Happy Friday, RISERS! I hope this week has been good to you and that you\u2019ll have lots of fun this weekend. Fall arrived on Wednesday, and it\u2019s been nice to ease into the cooler weather. We have had the windows open in our house, and it\u2019s felt great. I was also blessed this week to celebrate being married 31 wonderful years to my awesome husband.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I could really use your positive energy about a super-secret something, so please send me happy thoughts in the comments box. If it comes to fruition, I\u2019ll be sure to let you know what the hubbub is all about.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quote of the week<\/strong>: \u201cAutumn \u2026 carries more gold in its hand than all the other seasons.\u201d \u2013Jim Bishop<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Song of the week<\/strong>: In the \u201980s, it was Debbie (Gibson) versus Tiffany. The \u201990s gave us Britney versus Christina as well as NSYNC battling against the Backstreet Boys. I was always pro Debbie, Britney, and the Backstreet Boys\u2026but I digress. The song I want to bring to your attention this week is called \u201cShow \u2019Em (What You\u2019re Made Of)\u201d by the Backstreet Boys. I came across it while mindlessly scrolling on Facebook late at night. The words were powerful to me, as they spoke of not giving up when you fall or when you feel overwhelmed by certain circumstances. Pull the gloves off, fight your way to whatever you are trying to accomplish, and show them the lion in you. The teen years are among the most challenging in life, because you feel pressed from all sides to know \u201cright now\u201d who you are and what you want to become. When I was age 17 and 18, I floundered about what career I wanted to pursue when I grew up. But amazingly, I worked in the same general field with every job I ever had. It is okay to not know what you want to do for a career. Just don\u2019t let your present circumstances keep you from exploring EVERY opportunity you can so that you get to the right place. Show them what you\u2019re made of!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joke of the week<\/strong>: What has 13 hearts but no other organs? A deck of cards<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nugget of Wisdom for the week<\/strong>: This is the time of year when high school students who are about to graduate scramble to fill out scholarship applications to get into college. Our daughter is a senior, and she has been filling out loads of forms for potential financial assistance. While attending a four-year college is a tremendous thing, it isn\u2019t for everyone, and that is OKAY. Don\u2019t worry if you know that you are not designed to get a bachelor\u2019s degree. Many highly skilled jobs can be earned through two-year trade programs. Talk with your guidance counselors to see where you fall in the occupational field, and work toward a plan that is right for you. I started out getting a one-year technical diploma to be a medical assistant. It helped me work full-time after my husband got out of the Army, so that he could go to college and get a discount on tuition. Listen to yourself and your counselors, and you will be where you are meant to be. Good luck. You\u2019ve got this!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have a great week. Remember, you are most awesome and YOU ROCK!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marion Rhines is a foster-turned-adoptive parent. She lives in Knoxville, Tenn., with her husband and five children. She has written and published two children\u2019s books as well as two foster-care-themed novels. She has a Facebook blog, Tips from the FLIP Side, and enjoys working with children of all ages.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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