Among Friends

[gloriajean]

Hello my friends!  Hope you all had a great Tuesday today!!!  Weather here was nice, in the 70's.  After my twin duty we went out to eat a buffet chicken special with Gordy and Linda downstairs.  They love to go there Tuesday nights, and so we go about once a month with them.  Linda is in so much pain, the chemo port didnt' work yesterday so they blew her veins in the other arm and did that ever hurt she said!  She is 63 and is still not giving up!!  We pray daily for her healing.  That would be so great if she could be cancer free!!  She is so busy - so talented, and using them.  She bought a quilting arm and will be doing quilting, as she loves to sew.  God bless your Wednesday!!

There is no real happiness without God and no peace when we separate ourselves

from Him.  Lord, You said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you". 

I give you my troubled heart.

S C R I P T U R E   F O R   T H E   D A Y 

"Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time,
but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who
have been trained by it.  Therefore lift your drooping hands and
strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so
that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will
see the Lord."  ~Hebrews 12:11-14

M E D I T A T I O N   F O R   T H E   D A Y 

Self-discipline is necessary before we can handle the power God offers
us. When we see others manifesting God's power, we probably have not
seen the discipline that went before.  They made themselves ready.  All
our life is a preparation for more good to be accomplished when God
knows that we are ready for it.  We can keep disciplining ourselves in
the spiritual life every day.  We can learn so much of the spiritual
laws that our lives cannot again be a failure.  Others will see the
outward manifestation of the inward discipline in our daily living.

P R A Y E R   F O R   T H E   D A Y

I pray that I may manifest God's power in my daily living.  I pray that
I may discipline myself so as to be ready to meet every opportunity.

A Prayer for Patience

"Every day, my Jesus, I learn by some situation or experience of my great need of You.  When I try to be patient on my own, my patience is forced and short-lived.  It is obvious to everyone that I am desperately trying to be patient.  When I raise my heart and mind to You, dear Jesus, and see You so serenely patient, my soul drinks in that spirit of patience, like a cool breeze on a humid night.  Your patience penetrates my being and only then am I truly patient.  It takes so long to learn that I can bear fruit only in You.  Amen."

— Mother M. Angelica

7 Ups For Friendship

1.  Open Up.

Be honest, open and candid (tempered 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 (public/private) praise.

5.  Show Up.

Be there; do what you say you'll do.

6.  Make Up.

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

7.  Re-Up.

Take inventory and re-commit yourself to the friendship often.

Pass this on to all your friends...

- Author Unknown

A Lesson in Life

Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of
good or bad luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and
sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these
small tests, if they be events, illnesses or relationships, life would be
like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere.

If someone hurts you, betrays you , or breaks you heart forgive them. For
they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious
to who you open your heart to.

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.

Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from it everything
that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again.

Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Hold
your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great
individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, no
one else will believe in you either.

You can make of your life anything you would like it to be by simply knowing
that God is the giver of life, and that He created you to live life to its
fullest, so go out and live it.

God bless you in every way! Look for your blessings - they are there!!!

SHOULD YOU...

• Should you find it hard to get to sleep tonight;
  Just remember the homeless family who has no bed to lie in.
• Should you find yourself stuck in traffic; don't despair.
  There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege.
• Should you have a bad day at work;
  Think of the man who has been out of work for the last three months.
• Should you despair over a relationship gone bad;
  Think of the person who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return.

  Should you grieve the passing of another weekend;
  Think of the woman in some third world country,working twelve hours a day, seven days a week, for $15.00 to feed her family.

• Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance;
  Think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that talk.
• Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror;
  Think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine.
• Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities;
  Remember, things could be worse. You could be them!!!

• Never be discouraged

  There is really nothing we need to know
  or even try to understand
  If we refuse to be discouraged
  and trust God's guiding hand

  So take heart and meet each minute
  with faith in God's great love
  Aware that every day of life
  is controlled by God above

  And never dread tomorrow 
  or what the future brings
  Just pray for strength and courage
  and trust God in all things

  And never grow discouraged
  be patient and just wait
  For God never comes too early
  and He never comes too late.

  --Helen Steiner Rice

• The Smile Starter
  
  Smiling is infectious, 
  You catch it like the flu. 
  
  When someone smiled at me today, 
  I started smiling too. 
  
  I passed around the corner, 
  and someone saw my grin. 
  
  When he smiled I realized, 
  I'd passed it on to him. 
  
  I thought about that smile, 
  then I realized its worth. 
  
  A single smile just like mine, 
  could travel the earth. 
  
  So, if you feel a smile begin, 
  don't leave it undetected. 
  
  Let's start an epidemic quick, 
  and get the world infected!
  
  Author Unknown

[KateE]

GloriaJean,

I am new here and love your posting's, I am newly retired, I'm in my 50's, I left a toxic workplace and all this is so new, exciting and scary, reading your post's are refreshing to my soul. The first four weeks were a major adjustment, I would never go back to where I worked as that was my worst nightmare, however, this adjustment of not working is really hard, I am not complaining but I worked for over thirty-two years, twenty for the company I left, I am lost. I have always dreamed of this time and my husband is thrilled for me and I am happy as well but the transition is difficult.  The honey do list I took over and I've been quite busy which I good, I find resting between projects a sort of guilt which I suppose will leave in do time, as I must be patient with all this. 

Have a wonderful day and thank you for your inspirations.

[nj]

Welcome KateE!  I think you will find a lot of support and peace here. These are wonderfully, kind ladies.  Welcome and I will pray for your new path.  Work should not be toxic so while this is hard, your decision to move on was the best.  Enjoy this time, and with time, something will open up to you!

Off to the museum today, my last weekday time until later in the year.  Will miss being there so often but looking forward to the school year getting underway and seeing all the kids and teachers.

Gloriajean, will say a prayer for Linda.  Cancer is so awful.  

I hope everyone has a day filled with blessings and that we recognize those ordinary miracles that surround us. Embrace each day and live in peace.

Peace, Nancy

[meallen616]

Hi ladies,

[lovestopaint]

Gloria, Aria looked so cute in her swing.

Nancy please don't worry about the kitty with the heart murmur, our first cat Boots was a rescue

---

@meallen616 wrote:

Hi ladies,

---

and he had a heart murmur too and he lived 15 years. Our new kitty who isn't so new anymore that we adopted last year, he was only 8 weeks old was diagnosed with a hole in his heart, the Vet said that sometimes they close up. Of course you wouldn't know he had a hole in his heart if you see him playing with  our Chihuahua. He is on medication but he is just fine. They have so many things to help them now.

3Suwm5 hello to you too and have a nice day.

KateE welcome I know you will enjoy it here.

Blessings to all.

Harlene(lovestopaint)

Pray for everything Worry about nothing

[RetRN]

@KateE, it is so nice of you to join us. I hope you will post often and that we can get to know you. I am a retired R.N., I worked in hospitals for 40  years and then retired at age 62. I am truly enjoying my retirement and reading and posting on these boards has helped me.

[3suwm5]

Good morning ladies --

Gloria, thank you for the wonderful words today.  The smile inspiration has me smiling!!

Prayers to your dear friend, I know too well her experiences right now.  The baby news always make me happy.

Kate - welcome to these posts.  I, like you, have been reading them for a long time, before I started posting myself.  This post has been so valuable to me and I know it will continue to be valuable to you.  You surely did the right thing, by getting out of that recent job environment.  GOOD FOR YOU!!!  You will adjust to the free time and please, don't feel guilty.  You deserve to just sit and relax.  It's hard to stop working around the house, especially if you look around and see all the things that need to get done.  I do it all the time and I've come to realize, it will be there later today and tomorrow and the next day......Enjoy your new found life, visit with friends & neighbors, go window shopping, take a walk......just have some fun.

nj - enjoy the museum today and look forward to the new school year.

Beautiful pic - Meallan, thank you.

Harlene - thanks for the great pic too. Enjoy your day as well.  Yes, indeed, we do worry too much.

RetRN - I think we all have benefitted sooooo much from the posts.  We all have a wonderful way of helping each other with so many things.  It's something we look forward to everyday.

Have a great day everyone.

God bless you all!

[lovestopaint]

3suwm5, we have to give meallen616 credit for the beautiful picture.

She sendsoneevery day, God Bless her.

Blessings

Harlene

[nj]

Harlene, thank you for the kitty info. That makes me feel better. Virginia and Faith will be 11 Sept 1st and so that always worries me. The vet was not overly concerned which was good since I burst into tears! Faith goes tomorrow for her unresolved cold and I will have her heart checked for sure!  Waiting for blood test results and will see.  Thank you so much. I feel some weight off my shoulders. I am really tired!

Hope everyone is having a great day. My last weekday at the museum and while I wil miss it, I am really excited for the school year and still have the museum 2 Saturdays a month.

Peace, Nancy 

[Day1128]

Another positive thread:

Let the wise man hear and increase learning. The understanding man shall acquire wise counsels

From the Torah; Mishlei, Chapter 1