For Sunday, August 31st, 2014

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 31ST,  2014

22 DAYS UNTIL FALL

Sunrise: 6:53 am

Sunset: 8:02 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR LITTLE MR. WONDERFUL TODAY!

May the dear Lord bless you today and always!

The first thing that came to my mind this morning was that today is your Birthday. I hope I've been the first one to wish you because you're special for me. Happy Birthday!

I love you very much! Kisses and Hugs! 

from Grand’ma'

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

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Rumble tumble full of joy
That's our wonderful little boy
A bundle of energy that is you
Embracing everything you do

This grandson’s birthday is the last of our birthday celebrations for August and it just happens that it is on the last day of August too.  Tomorrow we’ll be welcoming September and yes, there will be several more family birthdays to celebrate and  another wedding anniversary too.

The pictures today are of his 3 year old birthday party last year at one of our local parks.  This year we’ll be at his house or as his invitation said we’ll be at his LOOK Out Point.  It’s to be a paw-ty.  The theme is Paw Patrol.  This is a favorite cartoon of some of my younger grandchildren.  I wouldn’t know about it except for my grandchildren.  I really don’t watch many cartoons anymore.  It’s nice to have members of the younger generation in my family.  They do tend to keep me in touch with what is popular now a days. 

This will be the last day for me to have the company of my grand dogs. I’ve had my own personal paw patrol here since Thursday.  Their mom and dad will be home late today.  I’m sure they’ll be glad to see them.  But I think they’ve enjoyed their vacation and the peace and quiet here.  

Hope you all have a restful and relaxing Sunday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Grandchildren are special they are the future you see
So watching you grow is very wonderful to me
I have laughed at the good times and cried at the bad
I have felt all the emotions happy and sad

The child of my child how special is this
It is a joy I am so glad I did not miss
Every birthday you have is wonderful to me
Because you are so wonderful I love you you see

I have counted at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for over a  year and have now reached 1900 gifts.  On my way to 2000.  I'm not stopping, but will continue on counting.  There is always, always something to be thankful for.

1994. for our little Mr. Wonderful, he is 4 years old today!

1995.  for another month full of celebrations

1996. for a day to relax and enjoy being with some of my family and friends

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 !

ADVICE FOR TODAY

There's nothing more special
than being a part
of a family that listens
and comforts and cares.
And nothing more special
or dear to the heart
than the feelings of love
that a family shares.

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Saturday, August 30th, 2014

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30TH,  2014

23 DAYS UNTIL FALL

Sunrise: 6:52 am

Sunset: 8:04 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

National Marshmallow Toasting Day is always celebrated on August 30th

Enjoy today or tonight by a campfire or bonfire, toasting a big, soft, sticky and sweet marshmallow, or two, or three, or….. Summer would not be the same without a campfire and this great campfire treat. Summer is short. Summer is good. Let's enjoy it while it is still here. Toast a marshmallow and forget about everything else.

And, don't forget to make a few S'mores. The recipe is below.

 Chocolate candy bar

 Graham Crackers

Marshmallows

Break off a square of Graham cracker

Add a piece of Chocolate.

 Toast a big marshmallow over the campfire.

Add the hot marshmallow.

Top it with another graham Cracker.

 Eat , savor and enjoy!

Note: You can make S'mores in the microwave. Just put them together and pop them into the microwave on high for 15 to 20 seconds.

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

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Even in a time of elephantine vanity and greed, one never has to look far to see the campfires of gentle people.

Garrison Keillor

Sitting around a campfire and enjoying some S'mores with family and friends is something I used to do pretty often, but sadly not anymore.  I guess my S’mores will be of the microwave variety today.  Still and all they are very good!

Today is supposed to be the hottest of this holiday weekend so much of my time will probably be spent indoors.  I need to do a little grocery shopping but thankfully the stores are air conditioned so that’s not a problem at all.

Hope you all have a super Saturday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

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

I have counted at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for over a  year and have now reached 1900 gifts.  On my way to 2000.  I'm not stopping, but will continue on counting.  There is always, always something to be thankful for.

1991. for campfires with good company and good food too!

1992. for air conditioned stores and cars too!

1993. for a great time spent with friends on Friday

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 !

ADVICE FOR TODAY

Money can’t buy happiness.  But it can buy marshmallows, which are kinda the same thing.

Unknown

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

 

Love,

ma

 

For Friday, August 29th, 2014

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 29TH,  2014

24 DAYS UNTIL FALL

Sunrise: 6:51 am

Sunset: 8:06 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to DS#1 today!

May the dear Lord bless you today and always!

May brooks and trees and singing hills
Join in the chorus too,
And every gentle wind that blows
Send happiness to you.

Irish Blessing

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

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Boys will be boys, and so will a lot of middle aged men.

Frank McKinney ‘Kin’ Hubbard

DS#1 is my first child and my oldest son.  I have 5 sons that are younger and one daughter.  As the oldest he’s always been the one with the greatest since of humor, although I think they all do well in that category.  They probably take after their dad in that respect.  I won’t get to celebrate the day with him but as usual the card went out in the mail. 

I have many fond memories of my family growing up.  I only wish I’d written down all the things they did.  If you have young children, I’d advise it.  Memories have a way of blending one into another after awhile and when you have a large family it’s particularly hard to remember who did what and at what age.

We had a cooler day yesterday with temps in the 70’s.  It was wonderful, but today we start warming back up and I saw that Saturday is supposed to be in the 90’s here.  We’ll also be having a chance rain on Sunday and Monday so a lot of folks outdoor plans may be changing plans to being indoors.  

I hope you all have a fantastic Friday!

DS#1,DDIL#1, DDIL#5 and DS#5 last year on Labor Day weekend.

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Good fathers make good sons.  

Author Unknown

I have counted at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for over a  year and have now reached 1900 gifts.  On my way to 2000.  I'm not stopping, but will continue on counting.  There is always, always something to be thankful for.

1988. for DS#1, it’s his birthday today!

1989. for wonderful memories

1990. for a large family, they are my life

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 !

ADVICE FOR TODAY

Sooner or later we all discover that the important moments in life are not the advertised ones, not the birthdays, the graduations, the weddings, not the great goals achieved. The real milestones are less prepossessing. They come to the door of memory.

Susan B. Anthony

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Thursday, August 28th, 2014

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28TH,  2014

25 DAYS UNTIL FALL

Sunrise: 6:50 am

Sunset: 8:07 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

Today is Dream Day, marking Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s 'I Have a Dream' speech on this date in 1963.  It’s a day to remember the man and remember what he did to call us all to be the people and the nation we are called to be.  He was a martyr who laid down his life for his friends.  He was a peacemaker who showed people the power of nonviolent action.  He was not just a dreamer.

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

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Dream a little dream with me…

a song, from c.1931, with music by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt and lyrics by Gus Kahn. 

It’s important that we all have dreams and hopes.   Dreams are the future. They speak of hope, newness, and life.  If you follow your dreams then you will have something worth sharing with others.

We all have hopes and dreams for our children and our grandchildren.  We want them to have a good life and hope their dreams come true. 

An important lesson that I am continuing to learn each day is that God works things out in his own perfect timing. Trusting in God, I believe is the key to success and happiness in life.   Hope is what motivates us and keeps us going through the hard times.

As many of my grandchildren have now started school, today’s pictures are of the ones I have of their 1st day of school.  I’m sure that they all have hopes and dreams for a wonderful year at school. I doubled up on some of the pictures as I have quite a few.  

I hope you all have a great day !  Happy Thursday!

Hope keeps you alive. Faith gives your life meaning, blessings, and a good end.

Rex Rouis

 

 

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Hope is a waking dream.

Aristotle

I have counted at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for over a  year and have now reached 1900 gifts.  On my way to 2000.  I'm not stopping, but will continue on counting.  There is always, always something to be thankful for.

1985. for hopes and dreams, without them we wouldn’t have much at all

1986.  for Dr. King, he has inspired many

1987. for another cool day in the 70’s, a welcome relief from the heat

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 !

The Preschoolers

ADVICE FOR TODAY

 It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.

Robert H. Goddard 

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Wednesday, August 27th, 2014

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27TH,  2014

26 DAYS UNTIL FALL

Sunrise: 6:49 am

Sunset: 8:09 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

Today is Just Because Day. Finally, you have a chance to do something without a rhyme or reason. Most often in life, we do things because we have to, or we want to, or it's expected of us. None of those reasons apply today. 

Is there something you'd like to do, but there isn't a reason or logic for doing it? Well, today is the day to go out and do something 'just because'. It is most enjoyable if it is an uncommon, or unexpected activity or action. Perhaps, you have something in mind. If not, just go with the first thing that comes to your mind.  Just because activities often come from a whim or a 'what if'  type of thought.

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

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they 're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost.

Dalai Lama. 

There really aren’t a lot of things I do on a whim.  Most of the things I do are done out of necessity.  The laundry needs done every week, dinners must be fixed if I want to eat and no one else is going to clean my house except for me.  But one things I’m guilty of is buying things I really don’t need on a whim.  

I like roosters and every now and then I see one that catches my eye.  They aren’t something I need, and I really don’t have much room for more of anything here at my house.  The picture above is of my most recent addition to my rooster collection.  I found them in a thrift store this past spring.  The colors sort of go with the ones in the picture below and I’ve put them both in the corner shelf in my dining room.  I collect them just because I like them not because and need them and sometimes we all need to do something like that.  I get all the charm of the barnyard bird, with none of the am crowing.

I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. 

Helen Keller

I have counted at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for over a  year and have now reached 1900 gifts.  On my way to 2000.  I'm not stopping, but will continue on counting.  There is always, always something to be thankful for.

1982. for whimsical things that make life fun

1983.  for a cooler day, we’re to be in low 70’s today 

1984.  for a day to do something different

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 !

ADVICE FOR TODAY

Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless.

Thomas A. Edison

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

 

Love,

ma

 

For Tuesday, August 26th, 2014

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26TH,  2014

27 DAYS UNTIL FALL

Sunrise: 6:48 am

Sunset: 8:10 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

Always on August 26th, National Dog Day has two goals: to honor dogs, and to rescue dogs from homelessness and abuse. It's an opportunity for us to recognize and appreciate the value and importance of dogs in our lives.

This day is intended to honor dogs for all that they do for us. In addition to giving love and companionship, dogs help us out in countless ways. They are watchdogs for our safety. They lead the blind. Dogs aid in search and rescue, and they seek out bombs and drugs.

The second goal of National Dog Day is to rescue dogs in need. On occasion, dogs need us to save them from homelesness and abuse. The goal of the National Dog Day foundation is to rescue 10,000 dogs a year. Lend a hand to help a dog in need today, or any day.

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

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

If it wasn't for dogs, some people would never go for a walk. 

Author Unknown

I do love dogs and have many grand dogs that fill my life with joy.  They do add a lot to our lives and this coming weekend I’ll be dog sitting for DD’s 2 dogs.  They really have never stayed at my house before.  They’ve been to visit here but not to stay over.  Thankfully I now have a fenced in yard for them and won’t worry about having to walk them on a leach.  

Today I’ll have DS#5’s 2 daughters here as their mom will be taking their big brother to orientation for preschool and their dad is back to school now as he is a teacher.  It’ll be a busy day but a happy one for sure.   I’m sure I’ll be getting lots of smiles and giggles. 

It’s to be close to 90 degrees outside so I doubt we’ll be spending anytime at all outside.  Best to stay in where it is cooler  when the temps go that high and there is little shade to be had around here until evening when the sun starts going down.  I got some beautiful pictures Sunday evening of the clouds in the sky so that is what you are seeing in the pictures today. One formation looked like a feather and it went right over the house top here.  Maybe a sign that my guardian angel was near by???  

Hope you all have a terrific Tuesday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. 

Roger Caras

I have counted at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for over a  year and have now reached 1900 gifts.  On my way to 2000.  I'm not stopping, but will continue on counting.  There is always, always something to be thankful for.

1979. for smiles and giggles, I’ll be getting more than a few of those today

1980.  for grand dogs that make me smile too

1981.  for my a/c on hot days

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 !

ADVICE FOR TODAY

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. 

Robert A. Heinlein

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

 

Love,

ma