CHAPTER 4, PAGE 30

Families are where love is written not in poetry but in prose. What is love? Watch a parent caring for a handicapped child. See a spouse coping with a partner suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Watch a family playing together in a park on a sunny afternoon, or a toddler taking its first steps and falling laughingly into outstretched parental arms.

There is a beauty, undemonstrative, unselfconscious, that lives in a thousand small gestures of listening, caring, helping, giving, for no ulterior motive other than the fact that here we are 'we' not 'I'.

Celebrations have always been an important part of family and community life. Although most of our celebrations and holidays have gradually changed, their purpose has not.

As always, the pageantry, ritual, and symbolism of celebrations help us to unite, motivate, and educate. For parents, this makes celebrations ideal tools for building family strengths and teaching family values

Celebrations motivate us. Celebrations not only allow us to take pride in past achievements, but they also rally confidence for the future We all want to give our children a place of refuge and a sense of predictability. We all wish to make the difficult times easier and the unknown feel safer.

Rituals have served these functions for ancient cultures; and rituals can now do the same for us, too. Family traditions and rites help establish a common spiritual ground on which bonds can be forged-bonds that transcend age, gender, and individual interests.

Indeed, a strong spiritual life can help a family achieve harmony even when there are unusual differences

Bits and Pieces from articles on the web

GOOD MORNING !

I had a grand day yesterday celebrating. It is so important that we show those we love just how important they are! The little ones really enjoyed it all and the older ones enjoyed watching the little ones. I hope you enjoyed the pictures. I’m so blessed to have all of them to celebrate with.

Back to work this morning and thankful for another new day. I’ll be celebrating it too ! Maybe in a little different way, but definitely gonna celebrate.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Share with others what is most important to you-give gifts from the heart

The time you have with your children goes fast. So take the time now to build memories with your children by spending time with them

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

MA

 

 

 

graphics by:  www.creativeladiesminsitry.com

CHAPTER 4, PAGE 29

Frugality is one of the most beautiful and joyful words in the English language, and yet one that we are culturally cut off from understanding and enjoying.

The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things.

Elise Boulding

After a visit to the beach, it's hard to believe that we live in a material world.

Pam Shaw

Good Morning !

Life can and does seem very unfair at times, but we need to realize it is not the possession of riches or the accomplishment of great things which make a great life, but the enjoyment of what God has given to you.

It is not the number of years but how much a person can objectively see God’s good hand in his life.

As I’m off to celebrate with part of my family today, I’m reminded about how very rich I am. Not in dollars, but in love and family and friends.

Today there will only be DS#5 and his wife and I traveling over to the party at DS#3’s house. The rest of my family is either already otherwise occupied for the day or too far away to come. I’ll miss not having them all together. It seems these important times in our live should be celebrated to fullest.

We’ll be joining DS#3 and his family at their church today and then back to their home. I will , as always, be saying a little prayer for all of you.

Thought for Today

The best things in life are nearest:

Breath in your nostrils,

light in your eyes,

flowers at your feet,

duties at your hand,

the path of right just before you.

Then do not grasp at the stars,

but do life’s plain, common work as it comes,

certain that daily duties and

daily bread are the sweetest things in life.

Robert Louis Stevenson

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

MA

 

 

 

 

graphics by:  www.creativeladiesministry.com

 

Tags: gifts, riches, sunshine, smiles

CHAPTER 4, PAGE 28

We do not stop playing because we grow old;

We grow old because we stop playing .

Never Be The First To Get Old! ,

Joy does not simply happen to us.

We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day. It is a choice based on the knowledge that we belong to God and have found in God our refuge and our safety and that nothing, not even death, can take God away from us. Joy is the experience of knowing that you are unconditionally loved and that nothing--sickness, failure, emotional distress, oppression, war, or even death--can take that love away.

Henri Nouwen

Good Morning !

I hope my collection of inspirational sayings helps you to live a happier and more rewarding life. I take a few minutes out of my day just to relax and enjoy the beauty and wisdom of these quotations! Not only can it change your life, it makes you feel better

Studies show that optimistic people have better health mentally and physically, Stress and unhappiness often cause health problems so it makes good sense to be happy.

A comment I often see in my journal is that I have a good attitude. It has not been very easywork to get to the point of my life where almost every day is a joy. I do put some effort into it. I’m only human and I expect there will be a few days in my life that I’m still going to have trouble finding something to count as a blessing .

But today I can SMILE and today is what is important. I will make the very most of this day. It is a gift to be treasured. A dear friend sent a note the other day with this quote at the bottom of it "We are here. It is now. Welcome to the here and now."

Thought for Today

Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.

Author Unknown

The graphic of grand’ma’ on the computer today came in an e-mail from a friend and I just couldn’t resist putting it my journal . I’m off to spend the day at Dad’s and tomorrow (Sunday) is a party at DS#3’s house so I hope to have some pictures for you come Monday. Our Pumpkin’ is being baptized and Our Angel is having a birthday. Two celebrations in one day!

Never forget the three powerful resources you always have available to you: love, prayer, and forgiveness

Life's Little Instruction Calendar, 1999

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

MA

 

garden graphics by: www.moonandbackgraphics.com

 

 

Tags: Joy, smile, sunshine,

CHAPTER 4, PAGE 27

What do you first do when you learn to swim?

You make mistakes, do you not? And what happens?

You make other mistakes, and when you have made

all the mistakes you possibly can without drowning -

and some of them many times over - what do you find?

That you can swim?

Well - life is just the same as learning to swim!

Do not be afraid of making mistakes,

for there is no other way of learning how to live!

Alfred Adler

A somebody was once a nobody who wanted to and did.

Anonymous

GOOD MORNING

Last night we had a tornado watch in our state. We had some thunder showers, but I don’t think any tornados materialized. Every thing is gloriously green with all this rain we’ve had and leaves are now actually coming out on the trees. After a long winter, we forget just how green things can be.

It’s FRIDAY once again and I’m looking forward to the weekend. By Sunday I think we will once again see some sunshine! Today is going to be one of those 'beach' days for sure!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Failure doesn't mean - "You are a failure,"

It means - You have not succeeded.

Failure doesn't mean - "You accomplished nothing,"

It means - You have learned something.

Failure doesn't mean - "You have been a fool,"

It means - You had a lot of faith.

Failure doesn't mean - "You don't have it,"

It means - You were willing to try.

Failure doesn't mean - "You are inferior,"

It means - You are not perfect.

Failure doesn't mean - "You've wasted your life,"

It means - You have a reason to start afresh.

Failure doesn't mean - "You should give up,"

It means - "You must try harder.

Failure doesn't mean - "You'll never make it,"

It means - It will take a little longer.

Failure doesn't mean - "God has abandoned you,"

It means - God has a better way for you.

All persons, no matter how big, make mistakes. But history teaches us that big people refuse to falter because of their mistakes. Henry Ford forgot to put a reverse gear in his first automobile. Edison once spent over two million dollars on an invention which proved of little value. The person who makes no mistakes lacks boldness and the spirit of adventure. They arethe ones who never try anything new; they are the brake on the wheel of progress. Remember, a mistake becomes an error only when nothing is done to correct it .....

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

MA

 

 

 

graphics by:  www.irenescorner.com/graphics

 

CHAPTER 4, PAGE 26

No other success in life —

not being President, or being wealthy,

or going to college, or writing a book, or anything else —

comes up to the success of the man or woman

who can feel that they have done their duty

and that their children and grandchildren

rise up and call them blessed

Theodore Roosevelt

A hug is the perfect gift, one size fits all; And no one minds if you exchange it.

GOOD MORNING !

I do feel successful in the fact that each one of my babes is a wonderful and loving person . They all know how to appreciate the important things in life and make the most of each day.

There is a saying that we can give 2 gifts to our children – One is to give them roots, the other is to give them wings.and I think I’ve done both of those things for mine.

Sometimes I believe it’s a good thing that I’m a long distance Grand’ma’ and that I don’t live real close by to any of my babes or grand ‘babes’. I’m very tempted to put my 2 cents worth of advice in and in a lot of cases that wouldn’t always be well received.

I’ve discovered that most of what I did raising my children would probably be considered wrong in today’s world. Not that I wouldn’t love having them close by. I do so enjoy them when I do see them. Old and young ones alike.

At the very least my grand’babes’ will remember grand’ma’s deviled eggs, at the most I hope they will remember how much I love each and every one of them.

It is still raining here today- we’ll be making our own SUNSHINE for sure !

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Cheerfulness is a yellow umbrella covering the rainy days of life.

Kimber Anne Engstrom

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

MA

 

 

 

graphics by:  www.untilthengraphics.com

 

CHAPTER 4, PAGE 25

ON THE WINGS OF A PRAYER

Just close your Eyes and open your heart,

And feel your worries and cares depart.

Just yield yourself to the Father above,

And let him hold you secure in his love.

For life on earth grows more involved,

With endless problems that can't be solved,

But God only ask us to do our best,

Then he will take over and finish the rest...

So when you are tired, discouraged and blue,

There is always one door that is open to you,

And that is the door to The House of Prayer,

And you'll find God waiting to meet you there.

And The House of Prayer is no further away,

than the quiet spot where you kneel and pray.

For the heart is a temple when God is there

As we place ourselves in his loving care.

And he hears every prayer and answers each one

When we Pray in His name - Thy will be done.

The burdens that seemed too heavy to bear

Are lifted away on the wings of a prayer.

by: Helen Steiner Rice

A sign in a cotton factory read:

"If your threads get tangled, send for the foreman."

One day a new worker got her threads tangled. The more she tried to disentangle them, the worse the situation grew. Finally, she sent for the foreman. He asked, "Why didn't you send for me earlier?"

She replied, "I was doing my best." He answered, "No, your best would have been to send for me."

When we face a tough situation, our first response should be to ask for God's help. He longs to be our helper and to untangle the threads of our lives.

Good Morning !

I usually say a little prayer as I get out of bed each day. I know I’m going to need all the help I can get. So often we are troubled about things and forget to pray for help. Help is only a prayer away.

We had another beautiful day of sunshine yesterday, but for the next 3 days we are promised some rain. Warmer temps and lots of rain mean one thing here…the grass is going to grow and we’ll be mowing the lawn come the weekend. That is a job is one I like, much better than shoveling snow!

Thought for Today

Tomorrow I plan to work, work, from early until late. In fact, I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.

Martin Luther

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

MA

 

 

 

Graphics by:  www.untilthengraphics.com

 

CHAPTER 4, PAGE 24

It's your attitude, not your aptitude that determines your altitude. Happiness is not something you find, it's something you create.

What's It Like In Your Town

Once there was an old and very wise man. Every day he would sit outside a gas station in his rocking chair and wait to greet motorists as they passed through his small town.

On this day, his granddaughter knelt down at the foot of his chair and slowly passed the time with him. As they sat and watched the people come and go, a tall man who surely had to be a tourist -- since they knew everyone in the town -- began looking around as if he were checking out the area for a place to live.

The stranger walked up and asked, "So what kind of town is this that we're in?" The older gentleman slowly turned to the man and replied, "Well, what kind of town are you from?" The tourist said, "In the town I'm from everyone is very critical of each other. The neighbours all gossip about everyone, and it's a real negative place to live. I'm sure glad to be leaving. It is not a very cheerful place."

The man in the chair looked at the stranger and said, "You know, that's just how this town is."

An hour or so later a family that was also passing through stopped for gas. The car slowly turned in and rolled to a stop in front of where the older gentleman and his granddaughter were sitting. The mother jumped out with two small children and asked where the restrooms were.

The man in the chair pointed to a small, bent-up sign that was barely hanging by one nail on the side of the door. The father stepped out of the car and also asked the man, "Is this town a pretty good place to live?" The man in the chair replied, "What about the town you are from? How is it?"

The father looked at him and said, "Well, in the town I'm from everyone is very close and always willing to lend their neighbor a helping hand. There's always a hello and thank you everywhere you go. I really hate to leave. I feel almost like we are leaving family."

The older gentlemen turned to the father and gave him a warm smile. "You know, that's a lot like this small town." Then the family returned to the car, said their thank yous, waved goodbye and drove away.

After the family was in the distance, the granddaughter looked up at her grandfather and asked, "Grandpa, how come when the first man came into our town you told him it was a terrible place to live and when the family came in to town you told them it was a wonderful place to live?"

The grandfather lovingly looked down at this granddaughter's wondering blue eyes and said,"No matter where you move, you take your own attitude with you and that's what makes it terrible or wonderful."

GOOD MORNING !

Another new day to celebrate !

Too often we attach the will of others to our attitude in life. We say it’s their fault that I’m unhappy. In reality when we are content with ourselves, happiness follows. I have accepted my life as it is and I am happy with it.

I’m happy to be healthy and mostly of firm mind and I am thankful for a job to go to that provides me with what I need. Remember, your attitude is your foundation.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Your attitude is a little thing, but it makes a big difference. Look backwards with gratitude, upwards with confidence and forwards with hope. Smile and the world smiles with you, cry and you cry alone.

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

MA

P.S. Someone asked where do I get all these poems quotes and stories from??? Mostly I surf the net , sometimes it’s passed on from a friend, and other times I’ve read it in a book or a magazine. They are all things I’d like to remember so I put them here in my journal and share them with all of you.

 

 

 

Graphics by:  www.graphicgarden.com

 

CHAPTER 4, PAGE 23

Just as we fall beside the road,

Discouraged with life, bowed down with the load,

We lift our eyes, and what seemed a dead end

Is the street of dreams, where we meet a friend.

Helen Steiner Rice

The Lord lifts up the downtrodden. Psalm 147:6

GOOD MORNING !

I am thinking about friends this morning. Over the years I’ve met a lot of people and made a lot of friends. School friends, work friends, companions all on the journey. I’ve got quite a few internet friends too. I enjoy their e-mails and love their comments in my journals. I’ve also had friends that have died and friends that have I’ve lost touch with. But all of them in one way or another have deeply touched my life.

One of my online journal friends has decided to delete her journal and pursue other avenues of fulfillment and I will miss her words of wisdom. Hopefully she’ll keep in touch. But no matter she’ll be in my thoughts and prayers.

We all need friends to share our laughter and our dreams with and our sorrow and our pain. I am so thankful for my friends.

Today is Monday already.

It’s back to work I go…I owe, I owe.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Today and every day a friend is a gift from God

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

MA

 

 

 

graphics by:  www.graphicgarden.com

 

CHAPTER 4, PAGE 22

If the sky above seems cloudy,

And you are left out in the rain,

If you are searching for a rainbow,

But the colors bring you pain,

If your world is not revolving,

And there is no end in sight,

If you are looking for the sunshine,

But all you see is night,

If all around are smiling,

But all you can do is frown,

If you are tired of all this living,

When life just brings you down,

Then look beyond your teardrops,

At the wonders of this land,

The beauty of a flower,

Like velvet in your hand.

Feel the air around you,

The smell of new mown hay,

Laughing children in the park,

The innocence there at play,

Imagine floating with a butterfly,

As she flutters between the trees,

Or the whispers of the ocean,

On warmhot summer's breeze,

Think of the taste of candy floss,

As it melts upon your tongue,

Or the melody of morning birds,

As they greet each day with song,

Remember words of beauty,

Told in your mother's embrace,

Feel the gentleness of her touch,

As she softly kissed your face,

Seek the good within you,

Cast the clouds from your sky,

Don't look toward the pavement,

But hold your head up high,

Think not what life owes you,

But of all you have to give,

Forget about tomorrow,

Then you can start to live.

So Bless this age your are living in,

With the gifts you can bestow,

Don't disregard the stream of life,

Go gently with the flow.

Author unknown

GOOD MORNING !

Sharing some thoughts in an article I read ….

"Going with the flow.” What doesthat mean?

I think of a fast-moving river after a hearty rain. Have you ever watched a stream or river gush after it’s rained for a day or two? The water level is high and the river flows fast and furious downstream to accommodate the excess water that has poured into it. The river doesn’t gently meander downstream, it thrusts itself forward.

Nature has a wonderful way of balancing itself out. A river can flow gently or with a constant stride which it usually does in its default state, weather permitting. You’ve undoubtedly witnessed geese and ducks floating atop such serene scenes, as the undercurrents gently encouraged them to slide across to enjoy the soft waves and occasionally dip in for a swim.

Rivers and life flow soft and hard. Discerning where to accept and where to move on is perhaps one of the most challenging aspects we face as we move through life.

We usually have no choice about things that happen in our lives, they just happen but we do have a choice about how we accept them

I’m off to church this morning for my weekly dose of R & R. Oh how I need it. I hope that you are Refreshing and Renewing your soul today too!

My prayers will be going up for all of you ! God Bless You !

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Of all the ills that men endure, hope is the only cheap and universal cure.

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

MA

 

 

graphics by: www.graphicgarden.com