BOOK 08, CHAPTER 1, PAGE 31

 

THE PRECIOUS GIFT

Once upon a time, when God had finished making the world, he wanted to leave behind a piece of His own divinity, a spark of His essence, a promise to man of what he could become, with effort.

He looked for a place to hide this precious gift because, He explained, what man could find too easily would never be valued by him.

"Then you must hide this gift on the highest mountain peak on earth," said one of his counselors. God shook His head, "No, for man is an adventuresome creature and he will soon enough learn to climb the highest mountain peaks."

"Hide it then, O Great One, in the depths of the earth."

"I think not," said God. "for man will one day discover that he can dig into the deepest parts of the earth."

 "In the middle of the ocean then, Master?" God shook His head. "I've given man a brain, you see, and one day he'll learn to build ships and cross the mightiest oceans."

"Where then, Master?" cried His counselors. God smiled, "I'll hide it where every man and woman will be able to find it if they look sincerely and deeply enough.

I'll hide it in their heart

Author Unknown

GOOD MORNING!

BRRRCHILL !

It’s another cold day in Northern Ohio. We may warm up a bit, but by tomorrow a ‘Pandhandle Hook’ is coming our way.! This is a weather term for the system that is coming at us. It brings lots of snow.

Depending on how the winds blow we could get a lot of snow or rain, sleet and freezing rain. We’ll just have to wait and see what it will do. One thing for sure is that it is still WINTER.

Tomorrow will start a new month and I’ve already been searching for lots of good things to share with you in February ! It is HEART month, so that means the topic for FEBRUARY will be all about the heart.

Matters of the HEART will offer lots of opportunites for me to share with you

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

A small trouble is like a pebble. Hold it too close to your eye and it fills the whole world and puts everything out of focus.

Hold it at a proper distance and it can be examined and properly classified.

Throw it at your feet and it can be seen in its true setting, just one more tiny bump on the pathway of life.

Celia Luce

May your day be blessed with a few SMILES

and lots of SUNSHINE to warm your heart !

MA

 

 

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BOOK 08, CHAPTER 1, PAGE 30

 

GOOD MORNING GOD !

YOU are ushering in another day

Untouched and freshly new

So here I come to ask you

God If you’ll renew me too

Forgive the many errors

That I made yesterday

And let me try again dear God

To walk closer in THY WAY…

But Father, I am well aware

I can’t make it on my own

So TAKE MY HAND

and HOLD IT TIGHT

For I can’t walk alone.

Helen Steiner Rice

GOOD MORNING !

It sounds like I’ll need an extra prayer or two to get me through this day. The weather man warned us all last night of High Winds, Cold Temps, and snow. We went crashing down from a balmy 48 degrees before I went to bed to a bitter cold morning of 15 or so degrees today. I don’t think we will make it out of the 20’s. It is Very Very cold. BRRRCHILL!

I haven’t a clue what the roads will be like as the day progresses, but I’m hoping for the best. My 20 minute ride to work and back can sometimes get very long. Right now there is just a smattering of snow outside, but the wind is howling.

 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

When the night has been too lonely,

and the road has been too long,

and you think that love is only

for the lucky and the strong,

just remember, in the winter,

far beneath the bitter snow,

lies the seed that with the sun's love

in the spring becomes the rose.

From 'The Rose,' written by Amanda McBroom

As performed by Bette Midler

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

MA

 

 

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BOOK 08, CHAPTER 1, PAGE 29

There is an old Danish Legend with a lesson for us all

Of an ambitious spider and his rise and his fall

Who wove his sheer web with intricate care

As it hung suspended somewhere in mid air

Then in soft idle luxury he feasted each day

On the small idle insects he enticed as his prey

Growing evermore arrogant and smug all the while

He lived like a king in self – satisfied style

And gazing one day at the sheer strand suspended

He said I don’t need this so he recklessly rended

The strand that had held his web in its place

And with sudden swiftness the web crumbled in space

And that was the end of the spider that grew

So arrogantly proud that he no longer knew

That it was the strand that reached down from above

Like the chord of God’s grace and His infinite love

That links our lives to the great unknown

For man cannot live or exist on his own

And this old legend with simplicity told

Is a moral as true as the legend is old

Don’t sever the life line that links you to

THE FATHER IN HEAVEN

THAT CARES FOR YOU

Helen Steiner Rice

GOOD MORNING !

I could probably fill an entire journal with the words of Helen Steiner Rice. I’ve a whole stack full of her books. Each poem I read of hers is more inspiring than the one before.

In one of the Authors notes she said something that really stuck with me and that is she says she is only a worker employed by God only the people that read her poems can help reach more hearts and homes.

So I guess I’m being God’s helper today as I ‘m sharing her words with you. She always has an uplifting message to share in each and every one of her poems.

This will be a rainy Spring like day here in Northern Ohio. We may reach temps in the high 40’s today and of course we’ll also be having rain showers. Tomorrow our temps will start to plummet down to normal winter weather once more.

TODAY’S THOUGHT

Nine-tenths of wisdom is appreciation.

Go find somebody's hand and squeeze it,

while there's time.

Dale Dauten

May your day be blessed with a few SMILES

and lots of SUNSHINE to warm your heart !

MA

 

 

 

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BOOK 08, CHAPTER 1, PAGE 28

TODAY IS NATIONAL SERENDIPITY DAY

There's an art to finding something when you're not looking for it..

Serendipity is … part of the rush that is the daily magic of discovery. It's one of those small things that make life worth living, despite all the torment, pain, tragedy and stifling Interstate traffic.

Every day is a bouquet of surprises. I wake each morning, put on my socks and shoes, and face a new day of wonder and discovery. Why deny or refuse such a gift? If I had been looking for it, I would not have found it.

It was serendipity, that ability to make fortunate discoveries accidentally, that opened that door in my heart.

Bits and pieces from articles that I’ve read

 

GOOD MORNING !

It is Monday once again and we’ve another new day and a new week to find those amazing discoveries that make life worthwhile.

This first month of the New Year is almost over. On Friday we’ll be starting a NEW month and another chapter will begin in my book 08 .

The beginning of the year has brought many happy times and everyday discoveries that I’ll keep in my heart and treasure. The biggest celebrations have been the birthdays in my family. We have 4 of them and each one is a blessing for sure. And of course, I’m celebrating the acquisition of a camper for me. One of my greatest pleasures is once again making an appearance in my life.

It’s been a great start to the year and if it is any indication of the days to come, my days are going to be filled with lots of joy and lots of new discoveries.

The work I do, my job, the endless days of paperwork, phone messages and filing will still be there. But I’m appreciating them more these days as they are my means to some happy times and a way that will enable me to make those that are dear in my life a little happier too.

I’ve put aside the thoughts of only being able to exist, and have replaced them with anticipation of doing what counts in life. I’ve a wise friend that said to me…It is so simple, all we have to do is love God and love others. I’m sticking to this simple saying and making each day count.

Life is simple if we let it be. Too often we make mountains out of molehills with petty arguments and gripes and complaints. All the clutter that tends to make us miserable can be done away with those very wise words.

 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Hear the word "darkness" and the word "light" immediately comes to mind. Maybe these two conditions are not so very far apart after all. Still, while darkness has its time and place, we usually feel more confident in "well-lit" situations.

While God is present in both darkness and light, we rejoice at the illumination God's Spirit brings to us, especially in times of need. We may fear failure, loneliness, pain, loss and death. But just like imaginary ones, these monsters thrive in the dark. When we bring them into the Light, they lose their power.

If, instead of hiding our fears, we expose them to God, we see that, terrifying as they are, they have ultimately been defeated. There is no darkness too deep for God’s Light to penetrate.

From one of my Sunday morning devotionals.

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

MA

 

 

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BOOK 08, CHAPTER 1, PAGE 27

 

 

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh!" he whispered.

"Yes, Piglet?"

 "Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw.

"I just wanted to be sure of you."

A.A. Milne

GOOD MORNING !

Just like piglet, we all need to know that there is someone there for us, some one that we can be sure of. I think if nothing else, I am very blessed with a family that is there for each other. There is not one of them that wouldn’t go the extra mile for those they love and care about.

Thankfully the weather cooperated and it was not bad driving.

We all wore Yellow Shirts as you can see in the pictures.  DS#6 designed a logo for our Stroll Team.  You could see us coming for sure. 

Today I’ll be off to church where I’m also reminded that there is Someone who is always there for me too ! I’ve much to give thanks for and much to pray about. I do know that our dear Lord is always waiting to listen. You all are in my thoughts and prayers.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

I asked God to bless you

As I prayed for you today.

To guide you and protect you

As you go along your way...

His love is always with you,

His promises are true,

And when we give Him all our cares

You know He will see us through.

So when the road you're traveling on

 Seems difficult at best,

Just remember I'm here praying

And God will do the rest.

Author Unknown by greatly expressed by me…

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

MA

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BOOK 08, CHAPTER 1, PAGE 26

A sense of humor doesn't mean

the ability to tell jokes

or make wisecracks.

It's a sense of proportion

and the courage to smile.

It's the ability to take yourself

and your problems with a grain of salt,

the ability to smile at yourself

and the world as well.

John Luther

GOOD MORNING !

I’m off  early today to join some of my family at the Central Ohio Stroll for Epilepsy that we’ve been doing once a year in honor of ‘Our Sweetheart’. This event is to aide people suffering from Epilepsy.

We’ve all taken pledges from friends and family and money is donated to the Epilepsy Foundation. Our walk (stroll) that we are doing is just a formality showing our support.

One family had 150 people in their group last year. Our team won’t be that large, but it seems to grow a little every year as more and more people join us. It is very heart warming to see all the people who donate their time and money for this cause.

I’ll be taking some pictures which I hope to show you later this weekend.

My little granddaughter is handicapped but the amazing strength and devotion of DS#1 and his wife has helped to make her life as normal as possible.

There is never a time when she doesn’t join in at whatever we are doing and as I’ve said before, the SMILE on her face is worth any effort put forth.

I’ve got another long drive ahead today as do some of my other children that will be joining us. Please pray for safe journeys for us all. It is wonderful being able to get together and show our support, it is just too bad we are all so far away.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Give this day a real, honest purpose that truly means something to you. And you'll build value that continues long after the day is over.

Ralph Marston

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

Ma

 

 

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BOOK 08, CHAPTER 1, PAGE 25

Father and His Sons

A father had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion; and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks.

When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession, and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their strength, and were not able to do it.

He next opened the faggot, took the sticks separately, one by one, and again put them into his sons' hands, upon which they broke them easily. He then addressed them in these words:

"My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each other, you will be as this faggot, uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies; but if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as these sticks

Aesop

Aesop's Fables or Aesopica refers to a collection of fables credited to Aesop (620–560 BC), a slave and story-teller who lived in Ancient Greece. Aesop's Fables have become a blanket term for collections of brief fables, usually involving personified animals

GOOD MORNING !

I thoughly enjoyed reading the fables of Aesop and I’ve put just a couple of them here for you today. They are very wise stories meant to teach a lesson. If we are wise we will learn a little from those willing to teach us.

Somewhere along the line, I developed a great love of history, historic sayings and what some call ‘old wives’ tales’. It probably stemmed from all the sayings I grew up with. My maternal grandmother had one for everything. What wasn’t in the Bible, was from the lips of the wise women in her past.

She always amazed me and to this day I’m in awe of her. For every saying there is a message . People often passed these words on down many generations . Fables were the same and while the words are so full of truth, they were easily listened to by many because they were in the form of a story.

What sometimes seems like a child’s fairy tale, actually has lots of lessons for us all to learn.

The full moon of the past several days was only visable one day this week on my way to work and it was beautiful.  I always think of my children and their children when I see it.  No matter how far apart we are, we can all see that same old moon...

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

A Boy was stung by a Nettle. He ran home and told his Mother, saying, "Although it hurts me very much, I only touched it gently."

"That was just why it stung you," said his Mother. "The next time you touch a Nettle, grasp it boldly, and it will be soft as silk to your hand, and not in the least hurt you."

Whatever you do, do with all your might.

Aesop

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

MA

 

 

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BOOK 08, CHAPTER 1. PAGE 24

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.

Anthony J. D'Angelo

Today we can pretend we are sharing

a good cup of coffee, while enjoying....

Good Morning Blessings...

This morning when I awoke

And saw the sun above,

I softly said, "Good morning, Lord,

Bless everyone I love

Right away I thought of you

and said a loving prayer,

That He would bless you specially,

and keep you free from care

I thought of all the happiness

a day could hold in store,

I wished it all for you because

no one deserves it more

I felt so warm and good inside,

my heart was all aglow

I know God heard my prayers for you,

He hears them all, you know

A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you're at home...

 

GOOD MORNING !

I hope the little poem above made you SMILE. It seems that just about everyday I hear about someone’s answered prayers. This is something they don’t print in newspapers or broadcast on the TV, but there are many answered prayers and we need to be aware of it.

Just think of the possibilities.

We all, including me, ought to pray more. Oh, ok, I know about unanswered prayers too. Maybe we should just think of them as blessings. You all should know that if your prayer isn’t answered right a way it is because our dear Lord had a better idea.

I won’t even try to explain that one any further. Somethings we just don’t need all the answers to.

We’ve got a few more inches of snow coming our way and I’m off to work once more…

I owe , I owe,

It’s off to work I go…

 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

You can avoid having ulcers by adapting to the situation:

If you fall in the mud puddle, check your pockets for fish.

Author Unknown

A true friend is one who thinks you are a good egg even if you are half-cracked.

Author Unknown

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

MA

 

 

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BOOK 08, CHAPTER 1, PAGE 23

TODAY

By Author Unknown

We shall do much in the years to come,

but what have we done today?

We shall give our gold in a princely sum,

but what did we give today?

We shall lift the heart and dry the tear,

We shall plant a hope in the place of fear,

We shall speak the words of love and cheer

but what did we speak today?

We shall be so kind in the afterwhile,

but what have we been today?

We shall bring each lonely life a smile,

but what have we brought today?

We shall give to truth a grander birth,

And to steadfast faith a deeper worth,

We shall feed the hungering souls of earth,

but whom have we fed today?

We shall reap such joys in the by and by,

but what have we sown today?

We shall build us mansions in the sky,

but what have we built today?

'Tis sweet in idle dreams to bask,

but here and now do we do our task?

Yes, this is the thing our souls must ask,

"What have we done today?"

GOOD MORNING !

So far today I’ve got out of bed and started on my good cup of coffee before I have to go off to work.

We didn’t get much snow yesterday. It started out with white out conditions on the way to work, so it was a slow go, but by noon had stopped. I got home and swept the steps and walkways clear. Didn’t even have to use the shovel, but by the time I’d settled in for a bite to eat, the steps and walkways were covered again.

Seems that just like the snow, I am going around in circles lately. The work week has been a quiet one so far. I don’t think there will be much new going on there for awhile as we are now down to just a handful of men working. Inside jobs are hard to come by so over half our work force are on lay off for awhile.

I’m doing my busy work, catching up on data entry and filing that was not done when we were busy. I found myself nodding off a few times yesterday. A quiet office and lots of numbers in front of you will tend to put you to sleep for sure.

Now I have to remember to get up and dance around once in awhile to wake my self up.

Take good care all and keep warm!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Let us rise up and be thankful;

for if we didn't learn a lot today,

at least we learned a little,

and if we didn't learn a little,

at least we didn't get sick,

and if we got sick, at least we didn't die;

so, let us all be thankful.

Buddha

 

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

MA

 

 

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