FENDER SKIRTS  

I know some of you will not understand this message, but I bet you know someone who might. 
I came across this phrase yesterday.  'FENDER  SKIRTS.' 

A  term I haven't heard in a long time, and thinking about 'fender skirts' started me thinking about other words that quietly disappear from our language with hardly a notice like 'curb  feelers.' 

And 'steering knobs.' (AKA) 'suicide knob,' 'neckers knobs.' 

Since I'd been thinking of cars, my mind naturally went that direction first. 

Any kids will probably have to find some older person over 50 to explain some of these terms to you. 

Remember 'Continental  kits?'  They  were rear bumper extenders and spare tire covers that were supposed to make any car as cool as a Lincoln Continental. 

When did we quit calling them 'emergency brakes?'  At some point 'parking brake' became the proper term.  But I miss the hint of drama that went with 'emergency brake.'

I'm  sad, too, that almost all the old folks are gone who would call the accelerator the 'foot feed.'  Many today do not even know what a clutch is or that the dimmer switch used to be on the floor. 

Didn't you ever wait at the street for your daddy to come home, so you could ride the 'running  board' up to the house? 

Here's a phrase I heard all the time in my youth but never anymore - 'store-bought.'  Of course, just about everything is store-bought these days.  But once it was bragging material to have a store-bought dress or a store-bought bag of candy. 

'Coast to coast' is a phrase that once held all sorts of excitement and now means almost nothing.  Now we take the term 'world wide' for granted.           This floors me.   

On a smaller scale, 'wall-to-wall' was once a magical term in our homes.  In the '50s, everyone covered his or her hardwood floors with, wow, wall-to-wall carpeting!  Today, everyone replaces their wall-to-wall carpeting with hardwood floors.  Go figure. 

When was the last time you heard the quaint  phrase 'in a family way ?'  It's hard to imagine that the word 'pregnant' was once considered a little too graphic, a little too clinical for use in polite company, so we had all that talk about stork visits and 'being in a family way' or simply  'expecting.' 

Apparently 'brassiere' is a word no longer in usage.  I said it the other day and my daughter cracked up.  I guess it's just 'bra' now.  'Unmentionables' probably wouldn't be understood at all. 

I always loved going to the 'picture show,' but I considered 'movie' an affectation. 

Most of these words go back to the '50s, but here's a pure '60s word I came across the other day 'rat fink.'  Ooh, what a nasty put-down! 

Here's a word I miss - 'percolator.'  That was just a fun word to say.  And what was it replaced with  'Coffee maker.'  How dull...  Mr. Coffee, I blame you for this.   

I miss those made-up marketing words that were meant to sound so modern and now sound so retro.  Words like 'DynaFlow' and 'Electrolux.'  Introducing the 1963 Admiral TV, now with 'SpectraVision!'       

Food for thought.  Was there a telethon that wiped out lumbago?  Nobody complains of that anymore.  Maybe that's what Castor oil cured, because I never hear mothers threatening kids with Castor oil anymore. 

Some words aren't gone, but are definitely on the endangered list.  The one that grieves me most is 'supper.'  Now everybody says 'dinner.'  Save a great word.  Invite someone to supper.  Discuss fender skirts.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly.  As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio.  I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.  

 I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they  understood the great freedom that comes with aging.  
 
 Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 & 70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love  ..... I will.  
 
 I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.  They, too, will get old.  
 
 I know I am sometimes forgetful.  But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.  
 
 Sure, over the years my heart has been broken.  How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car?  But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion.   A heart  never broken is pristine and sterile and will  never know the joy of being imperfect.  

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.  
 
So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn  silver.  

 As you get older, it is easier to be positive.  You care less about what other people think.  I don't question myself anymore.   I've even earned the right to be wrong.  
 
So, to answer your question, I like being old.  It has set me free.  I like the person I have become.  I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be.  And I shall eat dessert every single day  (if I feel like it).  

I've never made a fortune, and it's probably too late now.
But I don't worry about that much, I'm happy anyhow
And as I go along life's way,
I'm reaping better than I sowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

Haven't got a lot of riches,
and sometimes the going's tough
But I've got loving ones all around me,
and that makes me rich enough.
I thank GOD for his Blessings,
and the Mercies HE's bestowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

I remember times when things went wrong,
My faith wore somewhat thin.
But all at once the dark clouds broke,
and the sun peeped through again.

So LORD, help me not to gripe,
about the tough rows I have hoed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

If GOD gives me strength and courage,
When the way grows steep and rough.
I'll not ask for other blessings,
I'm already Blessed enough.

And may I never be too busy,
to help others bear their loads..
Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

When I think of how many people in this world have it worse
than I do, I realize just how BLESSED WE really are.

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One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"

"It was great, Dad."

"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.

"Oh yeah," said the son.

"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered:

"I saw that we have one dog and they had four.

We have a pool  that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.

We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.

We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

We buy our food, but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them."

The boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added,  "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are."

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.

Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!

Good to pass this on.............    

This is a powerful message in our modern society. We seemed to have lost our bearings & our sense of direction.

One, young, academically excellent person went to apply for a managerial position in a big company.

He passed the first interview. The director who did the last interview, made the last decision.

The director discovered from the CV that the youth's academic achievements were excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the postgraduate research. He never had a year when he did not score.

The director asked, "Did you obtain any scholarships in school?" The youth answered "none".

The director asked, " Was it your father who paid for your school fees?" The youth answered, "My father passed away when I was one year old. It was my mother who paid for my school fees.”

The director asked, " Where did your mother work?" The youth answered, "My mother worked as a clothes cleaner. The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.

The director asked, " Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?" The youth answered, "Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books. Furthermore, my mother can wash clothes faster than me. "

The director said, "I have a request. When you go back today, go and clean your mother's hands and then see me tomorrow morning."

The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back, he happily requested his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt strange,  but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to her son.

The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly. His tears fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother's hands were so wrinkled and that there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother shivered when they were cleaned with water.

This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes every day to enable him to pay the school fee. The bruises in the mother's hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his graduation, academic excellence and his future.

After finishing the cleaning of his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother.

That night, mother and son talked for a very long time.

Next morning, the youth went to the director's office.

The Director noticed the tears in the youth's eyes and asked, " Can you tell me what  you did and learned yesterday in your house?"

The youth answered, " I cleaned my mother's hands, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes.'

The Director asked, " Please tell me your feelings."

The youth said, Number 1, I know now the meaning of appreciation. Without my mother, there would not be the successful me today. Number 2, by working together and helping my mother, only now I realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done. Number 3, I have come to appreciate the importance and value of family relationship.

The director said, " This is what I am looking for in my new  manager.
I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life. Son, you are hired.”

Later on, this young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and as a team. The company's performance improved tremendously.

A child, who has been over protected and habitually given whatever he or she wanted, would develop the entitlement mentality and would always put himself first. He would be ignorant of his parent's efforts. When he starts work, he assumes that every person must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never know the sufferings of his employees and would always blame others. This kind of person, may be good academically and may be successful for a while, but eventually would not feel a sense of achievement. He will grumble and be full of hatred and fight for more.
If we are this kind of protective parents, are we really showing love or are we destroying the kid instead?

You can let your kid live in a big house, eat  good meals, learn piano, watch a big screen TV. But when you are cutting grass, please let him experience it. After a meal, let him wash his plates and bowls together with his brothers and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love him in the right way. You want him to understand, no matter how rich his parents are, one day their hair will grow gray, same as the mother of that young man . The most important thing is your kid learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and learns the ability to work with others to get things done.

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IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE SORT IT OUT WITH THE PERSON INVOLVED IN A CALM RESPECTFUL MANNER, DO NOT TAKE THE ISSUE TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

DO NOT GOSSIP ABOUT OTHERS, REFUSE TO LISTEN TO GOSSIP FROM OTHERS.

DON’T HOLD ON TO RESENTMENT, DEAL WITH IT WITH THE PERSON CONCERNED

ALWAYS TREAT OTHERS HOW YOU WOULD WANT THEM TO TREAT YOU.

ALWAYS BE MINDFULL OF OTHERS FEELINGS.

HAVE MUTUAL RESPECT REGARDLESS OF DIFFERENCE OF OPINION, THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK

ENCOURAGE YOUR PARTNERS TO SHOW THE SAME RESPECT TO OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS ( OR ENCOURAGE THEM TO STAY HOME )

ALWAYS BE SUPPORTIVE ( WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND)

LEAVE ANY PETTY JEALOUSY AND ENVY AT THE DOOR,

ITS NOT HEALTHY FOR YOU OR ANYBODY ELSE

ANY PROBLEMS FROM THE PAST ARE TO REMAIN THERE, AS THEY HAVE CAUSED TO MUCH DISTRESS

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There is a bank that credits your
account each morning with $86,400.
It carries over no balance from day to day.
Every evening deletes whatever part of the
balance you failed to use during the day.
What would you do?

Draw out ALL OF IT, of course!!!!

Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME.
Every morning, it credits you with 86,400
seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost,
whatever of this you have failed to invest to good
purpose. It carries over no balance.
It allows no overdraft.

Each day it opens a new account for you.
Each night it burns the remains of the day.
If you fail to use the day's deposits,
the loss is yours.

There is no going back. There is no
drawing against the "tomorrow."

You must live in the present on today's
deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the
utmost in health, happiness, and success!
The clock is running. Make the most of today.
And remember that time waits for no one.
Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift.

You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence.
You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.

........Abraham Lincoln

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'Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.'

A sharp tongue can cut your own throat. 

If you want your dreams to come true, you mustn't oversleep.

Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important. 

The best vitamin for making friends..... B1.

The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.

The heaviest thing you can carry is a grudge.

One thing you can give and still keep...is your word.

You lie the loudest when you lie to yourself
If you lack the courage to start, you have already finished. 
One thing you can't recycle is wasted time. 
Ideas won't work unless ' You' do.

Your mind is like a parachute...it functions only when open..

The 10 commandments are not a multiple choice.

The pursuit of happiness is the chase of a lifetime! It is never too late to become what you might have been.

Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right.. pray for the one's who don't.

Believe everything happens for a reason.

If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it. 

Friends are like balloons; once you let them go, you might not get them back. Sometimes we get so busy with our own lives and problems that we may not even notice that we've let them fly away.

Sometimes we are so caught up in who's right and who's wrong that we forget what's right and wrong. Sometimes we just don't realize what real friendship means until it is too late.

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A young couple moves into a new neighbourhood.

The next morning while they are eating breakfast,

The young woman sees her neighbour hanging the wash outside.

"That laundry is not very clean", she said.

"She doesn't know how to wash correctly.

Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."

Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbour would hang her wash to dry,

the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a

Nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband:

"Look, she has learned how to wash correctly.

I wonder who taught her this."

The husband said, "I got up early this morning and

Cleaned our windows."

And so it is with life. What we see when watching others

Depends on the purity of the window through which we look

I've never made a fortune, and it's probably too late now.
But I don't worry about that much, I'm happy anyhow
And as I go along life's way,
I'm reaping better than I sowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

Haven't got a lot of riches,
and sometimes the going's tough
But I've got loving ones all around me,
and that makes me rich enough.
I thank GOD for his Blessings,
and the Mercies HE's bestowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

I remember times when things went wrong,
My faith wore somewhat thin.
But all at once the dark clouds broke,
and the sun peeped through again.

So LORD, help me not to gripe,
about the tough rows I have hoed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

If GOD gives me strength and courage,
When the way grows steep and rough.
I'll not ask for other blessings,
I'm already Blessed enough.

And may I never be too busy,
to help others bear their loads..
Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

When I think of how many people in this world have it worse
than I do, I realize just how BLESSED WE really are.

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'We have a list of folks we know

All written in a book,

And every year at Christmas time

We go and have a look,

And that is when we realize

These names are just a part,

Not of the book they're written in

But of our very hearts.

Each name stands for someone

Whose path touched ours, and then,

Left such a print of friendship, love, and more

That we want to touch again.

And while it sounds fantastic

For us to make this claim,

I really feel we are composed

Of each remembered name.

So never think of Christmas cards

As just a mere routine,

Of names upon a Christmas list

Forgotten in-between

And when we send this Christmas card

That is addressed to you,

It is because you're on that list

Of folk we're indebted to.

And every year when Christmas comes

We realise anew,

The biggest gift that life can give

"is knowing folks like you"

And may this Spirit of Christmas

That forever and ever endures,

Leave its richest blessings

In the Hearts of You and Yours.

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1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.                                  Your friends and parents will.  Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, & wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, and then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter”?

26. Always choose life.

27. Forgive everyone everything.

28. What other people think of you is none of your business.

29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.

30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

31. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

32. Believe in miracles.

33. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

34. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

35. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

36. Your children get only one childhood.

37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

38. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

39. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

41. The best is yet to come.

42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

43. Yield.

44. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

With the prodding of my friends, I am writing this story. My name is Mildred Hondorf. I am a former elementary school music teacher from Des Moines , Iowa . I've always supplemented my income by teaching piano lessons-something I've done for over 30 years. Over the years I found that children have many levels of musical ability.. I've never had the pleasure of having a prodigy though I have taught some talented students.

However I've also had my share of what I call 'musically challenged' pupils. One such student was Robby. Robby was 11 years old when his mother (a single Mom) dropped him off for his first piano lesson. I prefer that students (especially boys!) begin at an earlier age, which I explained to Robby.

But Robby said that it had always been his mother's dream to hear him play the piano. So I took him as a student. Well, Robby began with his piano lessons and from the beginning I thought it was a hopeless endeavor. As much as Robby tried, he lacked the sense of tone and basic rhythm needed to excel but he dutifully reviewed his scales and some elementary pieces that I require all my students to learn.

Over the months he tried and tried while I listened and cringed and tried to encourage him. At the end of each weekly lesson he'd always say, 'My mom's going to hear me play someday.' But it seemed hopeless. He just did not have any inborn ability. I only knew his mother from a distance as she dropped Robby off or waited in her aged car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled but never stopped in.

Then one day Robby stopped coming to our lessons.

I thought about calling him but assumed because of his lack of ability, that he had decided to pursue something else. I also was glad that he stopped coming. He was a bad advertisement for my teaching!

Several weeks later I mailed to the student's homes a flyer on the upcoming recital.. To my surprise Robby (who received a flyer) asked me if he could be in the recital.  ; I told him that the recital was for current pupils and because he had dropped out he really did not qualify. He said that his mother had been sick and unable to take him to piano lessons but he was still practicing 'Miss Hondorf, I've just got to play!' he insisted.

I don't know what led me to allow him to play in the recital. Maybe it was his persistence or maybe it was something inside of me saying that it would be all right. The night for the recital came. The high school gymnasium was packed with parents, friends and relatives. I put Robby up last in the program before I was to come up and thank all the students and play a finishing piece. I thought that any damage he would do would come at the end of the program and I could always salvage his poor performance through my 'curtain closer.'

Well, the recital went off without a hitch. The students had been practicing and it showed, then Robby came up on stage. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair looked like he'd run an eggbeater through it. 'Why didn't he dress up like the other students?' I thought. 'Why didn't his mother at least make him comb his hair for this special night?'

Robby pulled out the piano bench and he began. I was surprised when he announced that he had chosen Mozart's Concerto #21 in C Major. I was not prepared for what I heard next. His fingers were light on the keys, they even danced nimbly on the ivories. He went from pianissimo to fortissimo. From allegro to virtuoso. His suspended chords that Mozart demands were magnificent! Never had I heard Mozart played so well by people his age. After six and a half minutes he ended in a grand crescendo and everyone was on their feet in wild applause.

Overcome and in tears I ran up on stage and put my arms around Robby in joy. 'I've never heard you play like that Robby! How'd you do it? '


Through the microphone Robby explained: 'Well, Miss Hondorf, Remember I told you my Mom was sick? Well, actually she had cancer and passed away this morning and well. .. She was born deaf so tonight was the first time she ever heard me play. I wanted to make it special.'

There wasn't a dry eye in the house that evening. As the people from Social Services led Robby from the stage to be placed into foster care, noticed that even their eyes were red and puffy and I thought to myself how much richer my life had been for taking Robby as my pupil.

No, I've never had a prodigy but that night I became a prodigy . .. Of Robby's. He was the teacher and I was the pupil for it is he that taught me the meaning of perseverance and love and believing in yourself and maybe even taking a chance in someone and you don't know why.

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It will take just 37 seconds to read this and change your thinking.....
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.
One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.
His bed was next to the room's only window.
The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.
The men talked for hours on end.
They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.. Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and colour of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.
Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every colour and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.
Although the other man could not hear the band - he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days, weeks and months passed.
One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep.
She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed.
It faced a blank wall.
The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window
The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.'

Epilogue:
There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.
Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.
If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.
'Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present .'
Have a good day.
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A little girl walked to and from school daily.

Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to the primary school.

As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with lightning.

The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school and she feared the electrical storm might harm her child.

Full of concern, the mother quickly

Got into her car and drove

Along the route to her child's school..

As she did, she saw her little girl walking along

At each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up, and smile.

Another and another flash of lighting followed quickly and with each, the little girl would look at the streak of light and smile.

When the mother's car drew up beside the child, she lowered the window and called to her

'What are you doing?'

The child answered,

'I am trying to look pretty because God keeps taking my picture.'

Just have a good day today and everyday

As you face the storms that come your way.

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In the year 2009, the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in Australia, and said:
Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flash before me.
Build another Ark and save 2 of every living thing along with a few good humans.He gave Noah the blueprints, saying: You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights.
Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard - but no Ark.
Noah! He roared, I'm about to start the rain! Where is the Ark? Forgive me, Lord, begged Noah, 'but things have changed.
   I needed a building permit.
I've been arguing with the inspector about the need for a sprinkler system.

My neighbors claim that I've violated the neighborhood zoning laws by building the Ark in my yard and exceeding the height limitations.

We had to go to the Development Appeal Board for a decision.

Then the Department of Transportation demanded a bond be posted for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark's move to the sea.

I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it.

Getting the wood was another problem. There's a ban on cutting local trees in order to save the spotted owl.

I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls - but no go!

When I started gathering the animals, an animal rights group sued me.
They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will.
They argued the accommodations were too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space.

Then the EPA ruled that I couldn't build the Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood.

I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I'm supposed to hire for my building crew.

Immigration and Naturalization are checking the green-card status of most of the people who want to work.

   The trades unions say I can't use my sons. They insist I have to hire only Union workers with Ark-building experience.

   To make matters worse, the Tax Office seized all my assets, claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species.

So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 years for me to finish this Ark.

Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky.

Noah looked up in wonder and asked, 'You mean you're not going to destroy the world?'
  
'No,' said the Lord.  
'The government beat me to it.

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FINALLY - Someone is bitchy enough to say it like it really is

BITCHOLOGY   

When I stand up for myself and my beliefs, 
they call me a bitch. 

When I stand up for those I love, 
they call me a bitch. 

When I speak my mind, think my own thoughts 
or do things my own way, they call me a 
bitch. 

Being a bitch 
means I won't compromise what's in my heart. 
It means I live my life MY way. 
It means I won't allow anyone to step on me. 

When I refuse to tolerate injustice and 
speak against it, I am defined as a 
bitch. 

The same thing happens when I take time for myself  instead of being everyone's maid, or when I act a little selfish. 
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It means I have the courage and strength to allow myself to be who I truly am and won't become anyone else's idea of what they think I 'should' be.

I am outspoken, opinionated and determined. I want what I want and there is nothing wrong with that! 

So try to stomp on me, just try to douse my inner flame, try to squash every ounce   of beauty I hold within me. You won't succeed. 

And if that makes me a bitch, so be it. 
I embrace the title and am proud to bear it. 

B  -  Babe 
I   -  In 
T  -  Total 
C  -  Control of 
H -  Herself 

B   =  Beautiful 
I   =  Intelligent 
T  =  Talented 
C  =  Charming 
H =  Hell of a Woman 

B   =  Beautiful 
I    =  Individual 
T  =  That 
C  =  Can 
H =  Handle 'anything'

'If you can't do something right, get a woman to do it.'

"The greatest natural resource in the world is not in the earth's waters or minerals, nor in the forests or grasslands.  It is the spirit that resides in every unstoppable person.  And the spirit of the individual benefits us all.  Choose to be Unstoppable"....Cynthia Kersey

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Happiness keeps you Sweet,
Trials keep you Strong,
Sorrows keep you Human,
Failures keep you Humble,
Success keeps you Glowing,
But Only Faith Keeps You Going!

I would rather have one rose and a kind word
From a friend while I'm here than
A whole truck load when I'm gone

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THE OLD PHONE

THIS WAS ONE OF THE 'GOOD OLD DAYS' WHEN PEOPLE REALLY CARED ABOUT EACH OTHER

When I was quite young, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked to it.

Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person. Her name was 'Information Please' and there was nothing she did not know. Information Please could supply anyone's number and the correct time.

My personal experience with the genie-in-a-bottle came one day while my Mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer, the pain was terrible, but there seemed no point in crying
because there was no one home to give sympathy.

I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway. The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the Parlor and dragged it to the landing climbing up; I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear.

'Information, please,' I said into the mouthpiece just above my head. A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear.

'Information.'

'I hurt my finger,' I wailed into the phone, the tears came readily enough now that I had an audience.

'Isn't your mother home?' came the question.

'Nobody's home but me,' I blubbered.

'Are you bleeding?' the voice asked.

'No,' I replied. 'I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts.'

'Can you open the icebox?' she asked.

I said I could.

'Then chip off a little bit of ice and hold it to your finger,' said the voice.

After that, I called 'Information Please' for everything. I asked her for help with my geography, and she told me where  Philadelphia  was. She helped me with my math. She told me my pet chipmunk that I had caught in the park just the day before, would eat fruit and nuts.

Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary, died. I called, 'Information Please,' and told her the sad story. She listened, and then said things grown-ups say to soothe a child. But I was not consoled. I asked her, 'Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring Joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?'

She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, ' Wayne , always remember that there are other worlds to sing in..'

Somehow I felt better.

Another day I was on the telephone, 'Information Please.'

'Information,' said in the now familiar voice.

'How do I spell fix?' I asked.

All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest . When I was nine years old, we moved across the country to  Boston . I missed my friend very much. 'Information Please' belonged in that old wooden box back home and I somehow never thought of trying the shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me.

Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would
recall the serene sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy..

A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in  Seattle  I had about a half-hour or so between planes. I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown Operator and said, 'Information Please.'

Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well. 'Information.'

I hadn't planned this, but I heard myself saying, 'Could you please tell me how to spell fix?'

There was a long pause.
Then came the soft spoken answer, 'I guess your finger must have healed by now.'

I laughed, 'So it's really you,' I said. 'I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time?'

'I wonder,' she said, 'if you know how much your call meant to me. I never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls.'

I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister.

'Please do,' she said. 'Just ask for Sally.'

Three months later I was back in  Seattle  a different voice answered:  Information.' I asked for Sally.

'Are you a friend?' she said..

'Yes, a very old friend,' I answered.

'I'm sorry to have to tell you this,' she said. 'Sally had been working part-time the last few years because she was sick. She died five weeks ago..'

Before I could hang up she said, 'Wait a minute, did you say your name was Wayne ?'

'Yes.' I answered.

'Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it down in case you called. Let me read it to you.'

The note said, 'Tell him there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean.'

I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.

Never underestimate the impression you may make on others.

Whose life have you touched today

Lifting you on eagle's wings. May you find the joy and peace you long for.

Life is a journey ... NOT a guided tour. So don't miss the ride and have a great time going around.  You don't get a second
shot at it.

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There is a bank that credits your
account each morning with $86,400.
It carries over no balance from day to day.
Every evening deletes whatever part of the
balance you failed to use during the day.
What would you do?

Draw out ALL OF IT, of course!!!!

Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME.
Every morning, it credits you with 86,400
seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost,
whatever of this you have failed to invest to good
purpose. It carries over no balance.
It allows no overdraft.

Each day it opens a new account for you.
Each night it burns the remains of the day.
If you fail to use the day's deposits,
the loss is yours.

There is no going back. There is no
drawing against the "tomorrow."

You must live in the present on today's
deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the
utmost in health, happiness, and success!
The clock is running. Make the most of today.
And remember that time waits for no one.
Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift.

That's why it's called the present!!!

CARROTS, EGGS, COFFEE......

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners.

She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see." "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.


Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.

The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond?  Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level?

How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

May we all be COFFEE!!

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom

May you always be overwhelmed by the Grace of God rather than by the cares of life

A  Girl with an Apple

August  1942. Piotrkow, Poland. The sky was gloomy that morning as we waited  anxiously. All the men, women and children of Piotrkow's Jewish ghetto had  been herded into a square. Word had gotten around that we were being moved. My  father had only recently died from typhus, which had run rampant through the  crowded ghetto. My greatest fear was that our family would be  separated.

"Whatever  you do," Isidore, my eldest brother, whispered to me, "don't tell them your  age.. Say you're sixteen." I was tall for a boy of 11, so I could pull it off.  That way I might be deemed valuable as a worker. An SS man approached me,  boots clicking against the cobblestones. He looked me up and down, then asked  my age. "Sixteen," I said. He directed me to the left, where my three brothers  and other healthy young men already stood.

My  mother was motioned to the right with the other women, children, sick and  elderly people. I whispered to Isidore, "Why?" He didn't answer. I ran to  Mama's side and said I wanted to stay with her. "No," she said sternly. "Get  away. Don't be a nuisance. Go with your brothers." She had never spoken so  harshly before. But I understood: She was protecting me. She loved me so much  that, just this once, she pretended not to. It was the last I ever saw of  her.

My  brothers and I were transported in a cattle car to Germany. We arrived at the  Buchenwald concentration camp one night weeks later and were led into a  crowded barrack. The next day, we were issued uniforms and identification  numbers.

"Don't  call me Herman anymore." I said to my brothers. "Call me 94983."

I  was put to work in the camp's crematorium, loading the dead into a  hand-cranked elevator. I, too, felt dead. Hardened, I had become a number.  Soon, my brothers and I were sent to Schlieben, one of Buchenwald's sub-camps  near Berlin.

One  morning I thought I heard my mother's voice, "Son," she said softly but  clearly, I am going to send you an angel." Then I woke up. Just a dream. A  beautiful dream. But in this place there could be no angels. There was only  work. And hunger. And fear..

A  couple of days later, I was walking around the camp, around the barracks, near  the barbed-wire fence where the guards could not easily see. I was alone. On  the other side of the fence, I spotted someone: a little girl with light,  almost luminous curls. She was half-hidden behind a birch tree. I glanced  around to make sure no one saw me. I called to her softly in  German.

"Do  you have something to eat?" She didn't understand. I inched closer to the  fence and repeated question in Polish. She stepped forward. I was thin and  gaunt, with rags wrapped around my feet, but the girl looked unafraid In her  eyes, I saw life. She pulled an apple from her woolen jacket and threw it over  the fence. I grabbed the fruit and, as I started to run away, I heard her say  faintly, "I'll see you tomorrow."

I  returned to the same spot by the fence at the same time every day. She was  always there with something for me to eat - a hunk of bread or, better yet, an  apple. We didn't dare speak or linger. To be caught would mean death for us  both. I didn't know anything about her, just a kind farm girl, except that she  understood Polish. What was her name? Why was she risking her life for me?  Hope was in such short supply, and this girl on the other side of the fence  gave me some, as nourishing in its way as the bread and apples.

Nearly  seven months later, my brothers and I were crammed into a coal car and shipped  to Theresienstadt camp in Czechoslovakia. "Don't return," I told the girl that  day. "We're leaving." I turned toward the barracks and didn't look back,  didn't even say good-bye to the little girl whose name I'd never learned, the  girl with the apples.

We  were in Theresienstadt for three months. The war was winding down and Allied  forces were closing in, yet my fate seemed sealed. On May 10,1945, I was  scheduled to die in the gas chamber at 10:00 AM. In the quiet of dawn, I tried  to prepare myself. So many times death seemed ready to claim me, but somehow  I'd survived.. Now, it was over. I thought of my parents. At least, I thought,  we will be reunited.

But  at 8 A.M. there was a commotion. I heard shouts, and saw people running every  which way through camp. I caught up with my brothers. Russian troops had  liberated the camp! The gates swung open. Everyone was running, so I did  too.

Amazingly,  all of my brothers had survived; I'm not sure how. But I knew that the girl  with the apples had been the key to my survival. In a place where evil seemed  triumphant, one person's goodness had saved my life, had given me hope in a  place where there was none. My mother had promised to send me an angel, and  the angel had come.

Eventually  I made my way to England where I was sponsored by a Jewish charity, put up in  a hostel with other boys who had survived the Holocaust and trained in  electronics. Then I came to America, where my brother Sam had already moved. I  served in the U. S. Army during the Korean War, and returned to New York City  after two years. By August 1957 I'd opened my own electronics repair shop. I  was starting to settle in.

One  day, my friend Sid who I knew from England called me. "I've got a date. She's  got a Polish friend. Let's double date."

A  blind date? Nah, that wasn't for me. But Sid kept pestering me, and a few days  later we headed up to the Bronx to pick up his date and her friend Roma. I had  to admit, for a blind date this wasn't so bad. Roma was a nurse at a Bronx  hospital. She was kind and smart. Beautiful, too, with swirling brown curls  and green, almond-shaped eyes that sparkled with life.

The  four of us drove out to Coney Island. Roma was easy to talk to, easy to be  with. Turned out she was wary of blind dates too! We were both just doing our  friends a favor. We took a stroll on the boardwalk, enjoying the salty  Atlantic breeze, and then had dinner by the shore. I couldn't remember having  a better time.

We  piled back into Sid's car, Roma and I sharing the backseat. As European Jews  who had survived the war, we were aware that much had been left unsaid between  us. She broached the subject, "Where were you," she asked softly, "during the  war?"

"The  camps," I said, the terrible memories still vivid, the irreparable loss. I had  tried to forget. But you can never forget.

She  nodded. "My family was hiding on a farm in Germany, not far from Berlin," she  told me. "My father knew a priest, and he got us Aryan papers." I imagined how  she must have suffered too, fear, a constant companion. And yet here we were,  both survivors, in a new world.

"There  was a camp next to the farm." Roma continued. "I saw a boy there and I would  throw him apples every day."

What  an amazing coincidence that she had helped some other boy. "What did he look  like? I asked. He was tall, skinny, and hungry. I must have seen him every day  for six months."

My  heart was racing. I couldn't believe it. This couldn't be. "Did he tell you  one day not to come back because he was leaving Schlieben?"

Roma  looked at me in amazement. "Yes," That was me! " I was ready to burst with joy  and awe, flooded with emotions. I couldn't believe it! My angel.

"I'm  not letting you go." I said to Roma. And in the back of the car on that blind  date, I proposed to her. I didn't want to wait.

"You're  crazy!" she said. But she invited me to meet her parents for Shabbat dinner  the following week. There was so much I looked forward to learning about Roma,  but the most important things I always knew: her steadfastness, her goodness.  For many months, in the worst of circumstances, she had come to the fence and  given me hope. Now that I'd found her again, I could never let her  go.

That  day, she said yes. And I kept my word. After nearly 50 years of marriage, two  children and three grandchildren I have never let her go.

Herman  Rosenblat, Miami Beach, Florida

This  is a true story and you can find out more by Googling Herman Rosenblat as he  was Bar Mitzvahed at age 75.

This story is being made into a movie called The  Fence.

The Pickle Jar, 
 
The pickle jar as far back as I can remember sat on
 the floor beside the dresser in my parents' bedroom.
 
When he got ready for bed, Dad would empty
 his pockets and toss his coins into the jar.
 As a small boy, I was always fascinated at the sounds the coins made
 as they were dropped into the jar.
 
They landed with a merry jingle when the jar was almost empty. Then
 the tones gradually muted to a dull thud as the jar was filled.
 
I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar to admire
 the copper and silver circles that glinted like a pirate's
 treasure when the sun poured through the bedroom window. When the 
Jar was filled, Dad would sit at the kitchen table a nd roll the
 coins  
Before taking them to the bank.
 
Taking the coins to the bank was always a big production.
 Stacked neatly in a small cardboard box, the coins were
 placed between Dad and me on the seat of his old truck.
 
Each and every time, as we drove to the bank, Dad would
 look at me hopefully. 'Those coins are going to keep you
 out of the textile mill, son. You're going to do better than
 me. This old mill town's not going to hold you back.'
 
Also, each and every time, as he slid the box of rolled
 coins across the counter at the bank toward the cashier,
 he would grin proudly. 'These are for my son's college
 fund. He'll never work at the mill all his life like me.'
 
We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping
 for an ice cream cone. I always got chocolate. Dad
 always got vanilla. When the clerk at the ice cream
 parlor handed Dad his change, he would show me the
 few coins nestled in his palm. 'When we get home,
 we'll start filling the jar again.' He always let me drop
 the first coins into the empty jar. As they rattled around
 with a brief, happy jingle, we grinned at each other.
 'You'll get to college on pennies, nickels, dimes and
 quarters,' he said. 'But you'll get there; I'll see to that.'
 
No matter how rough things got at home, Dad continued
 to doggedly drop his coins into the jar. Even the summer
 when Dad got laid off from the mill, and Mama had to
 serve dried beans several times a week, not a single
 dime was taken from the jar.
 
To the contrary, as Dad looked across the table at me,
 pouring catsup over my beans to make them more
 palatable, he became more determined than ever to
 make a way out for me 'When you finish college, Son,'
 he told me, his eyes glistening, 'You'll never have to
 eat beans again - unless you want to.'
 
The years passed, and I finished college and took a
 job in another town. Once, while visiting my parents,
 I used the phone in their bedroom, and noticed that
 the pickle jar was gone. It had served its purpose
 and had been removed.
 
A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside
 the dresser where the jar had always stood. My dad
 was a man of few words: he never lectured me on the
 values of determination, perseverance, and faith. The
 pickle jar had taught me all these virtues far more
 eloquently than the most flowery of words could have
 done. When I married, I told my wife Susan about the
 significant part the lowly pickle jar had played in my
 life as a boy. In my mind, it defined, more than
 anything else, how much my dad had loved me.
 
The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born,
 we spent the holiday with my parents. After dinner, Mom
 and Dad sat next to each other on the sofa, taking turns
 cuddling their first grandchild. Jessica began to whimper
 softly, and Susan took her from Dad's arms. 'She probably
 needs to be changed,' she said, carrying the baby into my
 parents' bedroom to diaper her. When Susan came back
 into the living room, there was a strange mist in her eyes.
 
She handed Jessica back to Dad before taking my hand
 and leading me into the room. 'Look,' she said softly, her
 eyes directing me to a spot on the floor beside the dresser.
 To my amazement, there, as if it had never been removed,
 stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with
 coins. I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my
 pocket, and pulled out a fistful of coins With a gamut of
 emotions choking me, I dropped the coins into the jar. I
 looked up and saw that Dad, carrying Jessica, had slipped
 quietly into the room. Our eyes locked, and I knew he was
 feeling the same emotions I felt. Neither one of us could
 speak.
 
This truly touched my heart. Sometimes we are so busy
 adding up our troubles that we forget to count our
 blessings. Never underestimate the power of your actions.
 With one small gesture you can change a person's life, for
 better or for worse.
 
God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another
 in some way. Look for GOOD in others.
 
The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or
 touched - they must be felt with the heart ~ Helen Keller
 
- Happy moments, praise God.
 - Difficult moments, seek God.
 - Quiet moments, worship God.
 - Painful moments, trust God.
 - Every moment, thank God.

If you can start the day without caffeine,

If you can get going without pep pills,

If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and  boring people with your troubles,

If you can eat the same food every  day and be grateful for it,

If you can understand when your loved  ones are too busy to give you any time,

If you can take criticism and  blame without resentment,

If you can resist treating a rich friend  better than a poor friend,

If you can conquer tension  without medical help,

If you can relax without liquor, 

If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

Then You Are Probably  The Family Dog!  

Whatever your cross,
 whatever your pain,
 there will always be sunshine, after the rain....
 Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall;
 But God's always ready, to answer your call....
 He knows every heartache, sees every tear,
 a word from His lips, can calm every fear... Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night,
 But suddenly vanish, by dawn's early light...
 The Savior is waiting, somewhere above,
 to give you His grace, and send you His love.
 May God fill your day with blessings!!

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle!   

Jasmine

In 2003, police in Warwickshire, England, opened a garden shed and found a whimpering, cowering dog.  It had been locked in the shed and abandoned. It was dirty and malnourished, and had clearly been abused.

In an act of kindness, the police took the dog, which was a Greyhound female, to the nearby Nuneaton Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, run by a man named Geoff Grewcock and known as a willing haven for Animals abandoned, orphaned or otherwise in need.  Geoff and the other sanctuary staff went to work with two aims to restore the dog to full health, and to win her trust.  It took several weeks, but eventually both goals were achieved.

They named her Jasmine, and they started to think about finding her an adoptive home.

But Jasmine had other ideas.  No-one remembers now how it began, but she started welcoming all animal arrivals at the sanctuary.  It wouldn't matter if it was a puppy, a fox cub, a rabbit or any other lost or hurting animal.   Jasmine would peer into the box or cage and, where possible, deliver a welcoming lick.

Geoff relates one of the early incidents. "We had two puppies that had been abandoned by a nearby railway line.  One was a Lakeland Terrier cross and another was a Jack Russell Doberman cross.  They were tiny when they arrived at the centre and Jasmine approached them and grabbed one by the scruff of the neck in her mouth and put him on the settee.  Then she fetched the other one and sat down with them, cuddling them."

"But she is like that with all of our animals, even the rabbits.  She takes all the stress out of them and it helps them to not only feel close to her but to settle into their new surroundings.

"She has done the same with the fox and badger cubs; she licks the rabbits and guinea pigs and even lets the birds perch on the bridge of her nose."

Jasmine, the timid, abused, deserted waif, became the animal sanctuary's resident surrogate mother, a role for which she might have been born. The list of orphaned and abandoned youngsters she has cared for comprises five fox cubs, four badger cubs, 15 chicks, eight guinea pigs, two stray puppies and 15 rabbits.

And one roe deer fawn. Tiny Bramble, 11 weeks old, was found semi-conscious in a field.  Upon arrival at the sanctuary, Jasmine cuddled up to her to keep her warm and then went into the full foster-mom role.   Jasmine the greyhound showers Bramble the Roe deer with affection and makes sure nothing is matted.

"They are inseparable," says Geoff.  "Bramble walks between her legs and they keep kissing each other.  They walk together round the sanctuary.  It's a real treat to see them."

Jasmine will continue to care for Bramble until she is old enough to be returned to woodland life.
When that happens, Jasmine will not be lonely.  She will be too busy showering love and affection on the next orphan or victim of abuse.

Jasmine with a Mother's heart does best what a caring Mother would do....   Such is the order of God's Creation.

Change Your Thinking

It will take just 37 seconds to read this and change your thinking.

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.

One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.

His bed was next to the room's only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end.

They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation..

Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.

Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man could not hear the band - he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words..

Days, weeks and months passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep.

She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.

He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed.

It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.'

Epilogue:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.

Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.

'Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present.'

New Alphabet

A is for apple, and B is for boat,

That used to be right, but now it won't float!

Age before beauty is what we once said,

But let's be a bit more realistic instead.

A's for arthritis;

B's the bad back,

C's the chest pains, Perhaps car-d-iac?

D is for dental decay and decline,

E is for eyesight, can't read that top line!

F is for fissures and fluid retention,

G is for gas which We'd rather not mention.

H .. High blood pressure--We'd rather it low;

I .. For incisions with scars you can show.

J is for joints, out of socket, won't mend,

K is for knees that crack when they bend.

L 's for libido, what happened to sex?

M is for memory, We forget what comes next.

N is neuralgia, in nerves way down low;

O is for osteo, bones that don't grow!

P for prescriptions, We have quite a few, Just give us a pill and We'll be good as new!

Q is for queasy, is it fatal or flu?

R is for reflux, one meal turns to two.

S is for sleepless nights, counting our fears,

T is for Tinnitus; bells in our ears!

U is for urinary; troubles with flow;

V for vertigo, that's 'dizzy,' you know.

W for worry, NOW what's going 'round?

X is for X ray, and what might be found.

Y for another year We are left here behind,

Z is for zest WE still have-- in OUR minds.

We've survived all the symptoms, our body's deployed, and

We're keeping twenty-six doctors fully employed!!!

IF YOU ARE OLD, HAVE A GREAT DAY, IF NOT YOUR TURN WILL COME!

When we walk the path of life , we find many faces will pass the other way....

Some we glimpse into and never look at again,

Some we take a longer look and take into our life, if only for a short time.

We share our thoughts a dreams with the ones we think are the closest too us.

Only to find that we have been misguided and mislead, this hurts. But we move on.

Then we find that there are real gems in amongst the rocks and stones.

They are not the prettiest of gems until they are loved and treasured.

Then we find that the really shine through and everytime we see them we smile.

Our lives are full of rocks and stones ,

Sometimes it surprising where you find the "gems".

We stumble across them in the most unlikey places, and find that we have been tripping over them, all the time.

Its only when we stop and take a closer look  that we appreciate their  beauty.

Its then that you realise that you are surrounded by them. 

I thought you would want to know about this e-mail virus.  Even the most advanced programs from Norton or McAfee cannot take care of this one. 
It appears to affect those who were born prior to 1960. 

Symptoms:

1. Causes you to   send the same e-mail twice.   Done that!

2. Causes you to send a blank e-mail!   That too!

3. Causes you t o send e-mail to the wrong person.  Yep!

4. Causes you to   send it back to the person who sent it to you. And that! 

5. Causes you to forget to attach the attachment.   Well darn!

6. Causes you to   hit 'SEND' before you've finished.  Oh   no - not   again!

7. Causes you to   hit 'DELETE' instead of 'SEND.' and I just hate that!  ;

8. Causes you to hit 'SEND' when you should 'DELETE.'  Oh   No!

IT IS CALLED THE 'C-NILE VIRUS.' 

Hmmm....Have I already told you about this?

A teacher from Primary School asks her students to write a essay about what
they would like God to do for them.. At the end of the day, while marking
the essays,she read one that made her very emotional.

Her husband, who had just walked in, saw her crying and asked her:- 'What
happened?'

She answered- 'Read this. It is one of my students' essay.'

'Oh God, tonight I ask you something very special :
Make me into a television. I want to take its place and live like the TV in
my house. Have my own special place, And have my family around ME.
To be taken seriously when I talk....
I want to be the centre of attention and be heard without interruptions or
questions.  I want to receive the same special care that theTV receives even when it is
not working. Have the company of my dad when he arrives home from work, even when he is
tired.
And I want my mom to want me when she is sad and upset, instead of ignoring me...
And... I want my brothers to fight to be with me...
I want to feel that family just leaves everything aside, every now and then, just to spend some time with me.
And last but not least, ensure that I can make them all happy and entertain them...
Lord I don't ask you for much... I just want to live like a TV.'

At that moment the husband said :- 'My God !, poor kid. What horrible
parents!'

The wife looked up at him and said:- 'That essay is our son's !!!

LADIES!!!

Remember...a layer of dust protects the Wood beneath it.
'A house becomes a home when you can write 'I love you' on the furniture .'

I used to spend at least 8 hours every weekend making sure things were just perfect - 'in case someone came over' Finally I realized one day that no-one came over; they were all out living life and having fun!

NOW, when people visit, I don't have to explain the 'condition' of my home They are more interested in hearing about the things I've been doing while I was away living life and having fun. If you haven't figured this out yet, please heed this advice.
Life is short. Enjoy it!

Dust if you must .......  but wouldn't it be better to paint a picture or write a letter, bake cookies or a cake and lick the spoon or plant a seed, ponder the difference between want and need?

Dust if you must, but there's not much time . . . . with beer to drink , rivers to swim and mountains to climb , music to hear and books to read, friends to cherish and life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world's out there with the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair, a flutter of snow, a shower of rain. This day will not come around, again.

Dust if you must , but bear in mind, old age will come and it's not kind. . .  And when you go - and go you must - you, yourself will make more dust!

It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived. 

I AM THANKFUL:  FOR THE WIFE WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA  BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED.

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED LEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME .

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION .

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.


Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart!

I walked into the grocery store not particularly interested in buying groceries. I wasn't hungry. The pain of losing my husband of 57 years was still too raw. And this grocery store held so many sweet memories.

He often came with me and almost every time he'd pretend to go off and look for something special. I knew what he was up to. I'd always spot him walking down the aisle with the three yellow roses in his hands.

He knew I loved yellow roses. With a heart filled with grief, I only wanted to buy my few items and leave, but even grocery shopping was different since he had passed on.

Shopping for one took time, a little more thought than it had for two.

Standing by the meat, I searched for the perfect small steak and remembered how he had loved his steak.

Suddenly a woman came beside me. She was blonde, slim and lovely in a soft green pantsuit. I watched as she picked up a large package of T-bones, dropped them in her basket.. hesitated, and then put them back. She turned to go and once again reached for the pack of steaks.

She saw me watching her and she smiled. 'My husband loves T-bones, but honestly, at these prices, I don't know.'

I swallowed the emotion down my throat and met her pale blue eyes.

'My husband passed away eight days ago,' I told her. Glancing at the package in her hands, I fought to control the tremble in my voice. 'Buy him the steaks. And cherish every moment you have together.'

She shook her head and I saw the emotion in her eyes as she placed the package in her basket and wheeled away.

I turned and pushed my cart across the length of the store to the dairy products. There I stood, trying to decide which size milk I should buy. A Quart, I finally decided and moved on to the ice cream. If nothing else, I could always fix myself an ice cream cone.

I placed the ice cream in my cart and looked down the aisle toward the front. I saw first the green suit, then recognized the pretty lady coming towards me. In her arms she carried a package. On her face was the brightest smile! I had ever seen. I would swear a soft halo encircled her blonde hair as she kept walking toward me, her eyes holding mine.

As she came closer, I saw what she held and tears began misting in my eyes. 'These are for you,' she said and placed three beautiful long stemmed yellow roses in my arms. 'When you go through the line, they will know these are paid for.' She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek, then smiled again. I wanted to tell her what she'd done, what the roses meant, but still unable to speak, I watched as she walked away as tears clouded my vision.

I looked down at the beautiful roses nestled in the green tissue wrapping and found it almost unreal. How did she know? Suddenly the answer seemed so clear. I wasn't alone.

Oh, you haven't forgotten me, have you? I whispered, with tears in my eyes. He was still with me, and she was his angel.

Every day be thankful for what you have and who you are.

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings. Thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible. Thank you, Lord , that I can see. Many are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising. Thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned, tempers are short, and my children are so loud.

Thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.

Even though our breakfast table never looks like the picture in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced.
Thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry.

Even though the routine of my job often is monotonous. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no job.

Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest. Thank you, Lord, for life.

A friend is someone we turn to when our spirits need a lift.. A friend is someone to treasure.

For friendship is a gift. A friend is someone who fills our lives with Beauty, Joy and Grace and makes the world we live in a better and happier place.

The Stranger 
A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small Texas town.  From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family.  The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on.   
As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family.  I n my young mind, he had a special niche.  My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey.  But the stranger...he was our storyteller.  He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies.   
If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future!  He took my family to the first major league ball game.  He made me laugh, and he made me cry.  The stranger never stopped   
talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.   
Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet. (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)   
Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them.  Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home... Not from us, our friends or any visitors.  Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush.  My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol.  But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis.  He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished.   
He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex.  His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing.   I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced   strongly by the stranger.  Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked... And NEVER asked to leave.   
More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family.  He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first.  Still, if you could walk into my parents' den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures. 
His name?.... .. .    
We just call him 'TV.' 

The History of APRONS

I don't think our kids know what an apron is.

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath. Because she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.
It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.
From the chicken coop the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.
When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.
And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it around her arms.
Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.
Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.
From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.
In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.
When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.
When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.
It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace  that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.
It can be a good history lesson for those that have no idea how the apron played a part in our lives.

REMEMBER:
Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw. They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron....... I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron........but love!!

We started out in the bush in the 1920s

No telephone or roads of tar but there was plenty of love aplenty

We went by horse and sulky along a dusty road

Four of us when I first went and that was quite a load

Others went by horse or bike, some walked if they were near

In rain and sunshine where the air was fresh and clear

There wasn’t many raincoats or even shoes back then

Wheat bags kept us warm and we had inkwells for pens

The cane was kept quite handy on the teachers table

And some used it often to keep the classes stable

Just one teacher and six grades, taught us to read and write

They taught us well and often until we got it right

Today the children catch a bus, arrive at school with little fuss

They have computers, telephones and texts they send each day

I wonder if they are better off than those of yesterday

Smiling is infectious, you catch it like the flue

When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too

I passed around the corner and someone saw my grin

When he smiled I realised that I’d passed it on to him

I thought about that smile then I realised it’s worth

A single smile like mine could travel around the earth

So if you feel a smile begin, don’t leave it undetected

Let’s start a epidemic quick, and get the world infected

If one day you feel like crying call me

I don’t promise I can make you laugh

But I can cry with you

If one day you want to run away

Don’t be afraid to call me

I don’t promise to ask you stop

But I can run with you

If one day you don’t want to listen to anybody

Call me and I promise to be very quite

But if one day you call and there is no answer

Come fast to see me perhaps I need you

People need people and friends need friends

And we all need love, for a full life depends

Not on vast riches or great acclaim

Not on success or on worldly fame

But just in knowing that someone cares

And holds us close in their thoughts and prayers

For only the knowledge that we are understood

Makes every day living feel wonderfully good

And we rob ourselves of life’s greatest need

When we lock up our hearts and fail to need

The outstretched hand reaching to find

A kindred spirit whose heart and mind

Are lonely and longing to somehow share

Our joys and sorrows and make us aware

That life’s completeness and richness depends

On the things that we share

With love ones and friends

Another year has passed And we're all a little older.
Last summer felt hotter And winter seems much colder.
I rack my brain for happy thoughts, To put down on my pad,
But lots of things, That come to mind Just make me kind of sad.
There was a time not long ago When life was quite a blast.
Now I fully understand About 'Living in the Past'.
We used to go to friends homes, Baseball games and lunches.
Now we go to therapy, to hospitals, And after-funeral brunches.
We used to have hangovers, From parties that were gay.   
Now we suffer body aches And sleep the night away.
We used to go out dining, And couldn't get our fill.
Now we ask for doggie bags, Come home and take a pill.
We used to travel often To places near and far.
Now we get backaches From riding in the car.
We used to go out shopping For new clothing at the Mall
But, now we never bother...All the sizes are too small.
That, my friend is how life is, And now my tale is told.
So, enjoy each day and live it up...Before you're too  old!!
You pass this way only once so enjoy it while you can; Live A Lot, Laugh A Lot and Love A Lot!
"Enjoy the small things; for someday you may look back and realize they were the big ones!"

One Flaw in Women

By the time the Lord made woman,
He was into his sixth day of working overtime.
An angel appeared and said,
'Why are you spending so much time on this one?'
And the Lord answered, 'Have you seen my spec sheet on her?
She has to be completely washable, but not plastic,
Have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable
And able to run on diet coke and leftovers,
Have a lap that can hold four children at one time,
Have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart
-and she will do everything
With only two hands.'
The angel was astounded at the requirements.
'Only two hands!? No way!
And that's just on the standard model?
That's too much work for one day.
Wait until tomorrow to finish.'
The Lord protested.

'I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart.
She already heals herself when she is sick
AND can work 18 hour days.'
The angel moved closer and touched the woman.
'But you have made her so soft, Lord.'
'She is soft,' the Lord agreed,
'but I have also made her tough.
You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish.'
'Will she be able to think?', asked the angel.
The Lord replied,
'Not only will she be able to think,
She will be able to reason and negotiate.'
The angel then noticed something,
And reaching out, touched the woman's cheek.
'Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model.
I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one.'

 'That's not a leak,'
The Lord corrected,
'that's a tear!'
The Lord said, 'The tear is her way of expressing her joy,
Her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love,
Her loneliness, her grief and her pride.'
The angel was impressed.
'You are a genius, Lord.
You thought of everything!
Woman is truly amazing.'
And she is!
Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
But they hold happiness,
Love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They cry when they are happy
And laugh when they are nervous.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take 'no' for an answer
When they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
And cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about
A birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
Yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss
Can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
To show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideals.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have vital things to say and everything to give ...
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell.

He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups And set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard.

As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls.

He looked down into the eyes of little boy

'Mister,' he said, 'I want to buy one of your puppies.'

'Well,' said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck,

'These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money.'

The boy dropped his head for a moment.

Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change

and held it up to the farmer.

'I've got thirty-nine cents.

Is that enough to take a look?'

'Sure,' said the farmer.

And with that he let out a whistle.

'Here, Dolly!' he called.

Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur.

The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight.

As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse

Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid.

Then in a somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up....

'I want that one,' the little boy said, pointing to the runt. The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said,

'Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would.'

With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers.

In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.

Looking back up at the farmer, he said, 'You see sir, I don't run too well myself,  and he will need someone who understands.'

With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup.

Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy.

'How much?' asked the little boy. 'No charge,' answered the farmer,

'There's no charge for love.'

The world is full of people who need someone who understands .

Never look down on anybody, unless you're helping them up.
Please read the following quietly then send it back on its journey

To realize the value of a sister/brother
ask someone who doesn't have one.

To realizethe value of ten years:
ask a newly divorced couple.

To realize the value of four years:
ask a graduate.

To realize the value of one year:
ask a student who has failed a final exam.

To realize the value of nine months:
ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.

To realize the value of one month:
ask a mother who has given birth to a premature  baby..

To realize the value of one minute:
ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize the value of one-second:
ask a person who has survived an accident.

Time waits for no one.
treasure every moment you have.

You will treasure it even more when
you can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member:
LOSE ONE.

The origin of this letter is unknown,
but it brings good luck to everyone who passes it on.

Remember....

Hold on tight to the ones you love!

To realize
The value of a sister/brother
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.

To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.

To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.

To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.

To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.

To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
Who has given birth to a premature  baby..

To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed  the train, bus or plane.

To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.

Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.

You will treasure it even more when
You can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member:
LOSE ONE.

The origin of this letter is unknown,

Jack took a long look at his speedometer

before slowing down: 73 in a 55 zone.

Fourth time in as many months.

How could a guy get caught so often?

When his car had slowed to 10 miles an hour,

Jack pulled over, but only partially.

Let the cop worry about the potential traffic hazard.

Maybe some other car will tweak his backside with a mirror.

The cop was stepping out of his car,

the big pad in hand.

Bob? Bob from Church?

Jack sunk farther into his trench coat.

This was worse than the coming ticket.

A cop catching a guy from his own church.

A guy who happened to be a little eager

to get home after a long day at the office.

A guy he was about to play golf with tomorrow.

Jumping out of the car,

he approached a man he saw every Sunday,

a man he'd never seen in uniform.

'Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this.'

Hello, Jack.' No smile.

'Guess you caught me red-handed

in a rush to see my wife and kids.'

'Yeah, I guess.' Bob seemed uncertain.

Good.

'I've seen some long days at the office lately

I'm afraid I bent the rules a bit -just this once.'

Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement.

'Diane said something about roast beef and potatoes tonight.

Know what I mean?'

'I know what you mean.

I also know that you have a reputation in our precinct .'

Ouch.

This was not going in the right direction.

Time to change tactics.

What'd you clock me at?'

Seventy. Would you sit back in your car please?'

'Now wait a minute here, Bob.

I checked as soon as I saw you.

I was barely nudging 65.'

The lie seemed to come easier with every ticket.

'Please, Jack, in the car'

Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open door.

Slamming it shut, he stared at the dashboard

He was in no rush to open the window.

The minutes ticked by.

Bob scribbled away on the pad.

Why hadn't he asked for a driver's license?

Whatever the reason,

it would be a month of Sundays

before Jack ever sat near this cop again.

A tap on the door jerked his head to the left.

There was Bob, a folded paper in hand

Jack rolled down the window a mere two inches,

just enough room for Bob to pass him the slip.

'Thanks.'

Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice.

Bob returned to his police car without a word.

Jack watched his retreat in the mirror.

Jack unfolded the sheet of paper.

How much was this one going to cost?

Wait a minute.

What was this? Some kind of joke?

Certainly not a ticket. Jack began to read:

'Dear Jack, Once upon a time I had a daughter.

She was six when killed by a car.

You guessed it - a speeding driver.

A fine and three months in jail, and the man was free.

Free to hug his daughters, all three of them.

I only had one, and I'm going to have to wait until Heaven

before I can ever hug her again.

A thousand times I've tried to forgive that man.

A thousand times I thought I had.

Maybe I did, but I need to do it again.

Even now.

Pray for me.

And be careful, Jack,

my son is all I have left.'

'Bob'

Jack turned around in time to see Bob's car

pull away and head down the road.

Jack watched until it disappeared.

A full 15 minutes later, he too,

pulled away and drove slowly home,

praying for forgiveness and

hugging a surprised wife and kids when he arrived.

Life is precious.

Handle with care.

This is an important message;

please pass it along to your friends.

Drive safely and carefully.

Remember, cars are not the only things

recalled by their maker.

Pass this on,

you may save a life.

Maybe not,

but we'll never know if we don't try.

May today there be peace within you.

May you trust God

that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

'I believe that friends are quiet angels

who lift us to our feet

when our wings

have trouble remembering how to fly.'

The life you save may be ....

Your own child or grandchild

Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.

Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.

Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.

Meanness don't just happen overnight.

Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads.

Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

You cannot unsay a cruel word.

Every path has a few puddles.

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

The best sermons are lived, not preached.

Most of the stuff people worry about, ain't never gonna happen anyway.

Don 't  judge folks by their relatives.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good and honorable life, then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.

Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't bothering you none.

Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.

Always drink upstream from the herd.

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.

If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.

Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, and leave the rest to God.

Don't pick a fight with an old Sut. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.

‘the clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop at late or early hour. Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may soon be still.’

'Sometimes when I reflect back on all the wine I drink I feel shame  .    Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the vineyards and all of their hopes and dreams  .. If I didn't drink this wine, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered.

Then I say to myself, 'It is better that I drink this wine and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver.'

 'When we drink, we get drunk. When we get drunk, we fall asleep. When we fall asleep, we commit no sin.

When we commit no sin, we go to heaven. So, let's all get drunk and go to heaven!'

 'Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza.'

 'Well you see,  it's like this... A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo.    And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first.  This natural selection is  good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members.   In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells.     

Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells.    But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first.    In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine.    

That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers.'

'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so
that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other
people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others

My forgetter's getting better,
But my rememberer is broke
To you that may seem funny
But, to me, that is no joke

For when I'm 'here' I'm wondering
If I really should be 'there'
And, when I try to think it through,
I haven't got a prayer!

Oft times I walk into a room,
Say 'what am I here for?'
I wrack my brain, but all in vain!
A zero, is my score.

At times I put something away
Where it is safe, but, Gee!
The person it is safest from
Is, generally, me!

When shopping I may see someone,
Say 'Hi' and have a chat,
Then, when the person walks away
I ask myself, 'who the hell was that?'

Yes, my forgetter's getting better
While my rememberer is broke,
And it's driving me plumb crazy
And that isn't any joke.

SLOW DANCE
Have you ever Watched 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?

When the day is done Do you lie in your Bed
With the next hundred chores Running through 
Your head?

You'd better slow down

Don't dance so Fast.

Time is short.
The music won't Last. 

Ever told your child,

We'll do it Tomorrow? And in your haste, Not see 
His Sorrow?

Ever lost touch, Let a good Friendship die
Cause you never had time To call And say 'Hi'

You'd better slow down.
Don't dance So fast.

Time is short. 

The music won't Last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere You Miss half the fun of getting there. 

When you worry and hurry Through your day, It is like an unopened 
Gift.... Thrown away.

Life is not a  Race.
Do take it slower

Hear the Music Before the song is over. 

How Big Is Your Cross ?

The young man was at the end of his rope. Seeing no way out,
he dropped to his knees in prayer.
"Lord, I can't go on," he said. "I have too heavy a cross to bear."

The Lord replied,
"My son, if you can't bear its weight, just place your cross inside this room.
Then, open that other door and pick out any cross you wish."
The man was filled with relief.
"Thank you Lord," he sighed, and he did as he was told.
Upon entering the other door, he saw many crosses,
some so large the tops were not visible.
Then, he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall.
"I'd like that one, Lord," he whispered.
And the Lord replied, "My son, that is the cross you just brought in."

When life's problems seem overwhelming,
it helps to look around and see what other people are coping with.
You may consider yourself far more fortunate than you imagined.
YOUR CROSS--Whatever your cross, whatever your pain.
There will always be sunshine after the rain.

Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall but there is always somebody with a much heavier a cross than yours to bear

Lovers of the English language might enjoy this. It is yet another example of why people learning English have trouble with the language.  Learning the nuances of English makes it a difficult language. (But then, that's probably true of many languages.)   


There is a two-letter word in English that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that word is 'UP.'  It is listed in the dictionary as being used as an [adv], [prep], [adj], [n] or [v].
It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP?
At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP, and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report? We call UP our friends and we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car.
At other times the little word has a real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.
To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special.
And this up is confusing:
A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP.
We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night.  We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP !
To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP , look the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4 of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions
If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.
When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP . When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it wets UP the earth. When it does not rain for awhile, things dry UP.
One could go on & on, but I'll wrap it UP , for now  ........my time is UP , so time to shut UP!
Oh...one more thing:
What is the first thing you do in the morning & the last thing you do at night?
U     P
Now I'll shut up

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.

He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.

When he was close enough, he called out, 'Excuse me, where are we?'

This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered.

Wow! Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked.

'Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up.'

The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?' the traveler asked.

I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.'

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence.

As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

Excuse me!' he called to the man. 'Do you have any water?'

'Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in.'

'How about my friend here?' the traveler gestured to the dog.

'There should be a bowl by the pump.'

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.

When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.

'What do you call this place?' the traveler asked.

'This is Heaven,' he answered.

'Well, that's confusing,' the traveler said. 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.'

'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates?   Nope. That's hell.'

'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?'

'No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.'

A Dog's Purpose?   (from a 6-year-old).
 
 Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
 
 I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
 
 As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
 
 The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
 
 The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad f act that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
 Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''
 
 Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.
 
 He said,' People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?''
The Six-year-old continued,' Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''

 Live simply.
 
 Love generously.
 
 Care deeply.
 
 Speak kindly.
 
 Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
 
 When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
 
 Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
 
 Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
 
 Take naps.
 
 Stretch before rising.
 
 Run, romp, and play daily.
 
 Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
 
 Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
 
 On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
 
 On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
 
 When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
 
 Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
 
 Be loyal.
 
 Never pretend to be something you're not.
 
 If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
 
 When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
 
 ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Gotta Be Over 40 to Understand

Mum used to cut chicken, slice eggs and spread mayo on the same cutting board with the same knife and no bleach, but we didn't get food poisoning.

My Mum used to defrost mince-meat on the kitchen sink AND I used to eat a bite raw sometimes, too.

Our school sandwiches were wrapped in wax paper, in a brown paper bag, not in icepack coolers, but I can't remember anybody getting e.coli.

Almost all of us would have rather gone swimming in the lake instead of a pristine pool (talk about boring), no beach closures then.

The term cell phone would have conjured up a phone in a jail cell, and a pager was the school PA system.

We all played sport, and also did PE... and risked permanent injury with a pair of Dunlop runners (only worn in the gym or the sports ground) instead of having cross-training athletic shoes with air cushion soles and built-in light reflectors.. I can't recall any injuries but they must have

happened, because they tell us how much safer we are now....

Flunking sport was not an option.... even for stupid kids! There were not many fat kids.

Speaking of school, we all said prayers and sang the National Anthem and got free school milk for strong bones and teeth, and staying in detention after school caught all sorts of negative attention.

We must have had horribly damaged psyches.

What an archaic health system we had then. Remember school nurses? Ours wore a hat and everything, and she could even give you an aspirin for a headache or fever.

I thought that I was supposed to accomplish something before I was allowed to be proud of myself. I just can't recall how bored we were without computers, Play Station, Nintendo, X-box or 270 digital TV cable stations.

Oh yeah..and where was the Benadryl and sterilization kit when I got that bee sting? I could have been killed!

We played 'king of the castle' on piles of gravel left on vacant construction sites, and when we got hurt, Mum pulled out the 48-cent

bottle of Mercurochrome (kids liked it better because it didn't sting like

iodine did) and then we got our hair ruffled and got told to get back out there!

Now it's a trip to the emergency room, followed by a 10-day dose of a $49 bottle of antibiotics, and then Mum calls the Solicitor to sue the

contractor for leaving a horribly vicious pile of gravel where it was such a threat.

We didn't misbehave at the mate's house either, because if we did, we got our bum smacked there, and then we got bum belted again when we got home.

I recall Donny Reynolds from next door coming over and doing his tricks on the front veranda, just before he fell off.

Little did his Mum know that she could have owned our house. Instead, she picked him up and swatted him for being such a yobbo.

It was a neighbourhood run amuck.

To top it off, not a single person I knew had ever been told that they were from a "dysfunctional family".

How could we possibly have known that we needed to get into group therapy and anger management classes? We were obviously so duped by so many societal ills, that we didn't even notice that the entire country wasn't taking Prozac! How did we ever survive?

LOVE TO ALL OF US WHO SHARED THIS ERA, AND TO ALL WHO DIDN'T---- SORRY FOR WHAT YOU MISSED. I WOULDN'T TRADE IT FOR ANYTHING

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since  his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to  come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault.
 
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in    
charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy    
charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
 
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly        
children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
 
Common Sense lost the will to live, as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.                  
 
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
 
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
 
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.
 
His 4 stepbrothers survive him; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim.                                        
 
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

A PERSPECTIVE ABOUT OLD BARNS

Only years of standing in the weather, 
bearing the storms and scorching sun, 
only that can produce beautiful barn wood.
 
A stranger came by the other day with an offer that set me to thinking.
He wanted to buy the old barn that sits out by the highway.
I told him right off he was crazy.

He was a city type, you could tell by his clothes, his car,
his hands, and the way he talked.

He said he was driving by and saw that beautiful barn
sitting out in the tall grass and wanted to know if it was for sale.

I told him he had a funny idea of beauty.
 
Sure, it was a handsome building in its day.

But then, there's been a lot of winters pass with their snow
and ice and howling wind.

The summer sun's beat down on that old barn till all the paint's gone, 
and the wood has turned silver gray.

Now the old building leans a good deal, looking kind of tired.

Yet, that fellow called it beautiful.
 
That set me to thinking.

I walked out to the field and just stood there, gazing at that old barn.

The stranger said he planned to use the lumber to line the walls of his den
in a new country home he's building down the road.

He said you couldn't get paint that beautiful.
Only years of standing in the weather, bearing the storms and scorching sun,
only that can produce beautiful barn wood.
 
It came to me then. We're a lot like that, you and I.

Only it's on the inside that the beauty grows with us.

Sure we turn silver gray too... and lean a bit more than
we did when we were young and full of sap.

But the Good Lord knows what He's doing.

And as the years pass He's busy using the hard weather of our lives,
the dry spells and the stormy seasons to do a job of beautifying
our souls that nothing else can produce.

And to think how often folks holler because they want life easy!
 
They took the old barn down today and hauled it away
to beautify a rich man's house.

And I reckon someday you and I'll be hauled off
to Heaven to take on whatever chores the Good Lord
has for us on the Great Sky Ranch.

And I suspect we'll be more beautiful then for the seasons we've been through here...
and just maybe even add a bit of beauty to our Father's house.
   
May there be peace within you today.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
 
And...I do sincerely thank God
for my wonderful friends and family who love me even though
I show signs of weathering. 

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother.  As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter.

'Don't forget your Sisters,' she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. 'They'll be more important as you get older.  No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need Sisters.

Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them. 'Remember too that 'Sisters' means ALL the women... your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other women relatives too. 'You'll need other women. Women always do.'

What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman thought.  Haven't I just gotten married?  Haven't I just joined the couple-world?  I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake!  A grownup!  Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!'

But she listened to her Mother.  She kept contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each
year.  As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really
knew what she was talking about.  As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, Sisters are the mainstays of her life.

After more than 70+ years of living in this world, here is what I've learned:

THIS SAYS IT ALL:

Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don't always do what they're supposed to do.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.

BUT.........
Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you.  A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach.  When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end.  Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers,  aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life!

The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I.  When we began this adventure called
womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead.  Nor did we know how much we would need each other. Every day, we need each other still.

Pass this on to all the women who help make your life meaningful.  I just did.  Short and very sweet:

There are more than twenty angels in this world. Ten are peacefully sleeping on clouds. Nine are playing.  And one is reading her email at this moment.

Old Age, I decided, is a gift

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.

I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.


I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love .... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set .

They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so ma ny have died before their hair could turn silver

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.
So, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART! MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER!

The Wooden Bowl

I guarantee you will remember the tale of the  Wooden Bowl

tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now.

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year  - old grandson.

The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.

The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and

failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor.

When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.
 'We must do something about father,' said the son.

'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.'

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.

There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner.

Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.

When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone.

Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped  a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor.

He asked the child sweetly, 'What are you making?' Just as sweetly, the boy responded,

'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.
 ' The four-year-old smiled and  went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless.

Then tears started to stream down their cheeks.

Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and  gently  led him back to the family table.

For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason,

neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens,

how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things:

a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents,

you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life..'

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands.

You need to be able to throw something back

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you

But,  if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, 

your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you

I've learned that whenever I decide  something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.

People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheque.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God

never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is

up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no

for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.

Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will

this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did

or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd

grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE KIDS WHO WERE BORN IN THE 1920's, 30's 40's, and 50's

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us and lived in houses made of asbestos.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes or cervical cancer.

Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets or shoes, not to mention, the risks some of us took hitchhiking.

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.

Riding in the back of a Ute on a warm day was always a s pecial treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.

Take away food was limited to fish and chips, no pizza shops, McDonalds, KFC, Subway or Red Rooster.

Even though all the shops closed at 6.00pm and didn't open on the weekends, somehow we didn't starve to death!

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We could collect old drink bottles and cash them in at the corner store and buy Fruit Tingles and some fire crackers to blow up frogs and lizards with.

We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soft drinks with sugar

Fable of the porcupine It was the coldest
winter ever.  Many animals died because of the
cold. 
The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided
to group together. 
This way they covered and protected
themselves; but the quills of each one wounded their closest
companions even though they gave off heat to each other.
After awhile, they decided to distance themselves one
from the other and they began to die, alone and frozen.   
So they had to make a choice:
Either accept the quills of their companions or disappear from the Earth. 
Wisely, they decided to go back to being together. 
This way they learned to live with the little wounds that were caused by the
close relationship with their companion, but the most important part of it, was the heat that came from the others.
This way they were able to survive. 

Moral of the   story:

The best relationship is not the one that brings
together perfect people, but the best is when each individual
learns to live with the imperfections of others and can admire
the other person's good qualities.

The Moral of the story!

LEARN TO LOVE THE PRICKS IN YOUR LIFE.in it, but we weren't overweight because......

WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. We built tree houses and cubby houses and played in creek beds with matchbox cars.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape or DVD movies, no surround sound, no mobile phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms..........WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no Lawsuits from these accidents.
Only girls had pierced ears!

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

You could only buy Easter Eggs and Hot Cross buns at Easter time.......no really!

We were given BB guns and sling shots for our 10th birthdays,

We drank milk laced with Strontium 90 from cows that had eaten grass covered in nuclear fallout from the atomic testing at Maralinga in 1956.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them!

Mum didn't have to go to work to help dad make ends meet!

Footy had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!

Our teachers used to belt us with big sticks and leather straps and bully's always ruled the playground at school.

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

Our parents got married before they had children and didn't invent stupid names for their kids like "Kiora" and "Blade"....

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!

The past 70 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!

And YOU are one of them!

CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated our lives for our own good.
And while you are at it, get your kids to read so they will know how brave their parents were.
Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started

yelling at us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy.

And I mean, he was really friendly.

So I asked, 'Why did you just do that?

This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call,

'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks.

They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and  

full of disappointment.

As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you.

Don't take it personally.

Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.

Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the

streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks takeover their day.

Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so...Love the people who treat you right.

Pray for the ones who don't.

Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

Have a blessed, garbage-free day!

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GRANDMA'S HANDS A must read thru to the end please!!!!!! !!!!!!!

Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench.  She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands.

When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if she was OK.

Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and

looked at me and smiled. 'Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking,' she said in a clear voice strong.

' I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK,' I

explained to her.

' Have you ever looked at your hands,' she asked. 'I mean really looked at your hands?'

I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them.   I turned them over, palms up and then palms down.  No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making.

Grandma smiled and related this story:

' Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years.  These hands, though wrinkled, shriveled and weak, have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life.

' They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor.  They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back.  As a child, my mother taught me to fold them in prayer.  They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots.  They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war.

' They have been dirty, scraped and raw , swollen and bent.  They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special.  They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse.

' They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand.

They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body.  They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw.  And to this day, when not much of anything else of me works real well, these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer.

' These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life.  But more importantly it will be these hands that God will   reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ.'

I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out and took my grandma's hands and led her home.

When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and husband I think of grandma.  I know she has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God.

I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face.

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A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said,

'Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.'

The Lord led the holy man to two doors.

He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in.
In the middle of the room was a large round table.

In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew,
which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water.

The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly.

They appeared to be famished.

They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach
into the pot of stew and take a spoonfull,

But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.

The Lord said, 'You have seen Hell.'

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water.

The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump
laughing and talking.

The holy man said, 'I don't understand.'

It is simple,' said the Lord. 'It requires but one skill.  You see they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves.'

There  comes a point in your life when you  realize: 

   who matters,

who never did,

who won't anymore...

and who always will.

So,  don't worry about people from your past,

there's  a reason why they didn't make it to your  future.

There  comes a point in your life when you  realize: 

POOR BUT BLESSED IN THE OLD DAYS

We met and we married a long time ago

We worked for long hours when wages were low

No TV, no wireless, no bath – times were hard

Just a cold water tap and a walk in the yard.

No holiday abroad, no carpets on floors

We had coal in the fire, and we didn’t lock doors

Our children arrived – no pill in those days

And we bought them all up without any state aid.

They were safe going out to play in the park

And old folks could go for a walk in the dark

No Valium, no drugs, and no LSD

We cured most of our ills with a good cup of tea

No vandals, no muggings, there was nothing to rob

We felt we were rich with a couple of bob.

People were happy in those far away days

More kind and caring in so many ways

Milkman and paperboy would whistle and sing

A night at the pictures was our one mad fling

We all got our share of trouble and strife

We just had to face it – that’s the pattern of life

Now I’m alone, looking back through the years

I don’t think of the bad times, trouble and tears

I remember the blessings, our home and our love

And we shared them together

I thank God above

If  you can start the day without caffeine,

If  you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

If you can  eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,

If you can  understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,

If  you can take criticism and blame without resentment,

If you can  ignore a friend's limited education and never correct her/him,

If you  can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor  friend,

If  you can conquer tension without medical help,

If you can relax  without liquor,

If you can sleep without the aid of  drugs,

...Then  You Are Probably The Family Dog!

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born

A Death Certificate shows that we died

Pictures show that we lived!

Have a seat . . . Relax . . . And read this slowly.

I Believe...

That just because two people argue,

It doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
It doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe...
That we don't have to change friends if
We understand that friends change.

I Believe...
That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...
That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance.

Same goes for true love.

I Believe...
That you can do something in an instant
That will give you heartache for life.

I Believe...
That it's taking me a long time
To become the person I want to be.

I Believe...
That you should always leave loved ones with
Loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe...
That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe...
That we are responsible for what
We do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe...
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe...
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe...
That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I Believe...
That my best friend and I, can do anything, or nothing and have the best time.

I Believe...
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you When you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...
That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,
But that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe...
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had
And what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe...
That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others.

Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe...
That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe...
That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,
But, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager to find
Out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I Believe...
Two people can look at the exact same
Thing and see something totally different.

I Believe...
That your life can be changed in a matter of
Hours by people who don't even know you.

I Believe...
That even when you think you have no more to give, when
A friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe...
That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I Believe...
That you should send this to all of the people that you believe in, I just did.

'The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
They just make the most of everything.

Thank you God for all the wonderful people who help us throughout the journey of life..

May Angels guard you and guide you!

A lecturer when explaining stress management to an audience,

Raised a glass of water and asked 'How heavy is this glass of water?'

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter.

It depends on how long you try to hold it.

If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.

If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.

If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.

In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it,

the heavier it becomes.'

He continued,

'And that's the way it is with stress management.

If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later,

As the burden becomes increasingly heavy,

We won't be able to carry on. '

'As with the glass of water,

You have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.

When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.'

'So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down.

Don't carry it home.

You can pick it up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you're carrying now,

Let them down for a moment if you can.'

So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now.

Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

Accept that some days you're the pigeon, And some days you're the statue.

Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be Recalled by their maker.

You may be only one person in the world,

But you may also be the world to one person.

We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp, some are pretty

and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colours, but

they all have to live in the same box.

A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Dancing in the rain

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb.

He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him.

I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.

On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry.

The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.

I inquired as to her health.

 He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.

As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late.

He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning!... even though she doesn't know who you are?'

He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.'

I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought,'That is the kind of love I want in my life.'

True love is neither physical, nor romantic.

True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.'

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps
it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise,
or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work.

Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.
A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the garage with a
steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other.

What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those
lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time. Let me tell you
about it:

I turned the dial up into the phone portion of the band on my
ham radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning swap net. Along the
way, I came across an older sounding chap, with a tremendous signal
and a golden voice. You know the kind, he sounded like he should
be in the broadcasting business.  He was telling whom-ever he was
talking with something about 'a thousand marbles.' I was intrigued and
stopped to listen to what he had to say

'Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm
sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from
home and your family so much. 
Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. 
It's too bad you missed your daughter's 'dance recital' he continued. 'Let me
tell you something that has helped me keep my own priorities.' And
that's when he began to explain his theory of a 'thousand marbles.'

'You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic.  The
average person lives about  seventy-five years. I know, some live
more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five
years.

'Now then,  I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900,
which is the number of Saturdays that the  average person has in
their entire lifetime. Now, stick with me, Tom, I'm getting to the
important part.

It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all
this in any detail', he went on, 'and by that time I had lived
through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays.' 'I got to thinking that if I
lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to
enjoy.  So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble
they had.  I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round up 1000
marbles I took them home and put them inside a large, clear plastic
container right here in the shack next to my gear.'

'Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and
thrown it away. I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused
more on the really important things in life.

There's nothing like watching your time here on this earth run
out to help get your priorities straight.'

'Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you
and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the
very last marble out of the container. I figure that if I make it until
next Saturday then I have been given a little extra time.
And the one thing we can all use is a little more time.'

'It was nice to meet you Tom, I hope you spend more time with
your family, and I hope to meet you again here on the band. 
This is a 75 Year old Man, K9NZQ, clear and going QRT, good morning!'

You could have heard a pin drop on the band when this fellow
signed off. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had
planned to work on the antenna that morning, and then I was going to meet
up with a few hams to work on the next club newsletter.

Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss.
'C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast.' 'What brought
this on?' she asked with a smile. 'Oh, nothing special, it's just been
a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. And
hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some
marbles.

And so, as one smart bear once said...'If you live to be a
hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never
have to live without you.' - Winnie the Pooh.

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door.

SON: 'Daddy, may I ask you a question?'

DAD: 'Yeah sure, what it is?' replied the man.

SON: 'Daddy, how much do you make an hour?'

DAD: 'That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?' the  Man said angrily.

SON: 'I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an Hour?'

DAD: 'If you must know, I make $50 an hour.'

SON: 'Oh,' the little boy replied, with his head down.

 SON: 'Daddy, may I please borrow $25?'

The father was furious, 'If the only reason you asked that is so you
Can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then You march yourself straight to your room and go to bed.
Think about Why You are being so selfish. I don't work hard everyday for such Childish  Frivolities.' The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the
Door.
The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little Boy's' Questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?
After About an hour or so, the man had calmed down , and started to think:
Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $25.00And  he really didn't ask for money very often.
The man went to the door of The little boy's room and opened the door. 'Are you asleep, son?' He Asked. 'No daddy, I'm awake,' replied the boy. 'I've been thinking, Maybe I was too hard on you earlier' said the man. 'It's been a long Day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $25 you Asked for.'
The little boy sat straight up, smiling. 'Oh, thank you daddy!' He yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some
Crumpled Up bills. The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get Angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then
Looked up at his father. 'Why do you want more money if you already Have some?' the father grumbled.. Because I didn't have enough, but
Now I do,' the little boy replied. 'Daddy, I have $50 now. Can I buy an Hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to
Have dinner with you.'
The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he Begged for his forgiveness. It's just a short reminder to all of you
Working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our Fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to
us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to share that $50 worth of Your time with someone you love..If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily Replace us in a matter of hours. But the family & friends we leave Behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.

In April, Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday.  Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older.
And, there on television, she said it was "exciting." Regarding body changes, she said there were many, occurring every day...like her breasts.  They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist, first.
 
The audience laughed so hard they cried. She is such a simple and honest woman, with so much wisdom in her words!
 
 Maya Angelou said this:
"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow."

 "I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."
     
"I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life."

"I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as "making a life."

"I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance."
 
"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."
 
"I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision."
 
 "I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."
 
"I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone.  People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."
 
"I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."     

 "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."