~ Donna's DAILY "UPPER"~
A brief daily "lift" for us... scroll down!...
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You can literally throw your negative thoughts away
by Cassie Shortsleeve of Men's Health. Article found at nbcnews.com
Take the trash out: According to new research in Psychological Science, writing down your negative thoughts and tossing them in the garbage can erase your bad mood.
Simple pick-me-up or suspect science? The finding seems silly, admits lead researcher Richard Petty, Ph.D., a professor at The Ohio State University. "But sometimes it's the silly things that work."
In one of Petty's experiments, 83 people were asked to write down thoughts on their body image, then either throw them away or keep them. The results: People who kept their thoughts were more likely to side in favor of their notes--so if they wrote negative notes, they rated themselves more negatively--but those who trashed their thoughts saw no change in how they rated their bodies.
So try it: Next time something is driving you crazy, just write it down and toss it out. The action "gives a greater finality to your thoughts," Petty says. That means you'll trick your brain into marking bad thoughts as gone, instead of suppressing them--only to let your brain find them and start feeling crummy all over again.
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I guess even cats have to have a post holiday crash diet!!! Sounds like Tim's "problem," has been...
"long -stewing" (pun intended!).
Tiny Tim, the fat cat, is still battling weight issues.
Hey, it's not funny! Tiny Tim has a problem.
The ridiculously cute Texas kitty -- who weighed in at 36 pounds just before Christmas in 2011 -- is down to 28.6 pounds this year, but he has a long way to go, according to the Houston Chronicle.
"Because he was so huge, he had trouble walking, he had trouble standing," Southside Place Animal Hospital manager Debbie Green told ABCNews.com.
The 9-year-old "super sweet cat," abandoned last year, has been taken care of at the hospital. He's been put on a strict diet after it was determined that he was healthy but about as obese as a pussy can get.
Since then, he's lost 20 percent of his body weight through a sensible meal plan and a long, arduous 50-foot walk each day from the front of the clinic to his room for chow time.
That path hasn't been easy. At one point this year, Tiny Tim stopped losing weight. Doctors couldn't figure it out, until they realized the error of their ways: letting him sleep in the pantry.
"At night, he was feeding himself because his little measured amounts would run out," Green said.
The food was moved up, and Tiny Tim got back on track. He's now running around more -- despite arthritis problems -- and enjoying the attention from hospital guests.
It's a happy story in a world of sad tales for fat cats. Meow, the 40-pound orange and white tabby, died earlier this year of lung failure. He did, however, raise awareness about obesity in pets before he passed in New Mexico, the Los Angeles Times points out.
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A forest-owning German aristocrat is to reintroduce bison into the wild in Western Europe for the first time in over 250 years.
Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg is set to introduce a herd of eight European bison to his 32,124-acre forest in North Rhine-Westphalia.
If the 79-year-old prince's plan works, Germany will be the first country west of Poland where animals, also known as wisent, will live in the wild once again.
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I have recently been introduced to a relatively new version of the Bible called "The Message." I think it is a wonderful Bible to have! It helps me to grasp and understand much of what I didn't "get" in the past, due to language interpretation. This newer Bible reinterprets passages in TODAY'S lingo--so we can undersand the meaning and intent of that the author is trying to convey to us. Give it a try if you haven't already. It is well worth it to re-stimulate Bible reading with new found pleasure!
I guess even cats have to have a post holiday crash diet!!! Sounds like Tim's "problem," has been...
"long -stewing" (pun intended!).
Tiny Tim, Fat Cat, On Diet But Still (Adorable) Battling Weight Issues
The Huffington Post
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By Andy Campbell
Posted: 12/29/2012 10:01 am EST | Updated: 12/29/2012 2:25 pm EST
Tiny Tim, the fat cat, is still battling weight issues.
The ridiculously cute Texas kitty -- who weighed in at 36 pounds just before Christmas in 2011 -- is down to 28.6 pounds this year, but he has a long way to go, according to the Houston Chronicle.
"Because he was so huge, he had trouble walking, he had trouble standing," Southside Place Animal Hospital manager Debbie Green told ABCNews.com.
The 9-year-old "super sweet cat," abandoned last year, has been taken care of at the hospital. He's been put on a strict diet after it was determined that he was healthy but about as obese as a pussy can get.
Since then, he's lost 20 percent of his body weight through a sensible meal plan and a long, arduous 50-foot walk each day from the front of the clinic to his room for chow time.
That path hasn't been easy. At one point this year, Tiny Tim stopped losing weight. Doctors couldn't figure it out, until they realized the error of their ways: letting him sleep in the pantry.
"At night, he was feeding himself because his little measured amounts would run out," Green said.
The food was moved up, and Tiny Tim got back on track. He's now running around more -- despite arthritis problems -- and enjoying the attention from hospital guests.
It's a happy story in a world of sad tales for fat cats. Meow, the 40-pound orange and white tabby, died earlier this year of lung failure. He did, however, raise awareness about obesity in pets before he passed in New Mexico, the Los Angeles Times points out.
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German prince lets bison loose in Western Europe for first time in more than 250 years
- German aristocrat to reintroduce herd of eight to his private forest
- They will be the first to wander in the wild in Germany since 1746
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A forest-owning German aristocrat is to reintroduce bison into the wild in Western Europe for the first time in over 250 years.
Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg is set to introduce a herd of eight European bison to his 32,124-acre forest in North Rhine-Westphalia.
If the 79-year-old prince's plan works, Germany will be the first country west of Poland where animals, also known as wisent, will live in the wild once again.
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I have recently been introduced to a relatively new version of the Bible called "The Message." I think it is a wonderful Bible to have! It helps me to grasp and understand much of what I didn't "get" in the past, due to language interpretation. This newer Bible reinterprets passages in TODAY'S lingo--so we can undersand the meaning and intent of that the author is trying to convey to us. Give it a try if you haven't already. It is well worth it to re-stimulate Bible reading with new found pleasure!
The Daily Mail had this story about a service dog trained to help a woman with narcolepsy!
The amazing alarm-clock dog who helps narcoleptic owner live a normal life by waking her several times a day
- Annick suffers up to six sleep attacks a day and never knows when she will drop off
- The 35-year-old couldn't live an independent life and relied on parental supervision
- Doctor suggested training a dog to wake Annick when she nodded off during the day
- After one year's training Idefix will now nip her ankles and ears for up to half an hour to rouse Annick
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A woman with narcolepsy who suffers up to six sleep attacks a day has had her life transformed by a very special dog.
Annick, 35, from Belgium, never knows when she will drop off. She slept up to 16 hours a day and needed careful supervision from her parents.
But she has been given a new lease of life thanks to the arrival of a little white dog called Idefix. The five-year-old mongrel is trained to wake her by nipping her ankles or ears at train and bus stops or when he hears an alarm.
New lease of life: Idefix has been trained to nip gently at Annick's ankles and ears if she suffers a sleep attack
Wakey wakey! Idefix can spend up to half an hour rousing his narcoleptic owner
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2252822/The-amazing-alarm-clock-dog-wakes-narcoleptic-owner-times-day.html#ixzz2GE4VuTUg ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A homeowner is Seattle, has had fun playing a "joke" on people looking at his home, this holiday season. Take a look yourself!
Wreck the halls? Christmas tree grows through the roof
Courtesy of Patrick Kruger
Patrick Kruger was determined to fit his Christmas tree into his house — even if he had to break the roof to squeeze it in.
"I found a tree I really liked, however, as you can see from the pictures, it was hardly the right size for our home," the Seattle architect told TODAY.com.
So he came up with a creative solution: he cut off the top 6 feet and turned it into a prop he then attached to the roof, creating an optical illusion that the Christmas tree had literally burst through the building.
Kruger, whose house has since become something of a local attraction, admitted he always intended to create a playful holiday decoration, hoping to entertain the neighborhood.
"The truth, of course, is I set out to do this," he said. "I wanted to do something simple yet impactful. Something that people of all ages could enjoy."
Ho Ho Ho...or should I say "Ha Ha Ha"!!!
full link is located here: http://holidayblog.today.com/_news/2012/12/20/16044059-wreck-the-halls-christmas-tree-grows-through-the-roof?lite
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Merry Christmas! The adorable little cheetah cub in the article below is having a "merry" one-now that cubbie is rescued from a neglectful Mom! Story from orange.co.uk
Orphaned cheetah cub wins hearts
An adorable orphaned two-month-old cheetah cub is the new star attraction at a zoo in Poland.
The cub is being hand reared by keepers at Lodz Zoo after her mum rejected her shortly after she was born. The youngster - who does not yet have a name - is already nearly 8lbs (3.5kg) and thriving after a month in an incubator.
But she seems happy to snuggle down for a cat nap as her new human foster parents give her a cuddle.
Zoo spokesman Mariusz Zientalski said: "Cheetahs are very difficult to reproduce in captivity. This is the first we've had in 17 years.
"She is very lively, intelligent, and tactile - she loves being cuddled and has adapted to her new conditions very quickly and very well.
"For some reason her mother Zele stopped feeding her and stopped looking after her.
"The cub's life really hung in the balance for a while but she's survived and has really taken to her alternative lifestyle," she added.
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I found this news correction funny... and chuckled at many others in the article (link below)
There are lots more (but some a bit "racy" ) news corrections listed in the main story from the Huffington Post...here's the link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/20/the-funniest-news-corrections_n_1992987.html#slide=more255103
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What a neat (and cute!) idea for security purposes!
Direct link to story: http://web.orange.co.uk/article/quirkies/Inventors_garden_gnome_protects_homes
Inventor's garden gnome protects homes
An inventor has created a security conscious garden gnome - to
help protect Britain's empty homes over the festive season.
Ian Burgess hid a sophisticated home security system inside a garden gnome to help people protect their unguarded homes.
He was commission by Confused.com after research showed nearly half of Britain's homes are left empty for at least one night over the festive period.
Mr Burgess's 'Festive Garden Guardian' conceals an adapted network wireless security camera coupled with day and night motion sensors.
The camera takes photos of any intruders which are then instantly sent to a pre-determined email address or mobile phone.
The homeowner can also log on to the camera remotely, via a laptop or smartphone, to monitor what's going on at their home.
Mr Burgess, of Setwo Limited, says he has seen first hand the effect a break-in can have on a person's sense of security.
He said: "Having your home burgled is a horrible experience. Having your home broken into, and knowing someone's taken your things can really unsettle you.
That's why I wanted to create the Festive Garden Guardians - so that I can help protect people from having the same thing happen to them."
People can apply to take part in a Confused.com pilot scheme to test the effectiveness of the new invention.
If it proves successful, the Garden Guardians could be rolled out commercially next year.
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This is taken from Abe Lincoln's Devotion book for this particular day...Dec. 22 (my children's Angel Day)...
SAINTS SHALL INHERIT ALL THINGS
He that overcometh shall inherit all things: and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Rev. 27.
The saints in his presence receive
Their great and eternal reward;
With Jesus in heaven they live;
They reign in the smile of their Lord.
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I enjoy reading the daily quips on calendars that have them. I read one once that was so "spot on" (pun intended!) that I kept it and still enjoy reading it. Here it is: (photo of Golden Retriever accompanies the quote...I supplied a photo of my beloved Daisy-- now gone to Heaven.)
"Dog. A kind of additional or subsidiary deity designed to catch the overflow and surplus of the world's worship." Ambrose Bierce
Yup, that about sums it up!!! :-)
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A couple quick jokes today...to make you smile!
Why did the cookie go to the doctor?
Because it was feeling crummy.
What did the egg say to the other egg?
Let's get cracking!
Have a peace-filled day!
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Don't want to try this one!
New peanut butter not for the faint-hearted
A new spicy variety of peanut butter - six times hotter than the world's hottest chilli - is to be sold in Britain.
The aptly named Instant Regret peanut butter is packed with capsaicin - the component that provides the heat within a chilli.
On the Scoville scale, which measures the heat of chilli peppers, the peanut butter boasts a whopping rating of 12,000,000.
To put this in perspective, the world's hottest chilli - the Moruga Scorpion - rates at 2,000,000, as does the most legal variant of pepper spray.
The spread is not for the faint-hearted and even comes with a warning to users. It is not suitable for the elderly nor children.
So fiercely hot is the butter that the retailers, Firebox, had to persuade the factory to produce it.
Instant Regret creator Ben Redhead said: "During the tasting process we first laughed, but then we cried.
"Measuring a mental 12 million SHU on the Scoville Scale, it's probably not your everyday breakfast spread."
For anyone brave enough to give it a try, the peanut butter is for sale online at £7 a jar.
(story from orange.co.uk-link here:
http://web.orange.co.uk/article/quirkies/New_peanut_butter_not_for_the_faint-hearted
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Yahoo Blogs had a news article about comfort being given to the Newtown tragedy survivors...via Golden Retrievers! I love this breed--I had a Golden girl once--and came to adore the special kind of unconditional (and very enthusiastic!) love that Goldens are known for!
Kudos for the Addison, IL based Lutheran Church charity, that transported their 10 Goldens to CT. These same dogs travel all around the country, offering comfort to victims. I am sure they brought a smile to faces that have been very sad for a long time...
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| photo courtesy of Yahoo/Dylan Stableford |
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/golden-retrievers-sent-comfort-newtown-survivors-220213316.html
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I found this in a desk drawer today and thought I would post it. It is written by St. Francis de Sales and it's comforting words widely known. Worth reading again!
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| St. Francis de Sales |
~~~Be at peace--Do not fear the changes of life --rather look to them with full hope as they arise.
God, whose very own you are, will deliver you from out of them.
He has kept you hitherto, and He will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand it,
God will bury you in His arms.
Do not be afraid of what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today
will take care of you then and every day.
He will either shield you from suffering, or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace--
and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.~~~
St. Francis de Sales
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A darts fan was kicked out of a live televised final - because he looked like Jesus.
Nathan Grindal, 33, was enjoying the match between champ Phil Taylor and Kim Huybrechts when some of the crowd noticed the resemblance.
Chants of "Jesus" quickly spread through the 4,500-strong crowd, interrupting play at Butlins in Minehead, Somerset.
Security was called before six bouncers escorted Mr Grindal from the Cash Converters Players' Championship, being shown on ITV4.
Mr Grindal, a labourer, was escorted to a nearby bar where security staff bought him a pint and told him to watch the rest of the final on the telly.
He saw the legendary Taylor win then found himself being asked to pose for signed photos with fans as they left the arena.
Nathan, who emigrated from his native Australia to Oxford six years ago, said: "I didn't go to the darts dressed as Jesus - I went as me.
"It was all very weird and distressing. In his post-match interview, Phil Taylor said something like 'if I ever see Jesus again, I'll crucify him myself'. Now that's just hurtful."
Dave Allen, spokesman for the Professional Darts Corporation, said Nathan was ejected to prevent his presence becoming a nuisance to the players.
He said: "There was a lot of chanting of Jesus and I think to avoid it becoming too much of a distraction for the players he was taken by security to another part of the complex."
From The Daily Mail comes this story of a very talented dog!
Meet Cliff, the remarkable super-sniffing dog who detects hospital superbugs
By sniffing around hospital beds, two-year-old Beagle can identify deadly infection C.difficile
Hound has astonishing success rate of nearly 100 per cent
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The Daily Mail had a scrumptious story about fabulous chocolate gifts that English Christmas Gifters can give...(link at bottom) Here is one of the most intriguing to me:
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| Festive treats: The Signature Collection, £160, Hotel Chocolat |
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| Lindt Melt Chocolate Large Gold Leaf Heart Chocolate, £27, |
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A A pinch of spice: Ginger Truffles, £9.99, Charbonnel et Walker
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This is a heartwarming story...Kudos for "Next" for giving this young lady the opportunity!
Article from orange.co.uk
Burns victim becomes a fashion model
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| photo from The Daily Mail (link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2244065/Childhood-burns-victim-Labonya-Siddiqui-lands-modelling-job-high-street-giant-Next.html) |
A burns victim has overcome her horrific childhood injuries to become a model for High Street giant Next.
Labonya Siddiqui, 21, from Burnley, was permanently scarred when a paraffin lamp exploded when she was just eight in Bangladesh.
But she eventually overcame post-traumatic stress and bullying to land a modeling job with the major high-street chain.
Labonya, who uses minimal makeup to cover her scars, said: "The fact that Next has taken a chance on me and given me this opportunity is incredible.
"I used to look at magazines when I was a teenager, wishing I was pretty enough to appear on the glossy pages."
Labonya's accident happened in May 2000 when she was at home in Dhaka in Bangladesh where she was born.
It left her in a coma for five days and doctors feared for her life. Months of intensive hospital treatment were followed by numerous operations and in 2002 Labonya and her family moved to Burnley.
She covered her scars for 12 years until a friend one day encouraged her to show her true face.
Labonya, now studying chemistry at Bradford University, said she now hoped to become a figurehead for other burns victims.
"I hope when other people like me see my work they will find their own confidence and strength so that they will be just as comfortable being themselves as I am with my scars," she said.
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Monkey "Business"!!!
My son Kevin alerted me about this in the news so I looked it up. I found it on foxnews.com...
TORONTO – Shoppers at an Ikea store in Toronto weren't monkeying around when they reported a primate on the loose.
Customers spotted a monkey — clad in a pint-sized shearling coat — wandering around the store's parking lot by itself Sunday afternoon.
Police say Ikea staff lured the primate into a corner before calling the cops, who contacted the city's Animal Services department.
Police Staff Sgt. Ed Dzingala says the monkey never made it inside the store and says its owner later contacted police and was reunited with the pet.
Dzingala says the monkey escaped its crate in a parked car and explored its surroundings before being picked up.
The incident inspired at least two parody Twitter accounts which took on the persona of the wandering monkey.
Customers spotted a monkey — clad in a pint-sized shearling coat — wandering around the store's parking lot by itself Sunday afternoon.
Police say Ikea staff lured the primate into a corner before calling the cops, who contacted the city's Animal Services department.
Police Staff Sgt. Ed Dzingala says the monkey never made it inside the store and says its owner later contacted police and was reunited with the pet.
Dzingala says the monkey escaped its crate in a parked car and explored its surroundings before being picked up.
The incident inspired at least two parody Twitter accounts which took on the persona of the wandering monkey.
The last I heard, the woman was trying to regain custody of the monkey- now placed in a shelter.
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| A pinch of spice: Ginger Truffles, £9.99, Charbonnel et Walker |
Now the military has come up with a new fabric...that makes soldiers look invisible! The fabric "bends the light around its wearer" to render the wearer invisible, reportedly even to night vision goggles. This story is from The Daily Mail... link is here:
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Since it's Monday--a little something to hopefully cause a few smiles to lighten your day... QUICK, CLEAN JOKES!
1. Did you hear about the two silkworms who had a race? It ended in a tie.
2. An FBI agent is interviewing a bank teller after the bank had been robbed 3 times by the same bandit. "Did you notice anything special about the man?" asks the agent. "Yes," replies the teller. "He was better dressed each time."
3. Question: What pie can fly?
Answer: a magpie!
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Talk about wacky inventions...how about a cell phone case that one can eat in case of emergency? ~Story from The Daily Mail~
The iPhone case you can EAT: Japanese rice cracker case is most bizarre yet - but could keep you going in emergency
- The Sebei Survival iPhone case is made from Japanese brown rice and salt
- It is so frail that its maker will not guarantee delivery in one piece
- However it could save your life if you need a snack in an emergency
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| Edible: The Survival Senbei iPhone 5 case is handmade from Japanese brown rice and salt, and is available online for just £30 plus shipping ption |
Edible: The Survival Senbei iPhone 5 case is
handmade from Japanese brown rice and salt, and is available online for
just £30 plus shipping
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She was later told she would probably have died if it had not been for Aaron’s brave actions.
'It’s amazing as he doesn’t know the alphabet and can barely count to ten.
'I don’t know how he did it. He managed to unlock my mobile phone, go to the address book and go straight to my nan, who brought me up, of all people.
I find that mobile hard to use myself. The doctors said I was lucky to be alive.
'It feels like I must have been watched over by a guardian angel who was guiding him through what to do.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2243484/Toddler-3-saves-mothers-life-calling-gran-despite-using-phone-before.html#ixzz2EFV6LhLj
The future of housing may be quite different
in years ahead. A story in The Daily Mail describes the house of the future...one that morphs its exterior to correspond to current temperature and light conditions! Here's the full story link:
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This story is hilarious from The Daily Mail...all about 3 shelter dogs from Australia...LEARNING TO DRIVE! The shelter believes this will help increase adoptions...by emphasizing how intelligent shelter dogs can be! Here's the link and the attendant video is so funny to watch!
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A three year old is credited with saving his mother's life, in this story from The Daily Mail...(condensed--link to full article is at bottom)
Toddler, 3, saves mother's life by calling his gran despite never using a phone before
A three-year-old boy saved his mother’s life by calling for help using her mobile phone - despite having never used one before.
Mother Cally, 26, had a diabetic seizure which caused her to collapse. Aaron was able to get her urgent medical attention
She was later told she would probably have died if it had not been for Aaron’s brave actions.
'It’s amazing as he doesn’t know the alphabet and can barely count to ten.
'I don’t know how he did it. He managed to unlock my mobile phone, go to the address book and go straight to my nan, who brought me up, of all people.
I find that mobile hard to use myself. The doctors said I was lucky to be alive.
'It feels like I must have been watched over by a guardian angel who was guiding him through what to do.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2243484/Toddler-3-saves-mothers-life-calling-gran-despite-using-phone-before.html#ixzz2EFV6LhLj
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This is a heartwarming story...amazingly kind fans!
(from The Daily Mail-link is below)
Beary Christmas: Fans throw 21,000 teddy bears onto the ice for needy children at the first goal of Calgary hockey game
By Daily Mail ReporterPUBLISHED: 00:12 EST, 4 December 2012 | UPDATED: 01:33 EST, 4 December 2012
A first year winger for the Calgary Hitmen, Paylo Padakin knew about the team's annual Teddy Bear Toss and thought he knew what to expect when the stuffed animals started raining down on the ice.
He was wrong.
'I didn’t think it was like this ... not emotional,' he said, smiling.
Winner: Calgary Hitmen Pavlo Padakin started the avalanche of bears for charity when he scored the first goal of the game
He was wrong.
'I didn’t think it was like this ... not emotional,' he said, smiling.
Winner: Calgary Hitmen Pavlo Padakin started the avalanche of bears for charity when he scored the first goal of the game
Snuggles: Calgary Hitmen Cody Sylvester dives
into a pile of Teddy Bears littered across the ice
'I thought maybe a couple bears. Not so much,' he added. 'But when they started to fall down, I said, ‘Oh my god, what do I need to do?’ I couldn’t skate to the bench because all the ice was (covered) in bears.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2242639/Beary-Christmas-Fans-throw-21-000-teddy-bears-ice-needy-children-goal-Calgary-hockey-game.html#ixzz2E47u5Cqc
'I thought maybe a couple bears. Not so much,' he added. 'But when they started to fall down, I said, ‘Oh my god, what do I need to do?’ I couldn’t skate to the bench because all the ice was (covered) in bears.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2242639/Beary-Christmas-Fans-throw-21-000-teddy-bears-ice-needy-children-goal-Calgary-hockey-game.html#ixzz2E47u5Cqc
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According to The Daily Mail, our bodies, not our faces, reveal what we are really thinking...
Here's a summary of what their findings are from the story found at this link:
People in the studies were better able to determine the correct mood of people in shown pictures, if they could see their whole body.
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story from web.orange.co.uk
Bacon-flavoured shaving cream
A US company has created a gift for the man who has everything - bacon flavoured shaving scream.
J&D's new product is described as "high end, luxurious bacon-scented shaving cream" and is on sale for about £9.Inventor Justin Esch said: "There is nothing more powerful than the smell of bacon, nothing. Bacon is the smell of champions.
"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and bacon is the best part of breakfast. Why not smell like it and be the best?"
The self-titled "bacontrepreneur" has also come up with other pork inspired products such as bacon roses, bacon lip balm and bacon baby formula.
And, for those "who love bacon to death", he has created a £2,000 bacon-wrapped coffin.
Mr Esch added: "Bacon is delicious, people get excited when they smell it. When you walk into a room don't you want people to be excited to see you?"
story link: http://web.orange.co.uk/article/quirkies/Bacon-flavoured_shaving_cream
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I wonder how their teacher felt when she/he realized what the students had brought...!
(story from www.orange.co.uk)--link is here:
November 2012, 12:11
Pupils bring lion to 'show and tell'
Youngsters in Russia had the mane attraction for their show and
tell - when they found a lost lion cub on their way to school.
The male cub was spotted wandering the streets of Seyatel village, near Rostov in southern Russia, and taken to school by local children.
Police looked after the cub until owner Irina Kulikovskaya came forward saying it had escaped from the boot of her car.
"He's meant to be the real star of a new zoo I'm creating. I'm very grateful," she told local media."
Nobody believed us when we said we had a lion when we got to
school but you should have seen their faces when we brought it into
class," said one of the pupils.
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For the start of the season of "Joy," here's something to prime your joy pump!
An FBI agent is interviewing a bank teller after the bank had been robbed 3 times by the same bandit. "Did you notice anything special about the man?" asks the agent. "Yes," replies the teller. "He was better dressed each time."
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This story amused me, especially when I read that one of the apes was actually older than the employee! The other ape, a mere year younger...
(story from www.orange.co.uk)
Keeper reads apes a bedtime story
A zoo keeper has discovered the perfect way to cut out monkey
business when he tucks his orangutans up at night - by reading them a
bedtime story.
The two playful primates used to drive keepers ape at Poland's Gdansk Zoo until Michel Krause, 36, started to read to them.
"They were repeat offenders, always causing trouble," said Michal of Albert, 40, and Raya, 35.
"I didn't know what to do until I pulled out a book I was reading during a break and within a couple of minutes they were trying to read over my shoulder," he added.
Now the arty apes have even developed their distinct literary tastes.
Albert likes English literature like Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, while Raya is a fan of thrillers and drama.
"Albert's favourite book is Pride and Prejudice while Raya like German fiction, like the Winnetou native American stories by Karl May.
"But they both like cookery books and when we're doing dramatic readings they like me to act out all the movements," said Michal.
"Now they go to bed quietly and peacefully as long as they get their stories," he added.
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I use a product every now and then that always make me smile when I read the description of what it's useful for...
This is what's written on the bottle that I think, as an adult using this product, is almost a bit "accusatory"...
Sometimes I can be a big "baby" before bedtime, too! Ha!
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(Original article is found at orange.co.uk--link is below)
An elderly couple from Austria, are quite the heroes for an injured pigeon. The husband found the bird with a broken wing after it had been hit by a car. He brought it to the vet and then home to recuperate. The bird apparently became attached to them. Now the couple love "Susi"so much... they haven't gone on vacation for 17 years. Or use the dishwasher or oven, respecting the pigeon's needs.
Pigeons can live up to 20 years, or longer--if kept out of the wild, a local vet told them. The full story is here:
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An article from dailymail.co.uk explains that certain well-respected "SuperFoods"--are falling short of the mark. The list includes:
1) ~Cholesterol-Lowering Margarine~ (no studies show any clinical effectiveness)
2)~Carrots in order to improve eyesight~ (no proof of this anywhere; originally a ruse created to use up an oversupply of carrots. Kale and Spinach (leafy greens) are actually effective in maintaining good eyesight.
3)~Smoothies~ (most are way too high in calories and sugar)
4)~Cod Liver Oil~ (no truth that it aids those with osteoarthritis- Plain old exercise is better at helping osteoarthritis patients to feel better and maintain joint mobility.
5)~Yogurt-Covered Raisins~ (not healthy for you as they are merely yogurt-flavored and full of fat and sugar).
6)~Berries slow cognitive decline~ (studies were poorly conducted and failed to prove that a heavy intake of strawberries or blueberries would slow cognitive decline.
7) Processed orange juice to treat respiratory ills~ (orange juice is a mucus-forming and is therefore contraindicated for anyone suffering congestion or other pulmonary issues, especially those with cystic fibrosis).
the entire article can be found at:
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Americans put the first man on the moon, have made numerous sophisticated and technologically difficult advances in many areas...BUT
We apparently, still fail to recognize when something is NOT a food item...for instance, say, SOAP!!!
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| Clearly says "bath soap" on the front! |
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| Apparently we need help understanding this is NOT FOOD! Duh! |
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Sunday 11/25/12
My son showed me this story on his laptop the other day...Unbelievable! found the article at
New road built around stubborn tenants
Road planners in China built a four-lane highway around an apartment block after the last tenants refused to move out.
Officials in WenLing, Zhejiang province, could not persuade the
final two families living there to relocate, so simply built the new
road around them.The highway - an access way into a new train station - will soon have thousands of cars racing past the property every day.
Stubborn resident Zhang Ling, 46, explained: "They didn't offer us enough compensation to leave so we're staying.
"It could be a good opportunity for us. We could open up a drive through shop on the ground floor."
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Saturday 11/24/12
Found this interesting tidbit on the web...located at http://web.orange.co.uk/article/quirkies/Botox_marketed_to_poker_players
Botox marketed to poker players
A New York doctor is marketing Botox at card players - to help them maintain their poker face.
Dr Jack Berdy has introduced 'Pokertox', a program of Botox and
facial fillers, to enhance a player's ability to hide their emotions.He first consults with poker players on their "tells" - the unconscious signals they give off on whether they have a good or bad hand.
"Some people might get a card they like or don't like and raise their eyebrows," Dr Berdy told The Huffington Post.
"If that's the common reaction, we can put Botox in certain areas to minimize them.
"We can also put Botox in areas to make it look like the player has a 'tell' they really don't have."
Dr Berdy is hoping the treatment will prove a sure fire bet - although he is still waiting for his first customer one week after launch.
However, poker player Josh Hale, who has competed on the World Poker Tour, thinks the idea may be ten to 15 years too late.
"The game has moved on from bluffs, and is more analytical these days," he told HuffPost.
"Players might look at physical tells, but they are relying more on betting patterns and bet sizing."
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Friday 11/23/12
Hoping you've snagged a couple of bargains today-- "Black Friday"!
Here's an image of innocence that I saw on our local news. As you can see in the corner...it was 78 degrees here where I live! This sweetness is to counter all the negativity; reports of the fighting, pushing, shoving and general shopping mayhem while shopping for "gifts"...!
It was the saying on the bib that really made me smile:
 | |
| "KEEP THE CUPCAKES COMING" |
Now that's what I call worth fighting for! Ensuring this sweet innocent gets plenty of delicious cupcakes in a timely fashion! :-)
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Thursday 11/22/12 
President Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863... Far from the thinking that "Black Friday" shopping should start as early as Thanksgiving Day, Lincoln had other thoughts on the holiday: (excerpt from: http://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Early-hours-give-Thanksgiving-the-creeps-4058457.php) )
It amazes me, that nowadays it seems so "politically incorrect" to even mention the name of God and politics in the same sentence!
Wednesday 11/21/12
This article from www.orange.co.uk makes me happy the poor Polar bear finally got treatment!
- 19 November 2012, 11:25
Dentist treats polar bear with sore tooth
A 12-strong team of dentists, vets, and dental nurses had to be called in - when a 75-stone polar bear got a toothache.
Keepers at the Highland Wildlife Park in Inverness-shire had noticed the usually playful Arktos seemed to be feeling a bit sorry for himself.
As broken or infected teeth are a major problem for polar bears in the wild, he had been trained to open his huge mouth to show keepers his 42 razor sharp gnashers.
So, when the five-year-old bear's check-up revealed a potential problem, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's team of veterinarians was drafted in to carry out a three hour operation.
When experts got an anaesthetised Arktos into the equivalent of a dentist's chair - a specially reinforced table made from scaffolding poles and planks - they discovered he needed root canal work.
One of his teeth had become damaged at the tip and rotted through, so it needed drilling out, cleaning and then packing with dental cement.
Douglas Richardson, animal collection anager at the Highland Wildlife Park, said: "We train our polar bears and other large animals to take part in regular health checks, this means that we can spot issues like this before they become a problem and give our animals the best possible care available.
"Although due to his size an operation like this is never straightforward, the dental work carried out is actually very similar to a root canal that we humans would have - although obviously on a much larger scale."
Maybe they should train Arktos to floss, too! :-)
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Tuesday 11/20/12
I found this posted on one of my favorite online quilting sites: http://www.missouriquiltco.com/
Pretty funny how times have changed!
This is an actual ad, but the year wasn't listed. Doing a bit of research on Wiki-- leads me to say this ad probably dates between the 20's to before the mid 40's (when the bikini was invented and surely they would have used that for this ad!).
Monday 11/19/12
Sime Darby Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur, is the site where an image of The Virgin Mary has appeared according to the locals --on a seventh floor window. An appearance of Jesus, is on a nearby window, also. The Catholic Church says an investigation will be necessary to ascertain the validity of these apparitions.
You can see the apparition in this video. I personally feel that this is "authentic."
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Sunday 11/18/12
(article found on www.orange.co.uk)15November 2012, 11:47
Hotel boasts prison-like comfort
The Hans Brinker Budget Hostel says it "has been proudly disappointing travellers for forty years".
"Boasting levels of comfort comparable to a minimum-security prison, the Hans Brinker also offers some plumbing and an intermittently open canteen serving a wide range of dishes based on runny eggs," it adds.
Among the facilities proudly advertised on its website are "thin mattresses, grotty paintwork, metal lockers, doors that lock and rooms without views".
While other hotel chains claim that "luxury comes as standard", the Hans Brinker excitedly tells customers: "Now with beds in every room."
"The Hans Brinker Budget Hotel isn't just a cheap youth hostel in Amsterdam," it boasts. "It's a cheap, dirty, cold, poorly lit youth hostel in Amsterdam."
But the unusual advertising style seems to be working with the backpackers who make up the majority of the hostel's clientele.
"They love our humour and sarcasm and they have diminished their expectations to less than nothing," said manager Tijmen Receveur.
Saturday 11/17/12
What did the Yoga master say when he walked into the Pizza Parlor?
"Make me one with everything."
When the Yoga master got the pizza, he gave the proprietor a $20 bill. The proprietor pocketed the bill. The Yogi said "Don't I get change?"
The proprietor said, "Change must come from within.”
"Make me one with everything."
When the Yoga master got the pizza, he gave the proprietor a $20 bill. The proprietor pocketed the bill. The Yogi said "Don't I get change?"
The proprietor said, "Change must come from within.”
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Friday 11/16/12
An enterprising man!
A high-flying Chinese businessman has found the perfect way to beat traffic jams on his way to the office.
Instead of spending three hours in a car criss-crossing Zhuzhou city in Hunan province, Zeng Daxia learned to parasail so he can rise above the traffic jams and congestion.
"I work and live at different ends of the city, so I used to waste lots of time in traffic jams in my commute every day," explained Zeng.
"Now I can drift above all of them and get to work in just a few minutes. There are a few of us doing it now because the traffic here is so bad," he added.
Local flight regulations says the powered paragliders are legal as long as Zeng doesn't fly over military air bases and keeps below 1,000 metres.
"It may sound cruel but I like to fly low - just so I can see the frustration on the drivers' faces," sajd Zeng.
(story from web.orange.co.uk)
Thursday 11/15/12
Today I saw the sweetest thing on the church grounds, just after my friend parked her car. There were 3 double strollers and one triple stroller coming toward us, one behind the other! The children looked like twins and triplets...just old enough to be looking around... and fascinated by God's beautiful world.
I was so interested in seeing this procession of three strollers that I forgot to step onto the sidewalk and just kept walking on the asphalt for awhile, taking in the visual delight! Thank you, God, for letting me see that today...
Wednesday 11/14/12
Today is "International Girls Day!" In order to celebrate the day, I'm posting something I found on my favorite online quilting site-- Missouri Star Quilt Company. It made me chuckle a few times!
Ten Things Only Women Understand:
10. Why it’s important to have five pairs of black shoes.
9. The difference between cream, ivory, and off-white.
8. Chocolate is it’s own food group - you’ve gotta get your daily minimum.
7. A fabric sale is an emergency. You know, the kind you would use your “emergency fund” for.
6. A salad, diet drink, and a hot fudge sundae can make a balanced lunch.
5. Discovering a designer dress on the clearance rack can be considered a “peak life experience”.
4. The inaccuracy of every bathroom scale ever made.
3. A good man might be hard to find, but a good hairdresser is next to impossible.
2. Why a phone call between two women never lasts under ten minutes.
And the number one thing that only women understand:
1. OTHER WOMEN!
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Tuesday 11/13/12
38 year old Jonathan Trappe made the record books by being the first to fly over the English Channel (England to Belgium), using cluster- balloons, in 2010.
Trappe is asking for the public's help in funding the $300,000 expense; he's already provided more than half of that out of pocket.
The link to the story from the Telegraph is here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/aviation/9663850/US-adventurers-bid-to-cross-the-Atlantic-using-helium-balloons.html
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Monday 11/12/12
Today is a day off for workers because of "Veterans Day." In our own way, bereaved Moms can be considered "veterans" of the war
that is grief.
We have fought daily battles and struggled mightily to overcome "the enemy." We have endured being held "captive"...
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Sunday 11/11/12
Abraham Lincoln used a daily devotional: "The Believer's Daily Treasure; or Texts of Scripture Arranged for Every Day in the Year." This was published in 1852 by The Religious Tract Society, London, England Fourth Edition. The Trinity Broadcasting Network later reprinted it and I purchased it several years ago.
November's Title is "Anticipations Of The Believer"-- Here is the reading for this date from Lincoln's daily devotional...
"Of the Certainty of Death"
When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
Job xvi. 22.
Welcome, sweet hour of full discharge,
That sets my longing soul at large;
Unbinds my chains, breaks up my cell,
And gives me with my God to dwell.
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Saturday 11/10/12
Two separate Golden Retriever sightings today, made me think of my Daisy, now gone to Rainbow Bridge.
In memory of Daisy, I'd like to share a memory...
We were walking as usual, and she picked up a fallen branch that was quite long, carrying it as we walked. The branch attracted attention because of its length. She was a quick learner, so I reversed the branch to stick out to the left of us, and made the branch touch the wall as we walked.
"Go up against the (stone) wall!!! Go up against the wall, girl! I'd urge, and she caught on. From that point on, whenever she found a long branch, preferably still with leaves attached, she'd eagerly "Go up against the wall" and it would look so funny as she picked up her speed and kept the stick against the wall (which enclosed the entire walkway).
People would smile widely when they saw how cute she looked, being so proud of her "abilities"!
I look forward to reunion with my sweet Daisy, too! Agreeing with the heartfelt words of a stranger who spoke to me about the loss of her dog...
"She was a dang good dog...a dang good dog."
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Friday 11/9/12
I guess it's never too late to start voting! I read today about a 106 year old woman from South Carolina...that voted for the first time in her life! It was a friend that convinced Gladys Miller to cast her vote in the recent Presidential election. Way to go, Gladys! The story link is here:
http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2012/11/07/Woman-106-votes-for-the-first-time/UPI-97551352314248/
Thursday 11/8/12
With all the popularity of wood floors...there's a new way to clean them...
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| photo from uk.orange.co |
The U.S. company (website is www.BetterThanPants.com) got the idea from a Japanese ad contest and subsequent commercial, that merely spoofed the invention. The company decided to actually market the product, which is proving very popular! Here is the link to the story on orange.co.uk:
http://web.orange.co.uk/article/quirkies/Babies_can_now_polish_floor_as_they_crawl
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Well, it's official...! Gerber brand has a new baby model now.. 8 month old Mary Jane Montoya is the new "face" of Gerber products. A contest was held on Facebook and Mary Jane won--there were over 300,000 babies entered in the contest. Mary Jane is her parents' first baby. The $50,000 won will be put into their baby's future college fund.
The original Gerber baby is now 85-- A recent photo of her can be found along with a photo of Mary Jane, on the story's link found here:
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20645521,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines
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Tuesday 11/6/12
An Asian elephant can speak 5 Korean words! According to research done by the University of Vienna, people that understand Korean... are able to understand "Koshik" when he speaks Korean. It is believed the elephant learned the words when young and the only elephant at a South Korean zoo, with only humans for company during an important period of time for bonding and development.
Koshik places his trunk in his mouth, to help form the sounds he makes. The five words Koshik can say (but not understand say the researchers) are "hello", "sit down", "no", "lie down" and "good". Of course it would learn to say "no" as a youngster, right?! The link to the story from Reuters.com is here:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/01/us-science-talkingelephant-idUSBRE8A017620121101
Monday 11/5/12
Yesterday at church, we celebrated "All Saints' Sunday." I had a blessing given to me--a sign--that I'd like to share.
Shortly before I left the Parish Hall, the children's group made a very brief appearance. They had made posters with a picture and name of their favorite Saint or Biblical favorite. One and only one poster caught my eye as the little boy hurried past, the poster all but covering him from view. His post said...Archangel Michael...
The reason this spoke to me was because I named my first born after the strongest angel...Archangel Michael! I felt that this was a fitting end, to ultimately, our church celebration of the "Communion of Saints"-we are all so very intertwined-- in this life AND in the next!
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Sunday 11/4/12
I just read a heartwarming story in the news. It appears that a cab driver in Seville, Spain --Rafael Segura--is giving out free taxi rides to children. Children that are being treated for cancer are given rides free of charge, both to and from their treatment center. This kind man has decorated the inside of his cab to resonate with his younger clientele. Spongebob and Hello Kitty are two of the child-friendly themes he has on stickers and toys. His own young daughter's idea was the inspiration behind the interior customizing geared toward children.
It was reported that he also helps the elderly, those with medical needs and low income families get to their medical appointments. The world needs more people like Mr. Segura! God bless him! Here is the link to the story from upi.com:
http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2012/11/02/Taxi-gives-free-rides-to-kids-with-cancer/UPI-16101351874174/
Saturday 11/3/12
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| Portrait of Michelangelo |
I read on discoverynews.com-that the Sistine Chapel, in Vatican City turned 500 years old on the Eve of All Saints, which in the USA is Halloween--Oct. 31st!
The article indicated that a huge, constant problem
lies in the deteriorating effects from gasses discharged from tourists breathing inside the small building. Viewing Michelangelo's masterpiece are 20,000 people per day...5 million a year visit!
Attendance limits may be enforced in the future. Special technology to clean the air may also be utilized.
I was blessed to be able to see the Sistine Chapel in person...and it was beyond belief beautiful!
This is the link for the news article:
http://news.discovery.com/history/sistine-chapel-500-years-121101.html
Friday 11/2/12
Today is All Souls' Day...and this story has
orange.co.uk has a story about a wonderful British couple that gave up the dream honeymoon they'd saved up for--to pay for their pet bulldog's newly diagnosed cancer treatment.
They were about to head to Las Vegas, but a TV show watched just before the trip made them realize their dog's limping could be symptomatic of his having cancer. That's when their selflessness went into overdrive and their wonderful love for Teeto and HIS life and happiness was made manifest.
They also drove more than 80 miles from their home for weeks, while Teeto was receiving chemotherapy. He did lose a leg, but is now making a wonderful recovery...thanks to his angel guardians! If you'd like to read the story, here is the link:
http://web.orange.co.uk/article/quirkies/Couple_cancel_honeymoon_to_pay_for_dogs_op
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Thursday 11/1/12
Happy "All Saints' Day!" Thinking about "sacred" things...I'd like to recommend a documentary I saw recently at a local theater that had lots of "sacredness" imbued in it. It is called "Sacred Journey of the Heart." This movie speaks to the now scientifically proven concept of the connectedness of all (God's) creation. The DVD is due to be released on 11/11 and I plan on purchasing it... this movie was that good!
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Wednesday 10/31/12
Halloween is a time that can be a focus of things very, very scary...or just lighthearted enjoyment of pumpkins and the fun of children trick or treating and those beautiful colors of orange and black. Today I wrote a serious main blog post...so...Here are some cute, old fashioned Halloween pictures to keep things "balanced!"
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Tuesday 10/30/12
Something that's very cheer-full is 1930's print fabrics! Although I've always enjoyed them, I had no idea this was a popular category for the fabric industry. I thought I was the only one that enjoyed these fun prints...I sure was mistaken! Here's some photos I took of a few of my 1930's prints to whet your appetite...
Isn't this print adorable? How can somebody not smile at ducks parading around with hats and scarves on?
There's lots of sources for 1930 's fabrics...just try googling "1930 fabric" and that will bring up lots of suppliers. One of my favorite online fabric stores ("Whittle's") just started a sale on excellent quality Toybox II fabric...$5.00 a yard only and the link is here:
http://www.whittlesfabrics.com/cgi-bin/Store/store.cgi?cart_id=2942241.15458.s0&lastmenu=submenu-1100.html&product=BHToyBoxII
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Monday 10/29/12
The good news, according to "The Telegraph" is you can lose weight simply by watching a movie! It can't be just any old movie, though. It has to be a knock your socks off SCARY movie.
Research done by the University of Westminster on all of 10 persons (!) showed they burned as many calories as in a small chocolate bar (113 calories)...when watching scary films only...
The best scary film to watch this Halloween season to lose weight? It's "The Shining"--184 calories burned! Especially conducive to boosting calorie burn are the scenes that are the utmost in scariness. Not turning away from the scariest parts is what the researchers say will help you gain the most calorie burning boost.
Personally, I'd rather keep the 184 calories on me rather than scare myself witless (for days afterward).
Sunday 10/28/12
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Saturday 10/27/12
People can receive a little "help" from the strangest of events...even from the bite of a lion cub!
A 30 year old volunteer at a lion in South Africa is proof of that...
She was bitten on her left breast by the 9 month old lion cub, while helping at the Park. Treatment for her wound led her to continue checking her breast for healing. Instead, she found a lump, found to be cancerous! Treatment saved her life and she owes it all to the lion cub! Here is the link, taken from "The Daily Mail":
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2223127/Lion-saved-cancer-biting-breast.html
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Friday 10/26/12
The experts seem to think that if bike paths are warmed up for 4 typically icy weeks--7,000 accidents can be prevented! Sounds like it will take awhile to go through if it does. Everything is just in the preliminary stages...Go bicyclists!
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| Dutch Bicycle Parking Sign |
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Thursday 10/25/12
Revelation 21:3-7 (NIV)
4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He
who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then
he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
6 He
said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning
and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost
from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
Verse 7's statement including "He who overcomes"... certainly includes us bereaved Moms... holding onto our Faith!
Wednesday 10/24/12
Kid have such a funny way at looking at objects sometimes...A memory of my son Kevin when he was around 3 years old or so, brings back a chuckle.
We were about to eat dinner in a "nice" restaurant and we all had a large, white cloth napkin on our laps. Of course, I carefully put Kevin's on his lap.
At one point, he asks us very concernedly..."Where's my towww??? (pronunced like "dowel"). He kept repeating this, looking everywhere for a TOWW! Neither my husband Bruce nor I could figure out what the heck he was so upset about.
Then it dawned on me...OH! THE TOWEL! He was talking about his cloth NAPKIN LOL! He was very concerned because his cloth napkin had fallen off of his lap and GONE. I found it on the floor (like most things that ever touch a young one's mouth, right?!) and he was happy to have his missing TOWWW(L) back again where it belonged! :-)
Tuesday 10/23/12
Tonight I've been making something "guaranteed to bring a smile"-- "Hug-Me" stuffed pups!...I'm making several for my church's upcoming fundraisers and wanted to show you what they look like. This photo is of a bunch that were given to a local Hospice. I call them "Hug-Me Pups" because of their outstretched arms! The card accompanying each says...
"I'm a little "Hug-Me Pup...Ready and Eager to Love You Up!!!"
The sewing machine that I use, came to me in a way that only God could have arranged. I have a fervent desire to "give back" to Him, since it was only through Him I have the ability and means to sew!
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MONDAY 10/22/12
Humans have a "bucket list" of things we'd like to do before we "kick the bucket" --now there's a bucket list for dogs, too! This list was from the 10/21/12 Telegraph--(www.telegraph.co.uk)-- p.s. #20 brings back wonderful memories of my Daisy and I! and #43...not so much!
50 things every dog should do before it dies
1. Flop down in front of a morning fire
2. Go for a swim in the sea
3. Go mad in the snow
4. Dig up a flower bed
5. Do the 'Beethoven' shake and soak everyone around you
6. Have your own spot on the sofa
7. Accompany your owner on a run/cycle ride
8. Attend a family picnic
9. Help your owner bad a date
10. Cheer your owner up when they are down
11. Visit a different continent
12. Roll around in a really stinky, muddy puddle
13. Ruin a pair or slippers or shoes
14. Sleep in your owners bed
15. Wake your owner with a big wet sloppy kiss
16. Chase a cat during a dream
17. Learn the word for 'sit' in another language
18. Join in a football game in the park
19. Meet a famous dog
20. Try your paws at dancing
21. Convince your owner you can howl English words
22. Get filthy within 30 minutes of a bath
23. Howl along with your favourite song
24. Ride in an open top car
25. Learn to skateboard
26. Have a personalised Christmas stocking
27. Show the postman who's boss
28. Be a ring bearer at a wedding
29. Try to follow a squirrel up a tree
30. Go to work with your owner
31. Have your own social media page
32. Bound through a forest
33. Have a personalised kennel
34. Go on a boat and get your sea legs
35. Play frisbee on the beach
36. Receive your own birthday card
37. Steal someone's lunch when they're not looking
38. Watch an entire episode of 'The Washing Machine'
39. Eat doggy ice cream
40. Create a diversion and steal another dog's dinner
41. Rug a doggy marathon
42. Receive a doggy birthday cake
43. Rip the stuffing out of a pillow or cushion
44. Unwrap birthday presents
45. Watch Lassie on TV
46. Be in a family portrait
47. Have a stand off with your own reflection
48. Have a favourite local pub
49. Star in a YouTube video
50. Sleep in a boutique dog hotel
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SUNDAY 10/21/12
Lemonade stand vs. cancer: Boy raises $80,000 to aid research
(Photo: NBC LA)
When Max Igoe was 5 years old, breast cancer claimed
the life of his mother’s best friend, 37-year-old Beth Rorman. The
little boy found himself expressing his pain with the kind of idea only a
kindergartner might conceive: a lemonade stand.
Source: usnews.nbcnews.com
The article goes on to say that Max is now 14 years old and still selling his lemonade to raise money for cancer research! He also does other fundraising for example, holding raffles, to raise money for his cause...Now he's up to $80,000 dollars raised and wants to reach the 1 million dollar mark! Bravo, Max!
The article goes on to say that Max is now 14 years old and still selling his lemonade to raise money for cancer research! He also does other fundraising for example, holding raffles, to raise money for his cause...Now he's up to $80,000 dollars raised and wants to reach the 1 million dollar mark! Bravo, Max!
SATURDAY 10/20/12 This story is quite interesting! Story/Photos from from NJ.com
Ewing car wash attendant says he saw image of the Virgin Mary
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| Alex Leiva, a worker at Olden Avenue Car Wash, took a photo at the business yesterday of what he said was an image of the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus. |
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| Alex Leiva, left, with his employer William Savage, owner of Olden Avenue Car Wash in Ewing. |
Thinking the car wash was on fire, Leiva ran toward the building, he said today. Then the smoke cleared — and he saw the image of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus in the window of the car wash tunnel, he said.
Leiva grabbed his camera phone from his belt holster and started snapping photos, he said. He dropped the phone, and by the time he picked it up, the image was gone.
“I just tell everybody,” said Leiva, a native of Honduras who does not speak English well.
Leiva said he sent the image to his family in Honduras and to a number of pastors and ministers at local churches, who he said were shocked by the image.
“I looked at that and asked God, ‘Is this a sign?" said Eric Ortiz, a minister with the No Longer Bound Ministry in Trenton, who was at the car wash this morning. “It is something that I could not even put into words.”
Leiva’s boss William Savage, who owns the car wash, said when he got to the office at about 10 a.m. yesterday, Leiva ran up seemingly stunned.
“He was so excited he was having a hard time talking to me,” Savage said.
Savage said there are no lights in the area where Leiva saw the image and he has tried to take photos to see if he could get a similar image, but has had no luck.
“There is no way that he would be making the story up,” Savage said.
Leiva said he is not very religious, but he and Savage said they believe that they saw an image of the Virgin Mary.
`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`
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Friday 10/19/12
2500 to 3000 miles? I didn't! They travel from Mexico all the way to Northern USA and Canada...now that's a long haul flight! I found that out by looking at what Wikipedia had to say about the topic of "butterflies." All the info presented here about butterfly symbolism, is from Wikipedia's entry for "Butterfly." (!)
According to Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things, by Lafcadio Hearn, a butterfly was seen in Japan as the personification of a person's soul; whether they be living, dying, or already dead. One Japanese superstition says that if a butterfly enters your guestroom and perches behind the bamboo screen, the person whom you most love is coming to see you.
The Russian word for "butterfly", бабочка (bábochka), also means "bow tie".
Some people say that when a butterfly lands on you it means good luck.
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Thursday 10/18/12
My tip is to USE THE SAFETY CORD! There is no telling when a treadmill might malfunction. Ours was going strong for YEARS without a single glitch. If I had the cord on me, it would have disengaged the machine right away...SO, whatever safety device yours has, please use it!
On a happy note, my tabby, Toby, (a rescue himself!) came immediately when he heard my distress. He hung around, making sure I was "OK" and that gave me a dose of healing medicine better than the aspirin I took afterward! Here's a photo of Toby cat...
He loves to be around all the action...he isn't thrilled with lots of petting but the poor thing "steels" himself because he knows WE love it! And him! :-)
Wednesday 10/17/12 Through this husband's kindness-- his own cancer is discovered-- "in time"...photo and quote from ABC News
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| photo by Dolly Stringer |
“I’m not a Bible-thumper, I am a Christian, but I really feel like God’s hand shaved my head. I really do … If Dolly had not lost her hair – or chosen to shave her head – I never would have found this … ,” he said.
The couple were given thousands of dollars gained from very successful fund raising efforts, to offset their medical expenses! Heartwarming story!
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Tuesday 10/16/12
Dan Fagnan, Wisconsin Man, Finds Diamond In A Well
Posted: 10/15/2012 12:09 pm EDT Updated: 10/15/2012 6:16 pm EDT
This story/photo from www.huffingtonpost.com
Dan Fagnan found a diamond while panning for gold
Dan Fagnan's friends think he's "a fruit loop" for panning for gold near his home in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, but when the amateur prospector recently scooped up a 1.22-carat diamond, his unusual hobby finally paid off.
As Fagnan told the Pierce County Herald, he initially thought the irregularly shaped transparent stone was a piece of glass. He found it in a wet pile of sand and rocks excavated from 120 feet below the surface by a friend who was digging a well and invited him to sift through it.
Fagnan had hoped to find a few tiny flakes of "Wisconsin gold," which isn't worth much. When he found the interesting stone instead, he took it to jeweler Karen Greaton in New Richmond, to find out what he had dug up.
Greaton thought it might be moissanite, or silicon carbide, but after tests and a consultation with a mineralogist, she was convinced it was indeed a diamond.
“My dad told me it’s unlikely to find a diamond here, but diamonds can actually be found anywhere in the world,” Greaton told the newspaper, noting that what was once considered nature's hardest substance is often formed near volcanoes. She said it's possible the Wisconsin rock was pushed south from Canada during the Ice Age.
Fagnan has asked Greaton to set the stone in a necklace for his soon-to-be-born child.
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Monday 10/15/12
| This little sprite is a "bigger version"-- but has a very similar face! |
After church today, we stopped at a fast food place to get a burrito bowl for lunch (Mexican food is big, here in AZ). Upon exiting the restaurant, my eye caught sight of the cutest little pea pod of a toddler girl. She was quite tiny (perhaps a preemie baby?) and turned around to look at me--she had the brightest, most eager look on her face. And she had piercing eyes that seemed to just shine with God's truth in them!
They are so fresh from God...the closest we have to an actual encounter with God in the flesh, in my humble opinion. I made sure to say something nice and then walked on to our car with a smile not only on my face, but in my heart as well...
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Sunday 10/14/12
When I look up at the stars, and remember how God "calls each star by name"... I think to myself, "And I'm still worried about X Y or Z??? Clearly, God's power is awesome and unmatchable. I feel better able to turn my worries over to God, when I remind myself of His saving Strength.
On the topic of "stars"--I came across the full version of the old childhood favorite "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." I never knew all the verses...It was first a poem, written in the early 19th century, by Jane Taylor, called "The Star." Here is the full poem (from Wikipedia).
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Then the traveller in the dark,
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.
In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
'Till the sun is in the sky.
As your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the traveller in the dark.
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
How I wonder what you are.
How I wonder what you are.
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Saturday 10/13/12
This is from www.orange.co.uk (quirky news)
The fastest pram in the world
A lazy new dad has built the world's fastest motorised pram to save the effort of having to push it.
Plumber Colin Furze added a powerful engine to his silver metal pushchair, giving it an incredible top speed of 50mph.
But the 33-year-old, from Stamford, Lincolnshire, says it's too powerful to go at top speeds with baby son Jake.
He spent four weeks and £450 designing and making the pushchair, which has a 125cc motorbike engine hidden between the wheels.
Mr Furze uses an accelerator and brake levers to control the speed, gears to go up hills, and the handle to steer.
"It is rather scary to drive but I've had lots of envious looks from mums and dads, especially when they are pushing their babies up hills," he said.
"Hopefully one day I'll be able to take Jake for a proper ride in it but I'm not sure if my girlfriend Charlotte would be very happy about that!
"It is really unstable when it goes at top speed and if you hit a rough bit in the road you are in danger of falling off, but so far I've managed not to crash."
He was determined to build the fastest pushchair in the world and applied to Guinness to set the record as there wasn't one already in place.
"I needed to go at least 30mph to do the record and I managed to do much better than that which is fantastic," he added.
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Friday 10/12/12
Tonight, something "nice" happened that I noticed while eating dinner out at a local Mexican restaurant. My friend and I were sitting at a table near the entrance. One of those "chance" machines-- that has a big claw to grab around (or not) a cuddly soft toy-- was close by.
An excited little girl, and most likely her Daddy, approached the machine. The man put his money in and grabbed the controller. I said a quick prayer that the little girl not be disappointed. I'm sure my prayer joined hers and her father's also!
The metal jaws clasped a nicely sized cuddly toy...and kept it and Dad retrieved it through the opening! Yay! That was the first time I'd ever seen anyone actually win something with this kind of machine. He gave it to the delighted little girl and she clasped the toy, in happiness, to her heart. That was such a sweet savory to enjoy with my meal! Good job, Dad!
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Thursday 10/11/12
(an interesting date today!)
Surf City Surf Dog: Surfing Dogs Hit The Waves In Huntington Beach
The Huffington Post
|
By Kathleen Miles
Posted: 10/01/2012 3:17 pm EDT Updated: 10/01/2012 6:20 pm EDT
Over the weekend, 46 athletic dogs took to the waves in Huntington Beach to compete in the fourth annual Surf City Surf Dog event.
The hang-10 pups got two points for lying on the board, three for sitting and five for standing on all fours, Surf City explains. All dogs were required to wear a life vest, and dogs leashed to the board lost a point.
As if just staying on the board isn't impressive enough, extra points were awarded to dogs who went above and beyond with a stunt like a 180-degree, 360-degree spin or riding backwards, the Daily Mail reports.
Dogs and their owners tried to set a world record of having 20 dogs surfing together for five seconds, the Orange County Register reports. However, with strong three to four-foot waves, the attempt was unsuccessful.
Still, the surfing dogs made a splash, impressing hundreds of spectators.
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ___ (from Surfcitysurfdog.com)
3-Days of Doggone Fun For All!
The 4th Annual Surf City Surf Dog event was presented by GreenDog Naturals featured: Shorebreak Hotel Opening Ceremonies & Yappy Hour, Surf City Dog Spaw Costume Contest, Pets Love Toys.com 2-Day Expo, Dog Adoptions and the world-famous Surf Dog Competition.
Wednesday 10/10/12
Here's the canine version winner of the pet slimming down contest in England...good job! Story from Orange News
Quirky News
A King Charles spaniel has been crowned Britain's pet slimming champion after shedding nearly a third of his bodyweight.
Seven-year-old Jack, formerly nicknamed Jumbo Jack, tipped the
scales at 20.5kg - double his ideal weight - six months ago.Now, he is down to a far healthier 14.1kg, trimming 20cm off his waist, after a strict diet and exercise regime.
Jack was already overweight when he was adopted by current owner, Rose Welsh, 52, back in January.
Ms Welsh said: "When Jack first came to us he was morbidly obese and could barely walk.
"Today he is a different dog and we call him Jumping Jack instead of Jumbo Jack, as he jumps every time he barks now.
"He is fit, healthy and happy - everything a pet should be - and we are absolutely thrilled."
Jack beat off competition from 16 other slimming pets to win the competition, organised by veterinary charity PDSA.
They included formerly fat cat Billie, Bobby the rabbit who shed 29% of his bodyweight, and Billy the Cocker Spaniel who was too fat to climb the stairs.
In total, they lost 86kg or 13st 7lbs - roughly equivalent to 28 Yorkshire Terriers, more than 200 tins of dog food or one female giant panda.
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Tuesday 10/9/12 This woman is a real go-getter!
102-year-old going back to college after surprise scholarship.
 |
| Mike Cardew / Akron Beacon Journal |
TODAY contributor
updated 9/29/2012 10:54:37 PM ET
At age 102, car enthusiast Margaret Dunning is gearing up for her next great adventure: She’s heading back to college to finish her business degree.
Mere hours ago, Dunning — who had to drop out of the University of Michigan nearly 80 years ago during the Great Depression — had no idea that homework and tests were about to loom large in her life once again. But she’s lived long enough to know that happy surprises can come at the most unexpected times — and on Wednesday afternoon, the surprise she got was a doozy.
At a special ceremony just for her, Dunning was presented with free tuition at the University of Michigan and free car-care products for the rest of her life. The FRAM Group, which makes FRAM, Autolite and Prestone automotive products, wanted to honor Dunning in response to a TODAY.com article about her lifelong love of cars (and penchant for changing her own oil and spark plugs all these years).
(article shortened due to length!)
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Monday 10/8/12
Fat cat slims down! English kitty, "Billie" (12 years old) lost 93% of his body weight, winning a contest in England sponsored by PDSA Pet Fit Club, for the most feline pet weight loss.
Billie lost 4 and 1/2 pounds...formerly weighing one stone 5 pounds (19 pounds!) to now weighing just over a stone (14 pounds). His guardian says he is much more active!
(photos and information from the Sunderland Echo published Oct. 4, 2012)
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Sunday 10/7/12
This is something I read the other day that seems to fit our topic of bereavement...
Patience is a word that carries a lot of "Wait."
Bereaved Moms know all about the "Wait" -- The key to regaining joyfulness is to "Wait"...upon the Lord!
"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." Psalm 27:14 (KJV)
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Saturday 10/6/12 An ailing friend of mine told me something very interesting that I 'd
like to share with you. She said that she changed her original plans...
and went a different way cnd at a different time than usual... for her walk
today.
Judy said that God knew she would be the most helpful to this particular birdie. I think that He also knew that helping Tweety would make her feel like she is, again, contributing to the world at large (she's expressed this angst to me--being almost completely home-bound now and on Hospice). She told me she felt good that, even if Tweety did die... she knew he/she didn't get devoured by a cat or die some other ungracious way. She has helped to make a good outcome-- for both Tweety and herself--because she CARED.
God does "work in mysterious ways"-- and yet it's always so uniquely and individually tailored...just for us--He surely does KNOW His individual sheep!
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Friday 10/5/12 According to this article from The Telegraph... "The Daily Puppy" on my site's home page is almost... "medicinal"!
If you want to work harder, put your pet’s picture on your desk
Placing a photograph of your pet on your desk could make you work harder, research suggests.
A study has found that looking at pictures of puppies and kittens could improve your concentration by a tenth Photo: ALAMY
Looking at pictures of puppies and kittens could improve your concentration by
a tenth, a study found.
Researchers found that people who saw images of baby animals performed better and quicker than those who looked at adult animals.
Experts believe that becoming more focused is brought on by a cuteness-triggered positive emotion associated with taking motivation from anything that gives you happiness, pleasure or joy.
The study, carried out at Hiroshima University in Japan, based its findings on three groups of students.
One group looked at pictures of puppies and kittens, the second looked at adult animals and a third was shown images of tasty foods.
The performance of the group looking at pictures of puppies and kittens increased by an average of 10 per cent.
The work-rate of those looking at adult animals also improved, but only by an average of 5 per cent.
Viewing images of pleasant foods was ineffective in improving performance.
The findings suggest that viewing cute images makes people behave more deliberately and perform tasks with greater time and care.
(providing some "cute" pics below to get us started!)
 |
| "Bye... and Happy Work Improvement! Meow!" |
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Thursday 10/4/12 I thought only women supposedly gave directions using "landmarks"!
(from New York Post Oct. 2 2012 "Weird News") Note that this short article says "1. 4 MILLION residents are in San Jose, Costa Rica!
Do you know the way through San Jose? That’s San Jose, Costa Rica.
The city of 1.4 million residents is finally getting its first street signs.
Until now, locals had to cite landmarks such as gas stations or fast-food outlets when directing tourists — offering advice like “walk three blocks and turn left at McDonald’s.’’
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Wednesday 10/3/12 Oh this poor doggie...and you thought YOU had a bad day! At least this ends very happily...(I read this in The Huffington Post today)
Dog Survives Ride From Massachusetts To Rhode Island In Grill Of Car
10/02/12 10:03 PM ET EDT 
The owners, who weren't identified, told WPRI-TV it's a "miracle."
East Providence Animal Control supervisor William Muggle said the owners claimed "Suzie" on Tuesday after seeing news reports. Animal control tells The Providence Journal they had veterinary paperwork with the dog's microchip number.
Muggle said the female poodle mix ran in front of a car in Taunton, Mass., Sept. 20. The driver slammed on the brakes but didn't see the dog.
Muggle said another motorist noticed it when the driver reached East Providence. Animal control officers were able to free the fluffy white pooch, which suffered a concussion and minor injuries.
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Tuesday 10/2/12 Here it is..."The World's Largest Deliverable Pizza"
World's Largest Pizza Box Serves Up To 70 People (PHOTO)
The Huffington Post
|
By Rachel Tepper
Posted: 10/01/2012 8:22 am EDT Updated: 10/01/2012 9:42 am EDT
The man standing beside it, dwarfed in size by comparison, is Scott Weiner, owner and proprietor of Scott's Pizza Tours. Weiner not only loves pizza, he collects pizza boxes as a hobby, because he admires their artwork, design and function.
In his blog, Weiner describes the pie -- which comes in a box 54 inches square -- from Big Mama's & Papa's restaurant in Los Angeles:
It costs $200 and feeds 50-70 people. With 15 eaters, we got through about half the pie before everyone passed out. This pizza is so large it doesn’t fit through doorways. We took it out back and set up a card table to support its mass.
Weiner tells HuffPost that the pie was so large, restaurant works had to bake it with the oven door open and rotate it every few minutes.
"The way they have to bake it, its so inconvenient," Weiner says. "[But] it tasted way better than I thought it would be ... it was pretty damn decent."
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Monday 10/1/12 This is today's selection from the publication "Our Daily Bread" by RBC Ministries, started by Joe Stowell. Stowell's site is my featured link for October. Enjoy!
Quaking Aspens
Sometimes I feel like a quaking aspen. People around me seem to be moving through life without issues or concerns, apparently steady and secure, while even the slightest issue can unsettle my heart. I see others and marvel at their calm and wonder why my own life can so easily be filled with turbulence. Thankfully, the Scriptures remind me that genuine, steadying calm can be found in the presence of God. Paul wrote, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all” (2 Thess. 3:16). Not only does God offer peace, He Himself is the Lord of peace.
When we enter the disturbing, unsettling seasons of life, it is good to know that real peace is available in the God of all peace.
Prince of Peace, teach me to find in You the
calming power of Your presence. Strengthen
me today with Your peace, and grant me the
stability I need in this turmoil-filled world. Amen.
calming power of Your presence. Strengthen
me today with Your peace, and grant me the
stability I need in this turmoil-filled world. Amen.
Peace is more than the absence of conflict;
peace is the presence of God.
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Sunday 9/30/12 I can only hope to be this fit when I reach 100 years old! (Not gonna happen, if his research scientists are right about "genetics!")
French centenarian cyclist aims for 100 km record
LYON, France |
(Reuters) - A French centenarian will
try to ride his way into the record books on Friday by becoming the
fastest cyclist of his age to cover 100 km (62 miles).Robert Marchand, a former fireman and boxing enthusiast from Paris, has been training every day for months in hopes of crossing the finish line in less than five hours.
At nearly 101 years old, Marchand claims to have covered hundreds of thousands of kilometres on his bicycle during his lifetime and said he plans to cover the distance at a speed of 22.5 km/h.
"If I make it, I'll become the best in the world," said Marchand, who turns 101 in November. "I know that all over the world, in China, in the United States, in Russia, they're already looking for someone to beat my record."
Marchand lives alone, drives a car, makes his own meals and cleans his apartment with no help. The wiry centenarian says he never smoked, but otherwise indulged a healthy appetite for wine and women throughout his life.
His uncommon vitality has piqued the interest of scientists at the Inserm public research institute, who examine Marchand every three months to try to understand the secret to his longevity and well-being.
"They told me I had the constitution of a 55-year-old man, they think it's genetic," he said, laughing. "I have never deprived myself of anything: not wine, not food, not women, but always with moderation."
Asked if he planned to get any performance-enhancing help for his race, Marchand said: "The only doping for me is water with a spoonful of honey that I put in my canteen - and that's it."
"If I was doping, though, maybe I could hit 35 km/h."
(Reporting By Catherine Lagrange; Writing by Nick Vinocur, editing by Paul Casciato)
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Saturday 9/29/12
During lunch with a friend today, the topic of my near death experience popped up. I told my friend all about the feeling of unconditional love that was so overwhelmingly apparent to me. How I felt that nothing could ever sever this strong love bond that I shared with My Higher Power.
After the lunch I realized I'd forgotten "to add something." I truly regretted my not having told her, that the strong, overwhelming love that I felt toward me... was also directed toward her, too! And to everyone that calls upon His Name. There is NO partiality with God. I'm not exclusively given this overwhelming love...it is given to all!
So if you ever read about NDE's and those that have seen the brightness of God through an experience of near-death...that all encompassing love and forgiveness that seems to be ubiquitous with these experiences...know that He gives that same unconditional love to ALL of us...favoring NO ONE. I so adore that about our God. I never have to worry about God "playing favorites." I find that VERY reassuring!
I'll be seeing my friend again tomorrow, God willing, and will relay this message to her! :-)
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FRIDAY 9/28/12
...here's something "different!"...
World's Smallest Car Races Into Guinness Record Book
Huffington Post | David Moye | September 27, 2012 at 03:45 PM
It's called the "Mirai," which means ‘future’ in Japanese, and measures just 17.79 inches from the ground to highest part of the car, making it the shortest roadworthy car ever built, according to Guinness World Records.
The miniscule Mirai was created by students and teachers of The Automobile Engineering Course at Okayama Sanyo High School in Asakuchi, Japan, and they spent a year designing it and six months putting it together.
The motors and controlling components, including batteries, come from a "Q-car," that was produced by CQ motors in Japan, while the switching console is from a motorbike. Other parts such as the chassis, body, suspension, steering system and LED lights were made at the high school.
The car looks small and sleek and is street legal, but school principal Harada Kazunari admitted that actually driving it on city streets has its challenges.
“It can be frightening to drive Mirai on a big street, especially when the speed goes over 40 km/h because the road is very close to the driver’s eye point," he said, according to Guinness. "Also, you can feel afraid that you will be run over by other cars. So, we make it a rule, when we drive Mirai on a busy street, to place a leading car to the front of Mirai, and a guarding car in the rear.”
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Thursday 9/27/12 I read this today... they're lucky people!
Reuters – Tue, Sep 25, 2012
Lucky Norway family wins national lottery three times
OSLO (Reuters) - Good fortune and having
children just seem to go together for Norwegian mother Hege Jeanette Oksnes.
Each time the 29-year old petrol station attendant from tiny Austevoll island off Norway's west coast gives birth, someone in her family wins the national lottery.
"This is completely insane... we don't even play the lottery that often," Oksnes said only days after the family collected 12.2 million crowns ($2.12 million) with their third lottery win in six years.
Oksnes, who serves hot dogs at a petrol station, gave birth to her first child in 2006 just one day after her father Leif won 4.2 million crowns on the national lottery.
Three years later, Oksnes herself won, claiming 8.2 million crowns one day before giving birth to her second child.
To complete the hat-trick, Oksnes' 18-year-old brother Tord won the very same lottery this weekend, just months after she gave birth to her third child.
After three children though, it may be time to call it quits.
"My husband thinks we have enough money now," she said.
Oksnes bought new cars with her winnings and did a bit of travelling, but has put most of the money in the bank, hoping to find a dream property to build a new house.
($1 = 5.7502 Norwegian crowns)
(Reporting by Joachim Dagenborg; Writing by Balazs Koranyi, editing by Paul Casciato)
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Wednesday 9/26/12
I read this on a greeting card today--
"The reason Angels can fly...
is because they take themselves so lightly"!
In other words..."Don't sweat the small stuff"!
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Tuesday 9/25/12 (I read about this in "The
Daily Mail" today).
I had no idea that nail polish could cost $250,000 dollars! Apparently, celebrity Kelly Osbourne dolled up for the recently broadcast Emmy's, waring a nail polish made from real black diamonds...and worth a fortune! There's 267 carats of black diamonds in each quarter of a million dollars bottle. It is made by jeweler, "Azature". There's only one bottle made of this super expensive polish. Only one other person has worn this over the top indulgence..."J Lo."
Thankfully, an affordable version is made also. That one costs $25.00--a bit more reasonable, I'd say!
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Monday 9/24/12
The other night I was at a church related fundraiser dinner. The best part of the evening was what a fellow diner did after dinner. Almost like an after dinner "sweet"- she took her six month old grandson in her arms. Around the room she proudly paraded, introducing her grandson, table by table. Oh what a delicious bundle of trusting warmth nestled upon her shoulder, supported by her strong grandmotherly arms.
When it was our table's turn to be gifted, I gently patted his cute little hand, noticing (and remembering) just how soft "baby soft" truly is! Yep, that was the best part of the evening and a fitting after-dinner petite sweet treat had by all!
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Sunday 9/23/12
I thought this news story was uplifting!
from ABC NEWS Eliza Murphy Sept. 19, 2012
Missing Dog Reunited with Family After Four Years
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| (photo credit: Dave and Brandy Metcalf) |
Four years ago when Brandy Metcalf, of Wake Forest, N.C., was pregnant with her third child, she and her husband Dave decided they should make some adjustments in the household to make more room for the new baby.
So they reluctantly came up with the idea to allow Brandy’s sister, Chelsee, to dogsit their beloved border collie mix, Cassey, in Charlotte, N.C. while they had a newborn crawling around the house.
The dogsitting idea turned into a four year odyssey for Cassey and what seems like a miracle for the Metcalfs.
“We just had our third child and we live in a small three bedroom, so it was close quarters with baby stuff. We were just trying to give the newborn the attention she needs,” Metcalf told ABC News. “My sister was living alone in Charlotte and she’s not good at being alone and she’s known Cassey, so she got a roommate while we got past the newborn stage.”
Metcalf said she called her sister every couple of weeks to check in on Cassey until her sister told her to calm down and reassured her dog was doing just fine in her new, temporary home.
So Metcalf let a few months pass without visiting the dog. It wasn’t until six months later that she drove to Charlotte to see Cassey.
“I get there and open the car door and poor Cassey didn’t coming running to the car door like she normally does,” Metcalf said.
Right away, Metcalf knew something wasn’t right. Her sister told her she had some upsetting news, but didn’t have the guts to tell her earlier.
“There was a lot going on at the house one day. Cassey is very intuitive about big noises and is very sensitive when it comes to sounds. Something startled her,” and Cassey had bolted, Metcalf said.
They searched for Cassey for several days, but weren’t having any luck.
“It being in a different city I felt like I really had no hope, no chance of being able to find her. She’s such a wonderful animal with a great personality. I knew if anyone new came in contact with her, they’d want to keep her,” said Metcalf.
As more time passed without any sign of the dog, the Metcalf family tried to move on to fill the void Cassey had left.
“If we didn’t think about it, maybe it wouldn’t hurt so much. So we really tried to bring in other animals to take up the love we had for her. We’ve had guinea pigs, cats and everything else. But it never seemed the right animal fit,” Metcalf said.
Even four years later, Metcalf’s children would still mention Cassey, saying they’d do anything to have the dog back.
Then on Sept. 11, the family received a phone call that someone had found Cassey.
“Of course we couldn’t believe that. We were so used to thinking that couldn’t possibly be our dog,” said Metcalf.
But as soon as the family was in touch with Cheryl and Scott Smith, the Charlotte, N.C., couple who had taken Cassey under their wing three days earlier, they knew they had finally found their long-lost pooch.
“We gave scars and descriptions to confirm it was really her. We didn’t hesitate, we were on the road the next day,” Metcalf said.
Cassey had lost seven pounds, had no collar and was covered in fleas, Metcalf said.
Elated at the news, the Metcalfs couldn’t be more thankful to the Smith’s for taking good care of her, and being persistent enough to track down the original owners.
“Once they spent a little time with her they knew she had come from a family. You could just tell. So they started taking her to the dog parks in Charlotte, taking her to the vet,” Metcalf said.
The Smith’s refused to leave the vet until Cassey’s entire body was scanned for a microchip. They knew the friendly dog must have been chipped as a puppy, and was convinced it was on her somewhere. And they were right. The chip had migrated from the normal spot behind the neck, down under ribs.
Although the microchip’s information was 11 years outdated from when the puppy was chipped at the Wake County SPCA, the Smith’s were able to track down the correct information.
“I bent down and said ‘Cassey girl’ and she came right over to us. She knows exactly where she is now. She goes right to her same spot. I mean she has not changed any of those aspects,” Metcalf said. “This house, the tears that were falling in this house, all of us were just in disbelief. The Smith’s are such wonderful people. Something we cared about so much came back to us.”
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Saturday 9/22/12
I found the headline (below)... pretty surprising, to say the least!
Unaware of pregnancy, British soldier has baby in Afghanistan (Reuters London Sept 20 2012)
Now THAT'S the way to do it!!!
Thankfully, mother and baby are reported to be in stable condition. :-)
Friday 9/21/12
Today was "going to the Vet" day for both of our fur-kidz, Abby and Toby. On the agenda was their nail trims (they won't let us anywhere near them with a clipper) and Toby's annual checkup. It always amazes me how readily Toby will allow his temperature to be checked-- so readily and without resistance! ( not an oral temp!) BUT (no pun intended!)...Having him relax enough for me to pat the top of his head, or heaven forbid--actually pick him up--sends him into a frenzy! What's up with these kitty cats and their proclivities and their propensities anyway!
Here's some cute photos of Toby:
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| "I like to watch my cat videos...sometimes!" |
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| "Nobody will know I'm in here!" |
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| "I love the smell inside this laundry basket!" |
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| "What do you mean this isn't safe?" |
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| "How will I get down from here now? MOM!" |
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| "I've had a full day and now I'm napping! Bye now!" |
Thursday 9/20/12
Some cute photos (there's a new main blog post today!)
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Wednesday 9/19/12
This was so neat I thought I'd post this!
Fisherman adrift for 106 days in Pacific says shark led him to rescuers
By: Pete Thomas, GrindTV.com
A man who survived while adrift in the Pacific for 106 days is crediting a shark for helping to save his life.Toakai Teitoi, 41, a policeman from the Central Pacific island nation of Kiribati, had been traveling with his brother-in-law on what was supposed to be a short voyage, beginning May 27, from the Kiribati capital of Tarawa to his home island of Maiana.
But
the mariners decided to fish along the way, and fell asleep during the
night. When they awoke they were far at sea and adrift in their 15-foot
wooden vessel. They soon ran out of fuel, and were short on water."We had food, but the problem was we had nothing to drink," Teitoi told Agence France-Presse news service.
Dehydration was severe. Falaile, the 52-year-old brother-in-law, died on July 4. That night, Teitoi slept next to him, "like at a funeral," before an emotional burial at sea the next morning.
Teitoi shared scant details of the ordeal after arriving in Majuro, in the Marshall Islands, on Saturday. He said he prayed the night Falaile died, and the next day a storm arrived and, over the next several days, he was able to fill two five-gallon containers with fresh water.
Days and weeks passed, however, and Teitoi, a father of six, did not know whether he'd live or die. He subsisted mostly on fish and protected himself against the searing tropical sun by curling up in a small, covered portion of the bow.
It was on the afternoon of Sept. 11 that he awoke to the sound of scratching against his boat. A six-foot shark was circling the boat and, Teitoi said, bumping against its hull.
"He was guiding me to a fishing boat," Teitoi said. "I looked up and there was the stern of a ship and I could see crew with binoculars looking at me."
The first thing he asked for after he was plucked from the water was a cigarette, or "a smoke." He was given food and juice and his rescuers continued to fish for several days before delivering him to Majuro.
Teitoi, who seemed in good health, said he booked flights back to his home island, adding, "I'll never go by boat again."
The record for drifting at sea is believed to be held by two fishermen, also from Kiribati, who were at sea for 177 days before coming ashore in Samoa in 1992.
--Note: Image is generic and the shark pictured is not the shark encountered by Toakai Teitoi
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Tuesday 9/18/12
I recently read about "Andrew Hales"-- a man who made the news (and video) because he had the desire to show complete strangers that "he
cared"-- by offering them a physical gesture of friendship. A hug is what he offered when he went to Rome, after doing his thing in Los Angeles, prior. He hugged both natives and tourists alike, and had plenty of mixed reactions to his "friendliness."
My hat is off to Mr. Hales. Just think what a wonderful world this could be if we all offered kindness to strangers, so they would know that we cared...Oh wait...that is what Jesus has already instructed us to do!!!
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Monday 9/17/12
Yesterday was my late son Michael's birthday. At church, something interesting happened. I was kneeling, and looking down, something caught my eye. A penny right in front of my foot! I thought to myself "How appropriate today"... since I'm one of those that feel that finding a penny, indicates a deceased loved one communicating with us...I reached down to the floor in front of my foot and grabbed at...nothing! There was no actual penny on the floor. It was just a SPOT on the hard floor... exactly the size of a penny and colored exactly the same as a real penny...
Maybe the meaning was supposed to be that the value of money in this life is very illusionary...fleeting and non-permanent...as opposed to eternal life which has eternal value?!
As I posted this, a song on my computer's iTunes came on...out of the blue "How Great Thou Art" started to play...even though another song was highlighted and supposed to be playing...God works in mysterious ways!
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Sunday 9/16/12
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| 2 |
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| 3 |
Here's some pictures...
of Jesus SMILING...Something we surely do not see enough of! My favorite is the last one-- number 4.
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| 4 |
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Saturday 9/15/12
I have good memories of taking my kids down slides in the park. One day, walking alone with Daisy, my Golden Retriever, I decided it was high time for my "fur-kid" to get a ride down a slide!
With no one around the play area at the time, we quickly went up the steps before she could think too much about it. Then, keeping her in front of me, I wrapped my legs on either side of her so she wouldn't try to scramble out. Down, down, down the slide we went! She hardly knew what happened it went so fast! We only got the one ride in though, before she developed arthritis, and I was then extra careful not to overstress her hips.
I look back and smile every time I think about going down that slide with Daisy...especially the little swirly built into the end of the ride. Ha!
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Friday 9/14/12
I recently read an amusingly different version about the possible answers given from God to prayer. They are either:
1) "Yes"
2) "No" OR.....drum roll please...
3) "I'm working on it!" (a variation of "Not now!")
2 Corinthians 1:19 (NIV) tells us:
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not "Yes" and "No," but in him it has always been "Yes."
At times it takes "creative thinking" on my part--and much fathoming on my part-- as to why some things are the way they are... to "find the "Yes." Remembering that "nothing is impossible with God" and reminding myself that He can and does restore to us, not only in this life, but also in the next, definitely helps!
To be submissive to God's Will involves our trusting Him on His choice of answer to our prayer. Trust is a big factor in being in sync with what God has allowed to happen in our lives. And trust... sure is a lot easier when things are going well!
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Thursday 9/13/12
Memories of my children started to bring me more happiness than tears... further on down the road. I started to notice new little things in photos that I had looked at so many times-- and yet had not "seen".
It was a new experience for me, to have something of them newly added again to my life...no matter how small or seemingly insignificant to others.
~~To me, memories of my children now, are like uncovering a boxful of fresh flowers... that will never wilt...~~
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Wednesday 9/12/12
The other day, when I was feeling the strain of life, I was given a "sign" that all would be OK. I had been browsing through a fashion jewelry catalog I'd often ordered from, giving them to my (now deceased) sister Pat. On one page, I saw "it." A goldtone pin in the shape of a first name's initial, with a Guardian Angel alongside the initial. The only two examples of the pins shown? A Guardian Angel protecting the initial "D" (as in Donna-me!) and the other was the initial "K" (as in Kevin-my son)! I was reminded that God "has our back" and regained greater serenity from that point on...
Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
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Tuesday 9/11/12
The horrors of 9-11 caused many of us to have recurring, terrifying images constantly replay in our minds. Bereaved Moms know all too well of this kind of visual tormenting...
God has given us a "prescription" through St. Paul to counteract oppressive and destructive thinking...it's in Philippians 4:8...
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."
It surely helps at times to push out our negative thoughts...just try to give them the heave-ho-- so there's more room available for healing thoughts!
Monday 9/10/12
I heard this on EWTN years ago and it stuck in my mind...Mother Angelica, talking about how much Jesus loves and cares about us, then repeated something that Jesus had said to His hungry and tired disciples...
..."Come and have breakfast." John 21:12 (NIV)
"Come and have breakfast!" she said over and over, in incredulity. I had to go look it up afterward, to make sure He really did say it just like that! This certainly brings out the humanness of Jesus. He knows when we're hungry, both physically...and Spiritually!
Incidentally, I've always had a sneaking suspicion that Jesus really enjoyed His food--from reading certain Bible verses involving Him and His hunger. One example is when He healed someone of a fever...and she immediately got up and start cooking for them all! That was Peter's mother -in -law, remember that one?! It's in Luke 4:39!
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Sunday 9/9/12
This is one of my favorite Bible verses:
John 14:28:
"You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I." (NIV)
The New Living Translation adds an additional word --"If you really loved me,..."
What I like, is that the emphasis is placed on what the person who is "going away" gains-- rather than what the one that is left behind TEMPORARILY loses--'I am going away and I am coming BACK to you.'-- Jesus tells us to be glad (some versions say "rejoice" but that might be a stretch for us bereaved Moms!) because the Father is the summit of all Joy possible...and Jesus and our children now have reached that summit...and Jesus reminds us that our separation is only TEMPORARY-- something I feel cannot be emphasized enough!
John 14:18 states: "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." (NIV)
Our children are with Jesus. Therefore, when Jesus comes to us-- as He's promised--our children will be there too-- and they "will not leave us as childless mothers." I believe this dovetails nicely into the above cited passage.
Earthly comings and goings of our beloved ones may help to sustain us... especially if we're aware of them and comforted by them... but irregardless-- our Big Family Reunion-- is definitely on the calendar!!!
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Saturday 9/8/12
I like to read this initial part of Browning's poem, with the thought of earthly life being merely the beginning of eternal joy! "Grow old along with me!" means to me that they continue on...yet are not subject to deterioration.
Rabbi Ben Ezra
Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,
The last of life, for which the first was made:
Our times are in His hand
Who saith "A whole I planned,
Youth shows but half; trust God: see all, nor be afraid!''
(from www.poetryfoundation.org)
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Friday 9/7/12
A "Catalog Favorites" catalog came in my mail the other day. Inside, I saw a t-shirt with an interesting saying blazoned across the front of it. I'd like to share what it said because it seems very "site appropriate"...
PRAYER
The world's greatest
wireless connection.
(how true!)
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Thursday 9/6/12
Here's something funny that happened when Kevin (my child from my remarriage) was in a stroller and we were both out "window shopping" one day. There was an abundance of grasshoppers that day... and one jumped right smack up onto Kevin's tummy! He was looking in a large store window at the time and never felt it. Before he could discover this huge grasshopper was on him, I quickly pointed out something "else" he should be excited about in the window-- and hurriedly brushed off that horrid (and rather large!) critter. Thank goodness he never noticed it! Now, if that had been even a teeny tiny spider...the outcome may have been a bit "different!"~~~
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Wednesday 9/5/12
Contrary to societal opinion (that seems to opt for bereaved mothers to remain permanently defeated)...moving "forward" after grief... does NOT mean we've left our child behind--they're in our heart and soul!-- and with us always.
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Tuesday 9/4/12
Sometimes when I go to certain links while surfing on the web, I'll get notification that "Access is denied."
With our children now being deceased, yes it is true we no longer have "access" to their physical body...BUT we do have 24/7 access to their Spiritual body...so much MORE ability to communicate with them than we ever did before. No "Access is denied" when it comes to us and them being Spiritually united!
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Monday 9/3/12
(Seems to me a little laughter might be good for the Monday blues...)
Top Ten Rules of Dieting
1. If you drink a diet soda with a candy bar, the
calories in the candy bar are canceled out by the diet soda. (This rule
also applies to mixed drinks. Example: rum and diet coke)
2.When you eat with someone else, your calories don’t count if they eat more than you do.
3. Calories in food used for medicinal purposes NEVER count. Examples: hot chocolate, brandy and Sara Lee Cheesecake.
4. If you fatten everyone else around you, then you look thinner.
5. Movie related foods (Milk Duds, buttered popcorn, Junior Mints, Red
Hots, Tootsie Rolls, etc.) do not have additional calories because
everyone knows that movies aren’t real.
6. When preparing food, things licked off spoons and knives have no
calories. Examples: peanut butter on a knife when making a sandwich; ice
cream on a spoon when making a sundae; cake frosting.
7.Broken cookie pieces contain no fat. It leaks out.
8. Foods that are the the same color have the same number of calories,
Examples: Spinach and pistachio ice cream; mushrooms and white
chocolate. (Note: Chocolate is a universal color and may be substituted
for any other food color.)
9. Calories are a unit of heat. Therefore, frozen foods have no calories. Examples include ice cream, frozen pies and Popsicles.
10. Wild Card. Each dieter may add one rule that pertains to their
particular, unique situation. For example: Pork Bar-B-Q has no fat or
calories on all legal holidays in Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia.
(adapted joke from funnycleanjokes.com)
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Sunday 9/2/12
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
~Matthew 11:28~ (NIV) I love this verse because it seems almost "motherly" in tone, to me. Loving mothers care about their children--and want to ease their burdens-- out of love for them...
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Saturday 9/1/12
taken from Jokesfind.com
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Friday 8/31/12
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THURSDAY 8/30/12
Question: What do you call it when a cat bites???
Answer: catnip!!! (with 2 rescues...I'm familiar with both of these!) Donna
(joke from Find Jokes.net)
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Wednesday 8/29/12
Always remember...that each and every day that goes by...we are ONE DAY CLOSER to being joyously reunited with our beloved children in Heaven!!! We have so much to look forward to!!!
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Tuesday 8/28/12
This photo I took (weatherman's first day on the job?) lends new credence to the phrase "It's hotter than Hades here!!!" 172 degrees?  |
Monday 8/27/12
I read something the other day that I'd never thought about before..."Because our children are in Heaven...a part of US... is ALREADY in Heaven." !!!
