For Saturday, November 30th, 2019

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

FOR SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH,2019 

The moments of our lives may be bright with possibility, dark with fear or sadness, or even plain everyday gray, but God's glory never fades.  May God's glory shine into the exciting lights, upsetting darks, and boring grays of your every day.

21 DAYS UNTIL WINTER

25 Days Until CHRISTMAS 

Sunrise: 7:33 am

 Sunset: 5:00 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark 

Today is Small Business Saturday which was founded by American Express in 2010.  This day encourages consumers to shop local and support small businesses in their community.

Small Business Saturday was igniated in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis as a way to positively impact business and neighborhoods. Small businesses face tough financial challenges, and this day serves as a reminder to support entrepreneurs today and every day.  

  

If you can’t see the bright side, polish the dull side 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

It is Christmas eveytme you let God love others through you…yes, it is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand.

Mother Teresa

Many big chain stores have replaced the small locally owned stores of yesteryear.  General Dollar is like the small stores that used to be on the corner.  Where you could go to pick up a loaf of bread or milk between the main weekly trips to the grocery store.  Big chains have taken over no matter where you go.  I see the same ones in most places I go.  

The only way small businesses can succeed is if we shop at them. So supporting them is important.  

Today I’m getting ready for Advent which starts tomorrow. I’ve got my wreath set out on the table with candles ready to light.  Advent is the 4 weeks before Christmas.  It’s a season of waiting and hope as we prepare for Chistmas.  Counting down the weeks until Christmas is especially meaningful to me this year as the day after Christmas I’m leaving for a family Christmas at DS#4’s house.  He volunteered to host our family  for Christmas this year and we’ll all be traveling to get together.  It’ll be the whole family in one place.  I’m very excited as are all my family.  It’s been a long time since we were all together in one place for Christmas. It’s usually the 5 that live in Oho that get together for any holiday, but this year we are leaving Ohio and traveling south for Christmas. Everyone, even those far away will get together.  

I’m very thankful that they all like being together and enjoy each other’s company.  Not eery family does that.  It’s no small matter for everyone to make the effort to do so either.  This time we’ll be together is truly an effort of love for all.

I have always said that all I want for Christmas is for my family all together in one place and this year my wish is coming true.  Miracle of Miracles!  These kids of mine know how to make their mom happy for sure.

DDIL#4 has planned activities to enjoy each day we are there and it’ll all culminate with our family Christmas being observed on New Years Eve this year.  I’ve been told that only 3 will be missing and that would be 3 of DS#2’s children who have other plans and cannot make it. We’ll miss them but I’m very happy to say all of my children will be there .

The countdown is on !  4 weeks until Christmas!

I hope you all have a SUPER Saturday!!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

My idea of Christmas, whether Old fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others.  Come to think of it why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that.

Bob Hope 

Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for.  There is truly is always something to be thankful for.

7642.for Advent, a time to prepare for Christmas

7643. for small businesses, worth supporting

7644. for Christmas, the most Wonderful time of the year!

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.

Almighty and eternal God,

Protect our military

as they discharge their duties

with the shield of your strength,

may the power of your love

enable them to return home in safety

that with all who love them

they may ever praise you for your loving care.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT’s

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOD BLESS YOU!

DS#4 and his wife our hosts for Christmas this year.

ADVICE FOR TODAY

Christmas, my child, is love in action.  Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.

Dale Evans Rogers

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Friday, November 29th, 2019

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

FOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH,2019 

The moments of our lives may be bright with possibility, dark with fear or sadness, or even plain everyday gray, but God's glory never fades.  May God's glory shine into the exciting lights, upsetting darks, and boring grays of your every day.

22 DAYS UNTIL WINTER

26 Days Until CHRISTMAS 

Sunrise: 7:32 am

 Sunset: 5:00 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark 

Today is Black Friday which is the Friday following Thanksgiving Day in the United States.  It’s traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.  

The term dates back to at least 1966.  Retailers often decorate for the Christmas and Holiday season weeks beforehand.  Many open extremely early , typically at 5 am or earlier.  Some of the  larger retailers have been known to open at midnight on the start of Black Friday.  Upon opening they offer door buster deals to draw people to their stores. It’s usually the period in which retailers go from being in the red to being in the back, ie turning a profit. 

If you can’t see the bright side, polish the dull side 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.

Charles Dickens 

Traditionally we try to stay away from the Black Friday shopping although with such good sales more and more are venturing out in order to catch some good deals. 

 We like to get together on this day and do something as a family because it’s the anniversary of DDH’s death several years ago now.  We used to attend what they called Christmas in the Colonies, a huge craft show with people dressed in old timey costumes and had things for the kids to do, but unforuately they stopped having it. 

 Last year we went to a small town nearby and visited the candle factory there and that is what the pictures are of today.  This year, some of the kids and their families  are going to the History Museum but I opted out.  I’m in right in the  middle of putting away fall decorations and getting Christmast ones out and have a terrible mess here.  So I’m staying at home trying to create some kind of order. We’ll meet up later and I’ll bo going to dinner with them.  The day after Thanksgiving is a Black Friday in more than one way for us.  

I hope you all have a FANTASTIC Friday!!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

To your enemy, forgiveness.  Ta an opponent, tolerance.  To a friend, heart.  To a customer, service. To all, cherity.  To every child a good example.  To you, respect.

Oren Arnold

Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for.  There is truly is always something to be thankful for.

7639. for a day to remember my husband and the father of my children, he was a wonderful man.

7640.for sales that help the Christmas budget

7641.for the Christmas season, still my favorite time of year.

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.

 

Almighty and eternal God,

Protect our military

as they discharge their duties

with the shield of your strength,

may the power of your love

enable them to return home in safety

that with all who love them

they may ever praise you for your loving care.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT’s

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

ADVICE FOR TODAY

Christmas!  The very word brings joy to our hearts. 

Joan Winmill Brown

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28th,2019

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

FOR THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH,2019 

The moments of our lives may be bright with possibility, dark with fear or sadness, or even plain everyday gray, but God's glory never fades.  May God's glory shine into the exciting lights, upsetting darks, and boring grays of your every day.

23 DAYS UNTIL WINTER

27 Days Until CHRISTMAS 

Sunrise: 7:30 am

 Sunset: 5:01 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark 

Today is Thanksgiving Day which is when we all take pause to give thanks for all we have. Thanksgivinging is an annual traditions in the United States, which since 1863 is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.  During Thanksgiving Day families and friends usually gather for a large meal

The Thanksgiving holiday weekend is one of the busiest travel periods of the year in the US and therefore flights and hotels are very expensive.  Thanksgiving is usually a four day weekend vacation for schools and colleges.  Most business and government workers are given Thanksgiving and the day after as paid holidays.  As people reunite with friends and family at Thanksgiving, the night before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest nights of the year for bars and clubs. 

It is also a tradition to begin the Thanksgiving dinner by saying a prayer giving thanks for what we have.  One of the biggest events on Thanksgiving Day is the Macy’s Parade held annually in New York City.  It is televised nationally and features popular large ballons of cartoon characters and TV personalities.  The Santa Claus float traditionaly ends the Parade, as this holiday officially starts the Christmas season.  On Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, people start buying their Christmas gifts   

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated to give thanks to God for helping the Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony survive the cold winter that year.  The feast lasted for three days.  Today many people serve mashed or sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet corn and pumpkin  pie for Thanksgiving Day.  A note of the Governor of Plymouth Colony regarding turkeys that were eaten doing the first Thanksgiving celebration probably gave rise to the tradition of turkey at Thanksgiving.  A turkey is the featured item on nearly any Thanksgiving feast table all over the country.  The day is unofficially often referred to as Turkey Day.

If you can’t see the bright side, polish the dull side 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

I am grateful for what I am and have.  My thanksgiving is perpetual.

Henry David Thoreau

I’m sending best wishes to all my family and friends today for a very Happy Turkey Day.  Gobble till you wobble!  We all tend to eat more than we need to.  Everything tastes so good.  I already had my celebration with my family last Saturday and that is what the pictures are of today.  It was a smaller group than usualy as only 4 of my children and their families were able to come.  Usually it is the 5 that live in Ohio that get together.  We had a great time none the less, and enjoyed all the great food.  Thanks to DS#6 and his family for being such great hosts!  Lots of fun was had by all.  Not only did we have wonderul food to eat there, they had a great craft to do too.  We modpodged crepe paper on to jars to make beautiful fall candles.  It was fun for the kids and some of the adults too.

Today is a much quieter one for me. I’ll be celebrating home alone.  My turkey will be in the form of a pot pie fresh from the freezer and thanks to a pie sale one of the grandchildren’s school  had, I’m having chocolate pie not pumpkin.  I have lots to do and will spend the afternoon painting in the craft nook.  I watched the Macy’s Day parade on the TV thanks to an indoor antenna that was given to me last Christmas.  I can now get the regular TV stations and not just Netflix and Prime Video.  What a blessing, of which I do have many and most given to me by my children.  I can never say how thankful I am to all of them for all they do for me.

I had the leaves all cleaned up here on Monday but thanks to the windy weather we are having my yard is once again filled with leaves.  My neighbors are not good at cleaning up there’s so they all blew right into my yard.  Looks like the next nice day we have I’ll be out mulching up leaves again.  As you can see by the first picture there are still leaves on the tree here, so it’ll be awhile before that job is done.

But on the bright side it’s a good way to wear off the pounds all the foods that Thanksgiving put on!  Ha!

I hope you all have a GREAT THANKSGIVING!  Happy Thursday!!

DS#3 and family 

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.

William Arthur Ward

Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for.  There is truly is always something to be thankful for.

7636. for good food and gathering with family

7637. for neighbors providing me with plenty to do

7638. for pie sales as schools, I’m enjoying a chocolate one.  

DD and 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.

Almighty and eternal God,

Protect our military

as they discharge their duties

with the shield of your strength,

may the power of your love

enable them to return home in safety

that with all who love them

they may ever praise you for your loving care.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT’s

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOD BLESS YOU!

DS#6 and family , our hosts

ADVICE FOR TODAY

Thanksgiving is a time of togetherness and gratitude.

Nigel Hamilton

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

DS#5 and family

 You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought

Matthew 5:5 (MSG)