And time remembered is grief forgotten.
And frosts are slain and flowers begotten,
And in green underwood and cover
Blossom by blossom the spring begins.
Algernon Charles Swinburne
Thought for today:
Today is the day to celebrate moments --
to stop and feel the sunshine,
to build your own rainbow.
May today be filled with sunshine and smiles, laughter and love, just because you're you !
You are all so special !
Your thoughts and prayers are so precious to me
I Love you all !
MA
GRAPHICS BY:
Desperately, helplessly, longingly,
I cried, and quietly, patiently, God replied.
I had pled and wept for a clue to my fate,
yet the Master just said, "Child, you must wait."
Wait? You say, wait, was my indignant reply,
Lord, I need answers, I need to know why.
Is your hand so short? Have you not heard?
By faith, I have asked, I am claiming your Word.
My future and all to which I can relate
Now hangs in the balance.
And you tell me to "wait."
I need a "yes," a go-ahead sign,
or even a "no" to which I resign.
Besides Lord, you promised that
if we believe we need but to ask,
and we shall receive.
So Lord, I've been asking.
This is my cry, I'm weary of asking.
I need a reply. Then quietly, softly,
I learned of my fate.
The Master replied,
"My child, please wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
and grumbled to God,
"Okay, I am waiting, but for what?"
He then seemed to kneel,
His eyes wept with mine, and tenderly said,
"I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens, darken the sun,
I could raise the dead and cause the mountains to run.
All you seek, I could give.
And then pleased you would be?
You would have what you wanted,
but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd know not the depth of My love, my dear saint;
You'd know not the power I give to the faint;
You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair,
that you need to trust, trusting simply, 'I'm here.'
You'd know not the joy of resting in Me,
when darkness and silence are all you can see;
You'd not experience all of My love,
when the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove.
Oh, you'd know that I give, and I save ...
for a start, but you'd miss the real joy
of the depths of My heart.
You'd miss the glow of My comfort
through the night and the faith
that I give when you walk without sight.
There's a depth far beyond getting what you ask;
the depth of My grace, getting what lasts.
You'd not know, should your pain quickly flee,
what it means when I say, 'My grace is sufficient for thee.'
You'd have dreams for your loved ones,
that's true, but you'd miss, oh you'd miss,
what I'm doing in you.
So be silent, My child, in time you will see,
that the greatest gift is to get to know Me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer still is, 'Just wait.'"
author unknown
My beautiful Mum went home to the Lord Wednesday morning. The viewing will be Thursday and the Funeral on Friday. One of my dear friends said – She got her Easter early ! So true!
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
Have you everwatched kids on a merry-go-round
Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last
Do you run through each day on the fly
When you ask "How are you?" do you hear the reply?
Author Unknown
May your day be blessed with a few smiles and a little sunshine to warm your heart.
Love to you all!
Ma
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One day when we were looking at an old hymnal my Mom said this was one of her favorites
I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known
He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known
I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go;
through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known
Beautiful old hymn with a very special message right now.
Thought for today:
Choose a smile, not a frown.
Choose love, not animosity.
Choose the good in life in all things,
and choose the opportunity
as well as the chance to work
when springtime smiles on your life.
I love you all !
Be Blessed!
MA
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T
ake from people their wealth,and you hinder them;
take from them their purpose,
and you slow them down.
But take from them their hope,
and you stop them.
They can go on without wealth,
and even without purpose, for awhile.
But they will not go on without hope.
C. Neil Strait
GOOD MORNING
We were blessed with another day with my mom yesterday.
My boss let me leave work around 11:00 and I stayed with her as long as possible and then crashed at home. We are just taking it day by day.
The weather here was beautiful Monday, today we’ll be having a few showers to wash away some of winter’s grime.
I’m sure the grass will start growing soon!
Thought for today:
Do not pause too long to soak in the aroma of the blossoming flowers, lest you awaken to find springtime gone with your seed still in your sack
Anonymous
May your day be blessed with a few smiles and a little sunshine to warm your heart.
MA
Chapter 3, page 27
He turns a desert into pools of water,
a parched land into springs of water.
Psalm 107:35
GOOD MORNING
The alarm clock went off as usual for a Monday morning and I'm sipping my good cup of hot coffee!
This may well be the true first day of Spring in Northern Ohio-- it's supposed to be in the 50's and sunny!
Yesterday we were blessed with some sunshine after some morning snowflakes. Maybe it will be the last snow of the season.
Today is 'Sunshine' babes wedding anniversary! He has been on the road alot with his new job, but was able to spend the weekend with his family. May our dear Lord bless them both with many happy years together.
God please bless this marriage in warmth and strength. Give these two people guidance, love, and understanding to be the best that they can be. Be with them through the difficult moments and the beautiful ones. Teach them that marriage is a loving process and challenge. Thank you God
May your Special Day
Be a celebration
Of where you've been,
Where you are, and
How you are growing
Together in the Lord
Happy Anniversary
THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
All nature heeds the call of spring
As God awakens everything,
And all that seemed so dead and still
Experiences a sudden thrill
Helen Steiner Rice
I hope your day is blessed with a few smiles and a little sunshine to warm your heart!
MA
Today's graphics by:
Chapter 3, page 26
There is an appointed time for everything.
And there is a time for every event under heaven -
A time to give birth, and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
Ecclesiastes, 3:1-2
GOOD EVENING
Hospice has informed us that my mom won't be with us much longer and this weekend we spent a lot of time saying good bye. Most of the family and her friends gathered to see my Mum and she shared lots of hugs and a few blessed smiles with all that came to see her. She is so precious to us all. She knows that the end is near and has no fear of death, only hates to leave us as you know all mothers do.
I do have to go to work tomorrow and it was probably one of the hardest things in my life to leave her this evening, but I know she is in good hands as my sisters and my dad are there with her. I'll be spending all my extra time there for now so I don't know how often I'll be posting, but will try to as often as time allows.
I want to thank you all for all your well wishes and prayers. It really means alot to me.
We won't be second guessing just how much time will be allowed to her.
We all have been given the gift of life to celebrate and I do truly believe we must make the most of that gift.
We need spring. We need it desperately and, usually, we need it before God is willing to give it to us.
Peter Gzowski, Spring Tonic
May your days be blessed with a few smiles and a little sunshine to warm your heart.
Ma
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CHAPTER 3, PAGE 25
T
he mere arrival of spring is no signthat things are going to look good in the fall.
You must do something with the spring.
In fact, everyone has to get good at one of two things:
planting in the spring or begging in the fall.
Take advantage of the day and the opportunities
that spring can bring
Good Evening !
I’m posting this evening as I will be leaving soon to spend tonight and tomorrow with my folks. This will be our normal routine for now. I’ll see you all on Sunday morning !
THOUGHT FOR SATURDAY:
Hope is the word which God has written on the brow of every man.
Victor Hugo
I hope your weekend is blessed with a few smiles and a little sunshine to warm your heart !
MA
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CHAPTER 3, PAGE 24
I
n the clear light of spring a fresh hope gleams.With a sweet birdsong at the birth of days.
I wake from winter sleep's pall of dark dreams,
Rising, squinting in the morning gold rays.
As green buds burst on trees, no longer bare,
At last, after the long silence of snow,
Urgent sounds of life sing in the crisp air.
To music in the melting water's flow.
Making promises of the summer sun,
In warm beams, though shadows are still too cold,
Nature knows, the battle is nearly won,
When frost turns dew as winter loses hold.
And with one season to forget the pain,
I am ready to fall in love again.
Author Unknown
GOOD MORNING !
Each and everyday we can fall in love with life , with all the possibilities , with all around us. God has truly given us a gift to share.
My family is going through a little tough spot right now, but we all know that we are loved and that whatever comes our Lord is with us.
The results of the biopsy show that Mum has advanced pancreatic cancer and at the most two months left. We will be giving her as much love and comfort that is possible in the days ahead.
I cannot ever regret death for anyone. The life after death – the promise of heaven-- is going to be so much more wonderful than what we have on earth. So we can celebrate her life, she really has had a good long one and until recently been in good health for her age.
Only our maker knows just how much longer she’ll be with us, but we’ll be making the most of each day as it comes.
Thought for today:
When you say a situation or a person is hopeless, you're slamming the door in the face of God
Charles L. Allen
M
ay your day be blessed with a few smiles and a little sunshine to warm your heart !MA
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CHAPTER 3, PAGE 23
There are two days in every week
about which we should not worry,
Two days which should be kept free
from fear and apprehension.
One of these days is Yesterday
with all its mistakes and cares,
its faults and blunders,
its aches and pains.
Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.
All the money in the world cannot bring back Yesterday.
We cannot undo a single act we performed;
we cannot erase a single word we said.
Yesterday is gone forever.
The other day we should not worry about is
Tomorrow with all its possible adversities,
its burdens, its large promise and its poor performance;
Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.
Tomorrow's sun will rise,
either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds,
but it will rise.
Until it does,
we have no stake in Tomorrow,
for it is yet to be born.
This leaves only one day, Today.
Any person can fight the battle of just one day.
It is when you and I add the burdens
of those two awful eternities Yesterday and Tomorrow
that we break down.
It is not the experience of Today
that drives a person mad,
it is the remorse or bitterness of
something which happened Yesterday
and the dread of what Tomorrow may bring.
Let us, therefore, Live but one day at a time.
Author Unknown
GOOD MORNING !
I try not to make too many plans or worry about the future and live that one day at a time. If I falter and start thinking of either yesterday or tomorrow it just throws me way out of kilter.
Over the past 14 years I’ve even found times that I must live minute by minute not even day by day. I’ve found that keeping focused on the present and making the most of that time is what is important.
If I can bring a smile to someone’s face or cheer someone that is downhearted it really makes my day. Lately, I fear I haven’t been doing so well at that, I’d better be trying a little harder.
So…this morning I’m up , sipping the good coffee and will soon leave for work. If I can make it that far then I’ll consider the rest of the day. The good Lord willing – it will be a great day !
Thought for Today:
Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark
George Iles
May your day be blessed with a few smiles and a little sunshine to warm your heart.
MA
Chapter 3, page 22
Where there are love and generosity,
there is joy.
Where there are sincerity and sacrifice,
there is friendship.
Where there are harmony and simplicity,
there is beauty.
Where there are prayer and forgiveness,
there is peace.
Where there are moderation and patience,
there is wisdom.
Where there are conflicts and crises,
there is opportunity.
Where there are wonder and adventure,
there is growth.
Where there are adoration and confession,
there is worship.
Where there are compassion and concern,
there is God.
Where there are faith and hope,
there is spring. 
By William A. Ward
GOOD MORNING
I'm sipping that good hot coffee that tastes better than ever on a chilly morning. I spent yesterday evening with my folks and my sisters and got to bed later that I should have. I think I need more than one good cup this morning.
***BIG SMILE***
The weather man said it'd be a cold week and he has been right! No warm up here till maybe next week.
Thought for today:
When life hands you lemons, Squeeze out a smile.
I hope you are blessed with a few smiles and a little sunshine to warm your heart today
MA
