Nature's Benefits

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul - John Muir

Out of Proportion?

When undernourished, INTELLIGENCE becomes like the bloated belly. . .swollen, filled with nothing of use - Unknown

Action or Else

It's Time to Act!!

To think too long about doing a thing
often becomes its undoing

- Eva Young

Gotta' Make It!

Happy Day, Barbara

September 12
Happy Birthday, Barbara
May Your Day Be As Special As You Are
Love Ya Dearly, Mom

Miss You, Our Angel

In Memory of Our Granddaughter

Zoe Claire Hopper
September 10, 1995 - February 13, 1996

Today, tomorrow, and forever, I will search for life's beauty,
to behold the rosebud...its petals budding forth with
cherished remembrances of one of the loves of my life.

Loving you always, Nana

You Rock, Miss Cassidy

Happy Birthday, Cassidy.
You are one beautiful young lady
with talent galore, personality plus,
and a loving/caring spirit.

Love You, Nana
XXOOXXOO

The Stone(ng) Age?

As late, I have read many articles that have really touched me, all being honest and thought-provoking. I would label them cautions - cautions as to the use of words - our words!

In the last few weeks, I have heard horrible things said about people and their situations. So many assumptions made, and with each assumption has come justification. Unfortunately, there's way too much ugliness in our world - way too much - and we, as God's people, must be careful not to add to it. We need to guard our lips from bringing forth hurtful, hateful words. Remember our words set the climate for our self-worth - and we are not worth much if we speak unkindness and falsehoods (i.e., the nice word for lies).

My poem sums up my feelings today, although I wrote it years ago (in 1993) when my family was the target of a verbal attack after our oldest son died. To tell you the truth, the persons might as well lined us up and stoned us to death because the untruths in their words brought great hurt and pain. Sadly, they believed that who they were and the positions they held actually made their words truths - each wearing robes of righteousness, faithfully attending service, giving freely of their first fruits, and being actively involved in the church - but all the time in what they thought wisdom was actually acts of foolishness. Today, I am watching others suffering at the hands of those who are throwing "stones" - and I feel compelled to write this post.

Gather not stones
For stones of hate cannot love

Defeat cannot savor victory
Despair cannot possess joy
Disobedience cannot breed respect
Evil cannot comprehend virtue.

Gather not stones
For your compassion will conquer all

Your accomplishments will reverse failure
Your happiness will heal pain
Your wisdom will subdue folly
Your goodness will merit excellence.

Dear Lord,
May look closely at ourselves, and if we are guilty may we, with Your Help, bridle our tongues so that we wound not another.

Try Chocolate!

All I really need is love,
but a little chocolate now and then
doesn't hurt!

- Lucy Van Pelt (in Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz)

Have A Great Holiday!

My Country Tis of Thee

When I look at the condition of the USA
and the countries around the world,
there is such a thankfulness that
IN GOD, I TRUST

Freedom

Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves,
and, under a just God, cannot retain it - Abraham Lincoln

A Light Within

People are like stained-glass windows.
They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,
but when the darkness sets in,
their true beauty is revealed only
if there is light from within.

-Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Be Wise

Patience is the companion of wisdom

-Saint Augustine