Thursday's Thought for the Day....

SERMONS WE SEE

I'd rather see a sermon than hear one 

any day, 

I'd rather one should walk with me

 than merely show the way.

The eye's a better pupil and more willing

than the ear;

Fine counsel is confusing, but example's

always clear;

And the best of all the preachers are

the men who live their creeds,

For to see the good in action is what

everybody needs.

I can soon learn how to do it if you'll 

let me see it done.

I can watch your hands in action, but

your tongue may too fast run.

And the lectures you deliver may be

very wise and true;

But Id' rather get my lesson by observing

what you do.

For I may misunderstand you and the 

high advice you give,

But there's no misunderstanding how

you act and how you live.

                                          ~ Edgar A, Guest

This one rings particularly true for me. 

Don't tell me.  Show me.

Wednesday's wisdom....

If you can find something positive ....  

Perhaps it was the wisdom of Pollyanna or maybe Mary Poppins that I absorbed as a young girl. Those almost heroic characters always searching for "something to be glad about" or finding "an element of fun in every job that must be done..."

I don't know about you, but from the time I reached those years of teenage angst until, well, pretty much now, my life has presented me with some rather difficult trials to navigate.  Times when I've felt as though I'm standing on the ocean's shoreline, the tide is rolling in and I'm getting knocked down by wave after wave.  Each time I pop up and catch my breath - wham - another one comes along and takes my feet out from under me.

In those periods when I would surface and a stretch of calm would follow, I began to hope that there might at least be some sort of pay off for surviving the various trials I was being challenged with. So I started to look for something good or positive that I could take from each experience.

And by consciously looking, I found it.

Lo and behold, there was always at least one lesson I could tuck away, or there would be a sense of gratitude for something I was either given or spared.  For instance, maybe I learned it's best to always drive myself in my own car, so I'm not stuck in an uncomfortable situation.  Or, my newborn needs surgery but thankfully her condition is not life threatening.

I used this tool all the time with my three girls when they were growing up. Sometimes it worked and sometimes, being kids, they responded with "yeah, yeah, yeah - we know!" (I believe they have all  stopped rolling their eyes at me about it.) But the practice always worked for me.

Little Miss M had her first encounter with my tool this past Sunday.  We were in my office and she was turning a table lamp on and off.  I cautioned her that the light bulb becomes very hot, that I was turning it off and that she mustn't touch it.

I'm sure you've all guessed where this is heading...

Yes, she touched it.  And it hurt!  I hurried her into the kitchen and we put the now painful finger under cold running water.  As we stood there, I asked M if she thought she might want to listen to Grandmom the next time she told her to do something.  She nodded, agreeing with me fully and stating, "Yeah, I think you're right, Grandmom."  A lesson learned! She then went on to apologize to me.  But I said she didn't need to, that she hadn't hurt me, just herself.  I also said that I was very glad she thought it would be a good idea to do what I tell her from now on.

We'll see how long that lasts.....

Tip for a Tuesday....

Invite Mother Nature in....

A dear friend gave me a beautiful bouquet of tulips and daffodils last week. Fresh flowers can lift my spirits and tease me into believing that Spring is just around the corner.

The daffys faded quickly, but the tulips have opened and are standing strong.

At my request, the Englishman picked up a couple of hyacinths plants for me while at the supermarket this morning. Their heavenly scent will soon fill the air.

So my suggestion is that you stop off and pick up a small bunch of cut flowers or a potted bulb plant. Bring them into your home.  Let their fragrance soothe your soul and give you hope that despite the dreary weather, Spring will be arriving soon.   

A Monday memory....

 

Birthday parties when I was growing up were always the same - who the celebrant was seemed to be the only thing that distinguished one party from another.  Yet, there was always an air of excitement every time I attended one.

We inevitably played the same games.   Small prizes were awarded to the winner. Musical chairs....

Pin the tail on the donkey....

Drop a clothespin in a milk bottle....          

Girls wore their best dresses and the boys had their slicked back.  The table would be set with a paper tablecloth, napkins, plates and cups.  There were hats to be worn, each with that painful elastic which always seemed to cut into one's skin.  Tiny paper baskets, usually yellow in color and with striped handles, would sit at each place, filled with candies.  That was our version of a "goody bag." And there would be balloons.  Lots of balloons, which had been blown up by someones parents or older brothers,  not the elaborate helium ones of today.

Over the years, birthday parties have grown and evolved into rather large productions.  I hosted an assortment of parties when my girls were growing up - ranging from roller skating to gymnastics to a storyteller, who encouraged all the attendees to dress up and act out a fairy tale.  

There started to be almost a competitive atmosphere among the parents concerning where parties were held, how many were invited and the size of the goody bags to be provided.  I started to look back fondly at the parties of my youth.  Perhaps our parents had the right idea with keeping things simpler.

The other day, my oldest granddaughter M was thrilled to be going to her best friend's birthday party at a Chuck E. Cheese entertainment center.   Just before she left, her mother posted a photo of her.  M looked adorable!  And like the young girls way back when, she was all dressed up, sporting a bow in her hair and wearing a new "tutu" skirt.  

The best part?  The look of pure joy on her face.   

How wonderful to see that the excitement of going to a birthday party is one thing that hasn't changed, even if the type of celebration has.

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

How very true - worrying about a situation does nothing to make it better.  Worry steals from me. Takes away my ability to be in and enjoy the moment.  Even the moment of waiting to see how things turn out.

But that has taken years and years to learn.

Wednesday's wisdom....

"I'm bored....."

A friend posted on Facebook earlier in the week that her kids were home on break from school, and  had already run out of toys to play with and television to watch.  

And it was only Monday morning.

I commented that my mother used to have a cure for that.

The  moment my siblings and I suggested there was nothing to do - depending on the time of year and weather - she would thrust either a dust rag or rake into our hands.

Suddenly there were beds to be weeded or large pieces of furniture to be polished.

You could instantly find yourself outside in the hot, sweltering sun wondering how on earth you had gotten there.

We learned very quickly to never utter the word "bored" again.

This morning I found myself with about an hour's worth of time before I was heading out for lunch with a friend.  Being nicely dressed, I didn't want to engage in any sort of messy project.  Still, there was a feeling of restlessness and wasting time.

So I took my mother's "advice".

I went into my bedroom and cleared out a cabinet.  Not a major undertaking, by any means.  However it did give me a feeling of having accomplished a little something for the morning.

Which made the effort worthwhile.

Old habits die hard I suppose.

  One of these days, I'll learn to just sit down and read a book.

Tip for a Tuesday....

I was both surprised and delighted when the Englishman informed me that a new book written by beloved writer, Maeve Binchy, had just been published.  Surprised, because sadly the author passed away the 30th of July, 2012.

I immediately purchased the novel for my "Nook" and have had trouble putting it down ever since.  If you are not familiar with her work, I urge you to read as many of her books as possible.  There are 16 novels and four short -stories collections, as well as a play and a novella to choose from.  

From Wikipedia:

"While some of Binchy's novels are complete stories (Circle of Friends, Light a Penny Candle), many others revolve around a cast of interrelated characters (The Copper Beech, Silver Wedding, The Lilac Bus, Evening Class, and Heart and Soul). Her later novels, Evening Class, Scarlet Feather, Quentins, and Tara Road, feature a cast of recurring characters."

(Bearing this information in mind, you might want to read some of her books in a particular order.)

Being of Irish/English descent I find much to identify with and learn from these wonderful stories.  Perhaps you'll discover there just might be a wee bit of Irish/English in you too! 

A Monday memory....

Remember when.....

There were often comedians who, during their monologues, would sometimes announce, "I'm so old...." This would then prompt the audience to yell out, "How old are you?"

Well, today, my response is: I'm so old that I remember when we celebrated Lincoln's birthday on the 12th of February, then Washington's on the 22nd, their actual birthdays. Each date entitled us to a day off school.  If either day happened to fall on a weekend, well, that was too bad.  There wasn't an extra day off that year.  (And there wasn't a "February Break" from school either back then. I believe that was created in response to the "energy crisis" of the '70's.)

I actually looked forward to these holidays while I was in grammar school.  We would be tasked with writing a report on each President and I would search through either the Britannica or World Book Encyclopedias for information.  Covers were created for these reports using stencils or decals found in the store. Lots of red, white and blue construction paper was used as I recall.

Also, back in the old days, there were no computers on which to type up and print out said assignments.  Starting in the Fifth Grade, you had to copy your final draft using an ink cartridge pen.  I learned to pace myself and not rush this part of the process.  Crossing out was not acceptable, so if you made a mistake, you had to start all over again.

The final step in the whole experience would occur when the teacher had each student stand before the class and read their report aloud.  Fortunately, that was not as frightening a prospect for me as it was for others.  And if you listened carefully to your peers, there was always a chance someone would come up  with some obscure fact you'd never heard before, which you could share at your family dinner table that night.

These two men made enormous contributions to the founding and growth of this country.  I hope the students of today are being given similar assignments so as to discover why these particular men continue to be so revered.

Friday Fotos.....

All because two people fell in love....

February 11, 1950 -  A Brooklyn man took a Manhattan girl for his wife.

These photos were taken on their honeymoon in Florida. 














Then 29 years later, their middle child married an Englishman on the very same date....  

which led to these three blessings......

                         and eventually these two angels.

                Ain't love grand?

Wishing everyone a peaceful, snow free weekend.

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

In other words:

Let it go, let it go....

Wednesday's wisdom....

Staying balanced....

Loud rumblings a couple of weeks ago sent me flying down the stairs to the laundry area.  It seems that despite my best efforts, the weight of water soaked laundry had shifted in the washing machine and had thrown the drum off balance.  Hence the banging and clanging.  After much pulling, twisting and several retries, I finally put it right and the process resumed.

This mini ordeal got me to thinking about keeping my own balance and what happens when I don't. I've learned the hard way that I pay a big price when I allow myself to get overtired, hungry, excessively worried, or ready to throttle someone.

Just the other day, I lost track of time and forgot to eat.  As the morning wore on, I could feel my head going a bit funny.  By the time I realized the problem and ate some protein, I was already feeling badly.  It took several hours, during which I tried to keep others safely at bay, before I felt myself again.

So what do I generally do to stay on an even keel?  I eat protein at every meal, watch my intake of caffeine and sugar, go to bed early every night, wake up at roughly the same time every morning. I pray.  A lot.  I stay away from violent movies, TV, and books (except for Vince Flynn).  For peace of mind, I read novels, flip through magazines like Victoria and Good Housekeeping.  The Englishman and I watch the British program Escape to the Country, as well as comedy shows and period dramas.  I hug my grandkids as often as I can, stay connected with my girls and email with friends often. Having a wonderful, supportive husband is truly a blessing, which also keeps me balanced.

Trial, and disastrous error, have taught me to stay away from English toffee, and in addition, spearmint leaves and certain brands of chocolate.  Seriously.  Ask my kids.  They'll tell you.

The payoff for staying balanced?  A happier, more serene life.  

Not only for me, but for everyone around me too.

Tip for a Tuesday....

Look ahead....

Years ago, I found this box in a Hallmark store and thought it was a great idea.  It's a greeting card holder, divided by month and occasion.  It even has a secret compartment at the bottom in which to store stamps.

I try to make a point at the beginning of each month to look ahead and see what special occasions are coming up.  Then I add the names of the type of cards for those special days to my shopping list. Over the years, I've also picked up packets of cards to keep on hand, for instance, Valentine's Day or Easter, and some general Birthday cards, and store those in the appropriate folder.

Even with all that preparedness, I still can find myself saying, "Oh no" when I realize a card didn't make it in the mail on time.  So this year, I also went through my calendar book and marked down several days in advance of each occasion a reminder to actually mail the card.  

Apparently, I can never be too prepared.

Friday Fotos....

"I'm forever blowing bubbles....."   I have never seen Bentley do this before!

My first major snowstorm - yes, March, 1956.  That's me in the doorway.

 I think this sign is most appropriate today.

(Found it online last year.)

Enough already.  

The State of New Jersey is officially exhausted.

I am praying for the following:

No more rain, sleet, snow, winds, flooding or power outages.

Here's hoping the powers that be are listening!

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

*This was posted on a page I follow on Facebook - Positive Outlooks   - worth checking out!

Wednesday's wisdom....

It will always be this way....

                                             Trust me.  It just feels like forever. These days do pass.

I can attest from the front lines that no matter what you may be going through - it will end and things will change.  Well, that's been my experience, so far.

Got kids? When my children were small, I felt like I saw more of the pediatrician than I did my husband.  They were constantly sick with ear infections, strep throat, colds, bronchitis and yes, pneumonia.  I began to think we could make a fortune if we bought stock in Kleenex and drug companies which produced antibiotics.

The days were endless. Like the Dowager Countess on Downton Abbey, I too wondered, "What's a week-end?"  Would the car ever go in any direction but the pharmacy or doctor's? Would there come a time when I could put away the thermometer and stop buying gallons of ginger ale?

During yet another trip to the doctor, while noting the drooping of my shoulders when he once again informed me one of the girls needed medicine, Dr. H pointed out that we were pretty much on schedule. On schedule?  Are you kidding me?  He went on to say that I should expect to see him, on average, every two weeks.  Once kids start attending school, this was the natural course of things.

I did the math, and with three school age children, this did not sound like good news to me.  But it made sense.  When I looked back at the calendars I kept, there did seem to be a pattern of sorts.  Each of the girls was coming down with something every few weeks or so.

Strange as it may seem, this information actually gave me both comfort and hope.  Because I also realized, that some day, my daughters would all graduate and leave school.  And the germs.  And we would stop going to the pediatricians every few days.

My girls are all grown up now.  If they are sick, they drive themselves to the doctor.  Those years of worry and tending to sick children are far behind me.  I don't miss that part.  At all.

That feeling - it will always be like this - can come to the surface when dealing with financial problems, health problems, storm damage, snowstorms, depression, and on and on.  For me, remembering that "this too shall pass" and that things (and kids) do in fact change, can help me to hang in there until it does.



                                                         

Tip for a Tuesday....

Makin a list and checkin it twice....
(Be honest. Bet you found yourself singing along when you read that just now.)

Trying to stay organized and on top of my household is becoming more challenging the older I get.  I often begin the week with good intentions of getting to all the mundane chores such as dusting, vacuuming, laundry and such.  Then life happens and I am easily distracted, often feeling, come Friday, that I've accomplished nothing at all.

Solution?  A list of daily tasks.

Where to begin, though, I've asked myself lately.  

A few years ago I cam upon Brocante Home and Alison's "Vintage Housekeeper."  She has wonderful downloads and suggestions, many of which I have purchased and followed, such as The Art of Homemaking, The Seasonal Scrub,  and Trash It or Treasure It.  
(See Brocante Home link, listed on the right hand side below.)

But my attention span seems to be shrinking these days for anything longer than a paragraph, so I needed to simplify.  Thanks to Pinterest, browsing the internet, and a bit of thought, I came up with a short list which I jotted down in the calendar book I purchased in January.  




Monday through Saturday I've listed no more than four taks to accomplish each day.
When I'm feeling frazzled or wondering what to do next, a quick look at the book puts me back on track.

Easy Peasy.

A Monday memory....

Earlier today I happened to drive down the main road off which my mother's house is located.  Just before her street, there is  was a beautiful old Dutch Colonial home, pictured here.

The house was recently up for sale and I was hoping whoever bought it would love the character and history of it, and want to maintain its charm while updating it.  Alas, it is not to be. The house is in the process of being torn down and sadly, large sections have already been removed. 

Many years ago, a friend and I were riding our bikes with our sisters past this very house.  The youngest in our group, Jane, turned her front wheel sharply and toppled over, skinning her knee badly.  A teenage girl who lived in the house heard her cries and came out to assist us.  Assessing the situation, she decided Jane needed immediate attention and invited us all into the house  Though sorry for the little one's misfortune, I was pleased with the opportunity to look around the house as we were led through several rooms before arriving in the cozy kitchen.  There, the young lady set about cleaning and bandaging the wounded knee. Once finished, we thanked the "nurse" for saving the day and were soon off again on our bikes.

Turning my head for a quick look at this charming place became second nature to me over the many years I've driven past.  I will miss it as I do so many other familiar landmarks that no longer stand in this part of the world.

Change is inevitable, I suppose.  But is bigger and newer always better?  I wonder.

Friday Fotos.....

It'a been a busy week....

The amaryllis is in full bloom!  The gorgeous red color is perfect as we approach Valentine's Day.
















The wee one is very creative these days, turning a"lap desk" into a mini sled on her living room floor.
Kept herself entertained for quite a bit with this.
Notice she's looking to see Grandmom's reaction....

Miss M and I spent Sunday morning cutting out various shapes with Play-Doh.  I'd forgotten how relaxing playing with Play-Doh is.

Here are my three charges, anxiously awaiting their dinner.  See the pleading in their eyes? The trouble is, Basset Hounds always look so sad that I end up giving them extra treats. Not good for their waistlines I'm afraid.

Tomorrow is Candlemas Day in England. In addition to being a Christian festival and a time for the blessing of candles in the Church, it also marks the midpoint of winter.   I've been very pleased to see the sun is rising earlier and earlier each day.  Signs of hope that Spring is that much closer.

Not planning on watching the Super Bowl.  No interest this year, yet I sincerely hope the Ravens don't win.

Wishing everyone a peaceful and enjoyable weekend.  May it be snow free for us all!