Tomorrow = The ANSWER and AWARDS ARE EVERYHERE...THEY'RE EVERYWHERE

First of all, did any of you go to Yahoo and ask them what I did? If you read the picture below, it says they DO have the answer! Of course it says for REAL people, so if you are just pretend, this won't work!

And, just maybe, Eileen should have gotten THIS book instead of the huge, gigantic book of occupations she had on hand (just in case something like this came up):

Now, let's talk about these awards for just a second(...or maybe more.) This is my take on them and what they mean.

First they should just be fun and kind of funny, with NO ONE getting hurt mentally, physically or spiritually or else I quit.

Second, life being what it is and we being females (well, there are some really nice guys out there, like two who follow me...check them out), we do have feelings and we DO get hurt, so let's look at these 'awards' as more of a game to play and share.

And third, MY wish has always been that everyone who is on my sidebar, both followers and those I follow (actually I do check on ALL my followers from time to time) will get a bazillion awards. When I send out an award, I am more excited seeing who THEY send it on to than ever getting it myself. It's like blessings...I give mine freely and meaningfully, praying that the receiver helps them to multiply to all others beyond belief!!!

So, the other day, I was blessed by Cathy @http://bit-of-blarney.blogspot.com, who has a very spiritually insightful and family adventure sharing blog site,

with The Charming Award blog, but there is no "button" for it so you just have to pretend (imaginary friend, imaginary award button...you get the idea, just don't start talking to the imaginary button!) and that's not a bad thing!

"This is how the award works: This award is bestowed on to blogs that are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."The award also asks that I tell 7 "random" things about myself. "

1. I love when we all have fun and interact like these past few days on my comment section...so many laughs and crazy guesses.

2. Although I seem to be able to handle hot weather a tad better than cold, I really don't like hot or cold...just give me somewhere in the seventies with a cool breeze.

3. Some people think I am totally outgoing, but there is a HUGE shy streak in me, especially in a room full of people, few of whom I know, so I force myself to start up a conversation.

4. In spite of my shyness, it does not bother me to speak in front a crowd (hence I love being a reader at Mass), but it always makes me a little nervous.

5. Almost lost my life in Germany when I went through my last pregnancy due to the fact that the doctor didn't listen to me...after the emergency surgery (when they would not even wait for Mario to get there!), the next day, while recovering, that doctor said I would have been dead within 24 hours or less!

6. There is no need to get me drunk to get silly or loosen up...just get me sleepy enough and I get unbelievably goofy.

7. Both my parents were alcoholics, but my mom joined AA after my dad died and I went to many AA open meetings with her...taught me enormous lessons about tolerance and understanding and how this disease knows no favorites or age limits (there was an 11 yr old who was a genuine alcoholic!).

Have to share one other little chuckle with all of you...spell check here wanted me to correct the word bloggers to some hilarious things and here are the choices it gave me: blogger (can't have more than one apparently), loggers, floggers (let's hope not!), blockers (anyone playing football out there?), or logger's (these are the possessive guys who want to keep all the logs to themselves!)

Now, I am entrusting you eight bloggers with this gift and would like to see it get spread to a bazillion others, please, please, please !:

1. Marlene @http://annofgreencables.blogspot.com/, who has a blog site that deserves more visits than she gets and has good sharing!

2. Lisa @ Are We There Yet?, a blog so full of cute antics as well as contemplative thoughts, a nice mix.

3. Joolz @ Simply Joolz, a visit to Australia with lots of great meals and family time.

4. Eileen @ Umma's World, a place where hysterical events happen with Jayden and Mya, as well as great sharing.

5. Diana @ Welcome to My World, where you REALLY do get welcomed to a world of fun and some of Diana's special humor as well as heart sharing.

6. Pat @ Living on Grace, who shares everyday failings and triumphs with great humor.

7. Lara@ Prossigo para o alvo, a nice visit to Portugal and a blogger who posts usually in both excellent English as well as Portuguese!

8. Judy @ Just a Little Something for You, a nice blog with great ideas for making special occasions even more special.

Whew...think I'll wait until tomorrow to do the next award thingy...does that mean I should wait until Thursday to reveal my former occupation???

Now for some picture cartoons and jokes:

As friends, we will NOT be the clip for each other, rather we will be the SAFETY pin of caring!

THIS guy is NOT on my list of people I'd like to meet!:

There are definitely some spots I've been to where they NEEDED these goofy signs:

Shopping More Interesting

"1. Get boxes of condoms & randomly put them in peoples' carts when they aren't looking.

Think a guy must have written these, don't you?

2. Set all the alarm clocks to go off at 10 minute intervals.

This would be way too time consuming...get it??

3. Make a trail of apple juice on the floor to the rest rooms.

Yup...this is DEFINITELY some guy ideas!

4. Walk up to a store employee and tell him/her in an official tone,'I think we have a code 3 in housewares,' and see what happens.

This could be cute, but I would have to be way tired!

5. Put a box of Smarties on lay-away.

This guy was running way short on ideas here.

6. Move 'CAUTION WET FLOOR' signs to carpeted areas.

Now this would be something for Michael to do and enjoy.

7. Set up a tent in the sports section; tell others you'll only invite them if they bring pillows from the bedding department.

Hmmm...unless all the store employees are already asleep (have wondered about this at times), don't see this one happening.

8. When someone asks if they can help you, begin to cry and ask 'Why won't you people leave me alone?'

After being 'accosted' by the fifth or sixth overly helpful store employee (which ONLY happens when I DON'T need help), this DOES sound like an option.

9. Look right into the security camera and use it as a mirror while you pick your nose.

This is such a guy idea and so gross!

10. While handling guns in the sports section, ask the clerk if the gun comes with anti depressant prescriptions?

And then you'll really need them when he keels over from a heart attack that you caused!

11. Dart around suspiciously while humming the theme from 'Mission Impossible'.

This could be cute, too, but seeing the men in straight jackets could be upsetting as they come for you.

12. In the auto department practice your Madonna look using different size funnels.

Yet another guy idea...think the men should do this, except they might enjoy the guy hilarity of it too much

13. Hide in the clothing rack and when people browse through say 'PICK ME! PICK ME!!!!!!

You'd have to be more of an extrovert than I could ever be for this one!

14. When an announcement comes over the loud speaker assume the fetal position and scream 'NO! NO! It's those voices again'.

Ditto for this one as well as the worry about the guys in white coming for you.

15. Go into the fitting room and yell real loud ......'Hey we're out of toilet paper in here! "

This sounds way cute as long as no one sees you, but then you miss the opportunity to see the expressions on other people's faces.

~~~Lord, for the blessings of making others smile and laugh, as well as blessing them through You, I thank You heartily!

A dose of mass chaos and confusion

Not only are there confusing answers to what I did professionally in Phoenix, AZ, but now the jokes all ended up in the middle of this post, so that is just so appropriate. So, if you want to end with a chuckle you have to start on the top, skip the middle, go to the bottom, then return to the middle...hey, this sounds like square dancing, maybe I missed my calling as a square dance caller??

The grand babies were adorable and fun and impossible to sleep with, although I did try, on a single bed with one child being a future invincible kick boxer !! I will down load my pictures later today and show you Julia's feet...don't think that would upset Ria!

Let's see if I can field these guesses and 'help' all of you. But, before you start feeling brain fried or challenged, let me tell you that I belonged to several network groups and there were times when many network groups would gather all together to help promote their businesses, so, for fun, I would go around the room asking these people (who were new to me), if they could guess what I did. Remember, these were people exposed to many different professions and businesses almost daily...and NONE of them ever guessed correctly until I gave them many hints!

Let me know when everyone wants to yell "Uncle" (or aunt is okay too) or ask more questions. You will be getting some GOOD hints today, though.

Angie guessed:

a gentlemen's barber - good one, as I do cut Michael's hair, but nope, no pay other than a kiss.

Eileen guessed and guessed and guessed....etc. (think we need to promote her to detective!):

Water Service Vendor? NO, but I did sell water.

Food Service Vendor? No, but I did use them, too.

Furniture Refinish/Repair? Nope, but I dust real well on occasion.

Shoemaker/Shoe Repair? Tried that Mend It stuff on my moccasin and it did NOT work, so no.

So, out of nowhere, here come the weird and wacko jokes, but you can skip or close your eyes:

An accountant is having a hard time sleeping and goes to see his doctor. "Doctor, I just can't get to sleep at night.""Have you tried counting sheep?""That's the problem - I make a mistake and then spend three hours trying to find it."

***

A woman went to the Post Office to buy stamps for her Christmas Cards. "What denomination?" asked the clerk.
"Oh, good heavens! Have we come to this?" said the woman. "Well, give me 30 Catholic, 10 Baptist ones, 20 Lutheran, and 40 Presbyterian."

***

Doctor: "Nurse, how is that little boy doing, the one who swallowed ten quarters?

"Nurse: "No change yet."

***

The nurse who can smile when things go wrong is probably going off duty.

***

The manager of a large city zoo was drafting a letter to order a pair of animals. He sat at his computer and typed the following sentence: "I would like to place an order for two mongooses, to be delivered at your earliest convenience."
He stared at the screen, focusing on that odd word mongooses. Then he deleted the word and added another, so that the sentence now read: "I would like to place an order for two mongeese, to be delivered at your earliest convenience."
Again he stared at the screen, this time focusing on the new word, which seemed just as odd as the original one. Finally, he deleted the whole sentence and started all over. "Everyone knows no full-stocked zoo should be without a mongoose," he typed. "Please send us two of them."

***

Classified classics

A superb and inexpensive restaurant. Fine food expertly served by waitresses in appetizing forms.

No matter what your topcoat is made of, this miracle spray will make it really repellent.

For sale: an antique desk suitable for lady with thick legs and large drawers.

We do not tear your clothing with machinery. We do it carefully by hand.

Now is your chance to have your ears pierced and get an extra pair to take home, too.

Toaster: A gift that every member of the family appreciates. Automatically burns toast.

Dinner Special -- Turkey $2.35; Chicken or Beef $2.25; Children $2.00.

Have several very old dresses from grandmother in beautiful condition.

Tired of cleaning yourself? Let me do it.

Dog for sale: eats anything and is fond of children.

If you think you've seen everything in Paris, visit the Père Lachasis Cemetery. It boasts such immortals as Moliere, Chopin and Jean de la Fontain.

For sale: a quilted high chair that can be made into a table, pottie chair, rocking horse, refrigerator, spring coat, size 8 and fur collar.

Sheer stockings. Designed for fancy dress, but so serviceable that lots of women wear nothing else.

Auto Repair Service. Free pick-up and delivery. Try us once, you'll never go anywhere again.

Used Cars: Why go elsewhere to be cheated? Come here first!

And now, the Superstore - unequaled in size, unmatched in variety, unrivaled inconvenience.

Modular Sofas. Only $299. For rest or fore play.

Semi-Annual after-Christmas Sale.

*****

Although we 'paused' here, Eileen is still going strong:

Installed Fireplaces or Wood Burning Stoves? Ironically, you're 'getting cold' with this one!

Caterer? Love to cook and bake, but only got paid with nice words.

Sushi Roller? Maybe rock and roller...nope.

Bulk Mailer? Did some of this once at a temp job, but no.

Refuse Collector? Some days that seems like ALL I do, but no.

Art Therapist? This has potential, but no.

Medical Taxi Service? Nope, just a mom taxi for a long time.

Tub/Shower Refinishing? Nope, just the unpaid cleaner here.

Translator? Would have loved this and have done it spontaneously or when asked...although I did use this skill on occasion in my job that you are guessing.

Crane Operator? Pity the poor person on the end of my crane...he/she would have a heart attack (unless they are fun loving, dare devil kind of people) and I would then faint!

Florist? Hmmm...love flowers, but didn't sell them except one time for a vendor who came by, but that was one time only.

Deodorant Distributor? Unfortunately I have been around some pretty 'ripe' people and would have liked to have distributed some deodorant then, but no.

A Bible Distributor? Have only contributed to have this done.

A Roto-Rooter Person? The only rooting I want to do is to plant the good ones and uproot the bad ones and leave that other mess to the people who can handle it!

A Waste Station/Water Treatment Worker? Does using a Brita water filter count?

A Toilet Paper Distributor? This I do locally as NO ONE in this household seems to know how to do this rocket science art!

A Chimney Sweeper? (I think someone already guessed that.)You maybe refilled ATM machines? We've never used our chimney, so no and I did refill the ATM when I worked in the bank in Georgia.

A Bread Distributor? (Oh, wait, 'Man does not live by bread alone'). I bake and buy it, but get no pay for it.

A Body Parts Procurer? (I guess if you had to also deliver them that would entail a bit of strength.) There are a few body parts on me that I would like to change out, but not at some one else's expense, so no.

Did you deliver whole bodies to labs for scientific research that all people would maybe benefit from? Does taking Michael to the hospital for his open heart surgery count?

Bernie guessed:

Watkins Lady" Okay, I'm clueless as I don't even know what this is, but I have always tried to be lady like!

Rebecca guessed:

Fuller Brush salesman. I have brushed and been brushed, but never sold a brush.

Carol guessed:

health aide or a nurse Only to family and friends in need...oops, can i get sued for malpractice, Carol?

Diana guessed:

deliver in home oxygen to the disabled and elderly Good one, but no.

Linda guessed:

some kind of home health care Again only to family and pets, so far.

Wanda guessed:

water filter installer Have done it on our kitchen faucet, but no...wait I did buy one for where I worked, for my business.

bottled water delivery Nope, but did have to pay the guy who delivered it.

furnace duct cleaner Good, but no.

tool rental co. No, but we did have LOTS and LOTS of tools. BIG hint here, folks!!!

massage therapist Would love to have one for everyday, although Michael does an excellent job.

Jerelene guessed:

work at a dinosaur museum Love going and have told people where something is in the museum, but they only paid me with a nice thank you (which was more than enough!).

~~~~For the many blessings of Your complex world that we try to make sense of, I thank YOU, Lord.

So much Fun and lots to tell

Whew and Wow and Whew again...haven't had this much fun since I don't know when (this poem was just BURSTING to come out).

Before I go on with anything, I would like to tell all you sweethearts who commented (or if you still want to) on Tamara's blog to take a quick peek over there as she finally found us out! Here is her link to click on. Thank you, thank you and thank you. Holy smoke...I just re-noticed her Bible verse from the day before...is THAT a God moment or what????

Before I get into my favorites for Friendly Friday Favorites...seriously, try saying that fast three times...found out I can't, just a few announcements (see, being a lector (reader) at church has its' drawbacks as I still sound like a lector):

1. Have to hurry up as I haven't even packed yet and will be on my way to see the three grandbabies southeast of me for the week-end, but see what I'm doing (is there a blogger's anonymous...does anyone know, or for that matter, do any of us care?)

2. May have trouble even getting online to check out everyone's website and leave comments as this daughter gets the willies over blogging , so everything has to be hush hush, but I will give it a try (have to put on my cloak and dagger outfit).

3. A few more helpful hints about my former occupation:

-I was never supposed to have to do this and was not 'trained' for it, except for what little my beloved late hubby Mario could tell me, but complications with his Parkinson's meant I had to take over.

-He thought this would be a great thing to get into because people always need this.

-It was a business I was running.

-I absolutely loved working with the people and with those networkers I met with on a regular basis.

Ready for some more guessing now?

Here come the favorites now. I talked about Michael and my visit to Fernbank, well it is also one of my favorites as it always has a new exhibit on display and the Dinosaurs Alive did not disappoint. We even saw a dinosaur IMAX movie that was a treat. Here's Michael looking at the leg and wondering how juicy a meal it would have made (scarily enough, he could have probably eaten the whole thing, with ketschup of course, maybe fries too)...

Here are the beautiful spiral staircases up to the next two floors...

This is the newly decorated and redesigned front of the museum... only months ago, these dinosaurs, fountains and flowers (oops...these are to the far left and right) were not here...if you look carefully, you can see a redheaded dinosaur there...

This little plaque is a favorite for many reasons...it's one of the few things I have that were given to me by a wonderful priest/friend who died more than ten years ago and with whom I shared the same birthday. I love it also because it is a beautiful reminder of who and what I should be...

Finally, here is a full shot of that rosary from last Friday that I gave my mother and now have back as she has gone to Heaven and I miss her so much...she loved aurora borealis crystals so I especially got this for her..

Here's another view of this rosary and this time it is on the precious popcorn stitch afghan that my mom crocheted, made from wool she got when we went on a brief trip to Ireland...

And now for some adorably corny yet funny jokes:


One day, a mailman was greeted by a boy and his dog. The mailman said to the boy, "Does your dog bite?""No," replied the boy. Just then, the dog bit the mailman."Hey, "he yelled. "I thought your dog doesn't bite!""He doesn't," replied the boy, "but that's not my dog."
******




There was a duck that went to a local store to buy chapstick, the clerk asked if he would pay cash and the duck said, no, just put it on my bill.
******




An invisible man marries an invisible woman. The kids were nothing to look at either.
*****


What do you get when you play a COUNTRY SONG backwards?You get your house back, tractor back, wife back, and dog back!

*****

Did you hear about the midget fortune-teller who escaped from prison?Now there is a small medium at large!!
*****

Two clowns eating soup one looks over to the other and says does this taste funny to you?

****

This joke comes from Rebecca @ Life and Godliness, who gave it freely without asking for recognition, but I guess I'll 'shame' her anyway! Very cute, thanks, Rebecca!:


A blond woman was pulled over for speeding by a blond female police officer.

The blond cop asked to see her driver's license. "What's it look like?' the driver finally asked.

The officer said, "It's square and it has your picture on it.

"The driver found a square mirror in her purse, looked at it and handed it to the policewoman. "Here it is."

The officer looked at and said, "OK you can go. I didn't know you were a cop!"





~~~~Sometimes, dear Lord the blessings with which You shower me just overwhelm me, so for these wonderful and fun-filled comment days with wonderful people, I so heartily thank You.

The slightly late, but ever so great Giveaway

First, let's look at some prize possibilities. This definitely looks like a winner...it's life sized, it just has so many uses, too, plus tah dah...how could Eileen and Bernie resist...look at all the pink? Great conversation piece and for those who love purple, that is covered too...may have found a money making idea for Teresa...

Now, here's a good re purposing item...doesn't everybody need some extra steps or you could save yourself some steps with these (get it...hee hee)?

And here's a wonderful bunch of stuff, true treasures...anyone have any idea what they are?..

Next we have this thing and it actually had a name, so it's a real thing that doesn't look real and I'll bet most, if not all of you don't have one of these...

Now here is treasure heaven, so Eileen, Jackie and Diana must all be salivating over this prize possibility as they do treasure good deals...

Here's an idea to beautify your computer area....this could be a makeover prize...what do you think?

Or how about this for that area in your yard that you haven't known what to do with...what do you think, Wanda or Mildred, is this a winner?....

Last, but not least, some part for your car to enhance its' beauty and efficiency....

Unless you have fallen madly in love with any of these, think I will find something a little less 'shabby chic' for a prize or two. Have even toyed with one of the prizes being knitting this cute slipper pattern I have in the colors of your choice, as I dearly love home made things myself.

And now for the 'rules' to enter this amazing giveaway. You need to guess what I did (as in Occupation/work etc.) before I met and married Michael, while I was living in Phoenix, AZ. We'll let this contest go on for a few days and I will answer questions to help you guess correctly...you should be surprised in the end!

Today, with something new going on, let's try a couple of cartoons:

No Dogs Allowed

A guy wanted to take his Chihuahua into a restaurant with him, so he put on dark glasses and "tapped" his way into the establishment. The waiter said "Hey!, you can't bring a dog in here. "The man indignantly claimed "I'm blind! ... this is my Seeing Eye dog!" "You're trying to tell me" said the waiter, "that this Chihuahua is a Seeing Eye dog?" "What???!!", cried the man, "they gave me a Chihuahua?" You know you're driving a hunk of junk when you're going down the road and you're having tow trucks circle you.

~~~Heavenly Father, thank You for the blessings of being able to find treasures even in "junk", another way of loving and caring for this earth You gave us.

Wednesday's touch of Poetry

God is one in Three


I am one in me




And tho' I be so wee


In His eyes I see



My glimpse of eternity.

Wow...I think I just impressed myself with my own poem today! So that really means a direct inspiration from the Holy Spirit.

I would like to thank all of you who went to Tamara's Blog site yesterday to wish her well as she copes with having a heart attack and all that ensues from it physically as well as emotionally now...if anyone hasn't stopped in yet, please give her a note of cheer. Guess I should also tell you what that did for me...as soon as I saw comments coming in to her last post I started bawling like a baby, called Michael at work and scared him half to death!!! So I immediately said, between sobs (how do the movie stars manage to talk and cry in movies????...that stumps me!) that it's okay, they are happy, happy tears. All of your goodness and caring just overwhelms me and even chokes me up right now!

Now you may be asking yourselves if I have forgotten about the great giveaway (or, after hearing some prize possibilities, you are saying THANK GOODNESS she has forgotten...shhhh, no one say anything to remind her). I will even start on tomorrow's post just so you can see something and find out the fun thing (at least from my perspective) that we can do to get the coveted whatever it is, giveaway!!! You will also learn something new and unusual about me...now you may be wondering just how much more unusual can this strange woman get (so stay tuned, folks)???

Thoughts to ponder from over yonder (now THIS is my own inspired poetry):


"If you wonder where your child left his roller skates, try walking around the house in the dark.~Leopold Fechtner


Anything you lose automatically doubles in value. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966

Everything is funny as long as it is happening to somebody else. ~Will Rogers


When the plane you are on is late, the plane you want to transfer to is on time. ~Author Unknown


How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire? ~Author Unknown

Never do anything that you wouldn't want to explain to the paramedics. ~Author Unknown



Shin: a device for finding furniture in the dark. ~Author Unknown



Why do they put the Gideon Bibles only in the bedrooms, where it's usually too late, and not in the barroom downstairs? ~Christopher Morley, Contribution to a Contribution


It is often easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission. ~Grace Hopper


The man who says he is willing to meet you halfway is usually a poor judge of distance. ~Author Unknown


It's frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions. ~Author Unknown


If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire. ~Author Unknown


If you wish to forget anything on the spot, make a note that this thing is to be remembered. ~Edgar Allan Poe"

Some uplifting (for sure the corners of your mouth) jokes:

10-inches deep

A boy was sitting on a park bench with one hand resting on an open Bible. He was loudly exclaiming his praise to God. "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! God is great!" he yelled without worrying whether anyone heard him or not.

Shortly after, along came a man who had recently completed some studies at a local university. Feeling himself very enlightened in the ways of truth and very eager to show this enlightenment, he asked the boy about the source of his joy.


"Hey" asked the boy in return with a bright laugh, "Don't you have any idea what God is able to do? I just read that God opened up the waves of the Red Sea and led the whole nation of Israel right through the middle."


The enlightened man laughed lightly, sat down next to the boy and, with an air of superiority, began to try to open his eyes to the "realities" of the miracles of the Bible. "That can all be very easily explained. Modern scholarship has shown that the Red Sea in that area was only 10-inches deep at that time. It was no problem or miracle for the Israelites to wade across."


The boy was stumped. His eyes wandered from the man back to the Bible laying open in his lap. The man, content that he had enlightened a poor, naive young person to the finer points of scientific insight, turned to go. Scarcely had he taken two steps when the boy began to rejoice and praise louder than before. The man turned, with a frown, to ask the reason for this resumed jubilation.


"Wow!" exclaimed the boy happily, "God is greater than I thought! Not only did He lead the whole nation of Israel through the Red Sea, He topped it off by drowning the whole Egyptian army in 10 inches of water!"
****

The Historical Flight

Terri asked her Sunday School class to draw pictures of their favorite Bible stories. She was puzzled by Kyle's picture, which showed four people on an airplane, so she asked him which story it was meant to represent.

"The flight to Egypt," said Kyle.


"I see ... And that must be Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus," Ms. Terri said. "


But who's the fourth person?"


"Oh, that's Pontius-the Pilot.
****

One Easter Sunday morning as the pastor was preaching a children's sermon, he reached into his bag of props and pulled out an egg. He pointed at the egg and asked the children, "


What's in here?"


"I know, I know!" a little boy exclaimed, "pantyhose!"
****


The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large tray of apples. A nun lettered a note and posted it on the apple tray: "Take only ONE. God is watching."


Moving along the lunch line, at the other end was a large tray of chocolate chip cookies. A girl wrote a note, which she put next to the tray of cookies, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples."



~~~~For all the incredible blessings of seeing the good things that wonderful people, like these who are here on Blog sites, can do to uplift and make this world a much better place, I so humbly thank You, dear God.

Important sidetracking...please visit

Yesterday evening, while praying at church, I kept on thinking about Tamara as well as praying for her. Even though I had other plans for today's post, God kept her on my mind until I finally got the message...I need to post about her and then kindly ask all of you wonderful people who read my posts if you could just take a moment to leave a small comment for her on her very short post yesterday.

All of Tamara's posts have been short, so it's easy to go back and see what she was all about...lovely and easy meditations with some small personal insight. I 'accidentally" (no, there are NO accidents with God as I was 'sent' there) came upon her Blog site just as she was starting it.

It kind of amazed me that she didn't get more followers as it was such a quick and yet spiritual read. Think the most comments she ever got was when she and I posted back and forth and that would have been four.

Although she seems to be healing, the heart attack she experienced recently (while doing her awesome prison visitation and ministry!!) has taken its' toll on her emotionally as well, so either click on Tamara here please or on my sidebar under Tamara's Treasures (in case I do something wacko and you can't get to her by clicking and end up on some site about watching snails cross the Rio Grande in a yacht).

Tamara might not want to be on your head, but on your mind and in your heart...

Just a little gentle nudge with kind words would be healing....

Her heart will need all kinds of healing and we are all healers, you know....

Can't ever give too many positive, happy, loving strokes....

We can make our hearts pop over to help her heart and soul heal....

Love and kindness and prayers are the answer to every healing of every sort....

And, now, here is part of a report I found on the Internet:

UCLA Study On Friendship Among Women

An alternative to fight or flight
©2002 Gale Berkowitz
"A landmark UCLA study suggests friendships between women are special. They shape who we are and who we are yet to be. They soothe our tumultuous inner world, fill the emotional gaps in our marriage, and help us remember who we really are. By the way, they may do even more.
Scientists now suspect that hanging out with our friends can actually counteract the kind of stomach-quivering stress most of us experience on a daily basis. A landmark UCLA study suggests that women respond to stress with a cascade of brain chemicals that cause us to make and maintain friendships with other women. It's a stunning find that has turned five decades of stress research---most of it on men---upside down. Until this study was published, scientists generally believed that when people experience stress, they trigger a hormonal cascade that revs the body to either stand and fight or flee as fast as possible, explains Laura Cousin Klein, Ph.D., now an Assistant Professor of Biobehavioral Health at Penn State University and one of the study's authors. It's an ancient survival mechanism left over from the time we were chased across the planet by saber-toothed tigers.

Now the researchers suspect that women have a larger behavioral repertoire than just fight or flight; In fact, says Dr. Klein, it seems that when the hormone oxytocin is release as part of the stress responses in a woman, it buffers the fight or flight response and encourages her to tend children and gather with other women instead. When she actually engages in this tending or befriending, studies suggest that more oxytocin is released, which further counters stress and produces a calming effect. This calming response does not occur in men, says Dr. Klein, because testosterone---which men produce in high levels when they're under stress---seems to reduce the effects of oxytocin. Estrogen, she adds, seems to enhance it.

The discovery that women respond to stress differently than men was made in a classic "aha" moment shared by two women scientists who were talking one day in a lab at UCLA. There was this joke that when the women who worked in the lab were stressed, they came in, cleaned the lab, had coffee, and bonded, says Dr. Klein. When the men were stressed, they holed up somewhere on their own. I commented one day to fellow researcher Shelley Taylor that nearly 90% of the stress research is on males. I showed her the data from my lab, and the two of us knew instantly that we were onto something."

☻FRIENDSHIP IS....
FRIENDSHIP isn't how U forGet but how U forGive, Not how U liSten but how U UnderStand, Not what U see but how U feel, and not how U Let Go but how U hold oN!!!

ANGEL FRIENDS
I believe in angels, the kind that heaven sends. I'm surrounded by angels but (for sure, in blogland) I call them my friends.

And we all know that laughter is healing!!:

(I must put in a disclaimer here...NOT my list...found on the Internet strictly, but I can still chuckle about most of them).

"Are you tired of those sissy 'friendship' poems that always sound good, But never actually come close to reality?

Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship. You will see no cutesy little smiley faces on this card- Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.

1. When you are sad -- I will jump on the person who made you sad like a spider monkey.

2. When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you..

3. When you smile -- I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.

4. When you are scared -- I will rag on you about it every chance I get.

5. When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how much Worse it could be until you quit whining.

6. When you are confused -- I will use little words.

7. When you are sick -- Stay away from me until you are well Again. I don't want whatever you have.

8. When you fall -- I will point and laugh at your clumsiness....

9. This is my oath.... I pledge it to the end. 'Why?' you may ask; 'because you are my friend'.

Friendship is like peeing your pants, everyone can see it, But only you can feel the true warmth.

*****

Two friends went out to play golf and were about to tee off, when one fellow noticed that his partner had but one golf ball."Don't you have at least one other golf ball?", he asked. The other guy replied that no, he only needed the one. "Are you sure?", the friend persisted. "What happens if you lose that ball?" The other guy replied, "This is a very special golf ball. I won't lose it so I don't need another one."Well," the friend asked, "what happens if you miss your shot and the ball goes in the lake?""That's okay," he replied, "this special golf ball floats. I'll be able to retrieve it.""Well what happens if you hit it into the trees and it gets lost among the bushes and shrubs?"The other guy replied, "That's okay too. You see, this special golf ball has a homing beacon. I'll be able to get it back -- no problem."Exasperated, the friend asks, "Okay. Let's say our game goes late, the sun goes down, and you hit your ball into a sand trap. What are you going to do then?""

No problem," says the other guy, "you see, this ball is fluorescent. I'll be able to see it in the dark."Finally satisfied that he needs only the one golf ball, the friend asks, "Hey, where did you get a golf ball like that anyway?"
The other guy replies, "I found it."
******

The minister of a city church enjoyed a drink now and then, but his passion was for peach brandy. One of his congregants would make him a bottle each Christmas. One year, when the minister went to visit his friend, hoping for his usual Christmas present, he was not disappointed, but his friend told him that he had to thank him for the peach brandy from the pulpit the next Sunday.In his haste to get the bottle, the minister hurriedly agreed and left. So the next Sunday the minister suddenly remembered that he had to make a public announcement that he was being supplied alcohol from a member of the church. That morning, his friend sat in the church with a grin on his face, waiting to see the minister's embarrassment.The minister climbed into the pulpit and said, "Before we begin, I have an announcement. I would very much like to thank my friend, Joe, for his kind gift of peaches ... and for the spirit in which they were given!"

*****

WHEN IT RAINS, YOU DONT SEE THE SUN, BUT IT'S THERE. HOPE WE CAN BE LIKE THAT. WE DONT ALWAYS SEE EACH OTHER, BUT WE WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR ONE ANOTHER.

~~~~Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the blessing of healing with which you gifted all of us to one degree or another, may we use it generously.

Can you hold on until Tuesday, please? A special story about Corbyn's birthday!!

~~~HAPPY BIRTHDAY WONDERFUL CORBYN, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!~~~

This is one of the most recent pictures I was able to 'swipe' from my sweet DIL's collection. One of the neatest things about this particular photo is that Brande used to have a very large collection of frogs, so this picture has two 'favorites' of hers, a very handsome little boy on a BIG frog/toad :

This next picture is of Corbyn at five and a half...think he was getting ready to go to school...isn't he too handsome?

One of the cutest dynamic duos you will ever find...Corbyn with his sister Myla (smyla) cutely peeking around him:

Here's still a younger picture of one happy little boy playing with a toy that is his (and my) favorite color...green:

This is the youngest picture I have of Corbyn uploaded to my PC. He was just laughing and having a great time with his cousin (and my other sweet grandson), Jonathan:

The VERY special story of Corbyn

Absolutely ALL of my five grandchildren are dearly loved and cherished by me for each one's special personality (and also just because they are so gracious as to be breathing and alive).

Something very unique occurred with Corbyn, though, something that seemed to be in God's Hands.

By the time Brande became pregnant with Corbyn, Mario and I had already been blessed (through our daughter, Ria) with two little treasured grandchildren, Jonathan and Olivia.

My wonderful Mario had many medical complications at this time, one being from a cyst on his leg that was removed, got infected and he had to be hospitalized with a wound vac machine.

Brande had gone for an ultrasound, came for a hospital visit, along with our son and we not only found out that she was having a little boy but she also brought a picture, which Mario immediately had me put up on his little nearby hospital cork board.

Even though they had chosen an unusual first name for Corbyn, both Brande and my son Mario E., wanted to honor his dad, Mario, by giving Corbyn his middle name of Antonio (Anthony) and Mario was indeed thrilled by this! He felt a special bond with this little one.

Corbyn's due to arrive date was late June, but Mario never got to see little Corbyn on this Earth as he left for Heaven on June 6, 2003 and Corbyn arrived on June 22, 2003. I always said they got to know each other in a special way for those 16 days, one coming from Heaven and one going to Heaven!

Losing Mario felt as if my heart had been ripped out from my chest, (along with every other organ in my body), yet, while waiting by myself outside the labor rooms, far down the hall, I saw a man who looked so very much like my Mario that I squinted to look better and started walking down there, but he was gone inside of an elevator before I got there. It felt like God was saying that Mario was there with me waiting for this little bundle.

Corbyn's birth and presence as well as Brande's thoughtfulness on many occasions that were difficult for me, helped me so much to cope with my incredible loss. I saw Corbyn as God's gift or 'salve' to help heal my wounded soul. It's kind of like being able to have a part of Mario in an exceptional (Heavenly) way, through Corbyn.

And now for the story of the Great Giveaway (hopefully, no one has been holding their breath):

Honestly I think I can find something wonderful in the garage for a giveaway, but I guess I should admit that I can't believe it, but Goodwill DID reject the tool drawers (with stuff in them) and Christmas decorations that Michael took to them on Saturday. Now there's no shame like the shame of being rejected by Goodwill!! As you study this lovely picture on the left, isn't it hard to imagine it being rejected by Goodwill...what WERE the rejecters thinking?? Admittedly, Michael's stuff had a few dents and a bit of rust, but it was much lovelier than this....Eileen, can you think of a re purposing for these things? Should we have saved the stuff they refused and have sent it on to you? (Eileen @ Umma's World is the queen of re purposing and I kiss her tarnished ring for it!)



And, IF anyone wants some dead termites, I think we can cover that too! (If you are bewildered here just check my post from a few days ago.) Remember they DO put dead butterflies under glass and display them...now YOU can be the first to show off some dead termites...won't your friends and family be surprised (or is horrified a better word here?)??



Bet everyone is getting excited about THIS giveaway! Check in tomorrow for the rules and regulations...yes, we have to have rules and regulations because it is obvious that everyone will be clamoring for these gifts!!

Some cute jokes in honor of Corbyn's sixth birthday:

"Q: What do you give 900-pound gorilla for his birthday?

A: I don't know, but you'd better hope he likes it!



When I was a child my family was so poor that the only thing I got on my birthday was a year older.


It's my wife's birthday tomorrow. Last week I asked her what she wanted as a present. "Oh, I don't know", she said. "Just give me something with diamonds". That's why I'm giving her a pack of playing cards.


If there are 23 people in a room, there's a 50% chance that two of them will share a birthday (it's been proven mathematically).


What did George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Christopher Columbus all have in common? They were all born on holidays.



Why couldn't prehistoric man send birthday cards?

The stamps kept falling off the rocks!


Where do you find a birthday present for a cat?

In a cat-alogue!


Why did the boy put candles on the toilet?

He wanted to have a birthday potty!


Why did the boy feel warm on his birthday?

Because people kept toasting him!


What does a clam do on his birthday?

He shellabrates!


"Doctor, I get heartburn every time I eat birthday cake.

"Next time, take off the candles."



~~~Thank you dear Lord for the marvelous blessings of precious children and grandchildren.