Simple things to remember in 2013

*Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully. Do it with expectations of your own. 
* Memorize favorite poem. 
 * Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want. 
* When you say, "I love you", mean it. 
* When you say, "I'm sorry", look the person in the eye. 
* STILL believe in love at first sight. 
* Never laugh at anyone's dreams .
* Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely. 
* In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling. 
* Talk slow, but think quick. 
* Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk. 
* Call your Mom and Dad. 
* Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze. 
* When you lose, don't lose the lesson. 
* Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions. 
* Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship. 
* When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it. 
* Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice. 
* Spend some time alone. * Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values. 
*Play in the rain, mud, wind with your kids, play like a child. 
*Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer. 
* Read more books and watch less TV, don't log on... no, don't check that email, fb, etc. 
* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll get to enjoy it a second time. 
* Trust in God but lock your door/car. 
* A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home. 
* In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don't bring up the past. 
* Read between the lines. 
* Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality. 
* Be gentle with the earth. 
* Once a year, go someplace you've never been. 
*Try something you have never done before.... monthly!
* If you ten dollars to spare, or more or less,  put it to use helping others while you are living. That is money's greatest satisfaction. 
* Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes the blessing. 
* Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other. * Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it. 
* Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon. 
--- And most importantly ----- 
* Pray. There's immeasurable power in it.

BACK................2 Years Without Blogging

Philippians 3:13-14 No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.

The Six themes of Happiness

Are you really happy? It's crossed all of our minds. Am I really happy? I love my family and friends, the ones I choose to keep as "my people". My faith is at the core of my being. I try to "be still" to see and hear Father, to be grateful for the little things in life: the intense look on the boyz faces when we read before bed, a rainy spring day, leaves in the fall (my favorite time of year), CHRISTmas sights and smells, morning coffee in the quiet, songs that bring special memories, and the giggles of my children. For me it's little things that seem to make me happy. But is that really enough?
There is a National Geographic book, "Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way," about the world's happiest people. Based on research, travels really, the happiest are those from Finland, Denmark, Singapore, and San Luis Obispo, California..... the list keeps going. According to the book, we too, can thrive even though we live the world over in places as different as night and day.
Where you live (the type of community), volunteering/GIVING BACK, connection in a faith-based community, socializing regularly, picking a fulfilling job (not salary), and choosing the right mate are all important to finding happiness, no matter where you live; and finally, the experiences of our life, everyday experiences are important to happiness.
Experiences are so much more important and fulfilling than "things".
For me, seeing one less orphan, always brings happiness. Being able to help a family....... awesome!
In 2011 we will have few new "things", but many new experiences as a family blessed over and over.
What are you going to do to create more happiness....... for you or others.?

Do these make you feel safer?

If so...... there is a bridge I know of for sale.

HAPPY NEW YEAR......

with love.

Merry CHRISTmas to All.

Have you been good boys?
"LOOK WHAT SANTA LEFT!"




"HEY, I'm backin up here!"
Hurricane to Pookers "Careful there little bro, that's a powerful machine."
"Wow, a doll with a mohawk... like me."
And now off to Aunties for more presents with 1 Grandma, 8 Aunties/Uncles and 13 cousins. Uff.

Aww, Grandbaby!

My darling "daughter-from-another-mother", as she has always been known (I have a couple), had little "P" tonight. He was delivered at 29 weeks. He is 1.8 lbs and 12 inches long. Yes you did read that correctly. She is fine. Little "P" is holding his own and we are praying. Please keep little one in your prayers.

Need an exquisite laugh?

This was sent to me courtesy of the Commander; I can't stop laughing. ENJOY.

To All My Democrat Friends:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2011, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere . Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wish.

To My Republican / Conservative Friends:

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in the year 2011.