Thursday's Thought for the Day....

"As we pause to thank Him for the blessings of the past year, we must not forget to thank Him for the lessons we have learned through our difficult times. We are not to be thankful for just the pleasant, easy things, but ALL things." 

~ Millie Stamm

Wishing one and all a very Happy Thanksgiving -

filled with family, friends, and wonderful 

memories to last a lifetime.

Tip for a Tuesday....

"Polly, put the kettle on..."

The Englishman recently forwarded an article to me entitled "How a cup of tea makes you happier, healthier, and more productive" by Drake Baer.  I found it quite interesting, especially this paragraph:

"Beyond the caffeine, tea has another killer app, and this one is unique to the leaf: Theanine, which is an amino acid present in black and green tea, especially the matcha, gyokuro, and anji bai cha varieties. A review of the research suggests that theanine reduces anxiety and calms us because it increases the number of inhibitory neurotransmitters (which balance our moods out) and modulates serotonin and dopamine (which makes us feel good.)"

The article also points out that research suggests that health benefits include a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. 

Who knew? Perhaps the British people have been privy to this secret all along.  Sipping tea, whether from a mug or fine china cup, appears to offer far more benefits than just a mild jolt of caffeine. So put the kettle on and brew some tea.  Your body will thank you for it!

For more information, here is the link to the article. 
http://www.fastcompany.com/3021416/leadership-now/how-a-cup-of-tea-makes-you-happier-healthier-and-more-productive

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

This is certainly "food for thought" this morning....

* I found this on Pinterest while seeking a quote on gratitude.  I then went to the website listed - "We Choose Virtues" - ( http://we-choose-virtues.myshopify.com/)  and found a wonderful site filled with many interesting ideas, especially for Moms and Teachers.  You might want to check it out.

Tip for a Tuesday....

Jacquie Lawson

Forgive me if I've already told you about this wonderful site - but I believe it is worth repeating.

Below is a detailed description from the website, describing what is offered.

I've also noted the variety of "cards" available all year long, with a membership fee.

Below that is a copy of last years's "Advent Calendar."

If you are a Downton Abbey fan, this year's animated Advent Calendar will delight you!

My family, friends and I have found enormous pleasure in viewing these delightful cards and calendar.

In fact, granddaughter M is already playing several of the games and puzzles on this year's Advent calendar, currently loaded on her mother's computer.  She can't wait to "open the numbers" beginning the 1st of December!

*Please note - if you've already received the gift of the Advent calendar, you don't have to wait until December 1st to upload and use it.  Put it on your desktop today and start to enjoy it!

"Welcome to jacquielawson.com!

The classiest e-cards on the web

Back in the year 2000, Jacquie Lawson, an English artist living in the picturesque village of Lurgashall in Southern England, created an animated Christmas card featuring her dog and cats, and her 15th-century cottage, and sent it to a few friends for their amusement. Those friends sent the e-card to others, and within weeks Jacquie was inundated with requests from all over the world to design more e-cards. In February 2002 she teamed up with a few friends and family members to create jacquielawson.com.

Over the years the collection has grown to a current total of 262 e-cards, each one showing a degree of artistry and attention to detail rarely seen in the medium of e-cards. Even the music is composed and arranged specially for each card! We now have a range of birthday e-cards, Christmas e-cards, thank you e-cards, and so on, featuring dogs, cats, teddy bears,flowers, and many other subjects.

A modest yearly membership fee gives you access to the entire range of e-cards and allows you to send as many greetings as you like. You can even get a further discount by joining for two years!

We hope you enjoy browsing our e-cards, and if you're not already a member, we hope you will consider joining us and sharing Jacquie's delightful animations with your friends and family."

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

"You do build in darkness if you have faith.

When the light returns you have made of

yourself a fortress which is impregnable

to certain kinds of trouble; you may

even find yourself needed and sought

by others as a beacon in their dark."

~ Olga Rosmanith

(from the book believe)

A Monday memory....

We still remember....

It has been nearly ten years since I led a group of Third Graders through their letter writing assignments - letters written to my nephew and then future son-in-law, as well as a dozen or more of their friends, while they were serving our country in Iraq.  I received overwhelming support not only from my own students, but from my Principal, fellow Teachers, and all of the students in our school.  Having something concrete to do - sending letters and care packages - made those long months of holding our breaths as a family endurable.  It helped me to feel I could help these young men and women in some small way.

Though I don't personally know of anyone on active duty in the Middle East, there are still many ways that I can currently support our Service members.  One is through crocheting scarves, which I send on to Operation Gratitude. 
For information on how you can help:  http://www.operationgratitude.com/

And I pray often, for the Veterans and those currently serving, as well as for the families and friends who love and support them.  

Happy Veteran's Day!

Thank you for your service and may God bless you,

 now and forever! 

Friday Fotos....

I am by no means a photographer, but I wanted to share what I was able to capture the other night as the sun was starting its descent.                         How absolutely gorgeous is this?  

(If you look closely at the first photo, you can just about make out the sliver of the moon off to the left.)

Wishing everyone a peaceful weekend....

and GO ARMY  beat Western Kentucky!

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

 So let them go, let go of them. 

I tie no weights to my ankles.”

C. JoyBell C.

From her website:

"Meet the author

C. JoyBell C. is best known for her love of cake, especially that of the red velvet nature. She is also known for her poetry, prose, novel-writing and is famed for her philosophical writings and speeches, many of which have been quoted in various books by different authors and can also be appreciated as incorporated by many artists into their diverse pieces. Moreover, there are those who simply want to look at her pictures! She will say to you "Céad míle fáilte!" (A hundred thousand welcomes!) and "A viaxe continúa!" (The journey continues!)"

Wednesday's wisdom....

Bank it.....

If I've learned anything over the years, it's that I need to keep a personal sort of "bank" in which I store some very important supplies.

Things like: extra sleep, good nutrition, chats with girlfriends, watching the sunset and reading for an hour. Life will inevitably throw some unexpected curves my way.  If I have banked those items that are necessary to maintain my coping skills - and sanity - then I can better handle the surprises that come along.

Like a phone call (years ago) which instantly summons my spouse to a meeting - overseas - during a holiday weekend.  Or when one of my young daughters, happily playing with her toys just a few hours earlier, suddenly spikes a fever of 104 degrees.  Or recently, staying up all night, texting back and forth with my girls while watching the news, in order to lend support to my worried family members.

I no longer think of it as selfish to be sure I take time for a few wants, in addition to my basic needs. That way, when life gets turned upside down, I'm a little more prepared to handle it  - without wishing I could hop in my mini and motor off into the sunset......

Tip for a Tuesday.....

VOTE

If you haven't already done so, go and vote.

Now!

My mother used to say you had no absolutely no right to complain 

if you hadn't voted.

She was right.

And if you don't feel the need to do it for yourself, 

then do it for the thousands of men and women who literally 

gave their lives

so that you and I can exercise 

our Right to Vote!

It's the least we can do to say "thank you" for their ultimate sacrifice.

Go Vote!

I did.