Wishing Each and Everyone a Very Happy New Year!!!

   

I know for many this has been a rough year but

it has held so many blessings for me...

Those blessings include so many wonderful people

brought together here on our home away from home!

I would like to go to each one of you and wish you a very

Happy New Year but time with this work week will not allow that.

I do wish many blessings to each of you and much love and

happiness in this new year!!!!!

Silver Linings

May you find peace, hope,

and beauty in all of

your silver linings.

~~~

"As I gaze upon the faces of my

family and friends,

I thank my lucky stars above for

love that never ends,

No matter where I travel or

how far away I roam."

~marie d jones

Loving life again . . .

LOVING LIFE AGAIN

Dave was struggling through a bus station with two huge and obviously
heavy suitcases when a stranger walked up to him and asked, "Have you
got the time?"

Dave sighed, put down the large and cumbersome suitcases and spoke to
his wristwatch. "Time please."

"The time is five thirty," came a voice somewhere in the timepiece.

"Wow! What a watch!" exclaimed the stranger.

Dave brightened a little. "Yeah, it's not bad. Check this out. The
time in Japanese, please." The watch responded in Japanese. Then Dave
asked for German and Swahili and a realistic voice gave the time in
those languages. And then, "What time is it in London," Dave asked,
"with a British accent?" The device gave it to him.

The stranger was incredulous. "Watch this," said Dave. "Home monitor,"
he said to the wrist-watch. Immediately a 3-dimensional hologram
projected in the space between the two men that perfectly displayed
his living room. He could even see a half inch of coffee in the bottom
of a cup he'd left on the table earlier in the day.

"Unbelievable!" said the stranger.

Then Dave spoke to the device. "Leave a voice message for Sharon that
the bus is late and send flowers to my sister for her birthday. And
give me the 5 O'clock news."

"Done, done and done," the voice confirmed. Suddenly a high-resolution
hologram screen appeared in front of Dave. The two men felt as if they
were sitting in the television studio watching the newscast.

The stranger was struck dumb with admiration. The display was of
unbelievably high quality and the voice was simply astounding.

"Now, look at this -- `wedding photos'" Dave said the timepiece.
Photos of his recent wedding appeared in front of them as if they were
floating on air. "And play Bach," he said, and music filled the space
as the wedding album scrolled.

"This timepiece is a super powerful voice-activated computer. In
addition, it is in contact with most of the world's major satellites.
And it is also a two-way radio that reaches halfway around the globe."

"I want to buy that watch!" said the stranger.

"Oh no, it's not ready for sale yet; I'm still working out the bugs,"
said Dave.

"I've got to have that watch!" said the stranger.

"No, you don't understand; it's not ready…."

"I'll give you $10,000 for it!" interrupted the stranger.

"Oh, no, I've already spent more than…."

"Then make it $20,000!" the stranger blurted. "Or just name your
price."

"But it's just that…."

The stranger pulled out a fat wallet. "All right -- $50,000. I'll give
you the cash now."

Dave blinked. He could always make another device and $50,000 would
give him a nice profit.

The stranger thrust the money at Dave. "Here, take it! I have to catch
my bus."

Dave made his decision. "Okay," he said, and took off the timepiece.

The stranger smiled and hurried away. "Hey, wait a minute!" called
Dave.

The man turned back warily. Dave pointed to the two suitcases he'd
been trying to wrestle through the bus station and said, "Don't forget
your batteries."

I think life is like that for some people. What should be wonderful
and exciting is complicated and burdensome. It is as if they are
dragging heavy baggage wherever they go. They feel tied down (to a
job? to a lifestyle? to a relationship?) and long for simpler times.

Many people wish their lives were less complicated. They remember a
carefree time and dream of returning to a simpler day. They yearn for
more freedom. Less worry and more laughter. If only they could trade
some of today's complexity for yesterday's simplicity.

American essayist and novelist Charles Dudley Warner said, "Simplicity
is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough."

Rudyard Kipling yearned for less when he said, "Teach us to delight in
simple things."

Author Augustus Hare observed that "the greatest truths are the
simplest -- and so are the greatest men."

Maybe it's time to make a decision for greatness; a decision for
simplicity. Maybe it's time to let go of that which weighs you down
and walk with a lighter step. Maybe it's time to love life again.

-- Steve Goodier

We Need Each Other. . .

   

 

Another Inspirational story by Steve Goodier from Your Live Support!  I always love these little stories and love to share them because they are always a reminder of something that doesn't need to be taken for granted or something which we have forgotten because we can't see the forest for the trees.  And how very true this is...  We Need Each Other

 

Many living things need each other to survive. I have lived for most of my life near trees known as Colorado aspens. If you are familiar with this tree, you may have noticed that it does not grow alone.
Aspens are found in clusters, or groves. We're told that the reason for this is because aspens can multiply from the roots. They send up lots of new shoots every year. These become saplings that grow quickly and make new baby aspens of their own. In some groves, all of the trees may actually be connected by their roots. It is as if they are one tree.

Another tree, the giant California redwood, may tower 300 feet into the sky. We've seen pictures of tunnels carved into massive trunks wide enough to drive an automobile through. It seems they would require the deepest of roots to anchor them against strong winds. But instead their roots are actually shallow -- they spread out wide in search of surface water. And they reach in all directions, intertwining with roots of other redwoods. Locked together in this way, all the trees support each other in wind and storms.

Aspens and redwoods never stand alone. They need one another to survive.

People, too, are connected by a system of roots. We grow up in families that nurture and guide us. We learn early to make friends who support us in different ways. We are not meant to survive long without others. And like the giant redwoods, we do best when we hold onto one another and help each other to keep standing through life's storms. We need others to hold us up, encourage us and to stand with us.

When I'm not doing well, it is often because I am going it alone. I don't always let others in. I forget to ask for help; I keep my problems to myself. And though I may not see it, others around me
might be doing the same thing.

It helps to remember how much like those trees we really are. It might be time to let someone else help hold you up for awhile. Or perhaps
someone needs to hang on to you.

~ Steve Goodier

......................................................

 

 

 

P.S. AIN'T IT SO

It's my cat's world. I'm just here to open cans.

 

WISHING YOU

A WONDERFUL WEEK!!!!

Love Me Like A River Does... Meloday Gardot

JohnOh introduced me to a new young singer that is just wonderful today...
We checked out music and watched video's across the miles... Thought
this one was just amazingly beautiful..... The subject ~ Love... What could be more important?

Love Me Like A River Does
by Melody Gardot.

Love me like a river does
Cross the sea
Love me like a river does
Endlessly
Love me like a river does
Baby don’t rush you’re no waterfall
Love me that is all
Love me like a roaring sea
Swirls about
Love me like a roaring sea
Wash me out
Love me like a roaring sea
Baby don’t rush you’re no waterfall
Love me that is all
Love me like the earth itself
Spins around
Love me like the earth itself
Sky above below the ground
Love me like the earth itself
Baby don’t rush you’re no waterfall
Love me that is all

7%

     

 

from... Danceinsilence' page....

Thank you, Bill, it is beautiful....

A wonderful lesson for some of us

And a beautiful reminder for many of us!!!

 

 

 

One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in the woods. As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things were not right.  He thought about those who had lied about him back when he had a job.

His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him.  He remembered family that had passed on.  His mind turned to the illness he had, that no one could cure.  His very soul was filled with anger, resentment, and frustration.

Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the one he knew would always be there. And with tears in his eyes, he prayed:

'Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this life.  You have told me to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed. Today, you have told me to forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot, I don't know how.  It is not fair Lord, I didn't deserve these wrongs that were done against me and I shouldn't have to forgive.  As perfect as your way is Lord, this one thing I cannot do, for I don't know how to forgive.  My anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I pray you teach me to do the one thing I cannot do:  Teach me to forgive '

As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt something fall onto his shoulder.  He opened his eyes.  Out of the corner of one eye, he saw something red on his shirt.  He could not turn to see what it was because where the oak tree had been was a large square piece of wood in the ground.  He raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike through them.

He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging on a cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into His head.  Finally he saw the suffering and pain on His precious face.  As their eyes met, the man's tears turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to speak.

'Have you ever told a lie?'  He asked?

The man answered, 'Yes, Lord.'

'Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?'

The man answered, 'Yes. Lord.'  And the man sobbed more and more.

'Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours?' Jesus asked?

And the man answered, 'Yes, Lord.'

'Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain?'

The man, crying now, answered, 'Yes, Lord.'

As Jesus asked many more times, 'Have you ever'?  The man's crying became uncontrollable, for he could only answer, 'Yes, Lord'.

Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the man felt something fall on his other shoulder He looked and saw that it was the blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and there was a look of love the man had never seen or known before.

Jesus said, 'I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you.'

It may be hard to see how you're going to get through something, but when you look back in life, you realize how true this statement is.

Read the following first line slowly and let it sink in.

If God brings you to it ... He will bring you through it.

When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you!  If you are one of the 7% who will stand up for Him, post this with the Title: 7%.

 

Gator and Cherie's Second Scavenger Hunt...

 

Think Scavenger Hunts are much more fun

when you do them

with someone  (Like Team up)

But this was fun and here goes...

 

Okay.... I didn't get them all... but sure tried!!!

 

 

A Snowball

Okay... right off the bat... didn't get the snow ball

(My freezer is a self defrost)

 

 

 

A Sand-pail

There are actually 3 or 4 pails

....does that make up for the snow ball?

 

 

 

A Turkey Timer

The timer on my stove & my brain

LOL ~ the only turkey timer I have

 

 

 

A Four Leaf Clover

The other one I didn't find!!!!

Now that's not lucky!

 

 

 

A National Flag from a Country other than your Own

The Greek Flag

Took this in 2000 when we went there

for my son's wedding.

 

 

A Swing

My granddaughter's Swing set

 

 

 

Fire

Taken today...

Right after the turkey timer &

before the mail box ~ lol

 

 

 

A Mailbox

Taken today right as it was starting to rain!

 

 

 

A Silo

Okay, it is a corn crib... but

they are used for the same thing and

there are no silo's around here.

This was taken in Cade's Cove.

 

 

 

A Phone Booth

This was taken last week

when John and I were running around

 California... Near Carmel

 

 

Bonus

A Horse & Sleigh or a Horse & Carriage

This was taken today... from a book I have on

Traveling America... was taken with my good old

Kodak... had to use the flash (don't like to do that)

And that ends this scavenger hunt for this girl!

 

Everyone have a good week!!!

 

 

Draw me close to you...

The wonderful world of reality....

 

Mt Shasta

The wheels touched the runway at 25 minutes after midnight... the touchdown jarred me back into reality... I was home... in Alabama...  I didn't want to be here.  As much as I love my family, my friends, and my home... I wanted to be back in California with the other people I love. 

Cherie's root beer float...

I took my laptop from the overhead bin, the bag with the audio books and pulled my big red purse out from under the seat.  As I headed for baggage claim I thought, "Please, oh please, let my bags be first" .... "Yes, that's right... that's going to happen.... NOT!" 

 

Burney Falls 

As the conveyor belt started up a little happy voice said... "Someones bags have to be first, might as well be mine!"  And around the corner comes............ MY BAG!   Well, one of them.  It made me stop and think (even though the other bag was half way through the lot of them) how blessed I really am in so many things (silly little things like this and really big important things like the people in my life!)... my ride home from the airport was a friend that was leaving work to run me home... and than back to work ~ even carried my luggage in against my protest... (for those of you that don't know how I pack... that was a huge thing to do for me!!!)

A California sunset

Of course, the first thing I did was call Cherie!  Now all was almost right in the world...  Had to call it a night a couple of hours later as I was getting up early to go to my grandson's Thanksgiving meal at daycare (Eli is 18 months old).  I was sitting in the Chapel listening to Brother Greg.  He was talking about how life changes when you have grandchildren  (changes with your children yes, but really when you have grandchildren).  I heard the words that all the people God puts in our lives are blessings and than it hit me.... I was sad for leaving California... I had not seen enough of Cherie... didn't get to see Heather this time or meet Little Ronnie, or see Miss Susan again, would have been great to go on up and meet Wes (we talked about it at one point)... Would love to meet Teapot... just so many wonderful people and so little time, but I did have two wonderful weeks with John traveling from mid to northern California and back south again and did get to spend some time with some great people that I have come to call friends... did get some time with Cherie that was as always filled with laughter and lots of smiles... it was my third trip this year!!!  Previously I had last been in California in 1986 and had not been  back until February 2008.   The February trip has been followed by two more trips this year ~ What a blessing!  Someone loves me!!!  When I stopped feeling sorry for what wasn't and realized what was.... there were blessings all around me.  The time with these people is so precious... and I am so thankful for it!!!

My Daughter, LeAnna & her youngest son, Eli

I was sitting next to my beautiful daughter in this Chapel and she is so beautiful...  such a blessing to me.... I would spend the next 36 hours with her, my son-in-law and their two beautiful sons...  Could life get any better than this? Well, maybe it was a sign it was still good and getting better when my oldest granddaughter (Arianna ~ 4 years old.. about to be 5) called this morning and said, "I love you, Nanna ~ Happy Thanksgiving"   We plan on getting together the next couple of days so that means time with my Son, his wife and their two girls (more good times.... but will have to switch from playing cars, trucks and ball to princess' and tea parties).  Talked to my Mom and my sisters ....a beautiful Thanksgiving for sure... And at one point today... going to have Root beer floats with two of the people I love so much even though we may be 2400 miles apart..

John & I in Northern California

Went into work last night.... and realized how lucky I was to not be the patient... to be the nurse... what a blessing to be able to make someone just a little more comfortable before heading for home this morning.  One of the nicest things of all about that place is the people I work with... they are the best! Guess not everyone can say that!

The Wonderful friends John so graciously shares

I thank God for this life, for my family, my friends... for each of you here who are always there even with I disappear for work, trips etc... you are always here with smiles, kind words... biggest hugs....

John in the snow as we tried to make it to Glass Mt.

May each of you have had a wonderful Thanksgiving and be as blessed in the days ahead as I am....
  

John & I found this gator....

Call it "Gator under glass"

The Face in the Glass . . .

 
      Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. ~ Dr. Suess         The Face In The Glass!

 

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to a mirror and look at yourself
And see what THAT face has to say.

For it isn't your father or mother or spouse
Whose judgment upon you must pass;
The person whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

Some people might think you are a straight-shootin' chum
And call you a wonderful guy or gal,
But the face in the glass says you're only a bum
If you can't look it straight in the eye.
That's the one you must please, never mind all the rest,
For that's the one with you clear up to the end.
And you know you have passed your most dangerous test
If the face in the glass is your friend.
You may fool the whole world down the pathway of life
And get pats on your back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you've cheated the face in the glass.

~ Dale Wimbrow ~

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hope everyone is having

a week as wonderful as

mine!!!!

Just Enjoy & be true to yourself!!

Hooked On Giving

  

 Dr. Mar Aprem holds two master's degrees in Church History.  He is the author of 65 books on church history, theology, social issues, and even humour.

.................................................................

Dr. Mar Aprem of the ancient Chaldean Orthodox Church of the East in India tells a funny story about when a member of the church won a lottery worth 100,000 rupees. His wife went to the bishop and told him that she was afraid to tell this glad news to her husband because he had a heart problem and any sudden excitement could cause a heart attack.

The bishop offered to break the news gently to her husband. He visited the house and asked the man, "Wouldn't it be a good thing if you won 1,000 rupees in the lottery?" The man replied that he still would have to work to support his family.
    
"What about 10,000 rupees?" the bishop asked. The man still showed no excitement, so the bishop carefully raised the amount to 50,000 and
finally to 100,000 rupees.
   
"If I got 100,000 rupees, I would give half of it to you, your Excellency," the man replied.

The bishop had a heart attack, and the man called an ambulance.

We can get excited about winning and getting. But have you learned how fun it is to give -- and not only money? Engineering and machinery genius R. G. LeTourneau (1888 - 1969) discovered the great joy that can come of generosity. Besides establishing a private school (today's LeTourneau University), that remarkable man reportedly gave 90 percent of his income to worthwhile causes, while living on the remaining 10 percent. He became hooked on giving!

And like I said, money is not the only commodity that is fun to give. We can give time, we can give our expertise, we can give our love or
simply give a smile. What does that cost? The point is, none of us can ever run out of something worthwhile to give.

Giving is fun. And addictive.

HOOKED ON GIVING

by Steve Goodier

from Your Life Support

 

 

 

Wishing each & everyone a

Give your smile, your heart, your time

&

Enjoy your weekend!