Chapter 10, Page 31, Book 11

MERRY MONDAY/ ALL HALLOWS EVE

Bless all those

that generously give

treats tonight

May all these treats 

be a reminder of

the gifts we have received

God bless the trick or treaters 

and keep them safe

Happy All Hallows Eve!

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who’s got the funniest face of all?  

There will be lots of trick or trmeaters at my door tonight.  There will be lots of funny and strange faces, but I know that they are all fake.  They will go home and take off their masks.

I often say that what you see is what you get.  But truly I wouldn't want you to see some of the faces that I make.  My face needn't show all the aches and pains I have.  I'd rather you see a sparkle in my eyes and a bright smile

The real me might be behind a mask some days.  But mostly I am myself, maybe funny looking but not fake.

Have a MERRY Monday and a Happy All Hallow's Eve!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 10, Page 30, Book 11

R and R Sunday/ Close the Gate

There is a story about two men walking down a country lane and across some fields. One of them forgot to close one of the gates. After seeing some cows, he realized his mistake and walked back to close it. He said it reminded him about the words an old man shared with him many years before, As you travel down life's pathways, remember to close the gates behind you. Such advice is one we could also keep close. Life is never straight forward and there are many attractions, distractions, obstacles and challenges. We often make mistakes, we could have made better choices and we sometimes regret not having done something completely different. But we shouldn't allow these to dominate or take over our lives. That is why it is so important to close the gate and simply move on. . By closing these gates he also invited them to move forward and to cherish each day as a fresh start and a new beginning.

My Sundays are my way of closing the gate to the week that just passed.  I try to make sure that my R and R on Sunday helps me to move on with a fresh start for the new week that will begin on Monday.

We get a chance to start over each and every day and Monday's are always a new beginning to a new week.  All the challenges of the past week are done and over and we make a new start on Monday.  Being relaxed, rested, refreshed and renewed seems to me to be the best way to do just that.

I hope you all have a wonderful R and R Sunday at your house!  

Close the gate and move on.

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 10, Page 29, Book 11

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 

SUPER SATURDAY!

A quote I read this week that said

 ENJOY LIFE NOW, 

IT HAS AN EXPIRATION DATE

We each have an expiration date. We can't know for certain when it is.  It's not written down for us. There is no imprint or stamp to tell us when we will expire but the idea of what is considered enjoyment is almost as varied as there are people to enjoy things. We often enjoy different things, perhaps even things that our close friends don't find enjoyable.

I have found that in the long run, it’s your personal relationships that really matter.  You can have everything in the world, but if you don't have someone to share it with, it is not much fun at all.  In my case it is my family and my friends that make life enjoyable.  Most everything I do is in some way related to them.  

I often quote Ecclesiastics here in my journal because it is a reminder for me that there is a time for everything. We would all like to think that our time is the only time that matters, but when we look back in history, there were many many people that made their time matter.

Life is short.  Make your Saturday a SUPER one.  Don't let your expiration date worry you.  Just make every moment count.  There is time for everything under heaven.

One today is worth two tomorrows.

Benjamin Franklin

'On Ya'-ma 

Chapter 10, Page 28, Book 11

FANTASTIC FRIDAY / Bloom Where You are Planted

It's in the Valley we Grow

Sometimes life seems hard to bear,

Full of sorrow, trouble and woe

It's then we have to remember

That it's in the valleys we grow.

If we always stayed on the mountain top

And never experienced pain,

We would never appreciate God's love

And would be living in vain.

We have so much to learn

And our growth is very slow,

Sometimes we need the mountain tops,

But it's in the valleys we grow.

We do not always understand

Why things happen as they do,

But I am very sure of one thing.

My Lord will see me through.

The little valleys are nothing

When we picture Christ on the cross

He went through the valley of death;

His victory was Satan's loss.

Forgive me Lord, for complaining

When I'm feeling so very low.

Just give me a gentle reminder

That it's in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me, Lord

And use my life each day

To share your love with others

And help them find their way.

Thank you for the valleys, Lord

For this one thing I know

The mountain tops are glorious

But it's in the valleys I grow!

Have a blessed day 

Here in northern Ohio we don't have many valleys ....there are few but mostly you have to either go east, or south to find a valley.  We have plenty of flat land and the farmers seem to love that as you see corn and soybean fields stretching out for miles.  Much of what won’t grow on the mountain tops will flourish in the valleys.

It is challenging to go through hard times, but these are the places where we grow. Not much can grow on a mountain top, but much of what nourishes us does grow in the valleys. As times get tough we grow inside and produce the most incredible fruit. We discover resources that we never knew were available to us, become more confident beings and learn to lean on faith

Some days you're the bug; other days you're the windshield...that's really the way it is, isn't it.

Sometimes we feel invincible and other days totally powerless.  All of this is part of life, but the truth is we need both the peaks and valleys.  We grow most from the lessons we learn in the valley.  The mountaintops, in addition to being more fun, give us the energy and confidents to sustain us through the tough times.

Today, it seems I'm on a mountain top and I'm relishing the view, but I've been in the valley of despair many times.  And what I've learned is that you really do have to make the most of what you have in life.  There is a reason and a season for everything under the sun.

Lessons From Trees

It's important to have roots

In today's complex world, it pays to branch out

If you really believe in something , don't be afraid to go out on a limb

Be flexible so you don't break when a harsh wind blows

Sometimes you have to shed your old bark in order to grow

If you want to maintain accurate records, keep a log

It's okay to be a late bloomer

Avoid people who would like to cut you down

As you approach the autumn of your life, you will show your true colors.  You could be Brilliant!

In other words, bloom where you are planted and make the best of what you've got!

Every day can be FANTASTIC if you have learned well the lessons found in the valleys. 

Have a FANTASTIC Friday everyone!  BLOOM!

Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning

how to dance in the rain.

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 10, Page 27, Book 11

Autumn is the time for giving thanks, recognizing our abundance, and rejoicing in the good gifts of God. Let's not allow a scarecrow or two to get us down. We are blessed in so many ways, and have much for which we should be thankful -- an autumn abundance.

When the weather gets that autumn nip in the air and turns cool, we turn our thoughts to bundling up. Out come the jackets, windbreakers, warm socks, boots, warm pajamas turtlenecks and flannel shirts.Sometimes we add more bedding -- blankets, quilts, comforters, and afghans in an effort to be warm and cozy. 

I'm thankful for being able to be warm in cozy in Autumn

Something comes over me when it gets cool: I buy yarn and knit.

I'm thankful to be able to make something for others.

In the fall, it's so nice to enjoy a hot cup of coffee, herbal tea, hot apple cider, or a mug of hot chocolate milk with a marshmallow on topas we sit by the fire or snuggle up with a pet and read a good book. Even Starbucks has gotten into the act: they're advertising their Pumpkin Spice Latte these days -- a definite sign of fall.Those fall beverages make me think of fall food -- a big pot of chili or beef stew, turkey, yams, popcorn and popcorn balls, a basket offruit, nuts to crack, gingerbread, pecan pie and smells of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. Apples are abundant now, with many varieties to choose from -- Red and Golden Delicious, Gala, Pink Lady, Pippin, Braeburn, Rome Beauty, Fuji, Granny Smith, Jonathan, macintosh, and York. They can be enjoyed in so many different ways -- eaten plain, apple pie, Apple Betty, applesauce, caramel or glazed, and even with peanut butter on slices- yum!

I'm thankful to be able to enjoy all these good scrumptious foods and for my health which is a tremendous blessing.

For these and all of my bountiful blessings I am so very thankful.

Fall does bring an abundance to enjoy!  Hope this Thursday you will find many things to be THANKFUL for too!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 10, Page 26, Book 11

There is a lighthouse out on the pier

WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY!  SO WONDERFUL!   SO MARVELOUS!!

Did you know:  In the folk rhyme, Wednesday's child is full of woe.  In Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery day,  the disagreeable nature of the weather is attributed to it being Winds-Day, a play on Wednesday.

At my house Wednesdays are WONDERFUL.  

Wonderful Wednesdays mark the middle of the week.  It's a way to congratulate yourself for making it this far in this wonderful week.  It's my way of making Wednesdays just as wonderful as Fantastic Fridays and Super Saturdays.  Looking at what is good in each day and finding ways to make them all wonderful.

There is something about knowing you are in the middle of something; the past weekend is becoming more of a memory and plans for the upcoming days off begin to fall into place.  

The truth is that by myself,  I am incapable of making my day one of wonder and thankfulness.  I was born selfish and cranky.  Without the Lord's help a wonderful day is determined by my experiences.  With the Lord everyday has the potential of being wonderful as He makes it possible for me to look at any given moment and see blessings, opportunities, a lesson to learn, joy, wonder, and thanksgiving. 

I hope you are having a marvelous midweek! May the dear Lord bless you with all that you need to make each and every day wonderful in Him too.

It is a WONDERFUL Wednesday here  at my house.

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 10, Page 25, Book 11

TERRIFIC 2'S TUESDAY/ Stopping by and promises to keep

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village, though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow

.My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound's the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep. 

Robert Frost

Good intentions are not enough. And promises don't count unless they are performed

Every individual struggles to gain and maintain alignment with values like ethics, promise and principals.  What ever our personal beliefs, we all face opposition and challenges.  Sometimes these cause us to do things contrary to our intentions and promises.  We may think that we can change deeply imbedded habits and patterns simple by making new promises or goals only to find old habits die hard and despite good intentions familiar patterns carry over.

We can have all the good intentions in the world, but if you don’t act in a way that’s consistent with those intentions, your goodwill is meaningless.

One problem many have is making too many promises and then they don't have time to follow through.  It is far better to make fewer commitments and keep the ones you do make than to agree to everything and only partially  deliver on the promise.

Following through is simply the right thing to do, but it also has an unexpected benefit. When you follow through on your commitments, including the commitments you make to yourself, you gain confidence, belief, and momentum.

Have you ever wondered why a resolution you made never got fulfilled or why something you longed for never happened and despite all your good intentions your life isn't happening the way you want it to

It starts on Halloween and doesn’t stop until New Years…the demise of our healthy diet and lifestyle. Every year we go into the holidays with good intentions, yet we come out with an extra 10 pounds

Every year I say I'm going to be better prepared for the holidays, and I am taking baby steps so that December will be a fun month rather than a stressful push to just get through the holidays.

Just like the poem above, I've miles to go before I sleep, but I'll still be stopping by with a post every day.  It is not snowing here yet, but it is cold .  Have a TERRIFIC Tuesday everyone!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 10, Page 24, Book 11

MERRY MONDAY

21 KEYS TO A HAPPIER LIFE  / Mondays are the day to start your week off right.

Compliment three people everyday.

Watch a sunrise.

Be the first to say Hello.

Live beneath your means.

Treat everyone as you want to be treated.

Never give up on anybody; miracles happen.

Forget the Jones’s.

Remember someone’s name.

Pray not for things, but for wisdom and courage.

Be tough-minded, but tender hearted.

Be kinder than you have to be.

Don’t forget that a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.

Keep your promises.

Learn to show cheerfulness even when you don’t feel it.

Remember that overnight success usually takes 15 years.

Leave everything better than you found it.

Remember that winners do what losers don’t want to do.

When you arrive at your job in the morning, let the first thing you say brighten everyone’s day.

Don’t rain on other people’s parades.

Don’t waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.

Keep some things to yourself and don’t promote havoc by backstabbing people you love.

These 21 keys have a lot of wisdom in them.  I know that I could have used some of this advise when I was younger. As a matter of fact I could have used some of it just the other day.

Looking at # 19 where it says we shouldn't rain on other peoples parades me me think about something I did over the weekend.  DD was excitedly telling us about some of the names they liked for the new baby coming their way.  She asked how we liked them and sadly, I said, I didn't like them at all. It was my first reaction, but I shouldn't have said that.  She is just so excited that I put a little damper on things for her.  It would have been so much nicer had I just kept my mouth shut or said something about what fun it must be picking out your baby's name.  I could have bit my tongue off afterward, but it was too late for that.  Oh, I did apologize, but still it's not the same.

Little do we realized the importance of what we do and say.   When we hurt someones feelings especially someone we love,we also hurt ourselves.  Like I said the points above all have a lot of good in them, but for me, I'll never forget #19.   The older I get, the more I learn about life.  I sure hope your Monday is off to a great start - Remember  # 20 -- Never miss an opportunity to tell someone you love them.  

Have a 'MERRY' Monday everyone! Make it better than you found it!

 'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 10, Page 23, Book 11

There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics and The Great Pumpkin. 

Linus

R and R SUNDAY!

I agree with Linus, there are just some things I never discuss.  One thing I am, however,  always willing to discuss is how important a little Rest and Relaxation is for us all.  So far this Fall has been a busy time for me, but I'm trying to keep things in balance and to remember to take some time out for a good rest now because soon the demanding holiday season will be upon us.  If we don't want our batteries to burn out before then, we need to nurture ourselves a little.   Winter blues come partly from a loss of our inner energy and when we don't get the proper rest we find ourselves run down and getting sick too.  Winter won't be here officially until December, but it sure is feeling cold here in northern Ohio and it's easy to feel blue on dark and dreary cold days.

It's time to take our pillow and our blankets seriously.

Sleep is not a luxury, nor should it be an afterthought, something you try to work into your schedule if you can.  During the nighttime, we actually regain all of the powers and energy we used during the daytime. It's like rebooting a computer.  And you need a particular amount of sleep.  In general most of us need seven and half hours of sleep.  There are a rare few that can get by on less, but they are very few and far between.

I'm home this Sunday and resting from my moving out of the camper day yesterday.  It is a big job for me to bring home all the things I either don't want to share with the mice over the winter or that I don't want to freeze up.  I have to pack it all up and when it's home I have to tote it all inside and find a place for it all till next year's camping season begins.  At the end of the day I was very tired indeed.

I slept like a baby, very soundly and got every bit of my required 7 and a half hours of sleep and more.  Today is a restful one for me.  Nothing much to do but rest and relax.  I'm off to church here shortly where I always get a little extra need renewal and refreshment then back home where it is cozy and warm.

Hope your Sunday is a restful one that helps prepare for the week ahead.  Enjoy your day and your life.  Rest and relax -- it is soooo good for you!

Now how about that Great Pumpkin....

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 10, Page 22, Book 11

SUPER SATURDAY!

It's said that the opening of a book is extremely important. The writer needs to engage his readers from the outset, filling them with a desire to read more.  Well, here is the more for today.

Life is like a book with many chapters we call seasons. Some chapters tell the story of love, drama, comedy, mystery, loss, adversity, growth, ..Some chapters are dull and ordinary, others intense and exciting. The key to enduring, persevering and being hopeful is to never stop on a difficult page, to never quit on a book or a chapter that seems too long. Some chapters may be sweet but too short. Your words, thoughts, actions, non-action and choices are the pens that write the pages in your book. Have the courage and faith to keep turning the pages believing better chapters lie ahead.

Life is like a book; Don’t jump to the end to see if it’s worth it. Just enjoy life and fill the pages with beautiful and amazing memories.

That is exactly what I try and do each day here in my journal.  I never know from one day till the next what I might find to share with you all.  Some days I post the thoughts and quotes of others, somedays the thoughts are all my own.  But what ever this book contains...you can be sure that it reflects some how and some way what is new at my house each day.

Today is Chapter 10, Page 22, Book 11....October 22nd, 2011.  I'm closing the camper and then heading home.

It’s a new day of  my life.

I can’t turn back the pages to fix it.

Because it’s already done.

I can’t edit a book that’s already been written and published.

I'll just flip the pages, and keep writing

Every chapter will bring you something new.

It's a SUPER day here at my house...Hope your Saturday is a SUPER one too!

I'll be back tomorrow, God willin'... with a new page for you.

'On Ya'-ma