Hints for a Happy Friendship

I told you before I love lists and we’ve talked about relationships-my kids have always said Momma you have many good friends. I love verses about friendship-and I have always studied books about friendship-The Friendships of Women by Dee Brestin for one.

Today I really want to share some hints on friendship I found in the book-Life’s Little Handbook of Wisdom. They are true and helpful.

1. Make friends even if you don’t think you need them.

2. Seek out quiet people. They have a lot to say, if you say something first.

3. Don’t establish a friendship on mutual dislikes.

4. Call if you are running late.

5. Look people in the eye when you talk to them.

6. Be one who says positive things about others.

7. Learn to tell a good story.

8. Ask other people about themselves.

9. Be happy for others in their good fortune.

10. Make sure your caring includes doing.

11. Know when to say good-bye.

I try to remember these hints and use them in relating with my friends. When I have done or said something that does not promote good friendship, I am thankful God stirs my conscience to work and make it right.

Happy friendships and be blessed!

Old Age is a Gift

Most of you know I work with Seniors and I got this today and I have already reached parts of it, but I realize the beauty in all of it~Allow me to share...

Old Age, I decided, is a gift. I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggyeyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long. I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging. Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love. I will. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set . They, too, will get old. I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things. Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect. I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong. So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)

We had fun at the Beach

Every summer we go to the beach with Barbie, my best friend and her Hubby David. We go to a dear friend's condo and its like going home.

Here’s a view from our balcony-

I spend alot of time in this pool letting the stresses of life just leave me-

Yep, that’s me floating in the pool!

We love sitting on the beach watching the tide roll in....

We eat good meals at the condo and out at new restaurants.

We took our pictures on the beach this year.

I am thankful I had 4 days of sun and sand- I would have loved a few more-nothing like being greedy!

Going to the beach with people you love is Awesome!

Be blessed!

July 27th-a special day to me

Today 28 years ago I gave birth to my first sweet beautiful baby-Ashley. I remember it like yesterday.

I went to the hospital for the third time –two others were false labor-this time was a for sure deal and they told me I had gone into Toxemia during labor. They had to lower my blood pressure to have her and I was in hard labor all night with nothing for pain. It was all worth it, the moment I heard that cry and held her in my arms. Life has never been the same. She has always been a special girl.  

She loved Miss Piggy when she was little and she wouldn’t go to sleep without her. She slept with me and we were inseparable until she was 2 and 3months when I went into the hospital to have her brother. I couldn’t wait to get back home to her and she ran right past me yelling where is my baby. She loved being a big sister.

One of my favorite memories of her was when she was about 7 we went to the Barnum and Baileys Circus- While we were there we bought the kids some stuffed animals. The next day she came running to find me to tell me she had just realized her elephant only had one ear-my mind was thinking great we paid an arm and a leg for a defective toy- she looked at it then hugged it extra hard and said Momma I love it –it’s just more special cos its different.

Ashley is now a wonderful mother and I am proud of her. I’m thankful for the choices she has made of a wonderful husband and to raise her children in a loving home and in church.

Ashley is beautiful inside and out-she is pregnant with my 4th little GRANDBABY. I am blessed because she lives right down the street and we are very close in distance and in heart.

When she was growing up I knew she was very special and I would say I want to be like you when I grow up-I’m still working on it.

I love her alot and I’m thankful she loves me and shares her life , her children and her husbands good cooking with me!!

I missed her big day because I’m at the beach, but she was on my mind and in my heart and I am blessed to be her Mother.

Happy birthday sweet Ashley!

Be blessed!

Sunday Am at the Beach

Dear Friends,

Please pray for my friend Katheryn, she is a young mother of 4 boys, The oldest graduated this year. She had a brain aneurysm Friday pm and is in Neurological Intensive care. The family needs your prayers.

This morning as I began my day in prayer, I prayed for Katherine and others, who are on my mind, that need a touch from God. I thanked God for time to get away and renew. My mind kept going to one of my favorite chapters of the Bible, yes, they are all my favorites ,but this one is special- in my bible it says MY Favorite chapter-a love letter  between God and me…

Psalm 139 (New International Version)

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1 O LORD, you have searched me
       and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
       you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
       you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue
       you know it completely, O LORD.

5 You hem me in—behind and before;
       you have laid your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
       too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
       Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
       if I make my bed in the depths,  you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
       if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,
       your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
       and the light become night around me,"

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
       the night will shine like the day,
       for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being;
       you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
       your works are wonderful,
       I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
       when I was made in the secret place.
       When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
       All the days ordained for me
       were written in your book
       before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
       How vast is the sum of them!

18 Were I to count them,
       they would outnumber the grains of sand.
       When I awake,
       I am still with you.

19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
       Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

20 They speak of you with evil intent;
       your adversaries misuse your name.

21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
       and abhor those who rise up against you?

22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
       I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
       test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
       and lead me in the way everlasting.

O how wonderful these verses are-

The green verses tell me that even when I can’t understand it He is with me- He has his hand around everything I’m going through. What a comfort. Think about being a child and knowing your parents are right there as your hand of protection-that’s the way our Heavenly Father is always.

The purple verses just reiterate the green ones and tell me that no matter where I am He is there, I never leave His view or presence. Even when I’m on the beach, He is with me. He is with me to guide me and hold me fast! I remember when I was a little girl and we would go to Knoxville at Christmas, we would cry and say what if Santa can’t find us cos we’re not at home, and my parents would assure us –Santa knows where all little girls and boys are-well be assured GOD knows where we are and WE are always on his mind!

The red verses are always on my mind when I am at the beach, because they say that yes, He is always thinking of me-his thoughts about me are more than the grains of sand on the beach. Wrap your mind around that one- who could even count a handful of sand much less all the sand on all the beaches. WOW-when I sleep He is thinking of me, when I’m awake He is thinking of me.

I could expound on every verse of this chapter , but I picked the ones I’m especially thankful for today.  If you feel alone and discouraged read these verses and ponder them –hear Willie Nelson singing You are always on my mind-that’s God singing to you.  I also wake up some mornings and hear Good morning Beautiful, How was your night? and I think that’s God caring how I slept last night.

God loves me this I KNOW !

Be blessed this sunny, sandy morning!:o)

Sitting at the Beach-I was tagged:o)

I've been tagged

Well Behaved Krissy tagged me!! I love awards- I love being at the beach, where I am I will now proceed with the tag…

So here it goes...

A. attached or single? attached

B. best friend? Jesus

C. cake or pie? cake-homemade of course

D. day of choice? Sunday

E. essential item? computer these days

F. favorite color? RED!

G. gummy bears or worms?worms

H. hometown? Huntsville AL

I. favorite indulgence? Pedicures and Starbucks Coffee

J. january or july? July-because my 1st child was born then and my husband was born then and I usually go to the beach and of course our country got its independence in July

K. kids? 3 beautiful wonderful kids 3 more beautiful wonderful GRANDkids

L. life isn't complete without? my grandkids around

M. marriage date? September 21 which was a miracle because its football season and I’m married to a coach

N. number of brothers & sisters? two brothers, one sister

O. oranges or apples? both

P. phobias? HELLO-flying

Q. quotes? People need love the most when they deserve it the least.

R. reasons to smile? My Heavenly Father knows everything about me, yet He loves me and he saved me and He calls me his own!

S. season of choice? Spring

T. tag five peeps! They're at the bottom of the page.

U. unknown fact about me? I could have made a record but I chose motherhood instead

V. vegetable? fresh ones-most all of them except brussel sprouts and greens

W. worst habits? overeating

X. x-ray or ultrasound? ultrasounds are way more exciting- I hope I get to go to one soon

Y. your favorite food? Mexican

Z. zodiac sign? Gemini

I'd like to honor the following blogs, and award them a 2008 Premio as well...

1. LindanJake

2. All Things are Possible

3. Mommy Girl

4. Kajun Kerry

5. I Wanna Talk about Me…
6. Life in the Parsonage

7.Putz

2008 Premio Award Rules:

1. When received, you may post the premio to your blog.
2. Link to the blogger you received it from.

3. Give it to 7 blogs

4. Link to those 7 blogs

5. Leave those seven bloggers a comment about receiving the brilliant premio.

Relationships...

Have you ever woke up one day and wondered how did I get estranged from someone I was so close too? Does it prey on your mind? Unfortunately, that probably happens to all of us. They say people come in to our life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. I think when someone is special we wish it would always be for a lifetime. Sometimes we don't realize that friendships are relationships just like a marriage is and we need to be working and always considerate of that relationship. I had wrote down a list of 10 Commandments for Human Relations, I'm not sure where it came from, but I think it's words we could all stand to be reminded of. I cherish my friendships and I even like new friends, so I must ask myself - If I met me would I want to be my friend? I want the answer to always be yes-so I'll look at this list of 10 commandments-not as sacred as the 10 from our Heavenly Father- but important if I want to relate well with others.

10 Commandments of Human Relations
Speak to people—There is nothing so nice as a cheerful word of greeting and/or encouragement.
Smile at people—It takes 72 muscles to frown, only 14 to smile.
Call people by name —The sweetest music to anyone’s ears is the sound of their own name.
Be friendly and helpful—If you would have a friend, be a friend.
Be cordial—Speak and act as if everything you do is a genuine pleasure.
Be genuinely interested in people—You can like most everybody if you try.
Be generous with praise—Cautious with criticism.
Be considerate with the feelings of others—There are usually three sides to a controversy; Yours, the other fellows and the right side.
Give of yourself—What counts most in life is what we do for others.
Keep a good sense of humor, a big dose of patience and a dash of humility—you will be rewarded many-fold.

I just think we need to remember these and try to practice them-

I had the pleasure of eating lunch today with 10 coworkers and celebrating 4 of them's birthdays. It made me think about friendship, respect and time. Things that are important in relating with others.

I love the Golden rule-Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Come to think of it all of my Favorite quotes have to do with Relationships...

WE can do no great things, only small things with great love. Mother Teresa

People need love the most when they deserve it the least.

When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I would have not a single bit of talent left and could say ,"I used everything you gave me."Erma Bombeck

Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires and a touch that never hurts.Charles Dickens

Enjoy life's little things, for one day you will look back and realize they were the big things.

Learn to write your hurts in the sand . Learn to carve your blessings into stone.

Alot of my favorite bible verses are the one anothers- God gave us each other-and He gave us some pointers.

Let's remember and live them.

Be blessed!