NEW YEARS EVE!

Before you flip your calendar

To start a New Year bright,

Reflect for just a moment on

The year that ends tonight.

Each joy and every heartache

Has been etched into your heart,

But in a few short hours you

May make a brand new start.

As you review the days and weeks

That simply seemed to fly,

Would you say fortune smiled on you

Or did she pass you by?

Since it's not wise to dwell upon

Those days that made you cry,

The thing to do is set your sights

And aim right at the sky.

Forget those tears and sorrow

As you bid the old, "Adieu,"

And welcome in the New Year,

It's dawning ... just for you!

Author Unknown

GOODMORNING !

The grand finale of another year ! For me it was a pretty good one, compared to some I’ve had. Of course I’ve had better ones too, haven’t we all. The beauty of age is that they all seem to blend together…and that’s probably a good thing.

I can only encourage you to be happy every day, to hug and love those close to you, to kiss any bad thoughts goodbye and keep only the good ones. Life is way to short to linger , for even a moment , on anything negative.

Some people may think I’m unrealistic, but I can tell you it’s a lot more fun to live this way. There was a old song that said something about ‘Let the sunshine in , Face it with a grin, Open up your heart and let the SUNSHINE IN.' That’s one for my internet search, I’ll have to find the rest of those words to share with you. Meanwhile, I’ll be here with a ***BIG SMILE*** each and everyday the good Lord gives me.

May Saturday evening, December 31st, find you together with your beloved family and cherished friends, ushering in the New Year. You will find the food better, the environment quieter, the cost much cheaper and the pleasure much more fulfilling than anything else you might ordinarily do that night

MA

   

 

  New Year Graphics by:  

 

   

www.graphicgarden.com  

IT'S F R I D A Y !

The reason I don’t make resolutions

on New Year’s Day

We don’t have to wait until the start of a new year

to start a new life. Instead I believe that everyday

can be a new beginning, a fresh opportunity

to start to live the way you always wanted to live.

Each new day is a glorious gift from God to enjoy,

to cherish, and to love. Each new day is the start of a

fantastic journey in growing, learning, and becoming.

Each new day is another chance to find joy,

to bring joy, and to share joy.

Each new day is one more time that we can

help each other, give to the world, find oneness with God,

and be the person that we always dreamed we could be.

GOOD MORNING !

It’s Friday ! This short work week will soon be over and hooray ! another long weekend in sight! I have Monday off too, as New Years Day is on Sunday. I don’t have to tell you all how I love weekends!

***BIG SMILE***

 The undecorating will begin in earnest tomorrow! It’ll be a quiet weekend with no big celebration for me. My party days are behind me. Sunday we celebrate with a pork roast and sauerkraut. Tradition says it brings good luck in the New Year.

I think DD and her hubby will be the only ones joining me for dinner as everyone else has other plans.

Enjoy your FRIDAY ! I certainly will !

MA

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched.

They must be felt with the heart.

 Helen Keller

 

Today's graphics by:

 

  www.cutecolors.com  

THANKFULLY THURSDAY!

I do not know the future,

But I know the God who knows,

And in his perfect wisdom,

Unknowing, I repose.

What good could come of knowing?

How little I could do

To meet the joys or sorrows

That I am coming to!

I do not know the future,

But I know the God who knows,

I make his love my study

And follow where he goes.

The path, its joys and sorrows,

I do not care to trace;

Content to know his goodness,

His mercy, and his grace

William Luff

 GOOD MORNING !

Well, I survived yesterday, so there is hope for today ! I’m sorry to disappoint you all, but I forgot the camera and didn’t get any pictures of my desk. It wasn’t bad, though. Even the mail was light, so I didn’t even have a huge pile of that to open and sort.

It was payroll day and everyone was glad I returned from vacation so they could all get paid this week! See, I’m good for something! Today, I pay the bills, another important job as far as the company goes. In a one-gal office you do everything! These are my two favorite days as far as work goes. I love writing all those checks and spending thousands of dollars! Thankfully it’s not my own money.

I have to tell you about one of the cutest Christmas gifts I got--It is a Christmas Clock. It plays a different Christmas Song each hour ! I enjoy it so much and I’ll hate to put it away ! It runs on batteries so I don’t have to remember to wind it – unlike my other two, which haven’t tick tocked since Christmas Day.

I owe , I owe, so it’s off to work I go!

Take good care all !

Remember to give everyone you meet a

***BIG SMILE*** today !

MA

Whatever the past year may have meant to you, make it dead history. But let the new year be a living issue. With a big fresh sponge, dripping with the clear water of forgiveness, wipe clean the slate of your heart.

Enter the year with a kind thought for every one. You need not kiss the hand that smote you, but grasp it in cordial good feeling, and let the electricity of your own resolves find it connecting current -- which very often exists where we think it not.

Make the new year a happy one in your home; be bright of disposition; carry your cares easy; let your heart be as sunshine, and your life will give warmth to all around you. And thus will you and yours be happy.

Ladies' Home Journal

 

cute snowmen by:

 

  www.graphicscupboard.com  

OVER THE HUMP DAY !

God Knows

When you are tired and

discouraged from fruitless effort,

God knows how hard you have tried.

When you've cried so long your heart is in anguish,

God has counted your tears.

If you feel that your life is on hold

and time has passed you by,

God is waiting for you.

When nothing makes sense and

you are confused or frustrated,

God has the answer.

If suddenly your outlook is brighter

and you find traces of hope,

God has whispered to you.

When things are going well and

you have much to be thankful for,

 God has blessed you.

When something joyful happens

and you are filled with awe,

God has smiled upon you.

Remember that wherever you are

or whatever you are feeling,

God Knows!

Author Unknown

Good Morning !

 I had to put the little poem up above in my post for today, as I go back to work and needed a little reminder. God knows how I hated to get up and ready for work this morning ! I am thankful for my job and it’s not a difficult one, it’s just that I love being able to do other things!

When I work all day, it seems that’s just about all I do do. This short work week will be a busy one and I fear what my desk top must look like. Maybe I should take my camera to work so you all can see what happened while I was off. The desk was clean and shiny when I left work last Thursday!

I’ll be trying real hard to keep the ***BIG SMILE*** on my face today

I hope you all are able to do the same!

MA

 Miracles are marvels

That defy all explanation

 And Christmas is a miracle,

Not just a celebration

Helen Steiner Rice

LAST DAY OF VACATION

 

Thank God for the little things

That fill our hearts with love,

For all of these reminders

Sent from Heaven up above...

For snowflakes that fall

To cover the ground,

For the fire we've made

And it's warm crackling sound.

For a cup of hot cocoa,

A spot of cider or tea,

Or perhaps maybe just

A simple mug of coffee.

I'm thankful for all

Of the different ways

To warm one's heart

On a cold winter's day.

For the comforts

Of our home so sweet,

A snuggly warm bed

And soul food to eat.

For the children all playing

Out in the bright snow,

And how their smiles

Set my heart aglow.

For the songs we sing

Of joy, peace and love;

For good tidings we pray

To our Father above.

Though it surely may be

Quite frigid outside,

We will always be warm

With the Lord as our guide.

For all the joy

His kindness brings;

I find my sprits lifted up,

For He truly gives my soul it's wings.

Oh, thank you Lord,

For all of winter's little blessings...

Author unknown

Good Morning !

I’ve had so many blessings this year that it’s difficult to count them all . Perhaps I should add my daily blessing to this journal so that I can look back and see what did happen.

From the little things like a phone call from my laughing ‘Sunshine Boys’ to the good news that once again my youngest son’s annual check up showed that he is cancer free, the blessings just keep on coming . None of my best blessings cost a lot of money, because none of them could be purchased.

This Christmas vacation of mine has really been a blessing. I got to talk to or visit with most of my family. I got some much needed rest and catch up on some things that needed done.

Today I’d best start on my ‘Thank You’ cards for all the wonderful gifts I’ve received!

 May the special moments of Christmas touch all of us,

***BIG SMILE***

MA

Fear less, hope more;

Whine less, breathe more;

Talk less, say more;

Hate less, love more;

And all good things are yours.

Swedish Proverb

 

  www.graphicgarden.com   provided the snowmen graphics today    

STILL ON VACATION!

There is a better thing than the observance of Christmas day, and that is, keeping Christmas.

Are you willing…

to forget what you have done for other people, and to remember what other people have done for you;

to ignore what the world owes you, and to think what you owe the world;

to put your rights in the background, and your duties in the middle distance, and your chances to do a little more than your duty in the foreground;

to see that men and women are just as real as you are, and try to look behind their faces to their hearts, hungry for joy;

to own up to the fact that probably the only good reason for your existence is not what you are going to get out of life, but what you are going to give to life;

to close your book of complaints against the management of the universe, and look around you for a place where you can sow a few seeds of happiness—

Are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas.

Are you willing to stoop down and consider the needs and desires of little children;

to remember the weakness and loneliness of people growing old;

to stop asking how much your friends love you, and ask yourself whether you love them enough;

to bear in mind the things that other people have to bear in their hearts;

to try to understand what those who live in the same home with you really want, without waiting for them to tell you;

to trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you;

to make a grave for your ugly thoughts, and a garden for your kindly feelings with the gate open—

Are you willing to do these things, even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas.

Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world— stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death— and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love?

Then you can keep Christmas.

 And if you can keep it for a day, why not always?

 But you can never keep it alone

Henry Van Dyke

GOOD MORNING !

I hope you took the time to read the poem above, it is beautiful. Each time I read it, I discover something else. I think I will keep Christmas always in my heart.

Still one more day of vacation after today ! I am so loving it ! My laundry is done, the house is decent and I am almost feeling human again. I did need this vacation and down time. Maybe it’s a sign of my age, but the daily pace was wearing me down.

I may start taking a few decorations down tomorrow , but not all of them. Epiphany, January 6th –is the celebration of the Three Kings – so I’ll leave the tree and the Nativity set up till then. It took me over 2 weeks to get it all up, so I’m sure it’ll take me that long to take it all down and put it away !

May God Bless you with Lots of Smiles and some ‘Sunshine’ to warm your heart!

***BIG SMILE***

MA

Christmas is more than a day at the end of the year,

More than a season of joy and good cheer,

Christmas is really God's pattern for living

To be followed all year by unselfish giving

Helen Steiner Rice

 

This morning's graphics by:

 

  www.graphicgarden.com  

It's Christmas Day !

The people living in darkness have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of the shadow of death

a light has dawned.

Matthew 4:6

 

That Speck Of Light

An artist once drew a picture of a winter twilight—the trees heavily laden with snow, and a dreary, dark house, lonely and desolate in the midst of the storm. It was a sad picture. Then, with a quick stroke of yellow crayon, he put a light in one window. The effect was magical.

The entire scene was transformed into a vision of comfort and cheer. The birth of Christ was just such a light in the dark world.

Sunday School Chronicle

Good Merry Christmas Morning !

Our holy day of celebration has come! I’m off to church and then home again to stay in and enjoy the peacefulness here. No getting ready for the work week preparation today !

I’ve still got 2 more days of vacation. Tomorrow DD and I may to do something together. She has off work too !

***BIG SMILE***

Let the glory of the season

light up your soul

MA

The gifts that we give have no purpose

Unless God is part of the giving,

And unless we make Christmas a pattern

To be followed in everyday living

Helen Steiner Rice

CHRISTMAS EVE

GOOD MORNING !

A little story for you today ...

 

An ordinary night with ordinary sheep and ordinary shepherds. And were it not for a God who loves to hook an "extra" on the front of the ordinary, the night would have gone unnoticed.

The sheep would have been forgotten, and the shepherds would have slept the night away. But God dances amidst the common. And that night he did a waltz. The black sky exploded with brightness. ...

Sheep that had been silent became a chorus of curiosity. One minute the shepherd was dead asleep, the next he was rubbing his eyes and staring into the face of an alien. The night was ordinary no more. The angel came in the night because that is when lights are best seen and that is when they are most needed.

God comes into the common for the same reason.

Max Lucado in The Applause of Heaven

 

Christmas Eve always seems like a magical time. The gathering of friends and family and the anticipation of gifts unopened.

I’ll be visiting my Mom and Dad sometime today. Otherwise, I’m going to stay in and keep warm. I love to read the Christmas Story in Luke 2 and just sit and look at the Christmas Tree Lights and maybe play some Christmas Music.

 

If I could have a Christmas wish.

Yes, if such things could be.

There are somethings that I'd wish for

that are just for you from me.

I know I'd wish when you wake up

the Christmas day to start

You'd find yourself a-smiling

from a peace within your heart.

And I would wish your mind at peace -

as you think about next year.

And freedom from all worries and

freedom from all fear.

And I would wish you joyfulness and

strength to reach your goal

And deep, abiding peacefulness,

And wellness in your soul.

I know I may not get my wish but if I could

- it's true -

A Deep, Abiding, Heart-felt Peace

Is my Christmas Wish for you!.

 

 

Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate it by giving the light of love to those who need it most.

 Ruth Carter Stapleton

   

Please accept my hearty good wishes

For a season of calm and cheer

May Christmas joy reign in your heart

And gladden the coming year!

 

***BIG SMILE ***

 

MA

 

  www.graphicgarden provided the graphics today  

FINALLY FRIDAY !

 

Candlelit Heart

A Christmas Poem by Mary E. Linton

Somewhere across the winter world tonight

You will be hearing chimes that fill the air;

Christmas extends its all-enfolding light

Across the distance...something we can share.

You will be singing, just the same as I,

These familiar songs we know so well,

And you will see these same stars in your sky

And wish upon that brightest one that fell.

I shall remember you and trim my tree,

One shining star upon the topmost bough;

I will hang wreaths of faith that all may see --

Tonight I glimpse beyond the hear and now.

And all the time that we must be apart

I keep a candle in my heart.

 

 

Good Morning !

I always keep a candle (electric one) burning in my living room window all year long. I read somewhere that it means welcome . I’d like to think that no matter when my family and friends come, all are welcome here. I have family scattered far away and I'll be missing them this Christmas too .

Today I’m going to catch up on my laundry and do a little cleaning up, as no cleaning has been done since my babes were all in last Saturday. There just hasn’t been time.

Now I feel like I have all the time in the world, but I know the next few days will go by fast. I love the fly lady and all here little tips on doing 15 minutes at a time, but most evenings even 15 minutes is more than I want to do.

I hope you’re all still SMILING !

You know I am !

***BIG SMILE***

MA

Snowmen fall from Heaven,

Some assembly required

 

graphics by:

  www.cutecolors.com  

THANKFULLY THURSDAY !

SMILES

Smiles are contagious

Like measles or the mumps

A little chuckle here or there

 Can chase away the dumps .

So pass those smiles along today

They multiply like mice

 Spreading like a wildfire

 Don't think about it twice .

Hey, Christmas time is almost here

So ditch that silly pout

Santa Claus is coming soon

There's lots to smile about

GOOD MORNING !

 

I’m full of smiles today! This is the last day of work until next Wednesday ! My vacation starts tomorrow and I’ll be home enjoying the warmth and laziness of having nothing to do! All my Christmas festivities are over and I can rest!

My employer always has gifts to hand out to employees and today I’ll be playing ‘Santa’ as no one else will be in the office. It should be a fun day and there’s not a lot of work to do either! Our work is slowing down and things are pretty caught up. After the New Year, I’ll begin the job of purging files and storing away last year’s records to make room for a NEW YEAR.

It’s a nice thought to have new beginnings, new things to do and new days to enjoy and celebrate. I’ll be doing my web searching to find some NEW ideas to share with you all.

***BIG SMILE***

MA

   

 As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December's bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same.

Donald E. Westlake

 

  www.irenescorner.com/graphics