April 13

April 13, 2011 ~

This has been a very nice day. I think I’ll just start in with my happy reason’s.

Happy For A Reason reason’s:

1.    A compact car. It makes it much easier to park in the parking garages!

2.    Ten cents a gallon discount on the gas price and with the price of gas right now every penny counts!

3.    A cheerful and polite gas attendant!

4.    Happy that I have been able to be inside watching and listening to the various types of weather that there has been today!

5.    A home date with Ron tonight! Watched a movie called “Owd Bob.” A touching tale of a family, friends, and dogs.  It is a story of forgiveness, acceptance and a man’s best friend. Sometimes it takes tragedy for us to realize what is really important.

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” ~Mahatma Gandhi

 

April 12

April 12, 2011~

This morning as I drove home from work, the rain had stopped, and the sun was trying to shine through the grey clouds. When I arrived home and got out to open my gate, the beautiful sounds of the brids singing their morning praises, welcomed me.  I think that is the perfect setting and perfect place for starting my …

Happy For A Reason reason’s:

1.       The beautiful morning songs of the birds.

2.       The rain paused so I could hear those morning songs!  This was special since all but two days, in the last 41 days, has been cloudy or rainy.

3.       Only one more night, then 5 days off!

4.       Prayer.

5.       I work at a place that encourages its employees to make healthful living choices.

April 11

April 11, 2011~

Today as I was dreaming, I’d hear different sounds of wind against the back of the house, then rain hitting the window, sleet hitting the roof, and then a softer sound at one point. I thought that must be snow. Then the battle in my mind began. I knew I better not open my eyes or I’d never get back to sleep today, and that would not be a good plan since I have to work tonight. Yet, I love watching the snow fall. My better judgment won out this time and I was able to get a couple more hours of sleep. When I got up, Ron told me all about the strange weather we’d been having. It really wasn’t in my dreams.  This little battle that went on in my mind reminds me of a bigger battle that goes on inside all of us. Here is a little story that tells it well:

     One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between 2 "wolves" inside us all.

     "One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego."

      "The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

      The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed." ~Cherokee Indian, source unknown

It is my choice today, to do all I can to feed joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.

Happy For a Reason reason’s:

1.    I got the sleep I needed!

2.    Good hearing, though at times when I need my sleep I wouldn’t mind if it wasn’t quite so good.

3.    I actually like the sounds of rain, snow, and wind (with-in reason.)

4.    A peek of sunshine this afternoon.

5.    Only two nights to go! Five days off here I come!

April 10

April 10, 2011 ~

Upon awakening, today, I walked out into the living room and glanced out the window. As I took in the scene, I noticed the grey clouds that filled the sky, yet from somewhere, there was coming some sunlight. I looked down at the fast growing green grass and noticed the little yellow flowers, blooming brightly with their faces turned heavenward. Yes, they were none other than the common dandelion!  My mind went back over the years that my children would come running with little hands out stretched with a bouquet of yellow flowers for mommy and say, “I picked them for you!”  Then there was the time when my oldest son Nathan was on two. He was riding on my lap as I used the riding lawn mower to mow the yard of Dandelions. I do believe they were the only thing growing at the time. As I was mowing Nathan reached up to my face and turned his face to my ear and said, “Don’t you like the Dandelions, Mommy?” I said, “Yes, they are pretty.” And just as quick he answered, “Well, your mowing them tells me you don’t.” At his age he had no idea that if we didn’t take care of them before they go to seed they would take over the lawn, flower beds, and garden. As I remember back, I think about the lessons I can learn from the little seemingly insignificant ride on the tractor as I mowed down the Dandelions. Today, I pause and think, what are my action telling others? Are my words sending one message, but my actions another? I can say most anything, but do I follow it up with actions? Yes, it is not what I say but the actions that I follow up with that really speak what is in my heart. It really isn’t difficult to say nice words. Nice words, are pleasant to hear, but I do believe actions speak louder than words. It is the actions that follow the kind words that make them real! In fact, when I think about it, I’d rather have silence and be shown by another’s actions how they feel than for someone to say “nice” words and not follow them up with actions that support what they have said. Yes, actions speak louder than words!

Dear Lord, please help me to have kind and encouraging  words for others, but even more than that, help me to have  actions that follow my words.  Yes, help me spread love and encouragement to others by both my words and actions, the same way those little “love” boquets of dandelions encouraged me in days gone by.

Happy For  A Reason reason’s:

1.       The ability to rest during day light hours on the days like today when I have worked all night.

2.       The different shades of grey in the sky. It really makes the green grass and yellow dandelions stand out today!

3.       The color yellow!  My dad’s favorite color.

4.       The little seemingly insignificant Dandelion!

5.       Little life lessons I can learn from daily experiences.

April 9

April 9, 2011~

Here is a verse I have been memorizing, “I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”

~John 16:20 NKJV

I see people each day I work who are going through horrendous tragedies. They live with horrible pain, or have life threatening conditions. Some loose a loved one, and more. Everywhere I turn, in the lives of others as well as my own, I see people hurting, pain, and disappointments.

Life brings its share of weeping, disappointments and tragedies. Yet, in all these, God uses them to show His mighty power! In my life, I’ve seen it, in the Bible, I’ve read it.  One of those times was when God led His people right up to the Sea. (Exodus 14:15-16; 17:9)There was no way across, yet God told Moses to use his staff. It was an ordinary piece of wood turned into “the staff of God.” God chose to use that common, ordinary piece of wood as His instrument, and when He did, the staff, which was just made out of wood, took on new meaning.

Then, what about the cross? Another ordinary piece of wood. It was a symbol of pain and torture, but since Christ came and gave His life on the cross, it is a symbol of hope and salvation! Here God again exchanged, the negative tragedy for the positive.

If God recorded it in the Bible, He can still do it for me. He uses His glory in the disappointments and tragedies of my ordinary life and exchanges them for something, distinctive, and unique, that will have special meaning. Yes, He can bring purpose out of each heartbreaking disappointment and exchange it with something positive, which will bring us hope! God did it on the Cross, and He can do it for Me! He can do it for everyone! Yes, He will turn weeping and grief into joy!

Happy For A Reason reason’s:

1.    The kindness I see in others.

2.    The concern of a mother for her sick child.

3.    An elderly father helping his adult son get the much needed psychological help he wouldn’t be able to get by himself.

4.    A policeman who has a genuine care and concern for hurting people.

5.    Paramedics who are committed to making a difference in the lives of those who they help each day they are working.

April 8

April 8, 2011~

The warmth of the sun on my legs, as it streams through the window, feels so good and relaxing. I put my head back and gaze out the window towards Mt. Hood, and see two little birds setting on the fence near the bird house. Suddenly, I notice another bird swooping downward in a glide that only a swallow can do. It is then that I realize, it is the swallows, they are back for the summer! So, I wonder, why did we have snow on the ground yesterday morning? Now as I watch, I notice there are quite a few birds swooping up and down through the air, in every direction. A sure sign that summer is around the corner.  Another sure sign, the grass is rapidly growing, especially noticeable when you don’t have a working lawn mower! Ours is in for its yearly tune up, and we should have it back next week. Everyone else wanted their lawn mower repaired the same time as us!

The tractor gets a tune up each year to stay in good working order, but, how about me?

I actually need one much more often! Like every day! Yes, at the beginning of each and every day.

Happy For A Reason reason’s:

1.    Time each day to get my tune up with God!

2.    Warm sunshine streaming through my living room windows.

3.    Time to watch the birds.

4.    I had a great time learning at the facilitators training seminar for the Full Plate Diet program.

5.    Time for some rest before going off to work. Yes, I’m starting my 5 day stretch again.

"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

April 7

April 7. 2011~

“For happiness, one needs security, but joy can spring like
      a flower even from the cliffs of despair.”~Author Unknown 

As I read this quote, I realized how true it is. I have that security, it is having Jesus Christ in my life and knowing that He is in control. No matter what cliff I am on, He is there with me. There are times I may be weak and unable to hold on, but “His strength is made perfect in my weakness.” Yes, He is the God of the impossible, so no need for despair! “What is impossible with man IS possible with God.” ~ Luke 18:27

Happy For A Reason reason’s:

1.    My God always walks with me and if I am unable to walk, He carries me.

2.    My God is the God of the impossible!

3.    Exercised with Alissa!

4.    It was a very productive day!

5.    Ron made it home safely.