Sending you a Hug!!

I bottled up a bunch of hugs To send them off to you, Friendship hugs, hugs of love, Even bear hugs too! It's filled with the most special hugs, Only the very best would do! I hope that you'll remember this Whenever you feel blue, Because these special, bottled hugs Should last the whole year through! Just open up the bottle and take out a hug - anytime you need it!!

found at Flowgo.com!!

Good Afternoon!!!

We are having beautiful weather here in South Jersey!!  Fall is here!!  

Everything has turned to the fall harvest themes.  Soooo pretty!!   Hope you are enjoying the beauty in your surroundings also!
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It is hard to keep a positive outlook on life when the world we live in is so negative!  It is getting hard to watch television. Either it is about broken lives and relationships, or how to get rich overnight!  

There was a bright spot in the middle of the night last night. 
I turned to TBN the Christian television network and they had a movie on.  It was called "Welcome To Paradise".   Call me slow, but it was a nice positive up building movie.  When it was over I had good thoughts on my mind as I went to sleep. 
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I thought this would be a good encouragement for the day!!   

Good Morning!

Today is an anniversary of sorts.  On this date in 2001, we found out quite literally how vulnerable we were as a country.  We were "attacked" by  terrorists, who had planned to kill as many as possible.  Our guard was down, we were not expecting a "hit" of that magnitude!!  We mourned, we grieved, and then we got mad (as we should).  Most of all, our country pulled together.  We still stand strong!!

1 Peter 3:8-12New King James Version (NKJV)

Called to Blessing

8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers,be tenderhearted, be courteous;[a] 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For

“He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”[b]

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Today is milestone for me.  I get discharged from in home nursing care today!!  I have been in their service for just about 11 months.  My health has improved to the point to where they are no longer needed.  It is a happy time but sad at the same time.  I had grown to love my nurse's and my home health aide.  They were my strength when I had none.  They seen the light at the end of the tunnel, when I couldn't. They encouraged me to live my life and not let the cancer take it!  It also helped that they had been through similar situations.  I would like to take the time to thank the nurses, aides and staff at Salem Memorial Care for everything they have done for me!!  They were my angels!!
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Finally, the cold that I have been battling is getting better.  I feel better!!

Experience Stretching

Good Afternoon!!!!  

Hope everyone is enjoying their day!!  

Still battling a cold!!  Changing of the seasons, the temps going from hot to cold.  It hit everyone in the household.  Hopefully a few more days and it will pass!
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Was reading a blog today from Darya Rose named Summer Tomato.  I love her blogs!! Pne day I hope to be able to put into words everything I want to see like she does.  
Well, in it she was talking about her tastes regarding the foods she like, and once liked.  How over time things changed.  Well for one her appetite changed, when she started eating different foods, and she started wanting them more then the old fare she was used to eating.    It is better coming from her.  Here is a link to her blog:::
http://summertomato.com/experience-stretching-why-i-no-longer-love-in-n-out-burgers/

There was one particular portion of her blog that really got me.  It is the section where she mentions a book she had read by   Dan Gilbert, called  Stumbling on Happiness.  He brings out something interesting,  {In it Gilbert describes a phenomenon called experience stretching, in which your definition of happiness expands and changes relative to the breadth of your experiences. He says, “Once we have an experience, we are thereafter unable to see the world as we did before. Our innocence is lost and we cannot go home again.”}
I took that to mean that once we try new things or experience different things, the old things lose their appeal. (I could be wrong, but that is what I got from it).  None the less, it really got me to thinking.  My life has changed in so many ways, it makes me wonder, am I on the threshold of something new and different??? If so, how will I feel about leaving some of the "old" things behind?  

Good Morning!!

This a.m. I am sitting here thinking about life.  Not just my life, but life in general.  Looking at the world, through my eyes of reality.  (My reality may be totally different than any one else's!)  Seeing things that are surrounding me and my family each and every day.  Not necessarily the bad things, because they are always there in the forefront for everyone to see.  I am talking about the things we do not notice till we stop and make an effort to see them.  
Life that goes on around us everyday, that we really pay no attention to!!  Like the trees!  They go through the seasons of life just like we do.  when they are young, they are reaching for the higher things in life.  As they grow, they put on new leaves and sprout new branches.  They grow in height each year.  They shed their leaves like we shed skin, preparing for the new growth that is sure to come.  They grow to maturity, and then they start producing seed for the next generation.  In all of their seasons of living, they not only live for themselves, but for other forms of life that live among their branches!  
I could go on, but this is just a minor observation of mine.  It takes your mind off of our life at times.  We need to spend less time stressing over things, many of which we have no control over.  I can control the time that I sit and meditate, taking those few spare moments to take my eyes off of the negative and focus on the positive.  Knowing that the future is not mine to see, but the present is for me to live! Sometimes.........we have to STOP! Take a deep breath, take notice your surroundings, see the beauty! Real life is to be lived one day at a time!!
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Matthew 6:25-34New King James Version (NKJV)

Do Not Worry

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Good Morning!!

Good Morning!!

Today is Sunday, the first day of the week!  For some this is their rest day, for others it is just another day of work.  Whichever it is for you, I wish you a Blessed Day!!
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For me?  I did not wake to a great morning, but good will do!!  Did something I have been trying not to do last night.   I ate after 9 pm.  No big deal  right????  WRONG!!!!!  Once you have gotten your body accustomed to not eating after a certain hour, it is best to stick with it!  I awoke to a sour stomach and diarrhea.  Lesson learned???? I sure hope so!!
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The one thing my parents never mentioned to me was?::::::: You never get finished parenting!!

Although my children are grown now (adults are what they become when they mature!!), they give me more issues than when they were younger!!  I try to explain to them ( imagine talking to brick walls!) that I am no longer "mommy" who took care of everything, but I am now "mom", that person you visit and revere as the most intelligent person you know and just love to shower with love and affection.  They were not listening!  : (((   "sigh"
They expect me to sit here now and take whatever they say and do, with a smile.  Tell them "mommy" loves them and that she will take care of those big bad monsters.  Mind you, that ALL of the monsters are of their own creation now that they are grown.  "Mom" is not supposed to fix all of your boo boo's as when you were a child.  I thought I had taught them to stand tall and be independent, work and take care of yourselves.  Obey the law, and treat others how you would want to be treated.  WHAT HAPPENED???? I must have missed the bulletin, telling parents that they will now be responsible for their adult children for an indefinite period of time!!   
It is at times like these when  I need the following::

Galatians 5:22-26New King James Version (NKJV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who areChrist’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Good Morning Friends!!

I hope everyone's week was a good one!!  Today is Friday, and at sundown it will be Sabbath Day for those who adhere to it. So Happy Sabbath!  I myself am in the process of learning and trying to adhere to it.  Not as easy as one would think! Being raised that Sunday is the day of rest and that Saturday is for playing and any other entertaining activity that comes to mind, makes trying to adhere to something different not at all easy!  So, I am taking it one Sabbath at a time!  Eventually, I will be able to say that I too partake of the Sabbath rest!

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Been knitting everyday so far!!!  and almost finished trimming out the blanket I have been working on.  Then onto the next one!!  It is a set.  Once they are finished I will post pictures.   Trying to get back into knitting like I once was, because, I may have a new place to display my work!!!  Yes!!! I am very happy about that!! Now to get enough things knitted up so take and show. I have a few things already made, but I would prefer things that were recently made and not something that has been stored.  
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Genesis 1:29New King James Version (NKJV)

29 And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.

I have been on a journey since my health took a nosedive!! Wanting better for my life, and taking better care of my health has become a priority.  Eating right is at the top of my list, and I would like to eat in a way that will help my body instead of hurting it.  There are sooo many trains of thought out here today, and it is hard to figure out what is the right way to eat??  Should I become a vegan?  Vegetarian?  What if I just eat anything but in moderation?? 

The scripture above state that we have been given every herb that yields seed and every tree whose fruit yields seed for food.  Does that mean only fruits and vegetables? 

We have made some positive changes!! We drink more water. Purified.  Our tap water in this town is  horrible!!!  We have cut back on the white bread and pasta! We as a household eat less meat!  Let's not forget the sugar!  We are doing very well on limiting out white sugar intake.  As a family, we want to take it up to the next level.  Just figuring out what that level is, is  causing a big problem.  When you live in a house with four (4) adults, there are going to be issues!!  Major issues!! So finding the happy medium for everyone involved is at times overwhelming!  Ha! Ha! Ha!  They just do not know how determined I am!!!!

Hello September!!

Good Morning All!!

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!!  September rolled in, and so far we have had weather befitting September here in South Jersey!  In a word ~~ HOT!!!   August fizzled terribly.  It is also Back-To-School time this week!  So glad my children are grown now!!  At times I do miss the shopping though.

This weekend I also got the chance to spend a little phone time with a dear friend of mine!  We have been friends now for over 30 years!!  We've been through everything together!  We have not been able to see one another face to face lately, our health does not permit.  But hopefully soon we will.  So much to catch up on!
No one understands you quite like your closest friend.  You share things with them that you would not share with any other person.  NO, not even a spouse! lol lol

My friend and I have been dealing with our health issues for years!  I was born disabled, and have had issues and complications all of my life.  She has acquired her health issues over her life time.  She does not try to "know" what I am going through, and vice versa!!  We have a deep sympathy and compassion for what the other is dealing with at the time.  No one actually "knows"  what another person is feeling or not feeling, because everyone is different.  Two people can have the same illness, and it will manifest differently for each person.  There are some textbook cases, but they do not come along often.  One thing I learned over time is to get to know your body for yourself.  It communicates with us, and then we have to communicate what we learn from our bodies with our health professionals. Just knowing a little bit more about ourselves, can often be a life saver and a help to those you are entrusting with your care.

Well, I've been knitting all weekend!!  Trying to ride the wave, while I can!!!  I have been feeling quite well lately and feel like my knitting "mojo" is coming back!!  I will be glad when it does come all the way back!! I need some bedroom socks in the worst way!!!

Well, that is my contribution for today!!
Hoping everyone will have a wonderful day!!   God Bless!