for it, don't give up on it...find it!

This has helped me everyday:  I suggest reading it everyday if you need to:

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.


Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

The other poem that seems to help in the days that I just really need to feel like I am communicating with my lil' guy & helps put me at ease, is:

In Memory of My Son
Cameron Mitchell Roberts
Born Unto Earth & Entered Into Heaven
November 1st, 2009

Tiny Angel rest your wings and sit with me for awhile.
How I long to hold your hand and see your tender smile.
Tiny Angel, look at me, I want this image clear...
That I will forget your precious face is my biggest fear.
Tiny Angel can you tell me, why you have gone away?
You weren't here for very long..., Why is it, you couldn't stay?
Tiny Angel shook his head, "These things I do not know...
I do know that you love me, and that I Love You so."
 God, Bless my "Tiny Angel"
We will Love You Always Cameron,
Dad, Mom & Your Sisters

Well, I hope this helps those out there to know there are others who can sympathize.  I hope something I've said here will help to give your heart & your mind rest.  We may never understand, but we have to keep on going for those who we still have here on earth, who love us & who need us!

Thank you for reading and may everyone have a Happy Halloween!

Sincerely,
Claudia Roberts

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

An Eco-Friendly Community, Building Greener Lifestyles Together

eco-Flock.com was designed to educate the green community, by providing green resources for green living. Find green resources from blogs, organizations, groups, jobs, the latest daily news, green holiday guide & of course easily accessible green products!  Going Green couldn't be easier than with eco-flock.com.
 
eco-Flock.com offers sponsored listings to green websites worldwide within 25 eco-categories. Any eco-Flock approved green website can list with eco-flock in up to 10 categories (given that each category is relevant and applicable to that product).  With even 1 category sponsored listing, eco-flock offers FREE listings within their Eco Friendly Business Listings & the sponsored listing will also have 1 product featured in the Featured Items Page. eco-Flock also has a Featured Eco Friendly Product of the Week that is Featured Weekly on the home page.  eco-Flock promotes their sponsored listings via twitter, facebook and linkedin.

eco-Flock.com also offers currently: 3 online newspapers and 1 Green Holiday Guide.

The eco-Flock Green News Daily (Morning & evening edition) http://paper.li/ecoFlock/1319554826
The eco-Flock Green News Daily (Daily edition)  http://paper.li/ecoFlock/1319554946
The eco-Flock Green News Weekly (Weekly edition)  http://paper.li/ecoFlock/1319555010
The eco-Flock Green Holiday Guide  http://paper.li/ecoFlock/1319748430

In keeping with an eco-friendly community, eco-flock.com is powered by www.canvasdreams.com . A wind powered turbine server company with a 99.999% uptime.

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If you are leading a greener lifestyle or looking to go green, eco-flock.com is the answer for your greener lifestyle needs.

eco-Flock offers ONLY green / eco-friendly products