Good Morning!  I want to thank everyone who not only shared your "connected" comments but also to everyone who is taking the time and reading these blogs.  I look forward to everyone's comments and appreciate your kind words.  I want every one to remember that my one and only intent with these blogs is to SHARE all of our views.  I know I sound like a broken record sometimes.....but here it goes again.  We can make someone's crappy day turn into a okay or even great day if we share our insights and let people know that we all have those days.......I want to find out if each of you will be okay when I get a great feedback from one of your comments to share these.....They may create a huge shift in someone's life which can help them enjoy their journey more so.  I will ask permission from you before I share......Have a great weekend and Peace!  Also, I hope you all enjoy the following "connected" moments....Please share them with whomever you feel is having a "moment".  Love you!

1      1st  Post     Hey Sandi... I really enjoy your blogs, first of all. Your how I stay connected has stuck with me and I am glad you put out a reminder. I have two things... I often pray, especially for patience and wisdom to do well. The thing that I really do when I am just having one of those everything sucks kind of days is take a good hard look at all of the things I have to be thankful for. I know how lucky I am to have a home, food, a good husband, healthy and smart kids, a job, etc

2)        2nd Post    How I stay connected.  This was a definite soul searcher!!!! When I get myself in frenzy or just feel it coming on I definitely tell myself to SLOW DOWN... I reach for my prayer book and take the time to read them... I now try to look at the problem and say does it really matter or am I overlooking it.... I also have a close friend of mine that has gone thru some terrible,  yet miraculous recovery of lung cancer... she has shown me that some things really are not that big of a deal!!!! I do feel some peace with the new me. I  want to share a saying a dear friend sent to me... only to CONFIRM that what I'm doing is what I need to be doing...It’s my CHOICE!!! An old man once said. There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the Drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you Laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good.  So love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don’t.  Life is too short to be anything but Happy!!! Falling down is a part of Life, getting back up is Living!!! Ta ta for now... And keep up the great work!!!!

3)         3rd Post   The more positive influence that we can share with each other, whether it be online or in public, the better we all are. One of my favorite ways to feel connected is taking the time to look someone in the eye and ask them how their day is going and then listen to their answer. Another favorite is when I see an older person in public and look them in the eye and just say "hi". The smile and sparkle in their eye is such a great reward for just taking a few seconds to be kind.

4)     4th Post        Sandi, I'm not 100% sure if this is what you want, but ... I try to comment on face book always to bring a smile or to help someone make good decisions in life, I may fail sometimes but, only because written comments have no tone, times are hard for a lot of people we all need to know that where there for each other even if we can only afford to share a smile, to as many as you can each day, reach out, make that effort !!!

5)         5th Post    There are two ways I try to maintain my connection. One is through simple moments of purposeful mindfulness throughout the day. Moments when I step back and become totally present. Some periods of time, these moments are more frequent than others and I am always trying to practice making it more of a habit.
The second way is a routine that is a habit- about 5 evenings a week, before I put the kids to bed, I close the bathroom door and reflect for anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the night. With my favorite peter, Paul and Mary cd covering the noise of the house, and scented candles, I do a combination of the following: meditation, journal writing, and yoga. My reflections surround the issue of what spirituality is to me, what my truths are, purpose and life and other related things. My journal writing includes both an entry of "10 things I am grateful for," (which has a much more powerful impact than I anticipated), and longer entries about the topics above. I try to not write in the first person as a rule in order to keep my focus on matters of spirituality and not on the ego-rational, material world that makes up distracting chatter and - often- chaos, and sometimes takes my focus off track.
Got to run put the kids to bed.
I am proud of you. Your posts are wonderful.
I wish we lived closer and wish the years did not keep marching on so quickly, leaving college years further and further behind!

Beliefs and How they are Ever Changing......

I am sitting outside with Mike on St. Patty’s Day eating dinner.  Our kids surprised us by setting up our little table for two overlooking our pond.  My son really wanted us to have a “special” night together.  The menu consisted of green chocolate chip cookies, cut up red peppers, strawberries, grapes, stew and of course our beer, nothing less than perfect.  At this moment I was not only filled with so much love for my family but I was also anticipating sitting alone with Mike and having one of our healthy debate sessions.  I have always welcomed these since our college days.  We sit, have a few drinks and completely unleash our beliefs, raise our voices, sometimes get fiery, other times laugh our asses off and finally agree to disagree while walking away still loving each other.

So, what is the topic for this blog?  I promise it is not mushy gushy love for my hubby or that yummy thoughtful dinner.  It is our belief systems and how we hold on so tight to them and then down the road they seem to change.  Now before I begin I wanted to look up the definition of beliefs and this is what I got:  Beliefs are assumed needs that we create in order to help understand the world.  There, with that said I have to admit and come clean that my beliefs have changed numerous times over the past 30 years or so.  I have been so passionate about certain beliefs and have gone on to defend them.  Mike and I debate this as well.  For some strange reason, his have not faltered very much.  Beliefs are fascinating to me as well as cause madness in my life.  I am going to discuss two topics where my beliefs have done a complete turnaround.  The first short quick topic, money and the longer more drawn out topic, religion.  I hope I do not offend anyone and please take my beliefs as mine and not yours.   Remember we all are here together but still have separate journeys, so please keep an open mind.  Remember it is your choice to read this or not and it is your choice to react or not.  With that said, let’s get to it. 

As young children, we seem to only believe what are parents believe in.  Don’t you agree?  My kids have plenty of friends and when I hear their thoughts and views on religion or politics it is exactly what their mom and dad’s views are as well.  This is a very natural behavior and that is pretty much all we know since we are surrounded by our parents during mealtimes, car rides and more.  We hear our parents yell at the TV or disagree with some talk show on the radio.  My parent’s views permeated thru my cells up until my teenage years. 

Growing up my parents and I would go out frequently for car rides in Montana where I grew up.  We would go through all neighborhoods to house look and what not.  When we approached the neighborhoods with the nicer and larger homes my parents seemed fascinated and in awe.  As a child I always imagined us living in that beautiful dream home and my dad having a huge garden and my mom just cleaning and decorating(yes, I told you she loves to clean).  As I was in my dreamy land and driving I could hear the ooo’s and awww’s from the front seat.  Always, like clockwork when we would drive away from these neighborhoods, my dad would have this envious and yucky tone to his voice and say, “Must be nice”.  His tone and saying was engrained in me so I as well received the same attitude as him about money and people who had more money.  I had a crappy attitude and thought money was evil.  Do I blame him for this negative attitude about money and how it affected my beliefs? Not for a second.  Do I feel bad that he always had these thoughts and thought money was the root of all evil?  I feel very bad and I can understand why he had that attitude with growing up in an orphanage.  Now let me take my dad off the hook for a second and say that my mother’s attitude was not any better.  Even a couple of years ago we were sitting in a waiting room together and I was reading some happy articles and was telling her that I knew in my heart that prosperity and abundance were right around the corner for me.  She shook her head and gave that guilty tone, and said “you should never wish for money, it just was not right.”  I was going to try and start a debate but decided to bite my tongue and not go on.  She was too far into her belief system and nothing would change her attitude.  I think we need to see the good in all people and realize just because someone has more wealth than us doesn’t make them evil, mean or stingy.  A lot of wealthy people as well as not so wealthy people do so much good for our communities and foundations.  Let’s put down the “evil” thoughts and take care of our own journeys.   Let’s not judge and become envious of them but instead be happy for them.  Remember also, you don’t have to have a lot of money to help a cause.

So what is your belief system about money?  Do you think that too much causes havoc and evil?  I came across a great quote from Dr. Robert Anthony.  “If you don’t change your beliefs, your life will be like this forever.  Is that good news?”  Makes you think, doesn’t it?  I believe if we are financially struggling it cannot hurt to simply change the way we view money and circumstances.  Once again, find your passion and the rest will come.  Abundance and prosperity will follow closely behind.  I do hold this belief in my heart and do not foresee that one ever changing.

Alright, let me put on my helmet and battle gear for my next topic, religion.  Let’s keep an open mind and remember we all have our own theories and thoughts on this subject.  This is Mike and I’s number one debate.  Since we have met we have looked at things slightly different, but we still respect each other’s views.

Growing up I was taught to believe in a God that would forgive us for our sins and grant us eternal peace.  I feel I was also taught to love this God as well as fear him.  Honestly as a child, the way my imagination grasped God was as “Pie in the Sky”.  I believed from my early Catholic years in hell and heaven.  I literally pictured this man with a long white gown and a flowing beard standing on a cloud with a line of eternal souls getting ready for their “judgment” moment.  This God would either let you into the Pearly White Gates or press a button in which the bottom of the cloud would open up and you went screaming down to this fiery pit into the ground.  Wouldn’t that scare the shit out of any kid?  My mom and dad got me as far as my first communion and then decided to let me go to different churches and see if I connected with any of them.  I frequented Lutheran, Mormon and Baptist churches and still felt petrified of the whole hell theory as with the Catholic Church.

I did decide at the age of 21 to confirm to Catholicism.  Why?  Well, Mike and I were dating, in love (sorry I promised I would not bring that mushy stuff up), and knew we would get married after I graduated from college.  So I needed to confirm to be married in a Catholic Church.  Did I do this for me?  Lol, not even a little.  Did I do this for Mike?  That is even funnier since he does not believe in ANY pie in the sky.  So who did I do this for?  Yup, you guessed it, our parents.  The kicker is we decided to not get married in a church (thank God)!    Our parents were not pleased at all and what pissed them off more was when we decided to have kids and not baptize them.  WOW!  I have never seen such anger in someone’s life.  This is a very good lesson here.  Make sure you do things for you, and only you.  Not your spouse, your parents or even your kids. I know it sounds harsh, but if we took the focus off of others and focused on only ourselves we would see way more people feel less guilty and happier with their journey!

Sorry, I got off track there for a moment.  Anyway when I saw how displeased our parents were, I knew right then and there I was done with any type of religion.  I could not and still cannot understand what type of God would not allow one of our babies (if they died) into his “kingdom”.  This is why our parents were upset and I was so taken back at how a religion could make people react like that.

So, what do I believe in now?  I am still not sure if belief is the correct term.  What I do know is that peace, love, and happiness make my heart smile.  I also know that practicing compassion, kindness and gratitude fills me with everything I need at that moment.  All of this has released drama and negativity and has provided more love and joy in my life.

When I do “pray” each night I talk with myself or my God, which I feel is my subconscious.  I think we all have this presence inside of us.  I feel that I decide or create my own path through my attitude, vibration and my ability to live in the present.  That is my “belief” in a nutshell.  I express nothing but gratitude each night before I close my eyes and each morning after I open them.  When I am done with this practice, I literally can feel my insides smile.  Please try this sometime and see how it makes you feel.

So as I mentioned earlier, this is my favorite topic to debate with Mike.  He does not nor ever has believed in any type God.   Does this make him a bad person?  Are you kidding me?  He avoids killing any animal on the road, does nothing but gives and has the biggest heart!  I find him fascinating and his thoughts or beliefs make me think deeply sometimes.  The only thing we agree on in this debate is we are all made out of energy and that is it.

I still look back at what my beliefs used to be.  I was the one who believed in the “pie in the sky” God for many, many years.  It is empowering and freeing to know that I am the one who decides how I will react or I what my day will be like.  Even if starts out as a crappy day I can change it with my thoughts.  That is nothing but POWERFUL!  Let me wind down a bit with this quote from Fred D. Van Ambugh that I found very comforting and helped me understand that it is very normal for all of us to go through many belief systems and always have them change.  “Things that I felt absolutely sure of but a few years ago, I do not believe now.  This thought makes me see more clearly how foolish it would be to expect all men to agree with me.”

To conclude with my religion topic, I found another beautiful quote by Dr. Wayne Dyer that I would like to share.  “Heaven on earth is a choice you must make, not a place we must find”.  Once again this talks about our attitudes and how amazing it is to always have a great attitude!  This can set you free of any BLAH feelings.  Stop searching for happiness!   Stop, breathe, and listen to your own source.  Change your thoughts and try that gratitude practice I do each day.  By doing these things you will find heaven right here in front of you!  Demonstrate compassion and kindness!  I guarantee your heaven will feel like you imagined it when you were a child, peaceful, blissful and filled with love.  Even debating with Mike that night, no matter how heated it got, I still felt heaven all around me.  Peace

REMINDER!!

Looking forward to posting all of your "connected" comments!  Thank you so much for taking the time to share with me and the rest of the world!  If you did not post your comments and still want to share, please do so and I cannot wait to read them! Peace!



p.s.  I am working on another blog and will have it posted by tomorrow evening.........this may cause some controversy and heavy debates......Healthy debates of course!  Thanks for all of your patience with my blogs coming a bit more slowly than I'd like.  I have been subbing, training, and just coming over a nice cold!  I want to thank you also for approaching me or emailing me and letting me know how much you are enjoying these blogs!  You have no idea how wonderful your comments make my day!

Some Mom's Clean & Clean,...Other Mom's Clean, have ADD & Finish their First Cleaning Chore 6 hours Later

So, own up……how many of us fall into that category?  ME!  I have no problem owning up to that one.  All my life I have had this gift (let me call it what I choose).  Most of us get upset or maybe discouraged with these 3 simple letters….ADD.  Honestly, I was not even aware of it until my 30’s.  Now thinking back things are making more sense to me of why things happened the way they did and why I felt certain ways with certain subjects.  Once I was self diagnosed a huge relief came over me of why I am the way I am.

Things like when I had children and they were small, some of my friends also had children and were getting so much shit done.  In the meantime, I felt like there were never enough hours in the day to just do the basics.  My brain would actually hurt if I had too many things on my to do list.  It literally felt like my head was spinning out of control.  Now back to my little ones who are my world.  Do I ever look back and regret not getting “housework” done?  No way!  I pretty much was that mom who held her kids every moment I got.  When they would cry, be fussy or even taking naps.  I remember just sitting there on the weekends with Avery in my arms for 2 hours while she slept.  I would choose that moment any day over yucky dishes & piled up laundry that hurt my brain.  I forget the wise guru who said this to me a long time ago, “Dishes and laundry will always be there”.  Brilliant!  So why try and keep up with them when you know you will never defeat them?  The moments that mattered to me were watching my kiddos do little quirky things and hugging, hugging and more hugging!

My ADD can sometimes be a challenge when it comes to writing or meditating.  For instance, I have been working on a book for 3 years now.  I start, stop and repeat.  A couple of times I considered going to my nurse practitioner and inquiring about meds.  I figured I would be able to focus on my writings more and be more productive.  Some voice inside me, however keeps saying, “No, do not take anything to mess with your brain”.  So I figured if God or some other being wanted me to focus more he wouldn’t have given me the lack of focus and be accepting of it, right?

My ADD can sometimes be my friend.  It gives me a chance to know and do a little with a lot of things.  Does that make sense?  I am great at multi tasking.  The jobs get organized, however may not be complete right away.  It’s all good, and when things needed to be completed they will.  Maybe it is not me.  Maybe it is the fact everyone is always in a rush & does not know when to just chill.  My ADD for some reason loves to sit and be when I am outside.  It takes in the sun, clouds, wind and all the creatures around me and embraces it all.

When I have a “bonkers” moment with my ADD, I stop and stay still.  I go within myself and say give me strength and guidance please to where or whatever it is I need to do next.  To this day, it has not failed me.  I have come to the conclusion that my son, Rocco has inherited this “gift” as well.  I am guiding him and helping him right now find the strengths more so than the weaknesses with this 3 letter disorder that has so many people in a frenzy.  I want my children to know how I become peaceful, where I ask and seek guidance from and simply want them to know that I am absolutely not stripping sheets and scrubbing tubs!

I will admit I did come from the environment where both my parents loved to clean.  They actually enjoy it!  God bless them and the others out there!  I envy your discipline.  I remember as a kid, Saturday being “chore” day. YUCK!  My mom never expected many chores from me.  She only asked for me to clean my room, put my clothes away and sometimes clean our 1 bathroom.  I still complained.  She would even fold my clothes for me and put them in neat piles on my bed.  She is a saint.  Well needless to say, those piles would wind up on the floor & the piles would grow.

My parents labeled me as lazy.  So I guess being lazy was my teenage code.  Looking back I do not feel that was a correct diagnosis’.  I believe my brain had a difficult time focusing on one mundane chore.  Getting overwhelmed for me @ a young age and sometimes now is a struggle.  As a child I remember my schoolwork (especially math) made my head spin and I would break down and cry.  I could not comprehend these numbers or the solutions.  My parents should have seen the red flag when my second grade teacher, Mrs. Minter labeled me as a “daydreamer”.  That I still am.

I believe for those of you who have ADD, embrace it!  Even with ADD I am and strive to be balanced.  When my scales (I am a Libra) get a bit out of whack, I am a nut.  I want you all to know that is possible to live with ADD, be at peace, and love your crazy inability to focus.  This gift can take you places and even put things into perspective.  I know what is important in my life and what can be placed on the back burner (yup, the one I am not cleaning today).  It is different for all of us, just make sure to love every piece of you…..don’t try and figure out all of our mysteries.  Just be.

The Damn Internet, and how it gets me every time......

Okay!  My kids are off to school; I am not subbing or needing to be anywhere.  I have things planned and would like to accomplish some things at home.  I eat some breakfast, think of my “productive” day while I am sitting down @ my turned OFF laptop.  A small voice inside my head says, “Don’t do it Sandi, no do not check your emails, I’m warning you”!

One unproductive hour later, & I am still face booking, Googling, and forwarding those damn emails to 10 friends so I can win a huge amount of money.  Really?  Is this small green lap top supposed to dictate my time and make once again for a wasted day?  Please tell me I am not the only sucker in the universe that does not get distracted by their computers.

I really should have listened to that voice.  That is the same voice that I have probably ignored for many years.  Now I understand the word addiction and how the internet can saturate someone’s life.  Your brain is on complete overload with all of the games, news, Google, Face Book, Skyping and other interests you may have.  We need to stay in check when we feel ours and our kid’s brains are fried.

I really try to stop, turn off the lap top, and just either go outside or sit in my favorite chair & have the sun beat down on my face.  When I go outside, I literally surround myself with being in the now and just listen to nature.  I have my favorite pigeon doves that speak to me during the morning or I have my creek down a few houses that sends a tremendous amount of pure energy my way.  This literally revitalizes me!  How simple is that?  Just go outside and BE.  By doing these simple, yet profound steps my brain immediately turns off and my harmony turns on.  This is my connection, and this is how I go back to my source.  Being and feeling connected to the outdoors sends that “aha” moment my way. 

So despite the laptop sucking my brain dry, when nature and the laptop go head to head……Nature 100-Laptop-0……..Peace

PASSION & FINDING YOUR'S........

So let’s go on a little journey together.  Let’s imagine you are six, maybe seven years old.  All of your friends are over and you are playing an imaginary game where you can be anything or do anything.  Some of you may be a police officer, while others are pretending to be a teacher or Super Hero, saving people’s lives.  Whatever it is at that moment you are completely involved in your role.  You feel excited inside and go to bed that night dreaming you will be the best cop, teacher or hero.  Are you there?  Can you go back that far and remember how passionate or excited you were to conquer the world or be the next greatest teacher?

Alright, let’s fast forward about 30 years.  You are waking up and getting ready to begin your day.  You get the kids & yourself ready.  You are on your “merry” way to work.  You pull into the parking lot, turn off your car and just sit there silent, frozen and sick to your stomach.  You are not feeling that passion you were when you were 6 or 7 years old role playing.  You don’t want to go into the building, you want to cry or maybe just start the car up and drive home.  Have I caught anyone’s attention?  Did I stir something up that may be happening to you each day?  If you are not feeling this “yucky” feeling, have you felt it before at a different job?  Did you decide enough was enough and you did not want that feeling anymore so you found your passion all over again? 

When this pit arrives in your stomach this usually is a tell tale sign you are not satisfied or happy with your current job or situation in life.  I know, I know, you already know that.  So what’s stopping you from finding and creating your passion?  Is it fear?  Could it be that famous “responsible” word?  Or maybe it could be due to feeling guilty and or loyal?  If I had to take a guess or gander out there, I would say over 70% of people do not do what they love (could be higher).  I am a strong believer in, “love what you do and do what you love.”

I respect one’s decision, with the whole “responsibility” & I have to provide for my family.  However, with that said, I also believe in happiness and I feel that a lot of us are scared and a bit close minded in exploring the possibilities of making a successful, harmonious and abundant life with their passion!   Yes, it is scary!  The decisions you make for you and your families are critical, but what happened to your dreams?  Because of a family does that mean you put them on hold?  I do not believe in sacrificing.  Compromising is a better term, and with that said I believe if you want to live passionately again you can.  You just have to want it bad enough and stop making excuses of why it cannot happen.  Harsh, right?  I cannot apologize for my words that come from my heart.  Let’s take a look at people who are successful, passionate and have abundance.

Do you think Oprah loves what she does?  Look at her success!  It was not luck that got her where she is now, it was passion!  Passion to help others, passion to make a difference and passion to be inspirational!  If you look at her past & her struggles, passion and determination were her two best friends.

How about Bill Gates?  Do you think he hates computers and software?  My guess?  Probably not.  I am going to say this man was passionate about the computer industry and I think we can all agree he soared like an eagle.  Once again, not luck, just a complete, passionate and driven force permeated through his cells.  How about my hero, Gandhi?  Do you think peace and fairness were at the bottom of his list?  Mmm……not thinking so.  What was his driving force to bring peace into the Indian community?  Passion and fearlessness about what he believed in.  Everyone has a right of equality when they are born into this world and he just wanted the British to be aware of it also.

These are only a few examples and I am not saying we need to become the next Oprah, Bill or Gandhi. (Wouldn’t mind becoming Mahatma).  All I am saying is let go of your guilt of being or doing something you feel passion for.  Now take a minute and ask yourself these questions:

1)      What drives you? (not a vehicle, wise guy)

2)      What makes you smile?

3)      What makes you want to wake up in the morning and begin your day?

4)      What would you do for free?

5)      What could you do for hours, look @ the clock and say, “where did all the time go”?

6)      What makes you shine?

7)      What makes you feel filled and surrounded with love & happy energy?

8)      Do these feelings involve others?

9)      Is your passion making others happy?

10)   Is your happiness, purposeful or meaningful?

When I read all of these questions, my passion is really evident that I love to teach people how to stay healthy, happy and just feel great!  What I find fascinating is with my happy energy, this passion of mine is providing, harmony, success & abundance!  There was a time in my life where I never could imagine my abundance and harmony would come to me with something I simply enjoy doing.  Am I making millions? Not even close.  But that is not what matters.  I am doing something simple to make others feel wonderful and live longer lives.  Am I providing and helping financially with our household?  Yes, and I enjoy going to work every morning and my pit is no longer.  I read a great quote the other day out of book called “God Calling”.  It says to, “Choose simple always. Love and reverence the humble and the simple.  Have only simple things here.  Your standard must never be the world’s standard.”  Simple, yet so meaningful.  Simple and passion go hand in hand in my world now and I thank God each morning for the day that just passed and the day that is just beginning.  Try and remember to live your journey and not someone else’s passion.

Now let me come clean and say, “Am I fortunate to have a full time husband at work?”  You bet your ass I am.  I do not want anyone to think that my world is a cake walk and that I am not grateful.  If I were a single mom or if I were the “breadwinner”, would things be different?  Maybe, but  those who really know me, understand that I get physically and mentally ill if I am doing something I do not enjoy.  I have had plenty of jobs where it was me sitting in that parking lot not wanting to get out of the car.  Thinking back, I have not had a job that has ever lasted longer than 3 or 4 years.  Does this make me lazy or disloyal?  No, it only means that I am continuing to grow, continuing to change and I will not stay somewhere that I feel obligated, especially if I am miserable.  I feel we are not meant to be “stuck” and sadly many of us are.  We forget about our God given right of choice.  Our EGO or guilt comes into our souls with a vengeance.  We blame others for our hardships or the “crappy” life we have now.  So, get over it, become PASSIONATE and LIVE YOUR LIFE!

Here are some ideas or hobbies that may jump start your thinking of what your passion is.  I always am open for other ideas to add to this list.  Many of you have already found your passion and I am certain your comments, thoughts and ideas would be so beneficial to share.

*jewelry making

*visiting homes/helping elderly & sick

*scrapbooking/stamping/photography/video

*drawing

*landscaping/creating flower or vegetable gardens

*exercise/weight management/nutrition

*cleaning homes (please, I beg you come over and clean mine)

*massage/reikki

*teaching

*writing

*volunteering@ child’s school (could turn into subbing or teachers assistant)

*surfing the internet/creating websites

There are plenty more ideas out there!  Please post and share your thoughts.  Also, remember that we are only here in this human experience or this journey this time, until the next one.  Make this the best experience and BE PASSIONATE!