For Sunday, June 30th, 2013

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

SUNDAY, JUNE 30TH, 2013

 84 DAYS UNTIL FALL

Sunrise:  5:58 am

Sunset:  9:06 pm

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

A leisurely walk on a city sidewalk or through an urban park is the order of the day on June 30th.

 It's Go for a Stroll Downtown Day.

Some people see more in a walk around the block than others see in a trip around the world. 

Author Unknown

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Walking isn't a lost art - one must, by some means, get to the garage.  

Evan Esar

In past years, I often walked down town.  Just about every day when the weather permitted you'd find me walking down the street around the town square and back home again.  This year has been quite different it seems and so far I haven't made the trip at all.  

The pictures today were taken on a walk through New Orleans while on vacation there summer before last.  It was a bit hotter there than it has been here for sure.  But it brings back a lot of fond memories of the good times we had then.  Walking is very good for you and they say if you don't use it, you'll loose it.  I think I lost it and better find it again. 

 I thought it might be interesting to track the daylight hours here in northern Ohio so I've added the sunrise and sunset to my header today.  The first day of summer was supposed to have been the longest day of the year and now we'll slowly be loosing those hours of daylight minute by minute.

June 30th is a also good time to be sure to watch the night sky for shooting stars, comets, meteor showers and other space surprises. Sometimes, the greatest fireworks are not man made at all.

Hope you all have a restful and relaxing Sunday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.  

Henry David Thoreau

I am trying to count at least 3 things I'm thankful for each day and then in 1 year's time I'll have counted 1000 gifts. I’ll be sharing them and giving thanks to God for these gifts each day.   

718.  for a small town with a fountain in the square

719. for being able to walk, we don't miss it till we loose it.

720. for memories that make me smile

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

 

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

 

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU !

If you pick 'em up, O Lord, I'll put 'em down.  

Author Unknown, Prayer of the Tired Walker

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

 

Love,

ma

 

For Saturday, June 29th, 2013

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

SATURDAY, JUNE 29TH, 2013

 85 DAYS UNTIL FALL

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

Happy Camera Day on June 29th. Point, click and be merry, for tomorrow you may scrapbook.

A good snapshot stops a moment from running away.  

Eudora Welty

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time. 

 Motto of the Baltimore Grotto

I do love my cameras.  I have 2.  One in my phone and a digital camera.  I take a lot of pictures and today I'm showing your my rose bush which is now in full bloom and was at it's prettiest the day the pictures were taken. We had quite a few thunderstorms roll through here the day after that and now it's not quite as pretty.  But it will bloom all summer long so I'll still have quite a lot of roses to enjoy.

My days here lately have been pretty quiet ones so I really don't have much of anything new to show you besides what is blooming outdoors around the house.    

I did pick up a new scrapbook the other day which comes complete with 16 designed pages and all I have to do is slip the photos in the slot.  That sounds easy enough that even I can do it.  The great thing is it was only 5.99 at Marc's.  Marc's is a local discount store which not only has groceries but lots of closes outs and discounted items from books to towels and everything in-between.

Hope you all have a SUPER Saturday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

One picture is worth a thousand words

Albert Einstein

I am trying to count at least 3 things I'm thankful for each day and then in 1 year's time I'll have counted 1000 gifts. I’ll be sharing them and giving thanks to God for these gifts each day.   

715.  for cameras

716. for lots of pictures to share

717. for scrapbooks 

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU !

Each fairy breath of summer, as it blows with loveliness, inspires the blushing rose. 

Author Unknown 

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Friday, June 28th, 2013

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

FRIDAY, JUNE 28TH, 2013

 86 DAYS UNTIL FALL

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

June 28th is the Great American Backyard Campout, as part of Great Outdoors Month in June.

The Great American Backyard Campout is designed to raise interest in camping, outdoor activities and family togetherness

When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses.  

Joyce Brothers

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

The only camping out I'm doing is right here at home this year.  My back patio and front porch are the places I camp out.  Not overnight for sure, but for a few hours on nice days, I do like to sit awhile and just take in the great outdoors.  Sorry to say that much of this past week I didn't even do much of that as the temps and the humidity made it too uncomfortable to be outside for any length of time. We have had a lot of rain the past few days.

DS# 1 and his son were at Scout camp last week and that is their picture shown above and there is one of our Prince Charming is shown below.  The other pictures are of my backyard.

Hope you all have a fantastic Friday and enjoy some time in your own backyards.

COUNTING MY GIFTS

If you truly love Nature, you will find beauty everywhere. 

Vincent Van Gogh

I am trying to count at least 3 things I'm thankful for each day and then in 1 year's time I'll have counted 1000 gifts. I’ll be sharing them and giving thanks to God for these gifts each day.   

712.  for backyards

713. for the great outdoors 

714. thankful that both DDIL's #4 and #5's moms are doing well after their surgeries. 

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

 

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

 

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU !

Look for the blessings in the simple things!

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

 

Love,

ma

 

For Thursday, June 27th, 2013

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27TH, 2013

 87 DAYS UNTIL FALL

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

June 27th offers an important reminder of fire safety tips and techniques. It's Smokey the Bear Day. And, as Smokey is given to say, Only you can prevent forest fires!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

The fire is the main comfort of the camp, whether in summer or winter, and is about as ample at one season as at another.  It is as well for cheerfulness as for warmth and dryness.  

Henry David Thoreau

When the weather gets hot and dry forest fires become a threat to many.  In the past when we'd be camping there were times when the campground would ban any kind of fires.  I can even remember a few hot evenings when we'd light a candle in the fire pit because it was far to hot for a campfire.  

Sitting around a campfire on summer nights has always been one of my favorite things to do.  Good friends and family and lots of good laughter was always found there.  Now my campfire days are gone, but I have plenty of good memories to hang on to.

Fire safety is always a good thing and one we should always practice whether at home or in a forest.

It has been hot hot in Ohio lately.  I hate to repeat myself in saying so, but it is unusual for us to be this hot already.  Makes one wonder what August will bring.  

Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday.  Stay cool and drink plenty of water !

COUNTING MY GIFTS

To poke a wood fire is more solid enjoyment than almost anything else in the world.  

Charles Dudley Warner

I am trying to count at least 3 things I'm thankful for each day and then in 1 year's time I'll have counted 1000 gifts. I’ll be sharing them and giving thanks to God for these gifts each day.   

709.  for campfires and their warmth

710. for fire safety, prevention is a good practice

711. for camping memories

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

 

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

 

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU ALL !

How is it that one match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box of matches to start a campfire? 

Christy Whitehead

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

 

Love,

ma

For Wednesday, June 26th, 2013

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26TH, 2013

 88 DAYS UNTIL FALL

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

June 26th is Chocolate pudding day.  One of the all time favorite pudding desserts in my family was always Dirt Pudding.  So today I thought I'd share the recipe with you all.

1 package (about 15 ounces) Oreo Cookies
2 (3.9-ounces) packages instant chocolate pudding
4 cups milk
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
¼ cup butter, at room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
8 ounces Cool Whip
Gummy worms (optional)

1. Crush the Oreo cookies into fine crumbs using a food processor (or, place the cookies in a resealable plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin); set aside.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together both boxes of the instant pudding with the milk for about 2 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, beat together the cream cheese and butter on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce the speed to low, add the powdered sugar, then gradually increase the speed back to medium until a fluffy texture is reached.

4. Using a rubber spatula, fold the cream cheese mixture into the chocolate pudding, then fold in the Cool Whip until completely combined.

5. The dessert can be assembled in a number of ways - in a rectangular or square serving dish, in a trifle dish, or in individual cups. However you plan to serve it, layer the dessert with alternating layers of the crushed Oreos and pudding mixture, beginning and ending with the crushed Oreos. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours (or overnight) before serving. Decorate the top with gummy worms before serving, if desired.

Life is uncertain.  Eat dessert first.  

Ernestine Ulmer

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

If you get melted chocolate all over your hands, you're eating it too slowly.  

Author Unknown

Summer time is loads of fun.  Fun times with food and fun times with family.  You really don't need chocolate pudding for desert to make fun.  Watermelon is also lots of fun and good for you too.

The days here have been pretty hot and looks like we'll continue that way for a while.  It's time to lighten up the foods we eat.  Salads and sandwiches are what's on the menu here this week.  Other than my good cup of hot coffee in the morning, everything else will be cool and refreshing.  

I did try out some iced coffee the other day and it was good too.  I brewed one of my K cup coffee Cafe Caramel cups and poured it over a tall glass of crushed ice and found it to be pretty wonderful.

I hope you all are enjoying summer and keeping cool.  Have a wonderful Wednesday!

PRAYER REQUEST

A dear friend has asked for our prayers.  She wrote:  I've done/got something that is causing severe pain down my legs and hips.  Can't walk without crutches and even then very painful.  Going to doc shortly to see if I can get some relief.  Not sure what's up.

May the dear Lord bless her with healing and release from the pain.  

COUNTING MY GIFTS

God gave the angels wings, and he gave humans chocolate.  

Author Unknown

I am trying to count at least 3 things I'm thankful for each day and then in 1 year's time I'll have counted 1000 gifts. I’ll be sharing them and giving thanks to God for these gifts each day.   

706.  for desserts that are cold and sweet!

707.  for watermelon, always delicious

708. for salads, there are so many different ones to choose from

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

 

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

 

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU ALL !

The 12-step chocoholics program:  Never be more than 12 steps away from chocolate!  

Terry Moore

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

 

Love,

ma

 

For Tuesday, June 25th, 2013

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

TUESDAY, JUNE 25TH, 2013

 89 DAYS UNTIL FALL

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

June 25th is known as LEON Day.  LEON is NOEL, spelled in reverse, and noel is French for Christmas. Guess what! Christmas is exactly six months from today.

Happy LEON Day on June 25th. Holiday shoppers, start your engines!

It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.  

W.T. Ellis

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.  

Roy L. Smith

The picture above is some of what I painted for gifts for last Christmas.  Truly it does take about 6 months for me to get ready for Christmas.  The reason being is that I make many of the things I give for Christmas.  This year will be no different, as my revised budget doesn't allow for much else.  Sometimes I think that the gifts we make are better ones anyway.  They are given from the heart.  A bit of us goes into each one.  And although we don't often realize it, the time we spend making the gift is also part of the gift.

At this point my gift making is all in my head.  I've a few plans on what I want to make but I need a few more too.  It'll be interesting to see what I can come up with.  By Christmas time this year my family will number 33 as the 19th grandchild will be here by then.  That is a lot of gifts to make.  But with 6 months to get it done, I'm hoping it'll be a Merry Christmas for all.

There will be some hot steamy days ahead for us here in northern Ohio this summer, so those are the days that I'll sit inside in the a/c and work on my projects.  This week looks like it might just hold a few of those days.  I'm always thankful that I'm blessed with some air conditioning but relish the days it feels comfortable enough to be outside so I'm hoping there won't be too many of them.

I hope you all have a terrific Tuesday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree:  the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.  ~Burton Hillis

I am trying to count at least 3 things I'm thankful for each day and then in 1 year's time I'll have counted 1000 gifts. I’ll be sharing them and giving thanks to God for these gifts each day.   

703.  for time to get things done

704. for the people in my life to give gifts to

705. for the blessings of a large family

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU !

Only one shopping day left 'til tomorrow.  

Author Unknown

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Monday, June 24th, 2013

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

MONDAY, JUNE 24TH, 2013

 90 DAYS UNTIL FALL

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

The earliest days of summer simply beckon us outdoors for fresh air and fun. June 24th is Swing a Kid Day, a super opportunity to enjoy a few minutes together on a tire swing, swing set or hammock.

If you seek a quieter diversion, why not simply curl up on a cozy porch swing with a special child to share a favorite storybook in the shade?

The Swing

How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
River and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside--

Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown--
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!

Robert Louis Stevenson

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

The swing on your porch is a better liver of life than the chair in front of your desk. 

Terri Guillemets

 I love swings! Don't you? Down I fall and up I go!  I surely do enjoy my porch swing and have had the opportunity to share it with a grandchild or two.  Swinging in the summertime is one of my favorite occupations and it's good exercise too.  More exercise than just sitting, anyway.

Being on a swing reminds me of the moods we have.  Sometimes we are up and sometimes we are down.  No matter how hard we might try we can never be always up.  There are going to be things that happen in our lives that'll bring us down.  Those tough times in life can be what makes us soar higher though.  Just like we can't always have the sunshine, there will be rainy days ahead.  The great thing is that it is our choice, whether or not we want to swing high or low.

Attitudes are what count.

May this new week bring us all only those highs in life!

Happiness

 When the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us. 

The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've every had.

It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives. Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they'll love you back!

 Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart but if it doesn't, be content it grew in yours. It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone. 

Don't go for looks; they can deceive.  Don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.  Find the one that makes your heart smile.

There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real!

Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy.

Always put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched, and those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives. Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss and ends with a tear.

 The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past, you can't go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. 

 Live your life so that when you die, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

Author Unknown 

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Thank you for life, and all the little ups and downs that make it worth living.

Travis Barker

I am trying to count at least 3 things I'm thankful for each day and then in 1 year's time I'll have counted 1000 gifts. I’ll be sharing them and giving thanks to God for these gifts each day.   

700.  For swings and kids to swing with

701. thankful that there are more ups than downs in my life

702.  for the joy that children can bring

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU !

 Would you like to swing on a star? Carry moonbeams home in a jar? And be better off than you are …

Originally sung by Bing Crosby, 1944

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma