Chapter 2, Page 28, Book 17

♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ 

February 28th - Pancakes and Carnivals

I tend to think that every day here is a carnival.  Excitement is around every corner.  There has not been a dull day here for as long as I can remember.

As for flipping pancakes… I have definitely flipped.  My brain isn’t what it used to be for sure.

Kidding aside,  it’s a good day to prepare for the Lenten Season which begins tomorrow.  We may want to make the most of today, and remember that every day is a new beginning.

I’ll be beginning my Lenten reflections starting tomorrow, Ash Wednesday.  They will be all about Hope.  Hope for today and for tomorrow as we make our journey to Easter Sunday !

Chapter 2, Page 27, Book 17

♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ 

The things that make us happiest are usually right in front of our faces, but we stop noticing those things after a while. Today is a great day to start noticing again.

Author Unknown

February 27th - no problems

If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire — then you got a problem. Everything else is inconvenience. 

Sigmund Wollman

I have not broken my neck, I have plenty to eat and the house has not caught on fire so I do not have any problems, but I do have several inconveniences.  Ha!

Inconveniences are those things that get in the way when you are trying to get something done.    The something here is getting ready to move.  The inconvenience is that there is still too much stuff remaining here at my house and there is a lot to packed yet.

It's not easy taking my problems one at a time when they refuse to get in line.

Ashleigh Brilliant

I don’t have a definite move in date but am hoping for the 8th of March.  I have a lot to be done this week so if I don’t post a day or two you’ll know why.

Moving is the goal and as soon as I get a definite date, I can schedule for what will be done when and where.  Help is available, but until I get the date, things cannot be scheduled.  

All of the sudden things will get very busy, and I’m hoping for a smooth transition.  We’ll see…

If you want a place in the sun, you've got to expect a few blisters. 

Abigail van Buren

Chapter 2, Page 26, Book 17

♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ 

For where your treasure is there also will be your heart

Matthew 6:21

February 26th - on a treasure hunt

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.

Thornton Wilder

Whatever we claim as treasure in our lives is where we put the bulk of our effort and energy.  Over time we generally grow in understanding of what is really important to us and we let go of some things in order to have the time and energy for things that are more important.

Time is your treasure.

J. M. Colter

The choices we make each day are based on what we treasure.  Time is our great treasure and there is nothing more important than spending time with someone you love. Family and friends are so important.

For those who are willing to make an effort, great miracles and wonderful treasures are in store.

Issac Bashevis Singer

Make time to give meaning to each day. Deepen, rediscover, smile. Every moment is a promise and a new chance, for you and everyone you touch.  It’s our choice.

Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure: where your treasure, there your heart; where your heart, there your happiness,

St. Augustine

Chapter 2, Page 25, Book 17

♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ 

It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want — oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! 

Mark Twain

February 25th - Goodbye SAD.  Hello Spring Fever

All winter long I’m plagued with the SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder disease and now I fear another new but totally different ailment has hit me.  Spring Fever!  We had a record setting 75 degree day yesterday, but after some thunderstorms passed through last night we are only 39 degrees here this morning. 

The warmer sunnier days of the past week brightened my mood and improved my attitude so I must say  Spring Fever is not all bad for sure.  On the downside all I wanted to do was go outside and work in the yard.  But I know winter is not done with us yet, we still have March to get through.  So I worked inside and left the leaves in the flower beds as they are.  Those tender leaves of the daffodils and tulips that have popped up way too early will need some protection from the snow that usually comes our way.

When it snows again, and it surely will, they’ll keep warm in their cozy bed and so will I.  I refuse to get rid of the flannel sheets just yet.  

Many of us have asked the question, is it really February?  Yes it is, at least for a few more days yet. When Spring Fever strikes, it hits hard and does not discriminate by race, age, or gender. But I for one am not complaining! It’s certainly better than that SAD disease.

Every spring is the only spring, a perpetual astonishment.

Ellis Peters

Chapter 2, Page 24, Book 17

♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ 

February is merely as long as is needed to pass the time until March.

Dr. J. R. Stockton

February 24th - biding my time

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant.

Anne Bradstreet

I’m not by any means wishing the days away here, but it seems that the house sale has been approved and in March I will be moving.

There is much to do yet, so I will need every bit of time left to get ready.  I’m moving into a manufactured home, known as a single wide. I choose this type of home over an apartment because #1  It has a car port and the little Red Hen, as I fondly call my car, will not have to sit in a parking lot and #2 It comes with a storage shed, that the apartments didn’t have.   I’ll have 2 bedrooms, a kitchen, a bath, living room /dining room combination and an enclosed patio room.  6 plus rooms should be enough for 1 person I’m thinking.  There will even be room to have some company over.  My Sunday dinners can resume.

The 2nd bedroom is quite large and will serve the purpose of a craft room too.  I love to paint and to sew so it’s important for me to have this included. 

I will be missing the front porch, back patio and the yard with all the flowers here, but the saving grace is that I will have an enclosed patio area that has both windows and screens.  For three quarters of the year I’ll have a place to porch sit as much as I want.  

Meanwhile back at the ranch… ha ha…there is lot to be done and I’ll need the days ahead to get ready for my new beginning.  It’ll be different, that is guaranteed.  

This year Spring will have a whole new meaning as I start over.

Today’s picture is one of the many views from the porch that I’ve shown you over the years.  Can’t wait to show you my new view…coming soon in March!

February makes a bridge and March breaks it.

George Hebert

Chapter 2, Page 23, Book 17

♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ 

Count your blessings and count your problems...

If your problems out number your blessings, Count again...

Chances are the things that you take for granted were not added up...

Success is 10% inspiration, 90% last minute changes. 

As seen on a billboard advertisement

February 23rd - trials or blessings

Change always comes bearing gifts.  

Price Pritchett

We are each a work in progress and never a finished product.  But this I know, we have been given tools to help us along the way.  Tools like sincerity, trust, and gratitude that will help us in the growing process.

There are daily trials like discouragement and anxiety that tempt us to give up our goals. To guard against discouragement, we are urged to be sincere of heart.  Being sincere is being genuine.  To be honest and straightforward without any pretense, misrepresentation, or deceit.  They say if you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else.

As for anxiety, we re told to Hold on! Wait a little longer! When we are tempted to give up, this is exactly the moment to hold on a little longer. It takes a lot of faith, but trust can carry us a long way.

Then there is self pity. Absorbed in our troubles, we can feel like we are the only person in our predicament. That is when we should be grateful, even in the face of trials.  If we remember those things we are thankful for we tend to forget about what we don’t have.

Remember, we all face trials, but I’ve found that with tools like sincerity, trust, and gratitude, we will be better prepared to face them when they come.

God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame.  

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Chapter 2, Page 22, Book 17

♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ 

Practice the pause. 

Pause before judging.

 Pause before assuming. 

Pause before accusing. 

Pause whenever you’re about to react harshly 

and you’ll avoid doing and saying things you’ll later regret.

Lori Deschene 

February 22nd - the pause that refreshes

 Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy. 

Robert Brault

Taking a short pause can make a world of difference not only in our speech but in our daily lives too.  They say that taking frequent short breaks is better for you than one long holiday.  

Pausing for a few moments, taking a deep breath will do wonders to relieve stress.  We can think of a pause as a coffee break during a busy morning at work.  It makes us more productive in the long run.    I remember sitting at a computer for hours when I worked and would pause a few moments to close my eyes and give them a break.  What a difference it made.

Hitting the Pause Button whether in our speech or in our lives can really do a lot of good.  We all need to take time throughout the day to take a break or a pause.  It makes our words more meaningful and our days more productive.

Learn to pause... or nothing worthwhile will catch up to you. 

Doug King

If we don't pause to lower our stress levels, our work suffers and so do we.  Too much of anything is not good for us.  Taking time to pause and refresh works wonders.  Not only for ourselves but to others too.

We pause, regroup, and rethink our priorities to plan our next approach, and once refreshed we are better able to face our obstacles. So today, I decided to use the pause button. Even though I continue to deal with a myraid of issues, knowing I am refreshed I can handle them in a manner far better than before. 

Play the memories 

Pause the moments 

Stop the pain

 Refresh happiness !

Chapter 2, Page 21, Book 17

♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ 

Life is half spent before we know what it is.

 George Herbert 

February 21st - Life is half spent…live it now!

Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save. 

Will Rogers

The fact is that at this point in my life, more half of it is over. If I divided my life into thirds I could say that the first part was about how to live life. The second part of my life was all about living life the best way I could and the third part, which is now,  is about enjoying life to the fullest.

Live life to the fullest, and focus on the positive. 

Matt Cameron

I’ve made a promise to my self to not waste a single day that I have left.  When you live in the present, you are living where life is happening.

Remember:  Today is the day that matters the most.

May you live every day of your life. 

Jonathan Swift

Life is short.  Today is the day to take action.   Everything in life can’t be planned.  Some of the greatest opportunities will knock on your door when you least expect them to.  

Life is meant to be enjoyed!

Enjoy yourself it's later than you think 

Enjoy yourself while you're still in the pink 

 The years go by as quickly as a wink

 Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself…

Chapter 2, Page 20, Book 17

♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ 

Work for a cause, not for applause. Live your life to express, not to impress, don’t strive to make your presence noticed, just make your absence felt.

Author Unknown

February 20th - be yourself

Life is to express yourself, not to impress others.

When I was growing up nothing I ever did seemed good enough. There was constant criticism that I could do better, and be better.  However, I have learned that you cannot make every one happy.  Being precisely who you are, at your best, gets you the things you want most in your life.  What matters is having strength of character, an honest heart, and a sense of self worth.  If you’re lucky enough to have any of these things, never sell them.  Don’t sell yourself short

Don’t worry about what other people think. Say no when you need to. Don’t be afraid to disappoint others when you hold to your intentions and honor your needs. Walk your own path  and don’t expect anyone else to understand your journey, especially if they have not been exactly where you are going.  You have to take the steps that are right for you; no one else walks in your shoes.

From right where we are, we can create a reality that uplifts and inspires us and also help others at the same time. We can’t please every one, but we can be a blessing to many.  

Remember:  You don’t need other people to validate you; you are already VALUABLE.

Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.

Bruce Lee

Chapter 2, Page 19, Book 17

♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ 

The time to relax is when you don't have time for it.

Sydney J. Harris

February 19th - relax it’s Sunday!

Sunday. Take it slow and give your soul a chance to catch up with your body.

Unknown

 Relaxation is something we actually have to learn and practice, much like happiness. And, like happiness, learning to relax is extremely important for your health and well being. 

I know when I’ve done too much, and that has been most every day here lately, I tend to feel rather worn out.  It’s time for me to slow down and relax awhile before I find myself down and out for the count.

It's hard to relax when something's constantly nagging at you and you know there is lots to be done.  However we need to make sure we're taking care of the 'three pillars of health’ - nutrition, exercise, and sleep. If one of these are lacking in our life, then our body will be out of whack and we tend to get sick.

Sundays have always been my day to take a break and relax and refresh, but it doesn’t have to be on a Sunday, any day of the week will do.  

I hope you all have a beautiful, peaceful, relaxing Sunday! I’m going to try real hard to do the same.

Work is not always required. There is such a thing as sacred idleness. 

George MacDonald

Chapter 2, Page 18, Book 17

♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ 

The future is not ours to see...

February 18th - be OK

If you're doing your best, you won't have any time to worry about failure. 

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

None of us know for certain what may happen tomorrow, or even for the rest of the day.  It’s a waste of time to worry.  Being okay with what will come may just bring some pleasant surprises your way.

As long as we know we are doing our best we can be okay with the fact 

that everything won’t go according to plan.

Our lives are constantly changing, but there is always new possibilities in every change that comes our way.

Each and every moment has some value and goodness in it.  Not every day is good, but there is something good in every day when we look for it.

Whatever happens, we can be okay with not knowing what may come for we it’s the way we deal with those moments, that will make the difference.  

A half baked idea is okay as long as it's in the oven. 

Author  Unknown

Chapter 2, Page 17, Book 17

♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ 

Older and wiser voices can always help you find the right path, if you are only willing to listen.

 Jimmy Buffett

February 17th - words from the wise

A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it.

Albert Einstein

Thankfully I do have many in my family and among my friends that have shared words of wisdom when I’ve needed it.  Words that direct my thoughts to where they should be and words of encouragement to keep me going.

We can’t solve the problems of the world by ourselves, but taking the advice of others has helped me time and again.  Some of the best solutions to my problems have come from others.

 Fools get things mixed up and wise men straighten them out.

Scottish Proverb

Everyone has had different experiences and I love to hear them share them.  They give me a new perspective in the way to do things.  One person cannot experience everything and when we consider the advice of others, it can put a whole new light on things.

That is not to say I don’t make decisions on my own, but more than not, others advice has been proven to be helpful, even if their advice shows me how not to do something.

I not only use all the brains that I have but all that I can borrow.

Woodrow Wilson

Chapter 2, Page 16, Book 17

♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ 

Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it by the handle of anxiety, or by the handle of faith. 

Author Unknown

February 16th - wake up call

Faith makes things possible, not easy. 

Author Unknown

It is said that while faith can move mountains, doubt can conjure up a new mountain range where none existed. 

Keeping the faith these days has become more meaningful to me than ever before

Doubt can enter our minds like a thief in the night and take away our joy.   

There has been many days lately that I’ve said this is just not working, this is just not me.  I long to return to simpler days and truly the only thing that has kept me going is my faith and the hope that nothing lasts for ever and with God all things are possible.

The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try it and the faith to believe that it is possible. 

Richard M. DeVos

There are days I don’t even recognize myself as I try to stay focused on the packing up here at my house.  I try to keep the faith that very soon I should be moving.  There is no room for doubt.  It has to happen sooner or later, but waiting isn’t easy.

Even though I long to return to the simple life I once knew where my days were filled with porch sitting and soaking in a few rays of sunshine, those days are gone.  We can’t go backward, but must move forward. Every day is a new beginning to focus on what can be changed and not on what we can’t.

Everyone has times of doubt, but faith can overcome it.  

Remember:  Keep the faith—but not to yourself!