Chapter 1, Page 31, Book 11

Today is Merry Monday here at my house. I always try to make the most out of every day, but sometimes Mondays are a rude awakening after a busy weekend.

It was a wonderfully busy weekend for me and we had good weather too for Ohio in January and all the roads were clear and all those in my family that had to travel made it home safely and that was great news for me.

Today I'll be back to normal in that it is my day to have our little Mr. Wonderful here and you know that is always good news for me. He is 5 months old going on 6 months now and doing more and more things all the time and growing like a little weed too.

As this is the last day of January I just wanted to mention that we've had several losses in blogger land this month. One in particular was a friend that will be dearly missed by me and many others and that was Angie. Just last week I read her post saying she wasn't feeling well and by the end of the week we were told she was gone. May she rest in peace and may our dear Lord bless and comfort the loved ones she left behind.

I've made a lot of friends and acquaintances over the years and I try to keep in touch with replies to those who make an entry. I've never met any in person, but they touch my life and when suddenly they are gone it leaves a void just like I'd feel as if I knew them personally.

Please know that when I wish you a MERRY Monday or a terrific Tuesday or a Fantastic Friday, I do mean it. My wishes come from the heart even though I'm not always good at saying what I mean.

Life is so precious. It is truly a gift. Don't waste a moment of it. We are here for such a short time and gone in a flash.

May all your days be MERRY and bright!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 1, Page 30, Book 11

This is our TEAM that made the Stroll for Epilepsy yesterday.

Just close your Eyes and open your heart,
And feel your worries and cares depart.
Just yield yourself to the Father above,
And let him hold you secure in his love.

For life on earth grows more involved,
With endless problems that can't be solved,
But God only ask us to do our best,
Then he will take over and finish the rest...

So when you are tired, discouraged and blue,
There is always one door that is open to you,
And that is the door to The House of Prayer,
And you'll find God waiting to meet you there.

And The House of Prayer is no further away,
than the quiet spot where you kneel and pray.
For the heart is a temple when God is there
As we place ourselves in his loving care.

And he hears every prayer and answers each one
When we Pray in His name - Thy will be done.
The burdens that seemed too heavy to bear
Are lifted away on the wings of a prayer.

Helen Steiner Rice

It's been a great weekend spending time with lots of my family. It looks like I'll be missing church this weekend due to all the activities going on around here. As always you all are in my thoughts and prayers!

LOTS OF LOVE AND HUGS!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 1, Page 29, Book 11

The Price of Children

Ths just too good not to pass on to all. Here is something absolutely positive for a change. I have repeatedly seen the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's nice. I think this was written awhile back and like everything else, I'm sure the price has gone up!

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a middle income family. Talk about price shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.

But $160,140.00 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:

$8,896.66 a year,

$741.38 a month,

$171.08 a week.

A mere $24.24 a day!

Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is, 'don't have children if you want to be 'rich'. Actually, it is just the opposite.

What do you get for your $160,140.00?

Naming rights . First, middle, and last!

Glimpses of God every day.

Giggles under the covers every night.

More love than your heart can hold.

Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.

Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.

A hand to hold usually covered with jelly or chocolate.

A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kites.

Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140.00, you never have to grow up. You get to:

finger-paint,

carve pumpkins,

play hide-and-seek,

catch lightning bugs,

never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:

keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,

watch Saturday morning cartoons,

go to Disney movies, and

wish on stars.

You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For a mere $24.24 a day, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:

retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,

taking the training wheels off a bike,

removing a splinter,

filling a wading pool,

coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and

coaching a baseball team that never wins, but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat in history to witness the:

First step,

First word,

First bra,

First date,

First time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.

In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!

Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren & great-grandchildren...

It's the best investment you'll ever make!

Author Unknown

It's SUPER Saturday and it's a day to make the most out of this wonderful life that we are living

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 1, Page 28, Book 11

What comes from the heart, goes to the heart.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

It is finally Friday and it's a FANTASTIC one at that!

It's been a busy week at my house. Three out of five I've had my little Mr. Wonderful here. Mid week I did get in the basement and managed at least 6 garbage bags full of things to go out to the trash. Am I done? By no means.

Today I'm getting ready for a weekend celebration with some of my family. Every year we gather at the end of January to do the Stroll for Epilepsy and to celebrate January birthdays. As usual not all of them will be present, but I'm thankful for the ones that can be there.

My grand daughter who I've nicknamed my Sweetheart suffers from Epilepsy and it has quite disabled her. She is amazing though. She really never lets it get her down. And her family has embraced her disabilities and they don't let it get them down either. She is a very unique and special girl.

The Stroll we are doing is to raise money for the Epilepsy Foundation. They do wonderful things for those with this disease and I am going to be walking along with my family in support of our Sweetheart.

I will hopefully have a picture or two for you of this years Stroll on Sunday.

I hope your Friday is a FANTASTIC Day!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 1, Page 27, Book 11

What is a Blessing?

The good green earth beneath your feet

The air you breathe, the food you eat

Some work to do, a goal to win,

A sense of peace deep down within

In these simple things may you always find

Joys of the very greatest kind

Helen Steiner Rice

Thankful Thursday

Gratitude is one of those words that you don’t hear very often, but it is one that can do magic when it comes to shifting your attitude. I do hope you are hearing that I'm very thankful here at my house. I try to always be thankful and to remember too to give thanks.

When I say I'm THANKFUL, it means that I'm so glad to have someone or something in my life and I want to show that gratefulness to those that bring the blessing into my life too.

Taking the thoughts in the poem above today I'm thankful that we are almost halfway now through winter and there is hope that I'll be seeing some of that good green earth beneath my feet.

Just to be able to breathe is a blessing too. I 'm thankful that so far this winter no flues or colds have visited my house and except for sinus issues now and then, I can breathe and even manage to shovel some snow without huffing and puffing too much.

The blessing of having enough to eat every day and to be able to share what I have with others is also something I'm thankful for. During the non-camping months I try to have family over for dinner at least once a month. I love it when I can cook things for more than just me. After many years of preparing meals for a large family, I have a hard time making a meal for just one.

The work that I do these days is truly what I love to do. I can clean, craft, watch my grandson, to the tune of my time table and not someone else's . Well I do to some extent as my child caring is on their schedule and not mine, but I don't mind that at all.

I do have goals and with the good Lord's help I'm sure I'll reach them all someday. I don't stress out over any set backs but have learned to be thankful for each and every day, whatever it may bring.

The deep down sense of peace that I am feeling is one that is hard to express sometimes. The years of raising a large family and working endless hours took a toll on me and now I'm feeling so much better as I've had months of rest and relaxation to renew my body and my mind.

The simple things in life do bring me great JOY. I'm more blessed than I could ever say.

When you’re having one of those bad days and you need to feel better, more positive and more resourceful, refer back your Gratitude List.

After all, what you are most grateful for matters most.

Count your blessings instead of your crosses,

Count you gains instead of your losses,

Count your joys instead of your woes,

Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your courage instead of your fears,

Count your laughs instead of your tears.

Count your full years instead of your lean,

Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count your health instead of your wealth,

Count on God instead of yourself.

Irish Blessing

I hope your Thursday in which you can find many blessings to be THANKFUL for too.

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 1, Page 26, Book 11

All things bright and beautiful

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.

Cecil Frances Alexander, Hymn, All Things Bright and Beautiful

It's WONDERFUL Wednesday here at my house today. I've got my work planned out for the day and hopefully with the good Lord's help I'll be getting a lot done.

I had planned to have my basement all organized and ship shape by the end of January and I'm far from it. That means that today and what's left of the week will be the days to get it all done.

There is so much down there that it is overwhelming when I look at it, but the only way I'll finish is to begin. It maybe that there are some wonderful creatures living beneath all the piles but I seriously doubt it.

I've a clothes rack in the back corner that hasn't seen daylight in a few years so I'm hoping that today will be the day. Since nothing there has been seen much less worn in all this time it is all going to be packed away and set out for the rubbish. I put several bags full out already and it was a good feeling.

It will be wonderful for me to have it all done.

I hope your day is a WONDERFUL one too

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 1, Page 25, Book 11

Today is Terrific 2's Tuesday. We welcome the newest Tuesday of our lives and hope that it will be a TERRIFIC one.

The Most Important Things in Life

The most destructive habit . . . . . . . Worry

The greatest Joy . . . . . . . Giving

The greatest loss . . . . . . . Loss of self-respect

The most satisfying work . . . . . . . Helping others

The ugliest personality trait . . . . . . . Selfishness

The most endangered species . . . . . . . Dedicated leaders

Our greatest natural resource . . . . . . . Our youth

The greatest "shot in the arm" . . . . . . . Encouragement

The greatest problem to overcome . . . . . . . Fear

The most effective sleeping pill . . . . . . . Peace of mind

The most crippling failure disease . . . . . . . Excuses

The most powerful force in life . . . . . . . Love

The most dangerous pariah . . . . . . . A gossiper

The world's most incredible computer . . . . . . . The brain

The worst thing to be without . . . . . . . Hope

The deadliest weapon . . . . . . . The tongue

The two most power-filled words . . . . . . . I Can

The greatest asset . . . . . . . Faith

The most worthless emotion . . . . . . . Self-pity

The most beautiful attire . . . . . . . Smile

The most prized possession . . . . . . . Integrity

The most powerful channel of communication . . . . . . . Prayer

The most contagious spirit . . . . . . . Enthusiasm

The most important thing in life . . . . . . . God

Author Unknown

I love my good cup of coffee every morning and I like it black with no cream or sugar. Nowadays, people like coffee served and brewed a lot of different ways. We tend to disagree on what's good. What we usually agree on is the basics on what makes a bad cup of coffee. It can be weak, bitter, stale, cold, or soured by something we put in it and we'd probably all agree that it tastes bad. Face it. No one likes to drink a bad cup of coffee.

I took this little coffee quiz at blogthings.com and here is what it said about what kind of coffee I am and it choose the kind of coffee I like. I don't know if it's correct every time or not, but for me it was.

You Are a Black Coffee

At your best, you are: low maintenance, friendly, and adaptable

At your worst, you are: grumpy and stressed

You drink coffee when: you can get your hands on it

Your caffeine addiction level: high

If you want to see what kind of coffee you are just go over blogthings.com/whatkindofcoffeeareyouquiz/

Enjoy!

That's my 2's for Tuesday. The important things in life and a cup of coffee...I really think my coffee is one of the important things in my life.

Have a Terrific Tuesday everyone.

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 1, Page 24, Book 11

It's MERRY MONDAY and I am thinking that...

Sometimes we need to remember WHAT the Rules of Life really are.

Never give yourself a haircut.

You need only two tools: WD-40 and duct tape.

If it doesn't move and it should, use the WD-40. If it moves and it shouldn't, use the duct tape.

The five most essential words for a healthy, vital relationship are I apologize and You are right.

Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

When you make a mistake, make amends immediately. It's easier to eat crow while it's still warm.

If he/she says that you are too good for him/her - believe them.

Learn to pick your battles. Ask yourself, Will this matter one year from now? How about one month? One week? One day?

If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance!

Living well really is the best revenge. Being miserable because of a bad or former relationship just might mean that the other person was right about you.

Work is good, but it's not that important.

And finally; Be really nice to your friends and family. You never know when you are going to need them to empty your bedpan.

I am always reading articles on line and one of them introduced me to a new word

What is a Bubbee

pronounced buh-bee

In case you didn't know Bubbee is an old world term for Grandmother.

How rich life can be when you’ve had a full life and there’s still room for more. I’m in the sweet spot of life: after child rearing and enjoying retirement. Who knew the empty nest was lined with silver?

This season of my life is supposedly know as winter. The winter of my life is all about knowing that eventually Winter turns into Spring. Spring is a time when the world comes alive and what we find the treasures hidden in the snow. I'm going to be looking for treasures this Spring too.

No matter what life brings, there are always some treasures to behold.

Old or young we go through the winter days and look forward to Spring.

This will be another MERRY MONDAY at my house. Mr. Wonderful will be here and I'll be sharing lots of hugs and smiles with him today!

I hope your Monday is a MERRY one too.

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 1, Page 23, Book 11

Here is a little something to give you an UP lift today

The Word UP.

This is a fascinating thought process and for you people who like to play with words, you'll love this.

UP Did you ever think about this???? There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meaning than any other two-letter word, and that is UP.

It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we waken in the morning, why do we wake UP?

At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report?

We call UP our friends, we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car.

At other times the little word has real special meaning.

People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.

To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special.

And this is confusing:

A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night. We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP.

To be knowledgeable of the proper uses of UP, look UP the word in the dictionary. In a desk size dictionary, UP takes UP almost 1/4th the page and definitions add UP to about thirty.

If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.

When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it wets UP the earth. When it doesn't rain for awhile, things dry UP. One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP, so I'll shut UP.....

Now

I'll be off to church this very cold morning as usual and you all will be in my thoughts and special prayers will be being said.

I hope your day is filled with lots of that wonderful R and R !

I'm looking UP!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 1, Page 22, Book 11

My grandmother's life evolved around God and her family. If we would slow down a little, we just might find out that we have passed happiness by and, in waiting a moment, we give it a chance to catch up with us.

It's SUPER Saturday and I'm thinking Ain't Life Grand!

Every woman knows that when her marriage, children, home and relationships are doing well, she feels a whole lot happier than when they are not .

The question in my mind is, Do we really believe that family is so important that we uphold caring for home and children as the best and most important job a woman might ever have?

As I've reached a point in my life where my children are all grown and I have grand children I still find myself believing that family life is important and that I'm still an important part of it too.

It's probably the most fulfilling, enjoyable and exciting time of my life. It makes you think it's all worthwhile; this is what life is about, it's what makes all the hard graft worth it. I know they say you can't have it all, but I reckon this is about as close as it gets

One thing you know by the time you're a granny is how quickly time goes by. You want to savor every moment, really make the most of it. I hope that my grandchildren know that, just as my children knew it before them. I clear space so that we can enjoy one another's company . With retirement I can give a lot more time than when I was working. And the time I spend with any of my family I feel is a great investment.

Distance is a problem in that many in my family live too far away from me and I find that hard to deal with. But you know even though they are far away that doesn't make any of them less thought of for sure. They are all in my thoughts and prayers every day.

I read that Grandparents now have a bigger role in the family than ever before. Women in their 50s, 60s and beyond are movers and shakers. Knowing that their grandparents are strong and interesting people will create positive role models for future generations. It will change how people think about aging and about the whole world as they grow older. I certainly hope that is the case because I am tired of hearing that life is over and seniors are a drain on society

They say you are as young as you feel and today I'm feeling SUPER!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Try everything twice. On Madams tombstone (of Whelan's and Madam) she said she wanted this epitaph: Tried everything twice...loved it both times!

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. (keep this In mind if you are one of those grouches;)

3. Keep learning: Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and Lots of time with HIM/HER.

6. The tears happen: Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is our self. LIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love: Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

11. Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second time.

I hope your Saturday is a SUPER one too!

'On Ya'-ma