Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Too Busy for a Friend?
One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name.
Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of
their classmates and write it down.
It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as
the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.
That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate
sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.
On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class
was smiling. 'Really?' she heard whispered. 'I never knew that I meant
anything to anyone!' and, 'I didn't know others liked me so much,' were most
of the comments.
No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they
discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The
exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with
themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.
Several years later, one of the students was killed in Viet Nam
and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student.
She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before.
He looked so handsome, so mature.
The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a
last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin.
As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her.
'Were you Mark's math teacher?' he asked. She nodded: 'yes.' Then he said: 'Mark talked about you a lot.'
After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon.. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher..
'We want to show you something,' his father said, taking a wallet out of his
pocket 'They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might
recognize it.'
Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.
'Thank you so much for doing that,' Mark's mother said. 'As you can see, Mark treasured it.'
All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, 'I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home.'
Chuck's wife said, 'Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album.'
'I have mine too,' Marilyn said. 'It's in my diary'
Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet
and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. 'I carry this with me at all times,' Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: 'I think we all saved our lists'
That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried.
She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.
The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end
one day. And we don't know when that one day will be.
So please, tell the people you love and care for,
that they are special and important.
Tell them, before it is too late.
Remember, you reap what you sow.
What you put into the lives of others comes back into your own.
May Your Day Be Blessed As Special As You Are
Quotes of the Day
I came across these two wonderful quotes in a friends signature. I love them both, and hope that you will appreciate them as much as I do.
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass,
It's about getting out there and dancing in the rain.
When the Power of LOVE overcomes the Love of POWER,
The World will know PEACE
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass,
It's about getting out there and dancing in the rain.
When the Power of LOVE overcomes the Love of POWER,
The World will know PEACE
Monday, April 27, 2009
Why God gives you things you don't understand
God doesn't give you the people you want,
He gives you the people you NEED -
To help you,
to hurt you,
to leave you,
to love you
and
to make you into the person
you were meant to be.
Dear God:
The lady reading this is beautiful, classy and strong, and I love her.
Help her live her life to the fullest.
Please promote her and cause her to excel above her expectations.
Help her shine in the darkest places where it is impossible to love.
Protect her at all times,
lift her up when she needs you the most,
and let her know when she walks with you,
She will always be safe.
Wash Day - its NOT what you think
Wash Day...........
Monday WashDay
Lord, help me wash away all my selfishness and
Vanity, so I may serve you with perfect humility
Through the week ahead.
Tuesday Ironing Day
Dear Lord, help me iron out all the wrinkles
Of prejudice I have collected through the years
So that I may see the beauty in others.
Wednesday Mending Day
O God, help me mend my ways so I will not
Set a bad example for others.
Thursday Cleaning Day
Lord Jesus, help me to dust out all the many faults
I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart.
Friday Shopping Day
O God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I may purchase eternal happiness for myself and all others
In need of love.
Saturday Cooking Day
Help me, my Savior, to brew a big kettle of brotherly
Love and serve it with clean, sweet bread of human kindness.
Sunday The Lord's Day
O God, I have prepared my house for you. Please
Come into my heart so I may spend the day and the
Rest of my life in your presence.
Monday WashDay
Lord, help me wash away all my selfishness and
Vanity, so I may serve you with perfect humility
Through the week ahead.
Tuesday Ironing Day
Dear Lord, help me iron out all the wrinkles
Of prejudice I have collected through the years
So that I may see the beauty in others.
Wednesday Mending Day
O God, help me mend my ways so I will not
Set a bad example for others.
Thursday Cleaning Day
Lord Jesus, help me to dust out all the many faults
I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart.
Friday Shopping Day
O God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I may purchase eternal happiness for myself and all others
In need of love.
Saturday Cooking Day
Help me, my Savior, to brew a big kettle of brotherly
Love and serve it with clean, sweet bread of human kindness.
Sunday The Lord's Day
O God, I have prepared my house for you. Please
Come into my heart so I may spend the day and the
Rest of my life in your presence.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Quotes of the Day
I haven't done this for awhile - but somehow today these all fit. I think it is a perfect way to end the week - and get ready for the beginning of another.
"Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible."
"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore."
"Think big thoughts, but relish small pleasures. "
"Seek the wisdom of the ages, but look at the world through the eyes of a child."
"Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time.
Then your time on earth will be filled with glory."
Then your time on earth will be filled with glory."
"Forget about all the reasons why something may not work. You only need to find one good reason why it will."
Monday, April 20, 2009
25 Reasons I Owe my Mother
I thought that I needed to post a cute "funny" after last weeks sad post. Thank you to all who sent good wishes and hugs to my daughter, it was a trying week.
1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
'If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.
2. My mother taught me RELIGION 'You better pray, that will come out of the carpet.'
3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL .
'If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!'
4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
' Because I said so, that's why.'
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC .
'If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me.'
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
'Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident.'
7. My mother taught me IRONY
'Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about.'
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
'Shut your mouth and eat your supper.'
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM .
'Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck?'
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
'You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone..'
11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
'This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.'
12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
'If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!'
13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE .
'I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.'
14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
'Stop acting like your father!'
15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
'There are millions of less fortunate children in this world, who don't have wonderful parents like you do.'
16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
'Just wait until we get home.'
17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .
'You are going to get it when you get home!'
18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
'If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way.'
19. My mother taught me ESP.
'Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?'
20. My mother taught me HUMOR.
'When that lawn mower cuts off your foot, don't come running to me.'
21. My Mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT .
'If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up.'
22. My Mother taught me GENETICS. 'You're just like your father.'
23 My Mother taught me about my ROOTS.
'Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?'
24. My Mother taught me WISDOM.
'When you get to be my age, you'll understand.'
25. And my favorite: My Mother taught me about JUSTICE
'One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.'
1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
'If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.
2. My mother taught me RELIGION 'You better pray, that will come out of the carpet.'
3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL .
'If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!'
4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
' Because I said so, that's why.'
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC .
'If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me.'
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
'Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident.'
7. My mother taught me IRONY
'Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about.'
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
'Shut your mouth and eat your supper.'
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM .
'Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck?'
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
'You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone..'
11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
'This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.'
12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
'If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!'
13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE .
'I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.'
14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
'Stop acting like your father!'
15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
'There are millions of less fortunate children in this world, who don't have wonderful parents like you do.'
16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
'Just wait until we get home.'
17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .
'You are going to get it when you get home!'
18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
'If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way.'
19. My mother taught me ESP.
'Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?'
20. My mother taught me HUMOR.
'When that lawn mower cuts off your foot, don't come running to me.'
21. My Mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT .
'If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up.'
22. My Mother taught me GENETICS. 'You're just like your father.'
23 My Mother taught me about my ROOTS.
'Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?'
24. My Mother taught me WISDOM.
'When you get to be my age, you'll understand.'
25. And my favorite: My Mother taught me about JUSTICE
'One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.'
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Such a bad weekend
It has been the weekend from Hell, when it should have been a happy time. Tax season is just about over (ok at least the craziest part of it), Easter is here and next Saturday is my "baby's" birthday (even though she's definitely NOT a baby anymore). Instead it is a weekend I would love to forget.
The weekend started with a horrific day at work on Friday. It was definitely NOT one of my brightest days in the office - I was very close to walking out and telling the powers that be that I had had enough of the unprofessional characters in the office. But I just bit my lip (after telling a partner he had better do something about a radio that was playing some crap - that I had already asked to have lowered for the 4th time) and left the office around 6PM.
My son, who had just finished working a 13+ hours shift came home to eat something and go to sleep since he was exhausted (it was his second 12 hour shift in 2 days that went longer than 12 hours) when he was called out for an accident on the highway. He is a volunteer fireman and EMT. He didn't get home until 4AM because of a very nasty accident that will probably haunt all those involved for many years to come, because it involved a fatality. He practically crawled back in to try to sleep for a few hours before he had to go to a class for the fire department.
He and I left around 8, going in opposite directions. My daughter sent me a text in the late morning saying she heard something about one of her best friends and couldn't find anything to confirm it. At 1PM she text me that it was true. She said that one of her best friends died the night before on the highway. Needless to say she was beside herself with tears and sadness. I came home to be with her and try to find out any information we could.
What we found was that yes it was true. He had died on the highway around 1AM Saturday morning. Yes, we found out later, it was the same accident that my son had been on that night. He was a baby, he had just turned 17 last month.
My dear sweet daughter was so beside herself because she felt like she should have been there for him. She should have called him more, been there for him more, that maybe he would have come here Friday night instead of being out and dying.
This morning I made her go to work for 8AM. Because she had introduced this boy to one of the girls she works with, and they had started dating, she felt responsible for the girl as well. When the girl called in to work and said she couldn't come in to work today - all the "top" management people came to my daughter to ask what happened. Of course that just made her "relive" the whole thing. She called me at 7:55 telling me she wanted to come home, she couldn't work, please come get her because she was too upset to drive. I told her that of course she could work her shift - she had to, but I would be down in 5 minutes. I run down to work to calm her down so that she could stay for her shift. It took a little bit, but finally she was calmed down and able to go back in. I just told her to think of all the good times that they had together. I told her that if ANYONE (and that meant any bosses as well) started asking questions, to just tell them that she was having a hard enough time as it is and didn't want to discuss it now. When she came home at 12:45 - she was exhausted, mentally and physically.
I am so mad that both of my kids have had to deal with this. And then I feel mad at myself for feeling this way. I feel such sorrow for the other people involved in this tragic accident. I feel so sad and sorry for the family and all the friends that he has left behind. So many people were touched by this and unfortunately many of them will never be the same. I don't know how the family will deal with this - he was just so young.
The weekend started with a horrific day at work on Friday. It was definitely NOT one of my brightest days in the office - I was very close to walking out and telling the powers that be that I had had enough of the unprofessional characters in the office. But I just bit my lip (after telling a partner he had better do something about a radio that was playing some crap - that I had already asked to have lowered for the 4th time) and left the office around 6PM.
My son, who had just finished working a 13+ hours shift came home to eat something and go to sleep since he was exhausted (it was his second 12 hour shift in 2 days that went longer than 12 hours) when he was called out for an accident on the highway. He is a volunteer fireman and EMT. He didn't get home until 4AM because of a very nasty accident that will probably haunt all those involved for many years to come, because it involved a fatality. He practically crawled back in to try to sleep for a few hours before he had to go to a class for the fire department.
He and I left around 8, going in opposite directions. My daughter sent me a text in the late morning saying she heard something about one of her best friends and couldn't find anything to confirm it. At 1PM she text me that it was true. She said that one of her best friends died the night before on the highway. Needless to say she was beside herself with tears and sadness. I came home to be with her and try to find out any information we could.
What we found was that yes it was true. He had died on the highway around 1AM Saturday morning. Yes, we found out later, it was the same accident that my son had been on that night. He was a baby, he had just turned 17 last month.
My dear sweet daughter was so beside herself because she felt like she should have been there for him. She should have called him more, been there for him more, that maybe he would have come here Friday night instead of being out and dying.
This morning I made her go to work for 8AM. Because she had introduced this boy to one of the girls she works with, and they had started dating, she felt responsible for the girl as well. When the girl called in to work and said she couldn't come in to work today - all the "top" management people came to my daughter to ask what happened. Of course that just made her "relive" the whole thing. She called me at 7:55 telling me she wanted to come home, she couldn't work, please come get her because she was too upset to drive. I told her that of course she could work her shift - she had to, but I would be down in 5 minutes. I run down to work to calm her down so that she could stay for her shift. It took a little bit, but finally she was calmed down and able to go back in. I just told her to think of all the good times that they had together. I told her that if ANYONE (and that meant any bosses as well) started asking questions, to just tell them that she was having a hard enough time as it is and didn't want to discuss it now. When she came home at 12:45 - she was exhausted, mentally and physically.
I am so mad that both of my kids have had to deal with this. And then I feel mad at myself for feeling this way. I feel such sorrow for the other people involved in this tragic accident. I feel so sad and sorry for the family and all the friends that he has left behind. So many people were touched by this and unfortunately many of them will never be the same. I don't know how the family will deal with this - he was just so young.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Tickets anyone?
I GOT STOPPED FOR SPEEDING YESTERDAY.
I THOUGHT I COULD TALK MY WAY OUT OF IT
UNTIL THE COP LOOKED AT MY DOG IN THE BACK SEAT
OOPS
Thursday, April 9, 2009
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG,
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ,
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!
It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God.
Therefore I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a problem in having 'In God We Trust' on our money and having 'God' in the Pledge of Allegiance.
I believe it's time we stand up for what we believe!
If you agree, pass this on, if not, well I'm sorry we don't agree. but in this country we have the right to disagree without fear of disappearing.
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ,
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!
It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God.
Therefore I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a problem in having 'In God We Trust' on our money and having 'God' in the Pledge of Allegiance.
I believe it's time we stand up for what we believe!
If you agree, pass this on, if not, well I'm sorry we don't agree. but in this country we have the right to disagree without fear of disappearing.
A Teacher's Composure.....
A teacher is explaining biology to her 4th grade students. 'Human beings are the only animals that stutter,' she said.
A little girl raises her hand. 'I had a kitty-cat who stuttered.'
The teacher, knowing how precious some of these stories could become, asked the girl to describe the incident.
'Well', she began, 'I was in the back yard with my kitty and the Rottweiler that lives next door got a running start and before we knew it, he jumped over the fence into our yard!'
'That must've been scary,' said the teacher.
'It sure was,' said the little girl. 'My kitty raised her back, went Sssss, Sssss, Sssss' and before she could say 'Shit!', the Rottweiler ate her!
The teacher had to leave the room.I sure don't think I would have had enough composure to have left the room FIRST ..... must be something you learn while earning your teacher's degree - either that or its in the "teacher's handbook". I truly would have lost it :)
Saturday, April 4, 2009
The Present Path of Success
This came with dinner the other night - even the restaurant people think that we (accountants) need a break every now and again. I thought it was pretty good - so I pass it on to you as well. I am sorry if you don't agree with this one - any more than perhaps you haven't agreed with other things I've posted - but hey since its my page, I get to post things that I "agree with" or "find interesting" ..... I do hope I don't end up alienating too many - I've been gone way too long already. I though this should go under the category of "things that make ya go hummmm" but I don't have one of those (yet).
A Good Lesson, on perhaps, where our current government thinks we want to go:
An economics professor at Texas Tech said that he had never failed a single student before, but had, once, failed an ENTIRE class. That class had insisted that socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich - socialism was the great equalizer. This professor then said Ok, we will have an experiment in this class on socialism. He then went on to explain how that semester's class would work.
All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade, so no one would fail and no one would recieve an A. After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. But as the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too; so they studied just a little. The second test average was a D! NO ONE was happy. When the 3rd test rolled around the average was an F.
The scores never increased as the bickering, blame, and name calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else. ALL failed, to their great surprise. The professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great the effort to succeed is great; but when the government takes all the rewards away, no one will try or want to succeed .... since they can't receive anything more than anyone else - the incentive is gone.
Could it not be any simpler than that to explain? I'm thinking/hoping that all those students now "get it".
A Good Lesson, on perhaps, where our current government thinks we want to go:
An economics professor at Texas Tech said that he had never failed a single student before, but had, once, failed an ENTIRE class. That class had insisted that socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich - socialism was the great equalizer. This professor then said Ok, we will have an experiment in this class on socialism. He then went on to explain how that semester's class would work.
All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade, so no one would fail and no one would recieve an A. After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. But as the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too; so they studied just a little. The second test average was a D! NO ONE was happy. When the 3rd test rolled around the average was an F.
The scores never increased as the bickering, blame, and name calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else. ALL failed, to their great surprise. The professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great the effort to succeed is great; but when the government takes all the rewards away, no one will try or want to succeed .... since they can't receive anything more than anyone else - the incentive is gone.
Could it not be any simpler than that to explain? I'm thinking/hoping that all those students now "get it".
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