BOOK 08,CHAPTER 8, PAGE 29

God has given us

these times of Joy

Psalm 81:4

Come said the wind to the leaves one day,

Come o're the meadows and we will play.

Put on your dresses scarlet and gold,

For summer is gone and the days grow cold.

 A Children's Song of the 1880's

GOOD MORNING !

The calendar tells us that the seasons change in mid-September, but we all know that the unofficial end to summer is Labor Day. It seems we often equate the summer season with freedom and the fall with "back to school" and, for many, that means drudgery or at least, less freedom.

Summer style and its pace is so different. Summer is a very social time as the weather encourages people to go out. Now the days are getting shorter, and even the way people talk about the seasons encourages less energetic feelings

We really do need to celebrate what's special about each season and look forward to the opportunities that come with the change in weather. The summer is only three months at most. That leaves nine other months, so of course we couldn't get all the projects done or do all the vacationing we ever wanted in such a short time.

My little weekend vacations will continue til the end of October so I’ll have a gradual ending to my days of being outdoors. When the cold weather comes I’ll hibernate here at home til Spring arrives.

I’ll be off to my camper after work today and won’t return home til sometime on Tuesday, September 2nd. So when I return I’ll have a new journal theme for the new month and lots of new quotes, poems and thoughts for the day to share with you all.

I’ve chosen ALOHA as the theme for Chapter 9 of my Book 08 . It has taken some hours surfing the net to find out what I could about that magical word.

ALOHA can mean love, affection, compassion, mercy, sympathy, pity, kindness, sentiment, grace, charity, greeting, salutation, regards; sweetheart, lover, loved one, to love, to be fond of, .etc.

It's the way people treat each other, a way of life and a state of mind

It can mean good bye and also hello.

In September we will be saying Good Bye to summer and Hello to fall. I’m looking forward to a brand new month and a new season to enjoy. God has blessed us splendidly with beauty in each of the seasons of the year and I’m so thankful for them.

I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend. You will all be in my thoughts and prayers. Be safe and happy and enjoy the precious moments we’ve been given.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

There are two things to aim at in life:

first, to get what you want; and,

after that, to enjoy it.

Only the wisest of humans

achieve the second.

Logan Pearsall Smith

May the Lord Bless YOU

With Peace as you experience

The JOYS of EACH and EVERY new day!

MA

 

 

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BOOK 08,CHAPTER 8,PAGE 28

God has given us

these times of Joy

Psalm 81:4

Just when summer gets perfect—

fresh nights, soft sun, casual breezes,

crushingly full and quietly cooling trees,

empty beaches, and free weekends—it ends.

Life is like that too.

Just when we get it right, it starts to change.

The job gets easy and we know just how to do it,

and they tell us we’re retired.

The children grow up and get reasonable

and they leave home,

just when it’s nice to have them around . . . .

That’s life on the edge of autumn.

And that’s beautiful—if we have the humility for it.

Joan Chittister

GOOD MORNING !

As you see I’ve pictures of 3 more of my grandbabes as they started school this week. Our Princess is a 3rd grader, Our Sweetheart began Kindergarten and Our Prince Charming went to Preschool. These are the 3 grandchildren that I’ve been blessed by having them in the camper next door to mine all summer.

All told I have 11 grandchildren so there will be more pictures of BACK TO SCHOOL I hope. It all depends on their parents sending them to me. None live close by.

Changes have happened in my life just like in the poem above. Just when things were comfortable some kind of change came along. I never had to experience living alone until late in my life when the youngest was in college . I lived with my parents until I got married and then lived with my husband til he died and then of course I still had all the babes til they grew up and went on their own.

I’m not sure I’ll ever be comfortable with it, even though I do enjoy my life to the fullest each day. There is a difference .

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Life should be enjoyable;

too often we think it's about achievement.

The truth is that making life enjoyable

 is an achievement in itself.

Unattributed

May the Lord Bless YOU

With Peace as you experience

The JOYS of EACH day 

MA

 

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BOOK 08, CHAPTER 8, PAGE 27

God has given us

these times of Joy

Psalm 81:4

Our Sunshine Boy with his back pack

ready for the first day of Kindergarten

August rushes by like desert rainfall,

A flood of frenzied upheaval,

Expected, but still catching me unprepared.

Like a match flame bursting on the scene,

heat and haze of crimson sunsets.

Like a dream

Of moon and dark barely recalled,

A moment, Shadows caught in a blink.

Like a quick kiss;

One wishes for more

But it suddenly turns to leave,

Dragging summer away.

Elizabeth Maua Taylor, August

A TIME TO ENJOY

His younger brother, Our Little Ray,

says his big brother is #1

GOOD MORNING !

There are now only 9 weekends left til the end of the camping season. I know I will be having severe withdrawal pains when it all ends. But for now I’m set on enjoying each and everyone of them to the fullest.

The thought has occurred to me that there may be less than 9 camping seasons left for me to enjoy. Time marches on and I wonder how long I will be able to do it. None of us knows any more about the future than that what we know right now. Summer fades, autumn follows, seasons continue on.

That much we know.

Today is OVER THE HUMP DAY and most of my weekly work is done. My boss will be out this afternoon so that means I’ll be working an hour later than usual. I get paid overtime so it’s an ok thing. It is just such a long day especially when there is no one in.

I suppose I’ll have to do some office cleaning. More and more leaves are changing color and quite a few are falling. That may be due to the fact that we haven’t had much rain. Those leaves whirl around in circles in our parking lot at work and right up to the entry door. Every time someone opens it, in come the leaves. It’ll be a constant battle now til about December to keep those leave swept out.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures of our Sunshine Boy off to his first day of Kindergarten. I’m hoping that the rest of my babes will be sending some BACK TO SCHOOL pictures and when they do I’ll put them in this journal. All of my grand children are now in school (this includes PreSchool) except for one. He is just 2 so he has a ways to go yet.

My 1st cup of good coffee (which seems extra good this morning) is about done now so …

 I owe, I owe

It’s off to work I go…

Getting on the school bus

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Go outside, to the fields,

enjoy nature and the sunshine,

 go out and try to recapture

happiness in yourself and in God.

Think of all the beauty that’s still left

in and around you and be happy!

Anne Frank

There he goes

May the Lord Bless YOU

With Peace as you experience

The JOYS of Summertime

MA

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BOOK 08, CHAPTER 8, PAGE 26

God has given us

these times of Joy

Psalm 81:4

When I found I no longer had the stamina to work long hours clearing the fallen limbs in the woods around my house, I began to bring a lawn chair and a thermos with me. I still work in the woods, but stop frequently to sit and have a cup of tea. I’ve identified birds I didn’t know lived here and evidence that a bobcat shares the property. Since I’ve slowed down some, I see things I never saw before and find that quiet solitude is not lonely but nurturing, allowing my heart to open to the signs and lessons of nature that surround me.

Sallirae Henderson

A TIME TO ENJOY

GOOD MORNING !

Yes, I have slowed down considerably. Years ago as a working Mom with 7 children I did a whole lot more than I do now. I do take time out to sit and rest before continuing my chores. I find more time to appreciate things around me that were not evident to me in the past. I was just too busy, I hear and see more now and I do less. Nature has a lot to teach us if we give her the chance.

Solitude has become a way of life for me most days. It is good that I’m now balancing out that part of my life by camping with my oldest son and his family and my daughter and her husband. Their laughter is like music to my soul.

We all have our own campers, but we do most things together. Still when we need the privacy we have our own little home in the woods to go to. My DSIL made the comment last weekend that there weren’t many son-in-laws that would go camping with their MIL’s. I guess that is probably true, but we all tend to get along well and have lots of fun. I hope that I’m never an indisposition to any of them.

As much as I love the camping I have to admit I wouldn’t be able to do so without the help of my family. It wouldn’t be half the fun if I were by myself either. It’s all a matter of keeping up a good balance. We all need some time to ourselves but we all need others too.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August, and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

May the Lord Bless YOU

With Peace as you experience

The JOYS of Summertime

MA

 

 

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BOOK 08, CHAPTER 8, PAGE 25

God has given us

these times of Joy

Psalm 81:4

The sorrow you endure, makes the joy so much brighter. The relaxation you enjoy, gives you energy to work more effectively. The time apart from a loved one, makes the time together special. Death makes life precious. The heat of summer makes autumn refreshing. Having to do without something, gives you an appreciation for it. Illness makes good health worth pursuing. Hunger stimulates nourishment.

The things we see as "bad", often make the good things good. How would we know pleasure without pain? With no discomfort, how could we be comfortable? If there were no darkness, what would be the meaning of light? Without ignorance, what would be the value of knowledge. In every direction, in all situations, life has meaning. Always, there is the opportunity for fulfillment.

Rather than cursing the darkness, appreciate the light that it makes possible.

Ralph Marston

Good Morning,

The words above are so very true. I’m hoping that my R & R over the weekend does give me more energy to do my work today. It’s always difficult for me to adjust after my weekends away so we’ll trust that all that rest is effective for sure.

Signs that fall is coming are increasing daily. The squirrels at the campground over the weekend were busy making their nests up in the tree tops. Many trees have leaves tinged in brown or gold and there were lots of leaves fluttering to the ground too.

Where the famer’s corn fields were mostly green and laden with corn, you now see where the stalks are drying out. When you look outside you still see mostly green, but scattered here and there are all the reminders that summer is fast fading.

When I’m driving to and from work each day it is like going to a movie some times as the scenery is constantly changing. Where there were apple blossoms on the trees you now see ripe red apples ready to pick. Where there were baby geese crossing the roads you now see the young in flight overhead with their parents.

Soon I’ll be going to work in the dark and I’ll hate it that I won’t have the view I’ve had. But coming home should still provide good sight for for quite a while yet. Only in the very short days of winter is dark coming home.

I'll be counting my blessings and enjoying the day for sure !

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

A fallen leaf is nothing more

than a summers wave good bye

May the Lord Bless YOU

With Peace as you experience

The JOYS of Summertime

MA

 

 

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BOOK 08, CHAPTER 8, PAGE 24

God has given us

these times of Joy

Psalm 81:4

Each one of us is God's special work of art.

Through us, He teaches and inspires,

delights and encourages,

informs and uplifts all those

who view our lives.

Joni Earckson Tada

A TIME TO ENJOY

GOOD EVENING !

I’m home once more from the campground and sad to say it’s time to get things ready to go back to work tomorrow. The long weekend was very restful and for the most part full of sunshine and warmth.

On my way home today we had a badly needed rain shower. We do need rain as everything is very dry so that was a very welcome and refreshing gift. My car was very dusty from sitting at the campsite all weekend so it got a much needed bath too.

I didn’t take any new pictures for you all to see this weekend as nothing much new happened. We did get to go swimming on Saturday and I renewed my suntan a little. But for the most part I spent a lot of time in the shade keeping cool.

Next weekend we’ll be celebrating Labor Day so we decided to go with a luau theme. I will make sure to take pictures then for sure.  I've got my Hawaiin shirts all ready to wear and we have lei's for everyone to wear too!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Celebrate each season,

for you, too,

are transformed

with the turns of the earth.

 Arthur Dobrin

May the Lord Bless YOU

With Peace as you experience

The JOYS of Summertime

MA

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BOOK 08, CHAPTER 8, PAGE 21

God has given us

these times of Joy

Psalm 81:4

This was one of those perfect

New England days in late summer

where the spirit of autumn

takes a first stealing flight,

like a spy,

through the ripening country-side,

and, with feigned sympathy

for those who droop with August heat,

puts her cool cloak of bracing air

about leaf and flower

and human shoulders.

Sarah Orne Jewett

GOOD MORNING!

We have had some cool nights. When I left for work yesterday morning I had to put a jacket on. It was only 59 degrees. It is supposed to be in the 80’s today and the rest of the weekend.

I hope to get in swimming as we didn’t do that at all last week. They will keep the pool at the campground open til it gets too cold. It won’t close after Labor Day as most of our public pools do. Hopefully we’ll have a nice long warm fall. Every year is a little different so it’s hard to know what to expect.

I’ll be at the campsite now til Sunday evening so I won’t have an entry til then. I do hope you all have a great weekend. You’ll all be in my thoughts and prayers as always.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

When summer opens,

I see how fast it matures,

and fear it will be short;

but after the heats of July and August,

I am reconciled,

like one who has had his swing,

to the cool of autumn.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

May the Lord Bless YOU

With Peace as you experience

The JOYS of Summertime

MA

 

 

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BOOK 08, CHAPTER 8, PAGE 20

God has given us

these times of Joy

Psalm 81:4

I FEEL GREAT TODAY!

Try this little experiment. Wherever you're sitting, lower your head and look down. Let your shoulders droop. Say to yourself quietly "I'm really depressed. I feel awful." How do you feel?

Now try this. Sit up straight, or stand up if you want. Look up toward the sky. Put a big smile on your face and say out loud with excitement "I feel GREAT today! I am alive with excitement and enthusiasm." Now how do your feel? Do you notice a big difference?

 It's all due to your physiology. By changing your posture and your voice, you have changed your attitude… Now a positive attitude won't change your situation. But if you hold your head high and look toward the stars, you'll see a lot more opportunities than if you're looking down and depressed…

You're in complete control of the way you act and the way you feel. Use that to your advantage every moment.

Ralph Marston

A TIME TO ENJOY

GOOD MORNING !

I really do choose how I start the day. I could moan and groan my situation, but what good would it do. The beagle doesn’t care and neither does the dirty old bird. The only one that hears me is-- me and I don’t want to listen to any whining so I try to keep things on a happy note.

I can sing , I can dance and no one knows but me. When people see the SMILE on my face they think I’m happy and that’s a good thing. Little do they know I’m probably dreaming about the BEACH.

Thinking about things that make me happy often tend to do just that. I’m feeling great today – hope you are too !

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

The wind might cause a kite to rise,

 but what keeps it up there

is the fact that somebody on

the ground has a steady hand.

You have to hold steady to your values

 - your integrity.

It's your anchor.

You let go of that…well,

it isn't long before your kite

comes crashing down

Author unknown

May the Lord Bless YOU

With Peace as you experience

The JOYS of Summertime

MA

 

 

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BOOK 08, CHAPTER 8, PAGE 19

This time,

like all times,

is a very good one,

if we but know what to do with it

Ralph Waldo Emerson

A bird is singing, the sky is blue, the temperature is perfect, and the trees are covered in green. Is there a lesson to be learned from that? Well, it's just life. Right now I happen to be enjoying the moment

Nature cannot be beautiful unless you appreciate it. Beauty in any form requires appreciation in order to be beautiful, and appreciation is a quality found within you. Enjoying the moment is absorbing.

Enjoyment is accomplished by relaxing into the moment. You can't fast forward nature. You can't stop or freeze frame moments you enjoy Life is short! You can either enjoy or regret. Select enjoy, and you will experience great joy in this moment.

GOOD MORNING !

Monday is over and done so now the rest of the week should just speed by and my next long weekend will be here before I know it. Monday’s are by far the hardest day of my work week. I have the payroll to do which does require my brain to function and it’s often a slow start as it thinks we are still in the vacation mode.

My other menial tasks around the office require far less mental endeavors. Data entry is important for all the reports I do and entering accounts payables is important so the bill get paid on time, but they are easy tasks.

Opening and sorting mail or taking messages is also simple to do. Life in a one gal office tends to be monotonous some times, but I like the quiet and except for the days there is nothing to do, I enjoy my job.

I was able to get out and sit awhile on the patio after I got some laundry done last night but it was getting dark about 8:30 so I came in and got an early start upstairs. I like to read for awhile before going to sleep so that meant I got to read a few extra pages. That was nice.

I have to go to bed early in order to get up early but it has become a way of life but when the weekend comes I do stay up later and sleep in longer. Anyway I do it, my body needs those 8 hours and it adjusts according.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Life itself cannot give you joy

unless you really will it.

Life just gives you time and space

it's up to you to fill it.

an old Chinese proverb

Take a moment to be in the moment. The next moment is waiting for you to enjoy. Only when you enjoy this moment will you know why it is called the PRESENT. Enjoy your PRESENT, it contains JOY

May the Lord Bless YOU

With Peace as you experience

The JOYS of Summertime

MA

 

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BOOK 08, CHAPTER 8, PAGE 18

God has given us

these times of Joy.

Psalm 81:4

Let me enjoy this late-summer day

of my heart while the leaves

are still green and I won't look so close

as to see that first tint

of pale yellow slowly creep in.

I will cease endless running and

then look to the sky ask the sun

to embrace me and then hope she won't

tell of tomorrows less long than today.

Let me spend just this time

in the slow-cooling glow of warm

afternoon light and I'd think

I will still have the strength

for just one more last fling of my heart.

John Bohrn, Late August

GOOD MORNING!

The late summer days of August have been just beautiful so far this year. Cool nights and warm days with mild breezes blowing. Usually this is the hottest time of year for us.

Schools will be starting within the next week or so and the children often have to endure the hottest days of summer sitting in a classroom baking. I hope our pleasant weather continues for them and for their teachers too..

We never know what the weather will do. We have no control over it, but I do enjoy each moment of summer to the fullest. Days are getting shorter and more dearer and I cannot seem to soak in enough of the warming rays of sunshine.

Not so long ago I was having to go to bed in the daylight. Now it is dark and I’m coming inside earlier and earlier. I will miss the evenings sitting in my swing on the porch or rocking in the rocker on the patio.

I do hope your week is off to a good start ! My good cup of coffee is about gone so …

I owe, I owe

It’s off to work I go

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Never be afraid to sit awhile and think.

Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun

May the Lord Bless YOU

With Peace as you experience

The JOYS of Summertime

MA

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