Blessings to ALL on Thanksgiving Day!

Do you know which of the Founding fathers thought the turkey should be the national bird of the United States? Was it a) George Washington? b) Thomas Jefferson? c) Benjamin Franklin or
 d) John Adams?

Well, while you are pondering the answer I thought I would share another trivia:Why do Presidents pardon Turkeys??? The turkey may not be the bird on the seal of the United States, but it does have a history at the White House. From the 1870's til 1913, turkeys were provided to the White House for holiday meals, primarily by a Company called Rhode Island  Poultry. After the owner died anyone had the opportunity to give a turkey to a President. The turkey gifts had become a national symbol of "good cheer" and tradition.

The first time a turkey was granted  a " pardon" was in 1863. Is was reported that President Abraham Lincoln instructed the White House staff to spare a bird which had become a favorite of his son.. Records indicate that it was 1963 before another President spared a turkey, destined for the White House kitchen. While both President Lincoln and President John F. Kennedy showed mercy, neither officially 'pardoned' their birds. President Ronald Reagan joked about pardon, but the official Presidential turkey pardon was issued by President George H. W. Bush in 1989.

So, why do they pardon turkeys? Well, we don't really know why (other than how it got started by President Lincoln), BUT we do know where they go.

For many years they went to amusement parks in California and Florida. The turkeys helped lead Thanksgiving Day Parades. More recently, it is reported that the spared turkeys are sent to an enclosure at Virginia Tech called "Gobblers Rest"..where they get to frolic with other free turkeys.
Of course, we also saw on the news, that President Trump pardoned, not only one, but TWO turkeys the other day, Bread and Butter (how cute--last year it was Peas and Carrots).

So there you  have it, something to remember when you are enjoying YOUR Thanksgiving Dinner and the stuffed bird. Personally, I am excited. I entered a drawing, offered by our local Realtor, and I WON a 14lb turkey! Since I am not hosting dinner this year, it will be enjoyed for Christmas.

Oh yes, and the answer to the above question is: C-Benjamin Franklin

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!

How do you find your retirement destination?

Well, like many things in life, when something is important, you plan carefully. Retirement is one of those important things. Not only do we want to make sure we plan financially, but also where we may want to end up. We live in California, but bought a home in North West Arkansas, and we will probably be relocating in the very near future. Every body's priorities are different, of course, but there are some basic things to consider.

I was reading an article written by a Realtor, Michael Chadwick of New York, who is a relocation specialist, and he has 10 questions he asks his clients. I think they pretty much cover most concerns.

1. Where do your family and friends live? Do you need to be close by?
2. What do you do in your free time? Which locations offer the most of the activities you enjoy?
3. How does weather affect you? Do you see yourself living in multiple locations at different times of the year?
4. What do you want to see when you wake up in the morning and step outside?  Do you prefer certain architectural styles? Do you enjoy lots of restaurants? Do you need nature? 
5. Do you travel often? Do you need to be close to an international airport?
6. What is the median price of real estate in the top 5 cities you are considering? How big of a house do you want?
7. Are you looking to try someplace new, or are you trying to recapture some nostalgia from a place you once enjoyed? 
8. Will you depend on public transportation? or would you be driving a car?
9. Do you need plenty of opportunities for dance, music, art and spirituality?
10. Have you had frank and honest discussions with your spouse about relocation? If you are single, have you considered which cities have the most options for you?

These are some questions to ponder before making a decision. We have met many couples who relocated here and their decision was based on being close to their kids and grand kids. Others love to golf 5 days a week and with several golf courses around the city, this is the perfect place for them. Yet others love to fish and go boating, and there are 7 lakes in Bella Vista. We always wanted a house on a lake and found what we were looking for, and at the right price. Affordability is also a big factor.

Hope this was helpful to start the process, if you are thinking of downsizing or relocating.

The most important task in your To Do List

Closets and garages are not the only things in need of a spring and fall cleaning, and purging of clutter, nor are they the most important! Spiritual clutter and cleaning is far more important. What exactly is "spiritual" clutter? Keep reading.

Many books/best sellers now promise to help people declutter and purge their lives of what is weighing them down. They advise that we get rid of or give away things we don't need or have not used for a while. I agree. However, for many, a clean sweep of one's home will not get to the heart of what causes dissatisfaction and stress. What it comes down to is the need for spiritual cleaning, and not just once or twice a year, but every day. Are we aware of it? Do we think about it? Probably not.

Physical clutter can waste time (searching for things we cannot find) and money (replacing things we cannot find). Worries, bitterness, unforgiveness, anger, strained relationships, and other emotional issues are the spiritual clutter that burden our hearts. And, the consequences of not dealing with them are far worse than just wasting time and money. So how do we deal with it?

Both clutters use the same steps to get rid of. Also, they have taken a long time to accumulate, so we cannot get rid of all of them all at once and in one day. It takes time and patience, and discipline, I might add.

1. Identify what needs to be cleaned (relationships, attitudes, worries)
2. Ask for help
3. Work on one issue at a time
4. Have a plan (how are you going to keep your spiritual life in order?)

• Schedule more quite time with God
• Enlist the help of a "mentor"
• Enroll in a Bible class
• Make a firm decision about what doesn't belong in your life
• Read Psalm 51

Philippians 4:8

Think of those things in your life that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.

National Day of Prayer...are prayers answered?

Franklin Graham National Day of Prayer for the President is October the 2nd......but are prayers really answered?

Well, sometimes they are and sometimes they are not. Sometimes we are not confident that God will hear and answer our prayer. Therefore, our prayers are filled more with doubt than with confidence.
We struggle and we don't know what to pray; we focus more on the "prayer" than God.
 John 16:23 

Also, we often don't pray unless we are at the "perfect" place, but there is no perfect place. Any place you feel comfortable in is a "perfect" place. We need to make it a point of praying whenever and where ever we are; while driving, doing dishes, folding laundry, making dinner and any other chores.  God gave us prayer to communicate and stay connected with Him.

Personally, I am very uncomfortable praying for people in their presence. I never know what to say, and my response is that I will pray later. However, by the time I am ready to "pray", I may have forgotten the request, or worse yet, it is long after the fact, because I got busy and forgot. So, the point here is that, we also don't need to have a "perfect" prayer, we just need to talk to God. Do you clean up your house, get dressed up and put makeup on for your family and close friends? NO! Same applies with our prayers. We are supposed to come to God as we are; broken, messy, tired and worn down. We are to be like little kids and tell Him what is on our mind. AND...we are to keep asking-just like little kids.

God says: Boldly ASK.  Unfortunately, as adults if we ask two times and don't get an answer, we give up. We have to believe like children again.Children believe parents can do ANYTHING. If parents can do anything, don't you think our Father in heaven is capable? Many times our problem is that we are not close to God. In order to get to know someone what do we need to do? We need to spend time with them and be together, alone.

Jesus went away to be alone and pray to his Father.

Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know I am God"

I have encountered many times when people have prayed over me, right where we were standing. I never refuse prayer. I will share with you a couple of those instances:

1. Thirteen years ago, while I was at work, a new employee I was talking with asked me if she could pray for me. It was very unexpected and I don't know why she did. Of course,I accepted.While she was praying I felt a sense of peace and comfort come over me.
2. A neighbor's mother was walking in front of my house as I was doing some gardening. I greeted her and we started a conversation. Before I knew it, she asked if she could pray, and again I said, of course, please do. As she prayed, I could feel her sincerity, and a warm, tingly sensation came all over my body. 
3. In 1989, Galen and I were travelling through Europe, and we were in Istanbul. It was the day before we were to return to the States. I had contracted something, and I was very ill, with very high fever. I did not want to go to the hospital or see a doctor. While I was laying in bed, we independently started to pray, and at the same moment we heard the prayers of the Imam, in the Minaret of one of the Mosques, nearby. All of a sudden I felt a warm tingling start from my head and go down to my toes. I felt something leave my body and my fever broke IMMEDIATELY. 

The two ladies I mentioned above were very unassuming, and ladies I was not close to, and had never met before. God sends his angels to minister to us when we least expect it, and from people we least expect, as well. These are just a few examples among many (looks like I need lots of prayers!)..:))

So, you can see that I believe in prayer.. The Bible commands us to pray for our government and our leaders, regardless of who they are.

1Timothy 2:1-3

I hope you will make it a point to pray on October 2nd, and make it a habit to pray all the time ..

• pray to God as your friend
• talk to God like a child to a parent
• believe and boldly ask like a child

Have a wonderful day!

Psalm 23

Since I was a little girl I had gone to church with my parents, mostly my mother, but we never read the Bible. We attended the Greek Orthodox Church, in Istanbul, Turkey. When we moved to Sweden, there were no Greek churches. Church was not part of our daily or weekly schedule. I started going to a Lutheran church with our land lady at the time. She was in her mid to late 70's. I learned more about the Bible from her. However, it wasn't until 1990, when my father passed away, that a co-worker of mine send me a sympathy card that had Psalm 23 on it. Although I had been present when my father took his last breath, and KNEW where he had gone, reading Psalm 23 made it more real. When I read it, it really touched my heart and tears swelled in my eyes, running down my face. It was confirmation that my father was now resting/living peacefully in the house of the Lord! Many times we include this Psalm on the little funeral cards.

Last September we traveled to Carthage, Missouri. We visited the Precious Moments Museum, Chapel and Gardens. They give FREE Tours. It is a MUST see, if you are in the area. It is a life changing experience, and an inspirational masterpiece. Carthage is only an hour's drive from Bella Vista, NW Arkansas, where we have a home. In 1989, Samuel J. Butcher, world renowned artist and creator of Precious Moments, founded the Chapel. The place will restore your soul. Besides all the figurines that he has created over the years, he also has hand-carved wooden doors as well as 30 stained glass windows. Through his Precious Moments artwork, he has  interpreted many Bible stories on the walls, ceilings and stained glass windows. The ceiling reminds one of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.

One of the Bible stories/Scriptures he has interpreted, is the 23rd Psalm, depicted with one stained glass windows for each verse.  Anyway, when I read the Psalm recently, it reminded me of Precious Moments and I just wanted to share it with y'all:))

Although many of us have read this psalm over and over, we have probably not
looked at it as it is interpreted below:

The Lord is My Shepherd
 (That's relationship...a personal God)

I shall not want
(That's supply...he will provide)

He makes me lie down in green pastures
(That's rest..he gives us a break)

He leads me beside the still waters
(That's refreshment...quiet time with Him)

He restores my soul
(That's healing)

He leads me in the paths of righteousness
(That's guidance....for what is for our good)

For His name sake
(That's purpose...our lives matter)

Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
(That's testing....temptations we encounter)

I will feel no evil
(That's protection...He gives us courage)

For You are with me
(That's faithfulness...He promises never to leave us)

Your rod and your staff they comfort me
(That's discipline)

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies
(That's hope..sometimes we feel alone against our enemies)

You anoint my head with oil
(That's consecration)

My cup runs over
(That's abundance....he gives us more than what we need)

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
(That's blessing..when we follow Him)

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
(That's security...we know where we will end up)

Forever!
(That's Eternity)


I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

United we stand

Nov. 11, 2016, I wrote about "tearing down the walls of separation". It was right after the Presidential election where half the country was elated and the other half was angry, upset and unhappy.

Three years later instead of us getting more united, we are as fragmented as ever. Why? It is so sad. We are supposed to have freedom of speech, but if people don't agree with your views, they want to harm you or slander you. The PC, politically correct agenda, has gone out of control. You never know when to open your mouth to say something, and when you do, you may offend somebody, somewhere.  What I was able to say yesterday, I am not allowed to say today. If you disagree with something or someone, suddenly you are a racist. If you want immigration reform, or the existing laws enforced you are NOT compassionate and you hate immigrants. What?? I am an immigrant. I am also a naturalized citizen. I don't hate anybody! I don't discriminated against anybody!

My family and I came to this country legally, after many years of waiting. We had to get medical checkups, immunizations, and background checks before entering the United States. My brother who was already here, sponsored us. What that meant was that if we were to default on any debts, or we were not able to support ourselves, he was responsible for us. We were not here to become burden to the country. Once we were here, we learned the English language and tried to assimilate as much as we could. I went to high school, and did not demand the teachers to speak my language, I learned to speak English. My parents got jobs, albeit not the most glamorous, but jobs that paid our bills. My parents who were in their mid to late 50's, also learned to speak English, broken, but it was enough to get by. When they needed an interpreter, I went with them, we did not expect the country to supply us with interpreters. They tried to adjust the best they could and never complained, thankful to be here.

Istanbul, Turkey, where the population is now 99% Muslim, was hostile to Christians in the 1950's and 1960's, and my father's business was burned down and destroyed in the riots of  September 1954 and I believe at another time as well, but I was too young to remember details. (Muslim countries persecute Christians and Jews, why can't people accept the truth? is it because they have not experienced it?). We left everything behind and started a new life. A peaceful life. A life free of discrimination and religious persecutions. A life of freedom to be able to express yourself without fear of retaliation. My father had finally realized his dream of coming to America (my mother was not so thrilled). We paid our taxes and obeyed the laws. We were proud to become American citizens, as soon as we were eligible. We did not wave the flag of our old/native country, but the flag of our new, adopted country.

Oh yes, did I also mention that before coming here we had to first immigrate to Sweden? The quotas for entering the US were closed. Why am I telling you all this? Because what is happening in our country today is very personal to me. It has nothing to do about being a racist, it has nothing to do about not being compassionate, it has nothing to do about not wanting immigrants. On the contrary, I embrace diversity. Diversity teaches us tolerance, new ideas and makes us grow. People are the same and want the same things, no matter what country they come from. The good people are good, and the bad people are bad. Most people want to be left alone and care for their families. They want to be good citizens, regardless of their skin color, religion or gender.

In my 50 years in this country, it is the first time that I have seen such violence in the streets, and hatred towards our President. When he speaks of  unity vs hate, and of healing and forgiveness, they mock him. Why? Who is the one doing the division? Why is the media focusing only on the negative?  Why can't they give him also the credit he deserves.Yes, we may not agree with all the policies, and how some things are run, but we need to remember that this is still the best country in the world. It is still the most prosperous country. That's why people from all over the world still want to come here.  Let's keep it that way. The President is doing his best.  We need to help him do better, instead of working against him, day in and day out. It is exhausting, childish and hateful. Oh, and yes, please don't call me names, such as deplorable, and don't lump me together with all the feminist movements, just because I am a woman. YOU do not represent me! I am educated, successful, have travelled the world, and have seen how the rest of the world lives. I don't call anybody names, just because they don't agree with my views. I show them respect, and that is what I expect in return.

Over the years I have learned that life is what you make of it and what you look for. You can see the glass half full or half empty. We didn't expect handouts. We didn't look for 'opportunities' to be offended, so we can sue somebody. With God's help and protection everything worked out.

Now everyone wants to take God out of everything and everyday life, and expect great things to happen. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. Everyone wants their 'rights', but goes about it in an aggressive, hostile and disrespectful way.  If we want to be a united country, we all have to learn to work together, accept and respect each other without hate and violence.  It would be nice if the people we have elected too Congress and Senate, on both sides of the isle, remember why they are there. They were elected to work FOR the people, it is time they start doing that. This is not for them to promote their agenda, but the will of the people. If they cannot do that, then they can step aside.

God Bless America! Let's keep America Great!

Lasting memories

Time flies. Summer is almost over. Two years ago when we bought a lake home in Bella Vista, North West Arkansas, we knew nothing about the area. Although we still have our home in California we are so happy to have made the decision to spend time here. Arkansas is rich in natural beauty and wildlife. There are trees and golf courses, miles of walking trails, and the daily sunset in the back of our home is breathtaking, not to mention the fall colors when autumn arrives! We have seen fox, deer, mink, blue herons, ducks, hedge hogs, raccoons (and yes a couple of snakes!) and a variety of birds in our own backyard, including an eagle who had a nest near by. United States has 800 different bird species and Arkansas is home to 400 of them! No wonder Arkansas is called the Natural State. But besides all this natural beauty, within a short drive, we can also visit museums, civil war sites, antique shops, see concerts and plays and so much more. Most importantly, within a two to ten hours drive we can go visit other States, and experience new adventures.

My husband Galen and I have always enjoyed travelling, whether it is local, other States or overseas. Not only do we get exposed to new things and different cultures when we travel, but we also meet new people and make new friends along the way. Engaging with people is one of travels joys, and we relish reminiscing about some of the most remarkable people we have encountered. Some of them have become close friends. When we went to China in 1999, there were over fifty plus travelers in our immediate tour and most were friendly, but we somehow connected with one of them from San Diego, California, and have remained friends through all those years.

A few years ago we were in Washington DC and we were planning to take a tour of Mount Vernon, George Washington's Estate in Alexandria, Virginia. The evening before, we were watching TV in our hotel room and we happened to catch a documentary of Mount Vernon! The program was very interesting and informative and gave us a heads up of what to expect.The docent narrating the tour was amazing. The next day when we got there we walked around, exploring the gardens and the grounds at our own pace. As we were walking, we ran into the gentleman who had been on the documentary the night before. We were excited to see him in person and went up to him to let him know how much we had enjoyed his presentation. Well, it so happened that he was on his "day off", but he offered to take us on a private tour of the museum and grounds! The man was delightful. He had many fascinating facts, and he made our last day of our trip complete.

It is NOT the famous people we remember, but the ordinary people, taking extra ordinary care in the work that they do. THEY are the ones who leave lasting impressions in our lives. 

On a recent cruise to Panama Canal, we also met a delightful lady at our dinner table, with whom we had a pleasant conversation. She was from Riverside, California, a couple of hours from where we live!  We didn't see her for several days. Then one evening after dinner, when we were taking a stroll on the deck we ran into her and her roommate. We started talking and laughing and having a great time. Pretty soon more and more people started joining us, curious as to why we were having such a fun time. Anyway, as the evening went on, we discovered that despite some age difference, we have many things in common. For the next couple of days we ran into each other again and this time exchanged phone numbers. We have become good friends, and she has visited us on a few occasions.

Travel is an amazing gift. The insights we gain from encounters with other people deepen our understanding of the world and enrich our lives. We meet people from all walks of life with diverse and interesting backgrounds and talents. Hopefully along the way, we have made a difference in other peoples lives as well. If you like travelling, keep on travelling. There are endless places to see, beautiful things to discover and interesting people to meet.  A friend of ours who retired 10 years or so ago had never travelled far in the past.  She started taking some overseas trips. She loved it. Being single was not an obstacle, because after a while she found some travel buddies and now they share accommodations. She continued to travel to more exotic places and has taken several cruises. One day she was sharing some pictures with us and told us that "we" had inspired her! WOW..who would have thought.

If you have the opportunity to do it, you can start anytime. You can take some shorter day trips at first and see how you like it. Later you can venture into bigger and more far away places. Look at travel magazines, tourist brochures or online for ideas. All the states and most cities have tourist magazines you can request on line. Make a few plans and budget some money.  You can skip going out to dinner a few times and you will be surprised how much money you can save...or skip buying a latte, or a new outfit. Before you know it you have enough extra money saved for a fun trip!
You will not regret it.
Bon Voyage

What Guide Do You Read?

This short poem sure made me stop and think..and I am sure it will make you stop and think as well.
Who or what IS really guiding our life?


WHAT GUIDE DO YOU READ?

They lie on the table side by side,
the Holy Bible and the TV guide

One is well worn and cherished with pride,
No, not the Bible, but the TV guide

One is used daily to help folks decide,
No, not the Bible, but the TV guide

As the pages are turned, what shall they see?
Oh, what does it matter, turn on the TV

Then confusion reigns, they can't all agree,
On what they should watch, on the old TV

So they open the Book in which they confide,
No, not the Bible, but the TV guide

The Word of God is seldom read,
maybe a verse as they fall into bed

Exhausted and sleepy and tired as can be,
No, not from reading the Bible, but from watching TV

So then back to the table side by side,
lie the Holy Bible and the TV guide

No time for prayer, no time for the Word,
The plan of salvation is seldom heard

But forgiveness of sin, so full and free,
is found in the Bible, NOT on TV!

Author Unknown

I suppose we can all substitute TV with our computers, our cell phones, fun activities, or anything else that keeps us occupied, and prevents us to find the time to read the Bible. It is easy to come up with excuses that we are just "too busy"...BUT, if we really look at what IS keeping us away from spending more time alone with God's Word, we realize that we can cut out something to free up some time. The question always is : Do we really want to?

The choice is always ours!

Have you ever wondered whatever happened to.....?

I hope you all had a funfilled 4th of July...Independence Day!

We watched beautiful fireworks over the lake, in beautiful Bella Vista, NW Arkansas. As we all celebrated the day with fireworks and backyard BBQs, with friends and family, I was reminded of something a friend sent me years ago, on an email. It was a serious historical aspect of this day in history. It asked the question: Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independance?

Well, I am sure most of us don't go around pondering this question. However, here are
some interesting facts:

• Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.
• Twelve had their homes ransaked and burned.
• Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, and another had two sons captured.
• Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty four were lawyers and jurists
Eleven were merchants
Nine were farmers and large plantation owners

They were men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British, that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr., noted that the British general Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his Headquarters. He quitely urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside when she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year, he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. In our society today, there are people who want to destroy historical statues, and paintings of the people who fought for the freedoms that we enjoy today. Freedoms that they did not contribute to, or did anything to earn.
They burn the American Flag, and they despise the Military. They want to give more rights to people who come into this country illegally, (illegal is what it is: ILLEGAL....meaning they are committing a crime). At what point in our country did it become acceptable to do something "illegal" and not pay the consequences? Big cities in our nation have homeless all over the place and they the government does nothing, about it, to help them and yet they want to give to people pouring into our nation, without any legal documentation. This has to stop!

My family came to this country legally, after having to wait for years and years for clearance and 'quotas'. We went thru medical checks, background checks, and extreme vetting, before being allowed to enter the USA. My parents were in their mid 50's...they were the proudest people when they finally became American citizens. They loved this country. What has changed over the past 45 years?

The people coming in have changed, and the youth coming up, is not being taught the history of this great Nation. If the USA is so bad, why then do so many people want to immigrate here? If they don't like it here, why don't they return to their own countries? If we are all racists, then why is it that so many minorities and women are doing much better than 'white' people and males. Because this is still the land of opportunity, where hard work pays off. NOT EXCUSES!

Remember, Freedom is NEVER Free. It takes sacrifice on someones part. We have become too complacent. We enjoy the latest gadgets, our vacations etc..etc.. We all have "opinions" that we voice on social media..but we forget to thank the patriots that make our feedoms possible. Being a Patriot is not a sin, as some people may think or imply.

Instead of complaing, maybe we can all take a few silent moments to thank and pray for our soldiers and our government leaders. (As I always say: If you can't contribute to change, or don't get involved in some good way, then you have no right to complain).

I hope you enjoyed your 4th of July, as we did, and I hope that next time, we can all remember that this day is more than beer, picnics, and baseball games.

God Bless us all and God Bless the USA

The Best Place To Be

• The nicest place to be, is in someone's thoughts....
• The safest place to be is in someone's prayers....
• And...the BEST place to be is in the Hands of God....

          Anonymous

Summer is here.........A Great Recipe......

Summer is already here. Time flies so fast! It seems like we just celebrated Christmas, and New Years...then came Valentine's, and St Patrick's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day...and around the corner is 4th Of July, Independence Day! WOW.....There have been disasters around the world and floods and severe weather conditions all over our country. Here we are half the year gone..Well if we didn't take the time to do good things for ourselves and others, it is never too late. We can start TODAY!

1.   Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. While you walk, smile.
      It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2.  Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
     Talk to God about what is going on in your life.

3.  When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement:
      "My Purpose is to _______________today. I am thankful for_________________.

4.  Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants. Eat blueberries, broccoli,
     almonds and walnuts.

5.  Drink green tea and plenty of water.
   
6.  Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7.  Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires,
     negative thoughts or things you cannot control.

8.  Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid
     with a maxed out charge card!

9.  Life isn't fair, but it is still good.

10. Life is too short to waste it hating anyone. Forgive everyone for everything.

11. Don't take yourself too seriously. No one else does.

12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument.
       Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past, so it will not spoil the present.

14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey
      is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except YOU!

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words:
      "In five years, will this matter?"

17. What other people think of you is none of your business.

18. God heals everything. BUT, you have to ask Him.

19. Remember, no matter how good or bad a situation is, it will change.

20. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends (and family) will.
      Stay in touch!

21. Envy is a waste of time. You already have what you need.

22. Each night before you go to bed, complete the following statements:
      I am thankful for _________________. Today I accomplished _______________.

23. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed!

24. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings.
      You will be smiling before you know it.................:))

And you thought I was going to give you a food recipe......didn't you?
Maybe next time!


 

What a difference a year can make

What a difference a year can make. The tornado watches and terrible weather that Oklahoma has been experiencing lately is devastating. I pray that all will be well soon, for the people of Oklahoma, as well as the people of Fort Smith, Arkansas with all the flooding they have experienced. Fort Smith is another fun place to visit, with much history.

Last June, we spent a few days in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The weather was beautiful! Sunshine and very warm, in the mid 80's. We discovered that there are many museums and other things to see, such as the Tulsa Historical Museum, the Oral Roberts University, which has beautiful gardens and the Prayer Tower for quiet time and Inspiration and the Philbrook Museum of Art, Villa and Gardens, to mention a few. Also, one of the places we visited was the Sherwin Miller Museum. The museum blends art, with history of the Jewish experience in Oklahoma, the United States and the World. The exhibits are very educational and we came out with deepened understanding of Jewish culture, faith and history, dating back to Biblical times. By the entrance they have the most magnificent stained glass windows. If you are in the area, it is worth checking it out. You can easily spend a couple of hours going thru the two story museum.

I enjoy reading Quotes from people around the world, and as we walked around, a few of them stood out for me, and I wrote them down.

"The one thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing"  Edmund Burke

"Do not be a perpetrator. Do not be a victim. Above all, do not be a bystander" Yehuda Bauer

So true. Many times we see things we do not like and look the other way. We hope that someone else will speak up and fix the problem. We may wish the problem away or we may be afraid to get involved.
Better yet, we may be apathetic or complacent. We may feel as if we cannot make a difference, so why bother. But that is not so...one person CAN make a difference. Unfortunately, we know from history what happened in Nazi Germany.....Here is a quote, or poem, if you will, from a German Pastor.

Holocaust

"First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew

Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Trade Unionists
and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist

Then they came for me.....
and there was no one left to speak out for me"

Pastor Martin NieMoller----German Confessing Church

WOW! When we don't speak up, or don't get involved, bad things CAN happen. When we wake up, it can be too late! Each one of us CAN make a difference...Big or small. Let's pray that God gives us the courage to speak out......................

Have a Great Day!
     

Disappointments

• We would be lying if we said we never had any disappointments in our lives. They probably start as soon as we are born. We cry and scream as babies if we don't get fed when we are hungry and we have tantrums as we get a little older when we don't get our way. As we get older we may be disappointed if we don't get into a college we want to go to, marry the person we love, get overlooked for a promotion, or get an illness.Your spouse may leave you for someone else, and your kids may not have turned out the way you hoped they would have turned out. Whatever the case may be, sometimes we may feel that we were dealt the wrong cards in life! But have we? I don't know. All we can do is know that there is a purpose for our lives. We are not here by accident...You may not think your life matters, but it DOES to somebody.....somebody you may not have even met yet!

          A week ago we lost a very close friend to Cancer. She went to see the Doctor with stomach pain,                 was admitted to the hospital with Stage 4 cancer and and 5 weeks later she is gone! So suddenly, 

          so unexpectedly. Leaving behind a heartbroken husband and a daughter. We are grieved by her loss,             I can no longer talk to her, or text her, or share things with her. We had Bible study together for over             10 years and we took some fun trips together.We will cherish the memories. However, I still can't                 help myself from asking Why? and unfortunately, I don't have an answer. Life goes on. There is a                   purpose to everything. My friend was ready to go home! She touched many lives on earth and her                 mission must have been accomplished. 

• Disappointments are like road bumps, they slow you down a bit, but you enjoy the smooth road afterwards. Don't stay on the bumps to long. Move on!

• When you feel down because you did not get what you want, just sit tight and be happy. God has thought of something better to give you!

• When something bad happens to you, consider what it means. There is a purpose to life's events, to teach you not to cry too hard.

• You cannot make someone love you, all you can do is be someone who can be loved, and the rest is up to the person to realize your worth!

• People come into our lives and leave our lives. Some are there just for a season. They come in for a purpose. God brings us new friends when and where we least expect it! Be thankful..........

Think of disappointments as stepping stones or detours that will take you to your next destination. They could be the valleys that will take you to your mountaintop.

7 Ups for Friendship.....

The month of February, is the "official" International Friendship Month....I don't know who comes up with all these special days, but there are all kinds of "Friendship days" that people celebrate..
The United Nations, in 2011, I believe, declared July 30th an "International Friendship Day".

So what do you do on those days and months? 

A good friend is a friend ...period...no matter what day or month it is. Mother's Day and Father's Day is great, but we should celebrate and be good to our parents 365 days of the year (although sometimes it can be challenging), not just one day of the year..

One of my best friends made me a "Special Friendship book". She included pictures of events and celebrations we have shared over the past 45 years, and that really touched my heart. This gesture was very unexpected and it brought back fun and fond memories. So, maybe that would something you can do for a good friend.

Here are Seven (7) things to do for a friend according to an "unknown" Author:


1. Open Up

Be Honest, open and candid (with kindness)

2. Stand Up

For your friends, whether they are there or not

3. Put Up

Give your friend the freedom to be imperfect (like you)

4. Speak Up

Say what you feel, be generous with sincere (private/public) praise

5. Show up

Be there, do what you say you will do

6. Make up

Don't hold a grudge, be the first to say, "I am sorry, please forgive me" 

7. Re-Up

Take inventory and recommit yourself to the friendship often

Author Unknown

Never abandon an old friend. You will never find one who can take his/her place. Friendship is like wine, it gets better as it grows older!

Start where you are ......

We cannot go back and make a brand new start, but we can all start from now and make a brand new ending!

• Free your heart from hatred
• Free your mind from worries
• Live simply
• Give more
• Expect less

What is it that really brings True Happiness?

Everyone wants to be happy. Do you find yourself asking: what does it mean to be happy?Is it having lots of money? being single? being married? having a happy marriage? a big house and the latest gadgets? having lots of children? healthy children? no children? a great job? loving parents? many good, close friends? All these things can be important for a happy life, and yet many who have these things are NOT happy. We read the latest statistics that more people then ever commit suicide, or overdose on drugs, even when they have the above mentioned things in their lives. We see it on TV when celebrities, go through divorces and domestic abuse etc..etc...It seems like we all fail one way or another in our quest to find that elusive prize, because we are looking in the wrong places.

So where are the right places to look at?

Proverbs 16:20, in the Old Testament tells us: "Whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he." And Psalm 146:5 indicates that happiness comes to those who find their help and hope in God.....So, it seems like the foundation of happiness is having a proper relationship with God....But what exactly does that mean in practical everyday living?

As I was searching, I found this list of  "Ten Rules for Happier Living". I don't recall where I found it, but it sounds like a good start.

1. Give something away.....(seems like every time I do that, I DO feel better)
2. Do kindness.............(who wouldn't feel good doing that? do you feel good when you are mean and nasty to people?)
3. Give thanks always......(giving thanks only when we like what we get, is not really a big deal, but when we give thanks always, it teaches us to appreciate every circumstance, because even a bad experience may lead to a good experience, we haven't seen yet)
4. Work hard..........(when you work hard and see the fruit of your labor, it makes you feel good)
5. Visit the elderly and learn from their experience.....(I have had the privilege of being close to my parents and in-laws, and grew up around "older" people. It is true that you can learn from them. They have already been there. Sometimes, you don't want to do or go through what they did, and other times you want to do what they model, because it is a good thing)
6. Laugh often  ......(Well, don't we all feel so much better after a good belly laugh?)
7. Plan as though you may live forever.....(Hmmmm...well, even if you don't believe we will live forever, IF you plan well, you WILL have a better life here on earth)
8. Live as though today is your last day on earth......(sometimes we carry so much burden on our souls, that we are not capable of enjoying the moment. We may not feel like doing a good deed, or forgive an old grudge. What if that was the last day on earth? for you or for the other person)
9. Look intently into the face of a baby and marvel ....(what a miracle that is.....and the innocence of a baby doesn't last forever, does it?) 
10. Pray to know God's way............(living life within the narrow path of God's rules may not always be easy or fun, but it will keep us out of trouble, and give us peace of mind)

Well, through my own experiences, I have found these ideas work for the most part and are excellent for living a happy and less stressful life. Do we have bumps on the way, sure, do we feel not doing the right thing all the time, sure...but if we try to follow them as much as we can, I know that we can end up with a happier life.

Bottom Line:  Trusting and Obeying God brings true Happiness!

God protects us as the eyelid guards the eye?

A week or so ago I woke up with half of my right eye being red with blood. I don't recall if it happened before, possibly. However, as Galen pointed it out, I was freaking out and didn't want to look. I definitely did NOT want to see a Dr., so I put some eye drops and hoped for the best. Well, it has been a week now and it is almost 100% cleared, although it still bothers me a little bit. As I worried about my eye, daily, I remembered something I read a while back, that God is like an eyelid. What could be meant by that? I had never heard that before.

Well, in Deuteronomy 32, Moses praises the way God takes care of his people. Verse 10 says that God shields and protects His people, guarding them "as the apple of His eye." The word we translate as apple, literally means pupil. And what guards our pupil is the eyelid! God is like the eyelid, which instinctively protects our tender eye. The eyelid guards the eye from danger, and by blinking it helps remove dirt or dust. It is really a remarkable thing, when you stop to think about it. Isn't it? It keeps sweat out of the eye. It lubricates the eyeball, keeping it healthy. It closes, allowing rest.

By the way, did you know that cats and dogs die with their eyes open? I did not know until our cat, Fluffy, died last year. That's because it takes and active muscle control to close the eyes, and the same is true for humans. It makes a lot of sense when you stop to think about it. What a miracle our bodies are! Definitely not made by chance, but by intelligent design .

Can you picture God as an eyelid? He gives us so many metaphors to help us understand His love for us.When we open our eyes in the morning, we should think of God, and praise/thank Him for his protection and care for us.

Make everyday count

Do we make everyday count or do we waste it on trivial and petty things such as hate, bitterness, un-forgiveness, quarrelling,  complaining and other actions that make our day miserable? If so, why continue to do that and not work on making a change? It is difficult in the beginning but if we persist it can be accomplished.

1. Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again
2. Believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you either
3. Talk to people you have never talked to before and actually  LISTEN
4. Everything happens for a reason and not by chance. Everything occurs to test the limits to our souls (illness, injury, love, stupidity, lost love). Without these small tests life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to NOWHERE
5. If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, FORGIVE THEM (I know it can be very hard to do). They have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to who you open your heart to
6. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because they are teaching you to love and opening your heart and eyes to things you would have never seen or felt without them
7. Everyday look for your blessings (they are there)
8. Don't despair over a relationship gone bad. There are people who have never known what it is like to love and be loved in return

God is the giver of life and he created us to live life to its fullest!

Go out and live it!!

God bless you in every way!

Words to ponder

This morning I happened to watch a sermon by Josheph Prince, he is a young pastor in Singapore..It is very important for us to find rest, be still and stop worrying. The more we worry about things and our families, the more bad things can happen. He was saying that when he was so worried about his child NOT getting sick, the child was sick all the time. When he stopped worrying so much, the things that he used to worry about never happened. Being worry free doesn't mean being neglectful or uncaring, it simply means we can focus on other more productive things, and not waste energy on "what if"imagined things....

Below is a list of words to ponder, and I find it interesting that the most destructive one is:WORRY

• The most destructive word: 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
• Our 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 contagious spirit: Enthusiasm

Let's make it a habit to live by the positive words, rather than the negative ones.

Kids and Thank You notes

While I was browsing thru the December issue of one of the magazines, I came across an article with the headline: Kids & Thank-You Notes..The article can apply to any time of the year and not just Christmas, and any age group. However, since  we give and receive presents at Christmas time, the article was very appropriate.

Personally, I don't recall my mother teaching me to send "Thank You" cards, or at what point I started writing them, but I do, and I enjoy it. I enjoy picking out the cards and hopefully it makes the recipient feel good too. It seems though that now days very few people acknowledge a present. For example, when you mail them a present, you never know if they received it or not, because you never hear from them. It is not their fault, I don't think they are being taught what to say and do. I hear many complaints from people I meet, and especially grandparents and relatives, about this subject. My generation grew up with learning the etiquette of things, Dear Abbey, Emily Post, and Amy Vanderbilt. Today, I don't think anybody really cares about these things anymore. Everyone is glued to their phone and Social Media. Everyone is "busy".....our parents were not "busy"? of course they were, but their priorities were different and their respect for things and people were different then they are today.

Here are some tips from Mariah Bruehl, author of Real Life Rules! A young Person's guide to self discovery, Big Ideas and Healthy Habits. Her advice is that you don't need to keep nagging your teen to put pen to paper to show gratitude for a gift. Three words that will liberate you are: Know Your Audience. There is no "one-size-fits-all" approach to Thank You Notes. "The form of communication should fit the relationship and how the person communicates with the gift-giver." If your daughter and her uncle are constantly on Instagram, a Boomerang of her putting on her new Beats headphones with a caption about how much she loves them, is totally appropriate. If your son is frequently texting Grandma and Grandpa, why not have him send a selfie with his new video game in hand and a note about how he can't wait to invite a bunch of friends over to play?

Whether the text is typed, handwritten or dictated, make sure it is genuine.....which, I guess, could be tough if your teen didn't actually like the gift. But remember, whether it is the perfect present or not, the gift-giver went through a lot of effort to get it, and that is something to consider.

If we start with the young ones, and teach them to use the words "please" and "thank you" more often, the world will be a better place!




  

Attitude is Everything!

If we could only think that way all the time, we would feel so much better.

I woke up one morning, looked in the mirror,
and noticed I had only three hairs on my head.
'Well, I said , I think I will braid my hair today.'
So I did and I had a wonderful day.

The next day I woke up, looked in the mirror,
and I saw that I had only two hairs on my head.
'H-M-M, I said, I think I will part my hair down 
the middle today.'
So I did and I had a grand day.

The next day I woke up, looked in the mirror,
and noticed that I had only one hair on my head.
'Well, I said, today I am going to wear my hair in
a pony tail.'
So I did and had a funny, funny day.

The next day I woke up, looked in the mirror,
and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on my head.
'YAY!' I exclaimed I don't have to fix my hair today!'

Author Unknown

Now, that's looking at the bright side of things. When life gives us lemons
we can turn them into lemonade! Hope this brought a smile to your face!
Make it a GREAT Day!

Have You ever wondered why we celebrate New Year's on January 1st?

We just watched billions of people around the world come together to ring in the New Year. They bid farewell to 2018 and welcomed 2019 with fireworks, prayer services and other festivities!

Galen and I watched some of the firework displays which were SPECTACULAR! They seem to be getting fancier and fancier every year. Fireworks in Dubai, were displayed at Burj Kalifa, the world's tallest building, and they kept going for almost 15 minutes. In Hong Kong they were at Victoria Harbor, which is an incredibly beautiful place, and we had the good fortune to have visited in 1999. The ones in Australia, were held at Sydney Harbor, Sydney being their largest city, and they were also amazing! Every country had the displays in one of their major cities or capitals, as I am sure most of you watched. Of course, every year we have our own festivities in New York city where I think  about 2 million people came together and endured the cold and rainy weather.

When I was a little girl, in Istanbul, Turkey, I remember we used to celebrate the New Year with family and friends. We would play cards and different games, waiting for midnight. We had lots of good food, desserts and always a variety of dry nuts, dry figs, apricots and dates. That was tradition, among some other traditional dishes. When midnight came around everyone would hug and kiss and wish everyone good wishes. All over town you could hear noises of firearms being fired in the air (which obviously was not the smartest thing to do), and people banging on pots an pans outside their front doors. We did it too. I believe this tradition was the belief that noise drives away evil spirits, misfortune and bad luck. Then my mother had us go outside, in the morning, with a pomegranate and before coming into the house we would smash it by our front door. This, I believe was to bring into the house and the new year, prosperity, good luck and good health. Funny, how every culture has different traditions. I wonder if they still do some of these things, it was a long time ago.

But now let's look at the question about why we celebrate New Year's on January 1.

Two thousand years before the birth of Christ, ancient Mesopotamia started this celebration, but it was not on January 1st. Babylonians would celebrate in March, following the first new moon, following the vernal equinox. The new date of January 1 took place 45 BC after the Roman Emperor Julius Ceasar decided to forgo the Lunar calendar cycle and instead follow the Solar year, like the Egyptians did at that time. Under the "Julian" Calendar the year totaled 365 days and Ceasar also added a day to February, every four years. But some part of the known world still celebrated in March and some on December 25. It wasn't until 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII proposed a new calendar and the Gregorian calendar went into effect, and that is what most countries now use.

However, many cultures around the world still hold their New Year's observances based on their religious beliefs and celebrate the start of the year at different times.      

1)  China and other Asian Countries including Indonesia, and Vietnam, celebrate the Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival. The date of the Lunar year changes each year, but it always falls on the new moon between January 21 and February 20. Each New Year is named after one of the twelve animals in the Zodiac. 2018 was the Year of the Dog, and 2019 is the Year of the Pig.

2)   Israel....Jewish people around the world celebrate the New Year in September or October during Rosh Hashanah. They have many traditions that include eating certain foods, like dates, leeks, beets and pomegranates, and each food holds a special meaning.

3)    Persia...Iran..Nowruz  at the start of Spring is known as the Persian New Year and is one of history's most ancient celebrations dating back 4000 years. Families come together and give presents, and wearing new clothes is a MUST. A major part of the holiday is a deep cleaning about three weeks before the vernal equinox. Homes are cleared of clutter to make room for a fresh start.
My best friend from College was Jewish from Persia and her family celebrated both holidays.

4)    India......Diwali is called the festival of Lights which marks the beginning of the New Year and is enjoyed by millions of Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains all over the world. It coincides with the Hindu New Years, lasts for 5 days and is held between Mid October and Mid November, depending on the Hindu calendar. Traditionally, homes are cleaned and new clothes are worn for the festival. The families get together for prayers and share sweets and presents. This holiday symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. One of our very dear Indian neighbors celebrates this holiday and it is beautiful to see the many lights and candles displayed in their home.

5)   Finally, there is one more celebration from India and that is the Boishakh which is celebrated by Bengali people. It takes place on April 14th, on the first day of the Bengali Calendar. This is the beginning of the harvest season. They perform cultural performances by singing, dancing and reciting from their sacred book.

So, there you have it...there may be more, but this is all I could come up with as I was pondering the question. I wanted to share it with you all and I hope you enjoyed it.

Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2019!