Chapter 10, Page 31, Book 10

R & R Day / Creating a little Halloween Magic

The celebration of Halloween has dual origins. The first is in a pre-Christian Celtic feast associated with the Celtic New Year. The second is in the Christian celebration of All Saints Day (Nov. 1st) and All Souls Day (Nov. 2). November 1st is called All Hallows, thus the evening before is All Hallows Eve

The ancient Celtic peoples who inhabited England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Brittany (NW France) celebrated their New Year's Day on what would be November 1st on our calendar. Families would also extinguish their hearth fires on this evening to be re-lit from a common New Year's bonfire built on the hilltops, which was meant to symbolize the driving away of darkness and evil with the coming of the new year. The jack-o-lantern as a means of scaring away evil and providing light may be a vestige of this custom.

The conversion of Celtic peoples to Christianity did not dampen their enthusiasm for the pre-Christian year-end custom of feasts, bonfires, and masks, essentially new year's eve costume parties.

With the massive emigration of Irish in the last century the All Hallows Eve customs of costumes, jack-o-lanterns and trick or treating, were transported to North America. Scary costumes remain the historical norm for Halloween

Happy All Hallows Eve Everyone!

It seems that today will be a day of mixtures...I'm mixing my day of R&R with some Trick or Treaters

As always I go to church on Sundays. This is always the best way to start my week off. It renews and refreshes like no magic potion possible could.

This day is a day to remember that tomorrow is when we celebrate the Saints that have gone before us and also to remember that we are all saints in the making too.

While I enjoy the little ones that come to my house trick or treating, I also pray for their safety. You know that there is much in the world that needs praying about and these little ones so full of life and fun deserve a life full of joy.

It will be an evening spent on the porch handing out goodies and what a relaxing way to meet the neighbors that I rarely see too. Now that I'm home all the time, I rarely see anyone out. I wonder do they all work during the day or stay indoors all the time.

Whether you celebrate Halloween or All Hallows Eve as I do, I hope this Sunday is a magical one for you. There is magic everywhere...miracles are all around us.

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 10, Page 30, Book 10

SUPER SATURDAY!

More often than not when I ask someone how they are, they say they are JUST FINE. But many times that is just not the case at all. Many of us really have a limp in our step, arthritis in our knees, pains in our feet, and hurts in our hearts . There are days that if you told someone how you REALLY felt, they’d run the other way

I'm never going to feel the way I did when I was younger again. There is no going back in time and I'll only get older, so I've accepted all these things as a NORMAL way of life for me. So when I'm asked, I can say truthfully I'm just SUPER!

I can still do so much that I love and look forward to each and every day, so being what I am isn't so bad at all. Thankfully there is much that is JUST FINE in my life.

I hope your Saturday will be a SUPER one for you too!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 10, Page 29, Book 10

Life is too important to be taken seriously.

Oscar Wilde

I really believe that some people complain just so they can hear themselves complain. I've found that it is important not to let them drag you down by their negativity. It is just plain unhealthy to be around people like that all the time.

We have to teach ourselves to be content with what is. Sometimes it seems easier just to complain, but to not complain is better for our physical well being and spiritual health as well.

To be content with the gifts right in front of us sometimes takes awhile to grow into. Accepting our situations and making the best of them helps us to see the glass as half full instead of empty.

Humor is one of the best ways I deal with bad days. I just have to laugh when everything seems to go wrong. It's a whole lot better than crying. People say funny things all the time, all we have to do is really listen. When we tune into the moment we can see and hear things right in front of us that we might have otherwise missed.

Laughter helps us feel better, it suspends worries and problems and it is a gift we can give to others. Some people think that you have to be stern be taken seriously. How dull. I really believe we need to keep the light heartedness of children. Their laughter and joy are very contagious.

So with a ***BIG SMILE*** on my face today,

I wish you all a FANTASTIC Friday!

Remember to keep yourself rooted in the gifts lightheartedness, humor and joy!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 10, Page 28, Book 10

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God

Philippians 4:6

It's THANKFUL Thursday!

We should truly be thankful for the little things in life. For example, when was the last time you were thankful for a nice breath of air? When was the last time you were thankful that you could breathe?

There are many things that take my breath away. And there are many times I hold my breath too.

On the list below you'll see some little things that I'm thankful for this week

Water, right out of the faucet...pure and fresh

A fridge that is full of food and drinks

Television, which keeps me company on quiet evenings

For the internet, when it works right, that keeps me in touch. This week my connectivity has been very poor.

For a comfy bed with flannel sheets that really feel great on a cold night.

For electricity that provides, light and heat. I've used more this past week as the days are definitely shorter

Where would we be without these little things in life. I know I wouldn't want to do without them.

There is just so much to be thankful for. Big and little.

I hope your Thursday is one that you can be thankful for too!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 10, Page 27, Book 10

It's WONDERFUL Wednesday!

Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me... going to bed at night saying we've done something wonderful... that's what matters to me.

Steve Jobs

I'm never going to be rich when it comes to money. If I have some extra cash, I find something to spend it on. Most of the time it's something for my family, but not always. If I find something cute or pretty that makes me SMILE I'll buy it.

One thing I have in my house that gives me a regular smile lately is a cute little scarecrow on a wreath that I have hanging in my front room. Every evening when I turn the light on, it plays 'Turkey in the Straw' . Lights or movement activates it and that little scarecrow dances around. I have a dancing Turkey too that I'll get out at Thanksgiving time.

Turkey in the Straw is an old American Folk Song

Turkey in the straw — Haw haw haw

Turkey in the hay — Hey hey hey

Turkey in the straw, turkey in the hay,

Turkey in the straw what do you say.

Funnest thing I ever saw.

It's a little tune called Turkey in the Straw.

Turkey in the straw — Haw haw haw

Turkey in the hay — Hey hey hey

I just have to make my own sunshine where ever I can, and being on my own a lot it isn't always easy.

We had some very strong winds go through here yesterday and we really cooled off. Thankfully no big damage was done. Nothing here, but on the news there were reports of trees down and power outages and they said two tornados did touch down in western Ohio.

We are having some very up and down weather here...nature is full of surprises. It's a wonderful day here today. The storms are over and all is well.

I hope your Wednesday is a WONDERFUL one too!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 10, Page 26, Book 10

I feel healthy, I feel happy, I feel Terrific!

Tuesdays can be just as exciting as Saturdays and Sundays.

As October is almost over and November nearly here, I've decided to devote Terrific Tuesdays to some tips for getting ready for the holidays.

The other day I was reminded that this time of year is the best time to pick up Advent Calendars. The kind that have a little door to open every day of December counting down the days till Christmas. I always give one to my grand 'babe's every year and so I went out and sure enough at Big Lots they had then in their card rack. I like to get them there as they are discounted and I have many to buy. Now that I have 14 grandchildren they'll have to share as I am just doing one per family. Still 7 Advent calendars is a lot to buy.

I also found some cute Thanksgiving table favors which I like to give out to each family member at my Thanksgiving table every year. I won't say what they were as I like to surprise my family. They will not only decorate the table but they will be something they can take home with them. They didn't cost much at all but will be a little memento of Thanksgiving.

So there you are my TERRIFIC TWO for Tuesday.

I hope your Tuesday is a TERRIFIC one!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 10, Page 25, Book 10

This is our little Lucky Guy at our Fall Festival this year.

If we are ever in doubt about what to do, it is a good rule to ask ourselves what we shall wish on the morrow that we had done.

John Lubbock

It's Merry Monday!

I wish I had some great and exciting things to tell you about but the weekend was a quiet one. I got a lot done here but nothing earth shaking or new to tell you about.

Well, I did get up this morning so it will be another great day here. I doubt there will be anything spectacular going on. And I do doubt that anything newsworthy will happen but still I'll be enjoying whatever the day brings and that makes it a MERRY day for me.

I really have no doubts about what I will be doing today. There will be the joyful jobs of laundry, a little cleaning here and there and hopefully lots of crafting going on. I love ordinary days and find them to be some of the best I've ever spent. No drama going on in my life, just lots of peaceful quiet days.

It's hard to believe this is the last week of October. Next week I'll be babysitting for our Mr. Wonderful as his Mom is back to work now. Here I am blessed with another beautiful grandbabe to devote my time and attention too. I had just one short month with our little Lucky guy when he was born, but because he lives too far a way that is all I could help them out with. But Mr. Wonderful lives close by so I'll have the care of him often. I won't have him all the time though as he does have another grandmother who will share caring for him too.

Such as it is, that's the news from my house today. I do hope your day is a MERRY one too!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 10, Page 24, Book 10

Blessing of God's Seasons

We know we must pass

through the seasons God sends,

Content in the knowledge

that everything ends.

And Oh, what a blessing

to know there are reasons

And to find that our souls

must too, have their seasons

Bounteous seasons and barron ones too,

times for rejoicing and times to be blue

But meeting these seasons of dark desolation

with the strength that is born of anticipation

Comes from knowing that every season of sadness

will surely be followed by a springtime of gladness

Helen Steiner Rice

Sunday R and R Day!

Some weeks are so full of things that the weekend and Sunday rest is needed. It seems that every week I feel that way. Without my Sunday R & R I wouldn't be quite so ready for a new week to begin.

We've been blessed with a little warmer weather but also some clouds and chances of rain here. If I had my rathers, I rather have the sun and cool days than warmer with rain days. I'm not the one in charge of that, thank the good Lord. I'd probably make a mess of things if I were. There truly is a reason for the seasons.

Our news has been talking about how blessed we are to see the leaves fall. I think they said that only 8 % of our world gets that opportunity. And they also said that 81% was water so that certainly gives us lots of food for thought.

I was told by a notice on blogger yesterday that I had exceeded the amount of pictures I could use so today I'm going to try again, but if you don't see anymore pictures from me that will be why. I don't know if it was for real or just a fluke.

I'm off to church as always this morning. It's Mission Sunday in our church and many across the world today. Tis a day to celebrate and pray. I'll be remembering all of you in my prayers too in a special way today.

I hope your Sunday is blessed with lots of that wonderful R and R that we all need.

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 10, Page 23, Book 10

The Autumn of Life

What a wondertime in life's autumn

when the leaves of the trees are all gold.

When God fills each day as He senates it

with memories, priceless and old

What a treasure-house filled with rare jewels

are the blessings of year upon year.

When life has been lived as you've lived it

in a home where God's presence is near

May the deep meaning surround this day

like the paintbrush of God up above,

Touch your life with wonderful blessings

and fill your heart brimful with His love

Helen Steiner Rice

I try to care enough about all the moments of life to live all of them well. One thing we cannot do in life is to ignore it. Life teaches us lessons relentlessly. We learn to enjoy each happy part, to endure each costly part, to cope with every exhausting part, and to learn from every difficult part. It's important to learn the lessons well so that life is more meaningful and worthwhile.

Life's biggest lessons aren't learned all at once. Just like my little grandchildren I still have much to learn. We adults often find irrational reasons for judging, and complicated reasons for liking things or people. Children don't need complex reasons for enjoying or loving.

What matters most is that we learn from living

Doris Lessing

Have a SUPER Saturday everyone!

'On Ya'-ma

P.S. I am getting a notice that I've exceeded my limit for photos...and they won't let me upload any more. Has this happened to anyone else?

Chapter 10, Page 22, Book 10

May the sun shine, all day long,
everything go right, and nothing wrong.
May those you love bring love back to you,
and may all the wishes you wish come true!
Irish Blessing

It's FANTASTIC FRIDAY!

Many of these WISHES are not just wishful thinking and many of them are within our reach.

I wish I were big enough to honestly admit all my shortcomings.

I wish I was tall enough to tower above all negativity.

I wish I was strong enough to treasure love.

I wish I could believe that I am making a difference.

I wish I was brave enough to welcome criticism.

I wish I was compassionate enough to understand people's limitations and human frailties.

I wish I was wise enough to know how precious my blessings are.

I wish I was humble enoughto admit when I've made a mistake.

I wish I was human enough to forgive someone who has hurt me.

I wish I was enthusiastic enough to get the really important things done each day.

I wish I could pray for those who need some help today.

I've been stocking up for the cold days ahead. You know I'm going to be doing a lot of hibernating here at my house when it's cold outside this year.

I found a some sales this week when I went shopping so I thought I'd share them with you today. October is pasta month and one of my favorite stores Aldi's always seems to follow through with special dates as they had loads of pasta right inside the front door

I also visited Home Depot and stocked up on furnace filters. I always change them once a month as it improves your heating considerably.

Then at JoAnn Fabrics I found that the yarn I like for making my friendship shawls was on sale too so I got enough to make at least 5 more. I did give away the one I made to a friend for her birthday so the next one I make is for me. After that I'll be making more for either Christmas or more than likely birthday gifts.

I hope your Friday is a FANTASTIC one, I know it will be one here at my house as Mr. Wonderful is coming to visit.

'On Ya'-ma