Enjoy today

 No matter what is going on in your life, remember this.

I know some are sitting in a part of the country that is fridged .. ok that is an understatement ... when the temps before wind chill is in the negative numbers there is not word for it.

Then there are some of us that are feeling cold, even though the thermometer says 50 ... but the South just doesn't do cold.

And then there are others who look out their windows and smile because it is "another day in paradise".

Where every you are Enjoy the Day, I know I am going to put every effort into doing just that.

This is the year for YOU

 I want to make this the BEST year ever, for my family, my friends, and of course for myself.

I believe that these are what will be included in my "theme" for the year.

And of course, this will be a reminder when I fail ... and we all know that there will be some, or what we "think" or are told are failures.

How about you?

Are you with me?

Be not afraid

 

I really like this one.

Sometimes we are so afraid of doing something or not doing something that we freeze and miss out.  

Don't get me wrong, fear can be healthy ... to a point.  

Let's not give in to all fears so that we can achieve everything that we want.

Time to take control

 I know some people think that you can "mail it in" and be good.

And yes, I have said that a good part of success is just showing up, BUT is that what you want?  Just a part of success?

Sometimes, yes, a part of success is good enough.  

It is often enough to lift your spirit enough to get to the next step, to increase your successes.  Or just show you that you CAN do it.

For a Reason

 I saw this one and well it just said "you KNOW this is TRUE."  We often feel like we know what is best for us, yes I know I said "we" because I know it's not just ME.  

We think we know the way, but well looking back over my lifetime (ok maybe just the past 20 years or so) I know this is not always true.

Sometimes I don't want to admit it ... because you just know I was right, until we know I was anything but right.

His way.  

His time line.

I need to keep trusting in God to make the right opportunities come my way.  You should too.  Not always easy, but it is the right way.

Look for the good

 Some people it seems can only see the "bad" things in life. They seem to forget that there is always a silver lining, no matter how bad something seems.  

You missed the bus, bad situation.  

You met a really nice person on the next bus, good situation.

Unfortunately, in recent years, it seems that this needs to be reinforced in our thoughts or even taught to our children .....

Is it because we have forgotten how to see the good or because we have somehow been trained to only see the bad?

Let's start today to find the good in every situation so that each day will be something to be thankful for.  

Because, believe me, there is something to be thankful for EACH and EVERY day.

Let Karma handle it

I know when we feel hurt, all we want to do is lash out at whomever we feel has hurt us.  

Sometimes we feel that if we do this, it will make us feel better.
Trust me - it really doesn't.  

Maybe it will for a few days or hours, but over all, it doesn't.

Don't let the feelings of needing to give that hurt back take over.  
Let Karma handle it.  

You know, eventually it always does.

And if we are lucky enough to see it happen, all the better.

Who I admire

Have you ever really thought about who it is that you admire?
If you have, have you figured out why you admire them?  

Or have you never really thought about it?

If you haven't, you are not alone.

I think after these past months, as difficult as they have been for most of us, we can find a whole lot of people that we admire.

Your most useful asset

 Oh I bet you thought I was going to give you some materialistic thing that you need to make sure that you acquire this year ... but surprise, I am not.

Oh there are many material things that we accumulate over the years, some we shake our heads and ask why oh why did we spend the money on these?  Then there are others that we feel like we need to spend a lifetime saving for or go into debt that will take a lifetime to pay off, because they will make us happy or give us status or ??

BUT ....

 Not all assets are material. 

Be like the Butterfly

I had seen this a few weeks ago, but I don't think I was ready to really see it.

As this year starts, I am going to embrace this and become like a butterfly.

 

I have too many things to accomplish this year, too many things that have been put on the shelf until "tomorrow".  

Today is the start of that "tomorrow".

Join me in taking back our place in the world.

Why I didn't give up

 I have to reach out and publicly thank you all who have come back from time to time to see if I have posted anything new.  If I have shared something that perhaps you could feel touch your heart or your soul.

I had thought that perhaps I should give up this blog and just fade into the shadows.

BUT, I decided that just wasn't me.  

I am NOT a quitter.  

I want to show others that they too, are not quitters.

I may not have met you in person, but it was those of you that visited and left messages or comments, that gave me the strength to come back and start again.

Don't give up

So many of us have wanted to throw in the towel and just let someone else take over.  Have someone else make the decisions for us.  It has been a very difficult 20 or so months.

And the thought of curling up into the fetal position has had its draw this past year.  To be honest, I've had my moments as well, but it is nothing to be ashamed of.

But this is a new day.

This is a new year.

As much as we want to just give up and let whatever is supposed to happen happen without any input from us, I am here to tell you don't.   

 

Let's make this year the start of something even better for all of us!  

I know in my heart, that we can and will do this.  

THIS is OUR year!

The Folds of Our Flag

 If you have ever been to a funeral service at a grave site for someone in the military, whether a current military member or for a veteran, you have seen the family given the flag that draped the coffin.  You have probably watched them fold the flag that was taken from the coffin.  

But have you ever heard why the flag is folding in such a way?  Do you know what each of the folds in folding of the flag means? 
Probably not.  But don't feel bad, because unless you have been taught or told, you don't know that each fold has a beautiful meaning.

This is what the 13 folds mean:

1. The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
2. The second fold signifies our belief in eternal life.
3. The third fold is made in honor and tribute of the veteran departing our ranks, and who gave a portion of his or her life for the defense of our country to attain peace.
4. The fourth fold exemplifies our weaker nature as citizens trusting in God; it is to Him we turn for His divine guidance.
5. The fifth fold is an acknowledgement to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, “Our country, in dealigning with other countries, may she always be right, but it is still our country, right or wrong.”
6. The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we 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.
7. The seventh fold is a tribute to our armed forces, for it is through the armed forces that we protect our country and our flag against all enemies.
8. The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor our mother, for whom it flies on Mother’s Day.
9. The ninth fold is an honor to womanhood, for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty, and devotion that the character of men and women who have made this country great have been molded.
10. The 10th fold is a tribute to father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since he or she was first-born.
11. The 11th fold, in the eyes of Hebrew citizens, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
12. The 12th fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost.
13. The last fold, when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, “In God We Trust.”

Thank you to the National Flag Foundation for explaining this to us.  

I have known some of these for a long time ... probably from the first time I saw the folding of our flag, but I couldn't remember each fold.  

By placing this here, all of us will always be able to refresh our memories as to the reasons for this beautiful tribute.

Don't Underestimate me

 I just saw this one and thought that it nails it.

Don't underestimate me

I know more than I say.

Think more than I speak. 

and

Notice more than you realize.

I've always said to my kids, when they aren't sure what to say because they don't want to seem like they don't know what is going on, so many times they say nothing.

I remind them at that point, they should say nothing, or very little, but continue to listen and watch what overs say or do.

Sometimes, ok most of the time, you learn more by watching or listening then people realize.  There are times that you learn more than others wanted you to just by being silent.  

But being silent, doesn't mean you don't know some or all of what is going on, and THAT scares them more than anyone will admit.  

Putting things in perspective

 I saw this on a post on LinkedIn and I wish I could tell you who it was that originally posted (and possibly wrote) this gem, but I can't find the poster.  It was written in chalk on a sidewalk in what looked to be a somewhat busy city street.  

But I think once you read it and then think about it you will agree with me when I say ... THIS has to be the best quote to start the new year.

When 2020 started, 

I thought it would be the year that I 

GOT everything I WANTED.

Now I know that 2020 was the year I learned to

APPRECIATE everything I HAVE.

 

Things to remember as 2020 comes to a close

I know I have not been very faithful to my blog. 

And yes I am hanging my head in sadness (and shame).

I have been in hit or miss mode, and unfortunately it has been mostly miss. 

It has been a difficult year for all of us, and of course I want to apologize to my blog and to you for being so missing.

Today is the end of 2020, the year that has been the most difficult in my lifetime and perhaps in yours.

When I saw this one I knew I needed to share.

I am thinking that I will go back to what I really started this blog for oh so long ago.
I am going to be posting things that show support, or kindness or make people smile or laugh.

I want to go back to posting things I don't want to forget ... whether it is a picture, or quote or recipe. You know those things that I started doing when I first thought a blog would be a great idea. I'm not sure how I got so off track, but its time to go back to where it all began. 

I think I was happier with the blog as a whole back then.

Hopefully you will be too.

Another example of why Socialism shouldn't be allowed to get a foothold here

I have seen something like this before, I think I've even posted something like this years ago.
I did see this particular post on a friends Facebook page and thought it needed to be put here too.
But 
I think this needs to be re-shared again and again and again ...  Tell me what you think.

Rose Marie Doyle

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TEACHER FAILS ENTIRE CLASS: 

An economics professor at a local college made a statement that she had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on this plan". All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an A.... (substituting grades for dollars - something closer to home and more readily understood by all the students).

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. 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 little.

The second test average was a D! No one was happy. When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

To their great surprise, ALL FAILED and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.

These are possibly the 5 best sentences you'll ever read and all applicable to this experiment:

1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.

2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!

5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.

#socialismhasneverworked

Why you need to surround yourself with special people

Reminders abound this week ....

these are the people who will help you be the best that you can be.

Don't allow yourself to be drawn into the drama of others that make you less than what you know deep down that you are and can be.

Make that dash very full.

Make that dash something that your family can look back on with pride.  This doesn't mean you won't make mistakes .. we all do .. but you need to be able to learn from them and teach others where you went wrong.  Even if that teaching moment is showing that you can rise above those mistakes.

Make that dash the BEST it can be, so that when YOU look back on YOUR life, YOU will be proud of where you have come and what you have accomplished.

It's a journey

If you are disappointed in how your life seems to be going you need to remember that you are in control of your destiny.
Every thing that happens may not be under your control, but some things are.
You have choices.  You are not a slave or an indentured servant.
Some choices may not be the best of choices, but you get to choose.

Try to remember that every step of this journey is a learning experience.
Don't try to be more than you are.
Don't play the victim card.

BE who you are deep inside.  I know you can feel who you are suppose to be.  
Some of us are and some of us are still trying to figure it out.  

But we will.

Especially when we learn to Enjoy the Ride!

Trust your soul

Sometimes you look at your life and where you are and say to yourself ... WHAT am I doing?
Sometimes I say this more times than I want to admit.  
You know, like weekly.

But I know there is a plan.
I know that this plan is what is best for me.  
Even if I don't know what the plan is.
Some will say that the "plan" is based on Fate.
Some say that it is based on just your soul.
I believe that God has a plan that He has placed in my soul for me to listen to.  
I have the choice to accept it and go with the plan or set my own road.  

Have you felt this way?
How do you deal with this feeling?