CHAPTER 5, PAGE 31

As you travel through life

there are always those times

When decisions just have to be made,

When the choices are hard, and solutions seem scarce,

And the rain seems to soak your parade.

There are some situations where all you can do

Is simply let go and move on,

Gather your courage and choose a direction

That carries you toward a new dawn.

So pack up your troubles and take a step forward

The process of change can be tough,

But think about all the excitement ahead

If you can be stalwart enough!

There might be adventures you never imagined

Just waiting around the next bend,

And wishes and dreams just about to come true

In ways you can't yet comprehend!

Perhaps you'll find friendships that spring from new things

As you challenge your status quo,

And learn there are so many options in life,

And so many ways you can grow!

Perhaps you'll go places you never expected

And see things that you've never seen,

Or travel to fabulous, faraway worlds

And wonderful spots in between!

Perhaps you'll find warmth and affection and caring

And somebody special who's there

To help you stay centered and listen with interest

To stories and feelings you share.

Perhaps you'll find comfort in knowing your friends

Are supportive of all that you do,

And believe that whatever decisions you make,

They'll be the right choices for you.

So keep putting one foot in front of the other,

And taking your life day by day...

There's a brighter tomorrow that's just down the road

Don't look back! You're not going that way!

GOOD MORNING

Today is Wednesday, 'Over the Hump' day, and the last day of May. For June I’m going to be searching for thoughts about Summer, vacations, relaxation, weddings, Fathers Day, Flag Day and of course SUNSHINE. There should be lots out there on those subjects. Enough, at least , to fill another chapter of my book.

TODAY’S THOUGHT

Hugging is good medicine. It transfers energy, and gives the person hugged an emotional boost. We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.

Virginia Satir

(((HUGS))) to you all today !

May your day be blessed with a few smiles and lots of sunshine to warm your heart.

 MA

 

 

 

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CHAPTER 5, PAGE 30

 

If someone hurts you, betrays you,

or breaks your heart, forgive;

for that person has helped you learn about trust

and the importance of caution.

If someone loves you, love back unconditionally;

that one is teaching you to love.

Make every day count.

Appreciate every moment and take from those moments

everything that you possibly can,

for you may never be able to experience it again.

Talk to people that you have never talked to before --

and actually listen.

Let yourself fall in love, break free,

and set your sights high.

Hold your head up because you have every right to.

Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself,

for if you don't believe in yourself,

it will be hard for others to believe in you.

You can make of your life anything you wish.

Create your own life and then go out

and live it with absolutely no regrets.

Most importantly, if you love others, tell them,

for you never know what may come tomorrow.

 And learn a lesson in life each day you live.

unknown author

Good Morning !

It’s back to work, but it’ll be a short week as it’s already TUESDAY !

Now that Memorial Day is past , Summer is definetly here. Our weather has really warmed up…hot and humid days are here. Yesteday morning I woke up to 78 degrees in my house and by 3 o’clock in the afternoon it was 82. The temp outside was in the 90’s. I refused to turn on the a/c yet, but I did turn on the fans. I’ve got 3 ceiling fans and a counter fan in the kitchen that ciruculate the air pretty well.

Today the house will be all closed up while I’m at work so hopefully it’ll stay pretty decent inside. We’ll see when I get home. I just want some nice days with fresh air coming in the windows. After being all closed up for the winter, I don’t want to close up the house for the summer too ! It’s a good thing I got all the summer clothing out and ready to wear – It’s light weight clothing and sandles weather for sure.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.

Douglas Noel Adams

I hope your day is filled with a few SMILES and lots of SUNSHINE to warm your heart !

MA

 

 

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CHAPTER 5, PAGE 29

If I Knew

If I knew it would be the last time

I'd see you fall asleep

I would tuck you in tighter

and pray the lord your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time

that I'd see you walk out the door,

I would give you a hug and kiss

and come back for just one more.

If I knew it would be the last time

I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise

I'd videotape each action and word,

so I could play them back day by day.

If I knew it would be the last time

 I could spare an extra minute or two,

to stop and say "I love you"

instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time

I would be there to share your day.

Well, I'm sure you'll have so many more,

so I can just let this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow

to make up for an oversight,

and we always get a second chance

to make everything right.

There will always be another day

to say our "I love you"

certainly there's another chance

to say "anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,

and today is all I get,

I'd like to say how much I love you

and hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised

to anyone young or old alike,

and today may be the last chance

you get to hold your loved one tight.

Always hold them near,

and take time to say "I'm sorry!"

"Please forgive me!"

 "Thank you!"

 "It's ok!"

and if tomorrow never comes

you'll have no regrets about today.

author unknown

GOOD MORNING

Well it is Memorial Day and the last day of my long weekend. I’ve done as much as can be done and was thankful for the extra days off!I visited 2 cemeteries this weekend to honor those I love and have had a few moments to bask in the sunshine. One painting project is done and some are started.

My closet is organized and ready for summer too ! We managed to get some yard work done and plant some flowers in the pots on the porch ; And DS#1 enjoyed his painted slate very much!  I forgot to get a picture of it…so now he’ll have to take a picture and send it to me before I can show you all.

Please stop to participate in the "National Moment of Remembrance": at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and say a prayer for those lost . It's a day to remember the men and women throughout history that have had the courage to face circumstances most of us cannot imagine

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

To live in the hearts of those you leave behind is never to die

Robert Orr

I hope your day is blessed with a few smiles and lots of sunshine to warm your heart

MA

 

PRAY FOR PEACE

CHAPTER 5, PAGE 28

If you want to see your odd things for what they really are, "God things" -- blessings God has given you, challenges He allowed you to face to grow you closer to Him, prayers He has answered and the ones you might still be waiting on, then try writing them down -- try journaling.

With your written words you can praise and thank Him, you can cry out to him, and yes, even share your anger and confusion with Him.

He's your Father and He knows you will question His will as we all sometimes do but He longs to be intimate with you in every way!

When you take the time to write down your "God things" you will get to see His promises and His love and

His will for your life unfold right before your eyes in the pages of your journals.

God has given us a powerful way to begin to understand how awesome He really is in our everyday lives.

He has given us the gift of words, and when we choose to write them down, he uses those tangible words to open our eyes to just how big he really is.

We get a glimpse of the "I AM" who loves us unconditionally and who possesses a power we will never be able to grasp in our human flesh.

Journaling allows us to see the fingerprints of God all over our lives and the lives of the people he has so graciously given to us to love and to share in this journey.

The power will start with writing your "God things" down, but it will grow even stronger when you go back and re-read the pages and remember.

You will be amazed at how page after page of the evidence of God in your life will grow your faith! It's only as our faith grows that we can begin to bestow on our Father the honor and praise he so richly deserves.

It's only as our faith grows that we can start to understand that "It's not an Odd thing; it's a God thing!"

From Daily Heartlight

GOOD MORNING !

I got this in an e-mail the other day and of course I had to share it with all of you.

You all know I search the internet for things to post in my journal. Hopefully, they are uplifting and encouraging. Every day it seems, a new poem or story comes my way and I think it must be a ‘God’ thing.

I don’t write clever or inspiring messages myself, but look for them so I can pass them on. We all need a little inspiration at times and mine comes from a lot of good sources inspired, of course, by God.

I’m off to church this morning for my weekly dose of R&R and then I’ll be heading down to visit the campers !

It’s going to be a great day !

THOUGHT FOR TODAY !

If we treated everyone we meet with the same affection we bestow upon our favorite cat, they, too, would purr.

 Martin Buxbaum

I hope your day is blessed with a few smiles and lots of sunshine to warm your heart !

MA

 

 

 

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CHAPTER 5, PAGE 27

Time is a traveler.

Where did it go?

It left, but it didn't leave you empty handed.

No! It left you with the gift of beautiful memories,

that you can keep in your heart for safe keeping,

to cherish forever, and ever.

Jane Adams

GOOD MORNING !

Ah, I have memories of yesterday, but there’s still a lot left to do today ! Overnight the feeling of summer is in the air ! Our temps have risen and so has the humidity. The weekend is promising temps in the 80’s and looking at the long range forecast we’ll be in the mid to upper 70’s all next week!

Today I have to make the ‘deviled eggs’ to take down to the campers tomorrow. I am soooo looking forward to seeing their new campsites. Of course, that is just one of the things on my list that never ends.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Memory is a child walking along a sea shore. You never can tell what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its treasured things.

Pierce Harris, Atlanta Journal

I hope your day is blessed with a few SMILES and lots of SUNSHINE to warm your heart !

MA

 

 

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CHAPTER 5, PAGE 26

 

Try to make at least one person happy every day.

… If you cannot do a kind deed, speak a kind word.

If you cannot speak a kind word, think a kind thought.

Count up, if you can, the treasure of happiness

that you would dispense in a week, in a year, in a lifetime!

Lawrence G. Lovasik

GOOD MORNING !

Today is the beginning of my nice long 4 day weekend. I’ll be spending today in the house trying to clear up some clutter around here and finish getting out the summer clothes and putting away all those things I won’t need again til next fall.

I talked to DS#6 last night and he has come down with a case of the shingles. I’ve known several people that have had them and they are miserable. It looks like he’ll be spending his weekend trying not to itch.

I’m almost done with the slate for DS#6’s campsite and hope to start some overdue and soon to be due wedding anniversary gifts. I already missed DS#4 and DS#3’s anniversary and DD and DS#6’s are coming up soon. I’m painting them all a sign board with a cute saying on it.

At least I know what I want to do…it’s just a matter of getting it all done. After the anniversary gifts are done I’ll be starting on Christmas. All my painting pictures are posted in my journal listed on sidebar – ma’s cupboard.

There will not be enough time to get it all done this weekend, but I have hopes of making a large dent in it.

The thunder boomers came through our neck of the woods last night and we have promises of more today ! I’ll be making my own sunshine for sure!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.

Albert Schweitzer

I hope your day is blessed with a few SMILES and lots of SUNSHINE to warm your heart !

MA

 

Graphics today by:

 

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CHAPTER 5, PAGE 25

 

 

Until you have learned to be tolerant

with those who do not always agree with you;

until you have cultivated the habit

of saying some kind word of

those whom you do not admire;

until you have formed the habit

of looking for the good instead of

the bad there is in others,

you will be neither successful nor happy.

Napoleon Hill

GOOD MORNING !

A little warmer yet here today and a few showers are promised too !

When I was growing up, my mom, a very wise lady, always told me that I was never to think I was any better or worse than any one else. We were all created equally in God’s love. Sometimes that’s a hard thing to remember.

When a noisy car goes down my street and the vibrations rattle my windows, I’m not thinking about this person being one of God’s creations…When a rude driver cuts in front of me and makes me put on the brakes, I’m not thinking much of him either. So often it’s easy to loose track of exactly who we are !

I guess that’s the importance of starting your day off right. A little prayer or two never did any harm.

One of my favorites that I say every day going out the drive way is

Angel of God

My guardian dear

To whom God’s love

Commits me here

Ever this day be at my side

To light and guard

To rule and guide

The other is

‘Lord please watch over my babes this day’

And of course I’d be lacking if I didn’t say

‘Thy will be done Lord’

Today is Thursday, but It’ll seem like Friday as my 4 day weekend starts after work today ! It sounds wonderful , but we’ll see…

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

I always prefer to believe the best of everybody — it saves so much time.

Rudyard Kipling

May your day be blessed with a few SMILES and lots of SUNSHINE to warm your heart !

 MA

 

 

 

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CHAPTER 5, PAGE 24

Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over,

it became a butterfly.

Anonymous

If a little caterpillar can transform into a beautiful butterfly, what are our possibilities?

The "transformation" part may be difficult. You may need to make sacrifices.

It may be hard work. It may be a quick transformation, it may take longer.

BE PATIENT!

Like a butterfly, there is wonder and beauty in all of us

 

 GOOD MORNING !

I was listening to the radio last night and it was giving all the advantages of having friends. People with companionship, live longer, heal faster and have less stress ! I know I’ve been blessed to have some beautiful friends and relatives ! I wouldn’t want to know what life would be without them.

Then they went on to say if you are feeling stressed or under pressure…get some exercise. You can accomplish much more after exercising. Well, I know I need that one! I’ve been procrastinating about walking…my favorite exercise.

We finally get some nice weather and what do I do when I come home….I sit down at my computer or go sit at my desk in the craft room and paint. I guess right now it’s time to go sit in my car and drive to work… Walking is not an option here…It’s 20 minutes driving and I’d hate to think what it would be walking.

THOUGHT FOR DAY

Joy does not simply happen to us.

We have to choose joy and

keep choosing it every day.

Henri Nouwen

May your day be blessed with a few SMILES and lots of SUNSHINE to warm your heart !

MA

 

CHAPTER 5, PAGE 23

The majority of us lead quiet, unheralded lives as we pass through this world.

There will most likely be no ticker-tape parades for us, no monuments created in our honor.

But that does not lessen our possible impact, for there are scores of people waiting for someone just like us to come along;

people who will appreciate our compassion, our unique talents. Someone will live a happier life merely because we took the time to share what we had to give.

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have a potential to turn a life around.

It's overwhelming to consider the continuous opportunities there are to make our love felt.

Leo Buscaglia

GOOD MORNING !

We are supposed to have a sunny day here in northern Ohio today ! What a blessing to see the sunshine. We had 11 straight days of rain and there for awhile, I was beginning to wonder. Today it’s supposed to warm up a little and by the weekend we may reach the 80’s . That will sure make it nice for the campers in my family.

I got to talk to DS#4 and our ‘Sunshine ‘ boy on the phone last night. ***BIG SMILE*** It was my son’s 30th birthday. A landmark for sure! I was 32 when he was born….my how time flies!

Thought For Today

We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.

Mother Tesesa

I hope your day is blessed with a few smiles and lots of sunshine to warm your heart !

MA

 

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