Chapter 3, Page 31, Book 11

I would rather be able to appreciate things I can not have than to have things I am not able to appreciate.

Elbert Hubbard

Thanksgiving should be a regular part of our lives. We can take time each day and thank God for the things He helped us with, but we should also continually breathe out simple prayers of thanksgiving every time we see Him working in our lives or blessing us.

I'm thankful for a good night’s sleep

I'm thankful for God's help in making good decisions today

And I'm very thankful to Him for keeping me encouraged

God is always good to us, always faithful, and always working diligently in our lives to help us in every possible way. We need to respond by letting Him know we appreciate Him and everything He is doing for us.

Lenten Tip for Today: Thank God for twenty things today before you ask Him for anything.

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

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 3, Page 30, Book 11

Do not worry about whether or not the sun will rise, Be prepared to enjoy it.

Pearl Bailey

Spring is a time to symbolically move on from mistakes made, old habits, old grudges, projects that lack energy and negative influences. Instead of being sick and tired and upset about the way things are, be positively passionate about the way you would like things to be.

I so want to move from cleaning up my house to cleaning up the yard and flower beds outside. After all the basement and the attic didn't get that way over night and it will take awhile before it is the way it should be. I am ready to rake the leaves away and watch some flowers bloom. Sadly that isn't going to happen here just yet. Even though the sun came out yesterday it is not warm enough to do much of anything outside. I let the leaves stay on the ground to protect the tender shoots that are trying to emerge. Our mornings have been very frosty.

Today's Lenten tip:

It’s time for a little new creation in the backyard. Look for new plants or flowers to place around the house. They remind us that God is always up to something new.

When I went grocery shopping on Saturday they had the nicest herbs there growing in little pots so I bought 3 and now have them in a planter in the kitchen. At least I now have something growing around my house. I got rosemary, thyme and basil. Oh my, they do smell WONDERFUL. I pinch off a little piece every now and then and just take a whiff. They will be used in cooking too. I don't know if they'll live long as I've never had much luck growing them indoors. I'll probably move them outside later on.

I've been reading Danielle Steels 'Big Girl' and Fern Micheals 'The Guest List'. Both are about 2 very different characters whose lives were both shaped by things that happened to them in their youth and what they had to do to overcome the terrible circumstances they had. We all need to remember to always treat people the way we would like to be treated and say only kind and loving words to those that mean the most to us.

I hope your Wednesday is a WONDERFUL one!

'On Ya'-ma

For Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

Almost always it is the fear of being ourselves that brings us to the mirror.

Antonio Porchia

TERRIFIC 2'S TUESDAY!

When we look in the mirror, sometimes we’re looking at our clothes, or the expressions on our faces. Other times, we’re just saying hello to ourselves.

Sometimes we avoid the mirror because we don’t want to face ourselves.

MIRRORS ARE magic. They mesmerise. They illuminate. They reflect our physical being and psychological presence. They provide our first visual encounter with ourselves. They may even determine when existence has ended – when no breath shadows the surface of a mirror held to the face.

It is not surprising that many superstitions surround mirrors, not least the seven years of bad luck consequent upon breaking one unless the fragments are buried by moonlight to expiate that fate.

The Irish tradition of covering mirrors when a person died ensured that the soul would not take fright or lose its way when making its exit from the world.

Vampires have traditionally been identified by their absence in mirrors, and looking into a mirror holding lighted candles is meant to reveal more than we might want from the other side.

All of these myths must contribute to the phobic fear of mirrors, or Eisoptrophobia, which is the avoidance of reflections or representations of oneself.

I wonder, how many of us waking up in the morning, looking at the mirror and tell ourselves -- I love you? I bet not many of us, or even none. Then, do you even SMILE to yourself in the morning?

Be good to yourself. Not to be self-centered. But just being good to the self that will always be with you till the end of your life. If it's not you, who will? Take a good look in the mirror, smile and welcome a wonderful new day! You are a unique and wonderful person!

Today's Lenten Tip:

Is your medicine chest full of over-the-counter pills that may not be cures? Take a moment to clean the shelves of outdated medicines and pray for your faith to be strengthened

There you have it -- my 2 things for this Tuesday! It's going to be a terrific one here at my house...when I looked in the mirror this morning someone was smiling back at me.

Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 3, Page 28, Book 11

Every day is a new beginning. Treat it that way. Stay away from what might have been, and look at what can be

Marsha Petrie Sue

MERRY MONDAY!

Might have beens...

Noun. might-have-been - an event that could have occurred but never did

Be present. Instead of having your mind elsewhere, bring yourself back to now, in this moment, focused on where you are and what you’re doing and who you’re with. We cannot change things that have already happened, and obsessing over them does nothing to help us now. We cannot predict the future, so worrying about it does nothing to help you either. Instead, focus on now … if something is worrying you, take action … but even better, just be in the moment, and live as if now is all there is. Because it is.

Lenten tip for today: FAST from procrastinating today.

Have a Merry Monday!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 3, Page 27, Book 11

Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day

Author Unknown

R and R Day!

Life is beautiful every time you’re able to accept something that has gone wrong. When you can feel good on the whole even though things aren’t going your way you know emotional freedom. What more could you ask for?

It is completely meaningless to complain about things. Negative people drain everyone around them and complaining won’t change your situation for the better either. You may think it makes you feel better, but it actually just keeps you down and it’s fruitless.

We can choose to bite the bullet and accept life the way it is. That takes courage but the process will empower you enormously. The ability to let go of things in everyday life makes for happiness and ease. You can even laugh when you miss a bus that’s departed five minutes early.

One thing that helps me through these everyday occurrences is my Rest and Relaxation on Sundays. No matter that I didn't get done all I wanted to this past week. I will begin again on Monday. But one thing I know is that my beginning again will be a whole lot better if I take seriously my aim to rest and relax today.

The good thing about today is that It is R and R Day and I'm going to make the most of it. I start out my Sundays with prayer and reflection and check up on my e-mail and update my blog. Slowly enjoying my good cup of coffee (or two) and being just plain lazy. Then I'm off to church as always.

You all are in my thoughts and prayers always. Not only is there something good in today, but there is something you can do that is good for you too!

I wish you a great day of R and R . We all need it to refresh and renew, to revitalize ourselves for a new week ahead!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 3, Page 26, Book 11

The only thing that wakes you up faster than coffee is spilled coffee.

SUPER SATURDAY!

It is not easy to begin the day with a SMILE when everything you do seems to be disastrous. Spilling a cup of coffee should be the least of our worries but sometimes it seems to set the mood for the whole day. When things like that happen to me I just stop doing and change direction.

Sometimes I find that just taking a day to read a good book is what I need and that is just what I did one day this week. I really enjoyed the book and am also enjoying the Kindle that the 'babes' got for me at Christmas too. They also got me some gift cards from Amazon to buy more books for it too.

LENTEN TIP FOR TODAY:PRAY for open-mindedness.

Today is a quiet day here at my house and about the only thing on my agenda is some grocery shopping.

I hope your Saturday is a super one too.

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 3, Page 25, Book 11

As you teach, you learn.

Jewish Proverb

FANTASTIC FRIDAY!

I'm not a teacher by profession. But as a mom I taught a lot of things to my children. I think that any one that teaches anything also learns some things in the process.

Children have a way of making complicated things so simple. They never give up and are willing to try things over and over again to get it right.

I remember the endless lists of spelling words and math flash cards that were always a part of the homework we'd do each evening. We'd go over and over the same things until they got it right.

I'm still learning something new every day of my life. I don't know if I'll ever get it right.

They say where the mind goes, the man follows. Pay more attention to your thoughts and choose to think on things that will help you instead of hinder you. I've learned to be an optimist.

An optimist is one who takes the cold water thrown upon his idea, heats it with enthusiasm, and uses the steam to push ahead

Lenten Tip for today:

PRAY that you continue to be open to learning.

I hope that your Friday is a Fantastic one!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 3, Page 24, Book 11

No one is born thankful. Gratitude is something that is learned, and perhaps the best way to learn gratitude is by repeatedly expressing it. It is by offering thanks that we can come to something like thankfulness. When our children were young we would often prompt them to express gratitude -- Say 'thank you' to the nice gentleman. -- not merely to teach them manners, but also so that they might learn gratitude. After all, thankfulness takes practice.

Thankful Thursday!

I'm thankful

FOR PEOPLE who speak and for people who listen

FOR MOMENTS to share and moments to partake

FOR FAMILY members who bless my life with their countless gifts of love

FOR MY HEALTH which has been good through out the winter. The cold and dark days of winter are the hardest on me and I'm very thankful that Spring is here.

FOR LENT, a season to change my heart and renew my soul.

For these and all my many blessings I am so truly thankful.

Lenten Tip for Today:

GIVE inspiration to be courageous to a friend who is having a rough time.

I'm hoping your Thursday is one in which you have many things to be thankful for too!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 3, Page 23, Book 11

Wonderful Wednesday!

Today we go OVER THE HUMP of this week and now will slide right into the weekend! Weekdays are like a hill. Monday and Tuesdays are days when you climb up, since they are the beginning or start of your work week. At the end of Wednesday, you’ve reached the pinnacle of the week, and your work on Thursday and Friday represents climbing down toward the weekend.

Mondays and Tuesdays are often jammed packed with things we need to do after a busy weekend like the house blessing or the laundry, but by Wednesday we usually can ease off a bit and take some time to contemplate what we'll need to do to get ready for the coming weekend. We need to make our grocery lists and plan the menus too. Sometimes I have company on the weekend and sometimes I go away to visit with family or friends so I need to check the calendar too to see what will be needed.

This coming weekend DD and her hubby are hosting a get together for our camping friends. Most of us have not seen each other since last October when the camping season ended so it will be good to get together with all of them and catch up on what they've been doing and make some plans for what we want to do this year too.

One thing about the days and the years is that they just keep coming whether or not we are ready for them. Taking each one as it comes and making the most of it is my motto.

Lenten Tip for today: GIVE the gift of active listening.

But you must REALLY listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listening.

I hope your Wednesday is a wonderful one!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 3, Page 22, Book 11

TERRIFIC 2'S FOR TUESDAY

On my side bar you'll see 2 new options that blogger now has to offer. You can subscribe to have entries to blogs now sent to you by email. You can also show your stats ...I've shown how many times my pages have been viewed.

They are making things nicer and nicer for us bloggers and that is a good thing for sure.

Today's Lenten Tip:

PRAY to see beyond the outward appearance of everyone you meet today

When I first joined blogger almost 6 years ago now, they didn't even have an option to add pictures. Or I should say for me to add pictures. If there was a way I didn't know about it. Now we can add videos, pictures and links with out a whole lot of computer knowledge

I'm planning on doing some laundry and general clean up in the kitchen today. I didn't do much at all Monday so today I'd better do something. Well something is better than nothing anyway.

Have a TERRIFIC Tuesday everyone!

'On Ya' - ma

Chapter 3, Page 21, Book 11

If the shelves are dusty and the pots don't shine,

it's because I have better things to do with my time.

Author Unknown

It's Merry Monday

Remember when you last cleaned out your clothes closet? It was tough at first, but afterward you felt great. You got rid of those impulse buys that never worked and retired those too tight jeans that you knew you would never fit into again. Remember how you felt? No guilt or regret just wonderfully cleansed and organized.

A mental cleaning is even more effective. It’s a great time to get rid of the bad and the ugly. Throw out all your old beliefs, memories, limitations, guilt, fears, doubts, and images. When you start afresh, with an open and positive mind, you’ll instantly feel energized and uplifted because all the negativity is gone.

We must take care that adversity and setbacks do not make us bitter and cynical about life. We must take full responsibility for our life and to make the most of it.

So many negative thoughts start with these two words. WHAT IF What if I’m late for work? What if…what if…what…if!. Turn your thinking in a positive direction. It takes time and consistent practice, but the freedom from anxiety is well worth the effort.

Lenten Tip for today: GIVE old clothes to a local charity.

I'm really going to enjoy this Monday. All the work is finally done in my front room and dining room and we are sort of back to normal here at my house. The fun part will be adding the decorative touches to these two rooms now that they are freshly painted.

The color I choose couldn't have been more perfect. It turned out to be just the right shade for the rooms and really does give that peaceful effect that I was looking for.

My daughter is coming over later in the week when she has a day off from work and will give me a hand putting it all back in good order. I'm caring for our little Mr. Wonderful today and that means there will be lots of laughter and smiles here at my house. He is just the happiest little one and always makes my day.

I hope your Monday is a Merry one too!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 3, Page 20, Book 11

The year's at the spring

And day's at the morn;

Morning's at seven;

The hillside's dew-pearled;

The lark's on the wing;

The snail's on the thorn;

God's in His heaven -

All's right with the world!

Robert Browning

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING !

Sundays are my day to take a break from my LABORS, and ENCOURAGE MYSELF–to de-stress and get some INNER REST and to have some FUN. I need a break and so do you!

More and more I need the breaks that Sundays provide for me. It could be that I'm getting older or it could be that I finally realized just how beneficial it is to rest and relax, refresh and renew!

If we don't take care of ourselves we are not much good for others.

It's to be in the 50's here today, but the week ahead will still be on the cool side as I see the long range forecast still has many days in the upper 30's for us. Still that is not freezing cold so I'm thankful for that. Slowly we'll warm up here, but Spring takes it's time in northern Ohio. The temps will go up and down before they level out.

I'll be off to church as usual and will be praying for you all!

LENTEN TIP FOR TODAY:

Be kind to someone each day

Hopefully you'll include some good R and R in your Sunday too. We all need to refresh our selves for the week ahead.

'On Ya'-ma